Feng Shui for Your Front Door

You can pick up a Feng Shui book and everyone will tell you to paint your front door red to bring in the strong Yang energy. This door is very important because it brings to you the very auspicious energy that will nourish your house. Maybe you don’t like the color red and just maybe the whole housing plan has red doors. Is there any help for you?

These doors located in Pittsburgh, Pa. have the beautiful Victorian colors represented in the entrance area.

All Feng Shui experts will tell you to look at the five elements when doing your Feng Shui. The elements are what helps you put your home or office in balance and keeps you strong and focused.

The following is each element and color that represents them:

• Fire - Red.
• Earth -Yellow. 
• Water - Blue/Black. 
• Metal - Gray/white.
• Wood - Brown/green 

Then you have to consider the following:

1. What is it you are trying to accomplish in your life? In other words, have you set intentions? For example, do you have a home office and need encouragement to keep focused and clear on what you are to accomplish each day? Paint your front door the color of Metal, either gray or white.
2.  If you are looking for calmness and the energy to come to your home for abundance, use the color of the Water element, either dark blue or black.
    
3. If you are looking for healing in your home or growth of your business, use the Wood element and you will cover both bases. Use the colors brown or green.
    
4. The Earth element will take care of bringing in the energy for good health. It also provides stability and is a grounding force for everyone in the home. Use yellow or light beige. 

The Fire element will bring in the strong yang energy and support you in your career and also support you in your fame and reputation area. These colors are the reds, dark oranges and purples. What color is your door?

How to Feng Shui Your Kitchen

The kitchen is a space where family members and guests often congregate. It almost has a gravitational pull, so it makes sense to acknowledge that the kitchen has a unique energy, and to try to make sure that energy is all flowing in the right direction. That's where feng shui comes in. Rules of feng shui design can often seem indecipherable to those who are unfamiliar with the concept. Learn more about this type of design in our infographic below!

 Feng shui is all about maximizing the flow of positive energy (Chi) in your home. The placement of certain objects or pieces of furniture is believed to greatly influence this flow. Even the shape of pieces of furniture can be influenced by feng shui, which values rounded shapes like an oval table over sharp corners.

If you have a hard time making design decisions in your home, using feng shui principles can be a huge help to guide you in the right direction, especially when it comes to picking a color scheme! Determine your kitchen's direction in your home, and then use our guide to find out which colors to use. Each color scheme is derived from the five Chinese elements: wind, fire, earth, metal, and water. Read on for more tips on how to feng shui your kitchen!

Enjoy all the feng shui items in this stunning Feng Shui Kitchen Box to bring great chi to your kitchen. The kitchen box includes 9 delightful items to bring abundance and positive energy to the kitchen, a symbol of health and vitality.

For more information on the Kitchen Feng Shui Box please visit here. 

Included in the box is:

• Faceted crystal apple to attract beneficial energy and promote harmony in the home
• Ceramic dragon imbues your kitchen and home with strength and good health
• Carved sage represents clean clearing energies
• Ceramic tea bag holder holds your sage for symbolizing clearing and cleansing
• Lucky cat creamer beckons wealth and abundance in your kitchen 
• Mandarin oranges to symbolize good fortune
• Scented candle on carved stand to enjoy during meals
• Bagua shaped mirror to deflect negative energy or to bring in beautiful views 
• Lucky red wish envelope for writing your wishes on paper

Chinese New Year 2018

Chinese New Year starts on February 16 and lasts for 15 days. This is China’s most colorful and important event of the year. This year it is named “The Year of the Earth Dog."There is a total of 12 animals and they rotate throughout the years. There are many activities that happen during this time. On the first night of the celebration, there are fireworks to let go of the old and bring in the new, just like we do here in the USA. Also, on this night, they open all the windows and all of the doors in the house to allow the old year to go out! They have large parades and the lion dancing sways back and forth to the beat of the drummers. On the 5th day of the New Year is the Chinese Lantern Festival and it is very colorful and beautiful. You will see paper lanterns made of the animal of the year and also large lanterns that are displayed in their parades animal. Clean your house well in advance of the New Year. Do not sweep or clean on New Years’ day or it will represent you sending your wealth out the door. All brooms need to be in closets.

