As a Feng Shui consultant, I have been entranced with Saratoga Springs and the surrounding communities for a long time.

First, the architecture is rich with charm, character, and history. From the historic Old Bryon Inn, multitudes of Victorian and craftsman homes, modern mansions, and beautiful churches, there are feasts for the eyes everywhere.

“The residents of Saratoga take great pride in their surroundings and it shows.”

I have found over the years that the residents of Saratoga have, as a rule, as much charm and character as the landscape. They take great pride in their surroundings and it shows. Whatever the season, there are decorations like lush flowerbeds, hanging planters, and mini gardens outside each business, and even uniquely decorated horses in themes to fit the sponsoring business.

All of these things speak to how much these people love their town.

Every holiday is richly celebrated and care is taken to have themes that reflect history. The house tours, Victorian street walks, holiday open houses, and the fabulous First Night on New Year’s Eve are just some of the ways this local pride is celebrated. (more…)

Do you have a spiral staircase? If you do, have it inspected by a Feng Shui consultant. Unless properly arranged and lighted, it can create a huge energy drain in your space…like a mini tornado drawing energy up and away. There are many other stair issues that occur in a variety of settings so it pays to be sure!

Lots of people are worried. Whether it is about financial things or environment issues or emotional upheaval, it is NOT good feng shui! Remember that good feng shui is about health and harmony. The best thing to do is get the energy that is dragging you down to start moving. How? Take a brisk walk. De-clutter your desk. Clean out your kitchen drawers. Wash all of your windows…inside and out. (windows bring in chi!)Put on your favorite music and dance! Clean out the garage. Throw out anything that you do not love or use. SMILE…it is the curve that sets things straight. Help someone! It takes the focus off your own problems. Be thankful…there are so many worse off than you. And finally, notice the beauty of the world around you.

At this time of year I encourage everyone to have some indoor plants. Certain plants like spider plants and pothos actually clean the indoor air. BUT…make sure you take proper care of the plants. Always remove yellow or dead leaves. Mist the plants to help them stay healthy and to add moisture to what is too often dry indoor air. In feng Shui, we revere life force energy which is what plants add to a space. If you know what areas of your home or office are the wealth areas, add a plant to that area as it stimulates growth of your finances. Finally, purchase your plants at a greenhouse where they grow their own product. You will get a healthier plant and have access to the best advice on caring for the plant.

Did you know that your home or business could be negatively affected by whatever it is next to? Cemeteries,hospitals, funeral homes, a stagnant pond, power lines, and tall buildings are just some of the possible negative influences. These overpowering influences can have an effect on the occupants of your home or business and can directly influence them. In Feng Shui we have many constructive ways of counterbalancing these influences and creating a positive shift in energy.

Dead body parts are bad Feng Shui! I am talking about stuffed animal heads mounted on the wall, furniture made of antlers and hooves, etc. These are items that belong in museums or science labs or classrooms…not homes! If you or your spouse are a hunter, and you need to show off your trophies, make a room in the garage or basement for such things.

We all use our microwaves to save time and perhaps energy, too. In the summertime, you don’t have to heat up the house to heat up your food. I would like you to consider that using your stove in the wintertime can help to warm your kitchen and that makes you feel cozy. Making soup on the stove top or in the crock pot fills the house with comforting aromas and is certainly healthier than fast food. Studies show that food containing more water can help you to lose weight and stay healthier.

With the coming holidays, so many people are worried about affording gifts at Christmas. This is a good time to pare down your list and come up with creative gifts that cost little but mean a lot. It’s also a good time to teach your children about what is truly of value…people,not stuff!

Use family photos to create a collage. Take old clothing and make a memory quilt or pillow. Make Grandma’s recipe for cookies or brownies together as a family. Have a dinner party for all your friends and have each person or couple bring one course instead of exchanging gifts with them. Make a donation to the local food pantry in someone’s name instead of a gift. Give a gift certificate for labor…perhaps you’ll help them plant a garden next spring or paint a room or clean the garage. And my favorite one is the gift of hugs. A whole book full for me, please!

Remember, the gift of you is the most valuable gift of all!

When you buy your goods and services from a local provider, you support your local economy. A healthy local economy keeps local services flowing to us. Instead of investing money far away in something you never see or touch or use is O.K. if you have extra expendable income, but if you are living just within your means, spend it to help your own town or community to thrive. Most of all, don’t spend more than you make! Put away the plastic cards!!!

All the fine financial experts agree…A cluttered and disorganized home is usually one in which the inhabitants are struggling financially! Suzie Ormond says it! And she is as blunt as they come. Do you really know where every penny you make is being spent? Do you know where all of your financial records are? Is your desk clean and organized? When was the last time you went through your paperwork and tossed what was no longer needed.

Talk to a CPA with a good reputation that is up on all the latest tax laws because you may be missing some items that could change your financial bottom line. Take control of your environment; if you don’t love it or use it, get rid of it! Talk and think positively about your financial well-being; the media should not be dictating your reality. And most of all, stop buying stuff you don’t need! It’s just clutter.

To all Reiki II practitioners…

If you are ready to increase your level of healing ability, I am teaching Advanced Reiki Training in Saratoga at Massage at Saratoga. The class will be held on October 26th from 10 to 4. In this class you will learn how to work with crystals, toning, triangulation, and much, much more. For more information, please call me at 321-5940.

On this Labor Day weekend many of us say,”Summer is almost over.” And so it is…

This is an opportunity with the changing of seasons to assess what we have left to accomplish this year. With the holidays but a few weeks away it is a good time to clean out the attic or basement or garage, before it’s cold and dark in the evening. As you go out and buy beautiful colorful mums to decorate for Fall, take extra stuff to the Salvation Army, the Re-Use Center, or the church rummage sale. Think about giving extra food to the food pantry, and make it your priority to bring tote bags for purchases and recycle bottles, cans, and plastic bags.

In Fung Shui, we don’t need more stuff…we need to give more. What you give comes back in miraculous ways! Most importantly, give a smile!

Did you know…

The aromas of pine, cedar and cinamon are the best for staging a home for sale.

A damp, musty-smelling basement not only puts off prospective buyers, but is actually unhealthy for you.

After every season, you should completely air out your home because subtle, stale odors are often not noticed by those living there.

Spider plants and Pathos are the best indoor plants for keeping indoor air clean and oxygen enriched. Nothing smells better than fresh, clean air!

How things feel when we touch them is a feng shui consideration. Stiff or scratchy fabrics, sticky vinyl, and fabrics that don’t breathe make us uncomfortable. Chairs and couches should be comfortable and soft. Chenille throws and soft colorful toss pillows add comfort and color to a space. In the bedroom, consider egyptian cotton bedding with a thread count of at least 300 threads per square inch. You will pay a little more for them but they last three times as long and get softer every time you wash them.

It’;s all about comfort!