Michele Lewis – Feng Shui

Feng Shui— Happy New Year! Welcome to 2025

The Year of the Wood Snake

Michel Lewis, CFSP
January – February 2025 • Vol 4, No 14

Although the first day of the Chinese astrological Wood Snake year is actually Monday, February 3rd of 2025, the Lunar New Year begins on January 29th, and what a celebration it will be! Those who hail in the Chinese New Year love a party! The holiday begins on their New Year’s Eve, January 28th, and is a week full of festivities lasting through February 3rd. This is a joyous gathering with family and friends to usher in all the good fortune the Wood Snake would deign to bring to us.

Snakes are indeed fiery creatures who can be quick-witted and highly intelligent. They are enterprising and seem to have great insight—a 6th sense if you will—that helps them to do well in business endeavors, as long as they do not succumb to the weaknesses of being over-cautious or narrow-minded. They are slow to anger, but watch out when they do! Usually, they tend to be good-hearted and thoughtful. Snakes can also be suspicious and possessive—not the best combination in a relationship—but their gravitation to kindness and consideration can neutralize those negative traits, if they choose. Combine all these traits in a Wood Snake, and everything can be magnified, as the wood element nourishes and fuels the fiery snake with its paced but steady growth that can take us to higher places.

What will the Year of the Wood Snake bring to us? The greatest recompense will come to those who are willing to “shed their skin” and embrace pursuing the seemingly distant goal with purpose and exactitude. Always remember the childhood adage, “slow and steady wins the race.” That story might be about a tortoise, but applies magnificently here! There is so much potential for growth and expansive development of one’s inner life and outer accomplishments in this year.

No slinking around! Become the snake’s ability to stay cool and calm, but know when it’s the strategic time act and strike!
Many significant events in the US occurred in 1965, the previous Wood Snake year. Malcolm X was assassinated, the Vietnam War escalated, the Civil Rights Act was signed, and the Race Riots in Watts, Los Angeles, erupted. An important world event that occurred in 1905, another Wood Snake year, was the formation of “Tongmenhui of China” an underground resistance founded by Sun Yat-Sen with the long-term goal (notice the strategy of long-game thinking) of overthrowing the Qing Dynasty in China.

Let’s make 2025 a fruitful and productive year. Use the qualities of the Wood Snake for the betterment of our Earth and mankind, doing so with strategy, long-term thinking, and goal setting, along with patience and fortitude. We can do it!

2024-12-27T08:26:22-07:00Feng Shui|

The Feng Shui of —

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.

2024-10-28T14:36:31-06:00Feng Shui|

Feng Shui—

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.

2024-08-26T15:23:45-06:00Feng Shui|

It’s Travel Time!

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.

2024-06-26T14:08:23-06:00Feng Shui|

Bringing Qi Home

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.

2024-06-26T14:08:23-06:00Feng Shui|

The Feng Shui of Decluttering

Spring Cleaning Is Here—the Importance of Regular Purges!

Michele Lewis
Mar – Apr 2024 • Vol 4, No 9

Almost every book on Feng Shui talks about “decluttering” and keeping things neat and clean. Is it really that important? With a resounding YES, it IS important to do regular purges of those things that just don’t mean anything to you anymore, as well as maintaining a level of cleanliness on a daily basis. If you’ve waited all year long to clean up and clear out, Spring is the perfect time to break that habit! Let’s address daily dirt first—it’s the little stuff that adds up over a short time that can have a significant impact on the energy in your home.

What starts out as a few dishes in the sink can quickly become mounds of dirty dishes, pots, and pans that seem to emanate “don’t touch us!” All of us have a few plates and bowls that need to go in the dishwasher—it’s the day-old, food-laden dishes that seem to magnetize more of its kind that I’m referring to. While millions of odor-causing bacteria are forming, so is the extreme yin chi that drains you of your energy, and can leave you feeling lethargic and unmotivated for no apparent reason.

This pattern of allowing negative yin energy to quickly gather by letting dirt and grime accumulate applies to anything that you let “pile up,” such as dirty laundry, trash, and days or weeks of dust. It is worth the time and effort to stay on top of the everyday stuff—but don’t get stressed out if life is temporarily in such high gear that the laundry has to wait.

