March is a very ‘green’ month! St. Patrick’s Day is on the 17th (the wearing of the green), and my favorite, the first day of spring on March 20. Ah spring! I think of new beginnings, flowers awakening to the warmth of the sun and pushing away from the melting snow, more daylight hours to enjoy; clearing out closets, washing windows, clearing the pantry and fridge – wait, what?
Yes, it’s true! When I was a kid my Mom made a big deal of spring cleaning. The heavy winter drapes were removed, windows cleaned and opened; lacy summer curtains were ironed and hung up. Closets were cleared out, winter clothes packed away, the fridge was scrubbed inside and out, even carpets were rolled up (no wall to wall for us) and a woven straw rug was placed in the living room. I know what you’re thinking, crazy, huh? Actually, according to Feng Shui my Mom was right! We just didn’t know it back then. As a kid I wasn’t fond of the chores but these changes meant that summer was right around the corner. And I do love summer!
There are springtime Feng Shui principles and most cultures have spring rituals. In China they have already celebrated the Spring Festival which followed Chinese New Year. As we know, Feng Shui is an art and science that creates and allows a positive flow of energy to enter our homes and nurture us. When we remove items that have been in the same place since fall or earlier and clean the area, we know that it opens up new pathways for Chi energy. There is a belief in Feng Shui that if you move 27 items in your home, the new Chi will change your life! The stagnant energy will be lifted so you can ‘spring’ forward. Your whole home will feel like a breath of fresh air!
Nature is beginning a new cycle of life. Don’t you feel like starting anew? Green is an active yang color which we see in nature’s growth and in our life. It represents creativity, spiritual growth, energy, abundance and harmony. It’s a time of renewal, so go ahead and plant the seeds for your own awakening. It’s a great time to revisit the goals you made for the New Year. If these goals are not working out the way you wanted, take some time to analyze the reason why. There may be a deeper issue that needs to be addressed. And it’s ok to set new goals. While spring cleaning and removing clutter, set an intention to bring happiness, good luck, good health, and prosperity into your home. It will make everyone feel happy and nurtured. If you’re donating, recycling or tossing away items in the process, take a moment to reflect on the object. What did it represent to you? Did it have special meaning? If so, thank it for gracing your home and giving you joy. This restores the energy of gratitude to the space where the item was located.
Don’t feel like spring cleaning? Is life too busy? If you think of your home’s clutter as “clogged arteries” and financial losses you might just change your mind! Clutter affects every aspect of your life, even if you don’t see it (like the stuff you hid under the bed). It’s spring, let’s get the energy flowing! Here are some great Feng Shui tips to bust that clutter and boost your finances at the same time. Set a personal intention for what you need and go for it!
*Clean clutter from all rooms in a clock-wise direction because that’s the way energy flows. Don’t fight it, go with the flow.
*Spruce up the front of your home. The front door is the ‘mouth of Chi’ where all good luck, fortune and opportunities enter your home. Think about how the outside world views you just by looking at your front door. Repaint if necessary. Red is the color for abundance. The door should open fully so remove any stuff that’s blocking it. You’ll also need to fix squeaks, replace worn doorknobs and screens, replace burned out light bulbs on the porch and add a new welcome mat. Remove dead shrubs and plants and replace with fresh yellow flowers or seasonal plants.
*Fix any leaky faucets or running toilets as they represent your money ‘going down the drain.’ Also keep bathroom doors closed and toilet lids down.
*Clean out closets, basements, attics and drawers and donate, recycle, or repurpose.
*Clean the windows and bring in fresh air and natural daylight for better clarity.
*For the best and safest cleaning, use non-toxic cleansers. They’re good for the environment too.
*Clean out the fridge and remove any ‘science projects’ you’ve been growing there. Wash with water and add orange or lemon essential oils to make it smell clean. Stock it with fresh, healthy food as it symbolizes prosperity.
*While you’re in the kitchen, clean the stove thoroughly (oven too) because it’s a wealth generator! It’s also a fire element and symbolically masculine – so why don’t more men cook? Sorry, guys! Using all 4 burners daily also represents prosperity. Microwave cooking doesn’t count!
*Spring represents the Wood Element. Use items that are green, brown, tall or columnar shaped, or made of wood. Think bamboo stalks, fresh flowers and striped cotton or similar fabrics. Consider changing winter throw rugs and use sisal, jute or other natural fabrics for spring flooring. See my Mom was right!
