Over the last month, I've been looking at "community" and what it means to be a member of a productive and positive community that meets your inner needs and feeds your soul.
As I've proposed, there are many different types of community that go far beyond the neighborhood you live in. Whether it's a social community, a work community, a volunteer community, a spiritual community, or a family (by blood or choice) community, there needs to be a balance of energy within the community for it to be healthy.
Have you heard the expression, "too many cooks spoil the broth" or maybe "Too many sergeants and not enough soldiers" ?
Those are ways of saying too many people want to be in charge and give orders and not enough people are willing to do the nitty-gritty work. Have you ever been part of an organization that was trying to produce an event and there were plenty of people willing to make decisions about how the event "should" go, but not enough people willing to work at the event to make it go that way? That's a perfect example of "too many sergeants and not enough soldiers."
It takes all sorts of people to create a positive and productive community. It takes cooks and servers, sergeants and soldiers, leaders and followers, expressive people and quiet people. That, in essence, means that a nurturing community is made up of many types of Chi, or life energy, and there needs to be a balance of types of energy to make that community a positive one.
If we look to the Five Elements of Wood, Earth, Metal, Water and Fire, we can find answers to who fits each situation the best.
Every community needs people who are willing to be leaders, offer direction, and speak up and out.  The ‘Wood’ person has this type of chi, just like a tree, it moves upward and collects wisdom to effectively lead.
Just as important are the folks who would rather stay behind the scenes working diligently. They may not speak out or offer to lead an event or program, but they help get things done. For this, the person with strong Earth energy fits the need. They love to help, be rewarded, and work tirelessly for others – but don’t necessarily want to be in the limelight.
If you need order in your community, call on a Metal person. They love to create order, make great bookkeepers and accountants, and will help define whatever guidelines the community needs.
The Water person will be there to go along with whatever everyone needs. They may have introvert characteristics, but if you need research done – call on them! They are the ones who can fulfill the position that requires solitary work – it fulfills their introspective nature!
Finally, there is the Fire person. They will be your ambassadors – or your marketing gurus – shining in the delight of their charisma. Don’t hold them back, they love to be out in the limelight!
The balance of Chi is essential to a happy, positive, healthy community.  As in Feng Shui, a balance of all of these Chi types will create harmony in your community. To learn about what an individual type is, I look to the Four Pillars of Destiny. Based on birth information, I can determine which elements are your stronger points, and which are weaker and need support.
Learning to understand what type of chi we have leads to better placement of our talents in any community. Take a look at your existing communities – do you think you’ve got a balance of ch’i? If not, seek out the elemental characteristics in members of  your communities to see how each person can work to their strengths and benefit the community as a whole.
There is a place for everyone – make sure you recognize that and place people in their most favorable level of comfort to create your ideal community!
 
Namaste,
Carol

“Kindness, quite simply, is the rent we must pay for the space we occupy on this planet.”
~ Robin Sharma

Throughout July, my focus has been on “community.” I’ve discussed finding the community that aligns with your inner needs and taken a look at how community relates to prosperity. In my most recent Chi Insight video, I talked about being a valuable community member. Continuing with that thought, valuable members of a community give back to their community by being of service.

In any sort of functional, positive relationship (and that’s what  being a member of a community is: a relationship) there has to be a balanced exchange of energy. You get back what you give. When you receive, you should share with others. That’s one of the first social concepts we teach young children.

As I’ve mentioned several times this month, when you use the Bagua to look at the flow of Chi, or life energy, throughout your home or office, one thing a Feng Shui consultant will look for is balance between areas of the Bagua. For instance, if you’re looking for recognition or fame through your career or some other aspect of your life, a Feng Shui consultant will not only look at the “fame” area of your home or office, which is situated in the the center space of the back wall, but also the “career” area which is directly opposite  and located in the center space of the front wall of your home or office.

The two areas, which are opposite each other on the Bagua, need to be in balance and harmony. It’s good to note that the “career” area is also considered an area of service.
If there are missing pieces, cut outs, or issues that need “cures,”  in either the “career” or “fame” areas of your space, that depleted energy can manifest in both the “career” and “fame” areas of your life and you can end up struggling to achieve the recognition or fame you are seeking. The imbalance can also manifest in your sense of community. Both areas need to be examined to make sure the career (and service) energy, as well as the fame energy, is supported and enhanced.

It’s important to ask yourself, “am I of service to others?” “How do I help or serve others on a regular basis?” “ How do I give back to  my communities?” This can be of particular importance to retired people. They may not be seeking fame  or recognition through their career any longer, but they have skills and experience that can be of benefit to others and those gifts should be put to good use.

