A Feng Shui Vacation

We plan all year to go on that vacation of our dreams, but is it always one of our “dream vacations”?

Here is my take on a recent trip to Mexico as a Feng Shui  & Foodie expert.

I was met at the entrance by a hotel bellman with a pleasant smile, and he immediately asked me how he could assist me.   Ahh very nice start, my shoulders start to relax from the airplane and shuttle journey to get to my final destination.  He gives me the details on how to register and he would be very glad to handle my baggage until I was registered.

·         The entrance to your home brings in the good, healthy chi energy.

It will also give the same results if you pay special attention to the   area.

On my way to the registration area, a lovely lady met me with several cocktails of my choice.  I didn’t want to be rude, so of course, I helped myself to a cool looking Mohito.  Yes, it was just a perfect start of the holiday vacation!  This was a gracious, hospitable beginning and I was eating it up as I have worked in the hospitality business for a long time.

The registration area was well manned and I was given immediate attention to handle my check in and my accommodations for the week.  It went smoothly and I was taken back to the gentleman who had my luggage and he escorted me to my room.  Thank goodness, as it was a maze of different pathways to navigate with my luggage.

I am a very visual person and all the sights and colors and sounds captured me immediately and I couldn’t wait to explore the resort.  All of my Feng Shui senses were at full attention.  The seating areas in the open gathering spaces were colorful and had uplifting music to help weary travelers start the transition from home to vacation.

All of the elements of Feng Shui, water, earth, metal, fire and wood were present everywhere I looked.  The beautiful, well designed swimming pools, the well maintained tropical forests were just wonderful and made me smile immediately. But then there was a big surprise waiting for me on the other side of a curved walk way.  Right in the middle of

my path was the most extraordinary peacock I had ever seen and for some reason I was shown the glorious color display.

·         The symbolism of a peacock is good luck and rejuvenation

Chi – This great energy is achieved through having winding pathways that replicate streams of water.

As in most of the Mexican resorts the colors are the earthy tones of oranges, yellows, soft greens and very welcoming.  My room was no exception; it made me happy right away.  I threw the bags down and was on the search for my new island resort wardrobe that I could hardly wait to wear.  Now the trick was to find my way back along the curving pathways to the swimming pools.  Have no fear; the place is very well marked and easy to navigate.  I find Pool number 1 and it had the most amazing children’s water pool I have ever seen.  It was totally separate of the other pools and had everything that you as a parent would hope for, including two lifeguards who were actually interacting with the children in the pool.

·         The Earth element is very important for your relaxation and re-centering.

On to  pool number 2 (the adult pool) l, hmm there is a sign for a “Quiet Zone.”  Yes, I am going to check that pool out.  It was located in an area that was away from the children and any other loud activities like the water volleyball or singing and dancing that were going on.  This was my first day and I needed to de-stress to be able to enjoy my time at the resort and this seemed like the perfect location for me.  As I entered into the pool area, I saw a large waterfall with a lovely pool underneath it.  Does it get any better than this for a Feng Shui expert?  I am home and I am going to enjoy a relaxing time until it was time for lunch.

• Water - Still or slow flowing water such as a fountain, bird bath, pond or pooled water from a stream. Colors representing water is blue makes for the most relaxing areas.

It is exactly 12 noon which means it is time to check out the food.  As I am a foodie from way back, this was very, very important to me.  There are many outdoor dining rooms to choose from, but I decided on the one that was easy to go to with their lovely buffets and well-designed food areas.  I can hardly choose my food as I am going through the area just enjoying how well they have prepared the food area for our arrival that day.  Every food station was merchandised with fresh fruits and veggies and had a great display of plants intermixed throughout the area including miniature water falls mixed in the displays.  Yes, I was happy, happy, happy!  These are areas that I work in on a daily basis in my food career and was delighted with their attention to detail. Now the real test was what to eat easily and safely for me. 

