Welcome to the season of fall, a time of gatherings and family. This is a very diverse and interesting issue. We are delighted to highlight Sister Miriam of Genesis Farms, a true pioneer in global healing. Christan Hummel will be offering a great class in Atlanta, Georgia next week. This is a great opportunity. See some fabulous redesigns and create a sensuous threshold for the upcoming holidays.

Enjoy,
Renae

A mission:
Creating well-being through Feng Shui

By Lizette Viñas

Lizette Viñas, founder of THE FENG SHUI DESIGN®, is an experienced Feng Shui practitioner with extensive practice in residential, business, and corporate consultation. For over a decade, she has worked alongside architects, interior designers, and graphic artists in the application of Feng Shui principles. Her consultations have resulted in remarkable positive results for her clients.

As we become more aware of the impact of our home and workplaces in our mental, focusing, emotional and physical well being, we see a well received and a fast growth of the practice of Feng Shui. Transforming spaces stimulate the clarity of mind, more fulfilling relationship, enhance creativity and higher energy levels.
For Lizette Viñas, Feng Shui is a way of life. It is a way of achieving harmony and balance in our surroundings, through the organization of the space that we live or work in.
Lizette recently applied the principles of this ancient philosophy by handling a request made by a prominent insurance company in Puerto Rico. The request was to give a much needed "face lift" to the lobby area of their main headquarters. Her mission was to provide a pleasant and appealing space for both clients and employees that would reflect harmony, good taste, and the dynamism of today's business world.
Colors are fundamental in Feng Shui; when used correctly, color has the ability to restore or stimulate energy within a space, providing a sense equilibrium and well-being to those who inhabit it. In the insurance company case every detail used in the lobby has an explanation and is the result of a very careful analysis.

Accessing the Creative Matrix:
Practicing Quantum Feng Shui 

By Christan Hummel
Christan Hummel is the author of the best selling "Do It Yourself Space Clearing Kit" and an international lecturer and workshop leader. She has taught thousands around the world how to create sacred space in their homes and cities through connecting with the divine in nature and ourselves. She will be offering her new workshop, Earth Alchemy her website see: www.earthtransitions.com

"There is no order of magnitude in miracles." --A Course in Miracles


I love that quote more than any other. Perhaps because so many of us at one time or another have experienced what we would call a miracle. Having experienced a "miracle" at any level of magnitude, it confirms for us that much greater things are possible, that miracles are really just the working out of Laws that are as yet unknown. So the natural question becomes, how to we begin to access that state more often and consciously? And yet, as feng shui consultants we are doing it all the time, yet perhaps not consciously.

In feng shui, we are working to access a hidden matrix of our space, a hologram, a blueprint, a morphegenic field, the devic consciousness, the spirit of place--by whatever name it is called, it is this hidden energetic LIFE behind the form that our cures and ceremonies are addressing that is responsible for the miraculous changes we observe when we see a shift in an environment. As such, we are accessing what I call the Creative Matrix of a space and learning to shift it alchemically for positive benefit.

The movies "What the Bleep" and "The Secret" have beautifully illustrated that we live in a world of vibrations. All thoughts and feelings can be translated into vibrations. If those thoughts and feelings are of fear and survival, anger and hate, then this is the vibration we are emitting and consequently the reality we are creating for ourselves. However, we can reprogram those vibrations anytime we choose once we access the holographic matrix within which those thoughts exist. Our cures do not hold intrinsic value in and of themselves, they are not magical potions or elixers--but hold an INTENT we offer to the space. Since these cures have a long tradition and history of their use, since they have a collective consensus of their potency and effect, there is a matrix or grid established about them and when we use them, we access THAT matrix of possibilities.

However, it is our thoughts, feelings and vibratory essence which these cures and talismen are anchoring and tapping into. WE are the source, not just the agent for the changes we are affecting in our environments

By: Graceful Lifestyles
Mary Dennis, ASID, Allied
Executive Director

Create a sensual threshold. Dab a scent of sweet fragrance to your front door. Add a wreath with fragrance, or just a few drops to a lamp ring. Scents communicate immediately and are the only thing left in a room after you leave it! Select a scent that will create the right mood.
Scents you can use to create a mood:

• Cedar dispels nervousness, perhaps to be used on a first date.
• Eucalyptus to clear away fatigue. Be ready when your love comes along.
• Mint to help eliminate mental fatigue and unclear thinking. Saying YES, is a big step to clear.
• Orange will help one feel less self-conscious. You are beautiful.
• Basil to cheer and lift depression. Have fun and be sure to add a touch of laughter!

