Feng Shui Progress: Living in a Protective Amulet

[sabrinamari]

Basic furniture placement design completed for public areas of house and my bedroom
One faceted crystal ball hung in the center of each bedroom from a nine-inch red ribbon
One hollow five-rod windchime hung over the stove
Three ancient coins tucked in a lucky red envelope and put at the bottom of the rice jar.
Red velvet cloth put on SW shrine
Rose quartz heart put on SW shrine w/2 votives in red glass holders

Next:
string the 3 coins for the doorknob appropriately (it's a cross-culturally auspicious door knob--iron key, brass bell, 3 coins---all on red ribbon) [tonight]
clear and set altar for offerings and meditation practice [tomorrow morning]

Over next six weeks:
give away gorgeous mythological print of lake nymphs about to drown hapless gay man
(so very, very bad for future relationships on *so* many levels)
buy metal frame for Master's Degree Diploma, hang on N bedroom wall
keep fresh flowers on SW dining room table
hang faceted crystal ball from center of SW dining room chandelier and surround with drop-shaped glass crystals
find peony painting for SW dining room, frame it and hang it
find painting or image with masculine themes, preferably in blue, for N living room wall
find ultramarine throw for living room futon
hang drop crystals in bedroom windows
frame red dragon and mount on NE/E living room wall
hang peonies and lovebirds scroll above SW shrine
find a metal 8-rod (hollow) windchime for the NW living room corner
find small, lush peony images for above each bedroom entrance
hang protective wooden plaque on E wall of bedroom
hang Lisa's wooden zodiac clock on NW bedroom wall
hang my full length mirrors on the bathroom doors
put metal stag (thank you, Minneapolis bunnies!) on W bedroom desk
mount 3-inch round mirrors on ceiling above sinks, toilets, cat box and bathroom drains

Optional:
place a 3-toed frog biting a coin in living room under a piece of furniture
put a rose quartz rat on my altar to activate peach blossom luck

NOTE:
Ebay has very inexpensive feng shui supplies---try it first. Feng shui websites can be quite pricey.

Comments

[methastra.livejournal.com]

> give away gorgeous mythological print of lake nymphs about to drown hapless gay man (so very, very bad for future relationships on *so* many levels)

Probably a smart move ;-)

[vgnwtch.livejournal.com]

Not to mention the funniest description of a pre-Raphaelite painting I have ever seen :D

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

And damn, he was a gay man with a *partner*, to boot! He wasn't even *single and available*!

Talk about bad, bad relationship mojo.

[tigira.livejournal.com]

As for the frog, when you're in the Boston area, we can do a short foray into Chinatown. Perhaps some dim sum and feng shui shopping?

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

Yeah!!!! I would *love* this! Jumping up and down happily.

Peonies

[ingridsummers.livejournal.com]

What's the deal with them? I actually have a peony painting on the N wall of my bedroom over our bed. Is this a good thing?

I love this painting as it was done by my father's landlady when he was in college. She's long deceased, but I have memories of visiting her house when I was little. She had lots of flowers in the back yard, with grape vines. It was like being in an enchanted place. My memories of her yard are viewed through a sparkly, yellow lens.

Re: Peonies

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

Peonies are used to draw good romantic relationships---specifically good long term partners---to single women. They are very auspicious when placed in the SW area of the bedroom of a single woman, or just outside the door, on the entrance to the bedroom. Families with single duaghters will often place paintings of peonies (the lusher, the better---peach ones are also especially auspicious) in the living room or dining room.

However, after marriage, peony paintings are no longer considered auspicious because they are thought to elevate the chances that one partner's interests will wander, and someone (usually the man) will take a new lover or be tempted to do so. So most feng shui books and sites advise women to put these paintings up in the previously noted places before marriage and take them down immediately afterwards, instead putting up other kinds of images: paired Mandarin ducks, who mate loyally for life and took good care of each other, paired carps, who bring wealth and good fortune (I have to check this, but I think they are auspicious for both wealth and love when two of them are portrayed together and put in the SW of the bedroom).

Rose quartz crystals and hearts, especially in pairs, are another awesome addition to the SW area of the bedroom.

Another great choice for the SW area of the bedroom is a dragon paired with a phoenix (dragon---wise and beneficient male power; phoenix---wise and beneficient female power). Together, they symbolize the ultimate happy couple in which each partner is self-actualized.

Now, some folks just put a phoenix in the SW area of the bedroom because they think images of dragons are too potent for the bedroom and interfere with getting good sleep, but opinions are divided on this one.

What I love about Asian feng shui relationship magic is that it tends to be really specific in a way that Pagan relationship magic isn't---Asian love spells/cures aren't out get lots of love or just any love---they specifically target long-term, highly compatible, really healthy partnership love. The intent seems to be to act as much as a filter for bad romance as it is a summons for good, healthy happy romance.

So I'm going fend shui all the way with relationship magic. I don't just want lots of romance---I want ONLY the attention of APPROPRIATE, SANE, KIND, CARING people that are a good fit for me and whom I can potentially care for and respect for the rest of my life and vice-versa.

So my place is going to be like a giant love filter, actually---I'm putting protective images everywhere and positive, appropriate, love-filtering images everywhere, too.

Thankfully, Shannon is very accepting of this because her bedroom has not escaped, and what I do to mine, I also ask if she wants in hers. Because hey, why shouldn't we both be happy?

