Here’s today’s Feng Shui Friday dilemma:
Got one for you. What to do with all of the folders of school work which includes first writing samples, art work (some I am sure done by the teacher and not my child) and other work that my kids have compiled from pre school / kindergarten over last 3-4 years. Along with first paintings and other art work —-this takes up a full big shelf of a closet. kids like looking at it still. And I want some of it….but….seriously, at this rate, we will need a garage just for papers.

And here’s my response:
Teaching your children the “art” of letting go is just as important a lesson as any writing, math, or painting lesson!

Here’s what I suggest:
1.  Buy a simple file box or expanding file binder like this:

from Staples

or a portfolio specifically for art  like this:

from eBay

Or get a really plain one, and write their name on it really pretty or let them decorate it with stickers — whatever makes it special for them.

2.  Take an afternoon of fun and go through their art with them.  If you have file slots label them Pre-K, K, 1st, etc.  Let them choose 3 – 5 pieces (yes, three!) from each grade that they love the most.  Then let them give away (mayyybbee) or recycle the rest.  Or make a fun bonfire out of it!  Or if they really and truly seem more attached, let them glue the second-bests to a piece of posterboard for a collage.

3.  For the current grade, they can save more art throughout the year, and/or you can choose to display the most current stuff on a bulletin board or via this adorable DIY found on Pinterest:

http://lessthanperfectlifeofbliss.blogspot.com/2010/03/home-is-where-your-art-is.html

Then half way through the year, go back to step 1.

I think you will find that children are less attached to their things than you think.  I mean, think about it — wouldn’t it be sort of annoying if one day your mom came down from the attic and said, “Honey, I kept every art piece, every report card, every little teeny weeny success from your whole life, and here it is.”  I mean, it might be fun to go through for an hour or so, but then what?  You’d be left feeling guilty about throwing it away, and who has room for that stuff!?

We don’t need all these material and physical reminders of who we are and of what we are capable.  Keeping some, perhaps in a creative fashion, is great, but what’s greater — is teaching your children the lesson of non-attachment and that they don’t have to have wonderful art pieces or perfect grades or 100 trophies to be valuable and loved.

Letting go is part of life.  And making choices of what to keep is part of life.  What better place to start than when they are young!

It seems like every grand home these days has exposed beams.  I’m not sure when this came on trend, but it. is. everywhere!

For Feng Shui Friday, someone sent me this pic with the message:  “Is this bad fung shei?  Beams on walls – bedrooms – I love the look!!”  

Here’s the thing:  in general, exposed beams are NOT good feng shui.

I know, I know — it’s cool-looking, it’s pretty, everybody likes it.  Everybody’s doing it.

But see below — these beams have a sharp, dagger-like feel, pointing straight down. Nobody’s going to be sitting on those sofas for very long!

Source

The truth is there are instances where trendy, pretty, funky, and fun, and what’s in vogue in the design world are not the best feng shui.  Beams are one of them.

Here’s why:  They are big and heavy and very prominent in a room (or in the above case, sharp), accentuating the big, heavy, and prominent (or sharp).   Therefore, to our cavemen brain (which is still very much affecting us), they have an oppressive feeling, especially if you are sitting or sleeping under them.  It is a subtle and subconscious thing, but you will feel like “something is hanging over your head” or you’ve got something “bearing down on you.”

This bedroom is especially tricky because the beams are over the bed!  And look — it’s splitting the bed down the middle.  This could signify a “split” in the romantic relationship going on here.

Source

Yikes, and look at this one!  It draws attention to the slanted ceilings.  Please don’t!

So what do you do if you have beams?  Like most everything in feng shui, there are cures.
1.  Bamboo flutes.  This is the traditional cure.  Go here for instructions.
2.  Hang a very large round-faceted crystal on the most damaging beam where people congregate or sleep below.  This will help disperse the offending chi.
3.  Paint the beams the same color as the ceiling to make them “disappear.”
4.  Remodel to have them covered!
5.  Use fabric to soften the blow.

I hope I didn’t crush any hearts with this post, because I know that people love their beams!  But trust me when I say that your subconscious will thank me if you do these easy cures.  Just try it and see if a sense of relief washes over your life.

After all, no one wants to feel weighted down!

