Flowers and plants are extremely useful in creating good feng shui. Everyone loves fresh flower arrangments as they bring good vibes and great energy into the home. However, good feng shui can quickly be transformed into bad energy, so please note the following:
Rotting, wilting flowers – there is nothing worse! Fresh flower arrangements should be thrown out as soon as they start to wilt, as the energy will quickly turn bad.
Dried flowers are not good for they represent yin energy. Anything dead or decaying creates an excess of yin energy. When ever there is an excess of either yin or yang energy, it creates unbalanced energy which is not harmonious at all.
Flowers and plants create a lot of yang energy which is why they are generally not suited for your bedroom. Placing flowers or plants in the bedroom makes it excessively yang and may create difficulty in resting calming or sleeping soundly. However they are most suitable for people that are sick and would be excellent in the bedroom since they bring precious yang energy to those suffering or recovering from an illness.
Cactus plants usually contain deadly thorns and create bad energy when placed inside the home or office. Think of the thorns as tiny poison arrows that could create misfortune or loss. Instead move cactus plant outside where they can act as “protectors” and fend off negative chi that may be attacking your home. You can place small ornate cactus plants (no more than 3 plants) on an enclosed porch area where it can be protected from cooler weather. I have a beautiful Christmas Cactus and it will die if I leave it outdoors all year long, so I placed it in our enclosed porch area by the front door. It has the ‘job’ of protecting our front door.
Bonsai plants suggest stunted growth and are not good feng shui. Even though they can be quite beautiful in their miniature form, they signify blockage to growth making them particularly harmful to relationships, personal growth and business.
Feng Shui is all about creating balance and harmony between nature and your home, property and sacred space. Magickal energies happen when we go with the flow (the productive flow) of nature, not against it (the destructive flow).
Each animal sign in the Chinese Zodiac belongs to an “Affinity Triangle” that is made up of three animal signs. The other two animal signs in your triangle are your “allies”. You tend to get along better with these people who have positive affinity with your personal sign.
AFFINITY TRIANGLES
OX, SNAKE & ROOSTER
the Intellectuals
TIGER, HORSE & DOG
the Adventurers
RABBIT, SHEEP & BOAR
the Diplomats
MONKEY, DRAGON & RAT
the Competitors
You also have a “Secret Friend” who is especially compatible with you. Your secret friend will help you in times of need and you usually get on well with people of this sign.
Here are the pairings of “Secret Friends”:
Ox & Rat
Dragon & Rooster
Tiger & Boar
Snake & Monkey
Rabbit & Dog
Horse & Sheep
You can activate the luck of your secret friends and allies by displaying their images or symbols in your home. You can also “borrow” the luck of your allies and secret friend if your luck is not so good. For example, if you are a dragon you can display images of your allies; the monkey, dragon and rat in the SE area of your home. You can also display images of the dragon and rooster (secret friends) together in this sector. Now, if you are an ox, display images of the ox, rooster and snake in the NE area of your home, along with the ox and rat (your secret friend).
One thing that’s always annoyed me is paper clutter and maybe it bothers you too. It should. Things like stacks of old unpaid (or paid) bills, unopened letters, catalogs and magazines that we promise ourselves we’ll file or look at someday, newsletters, advertisements, general correspondence and so on. This type of clutter kind of sneaks up on you as the piles get bigger and just looking at the mess exhausts you. For good reason. If you’re suffering from headaches, migraines and low energy you can be sure this is part of the problem. I have made this type of cleanup a habit and priority in my home and home office, and you should too.
Paper clutter is one of the worst kinds of clutter. It can cause you distress, exhaust your spirit and even cause your work and/or business to decline. It creates stagnant, yin energy and can accumulate quickly, especially if you’re the hoarder type that doesn’t like to throw anything away.
Think about your desk at work, the table by your bedside, the dining room table, coffee table or any flat surface, your work space at home and even your garage! What does your paper clutter look like right now?
Do you have stacks of unpaid bills, documents and other things at home and in the office? Old newspapers and magazines piled high? We all dislike filing but it simply must be done. When you leave heaps of paper, notes about something you are working on, bills and marketing offers around, they cause unconscious worry. You can’t find things you are looking for, it takes more of your time. Nothing is in the right place. You may not recognize it at first, but gradually it impinges on the subconscious mind causing stress, tension and even headaches. It not only affects your physical body but your spirit as well. Do you feel ‘blocked’ in certain areas of your life? If the chi or energy in your home is blocked, this creates blocks in your life as well.
Does this sound like you or your spouse? Do you may complain about your spouse or partner? Does he or she just let mail build up and just can’t throw anything away? Seriously, there are lots of people like this. Sometimes you just have to be the one to make it happen. Explain the dangerous nature of this type of energy and be the one to keep your home clear of paper mess even if it’s not yours. This applies to other types of clutter too such as dirty clothes laying around, books piled high, old food in the refrigerator … you get the picture.
