New Year's Resolution: Trust and surrender to the flow of energy

It's time for the new year's resolutions to be made and this year I'm challenging myself to the biggest one of my life: to trust and surrender to the flow of energy.

Recently, it has become exceedingly apparent in my life where mistrust guides my actions. I fear the universe does NOT have my best interests in mind and that if I don't remain some illusionary control over my life that I will be swept away into a sea of turmoil. What folly.

Trusting means letting go. Trusting in myself leads to a confidence that allows me to flow with life knowing that whatever my fate, I can choose to accept it peacefully or with anxiety, but neither change the outcome, just my perspective.

So today I set forth a new motto in my life: I trust and surrender to the flow of energy allowing the ups and downs to roll through reminding myself that no matter the situation, "this too shall pass."

Blue Moon New Year!

Blue Moon New Year's Eve! Energies are going to peak just in time to throw out the old and ring in the new!

Whenever working with a client, I like to emphasize the natural energetic cycles governing our lives. The moon is one of the biggest. The full moon represents the peak energy period after two weeks of building up energy, it peaks on the full moon and then begins to diminish.

From new moon to full moon is a good time to spend building up the energies towards a desired end. From full moon to new moon is a good time to spend reaping the rewards from your work and allowing the energy to dispel naturally.

This New Year's falls on a Blue Moon - meaning there are two full moons in one month. It's fortuitous that we are getting to have this right at the end of the year enabling us to build our energies twice in one month before the end of the year.

And it allows us to start the new year shedding the things we do not need an reaping the benefits of the work we have done.

Here's to an awesome Blue Moon and the beginning of a prosperous new year!

Family Heirlooms

Heirlooms possess powerful familial energy - place them in the Feng Shui family area for increased power in creating familial relationships.

As each family heirloom is passed on to the next generation, new energies are imbued into it giving it a much more powerful and significant grounding in the family heritage. It can be as simple as a photograph or as prized as a rare pocket watch, but holding on to these gems and passing them on creates layers and layers of familial energy.

Placing these objects in the family area of the house, according to the Feng Shui Bagua will focus powerful generational familial energy towards all your familial relationships. While it serves as a reminder of past generations, superficially, on an unconscious level it is affecting your life far deeper.

Let it flow

It is all energy-let it flow or attach to it is our choice!

It dawned on me the other day as someone was honking and swearing at me because I had gotten to a parking space before them, that all that energy the person was shooting at me was just that - energy. I had the choice of letting it flow right through, or getting attached and letting it boil my insides and make me crazy.

In every aspect of my life, I always have this choice. The energy feels so powerful that it will kill me sometimes, but the reality is that I can always just let it flow.

Next step is to learn how to respond in love... we'll see how we do today holiday shopping!

Awareness is key

Awareness is the first tool to increase the effectiveness of your intentions.

We often set ourselves along a path and head in the general direction of our goal. The path can be long and windy, but we will get there as long as we have our goal in mind. This is an adventurous way of exploring life and seeing what life has to offer - a path I wandered for years myself!

It's not secret though that having a clear direction leads to the realization of our goals faster. This clear direction comes from being aware: aware of ourselves, aware of our direction and most of all, aware of our intention. Our intention is what drives us, and the more aware we become of our intention, the more likely life will become full of moments of fulfillment!

Spend the day asking yourself "what is my intention in this moment" and see what answers you get.

Health affects everything.

It's not news and it's be said so many times it's cliche, but your health does affect everything else in your life. In Feng Shui, the Health Quadrant is the center of the bagua, connected to all 8 other Life Areas. It is the only quadrant that has the unique ability to touch all other parts of your life.

It is important to stress creating balance in your life by working on all of the quadrants a little. If someone wants to focus on one particular area of their life, like Love, it is still wise to create a balance by putting equal attention on the opposite quadrant, Skills & Knowledge, to avoid creating a life out of balance.

However, when it comes to the health quadrant, there is no fear in throwing off the balance unless that is the ONLY quadrant worked on. The more attention given to the center, the great the results in your health and vitality, and hence, the better energy will flow throughout all your Life Areas and hence - your life!

Here's to your health!

Chimes at the door

Chimes as the door opens are a celebration of new energy coming into your life - let your door be a musical opening to new energy flow.

Ever wondered why businesses have bells that ring as you come in the front door? Sure, it does serve the practical purpose of alerting the staff to a customer/client entering and possibly in need of attention (especially when it's a one-person shop and they have to do things in the back room). But it does so much more!

The bells upon entering is a celebration! "Yeah! We're so excited you're here we're setting off the town's bells to announce your arrival." The person entering is immediately recognized and the energy coming in with them is CLEANSED! Yes.. CLEANSED! Bells clear the energy.

