MAKING WAVES WITH FENG SHUI
About Winter Flab Loss
 by Dennis Fairchild

Before setting out on any voyage, long or short, it is important to have a sense of where you are trying to go. Jon Sandifer

As we segue into spring ‘07, let’s hear it for Feng Shui (pronounced “fung schway”); literally, translated to wind (oxygen) and water (which we cannot live without) and has been around 3000 plus years globally-advising people how to create healthy environments. Feng Shui is a melange of Buddhism, Taoism and rural magic with roots in ancient agrarian China when farmers worshiped harmony with nature. It has endured because it works – combining common sense, tradition, superstition and the power of self-fulfillment. Plus, it’s a gas and loads of fun.

In Feng Shui, a cluttered house is un-wise and unhealthy for both your body as well as mind and spirit.

• It’s said that a “busy,” disorganized house breeds a chubby body. It’s not that “less is best” decor-wise, but disorganization and piles of stuff increases calorie consumption (not good). When you fine-tune your dwelling as well as diet, you and your weight become happier and healthier too.

• Remove things around the house that you don’t use often: piles of newspapers, magazines and books – make them go bye-bye. Especially, tweak and fine-tune your closets and basement areas! (Basements beget chubby tummies, poor indigestion).
Dump or recycle what you’ve outgrown plus clothes that you do not fit into and keep your bedroom (as well as hallway/entry) closets clean and up-to-date. You must! The “busier” or more cluttered they are, the bigger your waist can become. Got it? Too-full closets equal “clogged arteries.”

Begin by simply tossing away a few things every week. Designate one day out of every seven to de-clutter. “Excess” is excess. Bloat is bloat. One’s house is symbolic of one’s body. (And, while we’re at it, keep your car clean too.)

• Don’t eat in the same room in which you cook.

If you’re in a studio apartment or have a limited kitchen dining room, make a special eating space – for some, in front of the TV. Make every effort to not eat in the bedroom unless you want a solo life and larger waist-line. This is an un-good Feng Shui thing. (Keeping H20 on each other’s bedroom stand is a-OK.)

Hey, old-fashioned four-legged TV trays work well in any room. But, on them, do use your finest china, nice napkins, silverware, a candelabra – make your meal an event! Consider food as for health rather than only taste or pleasure and you’re on the right Feng Shui track!

• Lap or TV-trays aside, wooden oval, octagonal and round dining room tables are preferred in Feng Shui. (Wood better than metal, it’s said.) These shapes are believed to be optimal for digestion, assimilation, energy, enjoyment. Glass-top tables are not praised. If yours is glass, please embellish with tablecloths or napkins. To see one’s feet when eating is said to create poor health and scarfing rather than chewing.

• Food color and serving plates should be exciting, brilliant, personal. Bright colored food and dinnerware should dominate; neutral/grey tones minimal. Think ch’i (pronounced “chee”), which means dynamic life.

Buy some colorful napkins. And do the same when preparing meals: pasta alfredo is anemic compared to a dish of assorted veggies. Whether you’re dining on a TV tray or table, think color! Decorate your spot with fresh flowers or fun doo-dads. When dining on the road, always bring along a personal mug or glass and make your Taco Bell experience feel like you’re in the Bahamas. It works!

And, always remember to say grace or a thankful prayer, before every meal.

• In many Eastern cultures, one is often greeted by the expression “Have you had your food today?” instead of “How ya doin’?” Consider your meal your fuel and spiritual vitamins. Don’t gobble; relax, be grand. Chew your food.

• Keep your menu selections simple. Don’t get overwhelmed by exotic, trendy ingredients. If you’re attracted to new products, do your research first and find out what benefits you’ll get, health-wise rather than taste-wise.

• Whenever able, eat your late meal (dinner) on a black or dark blue-colored plate. Or, use a navy napkin or place mat. A dark color is said to diminish your appetite. Dark is best for late day for weight management; bright colors are preferred for breakfast or brunch for weight loss. Make eating a pleasurable and spiritual experience. And, if you’re the waiter: give yourself a tip.

• On a different note, Feng Shui urges you to dine out once a week or month – for variety, change. When one eats only in-house foods prepared in the same manner every time, one’s outlook and perspective about what is possible can become limited. Explore a new restaurant that you’ve never been to or indulge in a friend’s personal cuisine – change is a good thing.

• Because the front door of your apartment, condo or home is considered the Feng Shui “mouth” of your life choices, make sure the entry is clear of clutter— otherwise you’ll pig out or not eat properly. How’s yours?

If you were a stranger entering your place for the first time, what would you think about the/your place? Remember: clutter is un-good and suggests laziness, scatterbrain-ness, depression. Get some rubber gloves and start scrubbing now and lose weight and brighten your spirits.

• After every meal is complete, clean your dining area, wash all dishes— put them to bed. This is said to help curb any midnight munchies and make you conscious about the next day’s first meal.

Next month, we’ll explore the phenomeNEWS Mailbag again and address reader’s questions. If you have any queries about Feng Shui, please write. In the meantime, chew your food and clean your house!

Dennis Fairchild is a Royal Oak, Michigan-based author of several books on divination. For information about private intuitive-astrological-tarot card consults and on-site Feng Shui assessments, call (248) 546-6912 or e-mail DenFairchild@aol.com.