NEW BLOG LOCATION at KatieRogersFengShui.com

Hi!

I'm so excited to announce that my blog is now linked up on my website!

Visit here at:  http://katierogersfengshui.com


I also have a YouTube channel where I've posted some videos for Feng Shui tips and advice.  Here's the link:  Katie's YouTube Channel


Cheers, and thanks for visiting!

Happy Feng Shui-ing,
Katie


P.S. Remember to check out my online classes as well!

The 3 "Biggies" in Feng Shui

Every room is important in feng shui, but if I had to pick three areas that impact us the most, it's these:

1.  Front Entrance

2.  Bed

3.  Stove

(...and I must mention...4. Desk, especially for a home office!)

Why these?

1.  The Front Entrance.  The main door to your home represents how you allow the good into your life.  So when spiffing up the front of your home think: Inviting.   If this part of your home isn’t up to par, (i.e. cluttered, dingy, broken, or dull), then you may be repelling the good from coming into your life.

Source: This Old House 

You must welcome it!  Imagine chi to be like a genie who will bring you whatever it is you desire, but that genie needs to be honored and invited in in order for you to get it.

2.  The Bed.  You spend 1/3 of your life in your bed.  (And you should!)  Your quality of sleep is affecting everything from how well you eat, to how well you exercise, to how well you think, and interact with people.  So yeah.  Bed needs to be up to par too.

Make sure you are sleeping on natural materials and that there is absolutely no clutter under the bed.  Electronics in the bedroom should be at a minimum, and yes, that includes the TV.  The bed should also be positioned so that you have a view of the door, but absolutely not so that your feet are aligned pointing directly out the door.  Basically, if you aren’t sleeping well, please consider the feng shui of the room!  It’s huge.

Source: Dana Casey Design.  Few too many pillows for my feng shui taste, but all and all, this is a calm, clean bedroom that should promote good sleep.

3.  The Stove.  The stove represents how you nourish yourself and your family.  If you are cooking with intention and love, it goes far!  Plus, when you have food on the stove, it means you are experiencing some abundance.  Therefore, your stove represents your finances too!  

Be sure to keep the stove clean and use each eye to bring more opportunities into your life.  Here, you should also have the “command position” so that you can see the entrance to the kitchen as to not be “surprised” while you are engaged in cooking. 

Source  The shiny surface provides a cure so that the cook can see what is behind them.

4.  The Desk.  Again, command position and a desk that is fully functioning will affect your position at work as well as your finances.

So, if you only do the minimum in feng shui, give attention to these 3 biggies -- and clutter too -- and you'll start to see the shifts immediately!  


Check out Katie's on-line Declutter & Feng Shui courses!  

My Suitcase was Stolen - What A Declutterer Learned

The Gulf of Mexico...calling me 

School was out.  The beach was calling -- a 4.5 hour drive through Alabama to the panhandle of Florida.

I was SO ready.

So ready, in fact, that I packed the day before and went ahead and put the suitcases in the car so that we could roll out of bed at 7 AM and make it to sand-and-surf by lunch.

We awoke as planned, with that Christmas morning feel.  I was excited to get Outta There to my beloved Gulf.  I scurried to get the final items together.  I happened to glance down at my phone at one point (habit) to see that someone in our neighborhood had posted that his Jeep had been ransacked the night before.

I paid no attention...until I went to my own car.  Did I leave the glove compartment open for some reason?  Why is the center console wide open?

Oh no.  Where is my SUITCASE?

I did what many a Southern lady would do:  I called my Mama.

"I think I'm just in shock!" I told her.  She had complete empathy. After all, summer had just begun, and I had lovingly packed my favorites of the favorites of summer attire (which is my favorite):  the best-looking and most comfortable.  The white linen pants that fit perfectly, the aqua sundress bought in the Bahamas which seemed made for me, the just-enough-baggy shorts that were as comfortable as pajamas without sacrificing style.  And the bathing suits!  All four of them.  Not to mention my best yoga clothes and running shoes.  Ack, the bras and panties alone!  Oh, and sandals.  Good ones.

If you follow me at all, you know that my mantra is DECLUTTER.  Over the years, I have refined and refined, and while I'm not quite a minimalist, I have definitely whittled my belongings -- including my clothing (which is no easy task being the daughter of a daughter of a daughter of seamstress/designers) -- to that which is only necessary and/or "sparks joy," a term lifted from Marie Kondo's teachings.

Take away one suitcase, and you are basically taking away my entire wardrobe, or at least very key pieces of it.

Once past the initial shock, I succumbed to the fact that we were going to be leaving for the beach later than anticipated.  Curious and caring neighbors came out to pat me on the back, as the cops arrived; it turned out that many cars in the neighborhood had been vandalized (but no broken windows that I know of).

