Do you remember the first time that you went to school? Honestly, I do not. I imagine it must have been a positive experience, being the “loquacious” child I was, as noted on my first report card. I do remember the school. It was very old, the cafeteria was in the basement (yikes – not great Feng Shui!), and at recesses I was often able to see my favorite cousin. The school has since been torn down, and I went to a total of 3 different schools by the time I graduated from 6th grade! This was not due to my family moving – I think we were just so far out in the middle of nowhere (at the time) that the school district kept trying different locations.

After grade school, I was sent to two more schools, junior and senior high, then college. Each of these levels came along with buildings that were adequate with appropriate teaching modalities of that era. I had family travel experiences during my youth that took me to places that were vastly different than my hometown. Places where there was only one school for the entire community and in some cases, make shift buildings where permanent schools were not in place. In each of these United States locations, there was no doubt that anyone would be attending school, however rustic it might be.

After college, I didn’t stop learning. I achieved many more certificates in a wide range of studies, from Real Estate Appraisal to Feng Shui to Building Biology and Himalayan Singing Bowls. I guess I am what is known as a Life Long Learner, and I don’t plan on stopping yet!

In the 80’s, when I was a VP at Chase, I recall watching Sally Struthers (aka Gloria from All in The Family fame) on TV, reaching out to anyone that would take an interest in sponsoring a child in South America. It touched me, and I began my years of sponsoring children that were not as fortunate as I was. By that time, I was travelling the world, and knew that there were many people on our planet that didn’t have the education that I took for granted. I knew in my heart that my regular donations were making a difference in the lives of those children in South America.

Today, it is 2017. I have found myself, once again, concerned about children in less developed countries and the quality of their education. It is likely no coincidence that I discovered TEACH Rwanda, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in the United States, that is also a Rwandan INGO. I believe that The Loving Universal Energy puts things in front of me that, if I notice, will make a difference in my existence and other people’s lives. In my volunteer work on the board, I’m using many of my skills – analytical, musical, connectedness, caring and forward thinking – to help promote better conditions for the children in Rwanda. I want to see them receive the benefits of the fabulous curriculum that has been developed by TEACH Rwanda.

So, I ask you: What was your educational experience in your life like? Have you ever thought about how it might be different for children in different countries? Does it peak your interest enough to investigate how you might give back what, if like me, was taken for granted? Take a moment and think about it!

If you believe that you might be able to help, I encourage you to take a look at TEACH Rwanda’s “Building 4 a Bright Future”, and help them get a building completed by year end. Those of you who volunteer for any organization know that donations are the life blood that helps accomplish goals. I am thrilled to tell you that due to generous donations this past month, Bright School is able to continue the next phase of construction, which is to pour the foundation. It happened because of all levels of donations, and now we need to keep building. Walls, roof, windows, and interior build out – all are waiting for funds to appear. Please take a look and give whatever you are able.  CLICK HERE

And for those who are concerned that I’ve fallen off the track of Feng Shui, please know that Feng Shui is not the only avenue to creating a better life for you and your family. Continue your own education and, help others. It’s all interrelated!