Submitted by
Adrienne van Dooren of MyGreenCottage and Author of the book in support of Katrina victims-The House that Faux Built: Transform Your Home with Paint, Plaster and Creativity

There are many exciting new ways to update your home without ripping out cabinets, floors, etc and contributing to our landfills (using eco-friendly products) Most people don't know the possibilities.

About the Overall Project:
The House that Faux Built challenged artists to transform and update an Arlington, VA 1940's fixer-upper using primarily paint, plasters, and creativity. In addition to raising money for Katrina victims, the artists endeavored to show the power of paint and creativity in "remodeling a home. The home, recently sold, was open to the public the last 2 summers and was recently featured on NBC TV's Housesmarts.

Over 100 top artists from all over the US and Europe joined together to completely transform a 1940s fixer upper
Why remodel the living room?

The living room should be the heart of the home, but this room seemed cold and dated. The brick fireplace, red ceramic hearth and old fashioned front door screamed 1940's. Poor color choices added to the problem. The harsh contrast between the white ceiling and trim, yellow walls and cool toned gray carpet made the room appear stark and small. Barth White of Las Vegas was selected to transform this space. While best known for his work in grand casinos such the Belagio, he tackled this tiny space with equal flair.
The primary objectives for the room were to: add warmth, use eco-friendly materials, update the space, and to make the room appear larger.
Melanie Royals brought a team from San Diego to apply one of her product line of Modello adhesive stencils to create a faux inlay Oriental carpet on the floor.

By Dan Stih - B.S.E., Aero Eng, BBEC
and provided by IBE
The International Institute for Bau-biologie and Ecology,Inc. 2008 Conference

As Bau-biologists know, there are countless hazards in indoor environments that can affect health. When performing a Bau-biologie residential assessent it is imperative not to overwhelm the client. This can cause stress and leave people feeling helpless. For most buildings there area few hazards that are responsible for the bulk of health complaints and for which improvements to will significantly improve how they feel while in the building.

Here we will consider the top 10, a list compiled through research and the experience doing inspections in hundreds of homes, offices and schools.
www.healthylivingspaces.com

By
Consy Malasoma

Using my background in Feng Shui, home staging, Chakra healing and real estate, I decided one can never write enough about clearing our clutter. Recently my Pilates teacher was commenting on a new diet that includes taking daily shots and drastically reducing her caloric intake. She has lost almost 7 lbs in nine days and she wasn't a big person to start with. But what caught my attention was her comment "I seem to want to purge my belongings". She had spent an afternoon clearing out her closet. This woman has a Pilates studio out of her home, has her spouse working from a home office and three young children AND flies for an airline now and again. But I always notice all the clutter around her patio and her garage to get to her studio. I believe that as her diet progresses so will the elimination of her clutter. This is a great example of when you make a "shift" in your life whether it be a starting a new diet, or making a career change and feeling the need/desire to clean up your space.

Mark Watson and Desirée Watson have a mission to teach and inspire people to Achieve Financial, Interpersonal, Physical and Spiritual Wealth
The Wealth Inside Out Trainings are delivered through dynamiceducational programs, retreats and one-on-one coaching.

They are offering a free One Minute Success Test.
Got a minute?

The Sustainable Furnishings Council is a non-profit industry association founded at High Point, NC in October 2006 to promote sustainable practices among manufacturers, retailers, and consumers alike.

The SFC recognizes the overwhelming scientific consensus that our world is experiencing dangerous global climate change. SFC members acknowledge the tremendous urgency, and will take immediate steps to minimize carbon emissions, waste stream pollutants, un-recyclable content and primary materials from unsustainable sources from any product platform under our control.SFC members will utilize Life Cycle Assessment as the best method for analyzing the environmental impact of their products, and a verifiable chain of custody as the only acceptable method for tracking wood flow.

SFC members support the triple bottom line of PEOPLE - PLANET - PROFITS and will lead the industry in developing awareness of best practices throughout their supply chains. Members will accomplish this goal by increasing their purchases from suppliers that show continual improvement toward meeting our high standards.

