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Thursday, July 31, 2008

Moving on...


I think part of my attraction to feng shui initially came from my time as a kid on the move. By age fifteen I'd lived in more than that many houses; old, new, large, bijou, in the city, and out in the sticks. When I was small we'd just move states, but now I'm an adult it seems I commonly move continents. Sometimes carrying my house around with me... sometimes it's left behind in storage, and once or twice I've sold (or lost in transit) the lot, facilitating a brand new start.


There's nothing like breaking apart your house and all it's energy, sorting, piling, and discarding to decimate your sense of self. The things that meant so much- a pretty pot in a corner, the hanging garden ornaments- just end up looking like pieces of junk. I questioned myself, looking at the stack of "must takes"- was this really all neccessary? Husby commented it was just a pile of frippery, and silently I agreed that that's exactly what it looked like.


Around me now, smiling filipina men are carefully wrapping our scaled-down household in white paper. This morning these asian men are my good spirits. Piece by piece they are handling with care these "frippy" things I regard as precious, and placing them in strong, uniform boxes. We'll see it all again in 8000 miles.


There's a special energy about the way they are doing this. It feels like, this time nothing will be lost in transit, and it won't sit be sitting silently in storage for too long, wishing for us to come and get it. Maybe I'm picking up on the energy of my precious things who have been through this before, too, who now enjoy being packed professionally just as much as I do.


Bon voyage, feng shui by the sea household.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Law of Attraction strikes again




We tend to only remember the Law of Attraction when something goes really, really right in our lives. We look around and think, "Wow! I must have created all this! (I wonder if I can do it again?)"




But really, as Esther Hicks says so well, calling the Law of Attraction a "secret" is like calling gravity a "secret". It's no secret. It's an energetic, physical law: Like attracts like. Whatever you're getting in your life is a direct reflection of the vibration you're putting out- unwittingly or not.






The "secret" we all have to unlock, is discovering exactly what sort of vibration we're omitting! So when things go the way we want them-- it's a great opportunity to look back on the past few days of your life and discover what energy you've activated to bring your desired outcome into eventuation.




Here's an example... it's no secret to any of you that I love to travel in style! Give me business class, french champagne, and email in the sky, and I'll circumnavigate the globe at 25,000 feet indefinitely. So when we discovered that there was no availability to fly back business class for any number of days around the time we'd be leaving the middle east, Husby and I were more than a little disappointed.


Determined to keep my emotions high & happy in the last chaotic few days, knowing "Feeling good is creating our happy future", i purposefully kept looking at my joy list and focused on the excitement that rested in the future, once all the boxes and bags had been shipped.. not only that, I kept hopeful. Expecting good things to happen. Expecting to travel in luxury.


And what do you know? Business class tickets came through at the last minute, and we were even upgraded to first class for the initial leg of the journey. It really confirmed just how powerful it is to feel good, and just how, like the universal law that it is, it attracts more good things towards you to feel the same way.
Happy new week to you!








Monday, July 28, 2008

Feng Shui resources in the Gulf

"Dear Samantha,

Can you recommend a feng shui course in Kuwait? I have become very interested in the subject and would like to know more. Also, what books can you recommend? Many thanks in advance,

Renee."


Dear Renee, and those interested in feng shui in the Gulf region,

I am sorry I cannot personally recommend any feng shui courses or consultants in the area (I don't know any in Qatar, have heard of one in Dubai and there maybe someone practising in Bahrain.)

Luckily there's a plethora of wonderful resources out there to "order in"... and some truly beautiful "destination courses" which can combine the study of feng shui with a relaxing retreat. Here are my favourites:

  • I studied with Lillian Too and can recommend any feng shui information, books, courses or products she provides. The undisputed doyenne of feng shui!
  • The "Western Guide to feng shui", by Terah Kathryn Collins. She runs The Western School of Feng Shui, in California.
  • The UK feng shui society has a helpful website.
  • Sarah Shurety is the author of many illustrated guides to feng shui based on a western-theme home; all with beautiful pictures and powerful cures.
  • A truly lovely thing to do would be to go to Bali and do a feng shui course: there is one that comes highly recommended, run by Karen Kingston, Hay House author and space-clearing expert, at her feng shui hotel called the Dancing Dragon.
  • If I can help you with an e-consultation (you can send me a scanned copy of your floor-plan and your birthdates), please ask.
  • In seeking resources in Australia, you can visit the Feng Shui Directory. I've found it to be a great resource to find good feng shui via online articles and recommended practitioners.