1. Wear some red on Chinese New Year Day, since it is believed to be a happy color and symbolizes a bright future. 
2. Clear your mind of clutter on this day and make sure that your living areas are clutter free. 
3. Give out red envelopes with a dollar bill coin to families and guests. The red envelopes can be purchased on Amazon.com. 
4. Decorate your home with nuts, oranges and sweets on a beautiful tray. You most certainly should add chocolate gold coins to this mix as well. 
5. Entertain your friends and laugh and enjoy the evening 
6. Open every door and every window on the stroke of midnight to let out the old year. 
7. Clear your mind of “clutter” this day and keep your thoughts bright and optimistic for the coming New Year. 
8. Don’t scold your children or cry on this day for if you do, it will symbolize what you are coming year will play out for you. 
9. Postpone washing your hair this day as you will be washing out your good luck. 
10. Display large bowls of oranges on the tables to give to your friends and family as gifts. 
11. Feng Shui expert Grandmaster Too has shared her traditions with students and followers of Feng Shui during her training sessions. She has told them that early in the morning of the New Year, she brings in a truck full of oranges and she rolls them from the front door straight through her whole house. She is creating her own luck by following this ancient tradition. 

Chinese New Year Day 

1. Wake up New Year’s morning to good music, friends, and partners and just be grateful for your wonderful life. Do all things on this day to establish habits for the year. Make plans to do what you wish to do for the rest of the year. Really enjoy yourself and keep a good balance in all things. 
2.  Call, text or email family members or friends with whom you wish to have contact with in the New Year. This will follow you through 2017 
3. Wear something new and take care to look extra special that day. Do not dress in black or white that day because Chinese look at those colors as funeral colors. Wear red for fortune when possible. Do your hair & makeup, but do NOT wash your hair this day as it is symbolic to throwing your good luck away. 
4. Since this is a day to be festive in your mood with a joyful atmosphere, you should not argue with others on this day. Say ONLY nice things and do not lose your temper. It sets the pattern of peace & harmony for the year. Try not to use many sharp objects (like knives and scissors) on this day as it is symbolic of cutting into your luck. 

Happy 2018 the Year of the Earth Dog!

 

Rock your Living Space with Feng Shui

Most of the time, your living room is also the “company” entertaining space. The family room is usually your family hang out space. When looking at your living room area, remember that this area is creating your reputation with others you are entertaining. Therefore, if the Feng Shui of the space isn’t very good, it affects your relationships.

The best shape for your living room should be a regular shape, either a square or a rectangle. If your only option is an L shaped or irregular shape you must fill in this space to complete a well maintained Feng Shui room. You can do this by adding “more space” with mirrors.

Feng Shui Tips for Your Living Room: 

• Utilize the elements, water, fire, metal, earth and wood in the corners of the room. You don’t have to use all of them within the space, just a symbol in the area will work fine. For example, the water element that is located in the South will support your career.
  
  
• When you have corners that protrude into the room, add tall plants to diffuse this negative energy.
  
  
• Check out your artwork to make sure that it is a symbol of positive energy. You wouldn’t want a picture of a large, aggressive animal in this space as it would sublimely create discomfort in the room.
  
  
• Lighting is very important to keep a “yang” energy with in the room to keep conversations lively.
  
  
• If you are looking to bring more wealth into your home, this is the space to work the Feng Shui magic. Place items that symbolize wealth coming into your home in the far left hand corner of the space. Combine the color of purple in your décor and it will also enhance the prosperity in this same space.
  
  
• You can also place the colors of the elements, red (fire), blue (water), green (wood) yellow (earth), silver (metal) within your décor on a coffee table. You can easily add these colors with candles on a tray or colored glass in a bowl.
  

Make your spaces work for you and your family by utilizing some of these tips and you all will realize the benefits of Feng Shui.

If you enjoyed this article and would like more tips, please connect with me on my Facebook page here.

Chinese New Year Tips to be applied before February 8, 2016

Chinese New Year starts on February 8 and lasts for 15 days.  This is China’s most colorful and important event of the year.  This year it is named “The Year of the Fire Monkey.”  There are a total of 12 animals and they rotate throughout the years.  There are many activities that happen during this time.  On the first night of the celebration, there are fireworks to let go of the old and bring in the new, just like we do here in the USA.  Also, on this night, they open all the windows and all of the doors in the house to allow the old year to go out!  They have large parades and the lion dancing sways back and forth to the beat of the drummers.    On the 5^th day of the New Year is the Chinese Lantern Festival and it is very colorful and beautiful.  You will see paper lanterns made of the animal of the year and also large lanterns that are displayed in their parades animal.  If you want to know your Chinese animal sign, click here: 

