Where Energy Flows

Denise Linn noted recently that often today’s Feng Shui consultants find it necessary to not only look at the Feng Shui components of a home (or professional space) but to look at the Feng Shui of the person. I’m finding with my practice that this is becoming the norm. In our more and more stressed economy, clients are running in way too many directions.

It is funny, the client wants you to come in and do a quick fix on the house, when the client clearly needs the arena to make decisions for personal change. Understanding how to explain this can be a delicate proposition. How do you say to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, “Well, your house is cluttered and in chaos and that is reflected in your person.”  That really doesn’t work. So we have had to learn new ways of coaching the client gently into creating the dynamic where they can see the need for personal Feng Shui change, even before there can be noticeable change in the building.

 Personal Feng Shui has become the first step in most of my consultations. That is followed by: Clutter Clearing, Earth Acupuncture, Space Clearing, and Feng Shui. What a wonderful difference that personal step makes.

Some things to consider personally:

• Do you find yourself running in circles and not really accomplishing anything?
• Looking at the bagau map, are you taking care of yourself in all eight areas?
• How is your personal health?
• When is the last time you actually: Sat down for a cup of tea? Read a book for fun? Took a walk in nature and listened to the songs of nature? Had an ice cream sundae for dinner?
• Is your relaxation going to the mall and purchasing more clutter for your closet and your home?
• Are you hiding from yourself by telling that inner voice you’ll get to YOU later?

 It is hard in today’s world not to keep adding more to our plate of life. On the other hand, stopping and smelling the roses is a wonderful thing and it might open doors you never dreamed could be opened.

© Roberta Binder, 2008. All rights reserved.

“Sanctuary is a gift to yourself.  If you identify a certain space in your home as a sanctuary, you are investing in your soul. ”                

–Christopher Forrest Mcdowell

Neshi’s most recent post (Going Into The Quiet) inspired me to continue on the topic of quiet and stillness. In my own life, cultivating stillness has been a challenge. I was born with an abundance of yang energy and movement has been my mantra! As I matured, I’ve come to embrace the wisdom of getting quiet and going into the stillness to find my own answers to life’s opportunities. As many of the authors of this site have shared, Synchro-Alignment has been an integral part of our Interior Alignment™ practice….with ourselves, clients and students alike. Every time I’ve used this approach when making important decisions, I have been presented with clear and concise choices. As I’ve acted on those choices, I’ve experienced flow in moving forward in life. Synchro-Alignment

The most common segment of the bagua that represents stillness is the Knowledge area. The trigram for Knowledge is still mountain and the key word is wisdom. When I use the image of a mountain as a resonance field, I “tap” into the solid, quiet nature that a mountain represents. In addition, I imagine the wealth of knowledge and wisdom contained within the mountain having been on the planet for thousands of years.

Another important attribute to cultivating stillness for me has been breathing meditations. When I focus my awareness on extending my inhalations and exhalations, my mind chat immediately starts to quiet. The key to quieting mind chat is an essential part of going within. My left brain begins to relax and allows better access to information contained within. Cultivating a practice of quieting my left brain has been a very rewarding journey. (For some fascinating information about brains, check out Jill Bolte Taylor’s website Jill Bolte Taylor )

Consider the importance of cultivating stillness. I believe it is one path to creating a kinder and gentler world.

© Catherine Hilker, 2008.  All Rights Reserved.

It is human nature to want logical proof that something works.  It is also human nature to procrastinate. And, as human beings, one of our best qualities is that we are exceedingly quick to adapt.  These traits can often become the challenges we face when it comes to implementing feng shui cures and enhancements…  We put things off.  We hope the problem will resolve itself.  We doubt and we question. Is this really going to work?  Will it be worth the trouble?  Will it be worth the expense?  Will I really see any big results?  Even as a feng shui consultant, I find myself with these kinds of nattering questions.

Take today.  I really need a new office chair.  The ergonomics of the small, metal dining room chair I have been using just don’t cut it anymore.  For one thing, the chair has no lumbar support.  It has no arms. And, it is too short.  My back hurts.  So does my shoulder and neck.  I know these physical discomforts are a result of many hours spent working in this chair.  And yet I find myself entertaining thoughts like “C’mon, will a new chair really make that much of a difference to my life?”

Of course, my consultant-self knows the answer is “yes”.  Absolutely. 

But, there is the lazy side of me I need to wrestle with; that part of me that would rather ignore the problem and hope it goes away.  I know I will have to spend a half a day, take the bus across town (we don’t own a car here in Thailand), shop for chairs, lay out the cash and then figure out how to get it home.  I talk myself into how it is just easier, cheaper and more convenient to stay here at home and try different sitting positions.  Pillows.  Even ibuprofen.

Eventually I know that my consultant-self will win out.  I will consider how a better chair will help me be more productive.  I will perhaps view it as a symbol of abundance and success.  I know I will feel more supported.  And, certainly more comfortable.  Soon enough, I will be motivated by the part of me that knows good feng shui and good ergonomics do indeed make life better!

In the mean time, I think I’ll try a bigger pillow.

© Deb Swingholm, 2008.   All Rights Reserved.