Our goals are as follows: · To raise awareness of the sustainability issue · To assist companies in adopting good practices · To serve as an information clearing house · To create a symbol of assurance for consumers

Sustainable Furnishings Council
PO Box 205 Chapel Hill NC 27514
FURNISHING A BETTER FUTURE

By
Mary Dennis

We have all been taught the importance of setting intent when effecting a Feng Shui Cure, but what exactly is intent and how do we bring it forth into critical matter? This has been a question that has encouraged my search for results. My Feng Shui education is diversified and multi-layered, and it has been my intent to learn all that I can about this dimensional tool for adjusting life's Ch'i. Every Feng Shui book not only increased my education but raised my curiosity on how intent works in our world.

Through my studies, I have come to the conclusion that intent is the prevailing force on the Universe. It is the force that Changes, Re-orders, and Maintains already established aspects of Life. Intention is the freedom of the will which gives us the choice in decision making activities and thought processes.

Intent is part of the birth process of reality which stimulates the energy and, with the principles of Feng Shui, aids in creating a supportive environment. Intent is directed by self. It firmly fixes, directs, transforms, alters and causes 'immediate effect'.

By
Kartar Diamond

Good Feng Shui for a Restaurant
There are some very specific areas of a restaurant that need to have good energies in order for the whole business to prosper. Nothing is more important than the location of the kitchen because the very product being sold is created in this area. The location of the entrance should be good as well, in order to help draw in patrons, as opposed to repelling them away.
The location of the cash register or pay stations is next in line in importance, but the overall building type can also indicate how business will be. In traditional feng shui there are four major building types and a restaurant has greater chance for success when it is one of the better building types according to when it was built and its compass orientation.
A restaurant with a bar can actually have the bar placed in a "negative" location because it draws patrons towards it to drink their problems away.
I had the honor and pleasure of reviewing the remodel plans for a new restaurant in Culver City called AKASHA. It is one of the greenest, if not thee greenest restaurant in the Los Angeles area, the food is killer, and the feng shui happens to be excellent. Visit www.akasharestaurant.com
There are quite a few things about this restaurant that were destined to be great feng shui, so when I saw the remodel plans I got very excited and actually made this one of the case studies in my new book. As it turns out, all the entrances (front, back and side entrances) have terrific "flying stars" for attracting business, particularly creative types and those concerned with their health and appearance. The location of the kitchen and the bakery are in the "8" prosperity stars and the bar is ironically in an area that can draw in attractive men and women and also stimulate addictions or compulsions (a positive for a bar for sure!)
This restaurant hit the ground running so if you want to go there for lunch or dinner, get a reservation to make sure you can get in.

By Sharon Rothman

Tu Vida, Mi Vida, Una Vida-Your Life, My Life, One Life.

Your home holds the energy of your emotions, your thinking and behavior, thus it reflects the patterns of your life. Learning how to look in the mirror of your living space, clear its pathways and stabilize the flow of energy, helps bring balance to your life. Listening to the heartbeat of your home will help you put more of the pieces together in tangible ways that harmonize and support your relationships and your emotional health.

Our relationships with each other begin in our relationship with ourselves. In addressing the whole being, the best of the east and west can be brought together to employ concrete tools for personal growth and intentional, intuitive awareness for grounding personal power.

Offering such awareness is 9-Star Ki, one of the most ancient and elegant of astrologies, which charts the movement of energy through time in cycles of the nine stars. Since each of you is born into one of these nine phases of energy, its influence becomes part of your original design and reveals your true nature. In tracking your star through time, you see the interplay of polarities in relationship and discover how to achieve balance and fulfillment in life by harmonizing your actions with the universal flow. The wisdom of 9-Star Ki guides self-discovery, provides protection in travel, and offers support in major life decisions.

By Jami Lin
Vitality - Creativity - Power - Love - Focus - Intuition - Bliss

Color is energy.
Energy is the movement of life and everything is "color coded."
Discover how the endless supply of color transforms your life

Pine trees are a very old and well known symbol of longevity.
The spiral growth of branches, needles and cone scales are arranged in Fibonacci number ratios.

Pines represent fidelity and the quality of being faithful, often planted along with the Cypress tree to represent strong, lasting friendships.
To see a pine tree in a dream, foretells unvarying success in any undertaking.

