I feel badly about the dire state of the retailers this holiday season. I’m sorry so many of them are struggling and so many more are closing their doors. I know this time of year is often their only time to be profitable. I feel badly that I didn’t help their cause at all----not in the least----not once. That’s because I don’t buy presents anymore. No one in our family exchanges gifts and we’re very happy about it.
We didn’t always do it this way of course. The first time we thought about the idea of foregoing the exchange of gifts, we got scared and, at the last minute, bought things for each other. It’s interesting how unsettled we all were at not having gifts to open. What would we do on Christmas Eve? Would we feel sad? Deprived? Then, add the fact that we’d always given gifts to one another, we just couldn’t break a long-standing tradition.
The next year we decided to try the idea on again. I think it came up for review because most of the gifts I had gotten from my sister and her family the year before I didn’t particularly like, or didn’t use, or they didn’t fit. I also had noticed that the rather hard-to-find item for her kitchen that I had searched all over for and paid quite a bit of money for has never been seen again. So the discussion of not buying presents for the upcoming holidays was pretty welcome. This time, however, my sister put forth the idea of giving our money to someone who needed it. That’s when the concept stuck.
Each year now my sister finds a family in need; each year we hope to make their holidays a bit brighter; and each year we feel good as well. Do we suffer from deprivation on Christmas Eve? Heck no. We watch movies, play games, eat----it never occurs to us that we’re NOT opening any presents. I don’t have to have a feng shui crisis about what to do with this stuff----Is it clutter? Should I re-cycle or re-gift? I don’t have to feel badly about all the wrapping paper being thrown in a land-fill somewhere. I don’t have to ponder the question as to whether there is an appropriate length of time to keep a gift that you have no intention of using/wearing. Of course, this no-gift plan probably wouldn’t work so well if there were still little kids in our family. But as adults, it’s a perfect one-size-fits all concept.
Although the retailers had not been dependent on the spending habits of me and my family for the past few years, I nevertheless feel badly about their plight. The irony around the family who received our gift of money is that they owned a retail store which they had to close due to the bad economic times. Add to that their seven children and the husband with a serious medical condition, it was looking like the holidays for them was going to be pretty grim. Perhaps our small influx of well-wishes helped to ease their worries for a time.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow
Today on the morning of the Solstice, I sit in my office keeping my eye on a snowstorm. I have been looking forward to this storm for the last three or four days. Ever since I heard about it coming from the Dakotas, I’ve been in high anticipation of its arrival. You can accurately surmise I’m not the one out there shoveling and I’m not trying to drive to some distant parts. I’m the one sitting in my office looking out the window and blissfully counting the inches that have dropped thus far.
Last night I made a grocery run to stock up on food---hoping we’ll be snowed in for at least two days if not more. I even made sure our cats had emergency back-up supplies. It seems odd I’d be so enthusiastic about having to be house-bound. I typically find a situation like this confining and irritating. However, my theory is that for this brief time, corresponding with the Solstice in a synchronistic way, I have unconsciously aligned myself with the flow of nature.
The Chinese use the language of the 5 Elements to describe, well, everything—directions, process, land formations, medical analysis, tai qi, and even the seasons. These phases are described in simple terms (Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, Wood), but have deep and nuanced meanings. Currently we are in the midst of the Water phase, the Solstice signifying the exact mid-point. During Water time, nature stops expressing itself outwardly but instead takes this opportunity to re-group, re-calibrate until it’s time to appear again. It is intended to be a quiet time where we would appropriately hibernate, as nature does.
As a culture, we have evolved this time into a frenzied and aggravating spell. The holidays require people to go out, put forth money they may not have, over-book their schedules, attend boisterous gatherings, eat too much, drink too much; for most people the holidays are anything but thoughtful. Perhaps I have a need to be part of the Water energy this year when things slow down and there’s less activity. Perhaps I have felt an unspoken entrainment with nature, an alignment that just feels good for me right now. I can use the storm as my legitimate excuse to stay home and slow down—to hibernate. Whatever it is, I want it to last as long as possible----long after the snow has stopped.
Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow
Today on the morning of the Solstice, I sit in my office keeping my eye on a snowstorm. I have been looking forward to this storm for the last three or four days. Ever since I heard about it coming from the Dakotas, I’ve been in high anticipation of its arrival. You can accurately surmise I’m not the one out there shoveling and I’m not trying to drive to some distant parts. I’m the one sitting in my office looking out the window and blissfully counting the inches that have dropped thus far.
Last night I made a grocery run to stock up on food---hoping we’ll be snowed in for at least two days if not more. I even made sure our cats had emergency back-up supplies. It seems odd I’d be so enthusiastic about having to be house-bound. I typically find a situation like this confining and irritating. However, my theory is that for this brief time, corresponding with the Solstice in a synchronistic way, I have unconsciously aligned myself with the flow of nature.
The Chinese use the language of the 5 Elements to describe, well, everything—directions, process, land formations, medical analysis, tai qi, and even the seasons. These phases are described in simple terms (Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, Wood), but have deep and nuanced meanings. Currently we are in the midst of the Water phase, the Solstice signifying the exact mid-point. During Water time, nature stops expressing itself outwardly but instead takes this opportunity to re-group, re-calibrate until it’s time to appear again. It is intended to be a quiet time where we would appropriately hibernate, as nature does.