*If you need to paint your home, the 2012 hot colors are grassy greens, yellow, blues, turquoise, silver grey and some purple. Blue, purple, green and red are the colors of abundance too. Remember, pick what you like!
*Hang artwork that reminds you of spring with tall trees and blooming flowers. If you want to increase abundance, pictures of a mountain (Feng Shui’s got your back), water or fish are great. Look at it often to raise your energy level and the energy of the area where it’s placed.
*Set up a bird feeder. Birds bring happiness and luck and are considered winged messengers in Feng Shui. Now where have I heard that term before? Yes, angels!
Remember that every item in your living space has an impact on you. Everything has energy so the vibrations from living things and inanimate objects all affect you. Look around. Are your things sending you a message to remain stuck in life, feel depressed, or do they make your heart sing? Items that make us feel happy and optimistic raise our energetic vibration. So, what items do you want surrounding you in your home?
Continuing with the green theme, everyone’s a little bit Irish on St. Patty’s Day! In case you don’t know his legends, St. Patrick was said to drive the snakes out of Ireland to the sea to their destruction. The most popular legend is that of the lucky shamrock. Using a shamrock he explained the concept of the Holy Trinity, three persons in one God, to a non-believer by showing him the three-leaf plant with one stalk. Today Irishmen (and women) wear shamrocks, the national flower of Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17. So, get your green on!
Do you know people who are just plain lucky? No matter what they do or say they come out on top all the time. Is the ‘luck of the Irish’ shining on them? Do they carry an angel coin or a good luck charm? I bet you also know people who are ‘down on their luck’ or ‘if it wasn’t for bad luck they would have no luck at all.’ Lucky people don’t seem to dwell on the past; they identify what they want in life and go for it! They surround themselves with good Chi energy in their homes and offices. A great way to do this is to perform an energy or space clearing of your home. If you are not the original owner, you could be negatively affecting your own luck. There is a Feng Shui principle known as ‘predecessor luck’. This means the energy of the people living in your home before you can be impacting your life today!
To be truly abundant in life, release the past. Release any negative or limiting beliefs that you’ve been taught about money. Do you really believe “money is the root of all evil”? Do you look around and see only lack and feel insecure about your life? It’s time to release these old thoughts and unfounded beliefs. I give you permission! Life coaching can help, the Law of Attraction can help, calling on the angels can help, and changing your thinking from one of lack to abundance can certainly help. Create a mindset that your life is effortless and prosperous. If you believe it, can feel it and see it, you can manifest it! If you feel abundant, you will act abundantly. Have a grateful heart and keep a gratitude journal to become more mindful of your blessings. Use your money to help others because it creates positive Chi that will flow back to you. And it’s a great spiritual practice!
Angels of Luck – For luck and abundance in every aspect of your life, I suggest calling upon your guardian angels. Each of us, regardless of faith, has at least 2-3 guardian angels with us at all times. I have been told in meditation that I have several guardian angels and I feel extremely blessed! Our guardian angels have been with us since birth. Their job is to love, guide and protect us during our lifetime. You can ask them for help with anything, don’t be shy! Guardian angels have never lived on earth as they were created for us. The word ‘angel’ means ‘messenger.’ Angels bring messages from Spirit. They are here to help us all enact a higher plan of peace, for us and for the planet. They are loving, supportive and non-judgmental. Who loves you baby? Your guardian angels do!
There are also Archangels to help us, each with their own specialty. Be precise when asking for what you want and need. Have faith and trust! When the Archangels help you, it will raise your energetic vibration to allow for increased abundance in all areas of life. I believe abundance means more than money. You can feel ‘rich’ in life with having a happy, healthy family, love, good physical and emotional health, great supportive friends, a career that you love, great relationships, and so on. What does abundance mean to you?
