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	<title>Lifestyle Feng Shui Blog</title>
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	<link>http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle</link>
	<description>Inspiring Lifestyle Feng Shui articles and tips by Laurie Bornstein</description>
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		<title>Lifestyle Feng Shui Bagua Map 101</title>
		<link>http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/2012/02/lifestyle-feng-shui-bagua-map-101/</link>
		<comments>http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/2012/02/lifestyle-feng-shui-bagua-map-101/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:10:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lifestyle Feng Shui</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Feng Shui]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Feng Shui lifestyle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bagua]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/?p=955</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Bagua is a symbol representing change, it shows how energy moves in the works of vibration. because energy moves in a predicable manner we are able to &#8216;read&#8217; its movement in a given space through the use of the Bagua Map. Lifestyle Feng Shui Bagua Map  how-to video &#160; The Bagua is one of [...]]]></description>
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<p><strong>The Bagua is a symbol representing change</strong>, it shows how energy moves in the works of vibration. because energy moves in a predicable manner we are able to &#8216;read&#8217; its movement in a given space through the use of the Bagua Map.</p>
<p><strong>Lifestyle Feng Shui Bagua Map  how-to video</strong></p>
<p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/f7XvIAb2KTA" frameborder="0" width="420" height="315"></iframe></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>The Bagua is one of the main tools used in Feng Shui evaluations</strong>. it has its foundation in the trigrams of the I Ching, the ancient Chinese book of divination. The Bagua is actually a template or grid that is divided into 9 sections. The center section aligns with balance and harmony while the other 8 sections align with the energy of the trigrams, each section represents a different life energy.</p>
<p>There are two different ways to place the Bagua, one based on Cardinal directions and the other based on the entrance to the home or room. The placement used in Lifestyle Feng Shui™ is the 3-Door Method, which is the placement method based on the door to the home or room.</p>
<p><strong>3-Door Method</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Center front = Career</strong></li>
<li><strong>Left front = Inner Knowledge</strong></li>
<li><strong>Center left = Family &amp; Foundation</strong></li>
<li><strong>Back left = Abundance</strong></li>
<li><strong>Center back = Fame &amp; Reputation</strong></li>
<li><strong>Back right = Relationships</strong></li>
<li><strong>Center right = Creativity &amp; Children</strong></li>
<li><strong>Right front = Helpful People &amp; Travel</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>To place the Bagua follow these easy steps.</p>
<p><strong>Step 1:</strong> <strong>Draw the floor plan of the first floor of your home</strong>, include all attached structures that share the roof of the home. (Ex: garage, screened in porch)</p>
<p><strong>Step 2:</strong> <strong>Divide the floor plan info nine equal sections.</strong> When you divide your floor plan into nine sections you may find that your rooms do not line up exactly with the Bagua areas. Most of our homes are not architecturally designed in such a way that they divide evenly, a room may flow into more than one Bagua area and that is completely normal. Energy is not limited by structure.</p>
<p><strong>Step 3:</strong> <strong>Stand at the front door of your home, facing the door.</strong> Determine where the front door is in relationship to your floor plan and the Bagua. (Most front doors align with either Helpful People, Career or Inner Knowledge) Once you&#8217;ve determined which Bagua area the front door is in you&#8217;ll be able to place the other Bagua areas in each of the remaining sections of the floor plan.</p>
<p>Now that you know where each Bagua area is in your home you&#8217;re ready to decorate or accessorize the areas you&#8217;d like to enhance or improve. Have fun!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>© 2012 Harmony Life Design®, LLC by Laurie Bornstein<br />
<a href="http://www.lifestylefengshui.com" target="_blank">Lifestyle Feng Shui</a>™ articles, tips and conversation <a href="http://www.fengshuilifeandstyle.com/">http://www.fengshuilifeandstyle.com</a></p>
<p>WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, BLOG OR WEB SITE?<br />
You can, as long as you include the copyright and link above.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<item>
		<title>Life, Style and Authenticity</title>
		<link>http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/2012/01/life-style-authenticity/</link>
		<comments>http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/2012/01/life-style-authenticity/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:07:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lifestyle Feng Shui</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Clutter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Feng Shui lifestyle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Feng Shui Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[balance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[energy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Feng Shui]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Feng Shui Home]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lifestyle]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/?p=938</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This weekend I was reading the new In Style magazine and I came across this heading and subheading – Life, etc. Because style isn’t just about what you wear And it got me thinking. For me, style is about living a life that embraces who I am and what’s important to me. A life that [...]]]></description>
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<p>This weekend I was reading the new <a title="In Style magazine" href="http://www.instyle.com/instyle" target="_blank">In Style magazine</a> and I came across this heading and subheading –</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Life, etc</strong>.<br />
<strong><em>Because style isn’t just about what you wear</em></strong></p>
