InspiredFengShuiLife

Feng Shui is working purposefully with the things in your environment to create positive change in your life.  By making physical changes within your space, your are setting in place pathways to allow energy to flow to support you in creating the life you desire.  Working on purpose is not just a physical activity. To achieve your highest your good you need to work on purpose on all levels, including your mental and spiritual levels.

              Photo by Tim

Positive shifts happen because you create them.  They can happen in an instant or they can happen slowly.  You might have a few bumps along the road or you may just see the path open before you.  Focus on Why you are making changes and trust that you have already set in place what is perfect to create that shift and allow those changes to come to you naturally.  Whether you are working on your physical envvironment or your internal one, you really need to know what it is you want in your life and what your perfect life looks like before you can create it.  By trusting that the actions you have taken are working and then moving on allows you to accept what comes. 

Working on your life from the inside out is going to bring you greater clarity, more joy, and a sense of peace.  Once you have identified what your perfect life would be, what your goals are, why you want them and how they are going to improve your joy in life, you will be better able to assess what is not working in your environment.

Oftentimes, you will find very literal reflections of any limitations you have been placing on yourself internally in your external environment.  By identifying and acknowledging those before you make Feng Shui adjustments, you will be able to really maximize your results from your consultant’s suggestions.  Release any limitations on an internal level and replace them with images of yourself already living as you want to be.  Make changes in your external environment that will support you on a physical level to make these goals your reality.

Change is constant.  You attract everything that is in your life, positive or negative.  Feng Shui can help you improve your environment and support you to achieve your goals and remove any energy blocks.  Change starts on the inside.  Your external environment supports you and reflects what is happening on an internal level.  Decide today what you want for your life and begin creating that reality now.

For those interested in scheduling an on-site or telephone Feng Shui consultation, please give Nickie a call at 818-383-7502 to schedule an appointment and discuss the details of your consultation.  If  you leave a voicemail, please be sure to leave your phone number so I can return your call.

Travel Schedule: 

• I will be traveling to the Bakersfield area mid-July 2008.  If you would like to schedule an on-site Feng Shui Consultation, please call to schedule an appointment.
• I will be traveling to the San Francisco area July 20-24 2008.  If you would like to schedule an on-site Feng Shui Consultation during those dates, please call to schedule an appointment.

Southern California and Telephone Consultations:

• Call or email to schedule your appointment. 

The things you choose to surround yourself with on a day to day basis speak loudly about who you are.  Everything from the colors you choose, the furniture you sit on, the art on your walls, even the clothing on your back has some meaning whether you acknowledge it consciously or not.  Take time to consider the value and meaning of those things you surround yourself with and ask if they are truly representative of what you desire most from life now.

As you grow in life, your values, situations and tastes change.  You accumulate things along your path and furnish your homes and offices to suit your needs and tastes and in these ways, your values are reflected.  As life evolves, oftentimes the pieces you have picked up over the years no longer fit, but you hang onto them out of habit, not even realizing that you have outgrown them.  These things can symbolically keep you stuck in the past, limit your growth, even hinder new relationships.

Look around your home closely.  Really look. 

• If you are single and are looking for a relationship, or have trouble making new relationships last, look at what you have around your house.  Do you have reminders of past relationships in your home?  Hanging on to past relationships by keeping the mementos of past lovers in your space is a sure way to discourage a new relationship from growing into “the one”.  Release those reminders of the past and make room for that new special person to enter your life and allow your relationship to blossom and grow.
• Have you been tired, lethargic?  Look closely at your home.  Is it looking tired?  Does it need a thorough cleaning?  Is there anything broken?  Look at the curtains, bedding, towels.  Are they looking tired and droopy or do they look fresh?  You don’t have to spend a lot of money, but you do want your home to look fresh.  If you have a layer of dust on the top of your curtains, clean them now.  If they are tattered and torn, replace them or remove them completely if it won’t impair your privacy.
• Are you feeling supported?  Look at the arrangement of your furniture.  Is your office chair in the command position?  Is your sofa in the command position?  Does the furniture itself literally support your body or is it so worn you sink?  Is your bed in the best position in your bedroom and is your bedroom a nurturing environment?  By supporting your body you are supporting your spirit.
• Look at the artwork in your home and office.  Are the images uplifting?  Do they still speak to you as they did when you purchased them.  Do you have any pieces that you no longer care for?  If so, let them go.  Surround yourself with only the things you love now. 

