Year of the Dragon

Posted on January 14, 2012 by Diane Gallin

Water Dragon

The year of the Yang Water Dragon (Ren Chen) is approaching on January 23 and if you haven’t already begun, this is the time for your preparations.  Here are a few tips to get started:

  • Clean your home and business thoroughly, including basements, garages, porches, attics and storage rooms
  • Wash windows, paint, clean filters and drains, dust and clear your clutter
  • Organize files, closets, drawers, calendars and schedules
  • Clean out refrigerators and pantries and only put back the foods you want to eat
  • Replace, repair or remove anything that is broken (especially clocks and watches)
  • Remove your hanging crystals and soak them in a solution of sea salt and water Then place them in the sun for a few hours to absorb yang energy.  Restring with new red ribbon and rehang
  • If you have an altar in your home, clean and re-state your intentions for the coming year
  • Pay your debts and balance all accounts
  • Clean and oil the hinges on your front door
  • Reconcile any disputes you may have
  • Get a haircut
  • Clean and optimize your computer files and drives

Stay tuned for more information on the Yang Water Dragon.  It promises a busy and productive year with lots of unexpected happenings, so hold on and enjoy the ride!

Diane Gallin, CFSC

 

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Holiday Decorating With Feng Shui

Posted on December 17, 2011 by Diane Gallin

pinecone and candle

Have you noticed how our homes and businesses look so much more inviting during the holidays?  From a Feng Shui perspective, this is because we typically introduce Feng Shui cures such as light, color and sound in the form of seasonal decorations.  A simple strand of outdoor lights on a tree or shrub illuminates the path to a front door, welcoming business, friends and ch’i.  The sounds of holiday music and bells vibrate the energy in a space, which helps to clear stagnant areas.  The color red, which represents the fire element, radiates and attracts attention, warmth and energy to a darkened corner.

In winter, you can use items from nature such as berries, greens, pinecones and nuts in your décor, since the colors of the season are generally abundant outdoors.  Simmer cinnamon, orange, apples and cloves in a pot on your stove to naturally scent your environment.  Light a fire or candle in early evening to warm your spirit through the longer nights.  Then turn on your favorite music, sit back and enjoy your beautiful surroundings.

Wishing you good ch’i,

Diane Gallin, CFSC

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Full Moon

Posted on November 11, 2011 by Diane Gallin

The moon represents yin energy in yin/yang theory of opposites.  Yin is feminine, soft, yielding and still – like the darkest of nights.  Never conflicting with the yang sun, the moon complements and completes the cycle of nature that regenerates while at rest.  This interdependence makes all things yang possible.

While the sun inspires us to reach out in action to effect change, the moon challenges us to recognize and trust the wisdom we already possess. Take a moment tonight to go outside and bathe in the light of the full moon, allowing her gentle energy to restore your nature and to honor and recall your trusted intuition.

Wishing you good ch’i,

Diane Gallin, CFSC

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Saving Time

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Diane Gallin

Clock

Have you checked to see that all the clocks in your home and business are in working order lately?  The end of Daylight Saving Time this weekend affords you the perfect opportunity to do that.  In Feng Shui, clocks and watches represent the orderly passage of time, so a broken, slow or non-functioning clock in your surroundings can have a negative effect on your progress.   The unwound grandfather clock in your Career sector or stopped watch in Relationships sends a message that time stands still for you in these areas of your life.  The perpetual motion of working timepieces mirrors the natural flow of energy in life and keeps us moving in the right direction.

Wishing you good ch’i,

Diane Gallin, CFSC

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Point of View

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Diane Gallin

window

Do you have a window near a chair, desk or table you frequent?  Sometimes people feel it necessary to cover windows with heavy curtains or shades, but with Feng Shui, nature can provide the privacy you desire without blocking light and air.  You might plant an evergreen or perennial shrub with beautiful dense foliage in front of a window that requires privacy.  Or choose from a wide variety of graceful grasses and wispy ornamental plants to create a more fluid and transparent screen. Be sure to allow room for ch’i to circulate between the branches and the building.  Clean your windows then keep an eye out for nesting birds, bees and butterflies.  Sit back, relax, and enjoy the view!