<p>And it got me thinking. For me, style is about living a life that embraces who I am and what’s important to me. A life that reflects my authenticity and personality – with panache and aplomb! <strong>Style is a way of living; it isn’t just about what we choose to wear or how we choose to decorate our homes. What we choose to wear and how we decorate our homes should be a reflection of our personal style, not the other way around.</strong></p>
<p>Take a look around your home and in your closet. Does what you see bring you a sense of comfort and satisfaction? Do you like what you see?<strong> For many of us, the items in our homes are items we’ve accumulated over the course of our lives – and while this might be a good thing, it might also mean we’re surrounded with a jumble of furnishings and accessories that don’t bring us a sense of joy, things that we have just because they’re here not because we love them.</strong></p>
<p>The same might be said about the items we have hanging in our closets. If you have clothes that don’t make you feel comfortable and attractive it’s time to release a few things and make room for something new!</p>
<p><strong>When your surroundings, whether furnishings or clothes, don’t nurture and comfort you or reflect who you are, they are devoid of vibrant energy, they are devoid of style. And the energy in our surroundings is what inspires and motivates us, so it’s important that it be positive and uplifting. Not depleting and depressing.</strong></p>
<p><strong>The beginning of the year is the perfect time to really evaluate your belongings.</strong> Consider each item, determine if you love and need what you have and if some of your things aren’t things you love or you find you aren’t quite sure, consider releasing them.</p>
<p><strong>Releasing items that no longer serve us creates space for change, space for opportunity, space for new things.</strong> And if the new things we select are things we absolutely love, they will also be things that reflect our personal sense of style, they’ll be just right!</p>
<p><strong>When you surround yourself with things you love, you feel good about where you are and you feel good about who you are. Feeling good about who you are, empowers and enriches your life experiences and it all starts with the things you choose to live with.</strong></p>
<p><a title="Is Clutter Slowing You Down" href="http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/2011/03/clutter-slowing-down/" target="_blank">Click for past article on clutter</a></p>
<p>For more info on clutter visit <a title="Clutter tips" href="http://www.lifestylefengshui.com/simplefengshuitips.shtml" target="_blank">Lifestyle Feng Shui</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>© 2012 Harmony Life®, LLC by Laurie Bornstein<br />
Feng Shui Lifestyle™ articles, tips and conversation <a href="http://www.fengshuilifeandstyle.com/">http://www.fengshuilifeandstyle.com</a></p>
<p>WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, BLOG OR WEB SITE?<br />
You can, as long as you include the copyright and link above.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Living in the moment and going with the flow</title>
		<link>http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/2012/01/living-moment-flow/</link>
		<comments>http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/2012/01/living-moment-flow/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:37:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lifestyle Feng Shui</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Feng Shui lifestyle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Feng Shui Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[energy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Feng Shui]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[harmony]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[intention]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mindset]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/?p=931</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Feng Shui is based on change, the ebb and flow if life. An acceptance and understanding of this enables us to move through lifes&#8217; challenges with a greater sense of comfort and ease. Just as the river adjusts and shifts to the shape of the land. A sense of flexibility and the ability to &#8216;go [...]]]></description>
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		</div>
<p><strong>Feng Shui is based on change, the ebb and flow if life.</strong> An acceptance and understanding of this enables us to move through lifes&#8217; challenges with a greater sense of comfort and ease. Just as the river adjusts and shifts to the shape of the land. A sense of flexibility and the ability to &#8216;go with the flow&#8217; allows us to move through our hectic, busy days and lives open to new opportunity and relationships.</p>
<p>Is there a place in your life where you&#8217;re feeling stuck, immersed in old energy or thought patterns? How are these past experiences and patterns serving you? Does remaining in old patterns and ways of thinking enable you to remain in a job you don&#8217;t like? A relationship that doesn&#8217;t nurture you? Are you choosing to stay with the old because it&#8217;s familiar or because it helps you be the best you can be?</p>
<p><strong>I believe that everything that happens to us provides us with the opportunity to grow stronger, wiser, more creative and more diverse</strong>. Often our needs for safety, predictability and controlled outcomes prevent us from fully experiencing all our life has to offer.</p>
<p><strong>I believe that we can all truly learn to experience the perfection of each and every moment by simply letting our days unfold, letting each moment propel us to the proper action. We can chose to act rather than react.</strong> Life is experienced in the moments, in the now. If we are too focused on getting through our list of things to do, intent on &#8216;doing&#8217; versus &#8216;being, life has a way of slipping by us. We are too busy to &#8216;see&#8217; opportunity, to see and experience life before us. It is the unexpected moments that bring us synchronistic opportunities.</p>
<p><strong>Lifestyle Feng Shui Tips for Living in the Moment</strong></p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Stop filling your days with tasks and activities that don&#8217;t serve your highest intention.</strong> Do you define yourself by how busy you are? Do you think being busy is proof that you&#8217;re successful? Are your days all about quantity rather than quality? Slow down, don&#8217;t fill every moment with activities, experience your life. Living is in the moment, not the past, not the future. Living is now.</li>
<li><strong>Do what you really want to do.</strong> What activities would you do right now if there were no obstacles in front of you? Take one small step toward doing something you like but haven&#8217;t given yourself permission to do. Start small, and stay consistent. You deserve to love the life you&#8217;re living.</li>
