Three Door Bagua is the Bagua my school uses, because we align the grid on the same wall of the front door. We use the door to line up the Bagua because the door is the most important part of any structure. It is where all the energy enters and leaves a space. We use the wall the door rests upon to honor this powerful energy. As we are looking into the structure we align the Bagua grid on the space. Then we can look at each of the areas of the Bagua and see how they relate to different segments of our life. The nine areas of the Bagua align with nine areas of our life and the aspirations that we hold for each area. There are certain colors, objects and elements that are associated with each specific area of the Bagua.

I always like to start at the bottom of the Bagua in the center. This area is the Career section. It represents our life’s purpose or the career path we chose. This is where we can honor and highlight our profession. We can place objects associated with our field of expertise, the color black or a water element.

If we move to the left in a clockwise direction, the next area is the Knowledge and Self Cultivation corner. This is where we retain our knowledge, expand our thoughts and continue on the path to learn. This would be the perfect place for an office or study. We can incorporate the color blue or images of mountains and elephants to help us retain our knowledge.

Above the Knowledge corner is the Family and Heritage section. This is where we want to honor our ancestors. It was important in the ancient Chinese culture to pay respect to their ancestors. We believe we would not be successful with out the foundation our family built for us. The Family and Heritage section is the perfect place to display family heirlooms, wood crafted items and the color green.

Adjacent to our Heritage section, is the Wealth and Abundance corner. This is the place we will attain wealth and hold onto our money. We want to honor this section in order for abundance to flow into our life. We can place items associated with wealth such as plants, coins or the color purple.

Next to the Wealth corner, is the Fame and Recognition area. Now you might be thinking; “I don’t want to be famous”. It is not as much as being famous, as it is our self-gumption and our self-esteem. This is the energy we need to do our job or to follow our passions. It directly lines up with our Career section. It is important to honor the energy of the Fame and Recognition area in order to do our job effectively. We need to have confidence to pursue our dreams and to accomplish our goals. This is the ideal area to place awards, diplomas and the color red.

Next to the Fame Recognition area is the Love and Relationships corner. This is the place where we maintain healthy and strong relationships. People often think this corner applies to only romantic relationships, but it covers all the relationships in our life. This area applies to all our relationships with our family, friends, neighbors and coworkers. We need to have healthy relations with all the people in our life not just romantic partnerships. In the Love and Relationship corner, we can use the fire element to ignite the desires of the heart. We can place candles, crystals and the color pink to increase the energy of our heart’s desire.

Below the Relationship corner, is the Children and Creativity area. This is the place where we birth our ideas, in addition to fostering our offspring. It is where we are going to find inspiration for the projects we are working on. In the Children and Creativity area, we can place hand-crafted items, objects that honor the children in our life and the color white.

The quadrant just below the Children and Creativity area is the Mentors and Helpful People corner. These are the people who will help us along life’s journey. It might be a favorite aunt, our grandparents or a historical figure that we want to honor. It can be someone we know personally or it might be someone who inspires us, like a saint or a historical figure. The Mentors and Helpful People corner is an ideal place for pictures of our friends, objects made out of metal and the color gray.

The last place on the Bagua is in the center and this is the area of Health and Energy. Many believe this is the most important part of the Bagua because without our health and strong energy, we cannot have any of these other aspirations in our life. We need to have a strong healthy foundation to build upon all the other areas of our life. In this space, we can have plants, flowers, the color yellow or items made from the earth.

We use the Bagua as way to guide us and to help us enhance particular areas of our life. The Bagua is a map to show us where we have been, we where we are and where we are going. It is a tool that was used for thousands of years but it is still as powerful today as it was in ancient China. The Bagua is one way to set our intentions into our environment to increase the meaning of our aspirations. It is a map we use in FENG SHUI to chart our own dreams. Good Luck in implementing the Bagua and discovering your destiny!

 When conducting a FENG SHUI consultation, I don’t look at the structure only, but I also look at the area that surrounds the home. This space is just as vital as the four walls and the roof.

Now that spring is approaching, it is a good time to look at your garden. You want your yard to compliment and balance the structure of your home. Your garden should capture the landscape and draw people into your home.  

