Health And General Life Care: [AlternativeAnswers] Winter Blues: De-Cluttering, Cleansing and Feng Shui

Good Morning!

De-Cluttering, Cleansing and Feng Shui

Feng Shui (pronounced Fung Shway) is the ancient Chinese art of placement to enhance the flow of "vital life energy" known as Qi. Practitioners believe that rooms, buildings and all environments can be arranged and decorated in a way that maximizes the flow of Qi and, resulting in improvements to health and happiness of those who live in that environment. Although the translation of Feng Shui basically means "Wind and Water", its scope and breathe are much deeper than this.

Feng Shui is an expression of the oneness and interconnectedness of all things on all levels and all dimensions. This is a "key concept" in understanding how our essence relates to everything else around us, including our environment. As we begin to sense this oneness we then find that it is possible to gain insight from looking at our environment on a broader scale. It is often said that "Feng Shui teaches us what we already know".

Winter has a tendency to keep us in doors more. As the wall begin to close in, we are often more aware of the clutter around us! Follow this simple rule, when de-cluttering your home or office:

"Allow things in your life which make your heart sing, feed your soul or nourish you on a daily basis."

IF it does not, get rid of it! Donate it, give it to someone who can really use it or throw it away. De-cluttering not only goes for material possession, but can be applied to our mind, our bodies and our emotional spirits! Here are some very simple, yet extremely affective ways to de-clutter:

1. Cleansing the Body

This is one of three processes that should be done 4 times a year.
Using the seasons as a guide, allows us to work with the "flow of
nature" and change as our bodies change. Consider a healthy detox or
work with the power of an herbal cleanser.
Here is a nice Detoxification Bath to get you started:

Detoxification Bath
2 Cups Sea Salt
2 Cups Baking Soda
4 Tbsp. Ginger Powder
Place all ingredients in a hot bath and bathe for 20 Minutes
Drink plenty of water. This bath withdraws impurities from your body
and helps you to feel better. This bath can be done
2 to 3 times in a week or as needed.

Psyllium is a bulk-forming laxative and is high in both fiber and
mucilage. Psyllium seeds contain 10-30% mucilage. The laxative
properties of psyllium are due to the swelling of the husk when it
comes in contact with water. This forms a gelatinous mass and keeps
the feces hydrated and soft. The resulting bulk stimulates a reflex
contraction of the walls of the bowel, followed by emptying.

De-cluttering the space around you can make all the difference in the
way you feel. Start small. Try organizing a drawer or desk, your
closet or one room in your house, first. Then move on to a bigger
project. Learn the secrets to de-cluttering and re-organizing your
life with the proponents of Feng Shui

2. Cleansing the Mind

This is the 2nd in the trilogy. Learn how to think in "affirmations"
that are positive! These are statements that you make either aloud or
to yourself. Always approve and accept yourself. You cannot love
yourself unless you first, approve of and accept yourself.

A disciplined mind is a free mind. Gain control over your thoughts
and you maintain control over your life. Retrain your mind and you
regain your freedom. Calming the mind is a behavioral technique used
to interrupt, minimize and eliminate "psychological noise".
Obsessive, repetitive thoughts, anxiety and fears are all apart of
negative, self-destructive patterns that can benefit from the
positive affirmations and mind quieting.

"Love Thy Self"
I am perfect, whole and complete NOW, the way I am.
I deserve all that I require.
I am worthy, loveable and strong.

3. Cleansing the Spirit

This is a life long lesson and third in the trilogy. Utilize the
strength of yoga therapy. What is your belief system ? Does it serve
you well? How about discovering some great meditations !
The Sun Salutation in yoga is a great wakening and cleansing
exercise. This is a flowing combination of some of the asanas in
hatha yoga.

Sun Salutation
Stand in Tadasana, take a deep breath, clasp thumbs in front of you
and raise arms in front of you over head. Arch back from the waist.
Now, fold over at the waist as you exhale, placing palms on the
floor, Uttanasana, step your right leg back into Lunge, step your
left leg back to Plank, come into Bhujangasana, flow into Adho Mukha
Svanasana, step your right foot forward to Lunge, left foot forward
for Uttanasana, inhale up to Tadasana. Repeat, stepping your left leg
back into Lunge.

Cleansing Meditation

Breath is life! Exchange of electrons. Flow of energy. Air is the
primary nutrient. Survival without it is measured in minutes. It is
so important that you do it without thinking. Your breathing is the
voice of your spirit. It's depth, smoothness, sound, and rate reflect
your mood. If you become aware of your breath and breathe the way you
do when you are calm you will become calm. Practicing regular,
mindful breathing can be calming and energizing. With the addition of
music and it's rhythm, the "musical breath" can even help stress-
related health problems ranging from panic attacks to digestive
disorders. Fall into the rhythm of the music and breathe. Focus on
your breathing and the music.

Focusing on the breath is one of the most common and fundamental
techniques for accessing the meditative state. Breath is a deep
rhythm of the body that connects us intimately with the world around
us.
Close your eyes, breathe deeply and regularly, and observe your
breath as it flows in and out of your body. Give your full attention
to the breath as it comes in, and full attention to the breath as it
goes out. Whenever you find your attention wandering away from your
breath, gently pull it back to the rising and falling of the breath.
Inhale through your nose slowly and deeply, feeling the lower chest
and abdomen inflate like a balloon. Hold for five seconds. Exhale
deeply, deflating the lower chest and abdomen like a balloon. Hold
for five seconds. Do this three or four times, then allow your
breathing to return to a normal rhythm. You will begin to feel a
change come over your entire body. Gradually you will become less
aware of your breathing, but not captured in your stream of thoughts.
You will become more centered inward. You will just "be there."

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac
http://www.peacefulmind.com/feng_shui.htm
Therapies for healing
mind, body, spirit

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