May your interest in feng shui lead you to the life of your dreams!

love and blessings to you,

Samantha.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Got style?


a calm hallway, via paris apartment

Happy new week, everyone! Have you ever wondered, What does your decor style say about you?
Does your blend of famiy heirlooms, childhood knick-knacks and market finds define your look as "Absolutely Fabulous", "Funky Modern", "International Chic" or "City Sophisticate" ? Take the test- it's great fun!





Here in Doha, the home of Feng Shui by the Sea is all grey tiles, with crazy wall angles and aluminium everywhere (from the stair balaustrades to the window frames) It's unfolded that I've blended old wood pieces from India and Indonesia with retro-style lamps, bold-pattern prints in dark frames to liven up the walls, and many colourful tea light candes together with plants to add warmth and a sense of life to an interior Husby, upon arriving, announced "looks like a prison".

The look works, somehow... We're moving and it proves not economical to ship our interior; so we decided to sell it off. Our friends from across the compound, freshly moved into their own version of "the prison", came over to check out what we had on offer. "We'll take the lot," they said. :))








What a compliment! And they don't even know the whole interior's been put togeher to create good feng shui, too... It'll be a nice benefit for their new life in the desert. I think I'll keep it a secret... and look forward to stories of how they get on once we're gone.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Having it all







Ever played the game "Wouldn't it be nice if...?"










I love this fantasy game and it's purpose is to soften the resistence you're feeling towards anything you'd like to attract into your life but haven't yet received.










It's not a question of do you deserve it. Of course you deserve it! The question is, Can you allow it to happen to you?










It's getting me playing now...










Wouldn't it be nice if seats became available so we could fly business class next week?










Woudn't it be nice if we were offered the home we've lived in before, and everything surrounding the move was smooth and easy?










Wouldn't it be nice if packing up our house here and our transition out of the middle east was so simple, fast and fun?










Wouldn't it be nice if this whole experience brought Husby and I even closer together?










Wouldn't it be nice if 3 weeks in Florida was filled with fun and new discoveries, less work, more play, and we had the best business-cation of our lives?















What would be nice if it happened for you?





Tuesday, July 22, 2008

The joy of Cake

Do you have a joy list?




A joy list will become your best friend, rescuing you from getting annoyed or disillusioned when some shmuck comes trying to rock your feng shui boat.

A joy list is easy and so fun to make. It's just this; a list of ten things that bring you joy when you think of them.









I keep a couple of Joy lists- one lives in my purse for when I'm out and something occurs which could make me feel negative. Helps in airport queues!


Before you accuse me of covering life's nasties with sugar-dust, remember the law of attraction!We are always receiving whatever we're a vibrational match to. Raise your vibration to the positive, and positive things are attracted to you. It doesn't matter what's actually going on around you. What matters is the vibration you're offering up.




Which brings me to the subject of Cake. Cake is always on my Joy List, and we're off to a birthday party this afternoon. Aren't childrens birthday parties just the most wonderful fun? I heart... tiny girls in pretty dresses.. gorgeous decorations.. rowdy boys killing the pinatas... and cake. When was the last time you had a slice of a beautifully frosted, cream filled sponge? Mmm, heaven!



This afternoon it'll be a disney theme number...


And in a fortnight (sooo exciting!) it will be key-lime pie, in Key West itself, looking out to the Caribbean... never mind the sunsets, never mind swimming in the beautful ocean, nevermind walking on the beach with happy husby...


I'm loving thinking about the cake!








http://travel.nytimes.com/2006/03/31/travel/escapes/31lime.html

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Autumn palettes preview '08-09








I've just finished reading Fashion Babylon, by Imogen Edward-Jones & Anonymous. I am so not a fashionista! I have no clue about what is hot and not in the world of cutting-edge people. Luckily I have a fondness for anything white, despise wearing patterns and if in doubt, put on high heels. It's this 3 part dress-code that seems to keep me from looking completely clueless and probably just retro enough to scrape into a cool club in a hot city when neccessary. Or maybe not... i'll let you know when we visit Miami in a fortnight!

