YEAR OF THE MONKEY

It’s become a tradition at Feng Shui By Fishgirl to showcase the Chinese New Year art work of my dear friend PoPing Lo We’re celebrating the Year of the Monkey in 2016 and I think this particular PoPing illustration is wonderful. I thank the artist for allowing me to share it with my readers:

image1(May not be used or copied commercially without the permission of ©Po Ping T’so Lo.)

Here’s a little bit of what you can expect of the Year of the Red Fire Monkey (February 8th, 2016 up to January 27th, 2017.):

Although monkeys like to congregate in groups, success will come to those who break out from the pack and take risks that others won’t. This year it’s about individual efforts and putting action (the element of fire!) behind your wildest ideas. Innovation + Perspiration= Wealth this year more than ever.

Beware also the Tricksters in a Monkey Year. You know who they are. Deceitful people who charm you completely…then play you. They have one eye on your banana so they can grab it after misdirecting your attention to something unimportant. The message? Protect your bananas!

Ever hear of that saying “Not my monkey, not my circus”? This year is everybody’s monkey. Energy will be frenetic. Like a monkey jumping all around and swinging tree to tree and back again. It will be useful to become grounded in health and spiritual routine. Take time out for yourself and be still each day. There is an unpredictability to the world in a Monkey Year which makes it important to have something in your local personal sphere that is stable.  For example, if you’ve recently moved, don’t delay in unpacking and getting your home feng shui foundation stabilized. If you have let your exercise and diet go, try to get back into the groove again because there will be a lot of stress in a Monkey Year.

Happy #CNY2016 everyone! Kung Hei Fat Choi!

 

 

 

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Filed under ART, Creativity & Future Projects, Feng Shui, Feng Shui Home, Feng Shui Office, Fun, Holidays, Uncategorized, Wisdom & Knowledge

START YOUR NEW YEAR CLEAR

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Every once in awhile I stumble on another energy worker’s site and find something valuable for my readers. I don’t receive any financial gain from sharing this with you nor have I taken the course itself. However when I clicked here to read more about it I found the synopsis to be exactly what I would recommend to my clients. I especially liked the part about sloooowing down. That’s the first step to becoming more present in your life, more active and less re-active. I also recognize that Ms. Vogt’s e-course is very enlightened because she let’s YOU decide how much you are going to pay for it. The course is offered on a sliding scale of $10-25-40.

Please come back and share your comments here on how the course is working for you. And for my free article on how to let go of anything click here.

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CROSS THAT OFF YOUR LIST

Screen Shot 2015-12-18 at 4.48.38 PMDo you want the easy effortless style of Diane Keaton, age 69? Here she is in AARP Magazine looking vibrant and young at heart. I couldn’t help but noticing her giant sterling silver cross. I have one for sale on my Etsy shop!  So if you like this look, click here and it can be yours.  And your search for a 2016 fashion muse can be ‘crossed’ off your list.

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shriner’s club

This post deals with the ultimate clutter busting: allowing yourself to let go of ‘shrines’ created in memory of loved ones, thus freeing yourself from reminders of your grief. Be gentle with yourself. Do it in your own time. In my case, it is over 2 years since my beloved died. I am ready to pare down the memories so I can move on. Baby steps…Please feel free to leave your own stories of letting go of grief in the comments below.

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The first thing your eye is drawn to as you walk into my home in North Carolina is this homage to Scott. It’s got everything from post cards to pics to paintings to ping pong balls tucked into a pretty metal frame. The next thing you notice is this large grafitti style painting. It was signed by most if not all of Scott’s colleagues from the furniture industry when they came to our goodbye party 3 years ago.

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Walk into the kitchen and you’re confronted with the refrigerator. Laden with food and with mementos of Scott & Katy.

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Wait! There’s more. As you wander down the hall you pass these two chiaroscuro pieces of art created by my friend Isabelle Bryer. The bear represents Scott and the mermaid and angel represent me. How fitting that this couple is depicted without color any more. I had not thought of that…

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OCT 1st DUEDATE TO WIN AN INN

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You still have time to enter to win the Blue Hill Inn. Entry fee is $150 and 200 word essay must be yours and yours alone. Check out details on this opportunity to be the new owner of this historic B & B: http://winthebluehillinn.com

I have personally seen this inn and can attest to the feng shui being lovely and positive. Downeast Maine without the kitsch– upscale, charming, and a great place to stay. Why not test your luck?