Be the one in your home that keeps the chi (energy) moving because honestly, some people are just messy and/or lazy. Sometimes it’s easier to fix this kind of problem yourself rather than nag and argue. And once it is done you’ll feel great … as will your family. When the chi can flow, all kinds of special things begin to happen.
At least today there is the option of paying bills online, which many people prefer. This is a start and definitely helps curb the paper clutter problem, not to mention the ‘green’ benefits. But what about the tons of unimportant junk mail that arrives, especially during the holiday season? Get rid of it right away. Immediately recycle any unwanted letters or offers and don’t hang on to those catalogs that you will never order from or even have time to read. Just get rid of them.
When you do this daily, you’ll find that paper clutter doesn’t have a chance of piling up and it’s quick and easy. Make it a habit. Don’t be lazy about filing paid bills or important documents. When you do these things on a regular basis your life becomes easier and less stressful. Take care of your paper clutter monster today.
~ Rev. Tiffany White Sage Woman
Let me help you to declutter your home or work space. A happy home is a Healthy Home! Schedule your appointment with me today! www.whitesagewoman.com
Sometimes things go wrong for no apparent reason. Everyone is in good health and then suddenly sickness descends on the household. Quarrels flare up at home and work without foundation. Friends become adversaries, accidents occur and your stress level is high. Older people may have sudden bouts of arthritis, back aches etc. What is going on?
Your home may be suffering from what is called “Excessive Yin Formation”. You see, yin forces or yin chi can be very harmful when it dominates the energy of yang spaces like your living or dining areas where you spend a lot of time. It also may affect you in the workplace. You must recognize what’s happening and don’t let yin energy dominate any space in your home … it must be kept to a minimum. Think about your home and how the chi flows. Maybe your son or daughter has gone off to college and their bedroom is dark with the curtains pulled tightly closed, and your unoccupied guestroom is closed and stuffy. These are areas where excessive yin chi can build up.
Open the windows for yang energy
The good news is that Excessive Yin Formation can be quickly removed and/or transformed into yang energy. Do this by giving your home an “energy bath”; open the doors and windows frequently permitting the sunshine, breeze and fresh yang energy to enter. Play music, have a party and let the pets run freely to raise yang chi. Keep accent lights on, such as: Himalayan Salt Lamps, strings of lights and small table or floor lamps.
Many people suffer from Excessive Yin Formation at work. This may be due to unhappiness from gossip, jealousy or someone reporting false information to your boss to make you look bad. The yin forces just become too dominant. You need more yang energy. If you can, display a picture or a small statue of a rooster painted in red and gold to peck away your problems. The fire and metal energy overcomes the quarrelsome energy. You can also use a Laughing Buddha in gold and red colors. Make sure the image or statue is facing the direction of the person causing you trouble!
The most important thing to remember in feng shui is Balance! Keep yin and yang in balance but create more yang rather than yin.
~ Rev. Tiffany White Sage Woman
Feng Shui Healing for your Home, Health and Happiness.
Feng shui masters often recommend plants to help diffuse bad chi and energize good feng shui. If you are wondering why, it’s because plants represent wood – the only one of the five elements that has life. That’s why garden feng shui is so important, you must ensure that the areas surrounding the exterior of your home are auspicious. This will far surpass anything you do on the inside!
So, if you live in a home that is surrounded by a garden, be sure it is well cared for, filled with lush and healthy plants and that it has a nice balance of light and shade. In doing so, you will enjoy good fortune. But, if your garden is left untended and weeds and underbrush begin to take over, the once happy energy will dissolve and yin energy will dominate. Your health, prosperity and happiness will certainly suffer.
Note that you don’t need a large garden to attract the precious yang energy that will create a healthy growth of wealth for you. City gardens, apartment and rooftop gardens can also be designed to effectively capture the best energy even with space constraints!
Most of the good garden feng shui depends on the plants that you select. When you are choosing the plants for your garden, it’s important to keep balance in mind. In addition to lots of healthy flowering plants with happy yang energy, you will also need some shady areas and leafy trees to maintain yin and yang harmony. When we speak of “balance” it doesn’t necessarily mean that yin and yang forces must be equal – rather it means that both must be present and that no area of the garden is either too yin or too yang.
Choose succulents like the jade plant
Good feng shui plants to consider are succulents, such as the jade plant with thick water-filled leaves. The money plant is also a good choice (its botanical name is Philodendron scandens). This one needs plenty of water and doesn’t do well in strong sunlight. If you are selecting flowers consider the peony, chrysanthemum or flowering bulbs like the narcissus or lilies. For longevity consider planting bamboo or pine trees and go for the smaller variety.
