Feng Shui

SEASONAL CHANGES!

Michele Lewis, CFSP
November – December 2024 • Vol 4, No 13

Dear Michele,

Summer is long gone, fall is passing quickly… Is there anything I can do for myself or in my environment to help balance this out and allow me to accept the inevitable season change and the coming cold weather?

—Blue About Winter Coming

Dear Blue:

What you are experiencing is more common than you think. As summer passes into fall and then to winter, nature is transitioning from the yang months of spring and summer to the yin months of fall and winter. This transition can be felt even before the autumnal equinox and becomes more apparent in how we feel as we really move into the yin cycle. The increase in yin energy manifests as less and less light; the days are continuing to get shorter and will do so until Winter Solstice, December 21. We feel this in our bodies and emotions. The organ associated with fall is the lungs, and the emotion is sadness. If our bodies or environments are not balanced, we will feel this emotion on a greater scale.

So, what can you do? From a Feng Shui perspective, the area of the bagua that aligns with fall and the lungs is the NW sector of children and creativity. As the yin months progress, it is time for us to move more inward and do something to nurture ourselves and our inner child. The I Ching trigram is tui, its feeling being joyful and pleasurable. This is the time to do things that will bring you inner joy and boost your sense of creativity. Try taking classes where you are making or building things with your hands: cooking, painting, sculpture, or anything that makes you feel true happiness inside.

You can also enhance the NW area of your home, office, or any room with new artwork or anything that gives you a lift. The element is metal, so try bringing in a new piece of furniture or sculpture made of metal. You can also use the color white—maybe some new slipcovers, an art deco object, or something else with white in it.

Here is an easy Qigong exercise that will help clear the lungs and dissipate feelings of sadness. It is effective any time to help clear a feeling of heaviness and bring new energy into the lungs and body; it is particularly effective during the fall months and the weeks approaching Winter Solstice.

Stand with your feet about a foot apart, legs and knees relaxed. Make a fist with your hands, thumbs outside. Swing your arms/hands down past your side—knees bent slightly as you swing your arms—inhaling twice through the nostrils. Swing your cupped hands to just above the lungs, right under the collarbone and tap, exhaling through your mouth. Repeat this arm-swing and breathing pattern 39 times. You can also visualize your lungs enfolded in moist, billowy white clouds.

The final months of autumn are a time of joyful creativity. Don’t be blue… enjoy this time of harvest and transition!

Trained in China and the US, Michele Lewis is a Certified Feng Shui Consultant and has been a Feng Shui professional since 1998. She is available for consultations on-site or via phone. By using the timeless principles of the art and science of Feng Shui, Michele can help you bring balance and beauty to every aspect of your life. She is also a Certified Qigong Instructor of Ling Gui Healing Qigong School, Liu Dong’s Method. Michele Lewis can be reached at 406-224-0803, or at taodesigns@ymail.com.

from Summer to Autumn

Michel Lewis, CFSP
September – October 2024 • Vol 4, No 12

As summer makes its perennial transition to autumn, we are compelled by nature to go increasingly inward. The yang, active energy of summer, which is actually at its highest peak on Summer Solstice, has been gradually decreasing to make way for greater yin energy.

All the fullness and abundance of nature we experienced in spring and summer is decreasing as nature prepares to return to the earth and rest. This is the perfect time to begin returning our attention to our own “earth.” By cultivating our inside space to be a haven for our soul and spirit, we can create good qi in our home and business environments.

There are many fun and creative ways to increase positive energy and bring greater harmony and peace to our homes and ourselves. Why not try listening to a new type of music? Numerous studies have shown that various types of music have very distinct effects on our bodies and moods. Peaceful, calm music can have an enormous impact on how we feel and respond to our environment.

Both Chinese and Native American flute have a gentle way of directing our attention inward. Do you prefer stringed instruments? The harp is wonderful for opening and expanding the spiritual heart. All instruments can be vehicles for helping us to calm down—the key is to choose music that has an energy of harmony and balance.