As I’ve mentioned earlier this month, there are many, many types of communities and there are just as many ways to be of service. A warm smile costs nothing to share. Offering to share your career experience with another person on that path can make an incredible difference in a life.  Initiating or volunteering to help set-up for a gathering helps nurture the group in a variety of ways.. Just talking with new members of the community is welcoming and compassionate. Think about what you enjoy doing and do it!

The happiness you feel will be shared with others. What you give will be returned. Service to others is an important way to feed your soul.

Namaste,
Carol

“Follow your bliss. If you do follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while waiting for you, and the life you ought to be living is the one you are living. When you can see that, you begin to meet people who are in the field of your bliss, and they open the doors to you. I say, follow your bliss and don’t be afraid, and doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be. If you follow your bliss, doors will open for you that wouldn’t have opened for anyone else.”
~ Joseph Campbell

This week I continue my look at “community.” When the topic of community comes up, many people immediately think about their neighborhoods, or  groups or organizations, such as rotary, YWCA, church or spiritual center, ethnic clubs,  etc.,  they belong to. Those are certainly our communities. But, we should be looking deeper into and beyond those groups and organizations by looking at alignment and our spiritual comfort level to determine if they support us and help meet our spiritual needs. If they don’t, we may feel the need to create community for ourselves.

Do you feel at ease with the members of the organizations you belong to? Hopefully, you are in agreement regarding goals of the organizations and groups, but do you feel truly comfortable with your fellow members? Do you feel at ease around your family and friends, because they are “community” too? Do you feel like there is a balanced exchange of energy, or do you frequently feel depleted after you’ve spent time with these people? Do you come away from gatherings happy and lifted up?

Those are questions to ask yourself regarding alignment and spiritual comfort and the communities you are a member of. If you frequently feel “dragged down”  or frustrated after a group meeting or gathering, it could mean that the group, or a majority of the members, is not in alignment with you and your needs or your spiritual level or vibration.

During his recent visit to Pennsylvania, my friend and mentor Bhante Dhammawansha , a Sri Lankan Buddhist Monk,  said we should spend time with people who are at or above our vibration, or spiritual comfort level. That way, we can maintain our vibration and lift it. We should not stay in relationships or communities that are spiritually uncomfortable for us or not within alignment.

As a Feng Shui practitioner and certified consultant, I use the Bagua as a template to lay over the floor plans of clients’ homes and offices in order to improve the flow of Chi, or life energy, within the space. If the flow of Chi throughout your home and/or office is disrupted or blocked, it will manifest in certain areas of your life, depending on where the disruptions or blockages occur in your space, and you’ll most likely feel it.
 
If you’re feeling that your life is lacking strong and  supportive communities, or that you aren’t in alignment with the communities currently in your life, look at the “relationship” and “knowledge” areas of your home. These areas sit in opposite corners of the Bagua (relationship in the back right corner of the home or office and knowledge in the front left corner). These areas must be in balance with one another to feel a supportive and uplifting balanced sense of community.

If you feel you’re struggling with community, feeling left out of one, or feeling dragged down by those you participate in, look again at the relationship and knowledge areas of your home and/or office. Is there a missing piece in one or both of those areas? Is there something detrimental, such as a sharp angle, or an imbalance of elements, that requires a “cure” or an enhancement? Once you look at the knowledge and relationship areas and enhance and balance those areas, you’ll find it easier to find and create communities more suited to your needs and spiritual comfort level, or vibration.

I’ll repeat what I said last week, “creating community, and a sense of connection, is essential in life.” It’s important, especially in this age of virtual connection via devices, that we recognize that true human connection and interaction are vital to balance, happiness, and fulfillment. As extroverts and introverts, we each need a different amount of direct interaction, but that’s what we must discover for ourselves. By looking carefully at your needs and desires, you  can determine and create the best and most supportive communities that feed and nurture your soul.

It seems fitting that I close with another Joseph Campbell quote:
“We’re not on our journey to save the world, but to save ourselves. But in doing that you save the world.”


Namaste,
Carol

My focus for this month is “community.” Community is an essential component of a balanced, happy life for many reasons, but it’s frequently overlooked when considering and striving for prosperity. Prosperity and community go hand-in-hand and it’s really all about balance.

