Where Energy Flows

Moving into a new home can be unsettling. There is the confusion of unplaced furniture and boxes to be unpacked, and trying to work out how things work. You can feel like a guest or interloper.

To feel more settled you can perform a blessing ceremony for grounding. This will help you put down roots and firmly establish your intention for your new home. Your intention is the quality you wish to have in your life while you live in this house, such as feeling at peace, feeling focused while studying or revitalizing relationships.

To perform the ceremony, have the people living in the house write down their intentions on a small piece of paper. Place the pieces of paper in a heat-proof vessel, such as a stone bowl. Take the vessel outside and burn the paper to ashes. Tongs are helpful here. Take care if you live in an area with fire risk.

Allow your intentions to take root by scattering the ashes in the four corners of the garden. The ashes will be washed into the soil by rain, adding nourishment. Alternatively, scatter the ashes around a tree. Imagine the ashes nourishing the tree’s roots, and the roots growing deeper into the earth.

You can also call upon the tree to act as a mentor for your intentions. Spend time sitting under the tree in deep contemplation. Ask the tree the next step on the path towards your intended outcome. Notice any colors, sounds, feelings or images that come to you. You may also notice a sign, such as an animal totem, or someone mentioning something later in the day.

People without gardens may like to watch out for my future blog on grounding with crystals.

Copyright Helen Harvey, 2008. All rights reserved

Cleaning with intention not only cleans dirt from your environment, but it can also clear negative energy. An energetically fresh environment gives us the freedom to live our lives unhindered. To get the full benefit from cleaning with intention it is important to have the right attitude. Instead of resenting cleaning, welcome the opportunity to bring positive change to your life. Try to be upbeat while you are cleaning; music can help.

Use affirmations, such as “I am clearing all from my life that no longer serves me”, or releasing statements, such as “I willingly release all negativity from my life as I clean”. Pay attention to corners and other areas where debris lingers. Have some windows open to air out the space. You’ll be amazed at how fresh sparkly your environment feels, and cleaning will be much more fun.

Copyright Helen Harvey, 2008. All rights reserved

For many properties the letterbox is one of the first things visitors see. The state of your letterbox influences the impression people get of you. Sometimes street numbers are hard to read or non-existent. This is not a strong welcome for life enhancing energy and people may struggle to find you. The message that you are giving out is that you don’t want to be found.

Is your letterbox generous to hold your newspaper or packages, or is its size limiting opportunities? Check your letterbox for peeling paint, and unfriendly slots which could injure postal workers. If it is due for a repaint choose a color reflecting the impression you want to make. See Deborah’s earlier blogs on color for some ideas. Be creative if you want your letterbox to be fun and quirky. Position numbers horizontally or sloping upwards to lift the energy.

Keep the energy of your letterbox fresh by clearing mail every day. Arrange for neighbors to clear your mail if you are going away.

Copyright Helen Harvey, 2008. All rights reserved

One of the earliest principles of feng shui is the power position. This means that you are secure and well supported in your life. The power position is common in many schools of feng shui and takes precedence. In Ancient China the Emperor would position his palace with a mountain behind it and smaller mountains to the side. This orientation is called the armchair position. The Emperor was well protected because enemy could not attack from the rear or sides, guards could see anyone approaching from the front. Inside the palace his room was positioned at the back corner, again for security. By being in a position of safety he could maintain power as no-one could overthrow him.

In modern society we can also benefit from using this principle to site buildings, choose rooms for different purposes and position furniture. More yin rooms like bedrooms are better suited to being at the rear of the building, away from traffic and visitors. When placing beds, chairs and desks ensure that occupants have a good view of doors and windows. Having a door or window behind you puts you at a psychological disadvantage. It is not so bad if you live or work with just a few people, but you will always be looking over your shoulder if you hear a noise. Some people pay a lot of attention to sleeping or facing their best directions. It is more important to be in a power position, and if you have a choice of facing auspicious directions then that is a bonus.

Copyright  Helen Harvey, 2008. All rights reserved

Dog owners are encouraged by vets and kennels to control fleas with chemical based products.  Toxic chemicals can be stored in the dog’s fatty tissue, to control fleas over a period of time. Toxic chemicals in flea control products could be bad for the animal’s health, and contribute to the chemical load which we place on our own bodies.

Weekly washing, and daily combing of dogs greatly reduces fleas. Natural dog shampoos containing insect repellent essential oils help.  Ask a qualified aromatherapist for an oil blend suitable for application behind your dog’s ears and near the tail. Look for natural products at the health store. Take care when blending your own essential oils, as some oils such as pennyroyal are dangerous in large amounts.

Taking care of your pet’s sleeping area is also important. To disinfect bedding add pharmacy grade eucalyptus oil to the wash. Your dog may also benefit from the addition of brewer’s yeast and garlic to its food.

Copyright  Helen Harvey, 2008. All rights reserved

One of the things that I love about Interior Alignment™ is the phrase “If it feels good it’s good feng shui”. Often we are so busy and stuck in our heads that we are not sure if something feels good or not. There are subtle signs that you can notice in your body which are connected to your intuition. The first step in accessing your feelings is to take a few deep breaths in order to relax. Close your eyes and picture the subject of your query. It may be whether you love an old blue jug, or whether your furniture layout resonates with you.

If something feels good the corners of your mouth may turn up in the start of a smile. Your brow may lift as you feel tension leaving your face. You get a warm glowing feeling in your chest. Your throat opens and you can breathe easily and deeply. Your stomach is relaxed and you feel lighter.

If something lowers your energy your body mas start to tense and feel heavy. Tension can show up as frowning, tightness in the throat, shallow breathing, a knot in your stomach, or a flat, drained feeling.

Individuals differ in where they store tension and how they react to stress. Look for your subtle signs so you can easily get in touch with your feelings. Occasionally what feels right is not recommended by feng shui books. Go with what feels right to you and you will benefit from being energetically supported by your environment.

Copyright Helen Harvey, 2008. All rights reserved.

Making feng shui enhancements to your home or workplace is a wonderful excuse for treating yourself. When I discovered feng shui I started buying flowers regularly, using fragrance in my home, buying crystals and houseplants.

The flowers were placed in my career area, with the intention that the water in a glass vase would strengthen my position in my job. This worked a treat. I loved having fresh flowers and continue to buy them. Now they regularly enhance the fame and reputation area.

My house was devoid of houseplants because I didn’t want to look after them. Once I realized that a plant in the prosperity corner would feed my wealth I didn’t mind looking after it. A beautiful kentia palm inspired me to redecorate my lounge in a colonial tropical style.

I was a bit dubious about having crystals in the house in case my clients who came to my home office thought I was weird. Now I love crystals and buy new ones for treats when I no longer need the ones I already have. Before I started work each day I would open windows and mist the rooms with fragrant room sprays. The qualities of the room sprays would set my intentions for the day.

Feng shui has inspired me to enjoy the pleasure of all my senses and to surround myself with beauty. Sometimes we are so busy working and keeping the household running that we forget the extra touches. Spend some time in quiet reflection and ask your inner self what treats it desires. I have my eye on a lovely indoor water feature which would trickle gently in my office. Another shopping opportunity calls.

Copyright Helen Harvey 2008. All rights reserved