Money & the Front Door

A friend of mine needs money.  Her financial flow seems to be at a trickle.  This is not unheard of in the current economy.  I'm sure some of you can relate.

Yet, she has done most of the proper feng shui cures as far as money goes.   She has placed red ribbons on the pipes behind her toilet and under her sinks.  The Abundance sector of her home (back left corner according to front door) is not showing any major feng shui no-nos.  There is a sink there, but she has a stopper in it to keep money from leaking out, and she also has a round-faceted crystal above the sink to diffuse the energy.  She has a thriving plant in this sector, because the element that relates to the Abundance sector is Wood.  The rest of her home has good balance for the most part.  She could probably let go of items from former boyfriends and others, but the home is generally clutter-free and tidy.

So what gives?

Upon further conversation, it came out that she only uses the back door of her home to go in and out onto her daily business.  When I asked her if she could begin to use the front door instead, she came up with a flimsy excuse of some sort.  I explained that the front entrance represents the "Mouth of Chi" in feng shui.  It is symbolic of receiving our good -- and that good includes money!  Keeping the door constantly closed is an obvious block to letting good chi in!  I told her that if she absolutely couldn't come in and out of the that front door, that she do a mini-ritual where she open the front door every morning and say out loud or to herself, "I welcome in my good today and every day."

On a recent conversation, we were brainstorming avenues of abundance for her, and I exclaimed, "Are you going through your front door yet?"  She broke into laughter and admitted "No" that she wasn't even doing the simple ritual I suggested.

The amount of steps from her car to her front door is about fifteen steps further that the distance from her car to the back door.  Oh, and the back door happens to be placed in her Abundance sector, so that energy is going in and out the back door, but never getting that good, big whoosh of energy from the front door!

I said, "Just use the front door for nine measly days, and see what happens!"  She said, "Okay!  Okay!"

I checked in with her a couple of days later, and, being the good friend that I am (albeit a little pushy), I said, "Have you been using your front door?"  She admitted that No, she hadn't!

Turns out the back door was such a habit, that she had to actually catch herself in the process of going out the back door, turn around, and then go out the front door.

The next day and the next, she did a little better, using it on occasion (although I'd love to see her use it ALL the time).

Whether she can keep it consistent, we will see.

Moral of the story:  Habits die hard.  Someone once told me that it takes 21 days to make a habit, therefore it takes 21 days to break a habit.  The new habit can replace an old, worn out one.  That's not very long in the scheme of things, and the results can be astounding.

With feng shui, a little goes a long way.  Playing with easy cures can only be beneficial, and how interesting it is to discover those resistant parts of ourselves as a result.  And sometimes the cures we put in place are simply microcosmic efforts that lets the Universe know that we are serious -- that we want positive change and that we are willing to take the fifteen extra steps to receive it.

What in the world is feng shui?

An old friend who found me on Facebook messaged me to say, "Katie. 
How the heck are ya? Your name just showed up somewhere. This Facebook thing is amazing. What in the world is Feng Shui?"

So I figured a lot of you out there may have the same question.

Short answer:  The Chinese art of placement.  "Feng shui" translates to "wind water."

Longer answer: (also posted on my website -- www.KatieRogersFengShui.com)

No one can deny the difference one feels while walking on a beach in comparison to riding on the New York subway.  Similarly, a person’s home or work place can suggest peace, comfort, inspiration, and safety...or the opposite.  This, in its essence, is feng shui:environment affects us.  

The goal of a feng shui consultant is to create harmony in a space.  In doing so, the occupants of the space benefit in all aspects of their life.  Because feng shui works on a subconscious level as well as conscious, the effects of feng shui become alive in the person immediately, resonating into the outer world.  

For a space to have good energy, or chi (pronounced “chee”), the chi must flow.  Hence the literal translation of “feng shui,” which is “wind, water.”  Wind and water both have the potential to generate power beneficially (windmills, steamboats, waterfalls, breezes) or to harm (tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, blizzards). Chi is the same way.  If it meanders freely through a home the occupants will feel nurtured and alive.  If the chi goes too fast, the occupants will feel overwhelmed, overworked, or over-tired, as if there is an energy leak.  If the chi is “dammed,” the occupants will feel blocked in their lives.  

