Yes, it’s only early November, but on the Chinese calendar this weekend Winter Begins. The Chinese word for this is "Li Tung" or sometimes seen as "Lidong". The keyword to keep in mind for this time of year is "storage." All the animals have begun to prepare for the long winter. Farmers already stored their crops and have begun to prepare for a winter break. For animals like snakes, hedgehogs and squirrels, after a busy autumn foraging for food, they are well-prepared with enough energy to hibernate and await spring. I've noticed the squirrels around my house are looking a bit fatter these days.

Welcome to this lovely, fresh new year. I trust our group had time to spend with friends and family over the holidays and has arrived in 2020 with a fresh outlook. But, even if not, I have an idea to lift the spirits: A Feng Shui Winter Garden. It's a great way to stay in touch with the outdoors even if you're mostly shut in over a long winter.

I like this time of year. Winter is quiet--the perfect setting for contemplation, study and planning. The rush is largely over, it's cold outside, and its nice to sit on a comfy sofa with candles or a fireplace nearby and look at books and plan things. I especially like thinking about garden improvements for the coming spring. It's the perfect time of year for this activity, so why not get out your garden books or catalogs and plan for a feng shui spin on your garden for the coming year.

As often happens this time of year, things can start smelling a bit funky in the house (and in the car if you want to know the truth). The windows have been closed for well over a month, the dry furnace air has been working its magic, cooking smells are clinging to the appliances, pets haven't spent much time outside in awhile, and how long has it actually been since the cat litter boxes or the trash receptacles have actually been washed out? Yeah, that smell.

It's easy to let your energy fall right through the floor in winter. It's usually too cold to go outside; the holidays are over, the bank account is empty and it gets dark at what seems like just after lunch. In fact, in my 1950s ranch house (with its original construction elements firmly in place), it got so cold in my office yesterday that there was a sheet of ice on the INSIDE of the windows. Indeed, there is a lot of yin energy about. So, how can this wintry energy serve us?

The five energies consist of two yang elements (wood and fire), and two yin elements (water and metal). Earth is neutral. 

These days, community is more important than ever. With all of the virtual living that we do, it is important toremember that those around us are impacted by our actions in a very direct (read: real world) way.

Feng shui as seen through the eyes of most people consists largely of manipulating the tangible (physical) environment.

Have you ever stopped to think about the energy of water? Of course, in feng shui we think about this a lot. Whether we’re viewing an oceanscape, standing on the banks of a rushing river, picnicking near a babbling brook, rowing on a mirrored lake, or looking at a small pond with fish, water is a profound kind of energy that impacts us in powerful ways.

It’s August and I don’t think anybody feels like doing anything this month except vacationing. The weather is hot and humid, we are eye-balling September when the energetic fall cycle begins (as well as the school cycle) and we know we’re going to need our wits about us for that. 

Let's face it: if you're having a baby or getting married or going to college, everybody is on the bandwagon. We all love beginnings--we have parties, feel uplifted and look forward to the future.