Feng Shui Joy Notes
E-zine #30— February 2005

I wish you a veryy Happy New Year! The Chinese Year of the
Wood Rooster began on February 9, 2005. This year is about
growth and YOU as you spread your wings and fly! Self discovery
and courage abound as you listen to your heart's desire and take the
steps to fulfill your dreams. Take the time to reflect and set your
priorities. This will also be the year to partake in this year's national
pastime-decluttering, enabling you to move forward more easily
toward those dreams.

Lots of new things are happening at Feng Shui with Joy! A full-day workshop is scheduled for March 31 and April 2. Also check out the Interior Redesign Services that I will be offering in March. I'm very excited to be offering this service to my clients. More details will be in next month's Joy Notes.

In this issue:
Feature article: Good kitchen energy
Interior redesign service
Joy Notes Q&A:
Bagua mapping service
Upcoming classes and talks - One day class scheduled!

Feature article:

Good kitchen energy

Our kitchens are the hub of family togetherness. They become the
center of the party as we prepare foods. It's the source of our health
and a symbol of our wealth. With so much significance attached to this
room, it becomes vitally important that we create a kitchen that
supports our needs.

1. First and foremost, our kitchens need to be decluttered and
   organized. It can be the most challenging room to keep
   organized and clutter-free because of all the activities that take
   place there. Some tips for keeping the kitchen a clutter-free
   zone:
   • Only have items on top of the counters that are used
     daily. (coffee maker, phone, etc.) Find a home
     somewhere else for everything that is used less often.
     (This will keep the kitchen looking good and inspire you
     to use the kitchen for cooking- which is a good thing.)
     
   • Organize the cookbooks/recipes. Do you really need 42
     cookbooks? Are there ones that you use the most? Are
     there ones that you never use? Have you torn out recipes
     that you think you're going to make and then never do? I
     think you see where I 'm going with this.

     If you use it, great,
     It can stay.
     If you don't, toss it
     Or give it away.

• Have a "junk" drawer, BUT keep it organized and only
  have things in it that you actually will use. A doodad from
  some unknown object isn't going to be very useful. Out it
  goes! 64 pens - some that work and some that don't -
  aren't necessary. Trim the pile to just a few.
  
  
2. Bring nature indoors in the form of a vase of flowers, bowl of fruit
   or vegetables, or a green plant.
   
   
3. Keep the pantry and refrigerator stocked with good food. The
   food that we have stored has a huge impact on the vision we
   have of ourselves and how rich we feel. The food can either
   support our health/diet goals or hinder them. If you are on a diet,
   be sure to get rid of the foods that you aren't going to eat while
   you are on this diet. If there are still in the cupboard, they are
   pulling you back into old eating habits.
   
4. Keep the stove clean and working. It's ideal to use all the
   burners each day as it is a symbol of both health and wealth.
   
   
5. If you stove is up against a wall, place a reflective surface behind
   the stove so that you have a view behind you while at the stove.
   The reflective glass of a microwave above a stove will serve this
   purpose too.
   
   
6. If the cook is in a pathway through the kitchen while she/he is at the
   stove, this energy path can be stressful on the cook. Hang a round,
   multi-faceted crystal over the cook's head to help disperse all the
   energy that is zooming through the kitchen. This will slow the energy
   down and allow the cook to put good, healthful energy into the food.
   (For a description and photo of the type of crystal to hang, see crystals.)
   
   
7. Store all sharp knives in a drawer or at least in a butcher block.
   Having sharp knives that hang down from a metal strip creates
   an unsafe and hazardous feeling in the kitchen.
   
   
8. Remove hanging pots and pans from over the cook, like you
   would find over an island stove. This is a lot of oppressive
   energy over the top of cook and would certainly not be very
   comfortable if one of them were to fall down either.

Have a safe and happy New Year,

Joy

Joy Notes Q&A

Joy,

I live in an apartment with very little natural light. I know that
green plants are a good chi enhancer, but they just don't grow
well in my apartment. Can I use silk plants instead?