Creating a sacred garden space helps to balance the energy of our home. Using FENG SHUI in the garden can increase our opportunities, strengthen relationships and bring us more abundance. We want to create a strong connection to our garden, by enhancing the energy of our environment. Gardens are a great place where we can connect with nature and enhance the natural energy.  When we create a strong connection between our home and our yard, we increase the vital Chi or energy surrounding that area.  We want to have some type of a personal touch in our gardens in order to create a strong bond.  This bond will increase the vital energy that surrounds our home.

 One way you can feel more connected to your garden is to plant items that you love. Being surrounded by the plants and flowers you adore can lift the energy of your home.  You can also plant flowers and trees that you remember as a child. Perhaps your childhood home had a beautiful willow tree in the yard and you loved hiding under the long draping branches. Or, you may recall a bed of beautiful golden daffodils blooming in your yard.  You can add your favorite fragrances like honeysuckle or lilac  to delight your senses.  You might even want to add your favorite color of flowers. Pick the colors that you love and inspire you. This creates a strong connection to your garden.  When you plant flowers and trees that have meaning, it increases the connection and the vital energy of your yard.

 When we honor and treat our gardens with respect, we can enhance the energy surrounding our home. This makes our environment desirable and the energy more beneficial. In FENG SHUI, we believe that if you lived in harmony with the living earth you would lead a life of abundance and happiness. We can attract good Chi or energy into our home by paying attention to the FENG SHUI in our garden. A garden can connect us with the earth and it can balance the energy of our home.  When we use the ancient principles of FENG SHUI, we can connect with the energy in our yard and create harmony both inside and outside our home.

 In FENG SHUI, we use certain tools to adjust the energy of a space. We could use these same tools to insure that the event will go off smoothly and without worry. One tool we use in FENG SHUI is the Elemental Balance Cure. This is where we use the five main elements of FENG SHUI to balance the energy of any space. The five key elements of FENG SHUI are water, wood, fire, metal and earth. We can use the actual element, an image of the element or a color that represents that particular element. We can incorporate this cure for a particular event. A white wedding dress would represent the element of metal. A black tuxedo would integrate the water element. Incorporating candles would add the fire element, and flowers would bring in the wood element.  Earth tone colors or anything in the shape of a square would bring in the stability of the earth element. When we use these five main elements of FENG SHUI, it balances the energy of a particular space. This will ensure that the day goes as planned and things run smoothly.

 You could use color. Color is a powerful tool used in FENG SHUI to adjust our environments.  There are certain colors that we associate with love: pink, purple, red and even green. Green is the color of the heart chakra. We don’t always think of green as the color of love, but it is a great color to express our love for one another. If we are celebrating a family reunion, we could also use the color green as a theme. The color green represents our family and heritage. That would be a nice way to mix in good family relations, ensuring a happy and relaxing reunion. We might use the color yellow for a baby shower. The color yellow represents health and energy. This would be appropriate to ensure a healthy and happy baby.  The next time you are planning that special event, keep in mind the colors you choose and how they can balance the energy of the space.

 Choose a location with meaning. FENG SHUI is one way we can connect to our environment. When we choose a particular location for the big event, make sure that it is a place that is special.  This will increase the beneficial energy of that space and make the event more memorable. Your special location could be your family’s church, a park where you first met, or an exotic island that you always dreamed of visiting. When we have a strong connection to our surroundings, we will feel more comfortable and at ease. This will allow everyone to enjoy the day.

 The next time you are planning a special event, remember some of these tips and maybe you can use some of these suggestions to ensure a successful event. FENG SHUI is a lifestyle tool that can balance the energies of a particular space. It can be used to balance the energies of wedding, reunion, birthday or any day you wish to make special!

James Redfield the author of “The Celestine Prophecy” describes this year as “a period of strong energies making us feel uneasy and restless”. He also believes we are starting a new period in history and this is why we are hearing more about the Mayan Prophecy. We are ending one era and starting another one. Redfield explains that in order to adjust to the changes, we need to be more spiritually centered and create a strong connection to nature’s powerful energies.