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Filed under Architecture, Career, Dreaming, Fun, Giveaway, Interior Design, luck, Wealth & Finances

back for more

I’ve been perusing the blog as I delve deeper into writing the first draft of my book. Recently when someone asked me how was it being in India under those circumstances I answered without hesitation,
“It was a blast!”.

My words surprised me because up until then I seemed always ready to wrap myself in my widowhood like a pashmina shawl; memories of the intensity of watching Scott deteriorate over time would be the first thing that came to my mind. Until now.

These days I can look back on the beginning…and all of the wonderful people we met…and the amazing places we saw and experienced…and our relationship which seemed to surprise us both daily with the depth of our love for each other.

We had a blast!

Source: back for more

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anchors away

WHAT’S BLOCKING *YOU*? Here’s my story…

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As a feng shui practitioner I’ve always been sensitive to energy flow. Ever since Scott and I acquired it I’ve felt the weight of this anchor’s heavy metal–and the subsequent rusting, crumbling, deterioration–pressing against our home. The feng shui symbolism of this mighty anchor couldn’t be more clear to me. Lately I’ve discovered that it has been metaphorically keeping me anchored to my grieving for Scott. It’s time to let that grief go and set myself free of the chains that bind me to the past.
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Anchors away! I mean that literally as you can see here from my photos. This antique 7 foot tall ship’s anchor and 15 foot chain weighing at least one ton has finally found a new keeper. It’s been sold to Tim Whitten (in pic above) of Marlinespike Chandlery in Stonington, Maine. Scott admired Tim’s fancy and historical maritime knot-work greatly and I just…

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August 5, 2015 · 10:53 am

ginger snap

going to goa

The first “nice thing” I ever bought myself was a ceramic ginger jar in Hong Kong from the official Chinese Arts and Crafts store when I was 22 years old and had been working as a fashion designer all of 2 years. “Guaranteed to be at least 100 years old” the label said. I don’t know if it was or not but today its life ended. This morning the shelf it was on with some heavy art books gave way and my ginger jar fell off and splintered shards everywhere.

I’m not upset. I enjoyed it for a good long time. It got me thinking, though.  I thought I was living with the past but if I’m really honest with myself I am still living in the past. There is a difference. Today I will set the intention to let go more of yesterday, let in more of today. Action follows…

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EXTERIOR MOTIVES

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If you are fortunate enough to have outdoor space–whether it’s a small balcony, patio, or larger yard–it’s good to know that you can improve your ch’i (energy) by organizing and beautifying the exterior of your home. Often while concentrating on the inside of our home spaces we neglect to tend to the outside. Where to begin?

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Take baby steps.

1) Begin with general maintenance and clean up. Rake up those leaves. Pick up those sticks. Organize and clean any objects that may be stored outside such as trash toters, garden tools, flower pots, barbecues, outdoor furniture.

2) Study the outdoor space and come up with a plan for improvement.

3) You can create a small potted garden or a wall garden or a windowbox or simply hang a planted basket. Take a moment to notice if your spirits feel brighter from just one simple addition of color or greenery.

4) If your budget allows, get your landscaping done by a professional.

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PERSONAL FENG SHUI PORTRAITS

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I’ve talked before about how symbols hold the energy of ideas and items that they represent. In the practice of feng shui it is important to utilize positive symbols to activate good ch’i (energy). Following colors and symbols that naturally belong in the feng shui bagua is one system of doing this. Incorporating these –and also identifying your own mythology of positive symbols–can be a powerful validation and reinforcement of good energy.

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I was recently commissioned to do exactly that in this wedding gift to a young couple starting out. It’s a very large piece,  5 feet wide by 3.5 feet tall. This mixed media painting utilizes images and colors, dates and personal mantras that represent the bond between the two lovers. I am available to create personal feng shui portraits on request. Please contact Feng Shui By Fishgirl for more information.

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