Spring Cleaning! Sounds like a major ordeal, doesn’t it? Many people think they don’t have the time to embark on herculean cleaning/clearing out projects. The trick is to pace yourself so that you don’t feel overwhelmed and helpless before all those boxes of junk in the garage or all that stuff that is crammed into your closet.

Start with something that you could reasonably complete in 15–20 minutes, such as a quick run through of the house getting all those cobwebs that accumulated over winter. Try going through one or two of your drawers or shelves, or setting a limit on the number of boxes you’ll tackle at a time. Once you get started and experience how good it feels to clear out old stuff and its accompanying stale energy, you’ll be ready to address a few larger projects.

Get rid of things you don’t use or need—they tie up your energy unnecessarily, accumulate stagnant qi, and block new energy, money, and people from coming into your life!

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.

2024-06-26T14:08:24-06:00Feng Shui|

The Feng Shui for the 2024 Chinese New Year

Celebrated on February 10th, It’s the Year of the Emerald Wood Dragon!

Michele Lewis
Jan – Feb 2024 • Vol 4, No 8

The Chinese New Year for 2024 is celebrated on February 10th this cycle, the first lunar month of the year. Welcome to the Year of the Emerald Wood Dragon!

The Dragon is a much-revered astrological sign and promises to bring some excitement to 2024. We can look forward to opportunities for a year of inner growth and change—a transformation, if you will. Success and prosperity will flow if you allow yourself to receive it. Open the doors of your heart and mind to the flow of abundance and make it so!

The Dragon is a yang creature— no surprise when you “breathe fire”! Combine that with the wood element that nourishes and feeds fire, and you have the combination of a driven force of creativity and vivacity that can do no less than bring success to any endeavor. The synergy of wood and fire makes those born in the Year of the Wood Dragon full of zeal and ardor. They aspire to change the world and easily come up with innovative ideas and get them implemented. They are sticklers for perfection and keep their goals at the forefront. Care must be exercised though, as too much fire can consume all that you are trying to accomplish. And the fire coming out of the dragon’s mouth can be misused to the detriment of one or the many.

There is a Wood Dragon every sixty years and some notable events have occurred in those years. The most recent, 1964, saw the signing of the Civil Rights Act, an historic moment in US history. This was also the year that those mop-headed boys from England—the Beatles—took America by storm and changed teen music forever. This was also the year of China’s first nuclear test, known as Project 596, a globally-changing event. And Russia (the Soviet Union at the time) launched Voskhod 1, the first human space flight having more than one crewman and without the use of space suits, into Earth’s orbit. This was a turning point in the space race and set the mark for deeper space exploration.

The Wood Dragon will be very benevolent to the following animal signs this year. First on the list is the Monkey, which I’m thrilled about, as I’m a Monkey! Next in positive order is the Rat and the Rooster, and then in line is the Snake, the Dragon, and the Pig. And, of course, there are also six animals that have to try a little harder to reap the benevolence of this year. The positive aspects of the Wood Dragon can be theirs as well, but it won’t be handed to them on a “silver platter” as with us Monkeys!

So, all you Oxen, Rabbits, Goats, Horses, Sheep, and Dogs—you will have to put in more effort, but it will be well worth it to reap the benefits of this Wood Dragon. All of the 12 animals can harness the positive qi of the Winter Solstice (December 21) prior to the New Year to welcome the Dragon, and fully reap it’s benefits to our mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health and abundance. It is worth the effort!

A Very Happy Dragon New Year to All!

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.

2023-12-27T13:30:05-07:00Feng Shui, The Metaphysical|

The Feng Shui of Where to Live

What to Look for and What to Stay Away From

Michele Lewis, CFSP
May – June 2023 • Vol 4, No 4

With the coming warmer weather, and with local real estate prices starting to come down, many folks who have been dreaming about moving into a new home are now seriously starting to look at houses and property. I have been asked many times, “What should I look for and what should I stay away from?” The first thing I will tell you is: location, location, location!

The location of your home can have great impact on the quality of daily life. Streets and roads are an important consideration as they direct qi with their patterns. Most importantly, look for streets that have moderate traffic flow. If the cars “whiz” by, so does the energy, and it will not distribute well to the buildings located there. If there is very little or no traffic at all, this could indicate a lack of qi flow, although this is not always the case. Streets and areas of housing that have good flow will feel welcoming and active. Those who live there will be happy and content, and this will show in the care given to their homes and surrounding yards.