1. Clean your house well in advance of the New Year. Do not sweep or clean on New Years’ day or it will represent you sending your wealth out the door.  All brooms need to be in closets.
2. Wear red since it is believed to be a happy color and symbolizes a bright future.
3. Give red envelopes filed with crisp dollar bills to children.
4. Decorate your home with nuts and sweets on a beautiful tray.  You can also add chocolate gold coins to this mix as well.
5. Entertain your friends and laugh and enjoy the evening.
6. Open every door and every window on the stroke of midnight to let out the old year.
7. Clear your mind of “clutter” this day and keep your thoughts bright and optimistic for the coming New Year.
8. Don’t scold your children or cry on this day for if you do, it will symbolize what you are coming year will play out for you.
9. Postpone washing your hair this day as you will be washing out your good luck.
10. Display large bowls of oranges on the tables to give to your friends and family as gifts.

Feng Shui expert Grandmaster Too has shared her traditions with students and followers of Feng Shui during her training sessions.  She has told them that early in the morning of the New Year, she brings in a truck full of oranges and she rolls them from the front door straight through her whole house.  She is creating her own luck by following this ancient tradition.    

                                    

Chinese New Year Day

Wake up New Year’s morning to good music, friends, and partners and just be grateful for your wonderful life. Do all things on this day to establish habits for the year.  Make plans to do what you wish to do for the rest of the year.  Really enjoy yourself and keep a good balance in all things.

Call, text or email family members or friends with whom you wish to have contact with in the New Year.  This will follow you through 2016.

Wear something new and take care to look extra special that day.  Do not dress in black or white that day, because Chinese look at those colors as funeral colors.  Wear red for fortune when possible.  Do your hair & makeup, but do NOT wash your hair this day as it is symbolic to throwing your good luck away.

Since this is a day to be festive in your mood with a joyful atmosphere, you should not argue with others on this day.  Say ONLY nice things and do not lose your temper.  It sets the pattern of peace & harmony for the year.  Try not to use many sharp objects (like knives & scissors) on this day as it is symbolic of cutting into your luck. 

I am available for Feng Shui consultations, speaking and coaching and can be reached at 412-215-8247 or yvonnephillips1@aol.com

Wealth comes to you in Many Different Ways

Your concept of wealth depends on your level of satisfaction and varies depending on your personal priorities and belief system. Although wealth does imply material gain, it’s important to note that people’s needs are different. In general, the ancient Chinese felt wealthy if they had an abundance of food, shelter, and livestock. Prosperity not only included health, family and love it also indicated an increase in resources.

For example some might feel wealthy as long as they have enough food on the table and a protective roof over their head. Others only feel wealthy if they can buy a Porsche. Examine yourself and determine what wealth means to you—careful introspection will tell you where you may need to make adjustments. However you measure Wealth, it’s important to make sure it does not become a prison that locks you away from generosity and love.  Self-cultivated and enlightened persons are aware that money is not the purpose of life.  A simple life of contentment is true wealth. 

The concept of Prosperity has a wider scope. Although it can refer to increasing your material possessions, its main focus is health, family, love and personal growth.  To prosper means to gain much more than material possessions. It means having the things that money cannot buy. Almost often Prosperity brings a feeling of security and contentment.

The elements are out of balance this year of the Fire Monkey-not so good! Water is missing and you need to add a lot of it bring in this element to your environment. Many of the symbols of Wealth and Prosperity are related to water. However there are sub-meanings as well.

Here are three of the many relevant symbols:

Goldfish— not only because they live in water, but also because having plenty of fish to eat was something the ancient Chinese considered to be evidence of prosperity.  The Goldfish do not have to be live; you can have pictures or a likeness of them in art.

Fountains— flowing water represents Wealth and Prosperity flowing into your life. Clean drinking water and water for agriculture was a necessity for the ancient Chinese, so the availability of it was a large part of what the ancient Chinese considered prosperity. Flowing water brought abundant crops and health. Fortunately these days you can purchase a miniature fountain that is practical for almost any living space. 

Plants and Foliage— successful agriculture was essential to the concepts of Wealth and Prosperity to the ancient Chinese.  Water was and is essential to having an abundance of food. Additionally, the complimentary element to Wealth and  Prosperity is wood, so you’ll want to include some objects representing the wood element as well.