Here’s what is “Feng Shui approved” about the room:
1.  Balance of yin and yang.  The rug, curtains, cushioned chairs, and even the texture of the blue-gray soften the room.  The white, the lighting, and floor ceiling windows and that active yang.
2.  Color palette.  The soft blue makes for an elegant statement, and since it’s accentuated by the white, it is neither overpowering (depressing) nor underwhelming.
3.  Feels lux. The decor lends to a lux feel that will delight guests and have them enjoying their meals and feeling quite treasured.
4.  The shape of the dining room table.  Yes to round, as everyone will feel included!
5.  Comfy chairs.  Not too hard, not too soft — just right?
6.  Centerpiece.  Can you imagine the room without that gorgeous bouquet?  It gives it a focal point and an anchor.  Centerpieces can make a huge difference to the chi (energy) of a room!
7. Cleanliness and clutter-free.  Excuse the obviousness, but dining in a space so sparkling clean and clear of clutter will make for an uber-pleasant experience.

What could use some feng shui improvements:
1.  White chairs.  Although I personally love the aesthetic of the white chairs, the color may cause diners to feel “too careful” while eating in fear of dirtying the white.  (This could be a good thing though!  I’m a little on the fence on this one.)  Nonetheless, the white adds to the “formal” feel of the room, and will have those dining here using their best manners!
2.  Glass/metal table.  I tend to steer clear of the glass and metal mix for tables, especially with coffee tables as it has a “precarious” feel.  However, it’s not horrid here, because the chairs add some stability — alas, because of the see-through vibe of a glass table, this room may benefit from having a solid table to anchor the room to alleviate that floating feeling.  Even a table cloth would help.   It will make those dining feel more settled and as a result would aid digestion!
3.  Cure the shar.  Do you see how the wall juts out (on the left of the photo), making a sharp edge point towards the table?  This is called a “shar” in feng shui.  Whomever is sitting in the line of that shar will not feel very comfortable nor settled!  There are various ways to cure this, too long to list here.  🙂
4.  Is it too formal?  That question depends on who you are!  In feng shui, your home should represent YOU.  If you are into formality, entertaining, and the like, go for it!  If you have a more casual approach to life, then do something else.  Your home is about you — don’t try to be who you aren’t — that’s the worst feng shui of all.

This photo is a great example of “how a room affects you.”  It’s obvious, simply from the choice of furniture and color that one would have a luxurious experience dining in this room.  Can you imagine the same room, fit for more casual dining?  It would have a totally different decor, color scheme, etc.

Such are the basics of feng shui!

I hope you enjoyed this little edition of what is to become Feng Shui Friday, where you can email me photos and ask a question or two for my blogging files!

Hey!  Here’s an article I wrote for-evah ago that was appeared in a Sun Valley, Idaho publication.  Ezine.com found it and posted it on the Internet, so I decided I would too.

Enjoy!

The above statement may seem simple at first reading, but upon consideration, it is really quite powerful. I believe that the Dalai Lama is emphasizing the importance of the state of one’s living space.

Too many people are careless with the space in which they work or dwell. In terms of the Black Sect Tandtic Buddism school of feng shui (which is a derivative of Tibetan Tantric Buddhism), when a person is thoughtful (or thoughtless) in regard to his or her living space, it spills out into his or her life.

So why does feng shui have all those strange and curious “cures,” you might ask, if all one has to do is create a “loving atmosphere”? The fact is most of us have forgotten what a loving atmosphere is. Sure, we may recognize it when we see it, but making it happen is a different story. This is a result of a mass disease that has taken over our world: that is the disease of not knowing how to love our selves completely. Otherwise, creating our lives according to our deepest desires and most lofty dreams would be a cinch.

I like to tell my clients to imagine reading a short story where the author describes the space. This a quick way to notice the “symbolism” that occurs in your own home. After all, the subconscious sees everything. It constantly absorbs messages from our environment and processes these messages. In turn, these messages are sent into our energy fields, creating the very lives we are experiencing. Imagine the difference of a home filled with unwanted gifts, dying plants, and cluttered closets compared to one with healthy flowers, treasured objects, and neatly organized closets with (gasp) extra space! The first home feels slightly neglected, even if the rest of the furnishings were pleasant, while the second space feels freer, lighter, and, cherished. Even the smallest of details have an impact. Our subconscious mind takes images without a filter.

symbolism goes a long way in feng shui– interior design by Liz Williams

A wonderful start to a loving atmosphere is to first discard or give away any objects that you do not love in your home. Clutter is a sure way to block your highest potential as the subconscious sees it as a symbol of things that we don’t love or need in our lives and creates accordingly. It is amazing how letting go of a thing as simple as a candle from an unfaithful ex-lover or a blanket that you have never used because it is too scratchy can lighten your load! The subconscious gets the message that you’d rather have something (or someone) better in your life.

