Tag: Feng shui

Winter Feng Shui

Winter Feng Shui

Lighten up during the darkest days of the year

Stephanie Dempsey  Stephanie Dempsey on the topics of winter, insight, feng shui
The winter months invite you to turn away from social pursuits and attend to your personal needs. Too often, the demands of modern life tempt us to forgo rest and relaxation. This can create a terrible imbalance. This winter, take your cue from nature and turn inward. Make more time for solitary pursuits like reading, writing and prayer. If you have a hard time switching gears, try integrating some of the following Feng Shui cures into your home. They’ll help you savor all the benefits this wonderful season affords.

Slow down

Winter affords a welcome opportunity to slow down and enjoy the finer things in life. If you have a hard time slackening your pace, make some Feng Shui adjustments. Close the curtains, outfit the furniture with dark slipcovers and switch from overhead to task lighting. The more you minimize visual stimulation in your household, the easier it will be to turn inward.

Make waves

If you’re starting to get cabin fever, integrate some wavy patterns into your decor. Cascading plants, swagged curtains and a hanging display of pots and pans will make it easier to go with the flow. That’s because curved lines slow energy down, rather than speed it along.

Listen up

Soft, rhythmic sounds will put you in a contemplative mood, which is perfectly suited to winter’s calm. A white noise machine or a recording of the ocean’s surf will prove soothing, even on the most hectic days.

Block distractions

Nothing disrupts peace more than the insisting ringing of a telephone. Get into the habit of turning your phones off for two hours a day, just as a means to promote calm. Never fear: whoever is calling can always leave a message.

Take a hot bath

Once you’re in the bathtub, it’s very difficult to get out. This is just the sort of activity that’s perfect for winter, because it forces you to stay in one place. Stock up on bath salts, special soap and fluffy towels as a means to make this ritual even more tempting. Remember, winter is a time of self-pampering. Shop accordingly.

Paint it black

Black is the color of winter, for it symbolizes the season’s absence of sunlight. Dressing in black will help slow your pace. So will decorating with this color. A black tablecloth, bedspread or area rug are all good ways to introduce calm to a hyperactive household.

Make time fly

Throw the clock out of the window. Well, not literally, but hiding timepieces from view is a great way to instill an air of calm to any room. Remember, winter is a season of quiet reflection. You can’t cultivate a meditative state if you feel like you’re on a deadline.

Out of sight, out of mind

Now that you’re spending more time at home, you might as well feel comfortable. Take this opportunity to sort through any junk that accumulated during the busy autumn months. When you’ve cleared the area of trash, store necessary items neatly away in closed containers. This will prevent you from worrying about bills, doctor’s appointments and social appointments when you should be relaxing with your nearest and dearest.

Round ’em up

Winter is a time of intimacy. Integrating more circles into your decor will draw everybody in your household into a circle of trust. Polka dotted fabrics, oval area rugs and circular mirrors can bring even the most fractured family together in a spirit of harmony.

Daily Feng Shui News for Jan. 2nd – ‘New Year’s Resolution Week’

Some calendars call this ‘New Year’s Resolution Week’, so I thought I’d share what Feng Shui has to say about making successful resolutions of your own. You will need a few pieces of paper, a red pen and red envelopes. Write your resolutions separately on the individual pieces of paper and then put each one into its own separate red envelope. Then burn the envelopes. This last step is said to ‘seal’ the resolution, thereby making it permanent and promising that you will successfully complete the action.

By Ellen Whitehurst for Astrology.com

Feng Shui News for Dec. 21 – ‘National Flashlight Day’

Call me crazy but I see synergy in today’s ‘National Flashlight Day’ and ‘National Look on the Bright Side Day.’ In fact, according to Feng Shui, using lights to their best advantage will always have you looking on the bright side, especially if you follow this next Feng Shui tip. If you’re looking for more positive opportunities to unfold in your life, this tradition says to keep your front entryway lit for at least three consecutive hours a day for nine straight days. They can stay on longer than three hours, but they must at least be lit for that duration. The promise is that you will be illuminating an intentional pathway for excellent opportunities to come calling. And since it’s the holiday season, let’s get lit!