Transformational author Christine Kloser talks about how we are living in a transformational world. Things are happening at an accelerated pace. She describes” that if we are not connected to our core, we will begin to feel out of balance”. Our core is our beliefs, values, and passions. With all these changes occurring, we might start to feel them taking a toll on us. The more grounded and balanced we are, the easier it will be able to handle these shifts.

This is not just a shift in the human realm, but also in the natural world. Earthquakes, floods and tornados happen for a reason, I believe the reason is for us to take stock of our lives and value what is most important. Usually the first thing people say after they survive a disaster is, “I am so glad I am safe and my family is alright.” They rarely make comments about the loss of their material possessions. After a disaster, mundane objects really don’t mean much to us. What really matters are the people and the relationships in our lives. I think this is why disasters occur.  They shake us to our core, and help us realize what is essential in our lives.  In an odd way, these tragedies help us to put our lives back into perspective. They teach us where we should invest our time and energy.

As all these shifts continue, you might start to notice changes. Now you are probably wondering after all this doom and gloom, “what can I do?” You might ask yourself, “is there anything that I can do to cope with these changes?” Well you can, and the first thing I would suggest is to ground yourself. Stabilize the energies around you by eating well-balanced meals, sleeping, exercising, and spending time in nature. All these things will help you to stay balanced and grounded.

The energies on the outside of your homes might change. It is important to keep the balance inside your homes and bodies to handle these rapid changes. You can make sure our environment is healthy and nurturing. Make a point to create harmony in your homes. As the world is changing and feeling more stressful, make sure your home is a place where you can rest, relax and escape from the chaos in the world.  Invest your energies and time with the people who matter in your life. Spend time with people who are positive, upbeat and inspire you. It is the simple things that can make you feel balanced and grounded. These are the best ways to handle the shift and transformations that you are experiencing in the world today.

At this time of the gift giving season there are certain gifts that can bring us FENG SHUI luck. When you select a present for someone, you want to choose something that reflects their personality. Make sure the gift has a personal touch that reflects the recipient’s individuality. This will ensure Good Luck for you and the recipient. Gifts don’t have to be expensive or elaborate in order to bring FENG SHUI luck. You want the gifts you give to have a special meaning and bring happiness and joy to the recipient.
 
 
1) Plants or flowers are a great choice, because in FENG SHUI we believe they bring us abundance and increase our wealth. Plants and flowers also keep us healthy, balanced and grounded. Some examples of good FENG SHUI plants are bamboo, jade and ivy. In addition to those plants, the Chinese believe Narcissus or Amaryllis bulbs bring good luck in the New Year.
 
2) Candles are another good gift to give because we use them up and they don’t create clutter. They keep us calm and brighten up our spaces. They can lift our spirits and warm up a dark and cold place. Candles are great way to incorporate aromatherapy into our environment.
 
3) Angels are a perfect gift because they are good for protection and can help keep us safe from negative energies. We can pass this feeling of security to our family and friends when we give them a gift of an angel. Angels are a nice way to let our loved ones know we are thinking of them and we are sending them special protection. 
 
4) Wind Chimes are one of my favorite gifts to give. Wind chimes represent abundance in FENG SHUI and we believe that they can help us to hold onto our wealth. The beautiful sound of the chimes activates the good Chi (energy) around our homes and breaks up the stagnant energy that may fill our space.
 
5) Gift Certificates are always a good choice because you can use them up and they don’t clutter your living space. Recipients can get exactly what they want or what they may need. When you give a gift card for a restaurant, movie or a special event you are giving more than a gift you are giving them memories to share and enjoy.
 
The thing to remember is to avoid giving gifts that will become clutter. It is important to give a gift that you have thought about and it reflects the recipient’s true tastes. If you do this, you know the gift will used and treasured.  If you make sure each gift will benefit the person you give it to, that in turn will bestow Good FENG SHUI Luck upon you. This will help make sure yourHoliday will be filled with lots of joy and happiness. I hope these suggestions help make your holiday shopping easier. May you enjoy this Holiday Season! 

