Spring Feng Shui for Your Home: A Time of Renewal

If you’re interested in Feng Shui and how the season of Spring effects the body and health please read my previous blog titled “Feng Shui for the Seasons: The Season of Spring.”

In April’s blog we’ll look at things one can do to prepare your home for the Spring season.

Spring is all about freshness, color, and vibrant energy. As we come out of winter our pace is a bit faster, we are more active and our daylight becomes longer.

Depending on where you live, set aside time to put away winter items when the climate changes. This would include winter clothing, winter sports equipment, etc. Bring forward seasonal sporting equipment, etc. Look around your garage and make these transitions for the new season. Put your gardening equipment all together so it is ready to use.

For the inside of your home open windows and allow the fresh air of Spring to enter. Dust off your windows and window sills. When your windows sparkle and shine you give honor to the inside of your home. Clear and clean your entryway both inside and out. This is the first impression people have of your home. It is where all energy in the home begins and why in Feng Shui we call the entry, “the mouth of the chi.”

Purchase some fresh flowers, or cut wildflowers from outdoors and put them in a location where you can see them as you enter your home. But never flowers or plants in the bedroom! Plants have the wood element which can be inflexible and upright. Plants also require water, so the water element may affect the occupant depending on how sensitive one is. Please note: in some schools of Feng Shui, having plants in the bedroom is considered good chi. Notice how you feel with plants in your bedroom and you make the choice.

“Spring Cleaning” is reflective of the energy of Spring—renewal. Try rearranging your furniture in your living room, vacuum behind the sofas and other places. Change out your decor items such as sofa pillows, etc to the colors of spring that you love. Go room by room. Dust, dust, dust. Release any clothing or items you no longer use or donate them. By staying in the flow of Spring, your rooms will feel lighter and fresher. You may even notice a sparkle as you look around after cleaning.

Go through your office and release papers or file papers instead of leaving them out. Every paper should have a place. Better yet, go digital.

Lastly, look in your refrigerator. Fill it with seasonal foods. Eat lighter and drink lots of fresh water. Watch how your skin glows and your body feels invigorated.

Take moments each day to honor your home for a roof over your head, a bed to sleep in, and blankets to keep you warm. As we are all aware, there are people in the world who have nothing. Please be grateful.

“Despite the forecast, live like it’s Spring.” – Lily Pulitzer

With Harmony,
Bethany

One of the ways to get a jump on the New Year is begin goal setting in November. By setting goals in November, you’ll find the holidays more relaxing and have the mental space to truly be grateful for all that you currently have in your life. You may even find that you are excited to begin accomplishing your goals. But before you begin your goal setting process, start with listing your accomplishments from this current year which could be anything from weight loss, to spending more time outdoors, settling into a relationship, or changing some financial habits.

Be kind with yourself if you didn’t come close to achieving some of your goals. If there is some hesitancy with some long standing goal, begin with the understanding that you are going to be your first roadblock to completing your goal. You have to get past yourself. There will be some hard work along the way. Understand this truth. Stay positive, be kind, give yourself pep talks, and surround yourself with people who are positive.

Figure out a path to executing your goal. Everyone’s path to success is a little different. It comes down to holding yourself accountable. Start small. Do smaller pieces of the equation and go from there—consistency and discipline are the key.

Know your values. If life balance is key, setting a goal that requires 100% of all your energy may not be realistic. If you have a goal that requires 50-70% of your energy, this may be more doable for you. Ask yourself: what do I value? Make your list and adjust your goals accordingly.

Visit your goal daily! Keep your goal on your cell phone, in your pocket, etc. Look at it often, then do one thing every day that adds up to another thing and this will move you toward your goal. For example, if you want to save for a house, look every day at houses. Visualize or make a list of the must-haves for your new home. Consider designs, landscaping, colors, etc. Meet with a financial advisor. Don’t be surprised if you come across the perfect designer, landscaper, colorist, or financial advisor to help you when you purchase your home. “Energy flows where your attention goes.”

Motivation and discipline are different for everyone. Some individuals are better at some things than others. If you are the type of person who works better in a team environment, consider getting an accountability partner who can help you stay motivated. If you like rewards, give yourself small rewards along the way. Know what motivates you!

Act as if you’ve already accomplished the goal. See yourself and feel yourself as you would if you have reached your goal. This will keep you in the most positive energy possible. Feel the joy! Be in gratitude.

With Harmony,

Bethany

Growing up in the Midwest with an active, athletic family, I loved, and still love, being in the beauty of autumn: the crunching sound of fallen leaves under my feet, the smell of a burning fire, cashmere sweaters, and football season.

Fall is a time for gathering.  It is also a time for shedding as leaves start falling off the trees in preparation for winter hibernation.  Nature gets quieter, sunsets are softer.