What about “dead end” streets? Some individuals want and like the seclusion, privacy, and quiet these provide. You will have to evaluate how a particular street feels to you. If there is an adequate flow of positive qi, the prior/current residents will have prospered there. The one residence that will most likely not thrive in this location is the building at the end in a direct line with the road as it will be subject to an unnecessary energy pounding. I personally would not care to live on a road that has a posted “Dead End” street sign. The daily message to you and your neighbors is just that—life is a dead end. Not a pleasant thought to be faced with every day!

Another street configuration to consider when purchasing a home is the cul-de-sac. These are roads that have only one entrance/ exit and are circular in shape. Because there is only one open end, it is more difficult to get the qi to enter and then flow well. A good example of this is when you only open one window in your car. There is limited air coming in, but if you even just crack another window you get a much better flow—it’s simple physics. Even with an adequate qi entering the cul-de-sac, the energy can vary in its flow based on the size of the cul-de-sac and the number of residences that the qi must be distributed to. Many cul-de-sacs will cause the qi to spin around too quickly and will not distribute it very well. Some buildings may get too much and others will get too little. Avoid the two sites at opposite sides of the entrance.

If there are apartments or other multi-family dwellings, this situation is even worse. There are too many people, but there’s not enough qi to go around. Someone is going to end up with very little energy nourishing their homes and lives. The opposite happens to the building in a direct line from the entrance of the road; the building and its occupants get a direct hit of negative energy every time someone drives into the cul-de-sac, especially if that home is the destination.

The other type of street that can be problematic is a “T” intersection, where the building is located at the top of the “T.” In this case, the traffic and qi are being directed into the building or dwelling “head-on.” The energetic force of qi can cause multiple problems for the occupants. It is also very disconcerting at night to have headlights aimed directly through your windows and at your doors. This energy is known as the “Eyes of the Tiger” and can be a negative, aggressive energy. (This also applies to houses located on the corner where oncoming cars turn left or right). There are “cures” that can be applied in this scenario, but the “T” location is best avoided.

Avoid any area near power stations/transformers, TV/radio/cell phone transmitting towers, and other sources of electromagnetic energy. Numerous studies have shown that proximity to these sources of energy may contribute to ill health and can cause a variety of problems. From a Feng Shui perspective, they create fields of negative qi that can have tremendous impact on you and your well-being.

A trained Feng Shui professional can assist you in assessing whether any of these types of locations will work for you. Not moving? Living in a less-than-ideal location? A Feng Shui professional can help to mitigate the negatives and improve the qi in any location.

Trained in China and the US, Michele Lewis is a Certified Feng Shui Consultant, has been a Feng Shui professional since 1998, and 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. Michele can be reached at (406) 224-0803, or by email at: taodesigns@ymail.com.

2023-04-30T17:15:54-06:00Feng Shui|

The Feng Shui of—A Spring Purge!

Time to Clear the Cobwebs—External & Internal!

Michele Lewis, CFSP
March – April 2023 • Vol 4, No 3

After the winter we’ve had, I don’t know a single person who isn’t ready for Spring! Record snowfall and lots of cold temps have certainly made me good and ready. If you’ve waited all year long to clean up and clear out, Spring is the perfect time to break that habit! It is important to do regular purges of those things that don’t mean anything to you anymore, as well as maintaining a level of cleanliness on a daily basis. Let’s address daily dirt first—it’s the little stuff that adds up over a short time that can have a significant impact on the energy in your home.

What starts out as a few dishes in the sink can quickly become mounds of dirty dishes, pots, and pans that seem to emanate “don’t touch us!” All of us have a few plates and bowls that need to go in the dishwasher—it’s the day-old, food-laden dishes that seem to magnetize more of its kind that I’m referring to. While millions of odor-causing bacteria are forming, so is the extreme yin qi that drains you of your energy, leaving you feeling a little lethargic and unmotivated for no apparent reason.

This pattern of allowing negative yin energy to quickly gather by letting dirt and grime accumulate applies to anything that you let “pile up,” such as dirty laundry, trash, and days or weeks of dust. It is worth the time and effort to stay on top of the everyday stuff—but don’t get stressed out if life is temporarily in such high gear that the laundry has to wait.

Spring cleaning… Sounds like a major ordeal, doesn’t it? Many people think they don’t have the time to embark on Herculean cleaning and clearing-out projects. The trick is to pace yourself so that you don’t feel overwhelmed and helpless before all those boxes of junk in the garage or all that stuff that is crammed into your closet.

