The Art of Wind and Water

The Art of Wind and Water

Ancient ideas of harmony with one's environment are winning converts

Ancient civilizations paid no attention to lead poisoning, much less radon or asbestos contamination, but they had many ideas about keeping in harmony with their physical environment. While some cultures use amulets to protect an individual and connect that individual and connect that individual with spirit of life around them, others maintain that harmony with one's environment comes from careful planning of the space one occupies. No culture took this concern further than the Chinese, who for thousands of years have practiced the art of feng shui, which translated literally means wind and water. The goal of feng shui is to create balanced and suspicious relationships between individuals and their environment, both natural and their environment, both natural and man-made. Correct placement of home, office, and the various features of each (furniture, walls, rooms, windows), as well as gravesites is thought to portend well for an individual's prosperity, physical and emotional health, and harmony with others. The belief is that the external arrangements of one's environment affect the ch'i (translated as breath), or life energy that is the spirit and vital force of people, animals, and nature alike.

While in certain parts of Asia fen shui has been practiced for millennia, its introduction to the West is quite recent. As more Chinese investors come to American cities, architects, real estate agents, and business people have learned just how important feng shui can be to prospective bueyrs. Buildings with bad feng shui simply do not attract the same throngs of customers as those with good feng shui.

Each feng shuo master has a different way of looking at the feng shui of a given space. Some use a feng shui compass (called a luopan), some use a mystical tool called a ba-gua, and some rely on intuition to assess the feng shui of a building or room.

For Westerners seeking better feng shui for their living spaces, here are some tips from feng shui expert Sarah Rossbach. Her books include Living Color: Master Lin Yun's Guide to Harmony Through Color (Kodansha), Fen Shui: The Chinese Art of Placement (Viking), and Interior Design with Feng Shui (Penguin, 1987).

Use mirrors, crystal balls, and lights: Mirrors can be used to cure a wide variety of feng shui ills.Outside a building they are hung to reflect ban feng shui, whether it be from a road aimed at the building, a tall neighboring building, a tall neighboring building or a funeral parlor. Inside, the bigger the mirror, the better. Mirrors are hung to reflect good views of water or gardens, to draw in light from the outside, and to increase the illusion of expanse and light.

Art of wind and water. Photo by Elena.

Small-faceted crystal balls are also widely used in feng shui. They are said to bring to the resident the gift of farsightedness and good perspective. Lights are also powerful feng shui solutions. If, for example, one lives in an L-shaped house one would be well-advised to install a floodlight outside to square off the missing corner.

Employ sound. Wind chimes are the typical sound device used in feng shui. Traditionally, they disperse bad interior and exterior feng shui, and redirect ch'i in a beneficial way.

Embrace living objects. Plants and flowers, whether they are real, silk, or plastic, send nourishing ch'i throughout the room. They are said to bring clients and money to businesses and restaurants, and in the home they can resolve design imbalances such as acute room angles that might be affecting the life of the inhabinants.

Fish bowls and aquariums are used to encourage nourishing and money0making ch'i (water symbolizes money). In offices fish are used to absorb bad lucj, those with aerators being the most effective.

Don't fear moving and heavy objects. Electrically powered and wind-powered objects such as mobiles, windmills, and weather-vanes often stimulate ch'i of such things as roads and long hallways. Sometimes an object such as a stone or statue can help stabilize an unsettling stituation (holding down a job or holding on to a relationship).

Hang the flutes up: Bamboo flutes historically were used to report peace and good news, and have come to represent peace, safety, and stability. They must be hung with their mouthpieces facing down. They also symbolize protection and are thus hung in homes and stores to drive away thieves.

Choose colors carefully. Colors can be applied to various areas of a room or building to affect a specific aspect of one's life. Black is the color of the water element and thus connotes money and wealth; red is an auspicious color used in Chinese celebrations and weddings; white is the color of mourning and is thus avoided; yellow represents longevity; green is growth and tranquility. In the home pastel colors should be used: blue, pink, or green.

The Feng Shui of Furniture

If the foot of your bed faces the door, it's your funeral.

Feng shui experts offer these tips on arranging your furniture for good feng shui:

Bedroom: Optimally, a bed should lie diagonal to the door so that the occupant has the widest possible view, and so that ch'i flows smoothly. If not, occupants may be nervous and jumpy, traits that would affect their personal relationships and their performance at work. If for some reason a bed cannot lie diagonally across from the door, a mirror can be hung to reflect the entrance. The bed should not be placed so that the foot of the bed faces the door (this position is reminiscent of a funeral position, thus bringing bad feng shui into the room).

Kitchen : The most important consideration is the placement of the stove. The stove should be located so that the chef can easily see anyone entering. If a cook is startled by something or someone, a nervous chain reaction is sparked which could include familial discord.

Living room : In general, both the hosts and the guests should face the door. Furniture placement is important in evoking the appropriate feel of the room – e.g., formal or cozy.

