Start Your Life Fresh with Feng Shui

Start Fresh with Feng Shui

Removing blocks to successful living

Publisher, The Red Lotus Letter

www.redlotusletter.com

Feng shui is all about energy: the flow of it, the lack of it, the harmonizing of it, and the cultivation of positive, beneficial energy. When your life is stagnant or bountiful, smooth or bumpy, you can bet there is some cause and that you are living the "effect." That is the best news there is about feng shui, is that, yes, there is something that can be done about some of the dilemmas you may be facing. And that is what drew me to feng shui: there is hope and a remedy for many of life's annoyances.

So, how can you move ahead and get past some of the problems of the past? It will take effort, but if you truly want to get a head and have some beneficial change, you won't mind because the payoff is more than worth the effort. The checklist below outlines the steps you should take to get energy moving for you in your home -- and your life.

Do things symbolically. When you clean house before New Year's Eve, for example, you are symbollically starting fresh and new for the new year. This is just one example of doing things in a symbolic way. Think of things you can do to create a symbolism in your life. I give boxes of oranges to my customers because these symbolize gold! Consider buying new artwork in your house that inspires and uplifts you and is symbolic of something you aspire to!

Start new. This change can be a new, positive tradition that you do for yourself at the start of each new year such as buying a new wallet or purse. This is my own personal tradition. I buy a new wallet, checkbook cover, and purse -- all red! And, yes, red wallets REALLY DO work!

Let good energy take root. Plants are a wonderful New Year tradition. If possible, plant something outdoors, such as bulbs or a tree to get the New Year off to a healthy, vigorous and symbolic start. If that's not possible, purchase a new, lush and healthy indoor plant for the New Year.

Pick a corner of the house to refresh and renew. Plan on doing some renovations to your home to keep the energy of the area fresh and vibrant. Plan some new curtains, wall color, etc., for this area -- or do it in the yard -- just make a plan to invigorate your home.

Choose one room to streamline and de-clutter. Resist trying to tackle the whole house. Get a friend or a family member and bring in a box and a trash can. Throw as many items in the box to donate to charity or in the trash can to throw away that you can. If you still feel motivated try another room in the house.

Diagram your house. With some graph paper in hand, set about diagraming your entire house. Next, draw nine equal squares over the house. Each square or sector corresponds to a direction (north, south, etc.). Draw the North-South line on the diagram to locate the north and south sectors. Then, check the front door to determine its facing direction (looking out of the house toward the street); it should be the same as the house.

If your house faces one way and the door faces another, remember to determine the facing direction by the most open area on your house (link takes you to the last issue on "facing direction"). This can be a large picture window, a wide veranda, or the area with the best view of a lake, a river, the ocean, or a major scene, such a view of the city.

Welcome opportunities to your house. The front of the house is where opportunities originate. If the front of your house needs help, then chances are you might be feeling stuck or without options in your life. For those of you in trailers or manufactured homes, be sure that steps leading up to your house are closed and that the risers are not open otherwise you will be losing valuable opportunities. Now, if your front door faces E, SE, or North, paint it BLACK. If it faces SW, South, or NE paint it RED. If your door faces west or NW, paint your door GOLD (ochre) or PURPLE with silver hardware. The door is your pathway to opportunity...make it a beautiful path!

Locate afflicted areas and handle them. You MUST know where the afflictions are in your home each year so that you do not create more problems for yourself and so you can be forearmed. Be sure to stand at the center of your home and determine where each of the afflictions are -- I have given you compass readings for each. This is the best way to determine EXACTLY where they are. For more information on annual afflictions, be sure to read the annual feng shui article.