Feng Shui or Not to Feng Shui

Today, I want to talk about Feng Shui. It's kind of a challenging subject because I have some pretty mixed feelings.

First, Feng Shui is about the energy flow in your home. A good Feng Shui consultant will have you set clear intentions as you clear, arrange, or enhance your areas. This is a key factor in Feng Shui. It's really about getting you aware of the effect your surroundings have on you and using intentions to change it. I think more and more practitioners are becoming aware that to really make a difference you get to address the inner world as you are changing your outer world.

In Feng Shui, there is a map called a Bagua that you place over a room or building. Although the most popular maps have nine areas, originally this was an octagon they placed over the space. The eight directions came to a unified point in the middle. To make it easier, they put the eight areas to the outside in boxes and then added a middle section that is about health and unity. I think it's based on the idea that you will be in good health when all of the areas of life are balanced.

Traditionally, the Bagua was placed with the bottom of the map over the east wall. If you have studied any Native American cultures and other old tribal cultures, you will find a similar idea. The Navajo Hogan is traditionally supposed to have its door to the east. When someone dies in the Hogan, they board up the door and cut a door in the back to remove the body through. The east is the rising sun, new life to a new day. The sun “dies” in the west. Similarly, new energy comes from the east, which is why ancient Feng Shui used the east wall.

Now, we use the wall that the energy enters your home or room; the front door or room door. It won't matter which direction you face your home. If your door is on the west, you place the bottom of the map with the door wall. The door can be in any of the three sections at the bottom of the map.

For myself, I usually take a slightly different approach. If someone needs the Bagua, we use the Bagua. If someone is more intuitive, I'll guide them to make their own. I'll ask them what area in their room represents money. When they have their own map made, they'll apply it to their house. Remember, intention is a key factor so either method will work great. The important part is that you intentionally change the energy.

One of the things that I don't agree with in Feng Shui is how they use colors and elements. The colors were chosen by a culture that has white as a color for mourning, whereas we use black. This is where I think intuition really needs to come into play. What color represents money for you? If you were to add one of the five elements wind, water, fire, earth, or metal which you would associate with money? You could then use colors or elements in that area as you feel inclined to do. The same goes for symbols. Traditionally, China has a color and symbol that means money. The question is, does it really mean the same to you? Find your own symbol that represents wealth for you.

One thing I do love about Feng Shui is the recognition that all things have a chi, which is really energy. Each item has a story to tell and for you, that story could be a blessing or a curse. This is a part of why clutter is such a problem. If an area of your home is bogged down with clutter, it will bog down your life. Stepping into a world where everything around you makes your soul sing, will create a life that makes your soul sing.

If something doesn't make your soul sing, there are choices. Let it go is just one way. Another way is to clear the energy. This is a lot of what I do with homes. I have already shared a few posts about how I do it with everyday items. Things you can do for yourself, or you can hire someone like myself to help you out.

Whether you choose to follow the Feng Shui map or not, there are many things you can do for your home with clear intentions. Ask yourself where the different areas are represented and then take time to clear them out, intentionally decorate and plan the space.

Is there too much red which is often associated with fire? You may feel like you're burning the candle at both ends. Bring in some other elements to balance out that red fire. Are you feeling stuck in your life? Check out the energy flowing in and out of your home. Does it come in through a clean entrance, inside and out? Does it have a way to flow out? So many questions and solutions are available as you look at what your room, home, or even work environment are telling you.

If you need help with what to ask or even an outside perspective or guidance, this is one of the things I offer. Of course, I'm always thrilled to clear out the “chi” as well. 😊

With love from my heart to yours,

Michele

House Intuitive

Healing homes and the people who love them.

Beyond the Clutter

Writing a blog post for this week has been an adventure. I'm at a venture in my home healing project. That is such a funny word to write. I looked it up because I wanted to know what it really meant. Venture: a risky or daring journey or undertaking, according to the Oxford dictionary result in my Google search.

The truth is, for me that's how it felt. I have gotten to a point where I finally have decluttered most of my stuff. I have very little to go through now. When it comes to what I can do in my home, my answers have now become decorating ideas instead of decluttering.

Decorating? You wouldn't think that would be a risky adventure. Here's the deal, decorating brings up a whole list of beliefs and fears I didn't even realize I had.

There are beliefs I learned from my mom. Her phrase, “I can never have nice things because of you kids.” I realized that I have a similar idea that parents with kids at home can't have nice things. The nice homes are for the people who have all of their kids out of the house. When I ask myself if it's true, I am reminded of people I know who have nice homes and kids at home.

There are beliefs about what kind of person buys decorating things. Funny as my current job is at Hobby Lobby. We have a lot of crafts but in the center of the store is home decor. This means I am seeing a lot of decorating items being bought by everyday people. I catch the crazy beliefs coming up. Do they need any of this? No, need isn't the right word, but they want it and there really is nothing wrong with wanting a pretty home.

Um, that's not what my subconscious says. As I look at a little of what I have done in my home, it both makes me smile and makes me cringe. Money beliefs, family beliefs, ideas about having nice things, frivolous things. They're all coming up.

For me, this is a huge change in how I look at and deal with homes and the people who love them. I knew clutter expressed how we are feeling inside, why didn't I let myself see the truth about decorating?

This is the thing about your home. Just as we have layers to the beliefs, emotions, and thoughts inside of us, we'll have layers in our homes. When you get through the clutter layers, you may find some surprising things underneath. What was your clutter protecting you from? Mine was protecting me from being a “selfish and vain person” among other things.

