Water
Wood
Fire
Extremes – the Two Ends of Balance and Harmony
As we know, balance and harmony are key words in defining feng shui.
Balance in this case means not too much or not too little but “Just right”. The words of Goldie Locks come to mind for those of us who did the nursery rhymes back in the day. For example: A porridge that’s too hot or too cold, a chair too big or small, a bed too hard or too soft, etc..It has to be “just right”, just good feng shui.
Feng Shui is seeking an ideal supportive environment in which to work and live. Supportive means our environment helps us. It contributes beneficially to our lifestyle and what we are doing in the space. Whether it is getting the job done at work or helping you relax and prepare, live your life at home. For example, if something, be it a laundry basket or a box of books, is in the way of your traffic pattern, move it once and for all. Temporary places for stuff often become semi-permanent. Deal with it and you will feel better and reduce the stress of trying not to trip over it. This is an extreme case, I know. Most of you are not putting obstacles in your own way, still, if we take time out to readjust for the next season, we won’t have to do it later or later still.
Weather is one of the biggest factors influencing people in their homes. We need heat, air conditioning, good ventilation, windows, window coverings and ways to deal with and balance what is going on outside. We have four seasons in the Midwest. Summer is about to wind down and our walls inside will become more important. We are used to that. Earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, etc., are extremes that are less frequent, thankfully.
This summer we have had extreme weather everywhere. There are devastating major forest fires out west and in Canada that are burning up the woods and wildlife and homes. The resulting smoke and dust are invading far away places. This affects the entire planet.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, floods are happening in the Midwest, including Wisconsin and many other states. The isthmus roads between the lakes in the city of Madison may go under water. Basements are flooding. Renters could become homeless. When the outside comes in – be it fire, water, mud, bugs or other interlopers, our homes and lives suffer,too.
The Five Chinese Elements in Weather extremes
Water (droughts, downpours, floods, hail, ice, damp, humidity}
Wood (falling trees, breaking branches in ice storms, etc.)
Fire (out of control burns, firestorms, extreme heat, lightening)
Earth (quakes, mud slides, dust storms]
Metal = Winds (hurricanes, tornados, cyclones, tsunamis, etc,)
Did you Labor on Labor Day?
Labor Day, begun in 1882 on September 5th, when New York workers took unpaid time off to march from City Hall to Union Square in the first Labor Day parade. This became a holiday to celebrate working laborers and their achievements.
Growing up at my house Labor Day weekend had an extra day to work (labor); to prepare our homes for winter. It was a time to put away summer toys left outside; put seasonal things like hoses, etc., in the basement. This also involved clearing out the garage so there was room for the cars and easy access to winter items. Preparing your place in fall is much like cleaning in the spring. (see newsletter Spring 2018.) There is no rest for clearing clutter. Every season qualifies as a good time to clean house. If you didn’t do it yet, there is still time.
Lunar Calendar
September
9th – New Moon
10th – Rosh Hashanah begins
19th – Yom Kippur
22nd – Autumnal Equinox
24th – Harvest Full Moon, Sukkoth
October
8th – New Moon, Draconids meteor
24th – Full Moon
November
4th – Daylight Savings Time ends at 2 am
6th – Election Day
7th – New Moon
23rd – Full Moon
- When one tugs at a single thing in nature; he finds it attached to the rest of the world – John Muir
- It is not the length of life, but the depth of life. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
- There is more to life than increasing its speed. – Mahatma Gandhi
- Always be a little kinder than necessary – JM Barrie·
Taoism
The Tao – Chapter 77 Extremes
The Tao of heaven is like drawing a bow
For high things, lower; for low things, raise;
If excessive, reduce; if insufficient, supplement.
The Tao of heaven reduces the excessive and supplements the insufficient.The way of man is not so.
It takes from the insufficient and adds to the excessive.Who can have enough surplus to supplement the world?
Only those with Tao.
That is why the Sage acts but does not demand subservience;
Is deserving of merit, yet claims no credit.
He has no desire to show this worth.
“My words are easy to Understand” – Lao Tzu
This chapter 77 is a description of ideal Heavenly living, of equalizing the unequal and avoiding extremes.
This is telling us the Way (Tao) differs from the way of man and reminds me of the song lyric.”and the rich get rich and the poor get poorer.