Wishing you good ch’i,

Diane Gallin, CFSC

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Autumn Feng Shui

Posted on October 2, 2011 by Diane Gallin

 

Autumn is in the air and with it all the brilliant colors, scents and flavors of the season. As trees prepare to go inward for the winter, they send out acorns, pinecones and brilliant foliage in shortened daylight hours.  Colorful pumpkin, squash and root vegetables are bountiful.  These gifts of nature adorn our landscapes and make beautiful indoor arrangements as well – reminders of earth’s changing cycles.  But when decorating your home or business in autumn, it is best to avoid lots of twigs, hay and dried flower arrangements, since they represent the past in Feng Shui.  Instead, choose colorful fresh mums, leaves and cabbages of the season for display, and bring nature’s bounty (and prosperity) indoors with you!

Wishing you good ch’i!

Diane Gallin, CFSC

http://www.windandwaterfengshui.com/

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Feng Shui Your Office

Posted on September 23, 2011 by Diane Gallin

Do you work for an organization in a corporate location or satellite building?  From a Feng Shui perspective, the landscape, architecture and layout of commercial buildings have many far-reaching implications for the success of that organization.  But your prospects for career advancement are greatly influenced by where you work in that building and the arrangement of your own work space.  While you might not be able to change your office location, here are some things you can do to help improve your own prospects:

  • Your desk should be located in the command position of your office, with a supportive wall behind you.
  • You should have an unobstructed view of the entrance door while seated. 
  • There should be more open space in front of your desk than behind. 
  • While seated at your desk, there should be no sharp corners from protruding walls, bookcases or furniture aimed at you and no overhanging shelves above your head. 
  • Your desk should be large enough to accommodate the work that you do and your chair should have a high back. 
  • Clear the clutter on your desk and in your office to help increase your productivity.
  • Use uplighting rather than overhead fluorescents to help raise energy levels.
  • Introduce organic materials such as plants, fabrics or natural sounds to offset the hum of electronics which can sap your vitality.
  • The artwork in your office should represent confidence and expertise in the industry.

If you are unable to make some of these changes, start wherever you can.  There are specific Feng Shui cures to correct, re-route and restore energy in both commercial and residential buildings that will make a difference in your career.  Let me know if I can help.

Wishing you success and good ch’i!

Diane Gallin, CFSC

http://www.windandwaterfengshui.com/

 

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Clear Eyes

Posted on August 12, 2011 by Diane Gallin

Are the windows in your home and business clean and in good working order?   Windows are your connection to the outside world, so you might want to clean and repair any that are dirty, broken or stuck.   Over time, indoor energy stagnates – especially when buildings are sealed up during hot summers and cold winters.  By routinely opening all the doors and windows, fresh air is replenished, helping to improve air quality and energy flow.

In Feng Shui windows are also linked to the voice of the child, so remove any tall furniture or heavy window coverings that might be blocking access to the windows in your home.  Trim overgrown trees and shrubs around windows that obstruct the view.  By keeping windows clean and accessible, you will give your child (and the child within you) a clear vision of their potential and a healthy connection to the world outside regardless of the season.

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Bon Voyage!

Posted on July 8, 2011 by Diane Gallin

   Are you taking a trip this summer?  If your accommodations include a hotel room, vacation villa or cruise cabin, consider the Feng Shui implications.  Avoid rooms over a hotel’s kitchen or parking garage where constant activity adds to the already transient nature of your trip.  Rooms located near an elevator or lobby contain too much yang energy for restful sleep. 

After hours of driving or flying in metal vehicles, take off your shoes and try to walk barefoot on the earth or in the sand for a bit when you arrive.  And if you are sailing the seven seas, you might want to lose a few pounds before your journey since the body responds to living on moving water by adding weight for grounding. 

Be safe and have fun!

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Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

Posted on June 10, 2011 by Diane Gallin

antique mirrorDo you have mirrors hanging in your home or business?  We sometimes use reflective building materials or mirrors in Feng Shui to open up closed, dark or narrow spaces or to reflect and attract auspicious land or water ch’i from outdoors.   Because mirrors actually duplicate a view, it is important to place them properly. 

For example, a mirror hung across the room from a window that faces a beautiful park, lake or open land captures that energy and helps to bring life-giving nature indoors.  A window facing a dark alley or an unpleasant view is captured as well, so duplicating that view should be avoided.  Segmented, cracked or dirty mirrors distort the image they reflect, so opt for clear or beveled finishes that are smooth and clean.

Regardless of where you use mirrors, they should be hung to accommodate the tallest person in the family so that they can see their entire torso and six inches above their head, since this represents their potential.

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