Feng Shui Power!

Use Feng Shui To Motivate Yourself To Do Anything!

2009-05-01T10:28:00-04:00

Some days it is hard to get motivated to do anything....So, how can Feng Shui help? Here is what you can do to bring some helping energy into your life:

1. Open all windows and aerate the area you want to work in- Fresh Chi'

2. Get dressed in clothing that is practical, made of natural fibers and makes you feel good! WEAR RED-THE FIRE ELEMENT.

3. Put on the music you love and start small, focusing on one area to give you a sense of accomplishment.

4. Finish the process before you get tired of it and treat yourself to something really nice, be it a good cup of coffee at the best cafe in town or a movie with a friend.

By following these steps you will create the energy of excitement around a process that is usually avoided and your place will be breathing new energy in no time!

How To De-Cluttering A Pantry Closet

2009-05-01T10:26:01-04:00

Organizing your pantry is essential in fully organizing your kitchen and taking control of your home. With a little time, patience and imagination, you can take the steps necessary to declutter your pantry and finally get your kitchen in order.

Empty everything out of the pantry & immediately throw away food that has expired, opened food that has sat around too long or cans that are dented. If you have not eaten the food item in 4 months, donate it to a local food shelter (see "Where To Donate Food" in this issue). If you feel that dealing with the whole pantry is too much, work shelf by shelf.
Thoroughly clean the bottom of the pantry shelves after emptying out contents. Also, rinse & dry all can good before storing.
Group items by category: canned veggies, soups, pasta, paper products etc.
Place small items/cans in the front with labels facing out for better viewing.
Keep heavy items (2 liter bottles of soda) on the floor to avoid accidents.
Make a "child's shelf" that is at his eye level. Be sure to place all of the children's breakfast items & snacks here.
Involve your family. Once the pantry is organized, show everyone your new system.

Want More Money Or A New Job - De-Clutter Now!

2009-04-03T10:37:23-04:00

De-cluttering, at times, can be a daunting project for anybody to tackle. If you are currently feeling squeezed by the economy or are job hunting, de-cluttering can seem like an overwhelming task.

So why am I recommending that you de-clutter your home now?

For a very simple reason: if you want to bring anything new into your space (or life), you need to get rid of the old. The old in this case is the clutter. More importantly, any type of clutter creates a block or obstacle to what you really want to accomplish in life. That could be more money, a better job or a whole new career.

So, where should you start? By focusing on the following four areas in your home: Your bed, your stove, your desk & your front door. These areas are extremely important in feng shui and are relatively simple areas to de-cluttering.

These are the key four areas in a home that a professional feng shui practitioner will look at and assess when analyzing a person’s home and life. Any clutter in these areas translates into clutter, not only in your home, but more importantly in your life. So, let’s get started.

You Bed-

The bed is the most important piece of furniture in your home. It is here you spend the most time (sleeping or relaxing), just on one piece of furniture! Therefore, clutter around the bed is discouraged.

There should be no papers, books, children’s toys, cloths and athletic equipment on either side of the bed. Also, nothing is permitted under the bed. No boxes, photo albums-NOTHING. It is imperative that Chi’ can flow smoothly around your bed when you are sleeping.

Once you have successfully de-cluttered around your bed, keep the momentum going and de-clutter the rest of your bedroom. This room should be a sanctuary. A place where you can think quietly, rest, nap and sleep. By taking out the clutter, you are eliminating a major stress source. Yes, clutter makes us anxious, unhappy, scattered, depressed and even stressed out.

Your Stove-

Your stove represents wealth in feng shui. For thousands of years, you were considered a “wealthy person”, if you had enough food to eat, a concept we do not even think about today. Yet, your stove is of major importance to your personal wealth.

So how do you de-clutter a stove? First, look on top of your stove. Do you keep any pots or pans on the stove, even when it is not in use? Look right above your stove. Do you have lots of cooking items and utensils scattered about? Do all your burners work?

Since the stove is so important and it is so closely tied to your income, below is a recommended list of:

How to “clean up/de-clutter” the stove:

v     Make sure all the burners are working

v     Make sure the oven, clock and any other feature on the stove is in proper working order

v     Use all the burners. You want to spread your wealth around in your life. Plus, unused burners are ‘dormant’ and this can hinder your creation (or making) of money

v     Keep the stovetop and oven CLEAN. A clean stove keeps the Chi fresh and alive which helps simulate wealth

Your Desk

Your desk is a place that, ideally, should be kept neat, clean and orderly. The desk is often “command central” when dealing with the family’s finances or when looking for a new job. Unfortunately most desks look like a bomb just hit it!