The holiday season is upon us. The advertisements featuring happy families sitting down for a holiday meal together or gathered around the Christmas tree are on television, internet, radio, billboards...the expectations and triggers bombard us.
Most families don’t fit the picture-perfect ideal promoted in these advertisements. My family life, like that of so many others I’ve met, has not been perfect. I accept that fact and I’ve learned that trying to create the facade of the perfect family to meet the expectations set forth by society creates frustration and pain, and often depletes energy. Instead, I’ve learned that I can have a family of choice that is in divine order for me. I’ve also learned that I can be grateful for all that I’ve learned from my biological family, no matter how I spend the holidays.
When I lived in Florida, my community was made up of many people who had relocated there and who didn’t have family nearby, and many of those people were single. At the time, I was blessed to have my parents living near me, but they weren’t always around for holidays because they’d often travel north to see their grandson and my sister. By that time I had already decided that I wasn’t a fan of traveling during the holidays, especially Thanksgiving, because it was such a hassle at the airports. So I started staying home.  I had open houses and invited others that were alone for the holidays to visit and celebrate with me. Sometimes I accepted invitations to share the holiday with close friends in their homes. Occasionally I took advantage of the day to enjoy the beach or the movies alone.
I never learned how to cook a turkey, so I would order a fully cooked/slicked turkey with all the trimmings from the local kosher deli; the meal was always a success and I got to spend the day with my friends. During that time of my life, I learned to be grateful for the people I was with, whether they were a part of my biological family, my chosen family, or people I'd met recently. I felt thankful to be breaking bread, sharing stories, and feeling the joy of community with new and old friends alike, and because I reached out and opened my home to others, many people were grateful to have a place to go and someone to celebrate with.  I learned so much while sharing that time with others, in different situations, with a variety of traditions, some completely new to me. I also learned a great deal by spending holiday times alone.  
So, what are my recommendations for you during the holiday season?  First, I hope that you were able to enjoy yesterday in a way that brought you joy, whether you celebrated Thanksgiving or not. Today is typically the big kick-off to the holiday shopping season. Society's expectations encourage us to spend money to show our affection, sometimes pushing us to spend more than we really have.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the holiday season and I find joy in giving gifts to loved ones and receiving gifts from them. I do believe though, that shopping can be a distraction and can create tremendous stress, especially at this time of the year. I think there are other things we can do to create a happy holiday season for ourselves and others.
Volunteering is on the top of my list  because I truly feel like I'm receiving a gift every time I volunteer to help those less fortunate. As temperatures drop, we should remember that there are people who don't have warm coats to wear. Locally, I volunteer for Project Keep Warm, where we collect donations for the homeless, veterans, and struggling families. There is a deep sense of gratitude in the faces of those served and there's really nothing like the feeling you get from helping others.  I'm sure you can find a volunteer opportunity in your area that resonates with you. Even in warmer climates, there are "cold spells" and the homeless need warm clothing. They also regularly need hats to help protect them from the sun, and shoes. When I lived in Florida, for some reason it seemed to feel even colder when the temperature drops down there!
Work on yourself! What about that long ignored Feng Shui project that you started to think about, but, stopped due to other obligations? Perhaps there’s a closet with too much clothing in it – what a great opportunity to declutter and donate!  Take a tour of your home, room by room, and look with an eye for items that are unused and don't bring you joy. Getting rid of those items can free up some space that will allow the Chi to flow freely and create a sense of openness in your life. How about rearranging your furniture? Look at each room in your home and ask yourself if the room is really welcoming. If it's not, what might help change that? It might be that your sofa has its back towards the room entrance - that suggests that people stay out of your life. If you want more friends, and happier families, try turning the sofa around! Perhaps there's a piece of art on the wall that fails to make you smile. Consider finding a replacement, something that lifts your spirits when you enter the room. Rearranging furniture and making small changes can really liven up a space, so ask family members to help and see how it feels.
Take care of yourself! The holidays are emotional times, and with those emotional times come triggers that can be difficult to cope with. I’ve learned that staying busy keeps my mind happy and prevents feelings of loneliness over the holidays.  I’ve also found it's best to wisely choose how and with whom I spend my time.  I make those choices in accordance with my inner being and what is right for me. Call up a friend.... your ‘movie’ friend, or your ‘walking’ friend, or your ‘try a new adventure friend’ and get out, and fulfill your hearts’ desires! Even a phone call to someone out of state or country, or a visit to the elderly – all help elevate mood, yours and someone else's. Today, my “chosen” family is all over the globe. We keep in touch and we see each other at every opportunity and I’m grateful for each and every one of them.
The holidays are a special time: beautiful and full of tradition, but also stressful and painful in many ways. We can all survive, and even enjoy, the holidays if we remember to carry a sense of compassion and gratitude wherever we go, for everyone that we encounter. Plan your days and weeks to include activities that will nurture you, as well as helping others. Let’s all remember to give ourselves the best present possible this holiday season; the gift of self-care. Listen to your inner voice and spend time and energy doing things with people (or alone) that will lift you up, and be grateful for every moment. Namaste,
Carol

