Re-Nature Feng Shui Module 6: Clutter Clearing & Creating Sacred Space Questions/Comments Module 5 Divination Module 6 Assignment Do one of these ceremonies on your home. The Metal Element Visit Alex s website (http://alexstark.com/category/how-to) and email or post on Facebook group something that you ve learned that you found valuable and inspiring. (There is so much here!) 1
Today The Metal Element Clearing Clutter Creating Sacred Space What is Your TRUE Nature? Wood The Pioneer Ambitious Active Competitive Courageous Productive Resourceful Resilient Visionary Fire The Wizard Warm, Intense Dramatic Magnetic Passionate Enthusiastic Dynamic Prefers lots of friends Earth - The Peacemaker The Mother Nurturing Responsible Grounded Supportive Reliable Protective, Simple Trustworthy Metal The Alchemist The Father Discerning Strong, Ordered Precise Refined Confident Speaks against injustice Water The Philosopher Calm, Deep Playful Refreshing Dreamy Flexible Insightful Reflective Prefers to be alone The Metal Element The Metal Element is the archetype of the Alchemist with the ability to transform energy with the breath. 2
Emotional Nature I am able to express and release sadness and grief I love structure yet am flexible and adaptable to many situations that arise in life I have great intuition and use it often it in my life I speak up when I witness injustice I am able to release my tendency to control in challenging situations I often take the position of authority and leadership in work and outside of work Copyright 2015 2016 Re-Nature Consulting LLC Metal in Nature Metal Energy in the Home Metal is organization & refinement task of filtering and refining, removing all that is no longer needed. Metal is beauty incorporating art in all of its forms into your home, be it through images, music, fine furnishings, sculpture, dance, etc. Metal is minimalist spaces that adhere to form over function sharp geometric lines and asymmetry, use of lots of metal, white and black. Metal is connection with the sacred in our everyday lives creating an altar in your home is a wonderful way to acknowledge the Metal Element. 3
Brass, bronze, silver, etc. White, off-white, gold, silver, gray, pastels Round, oval, circular shapes; arches and domes Gemstones, polished stone and marble Art with metallic, gold or silver leaf finishes or featuring the sky Metal in Your Home Connecting with your breath Anger - breathe smoothly and freely to remain calm Anxiety/fear - consciously broaden and deepen your whole breathing to feel safe Depressed - allow a fuller inhalation to match the exhalation to stimulate your chi and help you access the emotions hidden within the depressed behavior. When feeling hurt, under attack or when old emotional patterns are threatening to take control - get back into the NOW by centering the breath We have the power to transform our emotional state. If you are irritated by every rub how will you be polished? -Rumi 4
What is Clutter? The Clutter Test Do I need it? Do I use it? Do I love it? Also Things that are unorganized Too many things in a small space Anything unfinished What Does Clutter have to do with Feng Shui? Feng Shui is about creating spaces that are uplifting for spiritual, emotional and physical well-being. Clutter blocks and stagnates Chi. We cannot create Feng Shui spaces when Chi cannot flow freely 5
Both Extremes Very yin contributing to sluggishness Very yang contributed to anxiety Metaphor Clutter = blocked and stagnant chi Whatever we are not conscious of will be expressed in our environment Psychologist Carl Jung Clutter is postponed decisions. Barbara Hemphill Clutter is a way that Unhappiness expresses itself. Where and What Look at where the clutter accumulates And what type of clutter there is 6
Room by Room Entry/passageways Bedroom Family Room Kitchen Bathroom Basement Attic By Gua Prosperity & Abundance Fame, Reputation & Recognition Romance & Relationships Family & Health Creativity & Children Self-Knowledge & Spirituality Career & Life's Path Networking & Travel Front Entrance How to Combat Clutter Clutter is postponed decisions! Ann Bingley Gallops Start small clear one drawer or one small pile a day! Create 4 piles to keep, for charity, to sell, to throw out the to keep pile should be 20 30% of the items Great tip for clothes when hanging new season, hang backwards and see what you ve actually worn and not! If necessary, hire a Professional Organizer! 7
9 Tips 1. Start with the 3 most important areas: front entry, bedroom and kitchen 2. Determine the primary purpose of the room and use that as a guideline 3. Remove and sort through everything in an area 4. Ask the 3 questions: Do I love it? Do I use it? Do I need it? 5. Use categories for sorting: keep, toss/recycle, donate/sell 6. Do not pass GO! Get rid of those items immediately! 7. Create zones and homes for everything that remains 8. Open windows and door to let air and chi circulate 9. Transcendental cures Move 27 Things, and Laugh & Stretch What s in it for me? What do you want MORE of in your life? When I get rid of my clutter, I will allow more into my life. Visualization exercise Seen and Unseen We ve been dealing with the seen Now the unseen clutter 8
Negative Energy From your past experiences in the home Unwanted guests Predecessors Creating Sacred Space Ground breaking, earth healing, space clearing, commercial dedication, blessings, and other specific ones healing, fertility, soul retrieval, etc. What is Space Clearing? Changes the qualitative content of an environment Revitalizes the energies of the space exhausted by use, stress, or suffering Shifts the energies to a new and different purpose Dispels malaise, disease, unwanted spirits, or other detrimental forces. 9
What is a Blessing? Invokes the powers of the Cosmos to aid in creating the most auspicious environment for the performance of the task envisioned for the space BE the Cure Tools Altar cloth Ceremonial/Ritual objects statue(s), icons, images, mala or rosary beads Sound singing bowl or bells Elements from nature sea salt, crystals, flowers, shells, rocks, etc. Fire candles Smell essential oil sprays Offerings you can incorporate an offering, such as incense or fruit BTB-specific items cinnabar (or paprika), realgar (or turmeric), ceremonial plates and bowls 10