Next, play with ideas, and find out what it is that want to invite into your life. Then consciously bring it into your home symbolically. For example, you’ve always wanted to travel to Italy. Then stick a postcard of Rome on your refrigerator. Would you like to amp up your love life? Figure out your own personal “romance symbol” and drape it, plant it, or play it on your stereo everyday. The key to creating a great life is to get creative!

With every object in our homes, we are sending a message to ourselves and to the Universe. Wouldn’t you want your message to be one of pure and uplifting love so that you could receive that, and only that, back? Use your conscious mind to transform your subconscious mind, and then witness the shifts in your life.

See how this mulch is piled up AGAINST THE TRUNK — this is BAD.  The trunk is buried!!!

Here’s where I dug it out — you can see the trunk is ROTTING!

Here is the tree again, a little further out — big pile of mulch AGAINST THE TRUNK = BAD

Now this tree is quite glorious, don’t you agree?  So, why, why, why would someone put it at risk?

Because when you weaken the structure of the trunk, you put the tree at risk of dying, or worse, having a weak trunk, and then it could fall and really hurt something or someone!

Let’s save our trees, please!

Here’s what mulch is good for:
1.  Replenishing nutrients in the soil
2.  Keeping the soil moist
3.  Preventing soil erosion
(Those are the ultra-uber-basics, the Ground Guys have written it out, shortly and sweetly here)

Because mulch is so good at keeping moisture in, it’s exactly why it should NOT go up against a trunk. The trunk does not need the extra moisture!

Think of it like this:
Mulch, mulch is good for the DIRT
When it touches a tree, it will HURT.

(I just made that up — I’ll try to work on it for you.)

The proper way to put mulch around a tree is to do just that:  put mulch AROUND a tree.  A half-foot to a foot away from the trunk should suffice, and it will still ensure that the soil is getting what it needs…so that the tree gets what it needs.

THANKS!

P.S.  If feeling altruistic one day, go help the improperly-mulched trees in your urban environment by pushing the soil a foot or so back from the trunk — make a day out of it, and see how good you’ll feel!  It’s as important to CARE for a tree as it is to PLANT one.

It’s football season!  And you know what that means in the South.

That it’s football season!  And people are really happy about it.

For that reason, I thought I’d share a true story about a client and a football helmet.

To begin:
This particular client had a working knowledge of feng shui, so much so that her entire home office (which was also located in her Money section) had just about every knick-knacky feng shui cure known to man in there.

Like this:

…wealth gods?

…some kind of money tree?

…no clue…just don’t go there.

And, of course, the famous lucky cat:

Hi, I’m a lucky cat…(and I’m kind of random.)

Now, if this is your style, then great.  BUT these items do not necessarily promote good feng shui.  Especially if there are so many of them that it equals the c-l-u-t-t-e-r.

When I explained to this client that
#1. clutter is not good feng shui, I don’t care what the kind of luck it promises,
#2. having SO many cures actually reveals to me that she’s afraid of losing her money rather than implementing a cure and trusting that the cure will work, and
#3. a lot of these gimmicky things that are labeled as good feng shui are actually just that —

gimmicks…

…so we both went to work clearing out most of these so-called cures and leaving only the really awesome ones to represent healthy wealth and finances.

It felt great!

But we weren’t finished.

Now, as we were clearing out objects, it became more and more apparent what was working and what wasn’t.  (You know, the ol’ peeling layers from an onion analogy.)  Lo and behold, a certain something was calling out to me.  She had a large bookshelf in her office, and it was very close to her chair and desk, and on the top of that bookshelf, amongst other items, was a football helmet in a glass case.

It looked something like this:

I asked her about it.

She said, “Oh, I don’t know.  It was some gift or award or something.  I just didn’t know what to do with it.”