Food safety experts tell you to not eat the fruit and veggies or to drink the water for health reasons.  The main reason not to eat any items grown in the soil is that they don’t have the standards that we have here in the USA.  But that is what everyone, who is not in the food industry usually, eats.  They think it is ok, but in reality, it isn’t.

No fruit, no veggies, no water and now what.  My first day was a burger and fries, just because they were cooked well and nothing was there to upset my system until I was more used to their food.  I didn’t give them a 5 star rating on any of their dining areas, I would say more like 3.5, but I critique food on a daily basis and I always go for the gold in the food area.  Most other diners were perfectly fine with their food choices.

·         Key to successful Feng Shui is feeling safe in all that you do!

I am admiring the views and out of the forest a parade of Lemurs, jumping and interacting with me.  What a delightful surprise!  All of the animals there including cats, tropical birds, pink flamencos and lovely Lemur’s made my vacation the best.  

Good Feng Shui always delights your senses. 

Feng Shui

Most people who are just starting to practice Feng Shui know that their bedroom and

their living room are very important and they focus on balancing those two rooms.  Most Real Estate Agents can tell you why—people spend more time in the bedroom and the living room than all the other rooms in the house. So it’s natural that the practice of Feng Shui makes it clear that those rooms play a vital part in determining how well peace, prosperity and harmony flows into our lives.

But although those rooms are important, there is another part of the house that is just as important, but almost always overlooked:  the entry way. Ch’i enters the house through doors and windows and the major part of Ch’i enters through the front door (or the main entrance).  The entryway, how it’s constructed and how it’s arranged and/or decorated determine the quality of Feng Shui that is experienced by the entire household.

The entrance to your house plays a huge role in creating an environment of peace, prosperity and harmony. It’s the first thing you experience when you enter the house and the last thing you touch when you leave the house. Many of the oldest religions recognize this. Judaism uses a Mezuzah on the doorframe to demonstrate that their home is a sanctuary in miniature of holiness. Catholics use Holy Water at the entrance of their churches so people can anoint themselves before they enter the sanctuary.  While the exact reasons may vary, it’s clear that the entryway is thought of as a portal of peace and harmony by many different cultures and religions. Most probably, Feng Shui, was taking advantage of this idea thousands of years before Judaism and Christianity.

The idea of Feng Shui is to create the flow of positive energy (Ch’i). Unless you pay attention to where that flow begins, it will be impossible to control that flow. Even worse, since the entry way is the largest portal for Ch’i, it literally determines how much positive energy comes into your home.

Given the importance of this topic, the next few articles I write will explain how to create an entry way that is conducive to bringing peace, harmony and prosperity into your home.

The first consideration you’ll want to make is where the entrance is. Most homes have two main doors: one that was built by the architect (the front door) and the side entrance, which is usually an entrance from the side of the house or the garage.  Most often, the occupants prefer one of the other for reasons of convenience. So the first rule is to pick one.  Decide on which entryway to use and make sure all occupants use that one exclusively.  Of course, using the other door occasionally is fine if you’re emptying the trash or if the door leads to the garden. Once you’ve determined where the portal is, then it’s time to consider how to use it in order to maximize its potential to attract and channel  the positive energy that is vital to helping you create a life and an environment that’s charged with peace and prosperity.

In the next article we’ll talk about the primary element of the entrance: the door and how to make sure it’s harmonious with everything good that you want in your life.

Chinese New Year Tips - Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Chinese Lantern Festival Shanghai

Chinese New Year starts on February 8, 2016 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 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.

1. Clean your house well in advance of the New Year. Do not sweep or clean on New Year’s day or it will represent you sending your wealth out the door. All brooms need to hidden and not visible. 
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 how your 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. 

Lillian 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.

Author: Yvonne Phillips
Yvonnephillips1@aol.com 
www.fengshuipublications.com 
412-215-8247

Feng Shui Event

 

What will the year of the Water Snake bring to you in 2013?