<li><strong>Stop trying to control everything.</strong> Let it go. Is it important to you what others think or do? By learning to release being stuck in the outcome of what others do or do not do, you free yourself up to focus on you.</li>
<li><strong>Tell the whole truth, all of the time.</strong> Most of us don&#8217;t realize how much energy we waste by not being entirely truthful with ourselves. Stop trying to live up to someone else&#8217;s idea of how you should be&#8230;..just be who you are. Who you are is not only enough, it&#8217;s perfect!</li>
<li><strong>Slow down and breathe.</strong> Reflect on where you are and where you&#8217;re going. Quiet time is a way of checking in with yourself as well as a way of connecting to those around you. Going &#8216;with the flow&#8217; requires that we change our mindset, that we let go of the need to control every aspect of our days and lives. This doesn&#8217;t mean we can&#8217;t set goals, it means surrendering the need to forge ahead at all costs, it means trusting that what you&#8217;ve accomplished is enough; that what you&#8217;ve accomplished is what was meant to be.</li>
</ol>
<p>If you can learn to incorporate the principles and spirit of Lifestyle Feng Shui into your daily life, not just your living environment, you will find you accomplish more than you can imagine. <strong>Pay attention to what makes you feel energized, connected and stimulated. Let go of the need to control your life and begin living it instead. </strong></p>
<p>This weekend I was reading through some of my past Ezine articles and I came across this one. It&#8217;s as valid today as it was in 2007. I hope you enjoyed it. <img src='http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':-)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>© 2012 Harmony Life®, LLC by Laurie Bornstein<br />
Feng Shui Lifestyle™ articles, tips and conversation <a href="http://www.fengshuilifeandstyle.com/">http://www.fengshuilifeandstyle.com</a></p>
<p>WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, BLOG OR WEB SITE?<br />
You can, as long as you include the copyright and link above.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Lifestyle Feng Shui Tips and Space Clearing for the new year</title>
		<link>http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/2012/01/space-clearing-new-year/</link>
		<comments>http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/2012/01/space-clearing-new-year/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 07 Jan 2012 17:34:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lifestyle Feng Shui</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Feng Shui lifestyle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Feng Shui rituals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Feng Shui Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Space clearing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[energy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Feng Shui]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[intention]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rituals]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/?p=913</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[To celebrate the new year, I decided to create my first video! Join me as I share 3 powerful Lifestyle Feng Shui tips to help you change the quality of your life this year. I hope you enjoy it! SPACE CLEARING FOR THE NEW YEAR A good time to space clear your home is at [...]]]></description>
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			</a>
		</div>
<p>To celebrate the new year, I decided to create my first video! Join me as I share 3 powerful Lifestyle Feng Shui tips to help you change the quality of your life this year. I hope you enjoy it!</p>
<p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BknRkWkC7LY" frameborder="0" width="420" height="315"></iframe></p>
<p><strong>SPACE CLEARING FOR THE NEW YEAR</strong></p>
<p>A good time to space clear your home is at the start of a new year. This year, I&#8217;d like to share the steps I take when I clear my own home.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/034539769X/livingspacede-20" target="_blank">Space clearing</a> is a way to instantly shift and transform the subtle, energy or the feeling in your home or workspace.</p>
<p>I believe that our homes mirror and reflect our consciousness, our inner state of being, and the act of clearing or re-aligning the energy in our living spaces shifts our energy and our experience of the energy within our living spaces.</p>
<p><strong>There are seven basic steps to I use when space clearing my home. I usually do the first two steps the day before the clearing.</strong></p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Cleaning. </strong>I thoroughly clean my home from vacuuming carpets and floors to windows. When everything is clean the energy automatically feels better.</li>
<li><strong>Personal preparation. </strong>After cleaning my home, I make sure to take time to eat a nourishing meal and bathe. I like making this step a bit of a ritual. I love taking an epsom salt bath, (great for clearing toxins from our bodies while grounding us), with a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil added for clarity and focus.</li>
<li><strong>Preparation.</strong> At this stage I create a beautiful display that includes my space clearing tool (I personally love sound instruments &#8211; my favorite is a crystal singing bowl), a bowl or vase of fresh flowers, a beautiful table cloth, several candles and a fabulous crystal or semiprecious stone. I use this space to set my intention and to say my house blessing.</li>
<li><strong>Clearing. </strong>There are many ways to clear a space, this is what I do. I begin at my front door and moving clockwise through my home and each room I gently ring my singing bowl as I move through the space, paying attention to the clarity of the singing bowl. If the bowl sounds dull i know to spend more time in this space. When the bowl resonates with a clear tone, I know the area is clear.</li>
<li><strong>Blessing. </strong>Once I&#8217;ve cleared my entire home I go back to the front door and begin again. This time as I move through the space with my singing bowl, I also say my blessing, or intention for my home.</li>
<li><strong>Closing. </strong>Once the entire home has been cleared and blessed, I return to my beautiful display and I state the blessing once again as I close the ceremony.</li>
<li><strong>The final step is sealing my intention or blessing into my home. </strong>I do this by placing the vase of flowers on my kitchen table. The flowers represent vibrant, living energy and reinforce the power of the clearing. Their beauty embraces the beauty of my intention and blessing.</li>