Give the Gift of FENG SHUI
Gift certificates for a personalized FENG SHUI consultation are available
and make a great gift for that special someone.
Please contact me for details.
216-409-6159
Cgallagher9@juno.com 

REIKI is an effective way to reduce stress, promote relaxation and encourage healing. It has been effective in helping virtually every known illness from physical to psychological aliments. REIKI also works in conjunction with other medical techniques to relieve side effects and promote recovery.

I use REIKI in my Environmental Healing practice. I project REIKI to set the tone and energy for the space before I give a personalized consultation. It is a way for me to send calming energy to a place before I enter. REIKI is a tool I use with my clients in order to break up stagnant energy and get beneficial energy flowing throughout their particular setting. I like to call it “Environmental REIKI”.

In addition to being a powerful tool used to balance an environment, I use REIKI everyday to balance and heal myself. I even charge my food and water with REIKI. There are situations like traffic jams or waiting in long lines when I like to send REIKI to get things moving. REIKI has many different uses besides just being a powerful tool to heal one’s body.

One day when I was walking, I started sending REIKI ahead and I discovered that it made for a more relaxing and enjoyable walk. My body seemed less tense and I walked with ease. I began to walk in rhythm and just floated along the path. I also noticed, where there were certain dogs that always barked at me, almost instantly they would quiet down. I use REIKI as a way to make my walks more effective. I found myself in more of a contemplative mood. I slowed down and enjoyed my walk. I discovered I walked farther with less stress on my body when I incorporated REIKI into my journey. REIKI makes walking more enjoyable and I find myself looking forward to the journey, instead of dreading it.

You might be wondering, “what if I am not attuned to REIKI?”. You don’t have to be attuned, to utilize this powerful energy. I tell people all the time to set your intention out into the Universe ahead of you. Ask that the spirit open you up to this powerful energy and allow the Universal Energy to flow through you. The difference between an attuned REIKI practitioner and someone who is not attuned is, the energy of a REIKI practitioner is stronger and the healing process can be quicker.

We all have the unique ability to heal ourselves. Think about when we get a headache, usually we hold our head. In essence, we are healing ourselves. Or when our stomach is upset, we grab our gut. It is a simple way to calm our bodies down and send healthy energy to the areas that are affecting us. We all have this healing ability; we just need to practice using this technique in order to increase the healing strength.

The next time you go for a walk, run or even a bike ride, think about using REIKI as a way to make your journey more powerful. Set an intention out ahead of you to insure that you will have a smooth trek. REIKI is a simple but effective way to make a walk more meaningful and enjoyable. REIKI is more than just a healing modality that you can use for your body. Remember you can send REIKI to an object, a particular situation or even your environment. I think you will find that this Japanese healing technique can transform your life!

My husband and I took a trip to Maryland this summer and we had the pleasure of driving on the National Pike or Route 40. As my husband drove, I gazed out the window and was in awe of nature’s beauty. I commented to him on how good I felt and how relaxed I was. This area of the Mid-Atlantic made for a therapeutic drive, because the area had such nourishing energy. I could literally feel the energy from the pine trees, the rich earth and the blue sky. I have been on other drives where I felt the powerful energy of nature. One time driving through the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee, I recall seeing a stream flowing down the mountain on the side of the road. I remember thinking how peaceful it was. The windows were open and fresh air was flowing through the car. I could smell the fresh mountain air and hear the stream bubbling through the woods. I remember how relaxing that ride was and trying to absorb all of the beneficial natural energy. Another time driving I remember through New Hampshire on the Kancamagus Highway or “The Kanc” as the locals refer to it. Every “switch back” left me breathless. I was in awe of the beauty and brilliant colors of this area. In every one of these places, I felt the power of nature and found it was easy to tap into the amazing energies these areas hold. It did not take long before I felt relaxed and calm. The next time you take a road trip, look at the different routes and check to see if there is a scenic path. Pick a route that will take you through nature so you can appreciate all its splendor and wonder.

