Service Dog Drop-Out

After years of seeing what our own dogs are capable of doing in their
animal-assisted therapy work, this film clip shows another aspect of the
amazing things that dogs can do.  Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGODurRfVv4

Feng Shui Tips to Reduce Family Stress During the Holidays

Does the thought of gathering with your family for the holidays make you feel stressed? The holidays are portrayed as a time of joy and family traditions, but for many people feelings of loneliness, obligation, and stress surface as the holiday season gets under way. Between the end of November and January,  Americans celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s. That is a lot of celebrating and honestly, all that holiday togetherness is not always easy.

I have talked with several people that are feeling stressed about the holidays and family gatherings this year. A client asked me for Feng Shui tips to make her holidays with family more enjoyable, easy, and fun. Even though many of her family members live in the same town, it seems that they only see one another during the holidays.  Many arrive to her home in a pleasant mood. It is not long until opinions differ and the silent judgements begin, which is  witnessed by the sharp looks on thier faces. As the  pleasant mood  fades it is easy to see that  every idea or thought becomes guarded. At first critical comments are spoken softly,  as if no one were listening. Soon the tension builds and the volume increases, until people are uncomfortable, a few people are visibly angry, and others just avoid talking to anyone. My client wants to use Feng Shui principles to create a peaceful and cooperative environment in her home. She also wants people to have fun

THE FAMILY

One way to reduce family stress during the hoidays is to evaluate the “family” area of your home and implement Feng Shui adjustments. There is an area of the bagua (Feng Shui energy map) that is devoted to family. This area includes current and future family members, family health, family harmony, ancestors, and unresolved family issues.  It is located in the middle, left side of our home. The items in this area of our home influence our current and future experiences of family.  It is worth a good look around in this area. What is there? What do the items in that area reflect about our family peace, harmony, health, cooperation, and fun? This is an excellent area to make Feng Shui adjustments for family peace, cooperation, harmony, and healing this holiday season.

THE ANTICIPATION

What we think as we anticipate our family gathering influences what we expereince because our thoughts set our focus point, yes our foucs point determines how we see the situation.  As you think about your holidays what do you think will happen? Do you have a feeling of family togetherness? Is there open communication between family members? Is there a history of holiday chaos? And the big question,” What do you want?” Take a few minutes to imagine your family gathering just the way you would like it and then visualize it happening that way. Our anticipation sets the stage for our actual experience.  Once in the situation we make choices based on our focus point and expecations for the gathering. This holiday season is a place of great potential because we can create wonderful memories, have fun, heal old wounds, and feel appreciation for our family.

FENG SHUI TIPS TO REDUCE FAMILY STRESS DURING THE HOLIDAYS

1. Decide what you want, in as much detail as possible.
2. Set an intention, see it happening, feel it as if it has already happened.
3. Clear any clutter from your home, especially the area of “family” in the bagua. If you only take one action from this list, clearing clutter is by far the most important action you can  take. Clutter is the most draining force to any area of the bagua. Wherever I see clutter I know there is a problem in one or more areas of life.
4. Do one good deed each day.
5. Take time to fill yourself up. Our giving is much fuller when we give from the place of fullness. What makes you feel recharged? A walk in nature, listening to music, taking a hot bath, talking to a friend, reading a good book, meditating, going to the gym, or meeting with your Feng Shui Coach.
6. Decorate the entrance to your home with lights and live plants.
7. Decorate the inside of your home, especially the “family” area with lights, shiny decorations, live plants, candles, and if you have a Christmas tree the “family” area is a good place to put it.
8. Use scents of the season, like evergreen boughs, mulled cider, frankencense and mhyrr, spices, peppermint, and others that you like.
9. Energize the house before people arrive by burning incense, offering blessings and prayers, saying your intentions outloud in the room, and play uplifting music, or hire a Feng Shui Consultant to do a house blessing ceremony.
10. Celebrate and treat yourself to a hot bath, a soothing massage, or a cup of tea. Congratulations on a job well done.
11. Cleanse the energy of your home after everyone leaves to release any tension left behind by your guests.  Schedule a Space Clearing with a Feng Shui Consultant to release the energy of 2009 and uplift the space for 2010 to bring you good fortune, radiant health, and prosperity.