By Ellen Whitehurst for Astrology.com

Daily Feng Shui News for Dec. 18th – ‘National Roast Suckling Pig Day’

You may just want to literally enjoy the energies of ‘National Roast Suckling Pig Day,’ especially since Feng Shui holds the pig is such high esteem. This tradition says that having a pig around will bring extremely good fortune to the owner, as its presence symbolizes prosperity, abundance, fertility and success in all affairs. It is also believed to bring the possibility of promotion, as well as a new career for those seeking one. If you want more wealth and abundance for the entire family, then go whole hog and place a pig somewhere in your household.

By Ellen Whitehurst for Astrology.com

Daily Feng Shui Tip for Dec. 17th – ‘Wright Brothers Day’

Today’s ‘Wright Brothers Day’ is as good a time as any to remind you that placing any image, picture, painting or other symbols of flying high in the ‘Fame’ area will also allow your reputation to soar while bringing you plenty of honorable recognition and rewards. Give your efforts wings and put a picture of a plane inside that area today.

By Ellen Whitehurst for Astrology.com

Holiday Feng Shui

Holiday Feng Shui

Use the ancient art of organization to spruce up your gatherings

Stephanie Dempsey   Stephanie Dempsey on the topics of winter, holidays, feng shui

 

The holidays are here, kicking off a whole host of celebrations. If you’re going to throw a festive gathering, think about adding some Feng Shui to the mix. These simple dos and don’ts can ensure your party is the glittering peak of the social season.

DO put an even number of candles in the far right corner of your main gathering space. The far right corner governs relationships. By putting candles in multiples of two in this part of your home, your holiday parties will be loving, harmonious and fun. The best colors for these candles are red, pink, yellow or brown.

DON’T seat your most beloved guest closest to the door. Whoever is seated nearest to the door will be the first one to leave. Keep this in mind if you have any pesky relatives that have plagued past gatherings.

DO make sure that your centerpiece is low enough to ensure easy conversation. A round glass bowl filled with floating white candles will promote sparkling discussion. If someone has been kind enough to present you with a bouquet of flowers, display it on a sideboard or buffet table, where it won’t interfere with socializing.

DON’T let bossy, overbearing types sit at the head of the table. Otherwise, they’ll monopolize the conversation. If you have no other choice but to put such a person at the head of the table, position a round mirror to the left of this person’s eye line so that he or she will be more respectful.

DO enliven your home with enticing aromas. Fill a saucepan with water and then add five cinnamon sticks, some orange peel and a handful of cloves. Keep the saucepan on low heat so its warm, spicy scent will draw your guests into the heart of your home.

DON’T allow fights to break out. If your family is prone to squabbles, keep the yang energy to a minimum. Invite an even number of guests, keep the lights low and soft, and decorate with soothing earth tones like pumpkin, goldenrod, evergreen and chocolate. Round and square throw pillows can soften things up, too. Last but not least, keep shiny surfaces to a minimum and stow sharp knives out of sight.

DO create a feeling of abundance. A plentiful atmosphere will put your guests at ease, encouraging them to eat, drink and be merry. Disperse heaping bowls of nuts, dried fruit and candy throughout your gathering space. Keep pitchers of wine, sparkling cider and mineral water in a central location so that folks can help themselves freely. Place a mirror behind a beautiful bouquet of flowers to symbolically double your bounty.

DON’T let a deafening silence ruin the holidays. Take some time to create a mix of festive music that you can play when guests arrive. This music should be lively enough to keep the energy alive, but soft enough to allow easy conversation. Mix old standards with newer variations for a fun atmosphere.

DO bring nature indoors. A display of evergreen boughs, holly berries or poinsettias will keep winter gloom at bay, encouraging guests to laugh and mingle.