The contemporary methods of Feng Shui associate Wealth and Prosperity issues with the back left corner of any space. If you stand at your front door facing into the house your wealth area is at the back of the house on the left-hand side. Face any room from the doorway of the room and the wealth area is the back left corner. These are usually the places you’ll want to pay attention to this year.

Finally, there are things you can practice and actions you can take that will help you maximize the opportunities the year offers.

Eliminate clutter in your house. Clutter represents stagnant energy and disorder—two things that will inhibit any opportunities for Wealth and Prosperity. Although you should keep a clutter-free and orderly house, pay particular attention to the Wealth and Prosperity areas of each room.

Fix things that are broken—especially the Wealth and Prosperity areas. Anything that doesn't work as it should is a sign of something wrong in the area of your life that corresponds to that part of your space.

Organize your finances. Think of this as removing financial clutter. Clean out and organize your purse and wallet. Start handling your money as though you value it. Keep your checkbook balanced and pay your bills on time. If you neglect your money, it will neglect you.

Practice generosity. Wealth and Prosperity needs to flow through your life, not just into it. If you don't yet have ample money to share, give as generously as you can of your time, energy, compassion, and appreciation.

Finally, remember that it’s too easy to focus on financial and material increase than it is other forms of Wealth and Prosperity. Unfortunately this is largely due to our current culture’s concepts than the ancient truths of Feng Shui. If your family is safe, secure, healthy and happy you may already be Wealthy and Prosperous.  In that case, practicing Feng Shui correctly can not only help you keep that, it could even increase it!

                                  yvonnephillips1@aol.com      412-215-8247

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

This Holiday Season

This Holiday Season

By Yvonne Phillips FSII

The long standing tradition of festivals of lights is a tribute to celebrating all the good things in life and of the joy of holiday seasons.  Filling the home with lights, music and hosting families and friends to celebrate is what makes festive occasions so memorable.

With another Christmas season coming around the corner, homes, neighborhoods, city squares and parks will be glowing with thousands of twinkling lights and candles, lighting up the night skies at the darkest time of the year.  What would Christmas be without the magical effect of twinkling lights? 

The action of twinkling lights turning on and off creates the effect of “new light” being continually generated, warding off the opposing darkness of night with each twinkle.  The result is the creation of happy energy and joyful vibrations to uplift the spirit.  The ancient art of Feng Shui reveres light as a Yang activator, increasing the cheer and positive energy in the environment.  As a perfect reflection of the Tai Chi of Yin and Yang, the twinkling of lights represents new energy being created and the celestial balance of opposing forces of light and dark in harmony with each other.  One can’t help but feel affected by the positive energy created by the display of contrasting energies in a complementary dance of light. 

Throughout the world with all celebratory occasions, the power of lights has been creatively harnessed in grand displays of glowing triumph to inspire and uplift the senses.  No matter what culture, people naturally understand and celebrate the symbolism of the forces of light winning over darkness.  Many religious traditions, such as the Christians, Hindus or Buddhists have understood the effect of lights in the either the form of candles, lanterns or modern day electrical lighting, to signify offerings to God.  With light being revered as the manifestation of yang chi, the more and brighter the lights at ceremonies and altars, the greater the spiritual strength and upliftment of the devotees and worshipers.

The magical science of Feng Shui regards twinkling lights as powerfully attracting the energy of good fortune, and as a tool for enhancing business and more customers.  The Chinese have known this for centuries and utilize twinkling lights and Chinese Wealth Trees in their homes and businesses.  It’s known that shopping malls with large Christmas trees and twinkling lights benefit from increased sales by naturally attracting customers, in comparison to trees with stationary lighting.  With each twinkle of light, energy is activating the positive vibration of the premises. 

In the home, twinkling lights offer a warm welcome to friends and family upon entering, lifting moods and increasing harmony, peace and joy.  Any home can benefit from utilizing twinkling lights at all times of the year, and it’s wise to incorporate this beneficial and ancient Feng Shui tool for happy ambience, abundance and good will.

The universal understanding of good is perfectly reflected in grand displays of twinkling lights.  Motivated by nostalgic sentiment, tradition, spiritual upliftment or the knowledge of Feng Shui, many cultures uphold collective ceremonies of lighting millions of lights on certain nights of the year.  So as the festive season approaches around the globe with Winter Solstice, Christmas and New Year’s Eve, remember that a little twinkling lights can go a long way in creating a festive and joyful ambience.

Feng Shui with my Fries Please!