As a culture, we have evolved this time into a frenzied and aggravating spell. The holidays require people to go out, put forth money they may not have, over-book their schedules, attend boisterous gatherings, eat too much, drink too much; for most people the holidays are anything but thoughtful. Perhaps I have a need to be part of the Water energy this year when things slow down and there’s less activity. Perhaps I have felt an unspoken entrainment with nature, an alignment that just feels good for me right now. I can use the storm as my legitimate excuse to stay home and slow down—to hibernate. Whatever it is, I want it to last as long as possible----long after the snow has stopped.
Last night I made a grocery run to stock up on food---hoping we’ll be snowed in for at least two days if not more. I even made sure our cats had emergency back-up supplies. It seems odd I’d be so enthusiastic about having to be house-bound. I typically find a situation like this confining and irritating. However, my theory is that for this brief time, corresponding with the Solstice in a synchronistic way, I have unconsciously aligned myself with the flow of nature.
The Chinese use the language of the 5 Elements to describe, well, everything—directions, process, land formations, medical analysis, tai qi, and even the seasons. These phases are described in simple terms (Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, Wood), but have deep and nuanced meanings. Currently we are in the midst of the Water phase, the Solstice signifying the exact mid-point. During Water time, nature stops expressing itself outwardly but instead takes this opportunity to re-group, re-calibrate until it’s time to appear again. It is intended to be a quiet time where we would appropriately hibernate, as nature does.
As a culture, we have evolved this time into a frenzied and aggravating spell. The holidays require people to go out, put forth money they may not have, over-book their schedules, attend boisterous gatherings, eat too much, drink too much; for most people the holidays are anything but thoughtful. Perhaps I have a need to be part of the Water energy this year when things slow down and there’s less activity. Perhaps I have felt an unspoken entrainment with nature, an alignment that just feels good for me right now. I can use the storm as my legitimate excuse to stay home and slow down—to hibernate. Whatever it is, I want it to last as long as possible----long after the snow has stopped.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Feng Shui and Felines
I’ve had a theory for several years now----it has stood the test of time and I think it merits consideration. My theory is that people who are interested in Feng Shui also have cats. I’m not proposing this idea just because I myself have three cats but because the majority of my clients are also owners of felines.
It may be that cats are very attuned to subtle energies and since Feng Shui is all about energy, people may find a connection between the two. Cats like to sleep in warm, cozy corners where there might also be a soft pillow or a fresh pile of laundry, seeking an area where the ch’i flows favorably. By nature cats are nocturnal----ask anyone who owns a cat about those night-time tirades where hanging from curtains or "cat"- apulting over the back of chairs is just normal behavior. Feng Shui also prefers a good balance of yin energy—soft and winding paths, fountains, gentle breezes.
It’s not that dogs aren’t good indicators of energy, but you must admit they lack subtlety. A cat knows how to coerce ch’i to get what they want. They can masterfully stare changes into happening. They will stare at a door so long that suddenly it will open for them. They can stare at their owner from across the room for hours if needed until food appears, or a lap, from which they can choose which one will fulfill their needs at the moment.
A few years back, I kept track of this cat phenomenon. Each and every one of my clients had a cat or two, even three. This lasted unbroken for nearly two years. Back in those days I was doing two to three appointments a week. That’s a lot of homes with a lot of cats. I even wrote a tongue-in-cheek article back then sharing this observation if you want to ponder more about this topic.
My question is whether cats actually enhance the Feng Shui of a space or not. Or do they simply manage to get themselves adopted into a home that already has good Feng Shui. Perhaps that will always remain their secret. But, as a cat love, I myself am happy they’re here doing what they do----which is pretty much nothing.
It may be that cats are very attuned to subtle energies and since Feng Shui is all about energy, people may find a connection between the two. Cats like to sleep in warm, cozy corners where there might also be a soft pillow or a fresh pile of laundry, seeking an area where the ch’i flows favorably. By nature cats are nocturnal----ask anyone who owns a cat about those night-time tirades where hanging from curtains or "cat"- apulting over the back of chairs is just normal behavior. Feng Shui also prefers a good balance of yin energy—soft and winding paths, fountains, gentle breezes.
It’s not that dogs aren’t good indicators of energy, but you must admit they lack subtlety. A cat knows how to coerce ch’i to get what they want. They can masterfully stare changes into happening. They will stare at a door so long that suddenly it will open for them. They can stare at their owner from across the room for hours if needed until food appears, or a lap, from which they can choose which one will fulfill their needs at the moment.
A few years back, I kept track of this cat phenomenon. Each and every one of my clients had a cat or two, even three. This lasted unbroken for nearly two years. Back in those days I was doing two to three appointments a week. That’s a lot of homes with a lot of cats. I even wrote a tongue-in-cheek article back then sharing this observation if you want to ponder more about this topic.
My question is whether cats actually enhance the Feng Shui of a space or not. Or do they simply manage to get themselves adopted into a home that already has good Feng Shui. Perhaps that will always remain their secret. But, as a cat love, I myself am happy they’re here doing what they do----which is pretty much nothing.
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