Bathroom : The bathroom, a place where water – symbolic of money – enters and leaves, represents occupantsè internal plumbing and finances. Avoid placing the toilet opposite the door or residents may suffer financial misfortune, health disorders, or miscarriages. A bathroom should be bright and open, as opposed to cramped and small.

Second Honeymoon

Second Honeymoon

By Ian Stuart (excerpt)

Onaig is on an island in the Scottish Highlands, a row of white-washed cottages nestling between a tiny harbour and the steep slope of Ben Onaig a hundred miles from nowhere. The hotel, small, stone-built, and Victorian, is perched a couple of hundred feet up the brae. It was hardly Helen’s scene. Perhaps she really did hope it would revive their marriage. Or maybe she hankered for the days when her life with Mike seemed to promise everything they wanted. Which was unlikely too; Helen wasn’t that sentimental. Remote villages were the nightlife, consisted of drinking to her about as much as children or a diet of cold porridge. They were a drag.

Mike wondered is she could know about Tracy and him. After all, they saw a good deal of each other. Tracy Collins was Helen’s cousin and her sole surviving relative apart from him.

Helen had introduced them. Mike wondered about that too. It was almost as if she had been deliberately bringing them together, inviting Tracy to that party three month ago, then going away for a fortnight, leaving him on his own with Tracy only a couple of streets away in her new flat. She must have seen they were attracted to each other that first evening; Helen wouldn’t have missed that.

Tracy was tall and slim, with the dark languorous beauty Mike always found irresistible. Beside her Helen looked pale, almost washed out. Maybe she thought Tracy would provide a distraction, keeping Mike’s off her while she was having fun with Clive Benson. Not that Mike cared any longer.

He had no illusions where his wife was concerned. They had been married only a few weeks when she made it clear that she had married him for his money. Not enirely, she quite liked him and he attracted her physically, but mainly. Love was something Helen didn’t understand.

Second Honeymoon. Photo by Elena

Mike being the man he was, at first the situation amused him. He was a wealthy young man. Lanyon’s had been a thriving business when he inhereted it, and it had grown considerably since then. Like Helen, he was an only child and his parents were both dead.

By the time Helen introduced him to Tracy the amusement had changed to bitterness. They quarreled more often and mor angrily. And it was always Helen who capitulated in the end; she had no intention of jeoparising her position.

“She keeps on about Onaig,” he told me once when we met at a business lunch. “Damned if I can see why.”

I coulnd’t either. Not then.

They decided to go for ten days the next month. As Helen said, feigning surprise at Mike’s suggestion, it would make a change, and they could always go to the Caribbean or Sardinia as usual in the autumn. She was clever enough not to appear too pleased, but Mike saw the glint of satisfaction in her eyes. If only she knew, he thought.

The tourist season was only just getting under way in the Highlands in early May, and Mike’s secretary was able to reserve the room they had occupied before at the Ben Onaig Hotel. Somehow Helen had come up with the number. She arranged to take her car up to Inverness on the overnight Motorail train on the Friday and drive to Oban from there. Her Rover 214 convertible was more convenient than Mike’s big Jag.

On the Thursday afternoon he left his office early and took a taxi to Tracy’s flat in Pimlico. She was even mor affectionate and exciting than usual and Mike was delighted. They spent a very enjoyable two hours, then he went home.

“If won’t be long now,” he told her as he was leaving.

Tracy kissed him as if she hadn’t seen him for months. “I can’t wait, darling,” she breathed.

(Ellery Queen, Mystery Magazine, September 1993)

Faith

Faith

Prayer for a strong character: Dear loving Lord, You know my heart. You know where I walk, Where I stumble and Fall. I look to you know, To change me and, To build my character. First remove from me, the things that stop, You will from working in me, Shine your light, or Lord.

Faith

In nomne Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.

Prayer for forgiveness. Dear loving Lord, I can hardly even, Bring myself into, Your presence, When I think of, What I've done. I hurt myself and others. I have gone against you, I feel so wretched.It's so hard to pray now. Will you forgive me? Is it possible? Let me know, oh Lord, That it's not about me, Or my behavior, But it's about your Son, Taking it all upon him, To redeem me, To purify me. This is his work alone. This why he came. Oh, dear Lord, Let it pierce my heart, Be changed. Please forgive me. Please have mercy. Pour out the Blood of Christ, Over me. Cleanse me Jesus, With your sweet love. In your sweet love. In your holy name, Amen.

Our Father. Who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for you are with me. Psalm 23.4 

Free me from my fear, And insecurity. Cleanse me first of patience, And character like Christ. All my courage coming. From your Spirit filling me. I am your child. An unbreakable trust, In your absolute love. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen. 

Father noster.