Here is a useful list of de-cluttering tips to use when:

Organizing your desk:

v     Pull everything out of the desk and off the top. Sort through and place each item in one of the following three plain boxes: 1. Garbage, 2. Keep-to be filed (or stored) in another place beside the desk, 3.Items to go back into the desk

v     Thoroughly clean the desk

v     Make sure you have enough storage space in your home office area. People end up using their desktop’s as a make shift filing cabinet. Why? Because they ran out of filing space. If you need to invest in more storage space, do it! It will greatly cut down on the chaos and clutter that your desktop (and you) is currently experiencing.

v     File papers and documents, at a minimum every other day. Papers pile up quickly and there will never be an end to the paper flow. Make a commitment to file away everything you can on your desk top every other day. Every day is even better.

v     Pencil drawers should be added to help organize the small items such as paperclips, stamps, etc.

v     If you have lingering magazines floating around, keep them only for that month and then toss them. If you find a pertinent article, tear sheet it, label and file it. Do not keep the whole magazine. You can also scan it and file it in your computer.

v     Make sure to de-clutter your computer’s desktop

Your Front Door

The front door is important since this is where the fresh Chi enters into your home. The front door is also called the Mouth of Chi. this is literally and figuratively the point where new life enters into your house and your life. What better area to de-clutter if you are striving to boost your income or look for a new job.

De-cluttering your front door area:

v     Make sure your front door is in excellent conditions. There should be no major cracks, holes or gaps.

v     The door should not be squeaky or stick when opening or closing.

v     There should be NO CLUTTER on either side of the doorway. This will obstruct the flow of fresh Chi.

v     Clean and polish all brass work on the door.

v     Be sure the doorbell works properly.

v     De-cluttering the landing outside the door and the entranceway inside the house. Nothing should obstruct this area.

By cleaning and de-cluttering these four important areas in your home, you are opening the pathway for Chi to enter your life. Fresh Chi is the catalyst for positive change and improvement in life. In order to get a new job or earn more money, you need to open yourself up to change. Change and getting what you really want can occur by successfully de-cluttering your home.

The Psychology Of Hording

2009-03-24T09:34:09-04:00

DO YOU EVER WONDER WHY YOU MIGHT NOT be able to throw anything away? Is your home bursting from the seams with all the things you have collected over the years? A new study just might have the answer.

New research highlights the neuropsychological connection people have to their possessions, especially when they anticipate the possible loss of those belongings.

The study, conducted by Dr. Brian Knutson of Stanford University, found that some people can have an 'over attachment' to items that they own. They believe their possessions have many positive features even if they have owned them for a short time. Hence, these people, can not bear to part with even a piece of paper!

"When they get something, they just can't stand the thought of losing it. People don't like the thought that they might be deprived of that thing." says Brian Knutson, Ph.D., study author and associate of psychology and neuroscience at Stanford University.

The condition is called, Disposophobia- fear of getting rid of things and it is a disease that needs to be addressed. It is also a fear based condition. This condition is extreme & only 5% of the US population has it. But, I am bringing it to your attention because clutter is the #1 block to any new & useful change that Feng Shui is trying to achieve.

So, let's kick the spring season off by methodically de-cluttering our home & workspace.

Inviting Love Into Your Life

2009-02-04T19:48:56-05:00

Feng Shui is a powerful & effective way to invite love (or keep the love flowing) into your life. The following are several love tips that you can use in your bedroom (the center of your love life):

Get 2 pink quartz crystals & place them on your nightstand. Bonus- Get heart shaped crystals.
Write a letter of intent to the Universe & clearly define the qualities you want most from a soul mate. Bonus- If in a relationship, do the list together & define the qualities you both want to bring out as a couple.
Place only pictures of you & your beloved in your bedroom. If you are trying to call in love, use images of loving couples. Bonus- Remove all pictures of family, children & singles

It is always best if the items you place are touching each other, just like a loving couple. Have fun with this exercise & feel free to be creative.

Remember, singles are out & doubles are in when it comes to more love in your life.

Great Donation Websites

2009-02-04T13:09:54-05:00

I hear you! People have been telling me in person & through email that they feel great about donating their unwanted items to a "loving second home". So, here are more great places to check out:

http://www.childsplaycharity.org
Here is a great website where you can donate video games, toys and movies to children in hospitals. Some of the items the hospital will give away for kids to keep, while other gifts (like consoles) will be kept by the hospital for patients to use throughout the year.

http://www.pajamaprogram.org/donate.html
A wonderful program where you can donate NEW pajamas & NEW books to children in need in the US & around the world. These children are waiting to be adopted. This is the COLDEST time of the year & many abandoned children would benefit greatly from a warm, comfortable & clean pair of PJ's.