Place a chime or bell at your front door so that every time it opens the energy coming in is greeted with a celebration and cleared and you will begin experiencing amazing influxes of beautiful new energies in your life.

Make your bed for better chi flow!

Grandma used to say "make your bed and your room is 90% clean!"- little did she know it's also leads to good energy flow!

Many protest at making their bed. "What's the point? It's just going to get messed up again," they argue and to some extent they are correct. But energetically, a made bed allows the for a sense of calm and rest whereas a messy bed remains unsettled.

A theme many of my clients hear from me is the idea of leaving no unfinished business. Unfinished business leads to more and more things falling behind and not getting done, leads to clutter and disorganization.

An unmade bed is unfinished business!

A made bed invokes a sense of peace when you come in the room. Think of how you feel when you enter a hotel room and find the beds all perfect and the room ready for you. That is because the energy is balanced and settled. It's good to come to a peaceful bed!

And if nothing else, grandma was right, the room is 90% clean once the bed is made! You can almost get away with a messy room if the bed is prepped and calmly awaiting another night's rest!

Mirror behind the range

The stove represents your income potential. Each burner is an avenue of wealth into your life. So it is important to keep a few tips in mind with your stove:

1. Keep it clean! Money needs to flow smoothly into your life and can do that best when there isn't a bunch of grease and goo slowing it down!

2. Use all of the burners - alternate! Rather than having a life where all your income comes from one source, use all the of the burners with the idea that you are opening up to allowing income to come in from all sources.

3. Place a mirror behind the stove / rangetop so that it reflects the burners, and effectively doubles the number of burners you have.... i.e. you have twice as many sources of income! Sweet!

Abundance is infinite, it is up to us to tap into it and let it flow into our lives... here's to an abundant new year!

Mirrors in use at entrance

Mirrors both amplify and repel energy depending on position.

Because mirror represents the water element, it is understandable to place mirrors in the entrance of your home, in the career/life path area where the element is water. HOWEVER, a mirror just inside the door that reflects back out the door is going to REPEL entering energy. Energy literally comes in, bounces off the mirror and goes right back out!

The nuisance in using mirrors at the entrance is in creating a welcoming impression with the mirror without shocking the energy into reflecting right back out to where it came from.

Do this by placing the mirror on an angle or to the side of the entrance. Functionally, this allows you to check yourself before leaving or answering the door, and energetically, it brings good energy (the element supported) to the area.

More on Mirrors in the coming days... :)

Keeping your home ALIVE!

If you are coming home and don't feel energized by arriving, you need to change that!

Many people come home and find themselves faced with stale energy. whoa! A home environment that has been left empty for some time becomes stagnate, like a pond that turns into a swamp.

There are some easy things that can be done to liven the energy of the home while you are away so that you come home to a fresh and friendly environment.

1. A water fountain - there are inexpensive and nice fountains that can be placed near your front entrance that will create moving energy and a wonderful first impression upon entering.

2. Pets - fish, cats, dogs... the list is endless and these living creatures do more than just provide you company, they keep the energy alive and moving while you are away.

3. Chimes - hanging chimes near vents or open windows creates a melodic and beautiful energy boost to the space while you are home and especially while you are away.

4. Timed lights that go on and off while you are home allow for security as well as a bit of energy stirring.

5. Plants - healthy plants or even fresh cut flowers add life around the clock!

It is a simple thing, but entering your front door should inspire you and fill you will energy, if it isn't, take some steps to add some energizers to your home!

Autumn Creativity leads to Spring Family

Every quadrant of the Bagua is related to a season. Autumn is the season related to Creativity and Children and Family and Foundation is related to the season of Spring. Remember that opposite quadrants enhance and balance each other.

Interesting that Children on one side is opposite of Family on the other. Metaphorically, we can think about how planting a seed (beginning a new project) in the Fall leads to having new growth (trees/wood/"family tree") come up in the Spring.

In other words, this is the time to start those projects you wish to see manifest in the Spring!

Here's to an abundant Spring!

Colors affect you!

Each of the quadrants of the Feng Shui Bagua are associated with a particular color. So by using that color, it is possible to activate the energy of that quadrant more powerfully. However, too much of the color tips the scale and leads to imbalance.

For instance, green is the color of new beginnings and growth. It is used in the Family / Foundation area as it represents wood. HOWEVER, too much green and the imbalance created is the feeling of jealousy.

Green can be used in any quadrant to represent a new beginning or fresh starts, but using too much green will lead to increasing feelings of jealousy, especially in that quadrant.

Not to self: If I have a Love & Partnership area that is entirely green, I need to balance it out quickly so as to avoid the jealous feelings that get stirred up!

Without even trying!!!