</ol>
<div>There are many space clearing techniques, these are the ones that work best for me in my personal spaces. You&#8217;ll need to experiment a bit to find what works best for you in yours.</div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div>For more space clearing information, read <a title="Space Clearing 101" href="http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/2010/11/space-clearing-101/" target="_blank">Space Clearing 101</a></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>© 2012 Harmony Life®, LLC by Laurie Bornstein<br />
Feng Shui Lifestyle™ articles, tips and conversation <a href="http://www.fengshuilifeandstyle.com/">http://www.fengshuilifeandstyle.com</a></p>
<p>WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, BLOG OR WEB SITE?<br />
You can, as long as you include the copyright and link above.</p>
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		<title>Top 5 Lifestyle Feng Shui Tips for the New Year</title>
		<link>http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/2011/12/top-5-lifestyle-feng-shui-tips-year/</link>
		<comments>http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/2011/12/top-5-lifestyle-feng-shui-tips-year/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 31 Dec 2011 18:24:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lifestyle Feng Shui</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Feng Shui lifestyle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Feng Shui Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Clutter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[energy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Feng Shui]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[intention]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[love relationship]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/?p=909</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As we herald in the New Year many of us take this time to reflect on the year past and to set intentions for the year to come. The use of Feng Shui can provide us with a deeper understanding and appreciation of our lives and our intentions. When we make space for what we [...]]]></description>
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<p>As we herald in the New Year many of us take this time to reflect on the year past and to set intentions for the year to come. <strong>The use of Feng Shui can provide us with a deeper understanding and appreciation of our lives and our intentions.</strong> When we make space for what we desire, we open ourselves to possibilities and opportunities.</p>
<p>For many of us this is a time for resolutions and resolutions are often focused on things we don’t like: our weight, our relationships, clutter in our home, our jobs or lack thereof, and our balance between work and life, to name a few.</p>
<p><strong>This year I’d like to suggest that we shift our focus from New Year resolutions to <em>New Year realignments.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong>A<em> New Year realignment</em> is an awareness and appreciation for what’s working in our lives rather than a focus on what isn’t. When we focus our thoughts and energy on what’s working, we literally make it bigger.</strong></p>
<p>And when we make the good in our lives bigger, those things that aren’t as good become smaller. When they’re smaller, they become less important and when they’re less important we give them less energy. With less energy they continue to get smaller.</p>
<p><strong>Top 5 Lifestyle Feng Shui Tips for the New Year</strong></p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Clean your house – literally.</strong> When you take care of the space around you, you feel better about yourself and the world reflects your energy back to you…if you don’t like what you’re experiencing, give your house a good cleaning!</li>
<li><strong>Place your bed in the ‘Command Position’.</strong> The Command Position is when the position of the bed provides the widest view of the room and is supported by a solid wall. (The more you can see, the safer you feel and when you feel safe you feel supported.)</li>
<li><strong>Celebrate the positive in your life</strong> (no matter how small, good things are even better when we notice and appreciate them)</li>
<li><strong>Choose to shift your focus in your relationships</strong> away from what isn’t working and embrace what is working. (Changing your thinking and behavior is so powerful, it’s literally enough to completely makeover the quality of your relationship.)</li>
<li><strong>Write an affirmation focused on gratitude and appreciation</strong> on a lovely piece of paper and then plant that paper in the soil of a plant (ideally located in the Abundance area of your home). Each time you water that plant visualize the positive in your life growing stronger, more resilient and abundant. (To find the Abundance area of  your home <a title="Free Bagua Map" href="http://www.lifestylefengshui.com/simplefengshuitips.shtml" target="_blank">click here for a free Bagua Map</a>)</li>
</ol>
<p><strong>In the world of Feng Shui you get what you focus on. Changing your focus energizes and empowers the positive in your life – and when our lives are empowered we are too!</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>© 2012 Harmony Life®, LLC by Laurie Bornstein<br />
Feng Shui Lifestyle™ articles, tips and conversation <a href="http://www.fengshuilifeandstyle.com/">http://www.fengshuilifeandstyle.com</a></p>
<p>WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, BLOG OR WEB SITE?<br />
You can, as long as you include the copyright and link above.</p>
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		<title>Change, fear and opportunity</title>
		<link>http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/2011/12/change-fear-opportunity/</link>
		<comments>http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/2011/12/change-fear-opportunity/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 08 Dec 2011 22:32:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lifestyle Feng Shui</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Feng Shui lifestyle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Law of Attraction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[change]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[comfort]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Feng Shui change]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[opportunity]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Have you ever had the feeling that things were about to change? That your life as you knew it was on its way toward something you couldn&#8217;t put your finger on, something different, something exciting, something completely new? Were you excited? Were you afraid? Did you choose not to change? Taking risks, stepping out of [...]]]></description>