DON’T forget to let the kids join the fun. Enlist children to make place cards, ornaments and decorations. These whimsical additions will encourage guests to loosen up and enjoy the holiday spirit.

Daily Feng Shui News for Dec. 3rd – ‘Roof Over Your Head Day’

On this ‘Roof Over Your Head Day’ I thought I’d share some ages-old, ‘secret’ Feng Shui about just that. If the surrounding buildings are taller than the one you live in, then fresh Chi or energy cannot reach your abode, making for some very bad Feng Shui. Eventually, all the energy in your living space will be old and stale and attract only negative things into your life. To counteract this, Feng Shui suggests that you position a mirror on your rooftop with the reflective side facing up. This will symbolically expand your roof so that it’s now proportionate with the taller ones around you.

By Ellen Whitehurst for Astrology.com

Daily Feng Shui News for Nov. 29th – ‘You’re Welcome Day’

I’m sure it’s no coincidence that ‘You’re Welcome Day’ comes right on the heels of Thanksgiving. But if you want to welcome health, happiness, prosperity and opportunity into your life, then be sure to have a red flowering plant outside your front door, sitting to the left as you face it. This powerfully effective Feng Shui fortune cure invites abundance and empowerment, two more things that you can be grateful for.

By Ellen Whitehurst for Astrology.com

Daily Feng Shui News for Nov. 22 – ‘Go for a Ride Day’

On ‘Go For A Ride Day’ I thought that I might share some ‘Car Shui.’ Never leave garbage inside your car. Feng Shui considers this ‘car clutter’ that creates a negative and distracting environment. If you want to lift the car’s energies and keep yourself alert, put a few drops of peppermint essential oil on a cotton ball so that it can release its subtle scent inside the car. And always listen to music that you enjoy. This will keep your journeys enjoyable while also making your rides rock.

By Ellen Whitehurst for Astrology.com

Daily Feng Shui News for Nov. 20th – ‘Universal Children’s Day’

I have some universal tips that Feng Shui says will bring health and happiness to any child on ‘Universal Children’s Day.’ First, their sleeping spaces should always have an abundance of the colors blue and green. Blue symbolizes heaven and peace while green represents healthy growth. There should also be something hanging from the room’s ceiling, as mobiles, wind chimes or other hanging decor lifts the eye while doing the same to spirits and moods. Lastly, always be sure to have books in the bedroom, as they symbolize a passion for learning and opportunities to acquire wisdom.

By Ellen Whitehurst for Astrology.com

Daily Feng Shui News for Nov. 19th – ‘World Toilet Day’

We can thank ‘World Toilet Day’ for reminding us to keep a lid on it — the toilet, that is. In Feng Shui, water symbolizes wealth, abundance and career. From the perspective of this tradition, it’s bad enough to flush money down the drain, so covering it lessens both the visual and symbolic impacts. And while we’re talking toilets, don’t forget to pour a bit of fresh squeezed lemon juice down the drain whenever you clean the house, as this will wash away any stale or stuck negativity.

By Ellen Whitehurst for Astrology.com

Feng Shui News for November 16 – ‘Novem’

This may be the eleventh month on the Gregorian calendar but November actually gets its name from the Latin word ‘novem,’ meaning nine. According to Feng Shui, that number is the most powerful of all the single digits. When someone or something is surrounded by the vibrations of the number nine, they are believed to be infused with energies that will encourage them to reached their fullest potential. The number nine also symbolizes the ability to easily manifest health, happiness and prosperity. On this day, put nine coins of any denomination into a red envelope and place it under the welcome mat at your front entryway. This will bring much fortune and good luck right to your door!