Create an environment that symbolizes the life you want to live now.  Look at your things with new eyes and ask what they are saying to and about you.  Choose artwork that has images that are positive, uplifting and energizing.  Let go of anything that no longer suits your life or that is holding you in the past.  By surrounding yourself with symbols of your ideal dream life, they will speak to you on your innermost level where listening comes quite naturally, helping your ideal dreams become your new reality.

I don’t know about you, but there are times that I know I should be paying more attention, but I have so many things going on at once that I just let myself run on autopilot even though there is a little voice in my head telling me to slow down and pay more attention now.  And it never fails that if I choose to ignore that voice and just keep plugging blindly along, the universe has a way of calling me to attention whether I like it or not.

Last week, I got just such a reminder, so while life continues on at its own pace, I’ve been forced to take a backseat and look at things from a slower point of view.  The situation doesn’t change, but the perspective sure does.  In retrospect, it certainly would have been easier if I had listened and slowed down when my intuition told me to.  Perhaps it’s my nature,  the way I was raised or maybe I’m just plain stubborn, but I tend to just keep going until I’m forced to take a break.  And a break is just what I got.

A few medical issues these past couple years requiring surgery have put me behind and a breakup last year brought some unexpected changes, leaving me with the feeling of a need to “catch up”.  While cleaning and organizing my garage last week (in a hurry so I could leave to do something else), I kept thinking to myself, “Why I am feeling so rushed?  I know I have other things to do too, but I don’t need to do it all in a day.” Yet, I continued at a frenzied pace and, just as I was finishing up, I tripped on a ladder, fell on a table corner and knew instantly I had seriously injured myself. 

Turns out I broke a couple ribs - Ouch!  Should have listened to that voice in my head! 

It was talking to me plain and clear. I chose to ignore it.  It chose to speak louder.

And so it is with the way of the universe.  There are times when we are not following our own best path, when we are not working for our own best good, when we are working against the natural plan for our lives.  There is a voice that are tells us that we need to make adjustments, maybe even change our path.  There are signs that show us the way and doors that open to provide us new opportunities.  But if we are so busy running on autopilot, we may not be able to see them.  Sometimes, the universe might feel it important enough to intervene and place something like a step-stool in our way to trip over and a sharp corner to fall on to make its point.

For me, life hasn’t slowed down.  Instead, I’m just moving a bit slower.  Friends, family and loved ones show up to help and support in ways I never would have expected.  It allows me the chance to give thanks to the universe for always providing no matter how much I am unable to control the situation.  It allows others to enjoy the gift of being able to help me and for me to enjoy the gift of receiving, a pure act of love that one needs to take turns being on each side of to truly appreciate.

Is playing catch up so important?  Well, to me it is.  Apparently, I had been doing it the wrong way though.  The universe has a better plan; it has made its point about that quite loudly and I’m listening.  I am off autopilot, I am looking at all the roadsigns and cruising at a safe speed, looking for the next turn.  I have had some great opportunites show up unexpectedly, confirming the power of trusting in the universe to provide when I allow myself to be open to receive rather than complusively working blindly in the same old ways.   And trust me, organizing your garage, as powerful a Feng Shui fix as it is, doesn’t need to be done at break-neck (or should I say break-rib?) speeds. 

How about you?  Are there areas in your life that are on autopilot? 

I hope that if you feel the universe tapping on your shoulder or hear your higher self whispering in your ear providing you with some tidbits of guidance, that you listen.  Take a break and consider what that little voice is telling you.  Don’t wait until something gets thrown in your path and forces you to take a fall before you stop to listen.  The road can be much more interesting when you are paying attention.