The year of the Chinese Dragon was an intense year for all of us!  It was either intensely good or intensely bad, there was no in between.  However, the year of the Water Snake brings good fortune to all of the animal signs.  This only happens once in 9 years, so that is an awesome start for all of us.  This is the year to make your strategy big for your personal and professional areas of your life.  

Lots of good news this year with 2013 having all of the five elements present, water, fire, earth, wood, metal and fire.  You have the chance to make things happen quicker and easier.  Now is the time to get your thinking cap on and figure out what is most important to you at this date and time. 

We are very fortunate this year with the energies bringing forth more a sense of calmness, not like the Dragon energy of 2012.  You can now refocus your goals and intentions easier and with more success.  The young will be focusing on new ways of achieving their goals and creating a different world in how they work, communicate and interact with each other.  The older generation will be looking at how to create and keep their wealth and they also will be more focused on strengthening their previous way of life to fit in successfully with the younger generation.

Feng Shui Grandmaster Lillian Too says, “The year’s outlook will be balanced, bringing harmony and fewer problems and obstacles.” We should all breathe a sigh of relief and create the year that we want by focusing and strategizing our business plans with creativity and harmony.

She also explains the elements and their meaning this year.  The Wood element is representative of the Wealth Luck which means for all of us new wealth coming in this year.  

Earth is the element that represents Resource Luck which means support for your projects and goals.

The element of Metal indicates good fortune to all of the animal signs and things will be manifested very easily.  This is the BEST news for 2013. Add a little extra of this element and it will support your health and vitality for the year. The balancing of elements in your home and office spaces is what attracts good fortune.  

Since the “Boomers” are the generation to be reckoned with at this time, the power element of Fire will be very good for them.  This is the generation that will benefit the most as they are considered the older, wiser generation. They are the ones that will benefit greatly at the beginning of the year with this great, new, energy.  

Now for all of the young people, the element of Water comes with an Intelligence Luck in 2013.  The best ideas and creativity will come from this generation, as it should be, to move the generations forward.  Their visionary abilities will be the best at the end of 2013.

I will be studying with Grand Master Lillian Too in January and will be sharing her wisdom on the art of Feng Shui for the Chinese Year of the Water Snake in February.   Stay tuned for dates and times of her yearly Chinese Animal updates.

Feng Shui for House & Garden

Lots of stones, not too many stones; more trees, fewer trees so many questions arise when someone wants to apply Feng Shui to their yard. To begin, orienting oneself with the Bagua will ground you in your approach www.creativecolordesigninc.com.

Determine the entry to your yard. Stand with your Bagua so that the bottom of the map is at the entry point. In general, this is the most auspicious location for your vegetables and flowering garden. You should fill it with a variety of vegetation and budding plants, as variation is a key element in FS. To your immediate left, you will want to add blue, such as cornflowers or yellow in the form of flowering bushes, sunflowers, varietals or shrubbery. Morning Glory and Hyacinth work perfectly. This placement will energize the flow of energies to allow knowledge to grow and your spirituality to increase.
The area to your right inspires helpful people and travel. Silvers and whites should adorn this area of your yard, as you want to energize this area. You may wish to locate your dog house or bird feeder in this area. Add metallic silvers of all kinds to this location in your yard, including wind chimes, sun dials and statuary.

The very entry to your yard or garden is the career spot. Remove any and all obstacles from this area. Cut all low hanging limbs and add dark blues and blacks to this area with embedded pavers, reflecting balls or windsocks. Water is essential to career as it represents life, flow and counters stagnation. Locate your bird bath or water feature in this portion of your yard. Avoid locating jagging plants such as black berry or raspberry bushes in this area.

In the middle and to your left side of your yard, plant a tree or add a wooden picnic bench, for wood is the essential element of family. Green should envelope this region. This area should be filled with lush grass. Toss a table cloth down here from time to time and share a family picnic in this spot.
In the center of your yard or garden, you want to foster the energy of self. Gold and yellow should decorate this area. Earth is the energy we are enhancing in this region, so allow it to remain as open and clear as possible. A small grouping of yellow tulips or marigolds is all you will need.
To your immediate right, fuel your creativity and create positive energy for your children. The metal element should be added. The whites and silvers of the travel area should carry over into this region of your yard. Add sculpture and perhaps a swing to this portion you your yard.

