Holiday Feng Shui: Stacking the Deck While You Deck the Halls

November 29, 2006 - What's the first thing that most children do when they know that Christmas is coming? They write their wish lists to Santa! They don't care how they're going to get what's on their lists. They just write 'em, sign 'em, seal 'em, and mail 'em. Then they eagerly wait to receive, trusting that what they've asked for will magically arrive. The things on children's wish lists vary widely. Yet, no matter what they desire, their intention is always the same: to feel happy and fulfilled.

Well, it's time that we adults take a lesson from the kids! Let's make up our own wish lists. And then when we deck the halls this year, we can stack the deck in our favor by decorating with intention, says Juliette Looye, Fung Shui consultant. Her business is Fung Shui Transformations: www.fengshui-transformations.com Feng shui (fung shway) is an ancient Chinese art that involves adjusting the energy of your surroundings to create a balanced and supportive environment.
Make Your List and Check it: Against the Bagua Map

Once you've made your wish list, check it against the bagua map to see which life-area each wish corresponds to. Then locate those areas in your home, and place your decorations there.

Romance Wreath

Its shape is the same as a wedding ring, which symbolizes everlasting love.

Pink is the feng shui color for Marriage & Relationships. Its energy promotes kindness, closeness, and a giving heart.

The two birds and the pair of hearts symbolize lovebirds, harmoniously united.

The sparkly objects will remind you to keep the spark alive so you stay the apple of each other's eye.
All My Gifts Wreath

Its shape represents a mouth that sings your praises to the world.

The gift boxes represent your many gifts and talents. So as you fasten each gift to the wreath, state one of your gifts out loud. (Examples: I have a gift for putting people at ease. I have excellent organizational skills. I run very effective meetings. I am the top salesperson in my district. I have 12 years of experience in this industry. I am working on my Master's degree.) No gift is too small! Include them all! By the time you're finished, you should be feeling great about yourself. And the added benefit: You've just done a rough draft of your résumé or the memo that you're going to write when you ask for that raise or promotion!

The bow will remind you that your goal is all wrapped up because your red-hot gifts put you in demand--so who could resist your request?! If you would like to buy the featured wreaths, contact Juliette Looye at info@fengshui-transformations.com. The cost of each wreath is $60, which she will donate to the Humanitarian Service Project for their special Christmas offering. Each $60 donation will cover the cost of the following for a family of 5:

3-4 weeks of food, including fresh produce and frozen meat at least 3 new toys or gifts for each child in the family.

Special-Wish Board

Here's how the example shown was created: Julie asked her husband to sit down with her and brainstorm a list of his wishes and goals. When he finished his list, she asked him to choose the one wish or goal that he'd most like to achieve in the coming year. Then she asked him to state it in present tense, as if it has already happened.

This is what he came up with: "I have commissioned at least one wind turbine by December 2007." And then he wrote his intention: to "be socially responsible."

You know what this goal is all about, right? . No, you don't? . Well, frankly, neither did Julile.. But that really wasn't important because it's Adrian's special wish and his heartfelt intention. Julie's husband wants to be a wind farmer. Who knew? She sure didn't until we sat down to brainstorm his wish list. But afterwards, not only did she know about his goal, she got behind him and supported it. In no time, they were looking through magazines and brochures and cutting out pictures that would convey her husband's wind-farming goal. They also cut out words and pictures that would convey his feelings once he achieved his goal. (He chose excited, optimistic, and thrilled.)

To Julie's surprise, this activity--which might have seemed like a silly waste of time to our self-conscious and logical adult minds--became a joyful and energetic undertaking. "The more Adrian explained his vision as we cut and pasted, the more his Special-Wish Board came together and the more his Special-Wish Board came together, the more real his goal became.," Julie says. "When we finished Adrian's masterpiece, I put it on a table in my office. Since that time, Adrian has come into my office many times. He sits and studies his Special-Wish Board, and he plans how to make it come true. After today, he'll take it from my office and put it in a special place where he can see it every day."

Money Pot

1. First, find a container whose opening is narrower than its base. It can be made of any material you like, as long as the pot is attractive and raises your spirits when you see it. The shape of the container is meant to convey the idea that as you put your money into the pot, it sits in a sort of reservoir that keeps it growing and expanding.

2. Put nine bills of the same denomination into the pot. You can use all singles, for example. As you put each bill into the pot, visualize your money beginning to grow so you can easily meet your financial goals.

Note: Before I put my nine bills into the pot, I covered the bottom with clear marbles to represent water and cash flow,' Julie says. "Since purple is the feng shui color for Prosperity, I also added round purple sequins. Together with the snowflakes, the sequins symbolize the notion that every time it rains--or snows--I receive more pennies from heaven. "

3. On the vernal equinox, which falls on or around March 21 each year, remove the bills from your Money Pot and give them away to the person or cause of your choice. Then put nine new bills into the pot.

4. Follow this process four times a year on each solstice and equinoxand remind yourself every time that you are so wealthy, you can afford to be generous.

A Recipe for Holiday Chi--and Cheer! After you've decked the halls and stacked them in your favor, here's a final idea. Good chi is also achieved through pleasant scents and sounds. Those sounds include music and laughter and the conversation of friends. So don your favorite holiday apparel and your favorite feng shui jewelry. Then put some mulled wine or cider on the stove, and switch on some holiday CDs. Last, gather your favorite people together and celebrate your friendship. With all the good chi that you will create, this could be your most magical season yet -- and a great way to prepare for the new year!