Conquering The Laundry Room

2008-11-09T11:41:10-05:00

A space that we often forget about is our beloved, yet often neglected launry room. Yet, this is where we wash our cloths, iron & set ourselves 'right' for the world to see.

Here are a few easy & effective tips to help you get this area in order:

De-Clutter & throughly Clean The Area

Paint or Wallpaper the room (or area) - Any color will work, but light, bright crisp colors are the most effective & uplifting.

Storage Space- Make sure you have enough (most client's do not). Any added storage needs to be durable and functional.

Folding Table- For your laundry, make sure you have a large, sturdy folding table. Please do not use your your bed or kitchen table.

Large sink/tub- A tub can come in handy for soaking clothes, cleaning large objects or other household chores.

Water-resistant floor coverings- Paint concrete floors with a heavy-duty paint or cover the floor with glue-down vinyl if the slab is smooth, stays dry and is crack-free.

Respect your launry area, spruce it up and you will find this necessary chore will become a pleasure, not a burden.

A Grateful Thanksgiving

2008-11-06T17:38:56-05:00

Do you want to learn how to store up some of the wonderful Thanksgiving holiday energy of abundance, family, friends and nourishment to draw upon during those days throughout the year that are leaner, less hospitable and perhaps even lonely. Apply some of the following Feng Shui principles to help you maintain the positive energy you will create and enjoy during the Thanksgiving season so you can use it all year long:

1. Take pictures. Yes, I said take pictures, lots of pictures of your holiday feast, family members, guests, friends, food and even the pets. Capture and preserve the essence of all of your holiday joy and positive energy. Then create a collage of 6 to 8 of your favorite pictures. Place the collage in a silver frame and hang it in the northwest area of your family or living room. This will provide you hours of grateful positive energy throughout the year.

2. Light at least one candle in a safe container during your holiday festivities and let the flame burn brightly for a long period of time. If you like fragranced candles, select one that is appropriate for the holiday such as baking spices or cinnamon. Whenever you are in need of the positive energy you have stored in your Survival Kit, burn a candle with the exact same fragrance. You will be transported emotionally to your positive energy reserves through your sense of smell and the visible flame, providing you that much needed energy lift.

3. Maintain an “I am grateful for…” journal. Once Thanksgiving has passed, sit down and reflect upon all the things you are grateful for in your life. Write them into your journal. Add things to your journal on a weekly basis so you have a formidable list as time passes. A gratitude journal is filled with hundreds and hundreds of positive energy thoughts and memories to lift your spirits on a down day.

Learning to give thanks to a higher source 365 days of the year will help you 'light the way' when things seem dark. Enjoy this wonderful holiday!

Great Recycling Websites

2008-10-17T17:32:47-04:00

I constantly get requests from clients & students for new, meaningful places where they can donate there unwanted or unused household items. Here is the list:

Eyeglasses- Millions of people in the world need eyeglasses, but can not afford them. Go to: www.givethegiftofsight.org/

Formal Wear- Many girls in the US can not afford prom dresses. To donate your gently used prom dress, contact: www.operationfairydust.org/

Computers- www.mygreenelectronics.org/ Bring your computer to Staples & for $10 they will recycle it for you.

Holiday Cards- A non-profit home for abused & neglected youths who reuse cards http://stjudesranch.org/give/Recycled_Cards.php

Crayons-Yes, you can even recycle crayons. The great news about this program is that they take your old, rejected or even broken crayons and recycle them into fresh, new crayons!
http://www.crazycrayons.com/recycle_program.html

"BBC America's" Hit Show: How Clean Is Your House!

2008-10-08T18:31:54-04:00

For my vacation, I had the wonderful experience of going to Bonaire to go scuba diving. Bonaire is part of the Netherlands Antilles. Being a Dutch Island, I had the pleasure of watching a British television show called, "How Clean Is Your House" on BBC America. I urge everyone to view at least one episode.

First of all, it is funny and entertaining. But, what stood out is how the dynamic duo of Kim Woodburn and Aggie MacKenzie analyze and attack homes that are riddled with clutter, filth, mold, pantry moths, dangerous allergens, etc.

More importantly, they did a follow up visit two (2) weeks after their crew and completely de-cluttered, scrubbed and fumigated these very messy houses. The interesting part of the program was how some people were grateful and inspired and kept up their homes. Others, unfortunately, slipped back into old ways fast and made no attempt to keep their homes neat, HEATHY and clean.

Clutter and cleaning is a daily issue everyone has to keep on top of. The show gives you all sorts of great natural (Lots of lemons and vinegar) tips on how to clean, where to start and how to keep your home sparkling. So turn on the telly, sip a cup of tea and get inspired to clean and de-clutter.