Working with your life Gua

 

One of the first things I calculate when doing a Feng Shui analysis is the life gua of the people living in the home.  The reason for that is because what might be a supportive influence for one, could be challenging for another.  Knowing this can often help distinguish or resolve the issue of who gets which bedroom too! :)

The life gua speaks of our compatibility with other people and or directions/spaces in the home. We all have a unique energetic signature which will interact with other energies in different ways. This is calculated with a formula based on your birthday.

One of the main purposes of a Feng Shui consult is to better understand the self, and how we interact and relate to the world around us.  This allows us to match our frequency with our intention, which gives rise to coherence, and harmonious living. The life gua number gives us insight to our nature, but also context to which energies we can best jive with, be supported by, or will experience challenge with.  Not only can we reduce the time spent in less beneficial areas, but we can then map out the different types of supportive energy in the home in order to get the most benefit. Is the goal to boost your health, relationships, finances?

This number can direct you to where the best location will be to set up your bedroom, or office for example.  Each person in your home will have different areas that will best support them, unless of course they are of the same life gua. It's not a one size fits all kinda thing!  This can make the difference between feeling like you are constantly swimming up stream in life, or riding the wave! 

We can apply this to our relationships as well, whether it be our life partner, family life or work life. This can be a powerful tool to help understand why you get on easily with some, and less so with others, and how to improve those dynamics. 

If you can look at these relationships through the lens of the life gua and element it resonates with, you can more easily make whatever adjustments might be needed in your approach. When we understand our own nature, and the nature of those we interact with, we can create more harmonious relationships! 

Let's look at an example. My life gua is a 4 yin wood energy.  This is also symbolized by the wind.  Yin wood energy is softer and more flexible than yang wood. Much like the grass, or a ground cover that flowers and climbs. It is strong and rooted, instinctive, and can move around obstacles. They can be good communicators, social, enjoy making connections, but also very independent.  Like the wind, a 4 life gua can be free spirited or change direction, or focus more easily. Wood energy is life generating, like spring time. This gives them the propensity to be creative, and good entrepreneurs. 

Now, if we look at the life gua of one of my boys. He is a 6 yang metal energy.  If we look at the cycle of the five elements and their natural relationships, right away, we can see that metal controls wood. What do you use to cut down a tree? Because I am a yin wood however, this controlling aspect of the dynamic is less pronounced as say if I was a yang wood. Imagine a huge oak tree! A much bigger obstacle to overcome, which could create more conflict or challenges in the relationship. 

I often find myself adapting and adjusting to the needs of my 6 life gua child, which is in my yielding nature anyway. The 6 has strong leadership qualities, can be perfectionists, and very set in their ways. This gua is associated with a fatherly or disciplinary type energy. Being at the top can also be a lonely place, and they can sometimes be susceptible to depression. 

Change is a great challenge for a 6 life gua, unlike the 4, who moves with the wind!  This reminds me to be mindful of how much change I introduce into his world, helps me to nurture his leadership qualities by allowing him the freedom to do things his own way, come to his own decisions on certain things, to learn to trust his own abilities. Metal energy can be very cutting or rigid, and so the yin wood energy can help them embrace a more easy breezy attitude. In turn, the yin wood can benefit from the systematic approach or discipline of the 6 yang metal. 

When we better understand our natural tendencies, we can flow through life with more ease, grace and respect for ourselves and each other. Every relationship has an opportunity for growth💓

If you'd like to know your life gua and chart with which directions best support you, I'd love to hear from you! Just head over to my website and click on the link that says "Get your free energy report"

Warmly,

Debbie

www.blossomingspiritfengshui.com

Choosing color the Feng Shui way

Color is one of the easiest ways to adjust the energy in a room and often one of the hardest things to choose!  The first question to ask yourself is how do you want to feel?  Every color has a frequency that will trigger the nervous system to respond in different ways.  The way you want to feel will set the dominate color, and from there you can choose the complimentary scheme. For a room to have a balanced feel, each of the five elements should be represented. This can be done through textures and shapes if not with color. The amount of natural light is also an important factor! 

The next consideration is what is the room being used for?  For more social spaces, like living rooms and kitchens, yang colors will bring a vibrant energy, while for bedrooms and offices, yin colors bring focus, clarity and calm. 
In general, when we look at the five elements, fire and wood are on the yang spectrum, while metal and water are yin.  The earth element is the balance point between the two.  

Each of these elements have different characteristics and relationships with each other. When we respect the natural order, we create harmony in our environment!   