Prosperity is directly linked to community. In Feng Shui I use the Bagua as a template to put on the layout of homes and offices. The “Wealth” area of the Bagua falls in the far back left corner of the space. Many times, when people are struggling financially, they look to the wealth corner to see if enhancements are missing or if there is something detrimental to wealth that requires a “cure.”  All of that is a wonderful start, but I take the evaluation of homes and offices further by looking in the same way at the “Helpful People” area of the Bagua, which is in the front right corner of the space.

The “Helpful People” area lies at the opposite corner of the “Wealth” area and is just as important when working towards prosperity. The definition of prosperity, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is “the condition of being successful or thriving; especially economic well-being.” I think that definition compliments quite beautifully the way I look at prosperity through my knowledge of Feng Shui. Wealth alone does not make you thrive or create success. In fact wealth alone, without community, creates quite a lonely existence. But, wealth with community brings prosperity, “the condition of being successful or thriving.”

Creating community, and a sense of connection, is essential to life. Communities come in many shapes  and forms. Community is all about connection: from our neighborhoods, to our spiritual centers; from our old friends, to new friends met through work or volunteering; from our biological family to our chosen family; all are communities within our lives. To engage actively in our communities reinforces connection and the balanced flow of energy (money and wealth are a form of energy).   To move forward towards our goal of prosperity, we must help others because that builds community, and through community, others will help us.

It’s important to remember that what we give will be returned, that’s the balance of life.

Namaste,
Carol

Over the last month I’ve focused on self-care, reviewing why it’s important and some of the many ways to care for yourself. As I’ve mentioned before, self-care doesn’t have to break your bank. If fact, try thinking about taking the time for self-care as a savings plan. When you practice consistent self-care, you reduce your stress, anxiety, and general wear & tear on your body and mind. You’re able to focus, work efficiently, and increase your productivity - all while feeling better physically, emotionally, and mentally.

In my recent Friday morning blog posts and Chi Insight videos (posted on Facebook and YouTube on Wednesday afternoons) I’ve mentioned meditation, exercise, good nutrition, and getting enough sound sleep as ways to care for yourself. Another important way to practice self-care is to make sure your environment at home and work supports you by enhancing the flow of Chi, or life force. As a certified Feng Shui practitioner for over 20 years, I’ve helped thousands of people adjust their environments to make them more relaxing and peaceful, conducive to productive work, and welcoming and nurturing to relationships. There are so many small ways we can take care of ourselves, that offer huge rewards. We just have to make the self-care time a priority.

The following checklist from “Renewed: Finding Your Inner Happy in an Overwhelmed World” (www.LucilleZimmerman.com) is a wonderful tool for checking in with yourself to see if you’re providing consistent self-care. Put a check next to each of the  statements that apply to you and see where most of your check-marks can be found. In the first half of the list, or the second half?  This exercise will help you see how you’re truly feeling and whether or not you’re practicing adequate self-care.

Self-Care Checklist
Do you....

___ Overspend, Overeat, and overindulge

___ Expect others to read your mind and meet your needs

___ Withhold success from yourself

___ Ignore your deepest desires, but seek to fulfill the desires of others

___ Ignore your real emotions and put on a “happy” face

___ Allow others to emotionally, physically, or sexually abuse you

___ Deflect compliments

___ Say “yes” because you can’t say “no”

___ Avoid time along

___ Over-exhaust yourself because of your need to feel important, needed, or worthy

___ Fear emotional intimacy

___ Try to do it all yourself, never asking for help

___ Try to appear perfect


OR, do you...

___ Take time for yourself

___ Allow yourself to make mistakes and to be open about your weaknesses

___ Spend time with friends

___ Rest

___ Play

___ Exercise

___ Eat well

___ Spend money wisely

___ Pursue your dreams

___ Share honestly with others

___ Enjoy and make time to enjoy and be intimate with those you love

___ Forgive

___ Allow others to be disappointed in you

___ Appropriately express emotions, including anger and sadness

___ Tell others what they mean to you

___ Be present for your children

___ Receive love from others

___ Say “yes” and “no”

___ Create a powerful support system for yourself

___ Celebrate accomplishments big and small

Once you begin to practice consistent self-care, you’ll find yourself in contact with others who also take the time to care for themselves. Maybe you’ll strike up a conversation with someone you see walking regularly in the park at the same time you walk, or you’ll meet someone in a meditation group. Perhaps when you visit the local farmers market to purchase quality  vegetables, you’ll share a recipe with another market regular. That’s how communities are built. Before you know it, you’ll have a supportive self-care community.  I’ll talk more about community during the month of July.