just something cool to check out

http://invitinghische.com/

We Are All Connected

It is time to draw from the well of knowledge. Let life itself sustain you. The wise person knows that despite superficial differences, we are all the same on the inside. Draw your sustenance from the entire kingdom. Good can come from anywhere and everywhere. 


The wise individual shares their services and empowers everyone they meet with their resources. Your inner wealth is inexhaustible, and the more you give the more you get.

"transformation"

Change is what happens—not just what is intended. This is a time of shedding the old and seeing with fresh eyes.

Welcome The New Year With A Cleansed Home

A cleansing ritual works on the energy of your house at once, giving it great power. 

These ceremonies work on a purely energetic level affecting the invisible elements of the site, which includes spiritual and emotional energies as well as energetic residues left by previous occupants.

Cleansing ceremonies help to remove negative energies.

The difference in the way you feel will be incredible, because it can profoundly impact your physical, mental health and well being.

In order to achieve this effect, it is necessary to perform the following basic steps.

Step 1: Clean the house from top to bottom and have cleared out all the excess junk in every room, open the windows to allow the chi (energy) to move freely

Step 2: Wash your hands, arms and face and take off any jewelry and your shoes, as these will have absorbed their own negative energies. 

STEP 3: Protect yourself by wearing a Mayan Ball over your heart during cleansing process when you are moving energies. Mayan ball is a very powerful cure to deflect negative energy that may be coming towards you.

STEP 4: Now, burn one or two Purifying "Rosemary" incense stick (depending the size of the room) and a white candle in the center of each floor of the house, or at the front door, back door and center of your apartment if you live in on one level.

Rosemary is very well known to cleanse invisibles vibrations, unwanted influences, and "keep out" evil spirits. It has excellent purifying qualities. Rosemary incense is a powerful feng shui cure and plays a vital role in the cleansing ritual.

Place 3 white flowers beside the white candle to absorb negative vibrations. After the cleansing, wrap the flowers in tissue paper and throw them away.

STEP 5: Burn a "white sage" smudge bundle and waft it along all the walls of the house. Keep repeating your intention to cleanse the house while you do this. When you get back to the front door, wave the smoke in a figure of eight pattern.  Place it over heatproof container and light the end. Or use our easy-walk Metal burner with handle. 

STEP 6: Ring a large bell in each part of the house, starting with a low ring, then one a little higher than and finally as high as you can. Tibetan bells have special sound that balance energy and dissipate bad energies in any place, also used to balance the chakras of the body. Ring the bell behind furniture, below beds and corners.

STEP 7: We have selected Dragon Blood resin to seal and give a protective mantle to your home. At the completion of your space clearing ritual, you will want to seal the fresh new energy that you've created throughout your home. Smoke dragon blood incense to give a protective mantle to your home. Dragon's Blood creates a very strong herbal and spicy fragrance. It's considered to be cleansing and as such, has been added in small amounts to Frankincense mixtures used in churches.

UNIQUE FENG SHUI SHOP®

http://youtu.be/e-P5RGdjICo

"Change your thoughts and you change your world!"

- Norman Vincent Peale

According to Chinese astrology, each year is associated with an animal; 2012 is the year of the Chinese Water Dragon. Dragon can be a symbol for opportunity and good fortune. To embrace Dragon energy this year, set your Feng Shui stage by aligning your mental, physical and spiritual energy in support of your goals and aspirations.
Dragon is powerful and fast! If you've been procrastinating the start of a new project, or putting off changes you've wanted to make in your life, this may be the year that brings change.
To prepare for the New Year begin by following these 3 easy Lifestyle Feng Shui tips

1. Clean house, literally. Give the new year a fresh start by giving your home a thorough cleaning
2. Clear your front entry. Make sure the path to your front door is clearly marked, easy to traverse and well lit. Replace your old, worn out welcome mat with a new mat welcoming new energy and new opportunities
3. Clean your desk. Remove all unneeded items from your workspace. Literally make room for new opportunities and experiences

Dragon years bring many opportunities and great change. To fully embrace Dragon energy it is important to get in touch with your own center and prioritize what matters most to you. From this place of alignment you'll be able to fully experience the abundance and opportunities the year has to offer.