Ding, ding, ding!!!  My little clutter alarm went off.  She could care less about this helmet so why the heck was it taking up space in her home?

Now, here is what happened.

We took it down.

And let me tell you, it felt like a gush of wind had come into the room. The energy shifted so much from that one item, that my client literally had to sit down because she was dizzy.  I was used to this kind of shift, but boy, she didn’t know what hit her!

gush of wind   (Hey! Feng Shui is literally “wind, water”)

It was BIG.  I noted that the helmet was representing a burden “hanging over her head,” and that it’s presence had taken on some major energy.   I explained that her money situation was “overbearing” in some way and had become a “weight on her shoulders.”

By removing the helmet and shaking that energy up, we lightened the feel of the office…and therefore, her money situation.

I’m happy to say that her finances, which had been in major crisis, took a huge shift and are getting back on track.

And that football helmet has found a new home at the Goodwill. Thank goodness.

On August 27, I hosted a teleclass over the phone on Love & Romance.  We had a blast!  For those of you unable to make it, here’s a brief summary of what we covered.

When a client’s objective is to improve their love lives, whether they be single, in a relationship or marriage, or going through a break up or divorce, I first hone in on the two following places in their home:
1.  the bedroom &

Designed by Suzanne Kasler

2.  the back right section of the home.  (See my previous post on the Bagua & Romance for more details on this.)

Bedrooms are representative of Romance for obvious reasons.  (Ahem, it’s called an intimate relationship for a reason.)

I might soften this with a fluffy rug of some sort to keep a balance of yin/yang.  Source

Here’s a checklist for the bedroom regarding Romance:
1.  Nothing under the bed.
2.  Two nightstands, representing balance
3.  Nurturing feel — not too yin (feminine) and not too yang (masculine)
4.  Limited electronics.  NO work (i.e. laptop/desk) and no TV!
5.  No family photos.  You don’t want your mum watching, do you?!
6.  No king beds.  (It’s two twin put together — represents a divide.)
7.  And of course, feng shui rule numero uno: no clutter.

In general, ask yourself this question of your bedroom:  Does it feel romantic?  Does it invite a partner into my life (okay…bed)?  Does it make someone feel welcome?

Another one by S. Kasler.  Imagine it at night, lit with candles.  Adding red roses would bring in passion.

Next up:  the Romance section of your bagua.
Take into account the following for that section:
1.  Be aware of anything that screams “single”….i.e. one chair, one strikingly single lamp, etc.

Uh, where’s the love(seat) here?  Source

2.  Things in pairs are ideal, whether it’s two candles, two flowers in a vase, or some nice artwork representing a pair.
3.  Colors:  Red, white, & pink are the typical “Romance” colors, but anything in Earth tones work as well.

a lovely sampling of Earth tones (minus that light blue)…  Source

4.  Elements to have:  Earth.  Containers, rocks, crystals, heavy items, and perhaps items in Earth-type colors will represent this element.  AND Fire.  Candles, flowers, bright colors (in doses of course) are all great for this section.
5.  Element to avoid:  Wood.  Too many plants, vertical lines, and colors in bright clear tones (such as green) should be AVOIDED in this section.  Wood “breaks up” Earth.

Please note:  the Self-Knowledge section should also be tended to when considering Intimate Relationships.  It’s the front left section of the home according to the bagua map, and this is where single items are good!  When you know yourself, you have more to offer in a relationship and you will choose partners wisely, if single.  Again, Earth is the element in Self-Knowledge, so again, Earth and Fire should be represented, and Wood avoided.

If going through a break-up and wanting to move a divorce forward, consider avoiding pairs in the Romance section for the duration of time that you believe will be helpful for you.  When ready to manifest a new partner, implement the pairs again.

Single is sometimes very appropriate.  Great for Self-Knowledge too. source

One more important fact:  If you have many things from past lovers decorating your home and tucked into drawers, let them go!  It could mean that you are holding on emotionally to these past relationships, and that it is blocking you from allowing in someone new and better.  Be tough with yourself and donate, sell, recycle, or give away these items.

As always in Feng Shui, cures are not black and white but vary highly from person to person.  Furthermore, intention goes a long way, so when lighting those two candles or placing those two flowers, affirm that you are lighting them for an awesome love life!

