Feng Shui Spring Spruce Up

Here is SOME information from FENG SHUI RESOURCE's latest newsletter.

Spring Spruce Up ~ April 2008

Greetings,

Most people associate this time of year with cleaning, organizing/uncluttering and updating. In the spirit of the season, here are a few ideas to assist you with your Spring spruce up . . .

It's really not surprising that a living space that is crowded, cramped or cluttered will stifle your creativity and ideas, as well as your productivity. Clutter is also not good for your ongoing health and vitality. In fact, physical clutter can cause you to feel depressed, unmotivated and stuck in life because it attracts low-level (stagnant) energy.

Interestingly, research studies show that people who "hoard" items can have an especially difficult time advancing forward in life and releasing the past. There are two common types of hoarding: emotional hoarding and intellectual hoarding. Emotional hoarders hold on to items because they fear they will lose the memories associated with a person or event. Intellectual hoarders hold on to items and, in particular, information, because they fear they might need that information one day. While hoarders make up a relatively small percentage of the general public, on average most of us hold on to far more "stuff" than we need to . . . Creating a healthy home is about living more simplistically and surrounding you and your family with only those belongings that bring you joy and/or provide a useful purpose in your life.

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HERE ARE SOME COMMON MISTAKES PEOPLE MAKE WHEN SETTING UP THEIR SURROUNDINGS (by the way you may want to check out the series I hosted with guest Blogger Kathi Burns on Getting Organized to Move...even if you are not moving)

The failure to pare-down as you progress forward: Most people only wear 20-percent of the clothing that hangs in their closet. If you haven't worn (or used) something in the past year-chances are you never will, so it's safe to let it go.

Accessibility: Available space (in file cabinets, drawers, shelves, and cabinets) is a lot like real estate . . . it's all about location. The items that you use most often need to be placed in the most convenient locations. Store "like" items together.

Wasted Space: Invest in a closet or garage storage unit to take advantage of every inch of space available to you.

Repeat Performance: This usually occurs when there isn't an inventory system in place within a household so you continue to purchase duplicate supplies, or you continue to run out of items. Keep a master list, and stick to it, this will also help you to avoid impulse buying.

Home Base: Have designated areas for incoming/outgoing mail, keys, and other personal items you need quick and easy access to. Open your mail every day, and do not let it accumulate. Also, rethink your magazine and newspaper subscriptions, particularly if periodicals are going unread. Request to be taken off the junk mail and catalog distribution lists. For mail contact: Do Not Mail List: www.directmail.com, for catalogs: Opt Out: www.catalogchoice.org

For More information on Feng Shui, classes, and consultations from an expert,
contact KATHRYN HOLT at 858-492-8506
or by email: Info@fengshuiresource.com.

Happy New Year 2008 - Feng Shui Updates: A Great Year Ahead

Here's a Feng Shui Resource update from Kathryn Holt on 2008. Sounds like a great year ahead, especially for the home.

I hope that you and your family had a joyous holiday season. Many people I've spoken with have been anxiously awaiting the new year, and with good reason . . . 2008 promises to be an especially auspicious (favorable) time for new beginnings and fresh starts.

For starters, this is the Year of the Rat. The Rat represents the first in the long line of zodiac animals (see side bar). So as the Boar was wrapping up the previous 12-year cycle in 2007, the Rat will be ushering in a brand-new 12-year cycle. But that's not all . . . The Earth Rat has special significance because it also represents the onset of a new 60-year cycle (12 animal signs x 5 elements = 60 years). The Bottom line: 2008 will be one of the best years there is to commence new projects and endeavors, such as: buying a house, starting up a new business, getting married (or entering into a new relationship), having a baby, or whatever hopes and ambitions you may have been pondering. The trick is, do your homework. That is, be sure to take the time to plan and prepare rather than blindly rushing in. This is a year that is strongly symbolic of change. Change/transition can be seen as a challenge or an opportunity, so do your best to embrace a positive outlook wherever your path leads you . . . Winter is the season of renewal and re-emergence, so it can be a good time to reinvent some aspect of your home or lifestyle (which also ties in with the upcoming Rat year). The start of a new year is a great time to make updates to your home, such as: Rearranging your bed/desk/furniture to accommodate the two unfavorable stars (see side bar) Space Clear and unclutter your living and working spaces so you kick off 2008 with a "clean slate" Turn up the color: The addition of color can instantly shift the mood of an environment and how you perceive and interact with that environment, by softening what is too harsh, cooling down what is too hot, or warming up what is too cold and lifeless. Even splashes of color can be effective, such as painting your ceiling a color and leaving the surrounding walls white, or painting the trim around door and window frames to accentuate views and create flow between rooms, or paint an accent wall for a little extra pizzazz.

