Preparing
Feng Shui has been an interest of mine for decades. Literally meaning 'wind and water,' Feng Shui invites us to tune into our natural environment, and appreciate our place in it.
Practioner Amanda Gibby Peters reminds us that our homes are always talking to us - are we listening? Here's her podcast on loving up your front door.
A great practice - stand in front of your house and observe, as of it were your first visit - is the number clear, and the front door obvious? Does the path invite you forward? Do you feel like you'll be welcomed in? If there are steps, do they look safe? Is their a rail? Jot down your ideas on what needs improvement, invite assistance where you need to delegate. Think of what you wish to invite in, and what needs to stay away!
As the Lunar New Year approaches, (January 29th), there are several things we can do in preparation to welcome the year of the Snake. The first - spruce up the entrance!
Our front door offers opportunity for Chi (engy) to enter, for luck to find us. Take some time to clear & bless the entrance or 'Mouth of Chi' by clearing clutter by your front door (inside and out), sweeping the porch and any steps, making sure the door can open, the street numbers are visible, and no plants are hanging over the path.
- Wash the door and sweep away cobwebs - (weather allowing, you could repaint it)
- Paint options my friend Gwynne - 10,0000 Blessings Feng Shui suggests: glossy red for good luck, black for career & money, or green for growth & new beginnings. I chose purple for my door fourteen ago - and brought the paint along for my Rose Cottage front door! With my royal last name, it's a great match! Here's Gwynne's Pinterest board for entrences.
- Add a bit of salt and lemon or orange essential oil to the water - or a peel from fresh citrus to the water, and wash away any troubles experienced in the old year.
- Put a few drops of cinnamon oil on the broom bristles, before you sweep, inside or out.
- Sweep/ wash your porch light fixtures - and replace bulbs with a brighter wattage, if it's dim. (LED bulbs are energy rococo and bright!)
- Shake or or replace your 'welcome mat.'
- You can place several coins under the mat to invite in abundance. Three feng Shui coins on a red ribbon is suggested (I renewed the one under my mat, and swept the porch daily when I was preparing to sell my last house - the sale went very smoothly, for the price I named!)
- Take a pinch of cinnamon in your palm, standing outside and blowing cinnamon on the door to welcome good fortune. I put cinnamon essential oil into a spray bottle, and spritz the door.
- Clear any clutter inside the door, so it can open fully. Oil /WD-40 the hinges of they need it.
- Check for needs - where do you place your keys? You're wallet or purse? Hang your coat? If you remove your shoes - is there a place for them? (Jot down ideas for improvements)
- Hang a nice wind-chime beside the entrance, and ring it sometimes when you arrive home. (I put a sock over the clapper if it's windy - or take it down)
- Refresh any seasonal decorations - a cheery swag wreath of greens or flowers is nice for any season.
- Open doors and windows in each room at least 10 minutes, letting fresh air circulate (if air quality and temperature permit)
- Play happy uplifting music or cheery podcast
- Spray pure essential oil (citrus, cinnamon, frankincense) or burn a stick of sandalwood or palo santa (etc) incense
- Turn on the entrance light for at least 3 hours daily (in daytime) to attract good luck
Thanks for sharing! I love your purple door and will be organizing this weekend!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome!
DeleteI love my purple door as well!!
Yay - may your organizing go well!
I love this!! The front door is more important than we think it is, and not just on the outside. You have some great ideas on making it more inviting,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment, Barbara - It is important - and easy to forget about!
DeleteI washed both outside and inside - need to touch up the inner paint a bit!
There’s something deeply comforting about the quiet preparation you describe—a grounding ritual that feels almost sacred. Your words remind me of the magic in readiness, the calm before the storm where intentions are set and energy aligns. Such a beautifully reflective post.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteI often feel that seems of calm and magic teasing or hearing about tending our spaces - good to feel my words evoke that as well.
I enjoyed these tips and I loved the color of your door. Mine is a dull brown but we can't paint it because we live in a Town Home even though I was to. This is why I miss our Trailer I could do anything I wanted. But this is our home and I'm grateful for it and can do some of these tips as I prepare to decorate for Valentines Day. Thank you for sharing with us. Have a nice weekend and I look forward to more of your post in the Challenge.
ReplyDeleteIt's tough when you need to keep a 'boring' color because of rules! (Just washing it, if weather allows, is a nice easy to freshen it!)
DeleteI'm in an ADU behind my daughter and son-in law's home - by city rules, the house needed to have the same roof line and be the same color as theirs (a pretty pale blue) - but I can paint the door as I wanted!
Fun to decorate for valentines - several of my Feng Shui guides suggest door decorations throughout the year!