Michael – he releases fear and provides courage so you can move forward on your spiritual and/or career path
Chamuel – he can help you find a new job to meet your needs
Gabriel – she will help you overcome fear and procrastination
Jophiel – she is the ‘Feng Shui angel’ and will help beautify your thoughts
Raphael – he will heal any limiting or negative beliefs you have about money
Raguel – he will provide guidance so you will be treated fairly in all relationships
Raziel – he can help you manifest abundance in your life
Uriel – he provides intellectual guidance, ideas and wisdom
Let’s take a look at the Wealth area of the Bagua, which I prefer to call Abundance. It’s located in the back left rear of your home (see Bagua map). There is no element associated with this area of the Bagua. The colors to use here are: green, blue, purple or red and you can use them as accent colors, always with intention. Green = money. Purple = royalty. Blue = water to flow abundance to you. Red = power and good luck. According to Feng Shui, true prosperity is the recognition and appreciation of abundance in all aspects of your life.
This ‘gua’ is also related to your hips and bones. If you have arthritis, TMJ or feel emotionally overwhelmed, take a good look at what’s in this space. Having too much water in one location or damp conditions will have a detrimental affect on your health. If you have a bathroom here, make sure the drains are closed; toilet lid closed and even close the bathroom door. Remove anything in the color of blue or black as that represents water. Too much water, especially a dripping faucet or running toilet will ‘drain’ your finances and impact your health. You can add items that represent the Earth element to ‘dry out’ this space. Think items from the earth such as crystals or the colors of yellow and tan.
No matter what room is located here, it must be clean and clutter-free. There’s that word again- clutter! Remember too much of it will make your finances stagnant. The good Chi must be allowed to circulate all through your home and into this area so that abundance will flow to you. Once clutter is cleared and the space is thoroughly cleaned, we can add items to increase the financial flow, always with intention! If you’ve implemented all of the above tips, you are on your way to a happy, healthy and prosperous home and life. Remember to add just a few of the following items. Too many enhancements done too quickly can cause chaotic energy in your home. Also, too much of anything becomes, yes, I’m about to say it again, clutter!
Water fountain – the water must be kept clean at all times
Aquarium – 8 goldfish and 1 black fish to absorb any negative energy
Traditional Chinese cures with red knots – I-Ching coins, wealth bells
Healthy green plants with rounded leaves such as a jade plant – no cactus
Jade Buddha holding a gold ingot
Light – add a lamp to this area if it’s dark and turn it on every night
Wealth plant – made from quartz and semi-precious stones
When you choose to enhance any area of the Bagua by displaying an object, set an intention! I cannot stress this enough. Without an intention, it’s just interior decorating not Feng Shui! Try these items I mentioned or whatever items that represent abundance to you. If you like, you can create your own Pot of Gold – the Feng Shui way!
Select a decorative vase, wider at the bottom than the top (to hold in the wealth) and ideally with a lid. If you cannot find one with a lid, you can energetically seal it (read on). It should be made from an Earth element such as porcelain, crystal or earthenware. Set your intention for what you want to manifest!
*Put some soil in first. Traditional use is to obtain it from a rich person’s garden! From a practical standpoint, use your own garden’s soil. After all, aren’t we all rich in something?
*Put in Chinese coins tied with red string or mystic knots for power.
*Fill part of the vase with semi-precious stones. They can be placed in a cloth tied with red string or cord. Use a good variety of small stones or add pyrite and clear quartz crystal. If you can’t find or purchase the stones, use colorful beads as a symbol of the gems.
*Put in a red Chinese envelope with real money (coins or bills and even international currency) inside. Add a picture of something you desire.
*Add five types of ‘nourishing foods’ which are uncooked seeds and grains such as millet, wheat, barley, rice or quinoa in a small plastic bag. This represents an abundant supply of food. Or just use rice if you choose. If there is more space, add some gems but make sure to leave room at the top.
*If you don’t have a lid, you’ll want to energetically seal the vase by covering the top with five pieces of square cloth. Use them in this order: red, blue, yellow, red and white only. Use cord or ribbons in the same colors and braid them together and tie it around the neck of the vase. If your vase has a lid, just tie a red ribbon or cord around the lid.
My wealth vase is beautiful porcelain with a lid and I keep my change inside! It’s placed on a table in the corner of my Abundance area where my plants are located. There are many different ways to make a wealth vase so get creative! Now that I’ve given you several ways to increase your abundance, how will you spend it all?
I would love to empower you to live your best life. Together we can make that special connection with your angels. I offer Life Coaching, angel card readings and virtual Feng Shui consultations via email and photos from anywhere in the world! Please visit the Bellesprit Services page on my website and enjoy discounts just for you, our readers!
Abundant Blessings,