By Ellen Whitehurst for Astrology.com

Feng Shui News for Nov. 15th – ‘Clean Your Refrigerator Day’

Today’s advice is well worth repeating. It’s ‘Clean Your Refrigerator Day’ and Feng Shui says that a clean and well-organized refrigerator filled with an abundance of healthy foods also attracts wealth. As will stacking and rolling nine one dollar bills, tying them with a purple ribbon and putting them in the back of your refrigerator. This cure brings you cold, hard cash, but never put this wad in the freezer, as you don’t want your assets to do the same.

By Ellen Whitehurst for Astrology.com

Daily Feng Shui News for Nov. 12 – ‘National Young Reader’s Day’

On ‘National Young Reader’s Day’ Feng Shui underscores the importance of placing books in a baby’s nursery. No child is ever too young for books and no nursery should ever be without them. The ideal bookshelf is made of wood, since that element supports healthy growth. Tall bookshelves are additionally believed to incite a passion for learning. For optimal results, do be sure to keep the books organized and dust and clutter free.

By Ellen Whitehurst for Astrology.com

Fall Feng Shui Tips

Fall Feng Shui Tips

Find balance in your life with the changing seasons

Stephanie Dempsey   Stephanie Dempsey on the topics of insight, feng shui, fall
The fall season beckons us to slow down and enjoy the fruits of our labor. The days are getting shorter and the nights longer, prompting everyone to strike a better balance between their public and private lives. If you feel like one aspect of your life is consuming too much time and attention, this is an opportune time to make some Feng Shui adjustments to your home. Here are a few suggestions that can help you find time for friends and family while keeping busy with work.
Flower power
Nothing says autumn like the burnished colors of chrysanthemums, marigolds and nasturtiums. Display pots of these flowers wherever you tend to feel stressed or overburdened. Glimpsing their russet, gold and orange hues will be like rubbing soothing salve over sunburned skin.
Dim the lights
Change bright light bulbs for ones with lower wattage. It is easier to be active in summer because there is increased sunlight. Now that autumn is here, you need to bring things down a notch. Soft lighting will help you slow down and enjoy simpler pleasures, like a solitary cup of tea in the morning or soothing music in the evening.
Go with the flow
Adding a fountain to your favorite room in the house will help you make an easy transition from work to home. The sound of flowing water can quiet nagging doubts and fears that plague you during working hours.
Streamline your social life
If you feel like your social life is depleting your energy, update your address book. If it’s hopelessly cluttered, invest in an attractive new one. The act of entering people’s contact information into the new address book will make you more aware of the friends you truly treasure, versus the people you merely tolerate.
Get moving
If you’re having a hard time downshifting into autumn, reposition 27 items in your home. Why 27? Nine is considered the number of longevity in Feng Shui, and multiplying it by three, the number of growth, will invite a continuous string of auspicious changes into your life.
Stay focused
Do you have a hard time putting work aside, even after you come home? Hang a shelf bracket in the far left corner of your bedroom, and then place a beautiful vase or sculpture on it. This will help you lift your thoughts to a higher plane.
Picture this
Sometimes a desire to get ahead at work can cause you to neglect the people and things you love most. Displaying a recent photo of your loved ones on the far right corner of your desk can help you to strike a better balance between work and home.
Create boundaries
If you have no choice but to keep a desk in your bedroom, create a barrier between your sleep and work stations. Suspend a flowing curtain so that you can’t see your desk when you’re lying in bed. Alternately, you can shield the desk with some lush plants.
Soften up
Your bathroom represents your ability to nurture yourself. Make this space more inviting with soft lighting, fluffy towels and a tactile rug. Add soaps, candles and lotions that are pleasing to your sense of smell. A radio tuned to a relaxing music station can also transform your bathroom from a utilitarian space to a mini-spa.
Give thanks
The best way to enjoy the fruits of your labor is to pause and acknowledge them. Make a list of 27 things for which you are grateful, and then place this list in a red envelope. Put the envelope under your mattress and keep it there until the Winter Solstice. The energizing power of your list will suffuse you with peace and contentment, allowing you to enjoy autumn’s blessings to the very fullest.