I can take a couple of different routes on my drive home. One way is with buildings and concrete lining the road. The other drive is through a wonderful park system in Ohio nicknamed the Emerald Necklace. The Emerald necklace is a series of parks that outlines the city of Cleveland. It is one of the largest metropolitan park systems in the country and it is a natural treasure. I have the option of driving through this park on my way home, and I find the drive therapeutic for me. Just to slow down the pace of my car and drive through the area surrounded by lush trees and all of nature’s beauty; is moving for me. I like to roll down my windows, turn off the radio, let the fresh air in, and listen to the sounds of nature. This is a restorative ride for me. You might want to look at your commute. It does not have to be mundane and lifeless. Try to discover a new way home that will inspire you with nature. For those of you who spend hours in your car commuting, you might want to use this time to tap into nature’s amazing energy. On the other hand, you might even look forward to your drive home.

You may not think of driving as being therapeutic, but you can make the journey a healthy one. Certain routes can help you to slow down, relax and enjoy nature’s offerings. If you take the right road, it can be therapeutic. It doesn’t matter if the path is in some exotic destination or right in your own backyard. Therapeutic drives can be found anywhere. The power of nature is simple yet amazing. Instead of looking at your drives as a chore, look for roads that can restore your body, mind and spirit. You might even discover the best part of your trip is the journey. I would love to hear from you about any of your therapeutic journeys. What drives would you suggest? Email me at: cgallagher9@juno.com

The Chinese were masters at blending their indoor and outdoor spaces into one. They married the two as one continuous space. According to David Slawson, “the Chinese integrated buildings and landscapes into one area”. Often the Chinese would have a courtyard in the center of the home that brought in natural sunlight to their dark spaces. One could sit inside and enjoy the fresh air of the outside or sit outside and still be close to the conveniences of their home. They would blend the two spaces together to give a more expansive feel to their space. Let me explain how we can use these same principles in our home.

Gardens have always been a prominent feature of Chinese life.  In FENG SHUI, we believe the area surrounding ones home should harmonize with nature. It is important to enhance our natural surroundings, blending our indoor living spaces with our outdoor garden areas. When we apply FENG SHUI to the exterior surroundings of our home or workplace, we will enhance the energy, making our space more desirable.

In FENG SHUI, we view the garden as an extension of our homes. We think of porches and patios as an outdoor room. We want these areas to compliment and balance the structure of our homes. Our homes and yards should be linked physically and have a continuity of style. Frank Lloyd Wright was brilliant at doing this; bringing the style of our exteriors to the inside and vice versa. He did this by using the same building elements inside the home as well on the exterior. Wright was known for using the wood from the land that surrounded the property on the inside as flooring, cabinets and furniture.

I like to suggest to my clients to use their outdoor spaces as additional living space. They could start by making their front porch cozier or try using their deck as another dining area or a side yard as an additional living room. When they use these outdoor spaces as an extension of their living space, it gives them more room to spread out and to feel less constrained by the four walls of their home.

You can always incorporate furniture and accessories from inside your home and bring them outdoors. It is as simple as adding some throw pillows from inside and curling up with them on your porch.  Place some of your houseplants on your deck so they can enjoy the sunshine that they crave.  I love sitting on my patio and enjoying my backyard on a summer evening. When I add a soft blanket, it allows me to stay outside longer and linger in nature’s restoring energy.

When we combine our indoor living spaces with our outdoor gardens, we enhance the energy surrounding our homes. This makes our environment desirable and the energy more harmonious. We can add additional living space without a costly renovation. Try to view your outdoor spaces as extensions of your home; and think about how you can integrate the two into one area. When we marry our indoor and outdoor
environments into one, this will ensure that vibrant energy will encircle our living areas.

 There are different stages to our decorating style. The same things we loved five years ago are not the same items we love today. Our tastes in furnishings change as our experiences change. For example, let’s say you traveled toGreeceorItalyand you were inspired by the styles and the colors of theMediterranean.  When you return, you might want to add some of those spice colors or exotic furnishing that reflects that region of the world. Our tastes evolve as we experience new events in our life.

 Eventually we grow into our style. As we mature and learn more about ourselves and our likes and dislikes our personal style emerges. For some of us it takes longer but eventually, we discover our style and learn to embrace it. We can flip through a home design magazine and instinctively pick out the rooms that appeal to us. We will choose the rooms that feel comfortable to us. We just know in our gut what feels right. That is our personal style emerging. If we stay true, to these feelings then it will be easy for us to choose our furnishings. I remember an antique dealer telling me “that it doesn’t really matter what you buy. Buy the items that resonate with you and make you feel good”. I still use that advice today.  Don’t buy an object because of the price tag or because a designer recommended it. Buy an item because you like it. That is a way of forming your own personal style. Honor your true preferences and you can’t go wrong.

