Comeback Girl's Agraria Jasmine Sticks

Comebackers, I hope you all aren’t bored with these feng shui practices that I’m revealing here, because I’m seriously thinking about making this blog specifically about feng shui enhancements and applications, at least at this A.D.D. moment in time). I love feng shui, if there’s any question in your mind at all.  Yes, I might just marry Feng Shui.

Growing up I had a friend whose reply to everything I loved was: “Why Don’t You Marry It Then!!

But I digress, moving right along shall we…

Aromatherapy is not a “traditional” feng shui practice, but I’m going to lump it in here today. Why? because fragrance is a mood enhancer. There are various ways to infuse scent into your living space including: candles, incense, tea light burners, and my personal favorite at this time: fragrance sticks. With the fragrance sticks, the fragrance is dispersed through the reeds and you can control the amount of scent by the frequency in which they are turned. And best of all, they last a very long time.

I’ve also graduated from alot of fruity home fragrances at the local bath and body works because its just too much fruit. I don’t want to walk in my abode and smell mandarins and oranges all the time. And neither does your gentlemen caller/lovah/what’s his name (or whatever cutesy label you have given to your flavor dujour). Besides there are tons of essential oil fragrances that do a lot of fun things. Right now, Im in love with Jasmine. Take a read below at what some of the other essential oil home fragrances can do (I’ll add to the list as I have time today):

Jasmine: anti-depressant, aphrodisiac, antiseptic, stimulant and emollient.

Lemon Verbona: helps with respitory issues, “clears the air”.

Lavender: known sedative, relaxes and soothes, great to also enjoy a better night’s rest.

Balsam: also a stimulant and aids healing respiratory issues and also known for its fresh and earthy smell.

Natural Light

I’ve even been known to go over to a few friend’s places and a couple of relatives spots too and open up the blinds and curtains particularly when they were angry and depressed. Natural light is a mood stabilizer.

There’s even been one or two blogs that I’d like to Feng Shui with just a little light. The ones with the all black background (yeah you) written in red font (stop looking around, you), please don’t ever not never wonder why you’re angry. Let some sunshine in on that blog, woman !!!

Comeback Girl's Chill room in transition

“Light, especially sunlight, lifts the energy of the room, brightens your spirit, expands your space and inspires new ideas. Light affects energy by: uplifting, stimulating, activating, producing, and increasing…Since most people spend ninety nine percent of their life indoors, it is essential to get proper exposure to healthy light. The Best is natural sunlight. Full Spectrum light bulbs are the healthiest type of light because they simulate sunlight. They are highly recommended to energize your space, body, and mood. Use full-spectrum bulbs in the areas where you spend the majority of your time…Avoid florescent lighting whenever possible. The pulsing ultraviolet and blue rays cause eye strain, headaches, and fatigue. (“Feng Shui Your Life” Jayme Barrett)

Windchimes do alot of chi balancing depending upon placement. wooden windchimes in the south east part of the living space (like above) increase luck and wealth. Its actually hanging above the screen entrance to my deck. So they also make noise on a really windy day. The sound the windchimes make when in motion also activate the important feng shui energy of sound.

“Sound vibration is very powerful. As sounds pass through your personal energy field, they can relax or stimulate you. They enhance your mood in many ways. You may play music for inspiration, to unwind, to create romance, or to facilitate learning…these feng shui enhancements consist of wind chimes, bells, music, water fountains, nature sounds, and your own beautiful singing voice.” (Jayme Barrett)

   Plants & Flowers

I probably am in most need of other plants besides orchids (I have at least 5 in different places). But Flowers and plants are also a very easy feng shui application. Plants give off oxygen and circulate healing energy. They also bring in new opportunities.

“Experiment using color, try pink roses for love, red gladiolas for motivation, yellow daisies and sunflowers for happiness, blue hydrangeas for relaxation, purple orchids for spirituality, orange marigolds for inspirations, and white calla lilies for purification”. Gardenia, tuberose, and freesia offer blissful scents (I will discuss scent in detail tomorrow). (Feng Shui Your Life-Jayme Barrett)

Comeback Orchids

I’m going to depart only slightly from traditional Feng Shui as we explore smudging (space cleansing), which is Native American in origin.