I hope these little tips help a lot! Thanks for reading…

xoxo,
K

For more, read this previous post on bedrooms, titled More Sleep & Better Sex, Yes Please.

OH!  And there are two more FREE tele classes: Sept 3rd and 10th.  Email katierogersfengshui@gmail.com for more info.  Call in!  First up:  MONEY….

There’s positive chi (energy) and there’s negative chi.

In feng shui, you want positive!

Examples of things that promote good chi:
Good lighting
Good air circulation
Color
Movement
Cleanliness
Pets….
…and PLANTS!

Whether you buy a weekly fresh bouquet of flowers, or you have an active green thumb and it shows in your home, plants are not only cleaning the air and providing oxygen, they add beauty and life.

cover the plant and flowers up with your finger…..can you see how much difference it makes?!

Furthermore, plants represent the element of  Wood, which symbolizes growth, ideas, and expansion.  So if you’re feeling stuck, go buy a plant!

Anything that you can keep alive!

wall art + herbs = genius

you gotta love an indoor tree — your own personal oxygenator!

If you are familiar with the Bagua map, you know where your Money and Family sections are.  These sections are ruled by the Wood element, so go for it with the plants there!  It will help your money grow, and it will ensure you have happy, healthy familial relationships with your extended family and ancestors.

Color.  Just gorgeous color. Please note, all photos are borrowed from the blog: Homedit.  Check out their page for other indoor plant ideas. xo

I mean…doesn’t adding some “green” just make these places FEEL more abundant?  And how a place feels is Feng Shui 101.   Abundance yields abundance, so green it up!

The quote below is from Sheri, a long-time client.  A couple of years ago, she signed up for a feng shui-based teleconference class that I was teaching, and well…the rest is history. 

She’s a great example of a client who runs with the cures and who is truly dedicated to creating the life of her dreams.

This is her “thank you note” (a.k.a. testimonial) to the power of feng shui!

“Katie’s Feng Shui class changed my life!! When I enrolled in her class, I was lonely, depressed and had given up on love. However, I knew the power of Katie’s Feng Shui so decided to give her class a chance. I reprioritized my personal obligations so I could take the time needed each week to focus on the different life areas in my house….”

“…I won’t kid you, it was a lot of work and a bit scary at times but Katie couldn’t have been more supportive and helpful and it was well worth it! I rearranged furniture, sold items on Craig’s list, donated items, passed along items to friends and family and even purchased a few new items with the money I’d received from the items I sold. I gave 110% to completing each and every task from each week’s class. Six weeks in to the 9 week course I met the love of my life, my soulmate and as of April 6, 2013 my husband! I’ve never been happier, more at peace, or felt more secure and fulfilled than I do now. Thank you Katie!!!!!!!!!!!”

Thankfully, somewhere along the way, I’ve learned the true meaning of “high.”  As cliche and cheesy as it might sound, it’s true:  the natural high is, by far, the best high.

So how does one get this so-called “natural high”?  What is it?

One of the definitions on Urban Dictionary reads:  “Something that getz u really happy or feel like ur high without using drugz.”

I personally like the phrase: Blissed Out.

If you have no idea what I’m talking about, or it’s just been a long, long time since you’ve felt this way, chances are you’ve been going about things the wrong way just a tad.

Let me help.  Here’s what works for me:

Secrets to a Natural High
by Katie Rogers  

Source

1.  Eat well.  I consume smoothies and salads almost daily.  In fact, I’d say that, when I’m donig my best, my diet is about 75% raw, organic, fresh food (some days way less, and some days, I eat all raw!)

YUM! (source with recipe)

The rest of my diet mostly consists of “whole” or “real” food.   Basically, I stay away from meat entirely and processed stuff that passes for food.  Bottom line: when I’m eating extra-well, it sends me soaring!  I’ve also been taking some B vitamins, iodine drops (for a healthy thyroid), and adding spirulina and chia seeds to my smoothies lately — definitely extra zing!

Source

2.  Exercise.  If you’re not getting the oxygen flowing through your blood, it’s going to be difficult to get high.  My personal favorite high-inducer:  YOGA!!!!!  Yoga, yoga, and more yoga.  Seriously, this is where I shoot out the roof! (Not always during the class, I admit — sometimes!– but afterwards, YES!)

