Shifting in the Yang energy of Spring & Summer

What does the outside of your house have to do with the inside energy?  It has plenty to do with moving and shifting the energy in the spaces of your home.  If you have neglected the front door location with doors that need to be painted, locks or doorbells that don’t work properly, then you are sending this negative chi right through the front door.  This location is the mouth of chi/energy and ALL energy flows through the door, whether positive or negative. 

Here are some tips for working your gardens to fit within the art of Feng Shui:

• Make sure all plants are taken care of and kept healthy.  If a plant dies at the front door, remove it immediately and replace with a healthy, vibrant, colorful plant.

• Paint that door and keep door bells working properly.

• Make sure the door opens easily and nothing blocks the entrance way.

• A good Feng Shui protection is to have to tall plants or 2 tall vases that can be located on each side of your door.  Think guards at your front door, this is the symbolism of the plants or vases.

• Replace your welcome mats and choose a vibrant color and one that says “welcome.”

• A good reminder of how to keep your entrance area looking great is to look around the neighborhood.  Who has the most welcoming entrance way?  Model yours to create your own lovely spaces.

Do you have a question about Feng Shui in your garden? Come over to my Facebook page FengShuiABC & ask me! I’d love to help.

Chinese New Year 2019

Chinese New Year starts on February 5th and lasts for 15 days. This is China’s most colorful and important event of the year. This year it is named “The Year of the Yin Boar.” There are a total of 12 animals and they rotate throughout the years. There are many activities that happen during this time. On the first night of the celebration, there are fireworks to let go of the old and bring in the new, just like we do here in the USA. Also, on this night, they open all the windows and all the doors in the house to allow the old year to go out! They have large parades and the lion dancing sways back and forth to the beat of the drummers. On the 5th day of the New Year is the Chinese Lantern Festival and it is very colorful and beautiful. You will see paper lanterns made of the animal of the year and also large lanterns that are displayed in their parade’s animal. Clean your house well in advance of the New Year. Do not sweep or clean on New Years’ day or it will represent you sending your wealth out the door. All brooms need to be in closets.

1. Wear some red on Chinese New Year Day, since it is believed to be a happy color and symbolizes a bright future.

2. Clear your mind of clutter on this day and make sure that your living areas are clutter free.

3. Give out red envelopes with a dollar bill coin to families and guests. The red envelopes can be purchased on Amazon.com.

4. Decorate your home with nuts, oranges and sweets on a beautiful tray. You most certainly should add chocolate gold coins to this mix as well.

5. Entertain your friends and laugh and enjoy the evening.

6. Open every door and every window on the stroke of midnight to let out the old year.

7. Clear your mind of “clutter” this day and keep your thoughts bright and optimistic for the coming New Year.

8. Don’t scold your children or cry on this day for if you do, it will symbolize what you are coming year will play out for you.

9. Postpone washing your hair this day as you will be washing out your good luck.

10. Display large bowls of oranges on the tables to give to your friends and family as gifts. Feng Shui expert Grandmaster Too has shared her traditions with students and followers of Feng Shui during her training sessions. She has told them that early in the morning of the New Year, she brings in a truck full of oranges and she rolls them from the front door straight through her whole house. She is creating her own luck by following this ancient tradition.

Chinese New Year Day

1. Wake up New Year’s morning to good music, friends, and partners and just be grateful for your wonderful life. Do all things on this day to establish habits for the year. Make plans to do what you wish to do for the rest of the year. Really enjoy yourself and create peace and harmony this day and it will follow you through 2019.

2. Wear something new and take care to look extra special that day. Do not dress in black or white that day because Chinese look at those colors as funeral colors. Do your hair and wear something new and take care to look extra special that and a touch of red for good fortune.

3. Do your hair & makeup, but do NOT wash your hair this day as it is symbolic to throwing your good luck away.

4. Since this is a day to be festive in your mood with a joyful atmosphere, you should not argue with others on this day. Say ONLY nice things and do not lose your temper. It sets the tone of peace & harmony for the year.

Happy 2019 the Year of the Yin Boar!

Chinese New Year 2018

Chinese New Year starts on February 16 and lasts for 15 days. This is China’s most colorful and important event of the year. This year it is named “The Year of the Earth Dog."There is a total of 12 animals and they rotate throughout the years. There are many activities that happen during this time. On the first night of the celebration, there are fireworks to let go of the old and bring in the new, just like we do here in the USA. Also, on this night, they open all the windows and all of the doors in the house to allow the old year to go out! They have large parades and the lion dancing sways back and forth to the beat of the drummers. On the 5th day of the New Year is the Chinese Lantern Festival and it is very colorful and beautiful. You will see paper lanterns made of the animal of the year and also large lanterns that are displayed in their parades animal. Clean your house well in advance of the New Year. Do not sweep or clean on New Years’ day or it will represent you sending your wealth out the door. All brooms need to be in closets. 

