Mind, Body, Spirit – Page 17

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others even the dull and ignorant, they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble, it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, the world is full of trickery. However, let this not blind you to what virtue there is, many persons strive for high ideals and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. However, do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars, you have a right to be here. Moreover, whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with the Spirit of All Things whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy.

By Max Ehrmann

Feng Shui ~ Helpful People and Travel Part II

There are any number of websites on this topic. The library and bookstores can provide self-direction in this task as well. A local practitioner, someone to take on the goal of alignment with beneficial vibrations could not be found. So, ever the self-reliant homeowner, I drafted a plan to activate the area known to support connections to helpful people. How travel is part of this corner is not quite clear as these seem to be separate activities. Nevertheless, the task is started with more adjustments to be made. Here is a link to the first post on this topic. The goal is to overlay each grid of the bagua at home and make adjustments for auspicious experiences.

The front door opens directly into the area. There is a feng shui problem immediately in that a staircase is a few steps away from the entrance. The house is quite small and things are as they are. Behind the door is a tall old-fashioned cast iron radiator. The first task asks the space be cleaned. As much as I try, I cannot get in, under and behind the radiator. There are dust bunnies the vacuum cannot reach. The radiator works fine but is well-worn. So, the second problem appears. How do I clean the space? One solution would be to remove, clean and apply a fresh coat of silver paint. Another may be to find a crevice tool flexible and thin enough to do the work. Maybe I could also find a radiator cover. These are wooden, or metallic decorative pieces that fit right over the radiator. This kind of thing might be found at the Brimfield Flea Market. But, that event is not until May 2016.

I cleaned the staircase and dusted down the walls. Feng shui says to stop energy coming in the house rushing up the stair by placing a red rug at the bottom. This will be on the list of errands with a goal for completion by the end of the week. A large task not completed during the warm weather was to clean, repair and paint the walls in the stairwell. I procrastinated too long. I put a charming picture at the top of the staircase and quite visible upon entering. Will this help the energy flow? This is called chi and comes in whenever the door opens. Chi needs to move in and around the house unblocked to bring in positive energies and raise the quality of life. The chi is to be redirected away from the stairs.

One question came to mind in the process of activating the right hand corner. Is it just the front entrance, or is it every right hand corner through a doorway in the house? This proved easier to adjust and several changes were made. At the right turn entering the kitchen, I put two silver crickets on the windowsill. The plan suggested silver and metal to activate the energy. The crickets are from the Lucky Nail Blacksmith Shop in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. A card that came with purchase explains, “Middle Eastern and European craftsman commonly carved amulets and charms bearing images of crickets to fend off evil spirits. Crickets have played strong roles throughout Chinese, Japanese and Native American cultures as a symbol of good fortune, vitality and prosperity.”

An “altar” is on display in an upper room in the right hand corner. I made a jade plant the centerpiece as they are associated with good feng shui. The leaves are round and that is pleasing to benevolent chi. The bookshelf contains travel books, maps, and language guides for Italy, France, and Ireland. There is a coastal map of Agrigento province Sicily. A brochure for a Mozart tour in Munich, Salzburg, Vienna, and Prague. A CD for drive time practice of Italian. Euros in coin brought back from a trip to Sicily early this year. There is also a rain stick on the windowsill from Albuquerque New Mexico. It is filled with dried peas that rattle over spokes inside making a delightful sound of gentle rain when shaken. The suggestions included displaying water. Rain sticks are shaken to ask the spirit of the clouds to share some water with the earth. This object may come out, but it does represent a travel destination once enjoyed. I’d love to go back to Santa Fe next time. I definitely want to travel again soon and hope these things will manifest somehow, someway.

So, these are the shifts made to facilitate the movement of positive energy in bringing helpful people and opportunities to travel. A few decisions need to be made about the radiator and stairwell. But, I got started and hope to have a positive reaction. I have had one curious response from these changes already. I received a follow on Twitter from a prominent person in Boston media. As a writer, I am tickled pink to be noticed by someone who I have admired for several years.

To be continued………………….

Feng Shui ~ Helpful Friends and Travel Part I

The ancient art of placement, feng shui, is a branch of Taoist philosophy balancing the complex personal needs with the living environment. Basically, it follows the principle of as within so without as without so within. People are not separate from the environment of land, sea and air. Our energy is part of the whole of life’s vibration. Our form contains collective cellular memory of many different states of existence. As we mature in the circle of life, we bring forward a connection to all other beings. It may be subtle, hard to define, difficult to understand but we are stardust and reflect the outer environment of earth and celestial sky with every breath we take.

Oh, how contemplative are these thoughts. How lofty and mysterious. If we are a part of it all, than why stumble so often in relationships, work, health, and prosperity. Feng shui addresses out of balance aspects and claims to restore positive flow of energy by thoughtful positioning of objects. By applying color or movement, somehow we can enhance the benefits of what is swirling around just waiting to be touched.

There are nine aspects of life to balance:

Prosperity
Family
Skills & Knowledge
Fame & Reputation
Health
Career
Relationships & Love
Creativity
Helpful People & Travel

There is a high value placed on helpful people. The need for connection at the right moment is part of every human experience. Reciprocal relations with people and the environment are important to individual well-being. If things are not going well, perhaps a little feng shui can improve helpful people. This area also includes travel.

The bagua, or grid that incorporates the nine aspects in life is applied to the home and adjustments or cures bring energy into positive alignment. Feng shui works towards the greater well-being of individuals. The Helpful People/Travel corner is immediately to the right as one enters the home or room.

So, that is the foundation, now what? I will take the bagua home and apply these principles over the next several weeks. There is much in the life to be improved. Will this create a balance? A more balanced approach internally? How much of this is self-fulfilling?

The way to balance Helpful People/Travel includes cleaning the space, removing clutter and harmonizing energy with objects or colors. The suggestion is to display something metallic. An image of a helpful deity. The sound of bells or water. Maps and pictures of travel destinations. There is much now to consider.

Let us see what happens next……to be continued.

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Footnote ~ About two minutes after this article was published, an important bit of research information arrived from an unexpected source. Either it’s coincidence or synchronicity. The intention is made. A response appears. Believe it or not.

@FrancesAnnWychorski2015