Re: Peonies

[ingridsummers.livejournal.com]

Rats! I really like the painting. It sounds like I need to send it to you. Perhaps I'll do that. You can then send it back to Pumpkin Girl in 10 or so years. :)

Actually, it would look nice in PG's room. Hmmm. Perhaps it's time for me to rearange our bedroom art. Always a fun thing. AND, we are planning on rearranging the room anyway in order to get the new windows in. I'm feeling some creative urges coming on ....

(Now, I just wish I really had a feel for decorating. I'm going to have to impose upon friends.)

Re: Peonies

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the kind offer, but I too was thinking about the fact that you have a young daughter---and I never see a young Pagan girl or woman without hoping that her growth in romantic relationships is as easy as possible. I really appreciate the 'filtering' aspect of feng shui romance magic---and I bet PG would, too.

Maybe you could save this beloved painting for her room, and when the time is right, tilt the scales a little more in her favor by hanging it there. A less tumultuous, more nurturing introduction to the world of romantic love is a beautiful gift. : )

Re: Peonies

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

Of course---I am also willing to store it for you carefully until then, come to think of it...

Re: Peonies

[methastra.livejournal.com]

> Another great choice for the SW area of the bedroom is a dragon paired with a phoenix (dragon---wise and beneficient male power; phoenix---wise and beneficient female power). Together, they symbolize the ultimate happy couple in which each partner is self-actualized.

That's interesting. Sheryl's symbol is the phoenix, got one tattooed to her leg, and so does Kat. My symbol is the dragon (if you can't guess from it's repeated appearances in my journal). I think we're all pretty self actualized, though our self-actualization ended up taking us in different directions.

Re: Peonies

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

I actually thought about this and I'm not even slightly surprised that Sheryl has this tattoo, given what I know about the two of you.

[sidhne.livejournal.com]

find painting or image with masculine themes, preferably in blue, for N living room wall

I'm curious: What is this for?

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

Because single women tend to make the mistake of covering their walls with female-centric art and putting many female-specific images in their homes. Energetically, a balance between male images and paintings in much, much better than a preponderance of female images and paintings. If a single woman hopes to have good romantic relationships that may include men, a blanced environment welcoming to both sexes is important.

Single men tend to make the same kind of mistake, decorating in a much too masculine way that is unwelcoming to female presence and energy.

Shannon pointed out that we could create a much better balance in our apartment by choosing masculine images for our living room painting. She has a really good, almost unconscious instinct for feng shui. I think this is because of her many years of study with Tai Chi teachers and her immersion in that cultural context.

I am looking for a blue theme, because our futon is along the North wall, and blue, especially intense, ultramarine blue, is very auspicious for that direction (which stimulates career opportunities, by the way).

So, looking to promote multiple kinds of good, I'm looking for a masculine themed painting or photograph with shades of blue for our north wall.

I think the heavy exercise equipment (the weight stack, the dumbells, the big adjustable bench) also helps bring a masculine flavor to our place as well. see? Exercise equipment is good!

[sidhne.livejournal.com]

This is fascinating! So, if I'm looking to attract women, then it's okay to have female-centric images, or do I need the same kind of balance?

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

No, if you want to attract women, go with many female images and play down the male images. In fact, one of the websites I'm using is lesbian-gay-bi friendly and will put together two female or two mail pairs of mandarin ducks for your SW bedroom area/relationship shrine if you ask them to. That's *so cool*!

I'll look for that website when I take a break this afternoon, and in fact, make an LJ post of good feng shui websites for those who want to look at them.

[sidhne.livejournal.com]

go with many female images

And, of course, I already have lots of female images, so this is economical as well!

I look forward to browsing some of the sites you mention. THANKS!

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

No problem.

I am really enjoying the challenge of creating an entirely nurturing, safe and joy-promoting environment while remaining fiscally responsible! It's kind of fun to be able to generate a giant magical chrysalis through my own creativity and frugality.

As I said, Ebay is the place to look first, especially for faceted crystal balls, crystal drops, rose quartz hearts and similar feng shui items. I found a dutch auction of faceted crystal balls with a price of $.99 to start. Amazing!

[methastra.livejournal.com]

Are you looking to attract feminine, masculine or androgenous women? That may play a part as well in the decision making process.

[sidhne.livejournal.com]

I lean towards feminine-to-androgynous women who are aware of their power. Currently, the only art on the SW wall of my bedroom is a ceramic piece depicting a nude woman dancing, which seems ideal to me. Perhaps I just need more. :o)

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

Check out www.luckycat.com

This website allows you to create your own mandarin duck pair using female/female, male/male or female/male ducks.

Perfect for a bedroom SW corner shrine.

Does It Have To Be Images?

[skyefyr.livejournal.com]

Looking around my bedroom last night I realize I really need to do some redecorating and hole patching. N has been gone almost 6 mos, it's long past time. I also realized the thing I miss most with him gone is all the weapontry we used to have up in the house, and I've been thinking of starting my collection in blades again. Would this be adequate "male" symbology? It would definitely be my preference and most suit my personality.

[puckmls.livejournal.com]

Wow! You have a long and wondrous list of things. And your suggestions about Ebay are very good. At least you're not painting a room bright red. My sister and her family bought their house from people who practiced Feng Shui and had used beautiful, mellow colors in every room of the house, except the ground floor powder room (in the core of the house) which they painted CHINESE RED. It was very strange being in that room! Definitely made me NOT want to linger there ...

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

If this was the center of the house then it was the "t'ai chi"---maybe they painted it red to energize the chi...