If we take our clues from nature we will find this is the best time to purge our own stuff.  Spring is for cleaning, but fall is for purging.  Spending as much time as you can in the months of, September, October, and early November, cleaning out, organizing, and purging inventory in garages, closets, basements, under sinks, home offices and home files.  This time in autumn will help prepare for  a calmer holiday season.

Below are some tips for feng shui in the fall season:

CHARACTERISTICS OF FALL ENERGY:

• time of gathering
• time of bounty
• time to shed and purge
• days are shorter

SPACE:

• Rotate out your summer clothes into your fall clothing.
• Rotate your seasonal items in the garage.  Put away summer items, bring in fall items.
• Fall is the best time to purge old items by giving them away or tossing them, or repairing them.
• Change out decorator accessories to reflect the colors of fall.  For example, decorator pillows and sofa throws can be rotated to earthy colors.

PHYSICAL:

• Begin fall (as with all seasons) with a good body detox.  You can find detoxes that are specifically designed for the fall season.
• Internal parts of the body that are extra sensitive during the early fall season are the stomach, pancreas, and the spleen. In the late fall the body areas that are most sensitive are the lungs and large intestine.
• Fall is the time of year when we tend to have a metal imbalance.  Make sure you are getting enough magnesium and other metals.  Have your blood checked by a qualified professional for any deficiencies.
• Focus on peace and calm by increasing your meditation time.  If you are feeling anxiety breathe deeply into the feeling of peace.
• Since we’re in the season of gathering, consider participating in volunteer work.

COLORS:

• Late summer and early fall are represented by the color golden yellow, shades of orange, reds, and browns.  Look to the many colors you find in nature during this season.

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There is also a sense of freedom in the summer.  A sense that we are at ease with this season.  But don’t let summer fool you, with the fiery red energy of summer it is important to stay grounded during this time.

Below are some tips for feng shui in the Summer season:

CHARACTERISTICS OF SUMMER ENERGY:

• the days are longer and evenings are softer
• we wear less clothing and tend to feel more freedom, we spend more time outdoors
• we tend to stretch ourselves a little bit both physically and mentally
• we tend to eat lighter foods, consume more vegetables
• we stargaze and connect with the water element more than any other season

SPACE:

• lighten up your space by putting things away – you’ll feel more freedom
• tend to your outdoor space and spend more time in the garden or on the patio
• use an indoor waterfall to enhance the season of summer
• a time to honor all the material things that serve you well by keeping them in clean and orderly condition, especially your car

PHYSICAL:

• start the summer season with a good body detox or cleanse
• be tender with your heart and your skin, the energy of the sun is very fiery which can result in anger, moodiness, and accidents
• consume less or no alcohol and caffeine, add more fruit and vegetables to your diet and use herbs such as mint, lime, lemon, and saffron which are all excellent for summer energy
• take care of your skin from head to toe, coconut oil is good for summer body care
• wear a hat and sunglasses when outdoors, wear light-weight clothing such as :  cotton, silk, or linen

COLORS:

Avoid fiery colors like red, orange, yellow, and black which attracts heat.  Instead wear gentle and mild colors to help you stay cool.  Blues, white, greens and purple are all great choices for the summer, and the same goes for your indoor colors as well.  Have fun and stay grounded!

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Below are some tips for feng shui in the Spring season:

CHARACTERISTICS OF SPRING ENERGY:

• the growth of our body and head hair speeds up
• we tend to make more new friends in the springtime
• the time when things, nature, and life propel forward
• the time of romance

SPACE:

• try rotating your furniture to give it a fresh look
• change out your decorator pillows in a room to something more colorful to freshen and uplift your space
• this is a great time to do some house cleaning and organizing, especially the refrigerator
• start your spring gardening, grow indoor herbs if you have no garden

PHYSICAL:

• like all of the seasonal beginnings, start Spring with a good body detox.
• schedule time to be outdoors more, join an outdoor group:  hiking, golf, cycling,  yoga, etc.  In other words, start moving!
• in Ayurvedic medicine, Spring is the time to alkalize our bodies by using bitter foods and herbs such as:  Romaine lettuce, spinach, chard and fresh Tumeric root.  This helps to clear out allergy-creating mucus.
• include in your diet chlorophyll-rich foods: parsely, cabbage, sea vegetables, etc.  these will cleanse out the liver and balance our intestinal tract.  Sipping ginger tea, lemon teas, and dandelion root tea will gently cleanse our lymphatic system.
• encourage emotions of laughter, but never at the expense of another.  Laughter opens up the lungs and rejuvenates cellular growth.
• wear color!  feel the joy of life through color.

COLORS:

Spring colors include vibrant and pure shades of green, royal blues, or anything you see in nature at this time of year.  Simply go outside and look at the blooming flowers and hues.  Take time to have freshly cut indoor flower bouquets to reflect the season:  magnolia on the branch, jasmine, tulips, etc.  all add to the vibrancy and new beginnings of this marvelous season.  Enjoy!

