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Sacred Smells for your Sacred Spaces
"The gaps are the thing.
The gaps are the spirit's one home, the altitudes and latitudes so
dazzlingly
spare and clean that the spirit can discover itself like a once-blind man
unbound. The gaps are the clefts in the rock where you cower to see the
back
parts of God; they are the fissures between mountains and cells the wind
lances through, the icy narrowing fiords splitting the cliffs of mystery.
Go up into the gaps. If you can find them; they shift and vanish too.
Stalk
the gaps. Squeak into a gap in the soil, turn, and unlock - more than a
maple - a universe."
- Annie Dillard,
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
The ancient Asian philosophy Feng Shui (pronounced "fung schway") studies
our
place in the universe and the impact our surroundings have onus: uses and
abuses of our living and working spaces. It is also involved with the
flow of
the cosmic life-force called ch'i (pronounced "chee").
In a dwelling, ch'i is either invigorating and virile or infertile, stale.
Like filtered Pellegrini water versus tap. Fresh Godiva chocolate versus
stale vending machine knock-offs. Quality versus quantity.
Just as people stay healthy when they maintain good eating and exercise
habits, color, seating arrangements, furnishings, lighting, music and
aromas
can either enhance or diminish a home's ambient energy. Repainting dirty
walls, re-hanging doors that bang into one another and re-oiling squeaky
hinges are just a few ch'i energy increasing examples.
A few years ago at the International Feng Shui Centre in Colorado, I had
the
great fortune of sharing a teaching afternoon with Chinese-born architect
Howard Choy (Feng Shui; ISBN 1-86302-555-3) who shared many tips about
"making" a place your own. It's an easy purification ritual called
"bai-si-fang", which means 'paying homage to the four quarters'. It's an
auspicious autumn exercise for all : condo or homeowner, backpacker or
renter.
The first part of this "ritual" begins with homage to all Jewish moms (we
all have one, no matter how we honor the sabbath) with a thorough
top-to-bottom scanning of our living space. Every room, especially the
master bedroom, kitchen and bath. Every corner must be thoroughly
vacuumed,
polished, dusted, wiped and scrupulously mopped. Attacking this chore with
vigor and intention spells good riddance for left-over karmic energy from
former tenants and ancient arguments. After cleaning, ignite your aromatic
incense like frankincense or sandalwood in each room to freshen up any
wisps
of stale ch'i.
In my pre-professional Feng Shui period, I loved junking and garage
sale-ing:
other people's cast-offs became my treasures. Objects discarded by
previous
owners should be removed unless they are clean and useful, and every garage
sale goodie must be functional, with paintwork touched up and broken parts
mended.
Part Two takes place in the "heart" of the house. In the old days when
floor
plans were generic and simple, this was usually the geometric center of the
home. Today, it generally refers to the part where your family spends
quality time together. Is that your living room? Family room?
This ritual involves five bundles of one, three, six or nine incense
sticks.
Also prepare a plate with with five pieces (not necessarily different) of
fruit on it. In-season and local fruit is best; oranges and apples are
Feng
Shui mainstays. Stack the fruit, with four pieces on the bottom and the
most
colorful on top.
The top piece symbolizes the center of the universe, and the bottom four
reflect the four compass directions. Think heaven, earth, humanity - and
after verbally acknowledging what your midyear goals, devour 'em all
with a
cup of saki for a chaser.
Light the first bundle of incense in the middle of the room where you spend
the most time - again, usually, the bedroom. This action establishes the
house as the center of your universe. Smoke from the incense goes
heavenward
to form the symbolic link (axis mundi) between Heaven and and Earth (your
home). Next, light an odd number of incense sticks in each corner of the
main room to establish the four cardinal directions. Say a prayer of good
will, health and prosperity as you light the incense, and ask for the
blessing of the god of your choice.
According to Howard Choy, this ritual endeavors to establish symbolic order
in a universe of chaos. Creating the vertical link between your home,
Heaven
and the four directions enables you to discover the center of your being,
as
represented by the walls of your home.
Then your house will be safe. Stable. Anchored in Feng Shui symbolism of
"wind and water": oxygen and constant change. "Bai-si-fang" is a
ritualistic
act intended to declare faith in your space for the approaching season.
Every odor we inhale and every object that surrounds us influences our
space
in some manner and has a subliminal impact. Our surroundings influence us
profoundly. They define us and how we relate to everyone who shares our
private spaces.
"Knock on the sky and listen to the sound!"
- Zen Saying
About the author:
Dennis Fairchild is the Birmingham-based author of several books, including
Healing Homes:
Feng Shui - Here & Now,
the US correspondent for Europe's Feng Shui For Modern Living
magazine and spoke at the 3rd annual International Feng Shui Conference.
Also of Interest:
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