FENG SHUI our perspective and identity

Thought and emotion are directly linked to the material world energetically – They create the physical world and reality perspective. They create patterns that are either positive or negative and transfer energetic imprints into form.

Many people have deep seated attachments to many things in their lives and homes. These attachments are energetically based and often unconscious making it difficult to break the pattern. We think of attachments as psychological, but they are energetic too as the mind and emotion carry different qualities of energy.

These attachments are often buried in the subconscious or drift around in foggy topical awareness. A close examination of our association with objects - thought and emotion -can reveal dysfunctional patterns in life – repeated cycles of dissatisfaction. Our intentions and progress dulled by hanging onto patterns that need change. For example the way we view the world, knowing it all, false ego identification, fear of change, lack of open mindedness using distractions to avoid exploring the inner world, creating pain and sickness as avoidance to internal issues.

Letting go of attachments that don’t serve us makes room for the present and the future and creates freedom within. It releases the past as patterns of thought, emotion, form (objects) and relationships. Letting go of things is letting go of parts of our reality, is this not true? Letting go of things is not letting go of our true identity; you are not your things. Our identity is our immortal soul, there’s no letting go of it anyway. As the world is going through rapid changes so should we, but we shouldn’t wait for the world to change first. The creative and independent thinkers, the “individuals”, who live the creative dynamic life without the restraints of old dysfunctional paradigms holding them in the past, are those who lead the world in change for better.

Sentimental old traditional paradigms are present in our home and life, the real meaning behind our holidays have been lost long ago – many people have attachments to the neurosis of family and extended family dynamics. We were wired in this way from the beginning and what have we done about it since? We hang in there to serve the family because that’s the way it’s always done. That’s fine if it serves us too or are we just the servant, playing the role of how others like to see us? Do we need healthy boundaries, more distance or better communication from the heart truth? Having expectations from people always leads to problems. Allowing others to live the way they want frees up our energy to empower ourselves, enabling us to be more effective in all situations. Family is usually represented in the home by image and object so what is the deeper meaning to us? Psychologically is it a healthy association? If not, consider what must be done with these objects that fortify a dysfunctional pattern. Our home is a reflection of our consciousness, our relationships, all of them, including past relationships. These things in our homes that are linked to old patterns can keep us from moving on. Reexamining our values, what has real meaning in our lives and what sustains our happiness – choices that ground us and balance us, these are the priorities.

Are we growing in Knowledge and Self-cultivation (Feng Shui/bagua) or was that just school time, former career or past accolades? Mind, body, spirit, emotion, unlikely we’ve got it all figured out, but then peace and happiness are keys to success - a vital gauge to our progress. We should always be in progress, but when we’re happy and peaceful what more do we need? More, more things…

Homes can be bloated with things that have been held onto for ages. They haven’t been examined beyond a passing thought or feeling. An undercurrent of frustration builds… as piles of the old and unnecessary builds, builds, builds. A lot of the STUFF that we are attached to is rooted deep in fear, safety and survival – life can’t be lived this way if it’s going to flow and its flowing fast – Those who resist are hurting themselves in many ways. What is the object’s real meaning in our life? What does it reflect? These are mirrors to our lives. What does the image on the wall tell you about what is going on in your life? We dance around each other in communication and dance around our stuff not seeing what it’s really saying about us. It’s talking to us all the time. How do we really feel about this object and what are we going to do about it? It’s not just stuff; it’s you, your energy, and your life. It has an impact on you. Your image on the wall can tell you your view of life. Is there real meaning here or another frivolous materialistic sentiment?
The meaning of our lives have just as much to do with what we are surrounded with and how we treat it, as it does with what’s going on inside us. Our home and environment has a direct visceral impact on us, everything counts, and it’s all vibrating. The more attention we give anything, the more energy flows there for good or bad for people, place and thing. Think of all the small aggravating issues in your home – cumulatively they are the frustration in your daily Feng Shui.

More isn’t better! Quality and meaning is better. Quality in how meaningful the object is to your life. The examined value of how it relates to your life. As the middle class and other classes lose their spending power in America they are forced to look at the material world we have been weaned on and subconsciously controlled by. We are forced to look a little closer at what we buy and why.

It was mostly just the art that traveled with my wife and me from home to home, a total of 11 homes in 15 years. Beyond the utilitarian needs, it’s the things that hold vital meaning which lifts our spirits, reflects who we presently are and where we’d like to be in life. Our home reflects our life perspective versus what others might think. A LIFE LIVED BY RELEASE AND RENEWAL, release of ego identification through materialism. A snake shedding its skin, shedding the old self, old material to make room for the new.

As an artist, I recently went through a shedding of 25 paintings - thrown in the trash and, unknown to me, recovered by locals and a flea market owner. The paintings that ended up in the flea market (also unknown to me) were purchased by a person who happened upon one of my art shows recognizing me as the same artist, who then asked me to exhibit my work in NYC - a good example of Release and Renewal.

Less is often more in Feng Shui. The 60,000 thoughts we have a day create our reality and create the multiple objects in our home. We might consider that a quieter more peaceful mind might reflect a more minimalist home. The multiplicity for the eye creates over stimulation, lacking the sacred nurturing space we need. A dull and muted environment can have the opposite effect and can use some bright or vibrant colors to enhance the vibration of place. It’s all a reflection of our personal energy; attachments, patterns and perspectives. A good Feng Shui Consultant sees, feels and reads the energy patterns and offers tools to implement balance and progress.