Thanksgiving Day in the USA

The very first Thanksgiving Day event was not considered an event, it was a happening! Everyone came together and brought their best displays of food and sat down for a meal that provided them with soul comfort and celebration for the end of the harvest season.

Today we still celebrate with our family and friends and even those who are far away from their families usually have a family to support them, whether they are the college student or one of our military who happens to be stationed in our area.

People were integrated with the earth because they harvested their own fresh food, they baked their own breads and of course, used everything locally. They used vines to make baskets and they used gourds for drinking cups and they used straw for mats. What a concept for us now as we try to bring this back into our lives! So many look at the buy local as something new! Our décor today is mums, gourds, corn on the cob and straw and they are all of the earth.

When you think of our baked brown turkey and stuffing and acorn or butternut squash and sweet potatoes; they all represent these same traditions as in the past. Some tips that will insure that everyone has a comfortable relaxed atmosphere are:

A round table or an oblong table will create good family relationships and great conversations. No worries if you only have a square table, the softness of a tablecloth and round dishes will also help your family to have a good experience. The elements of Feng Shui are, metal, earth, wood, fire and water. If these elements are in our surrounding area in the room this will also support a good balanced environment.

If you happened to use green placemats and have a salad in that location, this would cover the wood element. If you would add to the table the white dinner napkin, it is symbolic of the metal element. The addition of lovely candles and now you have the fire element to keep people energized. By placing a goblet of water on the table, you will have covered that element also. Your food will be the best of all of these elements as it is of the earth!

 Here are the basics:

• Create great seating arrangements.
• Set lovely dinner table décor and settings. Now is the time to use those dishes in the China Cabinet and the real silver.
• Complete the whole process with the addition of the 5 elements of Feng Shui. 

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

If you would like to know more about Feng Shui or would like to schedule a consultation or training with Yvonne, please call 412-215-8247 or email yvonnephillips1@aol.com

Balance Your Holiday Season - Sparks & Sparkles Workshop

How’s the Feng Shui in your Car?

The most important part of your Vehicle Feng Shui is to keep it clean and clutter free.  Make sure that the windows are clean and sparkling at all times.  It is your calling card to your passengers and they will remember you, especially if they travel with you a lot.  The cleanliness will also tell a lot about you and the respect you have for your vehicle translates to the respect you have for your passengers. 

Do not keep any receipts or food papers in your car.  If you must carry food, make sure that it is in a closed container and also remember the smells can turn people off as well. 

If you have had an accident or have had a lot of accidents, ring a bell in the car to clear the energy.  If you have had a passenger that you really didn’t like the way they spoke or you just plain didn’t like them, ring a bell after they leave and before your next passenger. 

Check out www.mydoterra.com/yvonnephillips for pure oils to freshen the air.

Fresh air in the car is very good for you and your passengers to maintain a healthy atmosphere.

Areas where I would like you to pay attention to are:

Fame Area-If you have business cards, sit on the dash board, neatly in a case.  Location of this area is the middle of the wind shield area.

Wealth Area-tape a piece of purple paper underneath the steering wheel, you can even use a sticker for this.  Just make sure others can’t see it. This location is the area where you are sitting/driving

Relationship Area-place a small sheet of pink paper inside the glove compartment.  It can even be a pink  sticker.

If you go to www.fengshuipublications.com and click on Articles

Then click on Feng Shui Basics, it will also show you the map of Feng Shui that relates to each area of your life.

Keep the trunk of your car clean, so you can easily transport your items as well as any passengers that you are assisting.  No empty water bottles or food containers.

Love your home and it will love you right back!

• Name your home-whether you live in a house, apartment or shared home-with an evocative, poetic and beautiful name
• Tell your home you love it, express your gratitude for its comfort, protection, warmth, memories
• Play sacred music even while you're away (your plants and animals will be blessed, too!)
• Keep your home in excellent repair-no burnt-out light bulbs, peeling paint, leaking faucets, cracked windows and so on
• Add some sparkle and shimmer! Add some metallic wall-paper, paint or décor for some interior bling. Or hang Swarovski leaded crystal spheres in your windows, off your chandeliers or even on your altar for glittering and dancing light.
• Bring in all 5 Chinese Elements into your space: plants and flowers (wood); water features (water); light the fire or candles (fire); pretty gemstones or crystals (earth); and décor made of metal (metal)
• Give it oxygen-open your windows every single day and let Nature Herself pour easily into your home

• Put essential oil of lemon or orange on your keys and key chain .  This method opens luck with the house key so now everyday you open your front door Take your shoes off at the front door and stop bringing dirt (and who-knows-what else!) into your home. Walk around in cozy slippers, instead. www.mydoterra.com/yvonnephillips
• Make your bed each day. I love to spritz pure organic essential oils (such as lavender) onto the sheets and blankets while I'm making it.
• Make fragrant incense offerings ( sandalwood, or frankincense) for your local land spirits and protectors of your home in the early evening after the sun has set. Imagine that they are accepting the incense and you can even ask for specific protection or request that an obstacle or illness be removed.
•  Walk around the rooms of your home and the boundaries of your land or garden three times in a clockwise direction. Imagine as you're walking that you're: purifying and cleansing the energies of your living space and land; overcoming everyday obstacles; dissolving any quarrelsome energy; dissipating any illnesses.

If you are interested in using essential oils, these are the best that I have ever found: www.mydoterra.com/yvonnephillips

Feng Shui for Landscaping

Bagua Map

Landscaping Map

Locate Door for Layout

Choose any "doorway" into your garden and set up the grid!

Yvonne Phillips FSII

Creative Color & Design

Master Gardener/Phipps Conservatory