phenomeNEWS - This Month's Article

MAKING WAVES WITH FENG SHUI

Food For Thought

by Dennis Fairchild

How you do anything is how you do everything.

James Morgan

Feng Shui (pronounced “fung shway”) is an ancient global philosophy that incorporates ecology, folklore, healthy life-styles and astrology and believes that what we surround ourselves with – at home and also what we think and put into our bellies – carries an impact, affects us and others in our household.

This month, the Feng Shui-mailbag is filled with appetizing answers to curious cuisine queries and freaky food facts that concern your kitchen, dining room and belly. And, hopefully, gives you a different perspective on autumn’s indulgences and menu.

Dear Dennis,
My mother-in-law’s hobby is ceramics that feature vegetables and garden stuff. She has gifted our household with with many of them and they’re quite pretty. As my wife and I follow your monthly phenomeNEWS Feng Shui advice, my question is: where is best to place in our home to place these fruity items? Howard; Clarkston MI; internet

Hungry Howie:
Rule Numero Uno: no food icons in the bedroom or bathroom. (With apologies to Elvis, these are not places in which to think of calories.)

Feng Shui applauds homes whose dining room tables and kitchen islands feature live fruit and veggies as they represent perpetual sustenance and attract good health for inhabitants. Natch, you must munch Ma Nature goodies before fruit flies take residence and take over the turf!

Ceramic-wise, as well as paintings of food images are said to increase one’s health and fortitude when displayed in either the eastern area of the kitchen or dining room, as this is the sector/direction relating to physical health. Contemporary Feng Shui gives a thumbs up displaying any food icons any place in the kitchen that’s away from the stovetop (with the exception of pix of dead meat or fish, poultry). Bon appetite!

Dear Dennis,
In a recent column, you shared the importance on the presentation of serving food, color of dinner plates and creating a good dinner. I’m a vegan and wonder if Feng Shui has any lore on my favorite source of protein – nuts.
Doreen; New York City, NY; internet

D dear,
Nuts to you, Doreen! (Just kidding.) In addition to tofu and other non-meat protein like tofu or tempeh, indeed, nuts carry centuries of Feng Shui tradition. I always smile when I hear somebody who is considered off-base or crazy as tagged being “nuts” because nuts are positive and healthy in Feng Shui. And, they’re very good for most people.

• ALMONDS resemble tear-drops but have nothing to do with sadness. Esoterically, they’re governed by the thinking planet Mercury/element of Air and are said to enhance money-making and improved health. Lightly roasting them in a dry cast iron frying pan brings out all their magical properties. In Iran (formerly, Persia), eating a small handful of roasted almonds before bedtime is still believed to “cure” insomnia and beget deep sleep. They are also believed to help produce milk for lactating moms and relieve headaches. Feng Shui lore says to limit daily consumption to less than 6-10.

• CASHEWS resemble swimming tadpoles and are said to attract extra spending money. Like all nuts, try to say “no more” after 10 or so. Eating a half-dozen unsalted roasted ones are a-OK, but raw cashews rule! Chew yer CASH-ews well.

• CHESTNUTS are my personal favorite annual nut/fruit. Governed by the Sun above and great food supplements for Air signs Gemini, Libra and Aquarius-born, roasted or baked chestnuts are said to help lighten up sad feelings like mourning, job loss. Roasted chestnuts, immortalized in the classic Nat King Cole song, are said to percolate perfect-o personal relationships. But limit daily autumnal intake to only 10 or 15.

• MACADAMIA are considered “the richest nut” both calorie- and money-wise. Feng Shui has no specific folklore about these yummy guys, although their magical ability to bring money-luck is said to come only when they are roasted and eaten in baked goods rather than raw and right off the bush tree.

• PEANUTS are highly honored in Feng Shui diets – great protein, prolific growers and remains a major food crop around the world. God Bless George Washington Carver!Peanuts are actually seeds that grow underground. They’re ruled by expansive planet Jupiter and are said to be powerful money magnets when lightly roasted and eaten whole (minus shell) versus peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. At early winter holidays, like Christmas, peanut brittle gets the thumbs up.

• PECANS are governed by the communication planet Mercury and are said to attract employment opportunities, especially when eaten lightly roasted and no more than odd number increments of 7, 9 or 15. Give ‘em a try, but not in a pie. If prospective employers don’t roll with your resume – they may be nuts. (Sorry. Couldn’t help it.)

• PINE NUTS and PISTACHIOS (natural, not ones with red dye) are said to increase sexual stamina, attract and maintain love and are both governed by the astro-element of Air (communication). With both: less is more. Don’t pig out on ‘em!

• Although not a nut, RICE and, here I’m talking about organic, whole brown rice rather than basmati or processed/polished white rice, is ruled by the vibrant Sun above. Rice is to most cultures what corn is to Americans and is a vital food source for all peoples. Feng Shui philosophy urges everyone to include brown rice at least once a day.

Feng Shui also says that when a couple eat rice from a common bowl – especially with combined with cooked red aduki beans – that good fortune and intimacy grows deeper. Store-bought rice cakes don’t carry as much “love” and “prosperity” qualities but are a terrific and healthy way to start!

• SESAME SEEDS are governed by the Sun and the element of fire. Black sesame are more potent than white-beige and is said to attract an awareness of finances and budgets when sprinkled on your last-meal dinner.

Gosh, I’m almost done with the alphabet but not with all the beloved and wholesome nuts available, so let’s talk WALNUTS. Like rice, walnuts are also astrologically-ruled by the Sun and the element of Fire (great for water signs Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces as it jump-starts those signs from being self-centered or worried to bonding and union). In Greece and other European Feng Shui countries, walnuts are the historic food of gods and goddesses. Lightly roasting and munching a few before bedtime (but not in bedroom!) is said to enhance passion. I’ve always loved them because they resemble the human brain. And by lightly sprinkling roasted walnuts with freshly-ground black pepper, it is said to deliver psychic messages about personal relationships. Don’t pig out these or any nut. Less is more, right? Quality, not quantity.

Dennis Fairchild is a Royal Oak author of several books on divination and conducts personal psychic-astrological consultations and on-site Feng Shui evaluations. For information about scheduling a private session call (248) 546-6912. To submit a Feng Shui question for consideration in an upcoming :"Making Waves” column, email DenFairchild@aol.com.