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<p>Have you ever had the feeling that things were about to change? That your life as you knew it was on its way toward something you couldn&#8217;t put your finger on, something different, something exciting, something completely new?</p>
<p>Were you excited?<br />
Were you afraid?<br />
Did you choose not to change?</p>
<p>Taking risks, stepping out of your comfort zone is where true change, true opportunity and true growth exist. If things stay the same, nothing changes. And isn’t change what life’s about?</p>
<p>Lately, I’ve been feeling like my life is about to change – and change in a BIG way. I’m not sure what that means, and what will actually change. But I have to admit I am really excited about it.</p>
<p>Change is something that has always been a part of my life. My husband and I have moved over 10 times and lived all over the United States, and each time we moved we looked forward to the upcoming changes and opportunities. And you know what? Each time we moved there were LOTS of new opportunities. And you know why? I think it’s because we embraced change and welcomed all it had to offer instead of fearing it.</p>
<p>I believe that fear is the energy that stops opportunity, the energy that stops growth, and the energy that stops change.</p>
<p>My advice to you? Embrace a sense of fearlessness. That’s right, as you stand on the edge of the cliff, don’t be afraid to jump! In the immortal words of Jon Bon Jovi, “I’m gonna live my life shining like a diamond, rolling with the dice. Standing on the ledge, I show the wind how to fly.” There’s a certain amount of trust involved in the leap, but the rewards are worth it!</p>
<p>If you look at change with fear, you will undoubtedly experience situations that reinforce your expectation. If, on the other hand, you look at change as opportunity you will also undoubtedly experience situations that reinforce your expectation.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">&#8220;Change the way you look at things<br />
and the things you look at will change.&#8221;<br />
Wayne Dyer</p>
<p>Your words and thoughts create your reality, be mindful of what you think.</p>
<p>I’ll keep you posted on the changes that come my way this year, I’m looking forward to it!</p>
<p>&nbsp;<br />
© 2011 Harmony Life®, LLC by Laurie Bornstein<br />
Feng Shui Lifestyle™ articles, tips and conversation <a href="http://www.fengshuilifeandstyle.com/">http://www.fengshuilifeandstyle.com</a></p>
<p>WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, BLOG OR WEB SITE?<br />
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		<title>Decorating, Inspiration and You</title>
		<link>http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/2011/11/decorating-inspiration/</link>
		<comments>http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/2011/11/decorating-inspiration/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 23 Nov 2011 17:00:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lifestyle Feng Shui</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Feng Shui design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[color]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[decorating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[inspiration]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Decorating our homes is a bit like putting the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle together. Before you begin, you must take time organizing the pieces. Decorating is a reflection of our personal sense of style, taste, and our experiences. What inspires you, what captures your heart and mind, what do you wish you could do [...]]]></description>
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<p><strong>Decorating our homes is a bit like putting the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle together.</strong> Before you begin, you must take time organizing the pieces. Decorating is a reflection of our personal sense of style, taste, and our experiences.</p>
<p><strong>What inspires you</strong>, what captures your heart and mind, what do you wish you could do in your home?</p>
<p><strong>Design books, blogs, websites, movies, people, art, nature – all of these things inspire me.</strong> How do they inspire me?</p>
<p><strong>Sometimes it’s the turn of a phrase that inspires me to make a change in my living space</strong>. Or perhaps make a change in my life. Recently in one of the books I was reading, the French phrase <em><strong>Joie de Vivre</strong> (exuberant enjoyment of life)</em>, jumped off the page, and I immediately knew that this phrase exactly captured how I feel about my life, my home, my work, my family – everything! And to embrace the power these simple words have for me, I decided to paint them on the wall of my office! Now, whenever I’m sitting at my desk all I have to do is look up and see <strong><em>Jo<strong>ie</strong> de Vivre,</em></strong> and my personal life affirmation is affirmed.</p>
<p><strong>Sometimes my inspiration comes from a beautiful image, colors or room design</strong> and I’m inspired me to redo a part of my home. I was reading a new design book last weekend and it inspired me to add a lovely shade of cobalt blue to several areas of my home. This is completely new for me as I tend to be more of a green girl than a blue girl, but the robust richness of this color absolutely captivated me and inspired me! Now I can’t wait to begin the process.</p>
<p align="center"><a href="http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Details-book.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-893" title="Details - book" src="http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Details-book-e1322066150917-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a></p>
<p align="center">Yummy cobalt blue!</p>
<p><strong>Sometimes it’s the beauty in nature</strong>, colors, texture, variety that inspires me to incorporate a bit more nature into my home environment. Bringing nature into your home can be as easy as fresh flowers, a new plant or even rearranging my furnishings to take advantage of a beautiful view from my windows.</p>
<p align="center"><a href="http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Nature.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-891" title="Nature" src="http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Nature.jpg" alt="" width="233" height="175" /></a></p>
<p><strong><em>Anything can be an inspiration, all you have to do is see it and then act on it.</em></strong></p>
<p>Making our living spaces more beautiful improves the quality of our environments and when the quality of our environment improves, so does the quality of our lives.</p>
