Black Tortoise Rising

 
We’ve talked about the Red Phoenix, the Green Dragon, and the White Tiger. Today we see the Black Tortoise creeping in to take his place at the back of your home.

Ideally, we hope to see a gentle rolling hill in place.  It is suggestive of a higher mountain and is there to represent a protective barrier at the rear of your property. If the support initiated by having this creature near by seems to be lacking, the occupants might face considerable difficulty. Work on creating a symbol of the Tortoise immediately.If there is no natural hill or mountain, a nice fortification in the form of tall rounded trees, or a large storage structure can be built to symbolize the Black Tortoise.

When the representation of all of the four celestial animals is in place, it’s like an announcement of a great auspicious area being declared for the location of your property. If you are building a structure upon your property to stand in for a gentle hill, and are given only one choice of these four magnificent creatures to select from, choose the Black Tortoise. It is said to have equal importance to the Green Dragon. You can expect the Tortoise to help in careers, provide the blessing of happiness while on the job and it guarantees great margins of success in each business endeavor.

When the Tortoise is at your back, you are surrounded by a symbol of long life and happiness as well as being supported with a great defense from negativity.  It is said that the occupants of the home will receive solid structure and backing when he is found near by. The Black Tortoise is yin and corresponds to the North. Its earth element is that of water, it’s season winter, and black, or dark gray and charcoals represent the colors for it.

This large creature is considered not only wise, but also clairvoyant. He is always listening, continually gathering useful information, as he makes plans to protect the occupants of the home. His shell is strong and represents an ability to prevent change from occurring in your homes energy. In feng shui, his shell is often used for divination.

When you put him in his place at the back of your yard, you’ve whispered the secret that you are willing to accept his protection.

Peace. 

White Tiger Protection

Look out your back door.  I’m hoping you see a small hill to the western side of your yard. This is the area that the White Tiger inhabits. It’s another of the fantastic creatures that helps to protect the invisible, unfelt energy known as chi that surrounds you and your family.

The White Tiger is represented by a slight rise or elevation in the landform of your property.  His area rests in the west and is guided by the element metal. He is known to be equally as strong as that factor. When you have reached the level of success that you seek and have obtained the blessings of health and of wealth, the tiger watches from in hiding and springs forth to defend your successes from loss. He adopts a cunning nature, knowing when to strike and when to only observe.

Cultivate a rising landform on your property if there is not one there. This is a place in which he can rest. You may need to build a small berm, which is easily done, or shape bushes that may already be growing on the western side of your property into the shape of a small hill. These can symbolize the hiding place of the White Tiger and is where security will linger for those in need of protection.

Plant white flowers and bushes on the berm you have built.You can find many varieties in garden shops such as at a Lowes or your Home Depot. White is the color that represents the tiger and these will help to make him even more strong and powerful. There is no certain plant that would be better than another; but the color of the plant that is important in your choice. Also, do not build the height of your hill area greater than that of the Dragon area located to the eastern side of your property. To do so would diminish the strength of the Dragon. You are striving for harmony in all things.

This spectacular creature holds the key to the certain safety of your family. Invite him in.  When you have a tiger in residence on your property, you have the feng shui equivalent of absolute reliability.

Peace.

 

The Ultimate Dragon

You will find of the four celestial guardians of feng shui, the Dragon is considered the most “yang” within the group. The Phoenix, the Tortoise, and the White Tiger captivate us with their own unique abilities, but the Dragon represents the definitive display of male vigor. You will find that much more use of the Dragon is found located within the Landscape form of feng shui.  It is considered highly protective when found naturally within the land structure of a property setting.

It’s direction is east and performs amazingly well when placed in this area. Look for it to encourage abundance, energy and luck quickly as means of a cure.  You will find no symbol any stronger than the Dragon as a bringer of good luck. In the present and in the future, its display is a way of building up luck now and providing a way to capitalize on it in the future.

To bring your family honor, find a prominent place within your home in which to place pictures, statues or carvings of the mighty Dragon.  To help those within your home to visualize victory and future success in all business dealings, a statue of a dragon placed in the career sector of the home will inspire “good luck” chi to grow for you.

If you are in need of drawing help from powerful friends, I’d suggest placing the Dragon in the northwest corner of your home, always allowing that this image is within the range of being at eye level to ensure control over its powerful vitality.  When you place this small amount of restraint over its magnificent energy, you can be assured that the harmony in your home will not be over shadowed.

May you be healthy and prosperous as you learn of the many ways of the Dragon.

Peace.

Thanks for the Memories

Today let’s think about space clearing.  Every moment from this one back contains memories.  This is true not only us, but for our homes and yards as well.

Think of the first birthday party for your child; the surrounding in which it happened also contains the memories of that happy occasion.  You remember the creation of the cake in your kitchen - your kitchen, as you begin to think of that day, contains those very same memories as well.

When I speak of space clearing, don’t get up to take out the trash and place an empty vase in the closet. I refer to the memories and emotions contained within that space.

Whether they are sublimely harmonious and happy, or chilling with sorrow, the proper things to do would be to clear and cleanse this space, preparing the way for new people, inhabitants and memories to claim it for their own. It brings peace and harmony to a new beginning.

If you are without access to a feng shui consultant who can perform a space clearing ceremony for you, there are ways you can accomplish the same results on your own.