Anyway, Fashion Babylon was a great read; and it's got me thinking not just about clothes, but about our homes, trends, and the way we like to live now. Remember in the 1970's when dining tables featured built in Lazy Susans, reflecting society's passion for the dinner party? Together with the fondue-set, it was the quintessential equipment for a truly modern hostess! Deeper though, this trend spoke also about the values of the day: Comradeship and using technology instead of man-power were given more importance as families and neighbours got to experience new foreign influences.

We know this now, how design trends speak about what underlying energy we're really attracted to; we'll even predict it backwards, and here's what I mean. The trends upcoming for Autumn and Winter2008 (or 2009 if you're down under ;) , according to Texworld can be summed up in 4 words: Revive. Reflect. Preserve. Construct.




Aren't these key words of style also, the values of our society right now? Beautiful! Go visit for a great analysis: http://www.fashiontrendsetter.com/content/color_trends/2007/Texworld-Color-Trends-Autumn-Winter-08-09.html

The overall element of these palettes is Earth- a great choice for cooler weather (other versions of it's grounding energy nourishes us with root vegetables and sees us snuggling on overstuffed-sofas). But, interestingly, there's more than a splash of water, hinting that many of us dream of taking a break from dreary cold and sunning ourselves lightheartedly on a beach.



Perhaps one of the Winter key words of style will be Escape as our Autumn dreams become reality, and we'll be sporting sun-kissed skin under our woolly scarves... in true fashionista style!


Looking to refresh your space with the season's coming colours? A new paint job clears out old energy and brings in new opportunity- go for it!



pic from Absolutely Beautiful Things

Friday, July 18, 2008

A feng shui She


She... turned her cant's into cans and her dreams into plans.

-"She" by Kobi Yamada

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Crystals + Feng Shui = Success Assured









If you have talked to me recently about feng shui, you'll know how in awe I am of the 9 semi-precious stones now part of every single Feng Shui By The Sea consultation, used to activate seriously powerful energy changes.



(I discovered this through practical application in clients homes and in my own life; they are particularly effective for travellers or people "on the move". Then, a few months ago I attained deeper understanding of just why the crystals are so powerful through Melody's Love is in the Earth Master of Crystology training in Somerset.)



But it's always great to have yet another confirmation! So this little article kindly popped into my email box today. It seems the £90 million Manchester City Stadium, in the name of feng shui, has had a crystal burying-ceremony. Precious stones have been placed beneath the playing field at key energy areas- like under the turf of the centre circle- so it's home teams can pull in the trophies. Here's the full scoop:



http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2008/07/17/manchester-city-bosses-turn-to-feng-shui-to-boost-trophy-winning-chances-89520-20651512/

This is guaranteed success. Wouldn't you rather play on a field you know has been energised to help you win? I'm looking forward to the results of the Man City teams playing at home this season!





Full moon feng shui ritual


"Everything is energy. We are immersed in an ocean of energy, inside us and around us. When we change our inner reality, such change is reflected in our outer reality. Thus, we can alter the situations in our life.. transforming the energy field in our living environment..."


Out my window I can see a huge moon rising in an Arabian sky. Darkness has arrived and the heat of the day is ebbing away.




Are you craving a house-cleanse or fresh beginning? Today's full moon is in Capricorn, and it deals with the “bones” of situations- the structure, order, and underlying stability of our life. Now’s a time you may decide to go ahead with those renovations, or up-sticks and get a completely different abode.



Although it professes to be a love ritual, here’s a link to an article which is a brilliant home cleanse too; and for either purpose is ideal to implement in the next 2 days:

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20080715-148640/Need-luck-in-your-relationship-Do-this-home-ritual


...and please share with us what happens!





Wednesday, July 16, 2008

The Feng Shui She

She decided to enjoy more and endure less.


- from She, by Kobi Yamada








I love the She sayings by Kobi Yamada. As far as I can tell, it is an inspiring book and also a range of greeting cards. I'm going to share a "She-ism" and matching feel-good picture with you every now and again- each one rings so true it makes me tingle. Does it tingle you, too?

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Deliciously auspicious II





Special spaces for activating Friends & Travel energy.
Lovely images courtesy of James Merrell, and Anna Spiro 's divine blog.

Deliciously auspicious I




Some lovely
images courtesy of Australian Country Style magazine, A storybook life, Decorative Country Living, and the ever-inspiring Anna Spiro. For the dream-board...