Feng shui also takes into regard the five elements: earth, metal, water, wood, and fire.  When these elements are in balance in a space, there is a sense of completion and oneness.  When there is too much or too little of certain elements, the occupants could feel scattered, depressed, irritable, drained, nervous, bored, or even ill as examples of a few of the possible physical and emotional responses.  

The Bagua map, rooted in ancient Chinese philosophies such as the I Ching, determines what part of the space is in correlation with the occupant’s life.  The nine sections of the Bagua map are Health, Journey, Self-Knowledge, Family/Heritage, Abundance, Reputation/Fame, Intimate Relationships, Creativity/Children, and Helpful People/Travel/Spirit Guides.  When a person takes note of the different sections of the Bagua and works with the space accordingly, shifts occur.

Feng shui, on the most basic but potent level, is about honoring the space.  This in itself will manifest a life that is fulfilling, inspiring, and in tune with the greater good.  By taking care of one’s personal environment, the greater environment takes care of the person.

Green

Colors have meanings.  This is why we typically don't tend to paint our bedrooms bright red.  And why we use terms such as "wide blue yonder" and "green with envy."  It's also why you are drawn to certain colors some days and others on other days.

Spring sprang to life with color after color after color, and it brought me out of my winter slumber almost instantly.  Now the foliage is at full force in a shiny, new green that will hang on until fall...and I love it.

Green is the color of hope.  It lands in the middle of the color spectrum, marrying the warm (yellow) with the cool (blue), and therefore represents balance.  It's the color of newness (hence the term -- "he's green at the job") and new beginnings.  It can calm and energize simultaneously.  It's the color of healthy growth, and healing in general.  It's also the color of the heart chakra, so it relates to love.  Green also symbolizes abundance -- it's no accident that our money is a shade of green.

Eat greens.  Sit in a green field.  Imagine green light around you.  Doing any and all of these will facilitate balance, health, and opportunities in your life.

Skin Regime Experiment #1

I have dry skin.  So I'm forever on the search for a favorite moisturizer for my face.  I found the ultimate of ultimate a few years ago.  I had attended a fancy affair at a Los Angeles studio, and there was a spa room offering quick manicures and massages and the such, and I snagged a few free samples of the different products that served as table decoration in huge bowls, and to my delight...

... I fell in love with Carita -- a little cloud of a cream tucked in a charming light pink jar.  If Heaven came with a screw-top lid, this was it, with its barely floral smell and uncannily light feel.   Of course, the sample went quickly as the charming jar was even more charming because of its dainty size no bigger than a quarter.  And although I had a gut feeling that Heaven in a Jar was pricey, as it should be, I was willing to take the plunge and commit.  After all, I felt rich just by having it on my face, and heck, it was my s-k-i-n.  I was going to have this s-k-i-n f-o-r-e-v-e-r.

But, with all my love and optimism, I was not prepared for a price tag of $350 a jar.  A small jar.

That was a plunge a little too deep for little ol' moi...  I congratulated myself on my good taste, and reluctantly moved on.

But after trying product after product with only mediocre results, and also wanting to go for the most natural and enviro-friendly of moisturizers out there, I turned to my kitchen cupboard.

Olive oil.

I had been using it in the sun on some dreamy California beach days, discovering that it had some natural sunscreen properties.  (Please try this at your own risk.)  And it dawned on me how moisturizing it was as well.

So at night, after splashing my face with water and sometimes washing it, I just put a bit (doesn't take much at all) on my face and neck, and while some folks may hate the greasiness, I've gotten a little used to it, and the result is SOFT.

It's only been a few weeks, and it's been inconsistent, but so far, I'm pretty inspired!  I mean, maybe skin care doesn't have to be so complicated.  I did the most minute of research and found an article singing its praises:  http://www.oliveoilsource.com/page/beauty-and-olive-oil 

I'll keep you posted on the results.