 

Fire: High energy

The quality of fire is attaching and passionate. It can warm sexual desire, but also your inner fire with regards to career aspirations and following your passions. Colors of this element are red, purple, orange and strong yellows.  The intensity will soften as you move from red towards yellow and the earth energy. 
The fire element represents the South sector of the home, but the Southwest and Northeast areas can also benefit.  
Red is a very powerful activator so be careful what you wish for! Too much red can bring about aggression or conflicts. 


Earth: Grounded

This energy is very nurturing and brings a sense of comfort and security to a space.  This is why the neutral palette is so popular!  This covers yellows, browns, neutrals, pinks, terracotta or sandy colors. 
The Southwest and Northeast represent Earth energy as well as the center of the home.  Adding neutrals to these areas stabilize the Earth energy. 


Metal: Focused

This element nurtures focus and cuts away distractions, which makes it a great choice for an office or study space!  The palette is white, silver, grey, gold and pastels.  The West and Northwest is where the metal element is represented but it can be beneficial in the North as well for career and prosperity. If you have a space for meditation, this palette supports the higher realms of consciousness.


Water: Relaxed

This element represents flow, of energy and therefore abundance. It also makes me think of finding ease, and lightheartedness. The color palette is the range of blues but also black.  The North is governed by water but the East and Southeast can also benefit. 


Wood: Inspired

This is the energy of growth, inspiration, and community. It represents the greens and browns. Purple can be used as well because this element also pertains to abundance. The sectors wood relates to are East and Southeast.  Touches of wood can also be added to the South, as wood supports fire. I most often suggest this palette for living rooms or family rooms. A soft green can be a great choice for a child's bedroom as well. 


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Back to center

As the summer winds down, and the cooler air sets in, I can definitely feel the energy shifting.  Kids head back to school, the attaching energy of summer begins to wane, and there is a natural pull towards getting back to center.  The fire energy of the summer is just that!  Fun, social, unpredictable, joyous!  As fall approaches, we move towards the solstice, the change of seasons, and the earth element.  Time to get a little more grounded!  This is an excellent time for reflection to prepare for the shift towards the metal element of the fall, and the energy of letting go of the excess, transformation and preparation for the yin period of winter.

The earth element is also represented by the center of the home in Feng Shui, and our overall health and well being.  The first step is to figure out what exactly is the center, then take advantage of making this a clear, uncluttered space where the energy can collect.  Are there architectural elements that can create instability such as a staircase, kitchen or bathroom, a fireplace?  If so, there are remedies that can be put in place to reduce this effect.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine. the earth element relates to our stomach/spleen.   Our physical center is also where our precious organs are located, the solar plexus chakra, and our intention. The all important 'gut' instincts.  If this area is chaotic in the home, it may show up in our experience as digestive issues, lack of clarity, fatigue, obsessive worry, not feeling rooted or trouble finding clear direction, unexpected health challenges, or a general lack of self care.

Here are 5 things I look for to enhance this area. As always, go with what speaks to you!  Your environment should be a reflection of your being, so be true to that first and foremost!

1. Clear out the clutter.  Clutter creates chaotic or erratic energy, much like feeling sea sick!  This is the single most important step!!

2. The center is an area for energy to collect. In nature we often see this spiraling or circular pattern.  It represents balance, like the taiji or yin/yang symbol.  To remind me of this, I like to add some circular representations.  Choose items that really resonate with what balance looks like to you!

3. Lighting!  Adding lights at the center of the home resonates with keeping my center energy activated and strong. My inner fire! It brings awareness to how am I managing my health, my level of self care?  Am I listening to my instincts, what my body needs?  If I lack a strong sense of center, everything else gets easily out of whack.  I always keep a soft light on in this area. In a more practical sense, it ensures everyone in the home can find there way in the dark.

4. Crystals.  Any selection of crystals you have would be really well placed here!  Choose those that you feel you need the most support from.  A hanging multifaceted crystal can also be used to harmonize the center of the home.  If you are lucky enough that natural sunlight makes it way to the center, you will be blessed with a rainbow of color!

5. Speaking of color!  The earth element is often represented by yellows, earth tones, terracottas. You could also have art work that depicts natural environments or special places that bring you a sense of inner peace. Any statues of meaningful figures will also help ground the space.

www.blossomingspiritfengshui.com

Moving to the inside

                                       

The fall season is officially here and with it the energy of the metal element. It’s no surprise that this element represents change, letting go and transformation, we see it all around us.  It is considered one of the most spiritual of the elements because of the alchemic potentials.  Feng Shui theories echo this more spiritual aspect as well as the metal element is represented by the celestial father or heavenly influences. In both Chinese medicine and Feng Shui, the metal element also governs the lungs and therefore our Qi or life force.  Actually, there are different types of Qi. There is our original Qi that we are born with, but there are also other types such as grain Qi that we derive from the food we eat, lung Qi which comes from the air we breathe and wei Qi which can be likened to our immunity, to name a few. These types of Qi can be supported and cultivated with various lifestyle practices and regimes such as Qigong and eating locally with attention to the energetic action of foods according to the five elements.  One of the things I love about Chinese Medicine is that it is based on the principle of prevention rather than intervention.  Of course sometimes life happens and we require intervention, however taking a conscious approach towards prevention also increases the daily quality of life, self awareness and empowerment. It cultivates a closer relationship within ourselves and the world around us. I love the analogy of tending to our mind/body as gardeners tend to the garden. Nurturing the seeds of new potential, weeding out the excess, and giving thanks for the fruits of our labors. 