Toxic Minerals Cinnabar powder contains mercury Powerful yang substance Expell bad chi and evil forces Brings good fortune Realgar powder contains arsenic Improve and strengthen chi Substitutions Paprika or chili powder Tumeric OR forgo the powder and use highest proof liquor 5 Element Altar Bagua Altar 11
Shamanic Altar To create a sacred experience, guide yourself into that space and then bring viewers in to become participants. Alex Stark Guidelines Prior to consultation Pack necessary items Meditate At consultation Set up altar Gather participants Assign duties, if necessary (open doors and windows as you go through home) Light candle Center and expand your energy to take in the room, perhaps the property Calming Heart Sutra or other prayer to call in assistance from spirit realm 12
Space Clearing Go to front door and ask permission to proceed Circle the home in clockwise direction Shake down the energy in all the corners as you say Om Ma Ni Padme Hum Once you go through each room and each level of the home stand at front door Imagine all negative energy being whisked out through the windows and doors Rinse hands and arms Blessing Back to altar or center of home Yank up the energy of the home by using softer, higher vibration tools (higher-pitched bells, lighter incense, etc) Can do the clockwise movement around entire home again or stay at altar or center of home Infuse the home with intention. Back to the altar to give thanks and gratitude to all who assisted in the higher realms. Blow out candle. Exterior Rice Blessing Teaspoon cinnabar or paprika Small bit of realgar or tumeric Bag of white rice (not quick rice) Newly purchased bottle of Bacardi rum for use in ceremonial use only Dropper Ceremonial bowl Best to do between 11am 1pm or 11pm 1am Do the Heart Calming Sutra (Gatay, Gatay, Para Gatay, Para Sum Gatay, Bodhi Swaha) Fill bowl with rice and small amount of cinnabar and realgar Using a dropper, count 108 drops of rum into rice Mix with middle finger (left hand women, right hand men) while reciting OM MA NI PAD ME HUM, 108 times Visualize ten thousand Buddha s light entering the bowl Go out front door of property and throw three handfuls of rice up into the air visualize the chi of the land is uplifted and space is blessed and recite OM MA NI PAD ME HUM Throw three handfuls of rice out horizontally visualize that you are feeding Hungry Ghosts and spirits and recite OM MA NI PAD ME HUM Throw three handfuls of rice to the land visualize that you are planting new seeds and recite OM MA NI PAD ME HUM * You can also go to each area of the Bagua and throw a total of three handfuls (up, horizontal, and down) and bless each area of the Bagua, stating intentions for each. 13
Chen Pei 9 pieces of chen pei (dried tangerine peel) One large orange A new white plate to be used only for ceremony One tea candle Place tea candle in the middle of plate Cut 9 round pieces from orange Arrange the 9 pieces of chen pei around edge of plate and intersperse the 9 circles between the chen pei Light the candle and burn each pieces of chen pei as you would incense, making sure to get the smoke into each corner and closet in the home. Move clockwise direction from front door, visiting each area of the bagua. Chant OM MA NI PAD ME HUM. After going around the house once, place plate on the stove where it can remain with candle lit until client needs to use the stove. Method to Change the Chi by Sense of Smell Bacardi rum Ceremonial bowl Uncooked rice Paprika or cinnabar Nine fresh oranges Timing best between 11am 1pm or 11pm 1am (height of Sun and Moon) Add 9 capfuls of rum to a bowlful of rice. Then add 1 tsp of paprika While mixing with middle finger of right hand chant OM MA NI PAD ME HUM 9 or 108 times Visualize that the light of millions of Buddhas shine into the mixture, and that powerful blessings are being infused. The rice is saturated with Buddha s light. Cut 9 round pieces from all 9 oranges (108 circles). Break up each into small pieces in the bowl. Open all doors and windows in the house if weather permits During this time, visualize that the chi is already changing. Starting at the front door move through house clockwise and scatter pieces into all corners. Client may participate as well. Say OM MA NI PAD ME HUM as you scatter the pieces. While scattering, use both the Giving Mudra (palm and rice goes upward) and Sowing Mudra (palm and rice goes downward). When complete, do the Three Secrets Reinforcement, visualizing that all inauspicious chi is gone from the house and being replaced by auspicious chi and the light of thousands of Buddhas. * What you hold in your heart during this ceremony is most important of all. Tracing the 9-Star Path Stand at the front of the property (curb) or the home (inside by front door) Hands in Temple mudra: Start at 3 and follow the 9 Star Path (chart below) and say Om Ma Ni Padme Hum at each star When you get to 2 you have completed one cycle. Do 8 more cycles, starting at 3. All the while you are envisioning negative energy being disrupted from the structure and property and dissipating into the sky. You can even do this on a person. Do the 9 Star Path on their torso, front and back 14
The Challenge Connect with the Metal Element Spend some time observing the night sky Share your experience on our FB page OTHER SLIDES 15
Clutter Impacts of Clutter Physical Emotional Spiritual Difficult to get around Difficult finding things Inability to clean well Impacts the physical body Physical stagnation A result of unhappiness in life Emotional stagnation Can create feelings of isolation Symptom/contributes to depression Impedes the flow of chi in your home Leads to stagnation in many or all areas of life! Inability to develop and grow spiritually Inability to move forward in life 16