 Before I buy anything, I ask myself “do I love this item?” If I truly don’t love the object then I don’t buy it. I have found that if I buy an item just to buy it quickly, I learn not to appreciate it. When I choose an object that I love, then I rarely tire of it. I seem to appreciate it more than if I just bought the first thing I find. I often tell my clients this. I give suggestions to items they might want to purchase in order to adjust the energy of their space. I explain to them that I am giving them a suggestion, but when it comes to purchasing this item, they have to love it. I tell them not to buy something just because I told them to buy it. Buy the item because they honestly enjoy the beauty of the object. Now, it might take longer than just running out and buying the first thing we see, but it is worth the wait to have an object that truly inspires us and makes us feel good about ourselves.

 Take the time to look at your own personal furnishings. Does your style align with your current preferences? Look around your home to see if you are surrounded by the items that truly inspire and motivate you. If not, maybe this is the time to take a personal inventory and review what your preferences are. Spend time in your space and see how it feels to you. Are you comfortable spending time in your home? Do you like to spend time there? These are just a couple questions that you can ask yourself to see if you are aligned with your desires. If you don’t enjoy being in your home then this might be the time to review your space and remove any objects that are not serving a purpose. Take the time to discover your own personal style and embrace it!

First is a man’s Destiny,

Second is his Luck

Third is his FENG SHUI,

Fourth is his Virtue

Fifth is his Knowledge.

According to the Chinese, there are five core principles that create a successful life. The first principle is our destiny. Some people seem destined for greatness. It doesn’t mean just because we are destined for one thing, that we can’t transform our lives. According to William Jennings Bryan  “Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved“.  We can change our future no matter where we started.  We have heard the stories of people coming from nothing and making it big. We might know someone who had a terrible childhood and emerged as a strong and successful person. We do have the potential to alter our destiny.

The second principle is luck. We all know someone who is lucky. We often make comments such as “you are so lucky” or “what a lucky dog”. Some of us do have more luck than others, but it doesn’t mean we will be unsuccessful. Samuel Goldwyn once said; “The harder I work, the luckier I get”.  This means we might have to work harder than others to get the same results. We know if we want something, it may take a little longer to come to fruition. Luck is just one piece in the puzzle of life and it is just one part of our future.
The third part of the proverb is FENG SHUI. Now FENG SHUI may not be the most important part of this proverb, but it does play a role in our future. I believe that the way we honor and recognize the energy of a particular place has a powerful affect on our lives. FENG SHUI is a way in which we can modify our surroundings, to improve our current situations. When we study how the energy flows through a particular place and use that beneficial energy to transform our lives, we can improve our future by honoring the energy of our environment.

The fourth principle is virtue. Our values and principles shape our future. How we live our lives and carry ourselves has an affect on how our lives will enfold. If we desire to have more meaning in our lives, then we need to honor the spirit of everyone. Our virtues are traits that build our foundation for good moral living. Personal virtues are qualities that promote the well-being of our community and ourselves.

The last principle is knowledge. Wisdom is the key to changing our life. If we want to improve our lives then we need education to transform. Knowledge is the key to opening doors and expanding our circle.  We never want to stop learning. People often say “I am too old to learn” or “I have had enough of school”.  Education comes in many forms and is not always found in a classroom. Some of the greatest lessons in life come from our everyday experiences. It is important that if we want to evolve, we need to be constantly learning, growing and exploring.

When we put these five core principles together, they make the ideal combination of what we need to succeed. Each piece makes for the perfect package.  We do have control over our future and we can use these principles to transform our lives.  Our own efforts will produce our own results.   We can honor the energy of our environment in order to transform our lives. We do have control over our own destiny.  Now we might have more luck than our neighbor or our neighbor might be more knowledgeable. It doesn’t matter.  We can use the principles as a guide to motivate us to reshape our future!