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In Feng Shui, the entrance of any space is called the “The Mouth of the Chi”, or where the energy begins.  The entryway sets the tone of the energy for the remainder of the home or business space. Sadly, many folks rarely use their front door and often enter through the attached-garage door, or through a back door making the front entry an afterthought.  Many years ago I rented my first apartment in a four-plex where the parking garage was located in the back of the building.   My apartment had a convenient side entrance off the garage that I used almost exclusively.  One day I received a knock on my front door.  It was my neighbor who pointed down at some wilted flowers I received from an unsolicited admirer–the flowers had been sitting on my doorstep for several days!  Lesson learned.

Below are some considerations when surveying your own entryway to enhance the energy, or chi.  Let’s begin with the exterior entryway:

1. Regularly sweep away dust, cobwebs, dead foliage, etc. and don’t forget to look up and clean your light fixture,
2. Keep windows clean and shiny,
3. Sweep the front steps and the porch area,
4. Paint your front door a vibrant color that makes you feel good,
5. Remove clutter and avoid allowing the entryway to serve as a dumping ground for items that have no home,
6. Place one or two large pots of colorful flowers (if your climate allows) wide on either side of your front entryway and keep them maintained,
7. Make certain exterior light bulbs are working, replace immediately if burned out.

Interior entryway:

1. Keep this area well lit.
2. Utilize a wall mirror if possible to “expand” your welcome.
3. Place an appropriately-scaled floor rug to ground the space in the entry.
4. Avoid having many small items such as family photos in the entryway.  Small items create too much clutter.  The human eye needs something to rest upon.  Instead place fewer and larger items which will have a calming effect.
5. Create a welcoming impact by painting one of the entryway walls a contrasting color.
6. Have a system for hanging up coats, determining where shoes, hats and gloves or mittens go.
7. Give your entryway the gut check and ask:  “does my entry feel like a warm embrace every time I enter the space”?  If so, you’re all set.  If not, you’ve got some work to do.

Still stuck?  Try going online using your browser to search for “home entryway images”.   You’ll get some great ideas that you can easily implement.

With Harmony,

Bethany

What I didn’t know is that Cutco products are made in America and they have a lifetime guarantee.  Cutco also creates scholarship programs for college students based on what the student sells.  Justin was talking with me in the hopes that he could earn some scholarship money. Cutco has this informative, interactive slide and video presentation via the internet.  I loved engaging in the whole presentation and learned a lot about the products and purchased twice as much as I thought I would.  I was excited about this purchase and began visualizing myself in the kitchen spending more time chopping and dicing fresh produce to eat.  I loved fresh salads but looking in my refrigerator, I hardly made any.  Why was that?  I started connecting the dots and discovered a path in my childhood.

Growing up in the Midwest we rarely had fresh produce and my experience with greens was not a fond one.  Most of our mealtime vegetables came from a can which tasted salty and not much else other than having a rubber texture.  However, during the summer we had the most delicious tomatoes and strawberries from my grandfather’s garden.  I loved his vegetables and fondly recall my mother bringing a bagful of tomatoes home to make a fresh salad that also included iceberg lettuce and cucumbers.  Mother’s salads were difficult to eat because they were so coarse and chunky.  Not much fun for a ten-year old.

As I got older my sister and I helped prepare these summer salads in the same way our mother taught us.  The knives we used were dull–so dull they were practically safe.  There were many times when produce slipped out of my hands and onto the floor because my small hands couldn’t create any leverage to cut.  After I picked up the vegetable and washed it, I started where I left off in the cutting process.  Other than my sister keeping me company, it wasn’t a fun experience so I opted for doing the dishes after dinner instead of prep work.

When I moved to California I discovered the beauty and flavor of finely diced fresh salads and now know why I loathed making my own salads—I was transferring the experience of my childhood onto present day and up until my recent purchase, I still didn’t have good quality chopping knives.

As I’ve learned in other parts of my life, having the right tools makes all the difference in the outcome.  Sometimes we don’t know what we don’t know until we study with someone or learn from the experts.

The point is, having the right tools:

a).  saves us time,
b).  can make any process of preparation more enjoyable, and
c).  gets better results.

I now feel confident that I will achieve my goal of having five portions of greens and produce per day.

Ask yourself: do I have the right tools to do the job, do a task, prepare something creative, or tackle a large project?

Take the time to plan your process, then take an inventory of tools you’ll need before you get started.  Use the right tools.  In doing so, you’ll find the process almost enjoyable and the outcome exceptional!

Disclaimer:  I receive no financial benefit from Cutco or suggesting endorsement.  I’m simply sharing my story.  May, 2013.