Art is another fantastic way to increase good qi. The important concept to understand with any type of art is that it is visual—what we lay our eyes on and put our attention upon is what we bring into our homes and allow into our consciousness. With that in mind, have some fun and try some new art on your walls.

Another way to improve the energy of your space is through fragrance. One of the best ways is with fresh cut flowers, but this can get pricey in the fall and winter. Try using essential oils. These provide fragrance in one of its purest forms and are fantastic at clearing spaces and lifting mood. Different oils have different effects. Peppermint is stimulating (and good for digestion), while lavender is very calming.

There are numerous books available that outline what different types of effects can be achieved with scent. You can also research any type of fragrance on the Internet to find exactly what you’re looking for in essence and effect. High-quality incense is also wonderful for transforming stagnant air, and it’s available in numerous varieties.

How a room is arranged has a direct impact on the energy it creates and how it makes you feel. With cooler weather coming, try making things cozier by moving seating a little closer together. Softer lighting can also create a sense of warmth.

For more ideas, a trained Feng Shui consultant can assist you in making your home an indoor shelter of good energy, helping you make a smooth transition from summer to autumn!

Trained in China and the US, Michele Lewis is a Certified Feng Shui Consultant and has been a Feng Shui professional since 1998. She is available for consultations on-site or via phone. By using the timeless principles of the art and science of Feng Shui, Michele can help you bring balance and beauty to every aspect of your life. She is also a Certified Qigong Instructor of Ling Gui Healing Qigong School, Liu Dong’s Method. Michele Lewis can be reached at 406-224-0803, or at taodesigns@ymail.com.

Maximizing Your Qi When You’re on Vacation

Michele Lewis
July – August 2024 • Vol 4, No 11

After all the crazy weather we had in May and June, I’m ready to go somewhere WARM!! Planning a vacation this summer? Here are some tips to help you attract good qi wherever you go and however you choose to get there!

A road trip—whether by car or RV—can be a fabulous way to see and experience new places and new people. Start your trip right with the obvious. Make sure that your vehicle is in good working order; an unexpected repair on the road can cut into your travel time, as well as your pocketbook. Give your vehicle a good interior cleaning before you go to bring good vibes into your car, as well as helping clear obstacles to having a good trip. If traveling by RV or camper, it’s likely that it has been sitting closed up all winter. Clear that old, stagnant energy that has gathered by airing it out thoroughly; you want to clear all musty, old odors. You may need to burn a smudge or incense to clear negative qi that may linger. Your vehicle is your “home away from home” while traveling, so a thorough cleansing is worth the effort!

If you are flying, don’t let the stress of being in a hurry drain you of all your energy. Allow plenty of time to check in, as well as getting through security. With all the security screening measures, especially the full body x-ray scans, it’s important to have good, strong qi around you to help protect you from any energetic drain. If you “opt out” of the scan, the total body pat down can be invasive of your privacy and draining. Keep your energy levels strong by being well rested, not letting your blood sugar get too low, and being alert. Feel and visualize the qi within extending out and creating a protective “bubble” of energy around you.

Up to 50% of the air on planes is recirculated and carries the other passenger’s germs and other nasty stuff. A little bottle (less than 4 oz, so you get it through security!) of your favorite essential oil to sniff and dab on will keep you refreshed.

Now that you have arrived, the positive or negative qi of your accommodations can have a great impact on the enjoyment level of your trip. Whether you’re staying in a hotel room, on a cruise ship, or renting a vacation home, you are affected by what has been there before. You can be sure that others have left their energetic “mark”. If you are greeted by a strong stale odor as you enter, it’s worth the effort to ask to see another room.

For any room, if possible, open the windows to get fresh air in—fresh air works wonders to get things moving. One thing I really enjoy doing is buying a small, inexpensive plant or a fresh bunch of flowers to enjoy wherever I’m staying; they brighten the room and raise the qi level. Essential oils in a diffuser work well to clear old energy and its accompanying stale odor. Incense or smudges are not a good choice as they could set the smoke detector off.

It’s important to do some clearing of the bed. Ringing a bell of any kind over and around the bed helps move any negative qi. One method I use that also works well (and doesn’t have to be packed) is clapping your hands or snapping your fingers!