Yesterday, I went to the local market here in Chiang Mai (Thailand) and had an interesting Feng Shui experience.  The market is a trove of Feng Shui eclecticism and as I walk along, shopping at the various stalls, I always watch for brightly decorated altars, unusual good luck charms and other Thai variations of Feng Shui application.  But, today’s lesson was a little different…

When I bought the first item on my list, the vendor gave me change, and one of the coins she handed me was rather old and discolored.  The woman was reticent to give it to me.  She shook her head and was quite apologetic, saying that it was “mai suai”- not beautiful.  But, I smiled, said I didn’t mind, and went on my way. 

Later at another stall in the market, I pulled this same coin out of my purse pocket to pay for a basket I was buying and was shocked when the vendor rather abruptly handed it back to me.  “No, I cannot take this”, she said, putting it back in my hand and literally pushing it away. 

She was willing to lose the sale altogether, rather than take the discolored coin.  But, after some negotiation, she agreed to let me pay less - an amount that included a different, shiny coin.  After a few moments of confusion, I understood.  This was about luck.  This was about the Feng Shui of money!  My purchase was her first sale of the day and she didn’t want to tarnish her luck with a tarnished coin.   

I walked away smiling, intrigued by this exchange, and began to wonder about how to apply this in my life.  Even though much of traditional Feng Shui symbolism is related to money, luck and good fortune, I had never considered how Feng Shui might relate to the contents of my purse. But, this encounter with a tarnished coin made me think about how to use Feng Shui to increase our wealth, starting with our wallets.

 Here are just a few ideas: 

• Consider your wallet or purse as an extension of your Wealth/Abundance Gua.  
• Be mindful of the way you treat your wallet, your purse and your money.  For example, do you treat your purse like a place that protects your wealth or does it become a handy place to toss candy wrappers and wads of receipts? 
• Organize your wallet.  Cut up expired credit cards, remove old receipts, etc.
• Try to use new bills and coins, even if this means an occasional trip to the bank to exchange worn, dirty money.  There is something very uplifting about giving and receiving “beautiful” money…..
• Carry an amount of cash that feels like “enough”.  Nothing says “I’m not abundant” like an empty wallet.
• Keep something in your wallet that symbolizes money-luck.  This could be a gold or silver coin, a pearl or a stone such as citrine, aventurine or emerald (I carry a small polished emerald in my wallet).

I am sure you can come up with more ideas for bringing good Feng Shui to your wallet.  And, may you be blessed with good fortune and an abundance of bright, shiny coins!

  Deb Swingholm, 2008.  All Rights Reserved.

Creating an abundance altar in your home or on your property is a great idea during these times of recession.

When creating an altar intention is very important.  Begin by identifying what abundance, wealth, and prosperity means to you personally.  This is a definition beyond Webster’s dictionary.  Once you have a clear meaning for abundance, wealth and prosperity, you can begin to clarify your intention for your abundance altar. The time and energy that you take to define abundance, wealth, and prosperity is worth the effort as you will begin to accept that your definition may not mean abundance to another person. Identify what kind of life do you want to live. Identify what is important to you in your life.

Once you identify your definition for abundance and what kind of life you want to live, look for symbols that will hold these definitions for you.  For instance the energy of Buffalo (the American Bison) is a symbol of abundance for many Native American Nations.  I have a statute of a Buffalo with her calf on my abundance altar.  (I am Prairie Band Potawatomi and my Nation takes the stewardship of the Buffalo so seriously that we have a herd on our reservation to stay connected with the Wisdom of Buffalo.)  The symbol of Buffalo means health and vitality, life force, to many Native peoples. Not only did it provide sustenance but Buffalo also provided shelter - a home, clothing and luxuries.  The Annishabe Nation, you may know this Nation as the Ojibiwa Nation, may use the symbol of wild rice in their definition of abundance.  Your symbol of abundance needs to mean something to you in order for the symbol to have power.

Consider placing your abundance altar in the Wealth area of your home for the maximum assistance from your home to support your intentions, life goals and desires.

As you place thoughtful items on your abundance altar, consider including a symbol of your personal business or career.  This symbol of your personal business or career may be your business card or a brochure. You may even want to write out your intention on a beautiful card to place on your altar. 

As you receive payment for service to your clients or have your paycheck automatically deposited, place the payment or your payroll receipt on the abundance altar for a few days so that you may show your gratitude and also bless the payment.

I would also suggest placing a candle of your favorite color and scent on the altar. You may want to research the energetic qualities of colors (see Deborah Redfern’s IA blog articles about color) and the energetic qualities of certain flower essence or essential oils scents to add another layer of intention to your abundance altar.

On my abundance altar, I have a candle with the essence of Angel Wings, a lingam stone placed in a red glass bowl filled with sand so that the lingam can stand upright. I also have citrine stones which are known as the merchant stone for abundance. And, I have my business card in a prominent place on the altar as well. 

Each time I light the candle I have in my mind and heart all that I am grateful for and that I am open to all the positive abundance and prosperity flowing to me from Spirit.

May your abundance altar energize your home and hold the intentions for your life as Chi or life force energy flows through your home, may your altar receive the attention from the Universe. 

© Copyright Yvette Neshi Lokotz, August 2008, All Rights Reserved.

What gives a site good feng shui? 

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As Interior Alignment™ practitioners we actively use the form school in urban settings by using structures that are found in cities. For example tall trees or higher buildings in the back of your home represent the Pillow Mountain. Smaller buildings or plants on either side of the home represent the tiger and dragon.

We also use the principles inside the home, or the office to create ideal placement of furniture and energy flow, so that people feel secure and supported.

© Copyright Deborah Redfern, 2008. All rights reserved.