I'm excited to take on these next beliefs. What about you? Are you ready for the next layer?

With love from my heart to yours,

Michele

House Intuitive

Healing homes and the people who love them.

Chaos Preceding Order

 Today, I want to talk about chaos. I don't know about you, but I find it can be a little discouraging and overwhelming to end up in a chaos situation.

The truth about chaos is that it is necessary. One must tear down an old building in order to build a new one in its place. A couple of years ago, my children and I watched such an occurrence. The city tore down a building that was falling apart. It became a big mess of brick, dust, metal, glass, and more.

Imagine what would happen if the city looked at it the way we often look at our own lives and homes. They'd have seen the big mess and got discouraged. They would have thought things like, “Ugh, it's such a mess. I'll never get through this.” Then, with that great feeling of overwhelm, they'd start avoiding the mess and filling their time with other activities. Years later, there would still be a big mess.

Instead, the city had a plan. They knew that chaos precedes order. They knew that they had to clean up the mess and make room for a new building. It took a while to clean up the mess. After a couple of months cleaning up, they were able to break ground on the new building. They dug new holes and began construction on the buildings. First, the firehouse, as it was a priority. Then the police station and city-building went up. Lastly, they just finished replacing the park that was near this mess. It took a long time, but the effort was worth it. We have some beautiful buildings that are safe for our city officials to use.

Just this morning, my children were cleaning in their room. After a bit of progress, we thought they might be done. Then they decided it was time to clean out under my daughter's bed. It didn't take long for the room to look like they had not done a thing. Their room became a chaotic mess. My job as mom is to keep them going. I know that the mess is a necessary phase and the clean will be cleaner because they did this first.

This kind of chaos happens a lot when decluttering. We go into a closet and pull everything out. It then looks like a big mess. It really wouldn't make sense to stop in the middle just because it seems like a lot. We know that in the end, it will be cleaner because we'll be able to let go of the things that were hiding.

This probably makes sense to you when dealing with the cluttering or deep cleaning concept. The questions then come, “What about the chaos that just shows up?” “What about the room I clean and then seemingly by magic is a mess again?”

This chaos feels different but what if it isn't? What if it's a message from our subconscious to pay attention?

My space has been feeling especially like this. I cleaned and then when kids went through their clothes, the extras that we're saving for the next kid got dumped in my room. Then I got a job and they just sat there because it takes too much effort to put them away.

I get to ask myself questions. How is this a reflection in my life? I thought I had my money story cleaned up and then some things changed and it's like a bunch of stuff got dumped right back in. With this little bit of information, I can clean up my room and my money story. I'll keep asking the questions, clearing the energy, and my room will stay clean.

Just like the city needed a plan to deal with their mess, I need a plan to deal with mine. I don't want to let the chaos take over. I want to use it as a steppingstone on the path to order. What needs to be destroyed in my life in order to create the life I want? What do I need to add or take away? What is my next step? What would it take to get it cleaned up so well that my room can stay clean?

You too get to ask yourself similar questions. What your current home situation represents. What your next step is. What you want your outcome to be in the end. Keep asking the questions and moving forward so that you can create the new life you intend.

With love from my heart to yours,

Michele

Intuitive Healer

Healing homes and the people who love them.

Cleansing Our Belongings

Today, I want to share a decluttering and shopping tip.

You already know that our homes hold energy, or at least you do if you have been following my posts. Our stuff also holds energy. There are memories, emotions, and a few other things that can be found in our things. Each item also contains an energetic marker of the person who owns it.

Here's what I like to do. As I am giving my things away, I ask a prayer that all of my energy be removed. My ownership essence, my emotions, etc. I want that item to move on to the next person feeling clean and clear. Like an open slate of possibilities. I do the same thing when I bring things in, especially if they have been second-hand items.

I remember as I would pass clothes on from one boy to another, a few things would happen. One, I couldn't remember if I had passed it on. Another, the younger boy would struggle to own it even if he liked it.

One day, early in my energy days, I decided to ask that the essence of the older boy be removed from the clothes and the essence of the younger boy be added. I was pleasantly surprised when I could easily remember that the shirt had been passed along. It no longer felt like the older boys shirt. My younger boy no longer had a problem wearing it. It was a fun experiment that has impacted our life.

When my youngest was brand new to this world, he was placed in his car seat for the first time. We were ready to leave the hospital and like most babies, he didn't like it. I took him back out and said a little prayer over his car seat. We asked that any negative energy be cleared away and that a bit of my essence be placed in the car seat so he'd feel like he was with me. We placed him back in and he was peacefully content.

What you can do with energy is amazing and often that simple.

Another way you can use this technique is if you struggle to let something go. A friend told me that she had an old beat up clown that she knows doesn't bring her joy, but she just can't let it go. There is something energetically holding onto her. This is a case in which asking the clown to be cleared of all of her energy would be very beneficial. Her sense of ownership would be removed which would allow her to let it go.

If you are really struggling with letting things go, you can ask that angels be sent through your stuff with the purpose of cleaning out your essence from anything that wouldn't bring you joy. If you would rather not work with angels, you could ask that your soul or higher self remove your energy from all the things that don't bring you joy. Then when you take that item in your hand, you will no longer feel the connection you once had. It would become a lot easier to let it go.

There are many ways you can use a tip like this. Open your mind and ask yourself, what else is possible.

With love from my heart to yours,

Michele

Intuitive Healer

Healing homes and the people who love them.