Attaining personal goals are one of the most satisfying experiences in a lifetime.  But staying motivated long enough to achieve them can be a challenge for all of us.  It is important when planning what you want in your life and how you want to live it, to have a plan, an action plan.  A plan that is detailed enough to keep you on the path with a clear vision of the desired result and with enough rewards along the way to keep you on it.

Zen Habits has put together their Ultimate Guide to  Motivation, How to Achieve Any Goal.  Head on over and spend a few moments reading…you’ll probably find yourself motivated by the time you’ve finished.

Be sure to have your pen and paper with you.  Staying motivated starts with a plan and the best plans are written.  Write your goals down now.  You can always change them later if you find that something that you thought you wanted no longer fits you, but the act of writing a goal down on paper makes it so much more powerful. 

Once you have your goals written, write down why you want them.  What is it about them that is going to bring more joy into your life?  Be very clear with yourself.  Imagine how it is going to feel once that goal is your new reality.  Feel it, breathe it, live it.

Great joy will come into your life as you accomplish each goal.  Celebrating your victories and adjusting your written plan will keep your vision clear.  Staying motivated and seeing your life’s plan come to fruition a step at a time will bring a bit of joy to each new day.

Did you know that the number of your house means more than just a location on a street?  Numbers have meanings, and the numbers on your house have a certain energy.  In Feng Shui, there are different ways to look at a number and determine its meaning.

For instance, let’s look at 1234 Main Street, Anywhere CA.  You can look at each individual numbers: 1, 2, 3, & 4 and look at the meaning of each number and how they reflect upon each other.  Or you can add them up, 1+2+3+4=10, 1+0=1 to determine that your house is a 1.

You can use numerological interpretations to determine the meaning of a number, but they also relate to colors, elements and directions.  Some numbers are thought to be more auspicious than others and are sought after when buying a home or even when booking a hotel room.

Arrange the numbers on your house or mailbox in a straight line  or in a slightly uphill progression.  You want the energy at your home to be balanced or uplifting.

For more information on how Feng Shui can improve the quality of your life, contact Nickie at 818-383-7502 to schedule your Feng Shui Consultation today.

Are things in your life moving slower than you would like?  Feeling kind of stagnant?  Well here is a tip from my friend Karen Rauch Carter that is definitely worth sharing.  Shake things up in your home or office and loosen up the energy to get things moving again!  Literally!

Open up your windows and start dusting.  Clean everything!  Every corner, every nook and cranny.  As you are dusting give things a little shake.  Move them if you can so that you can get behind them and really get things clean. 

Remember to do this with the intention that you are clearing your space of any negative or stagnant energy.  Know that you are getting the energy cleared and moving in both your home and your life.  Play some uplifting music while you are doing this.  Think about the change you want to have come into your life and the direction you want to start moving in.

When you are done, enjoy the fresh feeling.  Burn a candle if you like and be sure to shower or take a nice bath to cleanse yourself.  And be open to the opportunities that are about to present themselves.  They may come from places unexpected. 

And don’t be surprised if you find a few things “stirred up” in your life.  After all, you’ve just knocked loose any cobwebs that might have been collecting in the corners, so you might as well deal with them now and get them out of the way.  Part of growing is dealing with what you need to let go of.

If you are in the Southern California area and wish to schedule a Feng Shui Consultation, contact Nickie at 818-383-7502.

Happy Growing!

Today is Earth Day 2008.  People are celebrating the world over.  Here in Los Angeles there are several different events going on, they even have one of the major streets shut down to auto traffic for an Earth Day Festival.  I say, why not make every day, Earth Day?

EarthDayLA.org has compiled a list of events that are taking place all month and next.  They also have a list of ways you can help, complete with a form to fill in if you would like to sign up.

Many local grocers are giving away free reusable grocery bags today.  Why not pick up a few extra while you’re there and you will have them on hand for your shopping from here on out? 