If you are leaving a space or home for a new one, I would recommend reading one of the many feng shui manuals available in your local library or book nook for the cure that is most appealing to you spiritually.  Some will require the uses of orange peelings, bells, or smudge sticks made of sage.  They will all require patience, purity of thought and most assuredly your good intentions to be worked into the ritual of cleansing your space conscientiously.

I try to smudge my home often to remove negative vibrations.  The music of bells combined with focused good intentions works famously to chase out negative vibrations. Whichever method you choose, work it well from your heart and you will find that favorable peace and harmony floods to your space preparing the way for new beginnings.

Peace.

Walk This Way…

I was outside planting some new spring flowers last week and it occurred to me how tranquil the walkway reaching my house had become.  I decided to let you know a few of the feng shui tips I use that are available to use at your home as well.

Don’t hide your home with tall shrubs along the walkways path.  They will block, weaken and possibly remove the good chi winding its way towards your home. Keep them low and neatly trimmed. It won’t hurt to add a bit of height, only take care if they seem to be blocking the view of your front door, it just my be time for a trim.

Keep your sidewalks swept up, clean and free of debris. There is nothing like an untidy entrance to interfere with the progress of good energy headed your way. Take the time to replace old or worn out doormats. They mark the opening to your home and this is the place in which you want to invite in good and happy vibrations not discourage their entrance.

If this is the area your mail is received as well, take note that your mailbox is clean and shiny, especially if it is made of metal. Your house numbers, too, will influence chi to stray so if they have seen better days, either get out your paints, your cleaners, or replace them entirely. The minimal cost will bring maximum returns!

Are there burned out bulbs? Replace them.  Lose or hanging shutters? Reattach immediately. Dead shrubs, trees or flowers?  Dig up and either replace or repair the damaged area where they were removed. You will not want to leave evidence of a former problem; the chi will notice and stop to ponder the problem rather than continuing along its energetic path towards your door.

Another tip is to avoid straight walkways if at all possible. A straight walkway allows chi to move too quickly causing it to shoot right past your door. If the straight path is inevitable, soften it by planting plants every few feet along its edges. This will form small graceful curves encouraging the chi to meander rather than gallop along on its way.

Lastly, add a water feature if possible.  We don’t all have the wear with all to have huge flowing fountains, but even the simplicity of a small birdbath can introduce the chi to your home in a quiet and peaceful way. You may also place a shallow bowl in which a single fresh flower is allowed to float. Look forward to the tranquility that will soon be heading your way.

Peace.

Home Water Feature

Did you know that the still water of a birdbath or pond will build the tranquility of your yard? Moving water, however, such as that found in a waterfall or fountain will actually increase the energy of the same space. When you decide if your yard needs more yin energy to add a more relaxed peaceful atmosphere or that of yang to perk things up, the choice should be simple.

The most beneficial placement for your water feature would be to install it in the east or the southeast direction. Either would be ideal.  If it’s not possible to place your water feature in one of these locations, make sure it’s positioned well away from your home.

When you’ve placed a water fountain in the front of your home, you’ve helped to accent the positive chi that is entering there. Always have the water flowing towards your home and front entrance, as that will symbolize the addition of wealth and prosperity. When the water flows out and away from your home, it carries the wealth away and adds to your financial problems.

If you’ve decided to place a birdbath or a small pond here instead, prepare for a peaceful home. Wealth will be abundant and life will be good, especially if your home is in the east facing direction. No matter the direction your home faces, the addition of a water feature is going to increase the good chi coming your way.

Enjoy the peace.

Sea Salt and Removing Bad Chi

Sometimes you need to cleanse your home of unwanted negative energy.  One of the methods I often use is the implementation of sea salt.  It’s easy to use, easy to dispose of once the job is done, and highly successful in what it does.

Sea salt is full of yang energy and is useful in any situation. Sea salt will transform the energy left over from negative vibrations into positive ones by absorbing the negative energy. You may want to try one of the following methods for using sea salt if you are moving into a home previously owned by another. Consider one of these remedies too, if there have been harsh words in your home or if there has been a divorce.  Illnesses and death leave their own form of negativity as well. When you feel that there is something not right in your home, office, or anywhere else, reach for your container of sea salt and get busy.

Sea salt is a blend of both the elements earth and water. It would be a good feng shui remedy to place a small bowl of sea salt in the northeast corner as well as the south—western corner of your home.  These are the directions of these two elements and placing it in these area’s would be extremely beneficial for absorbing bad chi. Change the salt every two months, never reuse it and completely remove the old salt from your home and throw it away.

You can also benefit by sprinkling the sea salt around the outside perimeter of your home and at the door thresholds crossing over to the outside.  This prevents unwanted negative energy from reentering your home. Consider placing small containers of salt in every room of the house. This is the preferred method for sea salt use when needing to cleanse large amounts of negativity from your home.  Leave them overnight and remove them the next morning.  You must dispose this salt by burying it or removing it from your property and throwing it away.  By no means should you every reuse this salt.  To do so would simply bring back the old unconstructive feelings to your home. If there is a specific room or area that needs to have the unpleasant energy removed, you can scatter salt straight on to the floor of these rooms leaving it at least twenty-four hours. After this time has passed, sweep it up and again, dispose of it properly.

It’s beneficial as you position your sea salt cures in place to chant or use positive affirmations as to why you have chosen to use this remedy.  As you begin, smile and recite these affirmations positively, it will build up and add to the quality of good chi you are seeking.

Peace.