By Deana Schimmenti

Imagine a world of peace and abundance. If I close my eyes, I can see it. My mother used to tell me that if I can imagine it, I can create it. In these times of global financial crises and war, I am reminded of Lennon's Imagine. What if I told you we have the tools right in front of us to help manifest Lennon's "Nutopia"?

Arroyo San Antonio
Each room is designed to bring in natural light and cross ventilation. Xeriscape planting and grey water landscaping surround the properties.
Efficiently sized, well-constructed contemporary homes that utilize good design practices, sensitivity to the existing surroundings, and cost-effective green and sustainable practices.
From the "get go", the Arroyo San Antonio Condominium was built to embody the highest building standards in sustainability and craftsmanship. Two of the five condominiums in this development are ready to move into now. The Arroyo San Antonio Condominiums in Santa Fe, New Mexico, are passive solar, single story +/- 1275 sq.-ft, 2 bedroom, 2 bath homes. There are 2 designs

by Yasha Jampolsky

The Water Pig Month Begins November 7 at 9:21 am and ends December 7 at 2:00 am based on the Solar Calendar. The start of the month is on a Pig day. Avoid arguments and disagreemnets as much as is possible. Do your your best to see both sides of issues to bring conflicts to rapid resolution.. The Pig is the last archetype in the "Cycle of Twelve". The coming of the Water Pig month signals the completion of this cycle and the approaching change of prevaling energies that occurs at the end of the month. The Heavenly Stem for the month is Water. The fixed element for the Pig is Water making this a month that is filled with the nebulous and persistant energy of Water.

"Let's begin to make choices that will collectively benefit the entire planet - including insects, animals, plants, as well as humans. "

Miriam Therese MacGillis is a member of the Dominican Sisters of Caldwell, New Jersey. She lives and works at Genesis Farm, which she co-founded in 1980 with the sponsorship of her Dominican congregation.
Miriam received her Masters in Art from the University of Notre Dame and has taught art at the high school and college levels. In 1973, she became coordinator of Peace and Justice Education for the Newark Archdiocese. In1976 she joined the staff of Global Education Associates as program coordinator and art editor of their publication, "The Whole Earth Papers.
Miriam describes Genesis Farm as a learning center where people of good will are welcome to search for more authentic ways to live in harmony with the natural world and each other. The farm practices Biodynamic methods of agriculture, which are in tune with the natural rhythms of Earth. It was one of the early pioneers in converting to Community-Supported Agriculture, (CSA) is a movement which has expanded across the country.
. Miriam also coordinates programs exploring the work of Thomas Berry as he has interpreted the New Cosmology. An Earth Literacy program at Genesis Farms offers accreditation for both graduate and undergraduate students.
Genesis Farm takes its place within a community of people and organizations working to preserve the wildlife, farms and rural communities of this highly threatened region.
Miriam lectures extensively and has conducted workshops in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia and the Pacific.

She invites us to see ourselves as a living part of a living cosmos, alive with love and connection. Her message is timely and timeless, spirited and inclusive.
" The universe is approximately 13.7 billion years old and earth hasn't seen devastation on this scale since an asteroid hit the planet 35 million years ago. Wasteful technology, industry, and human activity are destroying our life systems." Sister MacGillis said to ask ourselves as individuals "What am I putting my energy into? Is it for the better of all? "This is something we all need to consider while making individual choices. Let's begin to make choices that will collectively benefit the entire planet - including insects, animals, plants, as well as humans. " "We're at a moment where there are no guarantees as to the Earth's future. It's a question of our own critical choices. And I think what we're deeply in need of is a transforming vision....A vision that opens the future up to hope." Miriam MacGillis,OP, co-founder of Genesis Farm, from "Fate of the Earth"

Article: CNBC News
To kick off New York Fashion Week, environmentally-conscious designers and the Sierra Club launched the Be EcoChic campaign with a runway show Thursday at the American Museum of Natural History. The campaign seeks to make eco-friendly fashion more attainable and raise the demand for green products by influencing public opinion through fashion.

Environmentally-friendly fashion has already made its mark on the runway and with high-end designers, but a new campaign, called Be EcoChic, is setting out to prove that green is still the new black.
"I think environmentally-friendly fashion should not be considered a trend at all; it should be a way of life," says Fern Mallis, senior vice president of IMG Fashion and a member of the Be EcoChic Advisory Committee. "Trends come and go and pass and I don't think this is one that can afford to do that."