 

 

 

 

 

When Too Much Is Not A Good Thing

 

When I was a teen-ager, my girlfriends and I used to say “You can’t have too much money or be too thin.”  We used to talk about it  so much, I am sure we believed it. I like to think of myself as wiser and more mature now, and I am not so sure that statement is true, especially if trying to achieve it causes us too much stress, anxiety or worry. I came across a quote from Eckhart Tolle that sums it up for me. I would like to share it with you here.

“Unease, anxiety, tension, stress, worry – all forms of fear – are caused by too much future, and not enough presence.  Guilt, regret, resentment, grievances, sadness, bitterness, and all forms of non-forgiveness are caused by too much past, and not enough presence.”  ~Eckhart Tolle

 

 Fear and non-forgiveness are chi/energy drainers. Not only do we feel awful when experiencing all forms of fear and non-forgiveness, we are also drained of our vital life force energy. Which contributes to our tiredness, depression, and poor health. Even though we may know it is not healthy for us to dwell in fear or non-forgiveness, sometimes we can’t stop ourselves from thinking in a fearful or non-forgiving way. That is when we must take a break , interrupt the cycle, and do something to take care of ourselves.  Any of these activities will interrupt the cycle: take a walk, listen to music, take a hot bath, go to the gym, call a friend, go into nature, pray or meditate, and appreciate yourself. Start your own list of self-care activities, share them here so others may benefit too. 

 What do you think of this idea?

 

 

 

 

 

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The Barking Dog

We were gliding effortlessly through the water of the resevoir. I was sitting in the front of the canoe, the place for an up-close view of nature. I began to notice the birds floating  beside us, others diving into the depths of the water, and other birds taking flight like a rockets from the water’s surface. The trees on the shore looked so small, like miniature trees in a model train landscape. It was peaceful on the water. My senses were being filled with the uplifting, life giving chi of nature.  I began to hear the sound of a barking dog somewhere on the shore. It was a short bark followed by a short silence and then another short bark. It did not bother me at first. It continued for several minutes so I began looking on the shore for a barking dog. There were people on the shore fishing and I thought “they must have a dog with them” I looked and looked but could not see a dog. Finally, I asked my husband if he could see the barking dog on shore. From behind me he said  there was no barking dog but what I was hearing was two geese honking. Did you know honking geese sound  a lot like a barking dog?  To my surprise I saw two beautiful brown geese on the beach and no dogs in sight.  I laughed because I was so busy looking for a barking dog that I almost missed the geese. I wondered ”How many times in life have I been looking for a barking dog and missed the geese?” How have my expectations blocked what was really there? Have you ever been so busy looking for something that you miss what is really there? I would love to hear about your experiences

Now Is The Time

The phone rang and it was Margaret asking what Feng Shui remedies she could perform that would give her a more joyful holiday season.  “Tell me about your holidays” I said. After she answered  I asked  “What would you like your holidays to be?”  Maybe you are like Margaret, looking for more from the holidays.  Now is the time. Yes, now is the time for each of us to look beyond ourselves.

This video may be the answer you are looking for too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f1R36ekCv8

Taking action in your community is a Feng Shui remedy. You will be elevating the personal chi of all those you touch and they will elevate yours as well. Faith Hill is  the spokeswoman for the website, Create The Good. The website  lets you connect to new community involvement, charity and volunteer activities in your area. You can enter your zip code and be shown all the upcoming and ongoing ideas that are available. There is a section for posting your ideas and asking  people to join in  and be involved in the different community and volunteer activities.

May you have a happy, joyful, and blessings this holiday season

Tap Into Your Inner Wisdom With SoulCollage

Your soul reveals messages to you through images. What does it want you to know?

• Free Your Inner Artist
• Awaken Your Creativity
• Access Your Inner Wisdom for Answers to Life’s Questions

You will be introduced to the elements of SoulCollage. Guided through the process of intuitively choosing images, making your own small collage, and participating in a powerfil exercise using your collage.

Learn the basics of creating a personal deck of 5″x8″ collaged cards that reflect your personal symbols and your internal wisdom. Each card is a small work of art, with imagery uniquely meaningful to you.