Still, I was so ready to get to the beach.  I gave my report and went back inside for a duffel bag, and this time, I took minimalism to heart, grabbing only a few items of clothing and tossing them in.

(And yes, I stopped by a store once at the beach and found one bathing suit that would carry me through.)

At the beach, I admit I missed my clothes.  After all, the second round of packing was not thought out much, and I didn't even have a cover up with me.

I simply wore what I had, and that was as good as ever, it being a casual trip to the beach anyway.   But still, there were some unsettling moments of, "Oh yeah, I'm going to have to replace my strapless bra now" and "Oh yeah, I wore that easy blue dress a lot; now what?"  "Oh yeah, this dress I brought really needs those shoes to look right."

Enter:  The New Earth by Eckhart Tolle.  It was recommended by a dear client, and you know when you get that little ping  -- I knew it was my book for the beach.

The book is a revelation for me on many levels, but for this post, I'll focus on his descriptions of "form" and "space."  Tolle explains that, in today's society and over many centuries, humans have been heavily preoccupied with form -- our bodies, our cars, our houses, our level of success based on this and that, our test scores and achievements, our clothes-- over "space," which is our inner essence and life and God itself.

In the shortest of short, he says that a balance between the two is the key to happiness, connection, and yes, joy.

**********************************************

Back home, I alerted my insurance company about the theft, and I'm still waiting to hear.  For fun, I decided to make a game of the loss, and I posted on Facebook that my stolen suitcase is a good excuse for my friends to declutter and to please give me the clothes that they no longer want.

This worked.

I have been relatively unpicky in what I received -- if it fit decently -- I kept it.

It's amazing what the Universe brings you if you just open up.  Very little of what was given to me would I actually take off the rack at the store and buy myself, but interestingly, the pieces are working for me in a different way.  Colors that I am not drawn to while shopping are now in my drawers, which feels good for a change!  New shoes that I would have overlooked now sit in my closet, and they are turning out to be my most comfortable and functional yet.  One tank top (that I almost discarded) surprised me by working perfectly as a work-to-yoga piece, saving me an outfit change for the day.

Sure, I will have to reassess in a  few weeks, and I'm sure I'll need to let go of some of these items.  And of course, yes, I will soon be shopping to replace things like bras and running socks.

In the meantime, I'm wearing the things that in my own closet were second-tier, and they are finding new life, and then enjoying the gifts, and possibly a new means of self-expression?

More significantly though, what I've released at a deeper level is that the stolen suitcase is a chance to dis-identity to form at all, at least when it comes to my personal fashion style.  In decluttering, with Kondo's mantra, "does it spark joy?" when choosing items to stay in one's home, comes the remembrance that, although these items may bring forth a moment of happiness, they are not the source of the joy.  The source of the joy is pure spirit, within us, and these items are simply (and paradoxically) vague, dreamy reminders of that.

For me, the loss of the suitcase gave way for great joy:  the opportunity for playful shopping experiences in my friend's closets, the adventure of "what will the Universe provide"?   It opened space for my friends too:  they are now less cluttered, and they got to be the joyous givers of things that no longer served them, in hopes of serving their fellow human: me.

I ask you:  where in your life can you be less attached to form and more open to space?

I recommend the adventure that arises from it.

a few items that I received! (the middle is the work-to-yoga tank)  :)

How To Declutter Your Kid's Stuff WITH Your Kid (and Still All Love Each Other Afterwards)

Yesterday, I was done.  Done with looking at my little girl's room and all those damn. tiny. little. nothing. toys that would find their way in my purse, under her bed, in the bathroom, in her sock drawer, in the car...

You know what I mean.

While I thought I cleaned my child's room out regularly, feng shui practitioners know that we are all blind to our own "stuff."  Ava's room was my blind spot.

Her bedroom.  Please note that I did not straighten up AT ALL for this pic.
It's usually a little bit better.  

This little bucket thing only serves the purpose of collecting those tiny. dumb. toys.  Tried to sort.  Not happening.  THIS THING IS TOAST.  She doesn't even play with the stuff!

Not proud; don't judge.
Bottom -- One bin: costumes.  Second bin: costume accessories.  Third bin: Musical instruments.
The middle shelf -- not functioning at all.  TOAST.

Top of closet.  Clothes are driving me crazy.  Top shelf:  games we play, like, never.

Yeah...so I had let my child's room go a bit.  And I do this for a living.  This should make you feel GREAT about your own home, okay?

So, I announced over breakfast yesterday that, after school, we were taking every single toy out of her room, and only putting back the ones that made her "feel happy."  And then we might change her furniture around.

Her response:  "Yay!"

Mine back to that (covering up my slight surprise):  "Yes.  YAY!"

Ava knows the clean-out process fairly well, because I've been doing it with her since she had any cognizant understanding as to what was happening.  That was when she was 2 years old.  She is now 5.