Feng Shui News for Nov. 5th – ‘Gunpowder Day’ & ‘Guy Fawkes Day’

It’s getting hot in here as we take a look at ‘Gunpowder Day’ and ‘Guy Fawkes Day.’ The Gunpowder Conspirators were a group that in 1605 plotted to blow up the British Houses of Parliament while the King of England and his supporters were in the buildings. They only thing that got blown was their plan, as it was foiled right as Fawkes was about to ignite the gunpowder. People in Great Britain still celebrate this day with bonfires and fireworks. Feng Shui says hanging a string of faux fireworks in the ‘Fame’ (fire element) area of the main floor will ignite your own ambitions and bring you a fair amount of recognition and rewards. This time around, it will be your reputation that will blow up.

By Ellen Whitehurst for Astrology.com

Feng Shui News for Nov. 4th – ‘Candles & Birthdays’

Today is my son’s eighteenth birthday and I am truly honored to be his mother. Today, I will bless him with protection by using the glow of fire. Feng Shui says that burning a white and rounded candle for the first seven days of a baby’s life, or on any birthday and the six days that follow it, will help to ward off illness, injury and disease. This wisdom says that the fire from this light will burn away energies that might bring serious sickness and that protection from illness would prevail. Parental protection from upset and harm is one of the best gifts I can think of to give my birthday boy. Well, that and some cash.

By Ellen Whitehurst for Astrology.com

Feng Shui News for Nov. 3rd – ‘Housewife’s Day’

It’s ‘Housewife’s Day’ and I want to offer a Feng Shui cure that promises financial independence to the female of the family. This ages-old tradition tells that a woman who wants to be financially free should put three rosemary plants on any windowsill in her kitchen. According to this modality, the kitchen is considered the ‘room of abundance’ while rosemary is also believed to attract prosperity and abundance. Give yourself the gift of manifesting money by growing it as well.

By Ellen Whitehurst for Astrology.com

Daily Feng Shui News for Oct. 27th – ‘Mother-In-Law Day’

Because I hope to be a great one someday, I’d like to share an excellent gift to give your own on this ‘Mother-In-Law Day.’ Actually, this Feng Shui tip is a great gift for any woman. This philosophy says that giving a woman three fresh rosemary plants (that she should keep on a window ledge or any place in the kitchen) will also gift her with financial stability and independence. And if that doesn’t make you her favorite son or daughter-in-law, then I don’t know what will.

By Ellen Whitehurst for Astrology.com

Let’s Talk Witch – The People and Pets In Your Home

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The People and Pets In Your Home

The people and pets who share your living space contribute to the overall feeling texture of your home. If you have a roommate or someone else in your home with whom you don’t get along or who is mostly negative, then you need to take measures to rid the rooms of that negativity. This may call for a sage smudging at a regular intervals: Do so once a week for a month, then once a month after. Other remedial adjustments might be in order. You can include a piece of onyx or burn a black candle in or near the person’s room to absorb the negative energy. If you burn a black candle, let it burn all the way down, then toss it out. You don’t have to throw out the onyx; just bathe it in sea water (or water with some sea salt in it if you don’t live near an ocean) and then set it in the sun for a few minutes to charge it.

If you have a pet who is hostile toward you or other people, you might try a little feng shui magick. Locate the family area of your home. This area lies in the eastern part of the house or, in the Western feng shui, the farthest left-hand side of your home when you stand inside your front door. Add a tabletop fountain to the family area, a couple of jade plants and something black. Don’t forget to give your pet plenty of love.

If you have children, the best area in feng shui lies in the western part of the house or, if you’re standing in the front door, directly opposite the family area. If your kids are hostile or angry, use anything yellow in that area–flowers(with round leaves), curtains, linen, quilts, whatever feels right. Symbols for children and creativity are also good here, as are music, bells, and lights.

Once the negativity in the children’s area is purged, put a white crystal and white flowers somewhere in the room. It helps to balance emotions.