 

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Networking Lounge

1934 Contra Costa Blvd.

Above Blue Salon & Spa

Pleasant Hill

Fee $35

 

All materials & supplies provided

Registration: Contact Nancy Dadami

 Two spaces still available

No prior collage or art experience necessary

SoulCollage an intuitive collage process developed by Seena Frost www.soulcollage.com 

 

Taking A Stand

As I put my left foot into the canoe I could feel the canoe rock and slide away from the dock. My right foot was solidly planted on the dock, my left foot in the canoe, and my hands firmly grabbing the gunnels of the canoe. I was between two worlds with one foot in each. I was about to leave the security, steadiness, and safety of land for the constant movement and change of water. The only sure thing I new was that I had to commit to either the dock or the canoe because I could not survive long with a foot in each world, the canoe was moving away from the dock and in a few seconds I would be in the water if I lingered without making a decision.  Of course I could always “try” to hold the canoe in place by squeezing me legs together and then I realized that would take all of my energy and concentration, which would leave no power for any other thoughts or action. The best decision was to step into the canoe with both feet, commit to the ride, and that is what I did, freeing myself for a new adventure.

Reflecting on this canoe  experience I asked myself a few questions. How do I make decisions? Do I easily step into the choice or do I stand in hesitation with one foot in each world? What do I need to know or do to feel comfortable making a decision? What is the cost to me of lingering or hesitating to make a decision? Where in my personal and professional life do I hesitate to take a stand?

One thing I know for sure the canoe ride was exhilerating, uplifting, and just the adventure I needed.

What Came First, The Chicken Or The Egg?

The other day I went into an office and there “it” was. The furniture in the reception area looked comfortable, thepaintings on the wall were attractive, and the color of the room was relaxing. Looking past that I saw  “it”, piles of magazines covering all of the end tables. There were magazines on the floor next to the sofa  and in a chair, probably left by a former client.  What did the condition of the reception area say about the professionals and their business?  As a feng shui consultant I knew the professionals occupying the space did not have enough clients or money and they were having  communication problems.

Let’s take a look at this situation from a feng shui perspective. Our beliefs about ourselves, our business, and our success are reflected in the spaces we create. Those same beliefs determine how we arrange the furniture in our space, what pictures and art we choose  and how we display it, the colors we surround ourselves with, and the placement of all objects in our space, including the number of magazines.  We determine how we arrange our spaces and our spaces effect our peace of mind, the image we give to others, and our performance . The reverse is also true. When we organize our space using feng shui priciples to empower success and harmony then our beliefs adjust so we can perform from a place of ease and well being.  Your beliefs effect your spaces and your spaces effect your beliefs. It is like the saying what came first, the chicken or the egg? You can’t have one without the other.

Bearer Of Good News

There is Ox energy swirling around this year. What does that mean? According to Chinese Astrology we are in an Earth Ox year and the energy of Earth and Ox combined influence our daily activities.  Earlier this year I gave information about Earth and Ox. Time to check-in and see how your life is moving. Do you have harmony, balance, or disaster and stress?

The Ox is the  ”bearer of good news”. What good news have you had so far this year? Did you receive a promotion, a new job, better living space, improved relationships, better health, or increased business?

Ox energy also clears obstacles. Had any obstacles removed this year? Cleared clutter in your spaces or in your mind?Legal matters gone smoothly? Communication improved with family or colleagues? New projects easy to begin?

The Ox is also hardworking, focused and conservative. Focused is the word that jumps out at me. I have been asking myself  ” What do I want?’ and focusing on the answer. I find that when I focus the obstacles are easily removed and I am able to move forward.

An Earth Ox year is a year for rebuilding, reconstruction,  rejuvenation, and nurturing ourselves. I have been receiving regular bodywork as one form of nurturing myself. I am also eating more healthy foods, exercising more, and laughing more often. I seek out fun and ways that I can play. rebuilding, reconstruction and rejuvenation happen naturally when I nurture myself.

The quality that ties this all together is discipline. Self-discipline will be richly rewarded in an Earth Ox year. That means it is a great time to take action. The obstacles are easily removed. Hardwork and focus set the course for our desires. Nurturing self unlocks the rejevenation and discipline moves us forward. What a great year!

Earth’s Bounty ~ SoulCollage

The Earth is shining through in all her splendor.

Sunflowers, bees, and sailing ships.

Yellow everywhere…the color of the earth element.

Yellow the color of summer time

Yellow the color of the third chakra…the chakra of

personal power.

I sit in the midst of the activities of life with ease

and grace.

I shime my light and beauty for the world to see.

I bloom where I am planted.

I sail easily along life’s path.

I bring life to new ideas.

In meditation I connect with Mother Earth and give

thanks for all her bounty.