Sure enough, at 3:15 PM we began.  By 5:15, the room looked like this:

Ta-dah!!!  2 hours, no lie.

Arranged more neatly.  I wanted to give her access to a variety of things.

She TOTALLY got into it, and wanted to wipe down her kitchen.  It had cat hair on it, so that was good.

Layout of furniture is good, not the best.  A pretty little rug will help, as will some white eyelet curtains. Love girly!  I may replace the Mardi Gras pic but she sure does like it.  :)  (Who wouldn't like a pic of a cat and a jester?)

HOW TO DECLUTTER WITH YOUR PRECIOUS LITTLE DARLINGS and still love them when you're done:
1.  Absolutely involve them.  The most amazing thing I learned from teaching preschool is this line:  "You have a choice."  Your children are little people.  By teaching them how to let go -- yet guiding them and still giving them the choice for what stays and goes -- is a tremendous thing to teach them!   To get rid of their things without them present is disrespectful.  How would you feel if someone did that to you?!
2.  Take everything out of the room.  When you take it ALL out, they see how much they have, and it makes letting go a ton easier!  They won't feel like you are taking everything away, because guess what:  there is so much left.   The key to successful decluttering and organizing is to GET RID OF as much stuff as possible.  Period.

My living room.  When Christmas gifts become the anti-Christ, right?

2.  Hold up each item with them and ask, "DOES THIS MAKE YOU FEEL HAPPY?"  Not:  "Does this make you happy?"  Not:  "Is this a happy thing?"  Put the "feeling" verb in there.  That is all you have to ask.  If it is a yes, it stays; if it is a no, it goes.  Two piles.   Yesterday, we had a Maybe pile going for the first 10 minutes, but she quickly forgot about it, because the game was in a flow.  (The Maybe pile went btw -- it almost always does.)
3.  Don't get involved.  You may be attached to some things that they are not.  Give yourself permission to keep one or two things that you find sentimental, but no more.
4.  Explain beforehand that these toys are going to someone else who will love and use them. 
It doesn't hurt that Ava knows that there are some children in the world who have zero toys.   I am sure to bring that up every time we give stuff away.  I hope that it will instill a sort of gratitude in her. Giving is good;  it helps people.  I want her to know this in and out.
5.  Tell them it's a treasure hunt.  Because it is!  Ava got excited over and over at discovering forgotten toys that indeed, made her feel happy, that she thought she had lost.
6.  Don't get hung up on things.  Just toss in the Maybe pile.
7.  Little items can be gathered in one out-of-the-way place. 
 This was my solution:

Usually under-the-bed is a feng shui no-no, but because this is the ONLY thing under there, and the child only takes up about 1/20th of the bed, I made an exception.

8.  Organize according to "priority."  If she or he uses it often, then keep it close.  Hence, the costume box on the floor.  She has about 8 costume changes a day, so it was justified.
9.  If you get overwhelmed, just keep going!  You will get overwhelmed and think, "Can I get this done?"  You will.
10.  Set aside a designated time.  Three hours is the magic number, I've found, but your child will last less than that.  Again, I did it yesterday in 2, but we didn't do the clothes, and there was extra time to put the give-away items in the car and such.
10.  Reward him or her, and celebrate.  It doesn't have to be anything fancy, a high five and a popsicle will do!  Let them have the chance to be proud of themselves.

In the end, decluttering with my little girl is a fun bonding experience, for real!  She literally was singing the entire time.  Children know deep down the positive effects of an energy shift, and cleaning out the old is just that!  After all, they are growing and changing at warp speed, and their space should reflect their changes!

Katie is available for in-person declutter sessions and loves to work with children!  Call 205.983.0888 or email katierogersfengshui@gmail.com for more info.  

50+ Books to Shift Your Consciousness & Inspire You

With summer around the corner, what better way to spend a lazy day than to read?   Get inspired this summer!   Here's a list of some of my favorites in no particular order if you need something to oh, you know, change your life in amazing ways...


LIST OF FAVES:

Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda

The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks

The Course in Miracles

Lightworker's Way by Doreen Virtue
Healing with the Angels by Doreen Virtue

Make Miracles in Forty Days by Melody Beattie

Animal Speak by Ted Andrews
Animal-Wise by Ted Andrews

Animal Talk by Penelope Smith

Ask and It is Given by Abraham-Hicks

You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay

Siddhartha by Herman Hesse

The Alchemist by Pablo Coehlo

The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

Grace and Grit by Lanier Isom & Lilly Ledbetter

The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman

Dream Game by Ann Faraday
Dream Tending by Dr. Stephen Aizenstat

The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell

The Bible

Non-Violent Communication by Marshall B. Rosenberg

Think and Grow Rick by Napolean Hill

The Game of Life by Florence Scovel Shinn

The Four Agreements by Don-Miguel Ruiz

Anger by Thich Nhat Hanh

Diet for a New America by John Robbins

The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

Mists of Avalon by Marion Bradley

Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus by John Gray

Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman

Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsh

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

The Hobbit by J. R. Tolkien

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono

Still Life with Woodpecker by Tom Robbins

Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki

The I Ching

Anatomy of the Spirit by Caroline Myss

The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran

The Teachings of Don Juan by Carlos Castaneda

Many Lives, Many Masters by Brian Weiss

There Is A River: The Story of Edgar Cayce by Thomas Sugre

The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield

Making Movies by Sidney Lumet

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui by Karen Kingston

Feng Shui Chic by Sharon Stasney (and all her books)

Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life by Karen Rausch Carter

The Western Guide to Feng Shui by Terah Kathryn Collins

Sacred Space by Denise Linn

For more feng shui books, see this post!

What are your favorites??!

The Year of the Sheep, My Take

On February 19, 2015, we will move into the Year of the Sheep (otherwise known as the Ram or the Goat.)

We will be moving out of the Year of the Horse.

Horses I am into.  I absolutely love horses.  They may just be my favorite animals.

But Sheep?  I mean, I really don't think about sheep so much.

What you talkin' about, Katie?  (Source)

Because I was a bit dissatisfied with what information I found on the Internet regarding the Year of the Sheep, I decided to sit down and see if I could get some of my own guidance, (a.k.a. "automatic writing).

This is what came through:
I wrote, "I ask for information/guidance regarding the energies of the Year of the Sheep that is coming up."

I got:
Sheep's energy is one of Giving.  It gives milk and wool and is mild-mannered.  There is an abundance energy regarding Sheep in that it can give and give and not be affected much in that giving.  The milk is easily replaced as is the wool.

Source  "Comfort & nurturing" are marks of the Year of the Sheep

Innocence is the mark of Sheep too.  (Sacrificial lamb.)  Sheep is not necessarily a determined creature but one that is content to follow the herd.

While some people, especially in Western cultures, may see this attribute as a flaw or weakness, in truth, it is simply a willingness to surrender to the flow of the energy currents already present.  Not wanting nor striving to be a "leader" or "unique" can have great benefits.

It has the element of being content with one's "herd" or tribe and enjoying the comforts of a pastoral life, knowing that there is a shepherd of sorts watching over in protection.  After all, how many tales have a shepherd as an important character?  One who is usually humble and true and free of pretense?

Source

Sheep does not hide nor does it stand out particularly.  Their role may seem passive in Western eyes, yet Westerners have forgotten the value of going with the flow and allowing.

After all, if a sheep strays from the herd, that is when disruption happens.  If the shepherd is a true one, it is IDEAL to stick with the herd -- so before one judges the "herd mentality," remember that the herd mentality can be healthy if it's in the highest good of all.

As far as 2015, the Year of the Sheep, goes.... expect abundance -- not in the flashy, showy way -- but in the creature comforts of home and family life.  If one can unplug from the go-go-go mentality of the Western culture and learn to surrender to a calmer, more meandering path, one will discover the joys of a slower pace and really ENJOY life.

While the Year of the Horse had its ups and downs and excitements, the Year of the Sheep will be a welcome one with its nurturing energies if one can recognize that there is value in living day to day at a slower speed.  Give thanks for the blessings that are here!  Sheep shall give great comfort and joy.  She is The Great Provider and while she does not fan fancy feathers nor strut her stuff, her gifts are 10,000-fold if you could all just settle down and honor her.

Sheep is the 8th animal in the Chinese zodiac.

The numerology adds up to an 8 year (2+0+1+5=8).

8 is the number of prosperity and abundance and flow.


It is tradition in China to prepare for the Chinese New Year by letting go of the old -- decluttering and cleaning house!  Please join us for DECLUTTER YOUR WAY TO CLARITY so Sheep can have room and space to provide for you in 2015.  Click here for testimonials and to sign up!  

5 Really Simple Feng Shui Cures You Can Do Right Now

1.  Tidy up, organize, and clean.  (Even if it's one drawer, it counts!)

2.  Just move something -- anything -- if you're feeling stuck in your life.

3.  Get rid of the things that are holding you back energetically.  (i.e. a gift from an ex; clothing that doesn't fit; the bedspread you haven't used in 7 years; stuff, stuff, and more stuff.)  (Even if it's one thing, it counts!)

4.  Set an intention.  (Light a candle, paint a wall, dance a dance -- all while focusing on what you want.)

5.  Make a list of things around the house (and otherwise) that are "irritating" you.  Choose one to take care of this week.  For the rest, imagine that a magical helper is going to take care of all of those other things for you, and thank him or her for that.  And watch these things get "magically" done!  Be sure to cross them out when so!

How's that for simple?

Now, go!