Start with something that you could reason-ably complete in 15–20 minutes, such as a quick run through the house to get rid of all those cobwebs that accumulated over Winter. Try going through one or two of your drawers or shelves or setting a limit on the number of boxes you’ll tackle at a time. Once you get started and experience how good it feels to clear out old stuff and its accompanying stale qi, you’ll be ready to address the larger projects that await you!

Get rid of things you don’t use or need—they tie up your energy unnecessarily, accumulate stagnant qi, and can block new energy, money, and people from coming into your life.

Use this purge time to get things together for a beginning–of-summer garage sale. It’s a fun way to connect your old things with people who want them and make some dollars in the process. As the saying goes, “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure!” The best part of all is you might even meet neighbors you didn’t know you had.

Trained in China and the US, Michele Lewis is a Certified Feng Shui Consultant, has been a Feng Shui professional since 1998, and 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. Michele can be reached at (406) 224-0803, or by email at: taodesigns@ymail.com.

2023-02-27T10:15:12-07:00Current Events, Feng Shui|

The Year of the Water Rabbit—2023

The Chinese Lunar New Year Begins on January 22

Michele Lewis, CFSP
January – February 2023 • Vol 4, No 2

We have an exciting New Year ahead of us—the Year of the Water Rabbit! This is a year of hopefulness—the potential to bring to us what we may have lacked last cycle in the Year of the Water Tiger. Breathe a sigh of relief, as this year should bring more peace into your life and much success—if you have done the work. The Rabbit is graciously bringing us what could and should be a positive, fortunate year for all, and situations that require serious decision-making should go quite smoothly, as long as you don’t act in haste—good advice anytime!

What is it about the rabbit that makes things flow easily and well? Rabbits tend to be quiet and calm, and are constantly seeking peace and stability. They are industrious workers, which can produce much fruit from their labor.

Every sign has weaknesses, though, and rabbits must be on guard to not escape from reality when things are tough. They can be timid and hesitant, which should not be confused with “doing your homework” and not acting in haste. The water aspect makes the rabbit able to easily adjust to different conditions, but the negative is that our dear rabbit can have a weak frame of mind and principles.

Every yearly cycle has negative qi, and this year, according to the Flying Stars astrology of Feng Shui, the two directions of negativity that all of us are cautioned about are coming from the compass’ Northwest and Southeast directions. These two can portend misfortune. (There are actually four, but these are the two we are focused on.) If possible, it is best to limit your time in these areas of your home.

You can avoid activating this negative qi by placing a bagua mirror outward, normally on the exterior of a building, above the front door. (NEVER face it to the interior of your home.) You can also place it in an interior window, especially if the window is difficult to reach from the exterior, but again, always FACING OUT.

You can also place spiritual focuses of positive qi as guardians in the NW and SE areas of your home. It is best to hold off on remodeling in these two areas. For many people, it is impractical or nearly impossible to completely stay out of, or not use, certain areas of your home, so the intentioned placement of talismans or spiritual objects can help repel or contain the negative energies. The positive portents for this year will also help temper and hold back some of these energies, but it is important and very helpful to consciously engage in action to have the upper hand.

The Lunar New Year of the Water Rabbit begins January 22, 2023, and this is a time of cleaning out the old and welcoming in the new. In the days preceding the Chinese New Year, houses are thoroughly cleaned. Both physical dirt and the poor luck of the past year are cleared away to welcome the newly-arrived good luck. Of course, all the brooms are put away before New Year’s Day, so that the great fortune that is to come can not be swept away. Families then begin their celebrations with a huge dinner and reunion—many in new clothes and shoes, symbolizing the new start. Of course, any new haircuts are done before the New Year (but after Winter Solstice) —as the Chinese word for “hair” sounds like the word for prosperity!

—Here’s to a Wonderful Year!

The Year of the Water Rabbit—2023 Michele Lewis, CFSP January–February 2023 7 Trained in China and the US, Michele Lewis is a Certified Feng Shui Consultant, has been a Feng Shui professional since 1998, and 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. Michele can be reached at (406) 224-0803, or by email at: taodesigns@ymail.com.

2023-02-01T13:36:13-07:00Current Events, Feng Shui|
Go to Top