Upcoming Classes: Next Class---Tuesday, January 8th (6:00 - 9:00 p.m.). "Celebrate the New Year." This class offers tips for setting up your home for 2008 and offers you a sneak preview of your personal forecast for the year. This class is only offered twice a year. . . Once in North County through San Dieguito Adult School and again in Coronado on Monday, February 25th. To register, contact: Doreen at San Dieguito Doreen.Walsh@sduhsd.net or Aida at Coronado Aida.Diaz@coronado.k12.ca.usi. Wishing you a year that is abundant in happiness & good fortune~ Warmly, Kathryn Feng Shui Resource We cannot control the uncertainity of the world, but we can control how we respond to it ~ positively, peacefully & with faith.

For more information, or to speak with Kathryn directly, please contact her at 858.492.8506, or visit her website, Feng Shui Resource.

Feng Shui Holiday Update

A Season of Good Fortune
Greetings!

December can be a tricky time as we try to simultaneously wrap up the year-end while we gear up for holiday festivities, gift giving and the new year ahead. With regards to the tradition of gift giving, my philosophy (and heart-felt intention) has always been to give gifts that are meaningful and purposeful. Of course, in some cases this is easier said than done which is why in recent years I've chosen to do my holiday shopping throughout the year (less pressure). In the spirit of the season I would like to offer you some uniquely different gift ideas for all the important people in your life . . .

Gift Option One:

Onward Ho (Ho Ho) ~ What could be better than an organizing & uncluttering session to get the new year off on the right foot? This makes a great (group) gift for your child's favorite hardworking teacher and their classroom. Likewise, it can provide a gentle nudge and incentive for your spouse (or colleague's) office, home office or garage space. A lot of people are beginning to find the value in downsizing and keeping things simple, but they're not sure where to start . . . With 15 years of experience, we keep our uncluttering and organizing strategies easy, plus it usually takes a fraction of the time it would take your loved ones to tackle their projects themselves. $85 per hour/$160 for two hours

Gift Option Two:

The Gift of a Healthy Home ~ Occasionally a house can feel stale or "off" with or without any physical clutter. Known as, "sick building syndrome" this condition is the result of subtle energies like electromagnetic fields, geopathic stress, and residual energy (an unfavorable past history), which creates a heavy feeling and can affect a person's health and well-being (i. e., illness and depression). The gift of an Environmental/Space Clearing is that it lifts and refreshes the energy within an environment . . . think of it as an energetic and spiritual renovation for the home. (This can be especially beneficial for those who are moving into or out of a living/working space, nurseries, and for those who need to shift their current relationship with their surroundings.) $180

Gift Option Three:

The Classic Red Envelope ~ A personalized Gift Certificate that entitles your loved one to select a design consultation of their choosing . . . whether it focuses on Feng Shui, color analysis, interior design or green design, our mission is to create a soulful environment that blends beauty and flow while stimulating mind, body and spirit . . . (A consultation can involve a home or a specific room. We also provide creative and healthy solutions for kids rooms and college dorms.) Minimum one hour/$160., special rates for packages.

Other Opportunities ~ Gift Certificates (starting at $25) can also be applied towards upcoming classes, workshops, products and advice. Gift Certificates for all of the services (Options One ~ Three) are attractively and auspiciously presented for added good luck.

As our Gift of Good Fortune to you, you will receive a 2008 Almanac of your favorable days with your purchase of a Feng Shui Resource Gift Certificate. For more information, please contact FSR at: 858.492.8506 or info@fengshuiresource.com.

Warm wishes for a joyous holiday season,

Kathryn

Feng Shui Resource

Feng Shui Fall Update: Autumn The Season of Decline

Greetings!

I have received numerous calls and emails from clients and real estate agents regarding the recent San Diego fires. I wanted to devote this Update to providing you with some insight on the symbolism and significance of Fire as seen from the perspective of Feng Shui.