The energy of the fall asks us to move inward, a pause, to give yourself time to do what feels right to restore for the winter season.  Whether that’s cleaning house, making time for practices or activities that nurture you or simply taking a new interest in how and what you are filling your cup with.  Getting back into the kitchen is one great way to reconnect and nourish the system for the changing climate.  Some of the foods associated with the metal element are those of the onion family, garlic, ginger, turnips, radish. The color of the element is white, so think white foods.  These foods help to circulate energy, warm the body and eliminate toxins.  Other immune boosters can be combined such as mushrooms, chlorophyll rich leafy greens, celery, pumpkin, squash, and sweet potato.  

One of my favorite cookbooks is called Naturally nourished by Sarah Britton. It’s full of delicious and not too complicated ideas to keep you inspired!  

www.nourisheveryday.comhttps://nourisheveryday.com/

Happy Thanksgiving!

Debbie

www.blossomingspiritfengshui.com

Exploring the dance of yin and yang

                                                   

Yin and yang are opposite states of expression contained in all of life.
Yin represents the polarity of passivity, while yang is the expression of the activity.  Many other opposites can be used to demonstrate this principle such as light/dark, up/down/ inside/outside etc.  This paradigm can be found everywhere, everything has an opposite, with a multitude of expressions in between.
To observe this transformation or movement within ourselves allows us to see our own unique song as we change notes, hit highs and lows and integrate that each note contributes to the whole - the inner meaning of healing is just that - to make whole again. We see the representation of this in the  yin/yang symbol.  Each side contains an element of the other. The white has a portion of black, and the black a portion of white. The expression is in constant motion but always contains the entirety or wholeness as it moves between phases or extremes.

Sometimes in our human experience, we forget or lose sight that we are always whole and contain all parts of our divinity at all times.  We are never separate from that even when we may be out of sync.  When we can express our yin (form and receptivity) in equal portion to our yang (activity and function-service) we find our balance point, the center, or homeostasis. When we balance our physical form with our divine function or purpose, we become the embodiment of the Taiji.

This dance can easily be understood by witnessing the change of seasons.  The full yang of summer slowly and gradually gives way to autumn until it reaches the ultimate yin of winter.  This transformation process is part of our nature as well.  Just as the seasons move through this expression of polarities, we experience change and growth and continuous cycles.

A tree doesn't question when it begins to lose it's leaves in the fall., doesn't worry or fret that it worked so hard to develop them, doesn't fear rejection or feel failure in their absence.  It just moves with the phases because the tree essence remains unchanged.  It's divine expression includes all phases of "tree-ness" From bare branches to full bloom and back again.  It's in the holding on or resistance to change that interrupts the natural order of things in our lives and can cause a misunderstanding of the grace and divine order of all things.  It's not so much the changes in our lives that cause suffering but how we interpret them.

The yin/yang theory can be observed in just about every aspect of life.  Science tells us that energy cannot be destroyed, only transformed.  This speaks to the very same principle.  Everything in life is in motion and we are in constant interaction with everyone and everything around us.
Given that, we can put attention towards cultivating the quality of this constantly moving force or Qi.  In our bodies, Qi comes in through the breath.  To nurture the balance internally, we can look to the breath as one method or practice.  The inhale is the yang of the breath, the exhale is the passive yin aspect.  Even in a very short amount of time of conscious breathing we can re establish harmony within.  This simple practice sounds a signal to the rest of the body that balance is being restored on a physiological level.  This yin/yang balancing act is also the foundation of Chinese Medicine.  Either polarity can be adjusted through activation of the meridians with acupressure.

In our environment, we can also seek to restore harmony through Feng Shui.  Qi is likened to the forces of wind and water. The wind moves the energy (yang) and the water contains and supports it. (yin) That is the literal translation.  Observing the arrangement of furniture or architectural structures (yin ) with the interaction we have within these spaces (yang) can give us an indication if an imbalance exists. In other words, is there a balance between form and function? 
Clutter is a very quick illustration of this principle.  In a space that is very cluttered (overly yin) it is hard to function (yang) or feel productive.  The energy gets stuck from the over abundance of yin.  Yin is receptive, contemplative, and nurturing in energy however in excess can become stagnant, overly reflective, depressive, without movement, dark. There is not enough yang to animate the space and maintain that balance of equal yin to yang.