Walking the Dragon with the Feng Shui Elements

1. Wood. Dragon is associated with the Wood element. Wood energy has strong upward movement, a sense of life and vitality. It is the element of growth and opportunity. (No wonder Dragon years are so full of opportunity, change and abundance!) A lush plant symbolizing the element of Wood is a fabulous enhancement.

2. Water. Water is the element that supports Wood. Enhance the Water element in your home using one of these simple strategies, float fresh flowers in a bowl of water, spritz your home or office with an essential oil spray or incorporate a water fountain into your living space.

3. Fire. Dragon is naturally drawn to the warmth and expansive nature of Fire. But, a little goes a long way. Open your curtains to let the natural energy of sunlight enhance the Fire element in your home.

4. Earth. The grounding stability offered by the element of Earth supports the Dragon. De-clutter to give Dragon energy the space it needs to bring opportunities to you.

5. Metal. Creative organization and attention to detail will help keep Dragon energy focused and on task. Sort through your things and release all unneeded items, organization in your living and working space will provide support for Dragon energy.

Remember, Feng Shui is about balance, embracing the energy of the year can help provide support for your aspirations and goals - but all changes must be made with an eye toward balance and alignment.

by: Laurie Bornstein info@lifestylefengshui.com

what a beautiful site!


http://learnlakenona.com/

Nice presentation on a zmag!


http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/0e7380ec#/0e7380ec/1

PBS report/video on Feng Shui

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/january-20-2012/feng-shui/10118/

Sweet Potato, Carrot, Apple, and Red Lentil Soup

By: zhidaoma 

Prep Time:
20 Min

Cook Time:
50 Min

Ready In:
1 Hr 10 Min

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped
• 3 large carrots, peeled and chopped
• 1 apple, peeled, cored and chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup red lentils
• 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• plain yogurt

Directions

1. Melt the butter in a large, heavy bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Place the chopped sweet potatoes, carrots, apple, and onion in the pot. Stir and cook the apples and vegetables until the onions are translucent, about 10 minutes.
2. Stir the lentils, ginger, ground black pepper, salt, cumin, chili powder, paprika, and vegetable broth into the pot with the apple and vegetable mixture. Bring the soup to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the lentils and vegetables are soft, about 30 minutes.
3. Working in batches, pour the soup into a blender, filling the pitcher no more than halfway full. Hold down the lid of the blender with a folded kitchen towel, and carefully start the blender, using a few quick pulses to get the soup moving before leaving it on to puree. Puree in batches until smooth and pour into a clean pot. Alternately, you can use a stick blender and puree the soup right in the cooking pot.
4. Return the pureed soup to the cooking pot. Bring back to a simmer over medium-high heat, about 10 minutes. Add water as needed to thin the soup to your preferred consistency. Serve with yogurt for garnish.

Footnotes

• Cook's Note
• This soup is also great served with crumbled feta cheese instead of yogurt as garnish.
  
  

Fire Things Up
Cooking can generate much needed warmth during the winter months. Having a simmering pot of soup or stew on the back burner of your stove will fill your home with mouth-watering aromas, and fill your stomach with healthy nourishment.


by Simone Sanders

Rules known as the Gaia Charter for organic architecture and design:

“Let the design:

be inspired by nature and be sustainable, healthy, conserving, and diverse.

unfold, like an organism, from the seed within.

exist in the “continuous present” and “begin again and again”.

follow the flows and be flexible and adaptable.

satisfy social, physical, and spiritual needs.

“grow out of the site” and be unique.

celebrate the spirit of youth, play and surprise.

express the rhythm of music and the power of dance.”

by: Architect and planner David Pearson

Find inspiration. Inspiration, for me, comes from others who have achieved what I want to achieve, or who are currently doing it. I read other blogs, books, magazines. I Google my goal, and read success stories. Zen Habits is just one place for inspiration, not only from me but from many readers who have achieved amazing things.

Post written by Leo Babauta

Happy Monday

Morning on Martha's Vinyard

get inspired

http://www.squarespace.com/examples/category/featured

beautiful portfolio and brand applications!
http://youtu.be/1h3z2r-41s8