Wealth energy is encouraged by the color purple. According to the Bagua, your wealth area is directly to your left across from the family area. Add crawling vines such as Clematis along with wooden lattice and wealth energy will cascade.

Directly across from the entry point to your garden, place your fire pit. Fire element feeds fame and reputation energy. Add hedges as the backdrop and allow red plants to dot the landscape. Salvia, Japanese maple, or a red rose bush would be perfect to promote your reputation energy. Also, do not be afraid to get creative and sculpt round and square shapes in your hedging; this too fuels the fame energy.

Love is in the air directly to the right of the fame and reputation corner. Love grows from the earth element. Enhance its energy with Wild Hyssop, encircling a couple of cherry trees would maximize pink which encourages love energy. Focus on grouping your plants and trees in twos in section of your yard. Though it may be tempting to add a wooden glider rocker for two to this region – avoid it if possible – for love is of the earth element and as much earth as possible should remain open.
Energy will flow freely through your yard. You have not merely maximized the energy of your yard; you have maximized the energy of your life, mind, and soul. Have a tall, cool glass of lemonade and soak in all you have created.

Feng Shui for Your Landscaping

Creating an Outdoor Oasis of Beauty and Balance

As spring invites us to get outdoors again and spruce up our yards, why not consider going beyond the usual habits of gardening, and instead work with your landscape in alignment with the wisdom of Feng Shui?

With the summer months our yards can become an extension of our living space, and the garden allows us to feel connected to nature. Since the effective application of Feng Shui techniques do wonders for shifting the energy of interior spaces, it makes sense that the same principals apply to your yard and garden. A well designed Feng Shui garden landscape appeals to all the senses, delights visitors, and provides a calm and restorative environment to fully enjoy the summer season.

Landscaping that is energized with the flow of chi will bring life to your home, and attract an abundance of birds, butterflies and a feeling of wellbeing. By incorporating representations of the elements, you can make your garden a retreat oasis in alignment with the wisdom of Feng Shui.

•Remove clutter, weeds, dead plants, objects to trip on such as tools and hoses, and other strewn debris in order to clear the space and let the energy (chi) flow.

•Don’t overwhelm the environment with every dazzling color in the book, but choose a selection of uplifting colors such as orange and yellow, and calming colors like blue, purple and white.

•Steer clear of items with sharp and pointed angles; rather choose smooth rounded corners to all objects, decorative pieces, flower pots and furniture.

•Avoid placing a fence or large object in the middle of your yard or garden, as it will block the flow of energy and disrupt the positive chi.

Elements of Feng Shui in your landscaping:

•Earth - Keep the soil fertile and the flowers, trees and grass well maintained, as this enhances the earth element. Place round stones as a border around spaces, or as appealing and calming decoration to enhance the grounding balance of the earth element.

•Wood – Choose wooden planting boxes, or adorn your landscaping with decorative wooden pieces such as a carving, bench or bamboo pieces. As a lucky Feng Shui cure, bamboo is used to attract health, abundance and happiness.

•Metal - Place something metal in your landscaping to encourage the properties of that important element, such as wind chimes or planters.

•Water - Include still or slow flowing water such as a fountain, bird bath, pond or pooled water from a stream. It’s not encouraged to have a fast moving stream or river through your property, as this carries the positive energy away from your home, akin to “peace or abundance flying out the door”. Instead, have pooled or slower flowing water which can collect beneficial chi to stay in your yard.

•Fire - For the final touches of balancing the elements, fire can be represented in various ways such as candles or lanterns, or a fire pit.

You can easily create a feel-good and ambient garden patio with pillows, blankets, and outdoor music.

Just a few extra touches and working with the surrounding landscape brings restorative benefits and balance to the energy flow around and through your home. You’ll feel the difference and savour your time in the yard even more.