Jayme Barrett in “Feng Shui Your Life” explores the Asian art of space cleansing through burning of sandalwood incense and lighted candles. I actually prefer smudging. It feels a lot more powerful, spiritual and effective to me. Smudge Sticks (pictured directly below) are made of sage and sweetgrass. The spirt of sage has the power to drive out negative energies and influences. Sweetgrass is used to attract positive energy and healing.

Comeback Girl's smudge stick and bowl

smudging: Smudging is the common name given to the sacred smoke bowl blessing. A powerful cleansing technique from the Native North American Tradition. Smudging calls on the spirits of sacred plants to drive away negative energies and restore balance.  It is the art of cleansing yourself and your environment using simple ritual and ceremony. For thousands of years smudging has been a part of Native American tradition but now its power of cleansing is available to everyone. (The Smudging and Blessings Book) Jane Alexander

I do a house sumudging at each change of season:

(a) I open up every single window, closet and door in my home. Symbolically I seek to get stale thoughts out. Old ways of thinking, believing and doing things that no longer serve me.

Comeback Girl's bedroom window

 I will also smudge when I feel like people brought “junk” with them into my home. It could be serious negativity or even thoughts that they had about a situation, person or even place that I did not wish to permeate into my surroundings and whereby me as a result. Additionally, I will also smudge if I find a cute little night table to restore at a thrift store to clear any past energy from previous owners that may not be beneficial to me.

(b) I light the smudge. And bless myself. I pray for wisdom. I pray to help bring my home protection, creativity, prosperity, and positivity.

(c) I move around into every corner of my living space with the smudge (at this time it should be emitting a light smoke) and again I say prayers highlighted in (b).

(d) I say special prayers in my work space. I ask for diviine inspiration and concentration. (Concentration for my self-diagnosed A.D.D. LOL)

(e) I say a special prayer in my bedroom for love, wisdom and clairty.

(f) Don’t laugh, but I say a prayer in my closet. I have a special Jimmy Choo prayer too. I ask for great shoes. I ask that they will welcome their cousin Christian Louboutin with open arms, because he’s coming home soon. (its not funny!!! Comebackers)

(g) I comeback to the center of my living space and I thank God for all the blessings and favor. I pray for my neighbors around me. That they may live in peace and prosperity. That all their dreams may come true.

(h) I extinguish the smudge with sand and water in the bowl.

note: smudge bowls and sticks can be found at most metaphysical bookstores nationwide.

I have a meeting with the owner of a local design showroom tomorrow morning. She’s a sistah AND she makes house calls (for a fee of course). I’ll do a link back shout out AFTER our meeting. I trust her. She’s VERY creative. But can she really feng shui me ?

That’s what I’ve been looking for. Someone whose design aesthetic I heart heart heart, but also someone who can show me the LOVE and the SUCCESS in furniture design and placement. I came into the showroom about a month ago. Snapping pics, turning my head to the side, visualizing, and designing on a dime, a quarter twenty cents (cause I am on a budget. I’m not sure of the exact number yet. But I’m on a budget).

One of the things that fascinates me about design is that color, aromatherapy, and where furniture is placed (among other things) CAN facilitate a life change. This sounds crazy but I want to design my house around the man I will meet, fall in love with, and marry. I know I know. You are saying Comeback YOU HAVE LOST IT FOR REAL. But have I ? Everyday we as women go out on the town and dress up for men (but also for women but that’s another blog post) we put on the cutest heels, the baddest dress.

But what about the spaces in which we live ? I want to dress my nest as if my man is already here. The elements of feng shui are basic to me. I need advanced training. The concepts for love revolve around everything in “twos”. Things should be purchased in pairs. I love fresh flowers. And elements of red for passion and fire…but not too much passion where my butt can’t sleep at night.

So do you think my future man is a leather headboard kind of guy???