Turning it around

Two weekends ago I attended a Feng Shui workshop.

This was the third workshop I had been to in the past two years.  I'm a slow study in this 5000 year-old art and have a curious enjoyment of learning techniques in positioning element objects.

I was looking for ways to improve my sleeping environment and ideas to enhance the energy of the common space I share with three young adults and two cats.  My attempts to provide a Zen like, minimalist layout were unsuccessful considering the space with which we had to work.

I was happy to prepare a farewell to the Year of the Snake, its meandering paths and slippery characters I had endured. 

Last year I brought one of my young adult children since her year was coming to a close; I wanted something to give her ideas, inspiration for the next year - plus to spend some time together.  

This year I brought another offspring since The Year of the Horse is "his year" coming up on January 31st.  He was very patient and polite during the four hour session.  I was impressed that he asked questions while showing respect for this ancient tradition.

During the workshop I took notes on recommended placement of elements and related objects.  I took a mental inventory of objects we already possessed rather than shopping on impulse and investing more money on others.  

One can respect ancient traditions and the resulting advice while remaining practical. 

After the workshop I treated my son to a Works burger dinner.  He remarked on the chart showing auspicious and inauspicious compass directions for energy of the different Guas.  He observed that the directions for our two Guas were opposite. Oh...

I know he is eager to gallop away from our crowded home.  It is difficult for me to let go but I am so happy that he has new opportunities to embrace.  

The powder room now possesses a poster of a mountain as recommended plus a Himalayan salt  lamp and a plant.  I do not know where we are going to fit a bowl of the recommended fresh rock salt and sage.  I wonder if it will replace the candle whose purpose is to burn off residual fumes...  

My precious little writing desk has a new location - not at all related to any Feng Shui recommendations.  It just seemed to work best in this spot and is more accessible after turning the bed around.

It was indeed auspicious that the Feng Shui master recommended turning my bed with the head pointing west to encourage wealth.  I had been considering ways to escape the annoying late night noises coming from the apartment to the east anyway.

Sometimes it's a great feeling to change things around a bit and offload a few objects that don't enhance one's living space.  

I have yet to obtain smooth flat rose quartz to slip under the mattress and encourage a relationship.  I think the two cats occasionally occupying the top of the bed would counter-act any chances of that happening anyway.

The tacky framed print of a mother and babe at the head of my bed does not fit in with the recommended arrangements.  It is a keepsake from the family homestead and fits in with my continuing role as a mother, nurturer and guardian. 

As one of my offspring readies to gallop off, I am happy that the other two will still be close by for a while. One continues to contribute towards rent by creating illustrations for the next edition of the novel.  

Happy New Year and thanks for dropping by.

T

Warming up to Spiritual Traditions

Sunday morning reading

I have been up for hours due to the whining of one hungry feline, a full bladder and the joyous noises of the young family living below.  

I sat in my morning fogginess, sipping my first cup of instant coffee, and read a few blog entries by womanly writing acquaintances. One is sharing tidbits about pancakes, mardi gras and the preparation for Lent.  Another is lamenting the approach of Valentine's day and weighing the benefits of being an older, single woman.  

As a recovering Catholic, I read the former while recalling distant memories of long, boring church services.  One could say that since publishing the novel, I am leaning towards the irreverent.  I don't wait until the start of Lent to share in a pancake feast.  That's almost a bi-weekly tradition in our home.  

Enjoying my singledom, I chuckled at the latter's musings.  Except for the vague "be my valentine" invitation from an eccentric male acquaintance, I don't expect much these days.  It's not that I've given up... it's more like I have become wary of consumerized expectations.  I also have some apprehensions due to how some people interpret love and distort a relationship into one of abusive entitlement rather than gentleness and mutual respect.     

As the jaded fog clears, I acknowledge the new moon, the worldwide and beyond celebrations of the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Snake.  I have a list of things to acquire at the store. I just need a few more tasty treats to enhance the meal and gathering of family and friends in le petit apartement.  

As I leaf through Spiritual Traditions: Essential Teachings to Transform Your Life, I appreciate and respect the similarities of world religions and belief systems.  

I value my journey, exploration and opportunities to share common goals or beliefs with others while respecting those who differ.   

What it comes down to is that anyone can choose to begin the day feeling gratitude, joy and compassion.  

Sometimes, one needs a little boost from a cup of hot coffee.

T

Harmony in Space

This is not a blog post about outer space or science fiction.  It's about using a 5,000 year-old practice to improve harmony in one's living space, one's little corner of this beautiful planet.

Many years ago, under the influence of my respect for ancient practices, I picked up a book about Feng Shui.  It provided some well-illustrated explanations of the proper placement of objects in one's home, landscape or work place.  Since I didn't have much control over my personal and shared living space at the time, the book went onto the shelves.

I now have better control over the placement of furniture, art and books in my abode, the shared living space and my bedroom.  Of course, having cats somewhat influences where you put things too.

  

As a welcome distraction on a Saturday, I attended a two-part workshop on Feng Shui, hosted by one of the East Winds stores in Ottawa.  I brought my colourful book but didn't need to open it because participants were given handouts with charts, illustrations and instructions. We also had the opportunity to ask questions of our instructor as she patiently walked us through the content and made suggestions based on our floor plans.

One important thing I learned was that one should not have a washroom directly facing or above the entrance to the home.  

The instructor and fellow participants had a good laugh when I explained the dilemma of our kitty litter box that resides in the front hall closet due to limited space anywhere else in the petit apartment.  Yes, a cat box counts as a toilet sooo, I proceeded to re-locate it after I arrived home last night.  I also moved a few paintings and plants plus hung some pretty, colourful crystals.  

No, I am not superstitious at all.  

I also found ways to counteract the influence of bathroom walls and not to let wealth or health get flushed down a toilet.  Holy sh*t!  I should talk to the landlord about that run-on toilet in the master suite..

 
No, I am not superstitious at all.  

During the workshop,  I also learned that one should not approach the practice of Feng Shui with fear.  It is based on an ancient practice and is not a cult or religion.  

I figured that 5,000 year-old i-Ching book was still being read and referred to for a reason.  Of course, as with many ancient teachings, there are different schools of thought and experts that criticize other experts or teachers.  Sigh... 

The main reasons I attended this workshop were to help maintain harmony in our little home and to provide a clean, loving space that will support the educational and career aspirations of its residents.
  
The cats weren't too impressed with my moving things around - especially their litter box.  Judging from the smell I encountered in one of the other rooms this morning, I know they found it. 

  
As for old, outdated spiritual texts, I feel that some have outlived their purpose for setting a moral compass.  Yes, I think the human mind and civilizations have evolved enough to know it isn't right to hit your wife, your child; to stone homosexuals or to perpetuate a spiral of revenge by justifying an eye for an eye and dragging humanity into a cycle of blind violence. 

That's all I have to say about that.  

One comfort with moving stuff around was that my much-loved Tree of Life print would counteract the flushing away of energy now that it is moved to another wall. 

The birds are still facing in the correct directions as indicated in ancient Egyptian texts. 

No, I am not superstitious at all.

If you like my writing style, you will enjoy reading The Year of the Rabbit - A Novel about Fate, Family and Forgiveness.  It contains influences from my love of ancient civilizations and respect for some well-lived practices. 

Thanks for dropping by, for visiting my quaint little space in this world.  

T