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.

What is up with people? Why would you want the ghosts in your house to stay there? They are not your property, or your pets. They are stuck and trapped. How would you feel stuck between worlds? They are not there for your amusement or for you to brag about. They are human souls who deserve to be free. Please allow me to send them on so they may be reunited with their family and friends on the other side!

By using warmer colors, we can create the feeling of a higher temperature. When we decorate for the holidays, we use oranges, golds, and reds. Picture pumpkins, Indian corn, mums in yellows, golds,  warm browns, maple leaves in bright reds, and even the reds of Christmas time! These all make us feel warm, cozy, and satisfied. If you are deciding to lower your thermostat to save money this winter, consider wearing bright reds and golds, add warm cozy colorful throws and pillows to your den and living room to keep you warm when relaxing, and bring in flowers with these colors to keep the life force energy warmed up in your home!

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.

This Fall, as you start to put away things like garden tools, patio furniture, weed whackers, lawn mowers, etc.; wash them, repaint them if needed, drain gas tanks, remove and safely store batteries, and any other maintenance needed.

You will really appreciate all this work next Spring when all your outdoor stuff is clean and in good shape…all you will have to do is enjoy!

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!

Did you know…..

A kitchen sponge holds at times more active bacteria than the toilet bowl. Sterilize it in the dishwasher or replace it frequently.

That when you flush the toilet, particles of toilet water are scattered eight feet in all directions.   ALWAYS close the lid before you flush.

Your cutting board has lots of germs.   Clean it with white vinegar at least every other time you use it.

Your coffeemaker will last longer if you clean it well once or twice a month.   Clean it by running it with a white vinegar solution twice in a row then rinse with plain water.

There is no better way to lift your spirits that to bring into your space a vase filled with flowers! They can be wildflowers, garden flowers, or purchased from the local greenhouse but they are all a welcome boost of color and life force energy to brighten your mood. For almost any reason (or no particular reason), consider giving some to a friend or loved one.

The gift of joy you give returns to you ten-fold! That’s good Feng Shui!

Do you need a change in your life? Are you bogged down? Here’s a quick tip to get things moving in your life.

 Find 27 objects in your home that have not been moved in a year. Move them. Clean and /or dust the area they were in, say out loud “I am ready for a change.”, then put the objects either back where they were or rearrange them to suit you.

Give it a try!

Do you have a sticky window, a door that doesn’t shut properly, a loose board, dripping faucet, electrical outlets that don’t work, circuit breakers that continually trip, etc?

Your house is crying out for care! Listen to it! The time and effort it takes to fix small irritants like these pays off big in the long run. You may be preventing an accident, a fire, water damage, and more. The pay off of good maintenance is that you maintain the monetary value of your home as well. You may even be saving energy if you pay attention to how your windows and doors function and by keeping your heating and cooling systems cleaned and serviced.

Every time you encounter a stuck drawer or trip over a curled rug or catch your sweater on a nail sticking out you create aggravation for yourself and others. That negative feeling can build up in the space. These little irritants could be “the straw that broke the camel’s back!” So prevent these stressors before you blow!

That’s good Feng Shui!

Lotus: The Buddhists and the Hindus both consider the lotus to be a sacred flower that symbolizes purity and the unfolding of life. It is an enduring symbol of creativity, purity, peace, and tranquility; both Buddha and Vishnu are often pictured with or on a lotus blossom.

The many petals of the lotus represent the endless possibilities and opportunities in life. We all have talents and abilities…the things we are good at and the things we are passionate about. Use the lotus as a symbol for your ever-expanding life!

White magnolias and orchids symbolize good taste and femininity. In China the magnolia is considered to represent purity and truth. The Chinese use the bark and the flower buds as herbal remedies. Consider these flowers as the blank canvas which you will paint with your joy, and express with elegance your truths!