Most people associate the element of Fire with destruction. However, Fire actually pertains to purification, which is why it is frequently used in blessing ceremonies and consecrations. There is a widely held belief that when Mother Nature becomes sick or out-of-balance (due to either natural or man-made conditions), she will find a way to heal herself---in this case, purifying the Earth through Fire, with the assistance of Wood. Sadly, it is an unfortunate and, often, unavoidable consequence that humans have become a part of the equation as we have encroached upon nature through development.
As some of you may know, I live in the Del Dios area of Rancho Santa Fe, so we were in the direct path of the Fire. Like many residents, we were evacuated for the week, waiting to hear if our house would still be standing upon our return. One question in particular kept entering my mind during that time period, "Does creating and maintaining a healthy (high vibration) energy environment within your home/land, assist in preventing Mother Nature's purification process?"

For years I have been conducting environmental clearings on my home and land, you might recognize these techniques as "Space Clearings" and "Geopathic Stress detection." I have cleared several lines of GS from my home . . . The lines were running Northwest to Southeast (or, from one side of the house to the other), rather than from the front of the house to the back, or the back of the house to the front. Upon returning home, we noticed that our house, and the houses to both sides of us, had all survived the fire, several houses/structures in front of us and behind us had not been so lucky. Is this coincidence? Are fires really that random, or is there more to energy clearings/environmental healings than meets the eye?

Following the Cedar Fires in 2003 I contacted several of my clients who live in the Scripps Ranch area. A recurring pattern I noticed while working in that area of San Diego was the presence of multiple lines of Geopathic Stress in many of the homes . . . Not one or two lines, but upwards to six or eight lines per household. I'm happy to report that my clients/students (who had done the energy work themselves or who hired me to do it for them), also had homes that survived the fires. While I realize that this is limited in terms of field research, I continue to be intrigued, and I would be interested to know your related experiences, if any.

Most of the Feng Shui Masters I know would say, "There are no coincidences . . ." but I'll leave that up to you. During the week that followed the fires, firefighters continued to patrol our neighborhood. I had the opportunity to speak to several of them regarding the events that had taken place. The response I received was simple, "We were due." Like the ancient Shamans, Geomancers and FS Masters from thousands of years ago who studied nature and the patterns of the Universe, I was informed that fires are also cyclical . . . Depending upon the region, climate and terrain, it is predicted that most areas will encounter a fire every twenty to fifty years. These fires are seen as nature's way of "clearing out" areas, and this decline makes the needed renewal and rebirth possible. I wasn't surprised that this theory echos the larger Universal cycle of energy: Winter = renewal, Spring = rebirth/growth, Summer = peak, early Autumn = fluctuation, late Fall = decline, back to renewal. Understanding this pattern (even if it's in a non-Feng Shui manner) is what enables safety officials to monitor which areas are most vulnerable in the unforeseen future (or, "who's due"). Unfortunately, Santa Ana winds can be less predictable.

Here are some things you can do to honor your home, property and listings:

1. Look for symptoms of Geopathic Stress. (I can send you an article if you're unfamiliar with GS.)

2. Eliminate clutter and debris inside and outside of your home. (Just because you can't see stagnant energy doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Stagnant energy suffocates health, flowing Ch'i and ripples out and infects other areas.)

3. Be respectful of nature when you dispose of items such as pool chemicals, paints, solvents, cleaning and car washing solutions.

4. Consider the benefits of an organic garden as opposed to adding more pesticides and fertilizers to the earth.

5. Invite nature into your home by incorporating bird baths, bird feeders, humming bird feeders, or plants and flowers that attract butterflies, dragon flies, lady bugs, etc. (Note: if there is an absence of wildlife in your area, this could be telling you something. Animals are innately attracted to healthy energy, and will often avoid areas with unhealthy energy.)

6. No matter what condition your home is currently in, love and appreciate it for what it is. Thank your home verbally and energetically---through space clearings. Take heated or intense conversations outside (i.e., a long walk on the beach), as a way of keeping the energy within your home at a higher vibration.

Crisis As Opportunity: The Chinese symbol (calligraphy) for the word "crisis" is the same as the symbol for "opportunity." It is seen as an invitation to create something favorable out of an unfavorable occurrence. A fire (whether you are directly or indirectly affected) can be seen as an opportunity for a spiritual and structural renovation of your home.