Cindy, Eau Claire, Wisconsin

*****************

Cindy,

You are absolutely right that green plants are wonderful chi
enhancers, but only if they are healthy and lush looking. If they
look sick due to a less than desirable growing environment, they
can be detrimental to the energy of your home. Silk plants are
perfectly acceptable, as long as you keep them maintained - dusted
and cleaned. Also realize that they won't last forever and will need
to be replaced eventually.

As another option, you can grow lucky bamboo though. This is
considered a very lucky chi enhancer and they don't like direct
light. They can grow in very low light conditions, even in a
bathroom with no windows. For more information on Lucky
Bamboo, see my article on it:
http://www.fengshuiwithjoy.com/html%20pages/luckybamboo.html

Joy

If you have a question you'd like to see answered in an
upcoming issue of Feng Shui Joy Notes, send your question
to Joy at Joy@FengShuiwithjoy.com

Bagua mapping service

In addition to personal consultations, I now offer a bagua
mapping service. This is for anyone who is interested in trying
Feng Shui, but who doesn't feel ready to commit to having a
consultation yet or who just feels they need a little help with the
orientation of the bagua on their home. If you are confused as to
how to lay the bagua on your home orwould just like the reassurance
that you are doing it correctly, Ican help. For more detailed information
about your home, see my Deluxe Bagua Mapping Service. Bagua
Mapping Service includes:

1. Map of your home with the bagua indicated on a
   tissue overlay. See exactly where each of the bagua
   areas are in your home. I'll locate the missing corners/
   guas for you. By knowing where all these areas are,
   you'll be able to work on particular parts of your home
   that pertain to aspects of your life you would like to
   enhance.Map of individual rooms with the bagua indicated
   on a separate tissue overlay. Locations of doubly
   auspicious places are indicated on this overlay. (Doubly
   auspicious places are extra powerful places to put an
   enhancement. These are areas where the gua of a room
   overlaps the same gua of the house.) Supplemental materials:
   1. Recommended enhancements for each guaColored bagua map
   2. General directions on using your map
2. Price: $49

Deluxe mapping service includes:

1. Everything in the Bagua mapping service PLUS a
   30-minute personal phone consultation based on
   your layout. Receive Feng Shui suggestions especially
   geared to those areas of your life in which youwould
   like to see improvements.
2. Price: $99

If you are interested in any of these bagua mapping services,
give me a call at 608-833-2344 or email me at
Joy@FengShuiWithJoy.com

Pass on the Ch’i

Please share this enewsletter with interested friends by
forwarding the complete enewsletter to them. Subscribing
and unsubscribing information is included at the end of the
newsletter. I never sell or distribute email addresses.

Upcoming Classes and Talks

Enhance your Home with Feng Shui - Free Talks
Tuesday, March 15, 2005, 1:00 p.m. or 6:30 p.m.
Natural Health Works
212 E. Verona Ave
Verona, WI 53593
608-848-8378
Free to the public. Please call to reserve your seat.
If your organization would like to have me do a talk or class to
your staff or group, please
contact>mailto:joy@fengshuiwithjoy.com">contact me.

******

Feng Shui 104 - Energize your life with Feng Shui - CLASS
One-Day Workshop
I've had so many requests for another all-day workshop, that I've finally got
not one, but two of them scheduled! This will accommodate anyone who
wants a weekday or weekend date. Sign up early and save!

Thursday, March 31, 2005, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 2, 2005, 9:00 a.m - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Stark Realtors, 702 North High Point Rd, Madison, WI
Cost - $89 / Earlybird special -$79, if you sign up by Friday, March 18
Register:
http://www.fengshuiwithjoy.com/html%20pages/registration-spring2005.html

Half day classes:
I'm also going to split the day in half and you can come just to the morning
session (basic) or the afternoon session (advanced). See details on the
registration form.

Course highlights:
Work with your environment to manifest your dreams. You'll learn how to
apply and use the bagua in your home to achieve your life goals. Basic
principles, tips for the home, slide show of examples, ch'i enhancers,
and the bagua will be covered. Interactive exercises to help you apply
your knowledge. Create an environment that reflects the inner you.
Bring a layout of your home.

If you have questions, please contact :joy@fengshuiwithjoy.com