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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
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
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