Chinese Proverb says:

“If there is harmony in the house, there is order in the nation.”  “If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.”

According to an article in the New York Times, the McDonalds Corporation joined the forces of
Feng Shui in 2008 in Los Angeles. Who would ever believe that! They did it by creating comfortable seating arrangements, good color design and great artwork.  It is the same kind of energy you want to create in your office and home.

Feng Shui is all about creating peace and harmony within your environment.  Retail managers constantly strive to keep us all in their businesses for as long as possible.  This is not always the goal of the Hospitality Industry.  Most of the time, they want a quick turn over, which means uncomfortable seating and a rushed atmosphere.

Disneyland made quite a few mistakes with its Hong Kong location. After they consulted with a Feng Shui Master, they changed the position of the door by 12 degrees.  This was to ensure that the prosperity would keep on flowing in the doors straight through the entrance way of the park. Once it was realized that they had to keep in mind the Asian culture and their love of Feng Shui, their business improved.

One of their services in this location is to cater large weddings.  The event center was designed utilizing   the number 8, which is believed to be prosperous! Their event room is 888 square meters, for this reason.  They do not use the number 4 because it is considered bad luck.  So if you are looking for a room on the fourth floor, you really are out of luck!

This ancient art will affect your mood and behavior and also be a factor in successful personal and professional relationships.  The goal is to get it right from the beginning, which means during the construction or remodeling of a building or home.  There are many ways to “fix” an area that doesn't have the correct design after it is built, but sometimes it requires more money to make any necessary changes.

Ideally, you should have a Feng Shui expert look at the property first, before you start construction. They will look at the geography of the land that will impact everyone in the building or home. The ideal location would have hills or mountains to the north and the reason is that the hills are symbolic for being protectors of the property.  The southern area for your front door is the most auspicious.
  

The next time you are hungry for the burger and fries menu, check out the restaurant and see why you like going there.  Is it the colors, the energy of the servers or is it the French fries?

Yvonne can be reached at 412-215-8247.  You can find more articles at: www.fengshuiabc1.com Yvonnephillips1@aol.com

Spring Forward with Feng Shui Now

A few tips that will get you in the mood for lighter times

     Why should I use the color Yellow in my Kitchen?

Any of the shades of the Earth tones are great for your kitchen.  The kitchen has a lot of the fire

Energy already because of the big energy of your appliances. So the trick now is to balance it with the Earth element.  It can be any of the earth tones, yellows through the orange tones.  Do not use the color red in your kitchen because you are actually adding fuel to the fire element.  This can make for heated discussions in the kitchen and crabby, grumpy people!  Negative energy will also affect the making of your food.

Refresh your kitchen by cleaning out the cabinets of old spices and down size all of those extra items that are hiding in the back.  Check out your pots & pans, do they fit in the cabinet?

Do you have old décor on the tops of your cabinets?  Time to refresh and cleanse the area.

Add new fresh energy to the space with opening windows to shift the old stale air out and bring fresh chi to all in the kitchen.

Did your holiday decorating look like this?

Stuff... we collect it, carry it around, live amongst it, and navigate our lives around it. Over time, the accumulation of “stuff” becomes clutter gathering dust, which then becomes useless junk that no longer serves a purpose. 

The consequence of being surrounded by clutter results in congested energy, blocked creativity and no room to allow prosperity to flow into our lives. Much like a detoxifying cleanse that is recommended for a healthier body and weight loss, freeing our home of accumulated clutter will result in a healthier and uplifted environment, and ultimately our state of being.

It’s said that a cluttered environment makes for a cluttered mind. The constant distraction and pull of random objects and piles of useless items around us only scatters and erodes our energy. True to the ancient science of Feng Shui, the movement of energy forces have an enormous impact on our psyche and emotional state. Like our diet, our home will ultimately nourish us or drain us.

As we begin a new year, why not enter it with a lighter load and fresh outlook? Perhaps it’s time for you to take stock of your possessions and evaluate if you have use for them anymore. Whether it’s clothes and shoes you no longer wear, old furniture, magazines and CDs, dishes, ornaments and trinkets, or cupboards full of old products, there are plenty of outlets that will gladly take used items, and you can feel good that you’re assisting others in need. You can approach the process with a light heart rather than as a dreaded chore, knowing it will benefit you and others.

When does nostalgia over an item become a weight? As the perception of what’s “junk” is subjective, it will be your personal decision for what no longer serves you. Ask yourself; does this item bring me joy and inspire me?