And of course, you want a good night’s sleep! Clearing the room and bed are crucial of course, but there are also other things you can do to enhance your chances of getting restful sleep. Unplug the microwave, as well as the TV when not watching it. It also helps to cover the TV screen. I have a sheet that I pack just for this. Your room may also have a large mirror facing the bed; this can also be covered if it is disruptive to you. The more you can do to “calm” the room, the better sleep you’ll get.

The best and most effective Feng Shui that you can practice while on your trip is to remember to be considerate and kind to all who become a part of your vacation experience—whether it’s the hotel staff, the server where you eat, or the folks in the room next to you. Every trip can have its stressful, unexpected events. If you can remember to be harmonious and thoughtful of all who cross your path, it is certain that you will have a rewarding, good qi trip!

Trained in China and the US, Michele Lewis is a Certified Feng Shui Consultant and has been a Feng Shui professional since 1998. She is available for consultations on-site or via phone. By using the timeless principles of the art and science of Feng Shui, Michele can help you bring balance and beauty to every aspect of your life. She is also a Certified Qigong Instructor of Ling Gui Healing Qigong School, Liu Dong’s Method. Michele Lewis can be reached at 406-224-0803, or at taodesigns@ymail.com.

Enhancing the Qi of Your Front Entryway

Michele Lewis
May – Jun 2024 • Vol 4, No 10

Have you begun tending your garden and all the spaces surrounding the outside of your home? This is the perfect time to take a critical, close look at the entire front area of your house, particularly the spaces that lead to the front entry.

What we see and look upon as we approach the place where we “hang our hat” penetrates deep into the psyche and can influence how we feel and how we perceive our life. What do you feel when you come home? Do you breathe a sigh of relief to be home, or would you rather be somewhere else?

What we encounter as we begin our approach to the front door is crucial. Are there weeds or plantings that need trimming? Does the landscaping around the front walkway want to “reach out and touch someone?”

It’s important to remember that qi will try to follow a pathway, just like we do. If you have difficulty getting to the front door, so will the qi. What we feel as we approach the front entry is exactly what the qi is bringing in. Is the trash can in the driveway or near the front walkway? Are there loose bricks or stones that could cause someone to trip? If you have a paved walkway, keep it nicely swept to welcome all who come, including the qi.

Having plants and flowers in beds near the entry can greatly boost the qi level. If you live in an apartment or condo, flowers or plants in beautiful pots can work wonders. Solar lights can be placed strategically along the path or in the planting beds near the entry or porch. This will “light the way” to your door. Hanging a nice size chime by your front door calls qi and good energy in. You can also hang colorful banners

or flags or other things that move, like little whirlygigs. Any decorative garden items aesthetically placed are great. If your garage extends beyond the line of your front porch or door, it can take the attention away from the front entry and home itself. The above suggestions will also help with this particular problem: When I have felt the need to clear energy or bring in extra good qi, I will turn on the porch light and leave it on all day. The energetic benefit far outweighs the minimal extra cost on my electric bill.

If you’re thinking of planting trees this season, avoid placing them in a direct line with the front door. A better placement, if possible, is to the left side (as you face the front of the property). This brings the live qi of the green dragon “guardian.” If you already have trees in your front yard, hang bird feeders or houses to attract birds and their live energy. Trees, especially larger ones, are particularly good placed in the backyard or rear of the property, especially if the land is flat and there is no natural protection from hills. This helps create the protective energy of the black tortoise “shield” to guard your back and create a secure, comfortable space that you want to be in. And that is what all of your gardening efforts should create—a secure, comfortable space that you want to be in!

Trained in China and the US, Michele Lewis is a Certified Feng Shui Consultant and has been a Feng Shui professional since 1998. She is available for consultations on-site or via phone. By using the timeless principles of the art and science of Feng Shui, Michele can help you bring balance and beauty to every aspect of your life. She is also a Certified Qigong Instructor of Ling Gui Healing Qigong School, Liu Dong’s Method. Michele Lewis can be reached at 406-224-0803, or at taodesigns@ymail.com.