A client recently created a Life Map with her intention of beginning a regular exercise program of three times a week: once cardio, once yoga, and once weight training.

She said she did really well the first week, but the second week struggled to get the cardio portion complete. She was fearing that she was going to fail her goal on the second week. Later that day, a friend called up and invited her to go for a run. She didn't want to, but agreed and went. When she got back, she realized she'd completed her goal, filled her intention and stayed on track without even trying!

When she had lost the motivation, the universe had sent her some by way of a friend. How awesome is that?!?!

Job offers pouring in!

A client asked for advice on how to use Feng Shui to help her find a job. She had been searching for months with no leads and was truly frustrated. I suggested that she make 9 copies of her resume and tack the stack above her front door with the intention of a new job walking into her life.

Within a week, she had three job offers! The interview process was grueling, but after a two more weeks, she took a job doing exactly what she had put in her "purpose" statement of her resume.

"This Feng Shui stuff works!" She exclaimed when she checked back in with me, "What else can I do?" And so begins another adventurous soul down the path of intention!

I got a man!

Specifics matter! Whenever I am working with a client on their life map, I urge them to use images that evoke specific feelings, or that embody specifically what they are looking for because the universe is not without a sense of humor! It's true that we will get what we ask for.

I'm thinking of one particular client who created her Feng Shui Life Map and placed a photo of a married man in her Love and Partnerships area. He was a distinguished looking gentleman with his ring prominently displayed in the photo. She said she always attracted men who couldn't commit and she wanted to attract someone who would, the "marrying man" type.

A few months later I heard back from her as she wanted to re-do her life map with me. I asked how things had turned out for her so far and she shared several small wonders that had happened related to the map, but the reason she wanted to re-do the map was because of the love and partnerships snafu.

"Snafu?" I asked.

Sure enough, she had attracted a "marrying man" type, only problem was that it wasn't until they had been going out for a few weeks that he finally confessed to her that he was ALREADY married!

On her new Life Map she planned on putting a picture of a man placing a wedding ring on a woman's finger, to indicate she was going to attract a man who would marry her!

Specifics matter!

$625 Theater Job!

Feng Shui Life Mapping Success story!

A recent Feng Shui Life Mapper put on her map that she wanted to get a $625 Theater Job. She's non-union and the most she said she could make for a particular theater job would be $625. ... A week later, she got a Theater Job for $625!!!

She had hoped to get an acting gig at the theater, but the job they offered was Stage Manager for a an upcoming show. It goes to show how specific the universe answer requests we make as she hadn't specified an acting gig, only a "Theater Job."

Success came and she was thrilled to see the salary figure come up so quickly after her request!

You can make your dreams come true too! Contact me for a personal Feng Shui Life Mapping session or join us for the next workshop in January.

Internal and External Work of Feng Shui

Feng Shui works to create harmony between our internal world and our external world. As we practice Feng Shui, we bring these two worlds into harmony and create a life that is rich and fulfilling.

For many, the first impression of Feng Shui is its work on the external world, re-arranging the furniture and furnishing, often being sold the idea that we can “put a mirror here and a plant there and all will be well.” This idea is perpetuated in our culture of “have it now,” and “take a pill to fix it,” where we can simply click the button to download it or take a pill to make things all better immediately.

To suggest that a mirror in my entryway or a money tree in some corner of my home is going to suddenly bring great wealth into my life is equivalent to believing I will buy the winning lottery ticket or hit it rich on a slot machine. It’s relying on luck to create a quick fix. This passive form of Feng Shui sometimes works, but will do so very generally and “results may vary”!!!

Feng Shui is not about luck or some quick fix scheme. In fact, I like to describe Feng Shui as a “practice” because it is more similar to developing a skill such as dancing or playing the piano. We don’t take the stage for the first time and perform Swan Lake or sit down at the piano for the first time and compose a concerto. We develop our skill by practicing it regularly.

With Feng Shui, we are cultivating the life we desire. We practice clearing our thoughts and expressing our feelings as well as practice improving our interactions with the outside world, both in developing healthy relationships and in keeping a healthy environment. The internal world influences how we relate to the external world, and the external world influences how we think and feel. The two are independent, but they affect one another.

We can put a mirror in our entryway and the mirror does have its own energy vibration, which is working on its own level to influence us. But it’s not just the mirror that creates change, it is the intention we have in placing it there. The intention is re-enforced every time we see it, and serves to develop the internal change, the change necessary before we can create the external change we desire.

Feng Shui is about creating an environment that supports and re-enforces intentions so that as we move through our space, we are constantly reminded of where we intend to go in life.

