LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Feng Shui


So many of you have written to me about wondering how feng shui can help to you lead lives with less stress, more personal happiness, greater balance and a deeper experience of abundance & prosperity. One of my favorite quotes is "Gratitude is the doorway to Abundance," since to truly be abundant we must acknowledge what we are already so lucky to have! Abundance can be thought as "having the right amount of everything you truly need to feel prosperous," so perhaps consider trying to discover the actual wealth-spring of your life. It could be a partner, spiritual journey, career, family, friends, but whatever it is, I would suggest that we all experience that universal energetic exchange and flow of give and take. Generosity is gratitude's companion and giving back simply magnifies the enerigies in of our hearts and understands that true happiness rests with serving others. Deepak Chopra says, "The universe operates through dynamic exchange... giving and receiving are different aspects of the flow of energy in the universe, and in our willingness to give that which we seek, we keep the abundance of the universe circulating in our lives." Our minds and hearts create the rea

So many of you have written to me about wondering how feng shui can help to you lead lives with less stress, more personal happiness, greater balance and a deeper experience of abundance & prosperity. One of my favorite quotes is "Gratitude is the doorway to Abundance," since to truly be abundant we must acknowledge what we are already so lucky to have!

Abundance can be thought as "having the right amount of everything you truly need to feel prosperous," so perhaps consider trying to discover the actual wealth-spring of your life. It could be a partner, spiritual journey, career, family, friends, but whatever it is, I would suggest that we all experience that universal energetic exchange and flow of give and take. Generosity is gratitude's companion and giving back simply magnifies the enerigies in of our hearts and understands that true happiness rests with serving others.

Deepak Chopra says, "The universe operates through dynamic exchange... giving and receiving are different aspects of the flow of energy in the universe, and in our willingness to give that which we seek, we keep the abundance of the universe circulating in our lives."

Our minds and hearts create the reality we experience which is also reflected in the environments of our lives, home and office. There is a wonderful book called "Home: How Habitat Made us Human" by John S. Allen and in it he says, "Home is one of the most important cognitive, technological and cultural products of our species' evolution." So "Home" is both a feeling and a perception and the more you make your dwelling feel like "home" the more you will actually thrive.

So while our minds are perhaps, in some cases, more difficult to transform, evolve and change on a whole range of issues, it is easy to make changes to home that can have an immediate and lasting effect in a wide variety of ways. So looking around your own home as we prepare for a joyous and reflective holiday season, beyond the seasonal fixes, how can you energize your home to reflect the abundance you seek?

Here are some results-oriented feng shui tips:

1) Make the most of your surroundings and build upon your "sense of home. Does your home reflect the feeling of luxury and abundance, and, if not, make it so! If you do not "love" something, what's it still doing in your house?

2)Fully energize your front entrance to include no clutter, dead bugs or cob webs. Ideally, potted red cyclamen, geraniums or the wonderful evergreen Nandina (lucky bamboo) flank the front door, as does an always fresh welcome mat and proper lighting invite abundance into your home.

3) Decluttering is not just removing toxic, stagnant chi or energy, it's also about creating a sense of spaciousness at home which always looks and feels high-end. Consider if pieces actually work in the space or if you are forcing it, and that less is more when it comes to home furnishings.

4) The Wealth area of the Feng Shui Bagua is far left from the front entrance. Be sure to make sure you inspect thoroughly what exists in the far left area of your home, master bedroom and yard and immediately apply these handy feng shui tips to all three of these areas.

5) Engage all of the senses in your home with green home cleansers, fresh flowers, candles, fresh smelling laundry, fragrant hand soaps, baked cookies, essential oil diffusers, the five-elements of color and warm cozy textures.

6) Check your bedroom for having the best sleep possible, including removing clutter, placing a solid bedframe with a headboard, luxurious bedding, proper window coverings, various lighting options - including candles for romance - fresh flowers, and a pair of at least 100-watt reading lights on bedside tables.

7) Create a spa sanctuary in your master bath with essential oil bath salts, candles, fresh flowers and music.

8) Cultivate your personal energy through positive feng shui adjustments and be sure to make regular (seasonal changes) to your home and workplace.

9) Develop richer and broader social networks - have more photos of friends and family around your home. (The middle-left area, if possible.)

10) Love your home and have fun!

When you make changes in your environment, please also try to express gratitude on a daily basis, focus on the positive to minimize the "lack" in your life, attract abundance towards you by creating an abundant home and keep a gratitude journal.

If you make some of the changes mentioned in the tips, try to be mindful and notice what shifts in your mind and also in your life. Do you begin to feel more fortunate in your life? Do you recognize that you already enjoy or have created more financial abundance? Do you spend money more wisely? Do people, opportunity and things show up more easily when you need them? Do you consider yourself experiencing more luck?

As you look around your newly energized home, indeed, life is abundant and filled with love, possibilities, wellness and happiness.