If you or any of your clients were directly affected by the fires and are in need of organizing, blessing/environmental clearings, color, design or Feng Shui services, please contact me. I know that rebuilding, regrouping, and reemerging can be an overwhelming process and I would be happy to extend you a special rate.

Wishing you many blessings,

Kathryn
Feng Shui Resource

Next Class: Feng Shui & Symbolism
Tuesday, November 13, 2007 (6:00 - 9:00 p.m.)
San Dieguito Adult School: 760.753.7073

Upcoming Feng Shui Classes

Here is some information on Feng Shui classes from my friend and Feng Shui expert, Kathryn Holt.

Upcoming Feng Shui Classes

Greetings!
There are several Feng Shui classes coming up that I wanted to let you know about:

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For the Coronado, Mission Valley and downtown San Diego crowd, I'll be holding a Feng Shui Q & A class next Monday evening, October 1st, in Coronado. This is a great opportunity to have your Feng Shui questions answered, bring your floor plan, or gain additional information on the aspects of Feng Shui that you may feel a little fuzzy on . . .

I'll also be offering an Introduxtory Feng Shui Class through San Dieguito (held at Torrey Pines HS), for anyone who wants to learn the basics of FS, or that would like a refresher on how to Feng Shui your own home/office. Dates: Monday evenings, October 15 - 29, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

In November, I'll be teaching another class through San Dieguito, Feng Shui & Symbolism. This is a fun and revealing class. I hope you can join us on Tuesday, November 13th, 6:00 - 9:00.

Note: It's important to register through the schools (so that the class minimum is met), otherwise the class may be cancelled.

Coronado: 619.522.8911
San Dieguito: 760.753.7073
New Classes

In early 2008 I'll be offering the following classes:

Celebrate the New Year with Feng Shui
(A forecast for your home/life)

Feng Shui & Color

How to Stage/Feng Shui your home for the real estate market


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I'm always open to your ideas for class topics. If you're interested in hosting an upcoming "Hands On" Feng Shui class, let me know.


Wishing you happiness & good fortune,

Kathryn Holt

Feng Shui Resource
www.fengshuiresource.com
858.492.8506

~ Celebrate the Season of Change ~

The transition from late Summer into early Autumn is known as the season of "fluctuation." Fluctuation provides the opportunity for change because the universal energies are in the process of shifting. When energy is in a state of movement and flow you can use the momentum to release the things that aren't working in your life, while you open the door for new opportunities to enter. In fact, some Feng Shui Masters see fluctuation as a bridge that connects your past with your future.

Water = Winter
Wood = Spring
Fire = Summer
Earth = Fluctuation
Metal = Autumn/Fall

There are two periods of fluctuation per calendar year:

• Summer into Autumn
• Winter into Spring.

The transition (and movement) of energy also applies to your home . . .

Hallways:

Hallways are conduits for energy. They help to guide energy from one part of the house to other areas, giving a home a sense of flow. Hallways can also be used to connect, shift and, in some cases, separate the function of one space from another. For instance, the main living areas (kitchen, family room, living room) from the bedrooms.

It's important to treat hallways as rooms rather than non-rooms to keep a sense of connectivity. This can be accomplished through the use of artwork or photographs (creating a photo gallery), color, plants, area rugs/runners, furniture and windows. The secret is creating balance---Empty hallways cause energy to move too quickly and harshly which can have a destablizing effect. Hallways with too much furniture or clutter will cause the energy to become stagnant which can make you feel blocked or stuck in life.

Kathryn Holt 858.492.8506

Feng Shui Resource

********************Upcoming Classes*********************

Hands On Feng Shui: Energy Work
Topics: Geopathic Stress & Blessings 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Saturday, September 15
Cost $80. Space is limited
Location: The lovely home of Barbara & Blake Wood, Carlsbad (Includes light snack)

How to Space Clear
Your Home
Miracosta College
760.795.6820
6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Monday evening, September 17

Feng Shui "Q & A"
Coronado Adult School
619.522.8911
6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Monday evening, October 1

Introductory Feng Shui
San Dieguito
760.753.7073
6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Monday evenings, October 15 - 29