If you are interested in creating harmony, a Feng Shui consultation brings an objective perspective to the physical space, identifying blocks, drains and limitations in the environment that are reflective of blocks, drains and limitations in our minds. Suggestions can help to up-lift, clear and increase the flow of energy, which in turn help to create clarity and peace of mind.

Our internal world is reflected in our external world and the two harmonize so that we can live a clear and purpose-filled life.

Here’s to a peaceful and harmonize life for all!

Salvatore

415-244-2543

http://www.FengShuiLifeMapping.com

Feng Shui to Embrace Change!

Feng Shui to Embrace Change!

Change, it’s what we voted for!!! Feng Shui allows us to harness the power of our intention to create change in a fun way, turning our environment into a playground of possibility!

All around us in our environment we are affirming the life that we wish to lead. And I’ve learned a few tools in my practice of Feng Shui that I’ve found to powerfully facilitate a smooth and exciting transition.

Firstly, REMOVE THE OLD!!!

As simple as it sounds, the first step I take is to get rid of anything that reminds me of the old pattern I wish to change. If I am looking for a new lover, I discard all momentos, photos, gifts, shared items with the previous lover. If I am looking for a new job, I shelve or give away any briefcase, clothes bought specifically for the job, business cards, or reminders of the job I am leaving.

Not only is the clearing something of a ceremonial cleansing, I am internally being forced to look at anywhere that I may still be attached to the old, as when I don’t want to give away that beautiful gift my ex got me for Christmas.

Think of it like the hard-drive on a computer. If we want to run a new operating system, we need to clear the hard drive. If we keep 10% of the old information, the new beginning only gets 90% of available space. If we want to date someone new but have a few special items from our ex, that’s exactly how much less the new person can come into our lives.

Removing tokens of the old creates space for the new. Which leads to our next step…

Secondly, CREATE SPACE FOR THE NEW!!!

Not long ago, I was doing a home consultation for a woman who wanted to start a new business venture. We went to her Career quadrant and assessed her situation. She had literally filled every space on the wall with photos, furniture was crowded in and the table-tops in the area were packed with do-dads and trinkets and, dare I say it, “clutter!” There was no room for anything new to be created!!!

For me, I liken it to going into the kitchen wanting to make dinner, but every space on the counter and stove is full. It’s impossible to prepare, cook, or do anything because there is no room. When we want to create something new, we need to have space to create it.

Internally, this is emblematic of having too many emotions or problems weighing on the heart and mind. The solution is to meditate, releasing each of these internal issues and creating a place of silence where the mind and heart can feel the room to conceive something new.

One quick tool is whenever someone says they wish for more wealth, the first thing I look at is their wallet. Take a look in it. Is every pocket filled, sometimes double-filled? The universe would love to give more, but there’s no room for it to go! If we’d like to attract more wealth, we need to keep one pocket of our wallet empty with the intention of allowing the universe to fill it… and it will!!! The universe is overflowing as it is and will fill any empty spaces it finds!

So, we’ve cleared out the old, we’ve created space for the new, now what?

Thirdly, SEED THE CHANGE!

Here’s where things get really fun! Find a symbolic representation of the thing that we are attempting to create and place it in the appropriate quadrant of the environment (consult the Feng Shui Bagua to determine quadrants). The idea is to visually affirm our intention of creating something new. Every time we see the object, we are reminded of our intention and our wish is re-broadcast once more around the universe.

It can be a simple as a toy car to represent getting a new car. It could be a cool looking key to represent a new home. It could be an emblem of a new/desired job such as a new briefcase or suit. Or maybe it’s a heart to represent a shift in our love life.

This small token is like our planting a seed in the universe of life. Each time the token catches our eye, our remembering our intention is watering the seed. And while it sometimes takes time for the universe to align things in our life to bring about the change we desire, keep hope alive, for the seed will sprout! Remember that intention creates reality! It may not be as fast as we like, but once we think it, there is no stopping it from manifesting in our life in some way at some point.

Remove the old, create space, and plant a seed of change… and watch as the universe brings manifest your fondest dreams!!!

If you would like help in assessing your environment and clarifying your intentions to bring about smooth and exciting changes, please allow me to share my practice of Feng Shui with you. In any case, I wish you all the peace and joy possible in the only “constant” in life, “change!”

Salvatore

415.244.2543

Salvatore@FengShuiIntentionalLiving.com

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Feng Shui Life Mapping

Life Mapping with Feng Shui Intentional Living is a powerful tool for manifesting your dream life using creative visualization and perpetual affirmation through the art of Feng Shui and Collage!

This is a creative and fun program available for individuals and groups.

We’ll discuss having clear intentions, goal setting, creative visualization, the Feng Shui Bagua and the art of collage making, along with tips on how to create a supportive environment that affirms your intentions and removes obstacles to make manifest your dreams.

Create the life you dream of having!