<p><strong>The next time you’re watching HGTV, or looking through the latest design book, or taking a walk outside, open your mind to the possibilities, the opportunities that inspire you.</strong> You don’t need a decorating plan to create a home filled with warmth, personality and comfort. What you do need is a connection to your inner self, your personal sense of balance and beauty and then trust yourself as you begin the process. And it is a process &#8211; trial and error – your spaces constantly evolving just as you are.</p>
<p><strong><em>“There is no such thing as “wrong” taste or styling, as long as it comes from an authentic place and is ultimately portrayed with confidence.” – Lili Diallo</em></strong></p>
<p><strong>We all have the ability to create what we love; we just have to believe we can.</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>© 2011 Harmony Life®, LLC by Laurie Bornstein<br />
Feng Shui Lifestyle™ articles, tips and conversation <a href="http://www.fengshuilifeandstyle.com/">http://www.fengshuilifeandstyle.com</a></p>
<p>WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, BLOG OR WEB SITE?<br />
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		<title>I Love Design Blogs!</title>
		<link>http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/2011/11/love-design-blogs/</link>
		<comments>http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/2011/11/love-design-blogs/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 15 Nov 2011 20:45:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lifestyle Feng Shui</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Feng Shui design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Feng Shui home]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Feng Shui]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Feng Shui Home]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Feng Shui lifestyle]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/?p=862</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I’ve got a confession to make, before today I have never looked at design blogs. It’s true! I’ve never even searched online for one. But today my life has changed, I fell down the rabbit hole. I Googled design blogs and was amazed at the fantastic variety of information, tips, suggestions, and imagery that’s out [...]]]></description>
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<p><strong>I’ve got a confession to make, before today I have never looked at design blogs.</strong></p>
<p>It’s true! I’ve never even searched online for one. <strong>But today my life has changed</strong>, I fell down the rabbit hole.<strong> I Googled design blogs</strong> and was amazed at the fantastic variety of information, tips, suggestions, and imagery that’s out there.</p>
<p><strong>Everything you could possibly want to know about design or decorating or redecorating or even undecorating is available to you online! Design blogs can provide you with the perfect ideas and inspiration to use as you create your Feng Shui Home!</strong></p>
<p align="center"><img class="size-medium wp-image-863 aligncenter" title="Window film from Decor8" src="http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Window-film-from-Decor8-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Fabulous product for windows and mirrored closet doors!<br />
(for more visit http://www.decor8.com &#8211; one of my new favorite design blogs!)</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Up until now researching different design and decorating ideas meant buying design books, magazines or going to stores and while all of those options are still viable; you also have, at your fingertips, a wealth of information online. You have online shops, websites and design blogs -  it’s a plethora of information.</strong></p>
<p>Too much information you ask? Never! You can never have too much information.</p>
<p><strong>This is the perfect time to create your own <a href="http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2008/12/why-mood-boards-matter/" target="_blank">mood board</a> or design journal.</strong> (A design journal is a binder or notebook filled with images representing things you like for various rooms of your home.) Print or tear out images out of books or magazines, take pictures of what you see in stores, pull color samples, fabric samples, pieces of wallpaper, photos, trim samples anything that inspires you. And then put those images, those items into your design journal. Arrange them by room.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p align="center"><img class="aligncenter" title="Mood board" src="http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Mills-First-Look-sm.jpg" alt="" width="180" height="233" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> An example of a mood board I created for a client.</p>
<p><strong><em>As you play with your journal rooms you’ll find a theme, a mood, a feeling begins to take shape and you’ll begin to become aware of your authentic self, who you are, what inspires you, what energizes you, what makes you feel like home.</em> And from that feeling, that awareness you’ll be able to create your perfect spaces, in fact, your perfectly unperfect spaces!</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p align="center"><a href="http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/dwelltable1.jpeg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-877" title="dwelltable" src="http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/dwelltable1-300x264.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="264" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> The second of today&#8217;s favorite design blogs, http://www.designpublic.com</p>
<p><strong>Your living spaces should continue to evolve just as you continue to evolve. Your home is a reflection of you, your inner world is reflected in your outer world.</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/moder-apartment-6.jpg"><img class="aligncenter" title="moder-apartment-6 " src="http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/moder-apartment-6-300x201.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="201" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">A featured apartment from http://www.freshome.com<br />
another fabulous design blog!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Embrace change. I think you’ll be happy you did.</p>
<p>Right now, I’m going back online and doing more research! Don’t forget to add <a href="http://www.fengshuilifeandstyle.com" target="_blank">Feng Shui Life and Style</a> to your favorites.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>© 2011 Harmony Life®, LLC by Laurie Bornstein<br />
Feng Shui Lifestyle™ articles, tips and conversation <a href="http://www.fengshuilifeandstyle.com/">http://www.fengshuilifeandstyle.com</a></p>
<p>WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, BLOG OR WEB SITE?<br />