Monday, July 7, 2008

An Arabian moment?


Guess where this stunning design originates?

Discovered on oh!joy's blog (she's in the "we love" column, to the left), it immediately took my fancy, with it's strong metal energy, as a fantastic bar to drink at for Helpful Friends, Fun and Creativity energy.

And yet it looked strangely familiar... has FSBTS seen this in Abu Dhabi, or Dubai, with it's uber modern, arabic-ish theme?

When I learned that the designers are Australian, namely the hugely Bernabeifreeman , I remember now... it's somewhere in Paddington, Sydney!- but the night we saw it in person must have been so full of good chi, I'm stumped if I can remember the location.

Great feng shui, one could say ;)

later...

actually as we discover they've done many places in Sydney, and gorgeous ones at that, no wonder it's such a fab energy city!

Saturday, July 5, 2008

July Cheat Sheet- wonderful Feng Shui Travel

Have you registered for the Feng Shui By The Sea free e-newsletter yet?

This month we’re focused on Feng Shui & Travel: How to have a better time on holiday than ever before- more romance, better deals and lucky opportunities await!
There's tips and hints on how to keep good energy in your home when you're away... how to feng shui your mobile phone for optimum communication success, and very special advice towards the harmony of your "furry" best friend (always a keen adventurer)- how to Feng Shui your Pet, or create "Fur Shui" :))
Also, three very special Law of Attraction and Feng Shui combination techniques that will see more love and luck pepper your holiday.
and I'll send it to you straight away.
Bright blessings for your July,
Samantha.

Friday, July 4, 2008

The caged wonder

This picture is called The caged wonder, and it's by Amy Crehore.















Her website, http://www.amycrehore.com/ is disallowed for viewing here in Qatar, so I've not seen it, but her blog is viewable: http://amycrehore.blogspot.com/


It's here, on my blog "Life & Love in the Gulf", because I got up this morning and wanted to show you something very special and beautiful- to make us all happy, you see. And I found Amy Crehores creations as soon as I went looking.

Intention is the secret to life.

Enjoy your journey today.
love,

Samantha.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Feng Shui corporate a-news-ment


Today's telegraph.co.uk reports:

Harmony out of window after elephants removed from room


By Jonathan Russell
Last Updated: 12:57am BST 02/07/2008



Orange's founder, Hans Snook, is long gone from the mobile phone company but the feng shui enthusiast's legacy has lived on for years in the reception area of its Bristol HQ.

Well, at least it did, until the new chief of staff Steven Day ordered the removal of two small, feng-shui ceramic elephants as part of his new broom approach.

The outcome?
The building was struck by lightning that night and had a flood the next day.


~~~

According to fengshuicrazy.com:

"In feng shui, elephants are... used as house keepers and guardians. This way, their powers can be used in combination. Whenever a person needs to attract power or maintain it within their office, they can place an elephant near the front door since it would not only help him achieving it but also keeping him and the power he gains safe.

Symbolic elephants can also be used according to the materials and elements they contain in their structure in order to achieve the proper balance within an environment. This way, whenever one of the five main elements (earth, water, wood, fire and metal) is needed in order to harmonize a space as well as strength, power or wisdom are needed, placing an elephant which contains it can be a great solution."

~~~

In sum:
It was perfectly practical for Steven Day to want to replace the Orange founders power animals. But he could have placed his own personal feng shui enhancements first, protecting himself and the whole company from any sudden change.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Our call to a higher power- finding everyday beauty




Why feng shui? Why art? Why green apples as well as red to grace a fruit bowl? Just because it looks nice? Just because it makes us feel good? Just because... it accesses the divine?


One influence in my childhood opened the door to a world where music and finery and art were not just frivolities, but vital for a balanced life filled with higher thought. That influence was ballet. I have never questioned the power of the world of aesthetics to soothe my soul since then.


Philippe de Montebello, the director of New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, says art showcases mankind's "awe-inspiring ability to surpass itself. No matter how bleak the times, you cannot wholly despair of the human condition."

How do you access divine beauty in your life?


Do you, as I did, need to find it in a place other than where you have learned to look?


p.s- Here's a site on the artistic process well worth visiting, when you've got a minute (or an hour): http://www.circlethedivine.com/