Why not start with your purse? Then turn to your home and clear the corners, entrance ways, window sills, closets, and bedroom drawers, under the sinks, the basement and garage. It’s vital to clear the foundation beyond just the surface, leaving nothing festering behind closed doors.

A helpful strategy is to arm yourself with some empty boxes and garbage bags, with the intention of categorizing your throw-away items for recycling, garbage, gifts to others, and second hand stores. Start with something that won’t overwhelm you and leave you feeling inspired; perhaps that might be de-cluttering your car! After clearing out the junk from your home, you might find yourself enthusiastic to continue revitalizing it by washing the walls – think of washing away years of old energy beyond cleaning off dirt and stains.  

Even more uplifting is adding fresh paint, new carpeting, flooring, curtains or blinds, new plants and better lighting.The purging process of de-cluttering your home is a healthy and liberating Feng Shui process, and you will be guaranteed to feel uplifted and more peaceful. 

Don’t go through 2014 weighted down by unnecessary clutter. Make room for new energy and opportunities to enter your life. 

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Chinese New Year Calendar
Look for your year of birth on left hand side and then the Animal Sign

Year	Chinese New Year Date	Animal Sign
1930	1930-01-29	Horse (1930-01-29—1931-02-17)
1931	1931-02-17	Sheep (1931-02-17—1932-02-06)
1932	1932-02-06	Monkey (1932-02-06—1933-01-26)
1933	1933-01-26	Rooster (1933-01-26—1934-02-14)
1934	1934-02-14	Dog (1934-02-14—1935-02-04)
1935	1935-02-04	Pig (1935-02-04—1936-01-24)
1936	1936-01-24	Rat (1936-01-24—1937-02-11)
1937	1937-02-11	Ox (1937-02-11—1938-01-31)
1938	1938-01-31	Tiger (1938-01-31—1939-02-19)
1939	1939-02-19	Rabbit (1939-02-19—1940-02-08)
1940	1940-02-08	Dragon (1940-02-08—1941-01-27)
1941	1941-01-27	Snake (1941-01-27—1942-02-15)
1942	1942-02-15	Horse (1942-02-15—1943-02-04)
1943	1943-02-04	Sheep (1943-02-04—1944-01-25)
1944	1944-01-25	Monkey (1944-01-25—1945-02-13)
1945	1945-02-13	Rooster (1945-02-13—1946-02-01)
1946	1946-02-01	Dog (1946-02-01—1947-01-22)
1947	1947-01-22	Pig (1947-01-22—1948-02-10)
1948	1948-02-10	Rat (1948-02-10—1949-01-29)
1949	1949-01-29	Ox (1949-01-29—1950-02-17)
1950	1950-02-17	Tiger (1950-02-17—1951-02-06)
1951	1951-02-06	Rabbit (1951-02-06—1952-01-27)
1952	1952-01-27	Dragon (1952-01-27—1953-02-14)
1953	1953-02-14	Snake (1953-02-14—1954-02-03)
1954	1954-02-03	Horse (1954-02-03—1955-01-24)
1955	1955-01-24	Sheep (1955-01-24—1956-02-12)
1956	1956-02-12	Monkey (1956-02-12—1957-01-31)
1957	1957-01-31	Rooster (1957-01-31—1958-02-18)
1958	1958-02-18	Dog (1958-02-18—1959-02-08)
1959	1959-02-08	Pig (1959-02-08—1960-01-28)
1960	1960-01-28	Rat (1960-01-28—1961-02-15)
1961	1961-02-15	Ox (1961-02-15—1962-02-05)
1962	1962-02-05	Tiger (1962-02-05—1963-01-25)
1963	1963-01-25	Rabbit (1963-01-25—1964-02-13)
1964	1964-02-13	Dragon (1964-02-13—1965-02-02)
1965	1965-02-02	Snake (1965-02-02—1966-01-21)