If we can begin to see all of our experiences through this lens, it becomes much easier to move and adjust with the natural order of things, both internally and externally, which also allows us to embrace our own divine expression without judgement. We are all simply moving through the cycles of our unique landscapes, and every change has a perfect purpose of bringing us back to center.

www.blossomingspriritfengshui.com

Matters of the heart

As we approach the summer solstice, we transition into the energy of the fire element.  This element pertains mainly to the heart, although in Chinese Medicine, each element has a yin and a yang partner meridian.  The fire element is the only element that actually governs four of the twelve meridians. (That makes it pretty important!) The two yin meridians are the heart and master heart or pericardium, and the two yang meridians are the small intestine and triple warmer.  Yin is said to pertain to our emotions, while yang pertains to our beliefs and attitudes. 

Each of the five elements has a role within the body, which can be compared to a hierarchy of a kingdom so to speak.  The hearts role is that of the emperor, who rules with clear intention and awareness, by spreading joy.  We’ve all heard the expressions lead with your heart. 

The master heart envelopes or protects the heart, particularly from excessive emotional damage and shock.  When in balance, they govern our ability to feel joy, compassion, the ability to deal with strong emotions, intimacy, and a sense of wholeness and self love.  When out of balance, we can experience mania, restlessness, a feeling of disconnection and depression, heart palpitations, sleeping problems, spontaneous sweating of the palms or feet, anxiety, phobias, a feeling of restriction in the throat, incessant talking or laughing.

The yang aspects pertain to assimilation of ideas, clarity of thought, memory, and nourishment of the body/mind connection.  A disharmony can present as inflammatory reactions, jaw problems, tinnitus, unclear thought processes, lack of energy, increase in colds or fevers or become emotionally cold or shut down.

One of the most beautiful aspects of being human is our vulnerability and the great capacity to love and be loved.  As part of our experience, we will naturally come up against the polarity of this as well. These heartbreaks, seeming failures, illness or traumatic experiences can affect this vital element and can store themselves deeply into the system.

Restoring balance to the heart can be achieved through acupressure and other healing modalities such as sound therapy, flower essences or homeopathy but also by nourishing the Shen* 

This can be likened to our spirit, or presence.  It’s our ability to connect to a higher source, to enjoy life, cultivate awareness, manifestation, our vitality, and our unique expression.  This can often be seen in the eyes. That sparkle or conversely, that emptiness.  Our Shen* is first transmitted to us in utero and it’s said the moms state can effect what is transmitted to the fetus. It can also be cultivated throughout our lives.

Practices such as Tai Chi, Yoga, adopting an attitude of compassion and forgiveness, or simply engaging in activities that feed your soul play an integral role.

In our world of rushing from one responsibility to the next and the disconnect of virtual connections, allow yourself the time this summer to explore what makes your heart sing and experience the joy of the moment. Nourish your spirit with self love and positive thoughts, breathe, and actively replenish your heart center. ♥  The best part is...living your bliss gives those around you the notion or permission to do the same. Shine brightly!

www.blossomingspiritfengshui.com

Movement in stillness

                                       

In Feng Shui, we consider the Yin and Yang of the environment. In this context, we see Yang as bright colors, shiny surfaces, oversize windows, straight lines or rooms with lots of activity.  We see Yin as soft textures, calm lighting, rounded edges, subdued low furnishings, stillness.  For our home to feel balanced, we aim to have these two polarities represented equally.  Taking it one step further, the home is the Yin quality, those who live and move within, are the Yang. This is why a home that has been left vacant feels so lifeless. The Yang/spirit is missing.

This same theory exists within us as well.  So how do we recognize these polarities on an individual level?
The Yang can be compared to our spirit self. Inspired thought and action. Often referred to as the heavenly father.
The Yin is represented by the material. The physical form. That which is tangible. The earthly mother.
That is to say our bodies, the bones and organs are considered yin, the form.  The movement within the body of blood and fluids, the transformation that occurs is considered yang, the function.
When looked at in this way, it is easy to see the interdependence of the two. The yang is what animates the yin.  The yin supports the yang.

To live a more balanced experience, we need to be mindful of the two.  It's as simple as really taking notice!
In Feng shui we look around us, but what of the view inside. Take note if you feel at home in your body, and how often are you really there, truly present?
How does your body (yin) feel or respond to the movement of your breath (yang)? The magic of the universe resides in this simple exhange :-) ☯


www.blossomingspiritfengshui.com