You can, as long as you include the copyright and link above.</p>
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		<title>Feng Shui, Winter Blues and You</title>
		<link>http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/2011/10/feng-shui-winter-blues/</link>
		<comments>http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/2011/10/feng-shui-winter-blues/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 20 Oct 2011 19:37:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lifestyle Feng Shui</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Feng Shui]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Feng Shui Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[feng shui tips]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/?p=856</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Winter blues. We’ve all heard of it but what does it mean? As the days get shorter and the nights get colder many of us find ourselves low on motivation, high in exhaustion and feeling blue. For some this may translate into an entire season of malaise, spawned by lack of light and energy. For [...]]]></description>
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<p><strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_affective_disorder" target="_blank">Winter blues</a>. We’ve all heard of it but what does it mean? As the days get shorter and the nights get colder many of us find ourselves low on motivation, high in exhaustion and feeling blue.</strong></p>
<p>For some this may translate into an entire season of malaise, spawned by lack of light and energy. For others, our blues may be based in emotions, tied to unrealistic expectations of family, our friends, and ourselves during the holidays. We may experience feelings of boredom due to cold weather confinement, or even a sense of depression due to the sheer number of grey days winter brings.</p>
<p><strong>Can feng shui fight the winter blues?</strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.harmony-life.net" target="_blank">Feng shui</a> can help you shift the energy around you</strong>, and in that shift you change not only the way your spaces look, but you also change the way they feel.</p>
<p>No matter what your experience or how long your winter blues tend to last <strong>these 9 powerful feng shui tips will help ensure that this winter season isn’t a season of blues.</strong></p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Let the sun shine in</strong>! Open your curtains. Sunlight, or rather the lack of it, contributes to the winter blues. When you open your curtains you allow sunlight to enter your home, energizing you and your spaces. In feng shui, sunlight represents fire energy, and fire energy is full of vitality and life.</li>
<li><strong>Add colorful accents, pillows, throws, candles, curtains, tablecloths and art in red, orange and yellow</strong>. All three of these colors are warm and inviting, and they increase the energy of the space they are in. Using warm colors literally makes your home feel 10 – 15 degrees warmer. And warm feels good when it’s cold outside!</li>
<li><strong>Place plants and flowers around your home to literally bring life into your space</strong>. Plants and flowers have living energy and vitality, they connect you to nature and in that connection they bring balance. (Think of them as little spots of springtime.)</li>
<li><strong>Exercise – it’s not just about losing weight!</strong> Exercise helps relieve stress by relaxing your mind, tones and strengthens your body by working your muscles and gives you more energy by boosting your metabolism. With benefits like that, your mood is bound to improve! (Our body is our most important environment, even before our homes – and feng shui believes in creating supportive environments. So get outside and take a walk, go for a run or a bike ride. You’ll soak up some sun and improve your living environment at the same time – sounds like good feng shui to me!</li>
<li><strong>Eat healthy</strong>. What you eat and when you eat has an effect on your mood and energy.  Try to avoid or limit processed foods and simple carbohydrates. (Sugar, white rice, white bread, etc.) Instead eat complex carbohydrates such as whole grain bread, fruit, vegetables and oatmeal. According to CBS news correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton, “…your diet can have a significant impact on your mood. Oatmeal is a great winter option its got lots of fiber and whole grains, it’s warming, it’s comforting and it’s not just for breakfast. Oatmeal can be used in bread and whole grain rolls; it can be used in place of breadcrumbs in meatloaf and much more. Vitamin D can help combat the blues. There&#8217;s research linking Vitamin D deficiency and depression &#8212; so make sure you get enough Vitamin D. Good sources include fish, eggs and milk “ Don&#8217;t’ forget sunlight. Every time you go outside you soak up Vitamin D, another good reason to go for a walk! Tea may help relieve stress &#8212; one British study found that those who drank tea found their cortisol levels (stress hormones) dropped almost 50 percent when they drank black tea four times a day.</li>
<li><strong>Create a treasure map.</strong> Treasure maps and collages capture your thoughts, your desires and intention with a series of images. You select the images from a series of magazines and pictures of your choice. The images you choose should be images that convey the image of what you desire. As you select these images, do so with a spirit of abundance, gratitude and joy. (<a href="http://www.examiner.com/feng-shui-lifestyle-in-national/feng-shui-treasure-maps" target="_blank">Click here for Treasure Map how-to</a>)</li>
<li><strong>Break out of your routine.</strong> In winter, when every day seems cold and grey, it&#8217;s easy to find yourself going through the motions, stuck in a boring, tired routine. Shake it up! Go out for breakfast with friends before work, meet friends or colleagues for a warm eggnog or apple cider and talk about the latest books you&#8217;ve read, swap colorful accessories with a friend and wear them, change your lipstick color &#8211; go bright instead of dark, join a wine club, take that cooking class you&#8217;ve been considering, join <a href="http://www.facebook.com" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and search for your long lost friends.</li>
<li><strong>Paint a room in your home.</strong> Paint at least one wall in your home a warm, vibrant color. Color transforms space faster and easier than any other decorating tool. Color can change an uninviting, drab space into a personal paradise, full of vibrant energy and warmth. Afraid to paint a room or a wall? Then consider painting the frame of a wooden chair, the legs on the sofa, a picture frame or even a chest of drawers. A few little touches can really help chase away the winter blues.</li>