Do you love fresh tomatoes?  How about some fragrant basil atop a slice of mozzarella?  Try planting a small vegetable and herb garden and you will have your own bit of earth to celebrate right at home each day.  If you don’t have a backyard, you can plant these in a pot in a sunny location and they will do just fine.  Not only will save trips to the market for fresh herbs and veges, but you have never tasted better produce than those you have grown yourself.

Conservation and caring for the earth is a forever committment.  People everywhere are gaining a greater awareness and are making shifts towards better choices.  What might seem like a small change to one person, becomes a huge change when it is shared by many. 

So beginning today, let’s make it Earth Day, every day.

I did a Feng Shui Consultation last year for a retail space in Pasadena.  The initial results were great!  Within two weeks they found two specialized new employees they had been seeking, sales increased and the young lady who contacted me for the consultation wound up with a raise-a side bonus!

But I got a phone call this past week from this client asking if there was anything they could do to help prevent theft.  Apparently theft has been on the rise for the entire chain of stores, so they are really doing their best to prevent any further criminal activity.

The way this particular store had been designed, the cash registers were placed where they did not have a view of the doors leading in and out of the store.  In addition, there was no solid wall behind them, rather there were panels behind each register which allowed the people entering the store to have full view of the backs of the people working at the register without the employees knowing anyone was even there.  

These registers are built-in, so moving the registers themselves would involve serious remodeling.  It is difficult to understand why a commercial retail space would have been designed in such a way, but it was.  Now the task was to resolve the issue without having to remodel.

In a retail space, employees should be standing in the armchair, or command position.  That is, they should be supported in the back by a solid wall with a view of the doors.  In this position, they have a view of what is happening in the store, who is coming in and who is going out.  Additionally, they will feel as though “their back is covered” and that they are in control of how they react to a room. 

Would-be thieves will feel that employees who do not feel secure and supported in a space are going to be vulnerable.  They know that when it is difficult for employees to keep track of who is in the store at a time and where the shoppers are located that they are easy prey.  They are looking for opportunities and will find the shops with the most weak spots.

For this situation, I recommended hanging mirrors so that while the employees were standing at the registers they had a full view of both doors.  I also recommended exchanging the seating position at the customer counters so that the customers were facing inside the store and the employees had views of the doors. 

As it turns out, while they made a large portion of the changes recommended last year, they had not made the changes regarding supporting the employees at the cash registers.  So at this time, they are going to get those mirrors hung so that the employees will immediately know who and when someone is coming in and out of their store.  I also spoke to them about changing some of the art in the store to pieces that represent strong supporting elements in nature. 

These types of changes in your environment, whether it be in your business or your home, will cause you to feel more supported and in control of your situation.  It will help prevent would-be thieves from feeling as though they have found an easy target.  You will have a far greater peace of mind and sense of well being by making small changes in your space.

For more information on how Feng Shui can help you, call 818-383-7502.

A home or office that has a nice balance of the  five elements, wood, fire, earth, metal and water, will naturally feel comfortable, healthy and balanced.  When you have a space that is too extreme in one of these or completely lacking in an element, you will not function well in the space and most likely see this reflected back into your life as a troubled area.  Using Feng Shui, these five elements become very important as you learn about how they interact with each other in their creative and destructive cycles, but by balancing these elements in your environment you can begin to feel the benefits both at home and out in your life quickly.

Take a look around your home or office and see how these elements are being represented in your space.  Evaluate both literally and symbolically.  Wood tables, fiery candles, clay pots, metal trays, water fountains; you get the idea.  Then look around and see how these elements are represented symbolically, in the artwork, in the colors, shapes, even the use of the item. 

Does each area of your home or office have each of the five elements balanced?  If not, find ways to introduce them that will blend with your existing decor.  Remember, good Feng Shui does not look like someone came in and made strange adjustments to your home or office.  Proper Feng Shui design will blend in with the style of your home or office.  Good Feng Shui will enhance your space and balancing the five elements is a great way to start.