Last month, our focus was on recognizing our true essence and allowing our inner being to take the reins of our life. As I mentioned in my weekly October blogs, directing our focus inward and doing the inner work necessary to let our true essence shine isn’t always easy...the journey is unique to each person. Honestly,  I really love doing inner work. In addition to keeping up with my own Feng Shui, and helping my clients with Feng Shui for their homes and businesses,  I have been deeply immersed in personal, inner work for most of my adult life. It amazes me that, even after all this time, I can continue to go deeper and reveal more and more insight and hidden gifts. I’m grateful for each and every discovery.
With many celebrating Thanksgiving later this month, our thoughts naturally turn to gratitude. I’ve been thinking about the inner work I’ve done for so many years, and am so grateful for the many tools, teachers, and changes that that study and work has brought into my life. One of the modalities that I currently use, and have used for about 25 years, is Jungian Dream Analysis. Initially, it was a bit frightening because I didn’t quite understand the figurative meanings behind the symbols. But, over the years, I’ve learned a lot, and even to this day, I find that my dreams provide amazing insight and true gifts to help me lead a more ‘right-actioned’ life. I’m very fortunate to have dream analysis experts as members of my inner circle, and I appreciate each and every one of them. I’ve noticed that in doing this personal work with a group, we often realize that another group member’s dream is personal to us, too! There is such great value in community.
As I’ve mentioned, each and every person has a divine inner presence. The sad part is, most people don’t recognize this inner being, or, even believe it’s possible. It’s true that we can’t just flip a switch and ‘become’ our true essence. The journey to recognizing that divine inner presence is unique for each of us and in many cases, it means experiencing pain. Ultimately, that pain is most often replaced with joy. It means separation from our old, comfortable lives and venturing into unknown territory. While fear of the unknown might keep us from taking our first steps on the path or allow us to stall along the path, it ultimately leads us to a much more comfortable place. It leads us “home.”  This work takes commitment...a personal longing to be the best that we can be, and be our most authentic selves, during our short time here on planet earth.
Feng Shui is another tool that we can use to help us start on the path, or move us further on the path,  to reveaI our true essence. I remember returning home after participating in my first Feng Shui weekend class almost 25 years ago. Suddenly, I was able to “see” SO many things in my home environment that were red flags pointing  to the issues that I’d been living with!  After that first Feng Shui class opened my eyes, I began placing cures and making changes, one-by-one. Slowly and surely, life began to shift for me. I used to call my house a “Feng Shui Nightmare” because it shined a light on each of the problems I’d been dealing with and the uncomfortable, unsettled feeling I had, but didn’t understand. Feng Shui brought me the clarity I needed to truly see what was going on in my life and to understand the source of my unease.  What a gift, that “Feng Shui Nightmare” was! It allowed me to identify the issues and take steps to change them...it allowed me to begin the process of creating a better life for myself; to further reveal my true essence.
I’m grateful for each home that I’ve lived in. Grateful for the lessons that each one has taught me. Grateful for the new directions that I discovered every time I found and put a Feng Shui cure into place to deal with a problem. Grateful for the many friends around the world that I’ve met as a result of Feng Shui and my inner work.  Before I learned about Feng Shui, the state of my life seemed overwhelming. I’m so grateful that I found Feng Shui when I did. It offered me the way to resolve that overwhelming situation...movement along my path to revealing my true essence and letting my inner being take the lead.
This gratitude is why I continue to share the gift of Feng Shui with all of you: my friends, my chosen family, my clients. When I can help someone identify the source of their unease...when I use Feng Shui to help someone “cure” an issue that causing problems in their lives...when I help someone find clarity in the midst of the heavy feeling of being overwhelmed; then my true essence shines. I’m truly grateful for each person reading this blog, attending my classes, watching my videos, liking my facebook page, and following me on social media. Your trust and support allow my inner being to thrive.

Namaste,
Carol

PS - If you’d like an introduction to Feng Shui right in the comfort of your own home, you’ll be pleased to know that I’m offering a webinar series, Introduction to Feng Shui: The Ancient Art of Placement with Carol Cannon, that begins on November 9th. I’m honored that this webinar series is being hosted by The Theosophical Society in America. We’ll cover history, the evolution of various forms of Feng Shui, and how and why your land and buildings have an influence upon your life. I’ll go over the Five Element Theory and how it works in Feng Shui, as well as discuss the importance of furniture placement. Each week participants will learn practical applications that can be used in their homes and offices immediately.
The webinar series will be held on four Wednesdays, November 9 through December 7 (no class on November 23) 7:00 - 8:00 pm Central Time.
The cost of the series is $50 or $40 for Theosophical Society in America members.
To register, click here.

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