<li><strong>Embrace the things that make this season special</strong>. Even if you haven’t thought of winter as special there are many things to enjoy this time of year. The smell of pine, cinnamon and apples. The warmth of a roaring fire. Roasted marshmallows. Hot Chocolate. Special seasonal TV shows, some of my favorites are; <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024852/" target="_blank">Babes in Toyland</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hocus-Pocus-Bette-Midler/dp/6305428042" target="_blank">Hocus Pocus </a>and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_the_Grinch_Stole_Christmas!" target="_blank">How the Grinch Stole Christmas</a>. Wear winter clothes you love, for me that means jeans, boots, mufflers and an assortment of coats – if you don’t have any winter clothes you love, get some! When you like what you wear you feel better about yourself and feeling good helps chase the blues away.</li>
</ol>
<p>Stay positive, focus your thoughts on what you like rather than what you don’t like and the cold winter months will be gone before you know it.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>© 2011 Harmony Life®, LLC by Laurie Bornstein<br />
Feng Shui Lifestyle™ articles, tips and conversation <a href="http://www.fengshuilifeandstyle.com/">http://www.fengshuilifeandstyle.com</a></p>
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		<title>Spider Totem And Its Meaning To Me</title>
		<link>http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/2011/09/spider-totem-meaning/</link>
		<comments>http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/2011/09/spider-totem-meaning/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:14:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lifestyle Feng Shui</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Feng Shui animals and pets]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Animal totem]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[“Spider awakens creative sensibilities. It weaves a web of intricate and subtle fabric, as if to remind us that the past always subtly influences the present and future…the spider found within the web reminds us that we are the center of our own world. We are the keepers and the writers of our own destiny, [...]]]></description>
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<p><em><strong>“Spider awakens creative sensibilities. It weaves a web of intricate and subtle fabric, as if to remind us that the past always subtly influences the present and future…the spider found within the web reminds us that we are the center of our own world. We are the keepers and the writers of our own destiny, weaving it like a web by our thoughts, feelings and actions.”</strong></em>  (Excerpt taken from <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/ted-andrews-animal-speak" target="_blank">Animal Speak, by Ted Andrews</a>.)</p>
<p>The spider’s web while delicate and graceful is remarkably strong; each thread is strengthened by the thread before and after it, strength building upon strength until a vast and powerful web has been built.</p>
<p><strong>Our lives are much like the spiders web.</strong> Each experience builds the foundation for our next experience and our reaction to it. We create our own reality our beliefs; our thoughts and our actions create the web through which we live our lives. <strong>Our web can support and nurture us,</strong> just as the spider’s web supports it. <strong>Or our web can trap us</strong> behind gossamer threads of fear and prevent us from fully experiencing what life has to offer.</p>
<p>Before hurricane Irene blew through my yard and town there was a fabulous, large spider web just outside my living room window. And the Webmaster, the spider itself, was gigantic! It must have been about 2” in diameter with fully 1” being just body!</p>
<p align="center"><a href="http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Library-317.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-851" title="Library - 317" src="http://harmony-life.net/fengshuilifeandstyle/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Library-317-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p>
<p>As I watched the spider sitting calmly in the center of its web I wondered if it would be able to weather the impending storm in safety. Throughout the day as we prepared our home for the worst, I found myself drawn back again and again to the window to watch the spider. <em>“Spiders are the combination of gentleness and strength, and they have learned to combine both for survival.” </em>We can learn much from spider as a totem.</p>
<p>The morning after the storm my husband and I were surveying the exterior of our home and property to check for damage, and much to my surprise, I found the spider and its web glistening in the sunlight, as though it was just another day.</p>
<p>This is interesting. I’ve recently found myself pondering my future and what form it will take. In the process I’ve felt as though I were shedding what has gone before as what is yet to be shines upon me, like the sunlight shining through a drop of rain sparkling with promise and light.</p>
<p>According to <a href="http://www.whats-your-sign.com" target="_blank">www.whats-your-sign.com</a>, <em><strong>“Not only do Spiders and their webs draw attention to our life choices, they also give us an overview of how we can manipulate our thinking in order to construct the life we wish to live.</strong></em> <em>Spiders do this by calling our awareness to the amazing construction of their webs. Fully functional, practical, and ingenious in design &#8211; Spider webs serve as homes, food storage, egg incubators &#8211; seemingly limitless in their functionality. When we consider this ingenious diversity, we can also consider the web-like construct of our own lives. How are we designing the most effective life? When we see our decisions, choices and actions as far-reaching, effective tools in life &#8211; we can see how we weave a web that can either serve us or enslave us. <strong>The Spider symbol meaning beckons us to be mindful of our behaviors &#8211; be smart about the life we weave for ourselves. “</strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong> “Spider teaches you to maintain a balance – between past and future, physical and spiritual, male and female. Spider teaches you that everything you now do is weaving what you will encounter in the future.” </strong></em> Ted Andrews.</p>
<p>Hmmm.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>© 2011 Harmony Life®, LLC by Laurie Bornstein<br />
Feng Shui Lifestyle™ articles, tips and conversation <a href="http://www.fengshuilifeandstyle.com/">http://www.fengshuilifeandstyle.com</a></p>
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