Source

I’m obsessed.  It’s absolutely a mind, body, spirit exercise.  If you’ve done yoga and didn’t like it, try, try again until you’ve found the right teacher for you.  If you are a beginner, I recommend you go to a beginner’s class, as you’ll get the foundational elements to last you a lifetime.   If ever I’m resistant to going (which is rare these days, because who doesn’t want to feel high?), I have a mantra:  “It’s always a good idea to go to yoga.”

Besides yoga, a good, long bike ride, a nice invigorating swim, the occasional jog, and a great hike are my other favorite ways to get the O2.  Options for exercise are endless:  find one or two you like, and do it as much as possible.

3.  Get enough sleep.  Finally!  I saw the Dalai Lama in 2005 and then I saw him again in May 2013.  Both times, he sang the praises of sleep as a key to happiness.  I’m finally taking this seriously.

Sleeping Beauty (source)

To promote the best sleep possible, my bedroom is feng shui’d with very little electronics (i.e. just my lights!).  I have a headboard for support.  There is nothing under my bed.  And I try my best not to get on the computer (or look at any sort of screen for that matter) past 8:30 or 9, as it’s harder to fall asleep that way.  And I go to bed early!  Also, I’ve been taking more breaks — naps are great — throughout the day.

4.  Get outside.  I call nature the Great Healer.  Seriously.  Humans are designed to be in very tight relationship with nature.  I believe that trees and rivers and oceans are literally healing us as we “commune” with them.  Horticulture and pet therapy are VERY real things!

exercise, nature, time with friends and daughter = awesome

5.  Living MY Life.   I’m doing feng shui and I’m making a movie and I’m a mom to the best little girl in the whole world.

I love my job — a client’s floor plan + bagua

In other words, I’m living my life’s passions.  I have found my dream careers, and I am doing them!

CarLess in LA, the movie!

And I tell my daughter I love her at least 15 times a day.  (I sort of made a vow to myself when she was born that I would do this.)  Reiki, art, writing, and trees are all part of my career path too, and it all ties together, but right now, I’m fully editing my film, and my feng shui career is flourishing…and so much fun.  And no, my life is not picture-perfect — whose is?! — but it’s uniquely and beautifully mine.

6.  Fun, rest, & play.  I admire flowers on walks.  I go to the movies.  I pet the neighbor’s dog.  I love my friends so I make time to hang out with them.  I spend as much quality time with my daughter as possible (key word being “quality”).  I take the day off, and I take vacations.  I have a drink or two now or then.  I have my cake and eat it too, if I want it.  I laugh.  Look, if we didn’t find pleasure in things, what would be the point of all the other stuff we do in life anyway?  HAVE FUN!  Chill out.  Right?

Not photoshopped one bit — gorgeous, right?!

Now for the definite buzz kills:
1.  Hanging out with the wrong crowd.  (You really can get new friends.)
2.  Ignoring your soul’s callings.  (You are alive on this planet for a reason — find out what it is and do it.  We will thank you for it.)
3.  Being judgmental or worrying about being judged.  (So middle school.)
4. Caffeine.  (You’re just going to crash and want #5 or a sleeping pill at night.)
5. Alcohol.  (You’re just going to want caffeine, bad food, and Advil in the morning.)
6.  Sugar.  (Really is a drug.)
7.  Meat.  (Takes a lot of energy to digest, and that energy could be going to other things.  Plus, poor Wilbur.)
8.  Too much dairy.  (Slows us down.)
9.  Hating your life.  (If this last one applies to you, take the day off, make a vow to be really honest with yourself as you assess your life, and make the decision to move in a new direction.  Because hate is strong word and nobody’s going to change your life for you, except for you.  Be bold!  Be courageous! Say some prayers, and make the leap.  Trust me — many, many of us have been there too — face the fear and see what happens.)

The point is:  we can use our own energy to fuel ourselves.  With the right mix of the good stuff, we can all be as high and happy as the Dalai Lama himself.  Okay, maybe not all the time, maybe not every day, BUT don’t you WANT to feel good — like, really, truly good?  (Just don’t try too hard to get high– that’s a buzz kill too.)

a new painting I did for fun

After all, the only HAPPILY ever after is the one you’re going to give to yourself.

No peer pressure though.