1966	1966-01-21	Horse (1966-01-21—1967-02-09)
1967	1967-02-09	Sheep (1967-02-09—1968-01-30)
1968	1968-01-30	Monkey (1968-01-30—1969-02-17)
1969	1969-02-17	Rooster (1969-02-17—1970-02-06)
1970	1970-02-06	Dog (1970-02-06—1971-01-27)
1971	1971-01-27	Pig (1971-01-27—1972-02-15)
1972	1972-02-15	Rat (1972-02-15—1973-02-03)
1973	1973-02-03	Ox (1973-02-03—1974-01-23)
1974	1974-01-23	Tiger (1974-01-23—1975-02-11)
1975	1975-02-11	Rabbit (1975-02-11—1976-01-31)
1976	1976-01-31	Dragon (1976-01-31—1977-02-18)
1977	1977-02-18	Snake (1977-02-18—1978-02-07)
1978	1978-02-07	Horse (1978-02-07—1979-01-28)
1979	1979-01-28	Sheep (1979-01-28—1980-02-16)
1980	1980-02-16	Monkey (1980-02-16—1981-02-05)
1981	1981-02-05	Rooster (1981-02-05—1982-01-25)
1982	1982-01-25	Dog (1982-01-25—1983-02-13)
1983	1983-02-13	Pig (1983-02-13—1984-02-02)
1984	1984-02-02	Rat (1984-02-02—1985-02-20)
1985	1985-02-20	Ox (1985-02-20—1986-02-09)
1986	1986-02-09	Tiger (1986-02-09—1987-01-29)
1987	1987-01-29	Rabbit (1987-01-29—1988-02-17)
1988	1988-02-17	Dragon (1988-02-17—1989-02-06)
1989	1989-02-06	Snake (1989-02-06—1990-01-27)
1990	1990-01-27	Horse (1990-01-27—1991-02-15)
1991	1991-02-15	Sheep (1991-02-15—1992-02-04)
1992	1992-02-04	Monkey (1992-02-04—1993-01-23)
1993	1993-01-23	Rooster (1993-01-23—1994-02-10)
1994	1994-02-10	Dog (1994-02-10—1995-01-31)
1995	1995-01-31	Pig (1995-01-31—1996-02-19)
1996	1996-02-19	Rat (1996-02-19—1997-02-07)
1997	1997-02-07	Ox (1997-02-07—1998-01-28)
1998	1998-01-28	Tiger (1998-01-28—1999-02-16)
1999	1999-02-16	Rabbit (1999-02-16—2000-02-05)
2000	2000-02-05	Dragon (2000-02-05—2001-01-24)
2001	2001-01-24	Snake (2001-01-24—2002-02-12)
2002	2002-02-12	Horse (2002-02-12—2003-02-01)
2003	2003-02-01	Sheep (2003-02-01—2004-01-22)
2004	2004-01-22	Monkey (2004-01-22—2005-02-09)
2005	2005-02-09	Rooster (2005-02-09—2006-01-29)
2006	2006-01-29	Dog (2006-01-29—2007-02-18)
2007	2007-02-18	Pig (2007-02-18—2008-02-07)
2008	2008-02-07	Rat (2008-02-07—2009-01-26)
2009	2009-01-26	Ox (2009-01-26—2010-02-14)
2010	2010-02-14	Tiger (2010-02-14—2011-02-03)
2011	2011-02-03	Rabbit (2011-02-03—2012-01-23)
2012	2012-01-23	Dragon (2012-01-23—2013-02-10)
2013	2013-02-10	Snake (2013-02-10—2014-01-31)
2014	2014-01-31	Horse (2014-01-31—2015-02-18)
2015	2015-02-18	Sheep (2015-02-18—2016-02-08)
2016	2016-02-08	Monkey (2016-02-08—2017-01-28)
2017	2017-01-28	Rooster (2017-01-28—2018-02-15)
2018	2018-02-15	Dog (2018-02-15—2019-02-05)
2019	2019-02-05	Pig (2019-02-05—2020-01-25)
2020	2020-01-25	Rat (2020-01-25—2021-02-12)
2021	2021-02-12	Ox (2021-02-12—2022-02-01)
2022	2022-02-01	Tiger (2022-02-01—2023-01-22)
2023	2023-01-22	Rabbit (2023-01-22—2024-02-10)
2024	2024-02-10	Dragon (2024-02-10—2025-01-29)
2025	2025-01-29	Snake (2025-01-29—2026-02-17)
2026	2026-02-17	Horse (2026-02-17—2027-02-06)
2027	2027-02-06	Sheep (2027-02-06—2028-01-26)
2028	2028-01-26	Monkey (2028-01-26—2029-02-13)
2029	2029-02-13	Rooster (2029-02-13—2030-02-03)
2030	2030-02-03	Dog (2030-02-03—2031-01-23)

                                             Yvonne Phillips

                                    Yvonnephillips1@aol.com