Orange trees symbolize good fortune
Fruit trees are definitely auspicious so try for a few in your garden area if possible. The peach tree is a wonderful choice as is the orange tree – a popular symbol of good fortune. If you have a pair of orange or lime trees it is considered extremely good feng shui and they are best grown within view of the main front door. If your garden is in the back of your home, then within view of your back door.
Always keep your garden well cared for with love and attention to enjoy a good life and extremely wonderful feng shui!
Wishing you a prosperous, joyful and healthy Year of the Earth Dog.
The Chinese New Year, also called the Lunar New Year, is one of the biggest celebrations in Chinese culture. It is a long celebration that lasts for 15 days. Because it depends on the moon cycle – Chinese New Year is on the second New Moon of the year – it comes on a different day each year and is considered to be the beginning of Spring.
Each year, as you probably know, has a specific Chinese zodiac animal, as well as a feng shui element associated with it. This determines the quality of energy in the New Year.
2018 is the Year of the Earth Dog.
Good Fortune Suggestions for Year of the Earth Dog
Get Moving! Get the chi moving in your home and office. How? Move the furniture (even if just slightly) to activate yang energy. Un-dust, vacuum and clean in and around your furniture, including the inside of display cabinets. Clean your altars as well and ready them for the New Year. I un-dusted, and re-arranged my altars. Pictures of my Main Altar Space are below:
Freshen up indoor house plants by re-potting them or by adding new soil on top of the existing soil. For those in the warmer climates, go outside to your garden and replant or re-pot/replace any dead or decaying plants. If you live in a colder climate and are still experiencing winter weather, plan your Spring garden now. Draw a map or make a list of your intentions for the upcoming Spring garden.
The key to unlocking good fortune is to move the chi at the start of the New Year.
Wake-Up Your SOUTHEAST area. In 2018 the Southeast is home to the Star of Prosperity – the lucky “8” star. When you stimulate this corner, good fortune vibrations spread to other areas of the home. The best way to do this is to place a new plant in the SE since this is a wood element corner and it will stimulate growth. Other things you can do: add a water feature, hang a windchime, keep the corner brightly lit or add candles. Note: If your SE is missing, in an oddly shaped house design, then enhance the SE corner of the room you use frequently like your living or family room.
Bring in the Family. This is the year to add some new pictures of your family (make sure they are happy ones) to this corner (and throughout your home). Often, we keep lovely photos of our family on our computers or smart phones but now it’s easy to print out gorgeous photos. So, print your favorites, find some beautiful and auspicious frames and then display them for all to see.
As with any occasion, the colors one wears during the New Year celebration are considered important. Wear new clothes for the New Year celebration to honor the birth of new energy. Wearing specific colors each year based on the energy of the ruling zodiac sign/animal of the New Year is also a popular custom.
The luckiest colors to wear in 2018 are the colors of the Earth feng shui element. It is easy to understand why as you want to be aligned and in harmony with the element of the year. Earth Colors:
Terracotta (Clay) Light Yellow Sandy Beige
The second choice of lucky colors for 2018 are the colors of the Fire feng shui element because Fire feeds/creates the Earth element in the productive cycle of the five feng shui elements. Fire Colors:
Red Orange Yellow Purple Pink Magenta
Are there colors that are unlucky, or best to avoid wearing too often in 2018? Yes, there are. Again, this is based on the play of the five feng shui elements. The elements that are weakening the energy of the Earth element of 2018 are the Water, the Wood, and the Metal elements. Again, this is all based on specific interactions of the feng shui elements. Colors to avoid wearing often in 2018:
Black Blue White Gray Green Brown
I am not saying to avoid these colors altogether in 2018. For example, I love all the colors that are recommended to avoid. I do wear quite a bit of black, too, especially when working with clients. To me, black color tends to center and focus one’s energy by eliminating any distractions. So I am not going to make radical changes in my wardrobe. Nor do I suggest that you do as well.
If I am going to an important event or public outing, for example, I will make a point to honor the energy of the year with specific colors. You can do this with scarves, jewelry, neck ties, accent pieces and accessories. These do not have to be big fashion pieces, it is all a matter of a clear and strong intent.
2018 should be a year with more stable, calm and grounding energy as compared to the fiery energy of the previous year. Of course, this implies that you have done your absolute best to release into the fiery energy of the year all the old and stagnant energies that are no longer needed in your life. This was one of the major gifts of the Fire Rooster energy of 2017 for it highly prompted us, and sometimes strongly pushed, to get rid of the old so that it can herald the birth of the new.
I wish you a very prosperous, joyful, healthy and magical 2018!
In the 5-element cycle (see chart below), wood destroys earth. Since a loving relationship benefits from earth energy, please remove plants (wood energy) from your bedroom. Even if they are pretty, plants do little to enhance romance and can even cause problems in your relationship.
Don’t place any cacti or plants with sharp thorns on your window sills. These create secret poison arrows that can cause resentment and dissatisfaction in the relationship.