1. Wear some red on Chinese New Year Day, since it is believed to be a happy color and symbolizes a bright future. 
2. Clear your mind of clutter on this day and make sure that your living areas are clutter free. 
3. Give out red envelopes with a dollar bill coin to families and guests. The red envelopes can be purchased on Amazon.com. 
4. Decorate your home with nuts, oranges and sweets on a beautiful tray. You most certainly should add chocolate gold coins to this mix as well. 
5. Entertain your friends and laugh and enjoy the evening 
6. Open every door and every window on the stroke of midnight to let out the old year. 
7. Clear your mind of “clutter” this day and keep your thoughts bright and optimistic for the coming New Year. 
8. Don’t scold your children or cry on this day for if you do, it will symbolize what you are coming year will play out for you. 
9. Postpone washing your hair this day as you will be washing out your good luck. 
10. Display large bowls of oranges on the tables to give to your friends and family as gifts. 
11. Feng Shui expert Grandmaster Too has shared her traditions with students and followers of Feng Shui during her training sessions. She has told them that early in the morning of the New Year, she brings in a truck full of oranges and she rolls them from the front door straight through her whole house. She is creating her own luck by following this ancient tradition. 

Chinese New Year Day

1. Wake up New Year’s morning to good music, friends, and partners and just be grateful for your wonderful life. Do all things on this day to establish habits for the year. Make plans to do what you wish to do for the rest of the year. Really enjoy yourself and keep a good balance in all things. 
2.  Call, text or email family members or friends with whom you wish to have contact with in the New Year. This will follow you through 2017 
3. Wear something new and take care to look extra special that day. Do not dress in black or white that day because Chinese look at those colors as funeral colors. Wear red for fortune when possible. Do your hair & makeup, but do NOT wash your hair this day as it is symbolic to throwing your good luck away. 
4. Since this is a day to be festive in your mood with a joyful atmosphere, you should not argue with others on this day. Say ONLY nice things and do not lose your temper. It sets the pattern of peace & harmony for the year. Try not to use many sharp objects (like knives and scissors) on this day as it is symbolic of cutting into your luck. 

Happy 2018 the Year of the Earth Dog!

Thanksgiving Day in the USA

The very first Thanksgiving Day event was not considered an event, it was a happening! Everyone came together and brought their best displays of food and sat down for a meal that provided them with soul comfort and celebration for the end of the harvest season.

Today we still celebrate with our family and friends and even those who are far away from their families usually have a family to support them, whether they are the college student or one of our military who happens to be stationed in our area.

People were integrated with the earth because they harvested their own fresh food, they baked their own bread and of course, used everything locally. They used vines to make baskets and they used gourds for drinking cups and they used straw for mats. What a concept for us now as we try to bring this back into our lives! So many look at the buy local as something new! Our décor today is mums, gourds, corn on the cob and straw and they are all of the earth.

When you think of our baked brown turkey and stuffing and acorn or butternut squash and sweet potatoes; they all represent these same traditions as in the past. Some tips that will ensure that everyone has a comfortable relaxed atmosphere are:

A roundtable or an oblong table will create good family relationships and great conversations. No worries if you only have a square table, the softness of a tablecloth and round dishes will also help your family to have a good experience. The elements of Feng Shui are, metal, earth, wood, fire and water. If these elements are in our surrounding area in the room this will also support a well balanced environment.

If you happened to use green placemats and have a salad in that location, this would cover the wood element. If you would add to the table the white dinner napkin, it is symbolic of the metal element. The addition of lovely candles and now you have the fire element to keep people energized. By placing a goblet of water on the table, you will have covered that element also. Your food will be the best of all of these elements as it is of the earth!

 Here are the basics:

• Create great seating arrangements.
• Set lovely dinner table décor and settings. Now is the time to use those dishes in the China Cabinet and the real silver.
• Complete the whole process with the addition of the 5 elements of Feng Shui. 

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

If you would like to know more about Feng Shui or would like to schedule a consultation or training with Yvonne, please call 412-215-8247 or email yvonnephillips1@aol.com

Feng Shui for Your Front Door

You can pick up a Feng Shui book and everyone will tell you to paint your front door red to bring in the strong Yang energy. This door is very important because it brings to you the very auspicious energy that will nourish your house. Maybe you don’t like the color red and just maybe the whole housing plan has red doors. Is there any help for you?

These doors located at Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh have the beautiful Victorian colors represented in the entrance area.

All Feng Shui experts will tell you to look at the five elements when doing your Feng Shui. The elements are what helps you put your home or office in balance and keeps you strong and focused.

The following is each element and color that represents them:

• Fire - Red.
• Earth -Yellow. 
• Water - Blue/Black. 
• Metal - Gray/white.
• Wood - Brown/green 

Then you have to consider the following:

1. What is it you are trying to accomplish in your life? In other words, have you set intentions? For example, do you have a home office and need encouragement to keep focused and clear on what you are to accomplish each day? Paint your front door the color of Metal, either gray or white. 
2.  If you are looking for calmness and the energy to come to your home for abundance, use the color of the Water element, either dark blue or black.
    
3. If you are looking for healing in your home or growth of your business, use the Wood element and you will cover both bases. Use the colors brown or green.
    
4. The Earth element will take care of bringing in the energy for good health. It also provides stability and is a grounding force for everyone in the home. Use yellow or light beige. 

The Fire element will bring in the strong yang energy and support you in your career and also support you in your fame and reputation area. These colors are the reds, dark oranges and purples. What color is your door? Share your front door color on my Facebook page here.