Penny Stocks

Penny Stocks

Il n’existe pas de moyens faciles de faire de l’argent rapidement en Bourse, alors, il faut agir avec prudence face aux offres qui paraissent très alléchantes. Par exemple, un grand nombre d'”experts”, à grand renfort de publicité (principalement sur le Web), se prétendent capables de prédire l’évolution des penny stocks, ces actions dépréciées dont le cours est descendu en déca d’un dollar.

Le plus souvent la dépréciation de ces titres s’explique par les mauvais résultats qu’a enregistrés la société émettrice. Dans la plupart des cas, la compagnie en question flirte carrément avec la faillite et la radiation de la Bourse, mais il peut arriver aussi qu’un titre reprenne son envol. Ainsi, selon ces nouveaux prophètes, il suffit, pour en bénéficier, de vous abonner gratuitement à leur lettre d’information. Ensuite, ces gourous vous promettent monts et merveilles.

Pourtant, il suffit de réfléchir : si ces experts étaient vraiment en mesure de tenir leurs promesses ils auraient déjà gagné des fortunes, au lieu de proposer leurs conseils au tout-venant sans aucun frais. Ils vendraient leurs conseils à prix incroyables, mais toujours à profit pour les acheteurs.

Kate Spade. Photo by Elena.

Au fait, l’objectif de ces “experts en finances” est plutôt de recueillir des informations à votre sujet, à commencer par votre courriel et par vos habitudes de consommation. D’ailleurs, si vous suivez la recommandation de ce “grand savant” et si vous perdez de l’argent, cela lui est égal, ce n’est pas lui qui payera la facture. Si, par contre, vous y gagnez quelque chose, vous lui serez reconnaissant en partageant votre gain avec lui juste pour lui dire un gros merci.

À vous de faire les calculs : peu importe la valeur réelle des promesses de ces “conseillers”, ils gagnent toujours et ils ne perdent jamais, à condition qu’il existe toujours des gens qui décident de suivre leurs recommandations qui ne s’appuient sur aucun fondement.

Saving Electricity

Saving Electricity

If we want to keep our electricity bills down, we must be aware of the dozens of more or less efficient ways to use electricity in our everyday life. Here are few tips to lower our hydro bills

While cooking:

    Use utensils with flat bottoms and well fitting lids.

    Try to us pressure cookers: they can save up to 30% of power you use in cooking!

    Thaw frozen foods before cooking – this saves about 15 minutes cooking per pound and thus helps keeping the bill down.

    Cooking small quantities of food, use the frypan or small appliances, such as grillers, woks, crockpots for every appropriate food.

    Cook several dishes at one time. In doing this you save energy.

    Keep the oven door closed and make sure it seals properly. Don’t forget than each time you open it the temperature drop. So try to look through the oven window instead of opening it.

    If food is ready, but it will not be consumed at once, keep it warm in an oven to use residual oven heat or just cover it with a towel.

    Don’t forget than to cook vegetables you don’t need the water to be boiling furiously, as a gentle simmer is enough. Thus, you may save energy.

    Don’t boil water on a hotplate – use an electric kettle. You will save up to 40% in energy.

    Select a fridge that uses waste heat for defrosting, etc. This kind of fridges is usually cheaper to operate.

    Fill in the empty space in your fridge with empty bottles, boxes and so on to avoid using extra power. Nevertheless, the freezer should not be more than 2/3 full.

    Keep dust and fluff brushed off the coils on the back or bottom of the fridge. Otherwise you’ll spend energy on heating these elements.

    Put the fridge in a well ventilated position and leave some space between the wall and the fridge (about 8-10 cm will be enough).

    Place your fridge away from direct sunlight or any source of heat.

You can save electricity while you are cooking. Photo of appliances by Elenaю

• Never put hot food into a fridge or freezer.
• Try to defrost before the ice builds up to 1 cm thick.
• Open the door of the fridge only when necessary and never keep it open for a long period of time.
• Make sure the door of your fridge seals well. If a piece of paper will slide easily between the cabinet and the door seal is not good enough.
• Keep the refridgerator section at between 2C and 5C (36 to 42° F,) and the freezer at -18C (0° F). These temperatures ensure food safety.Lowering the temperatures further wastes power.

Heating and cooling you house:

• In timber framed or brick houses the walls should be insulated with at least 5 cm of fibrous or foam insulation. It will cost you some money, but otherwise a lot of heat will be lost.
• Have the ceiling insulated as well.
• Doors and windows should fit well. Don’t forget than draughts can waste a lot of energy.
• Block off any chimneys not being used, as a lot of heat is lost there
• Zoning of a house conditioned by a ducted system cuts energy consumption to a half. Close the doors of the rooms you will not heat or cool.
• Close curtains. Using curtains and shades will help to stop heat escaping.
• If you use air-conditioner, always keep clean air-conditioner filters and condenser coils.

Important: Sometimes, air-conditioning is necessary. F.i., if you have respiratory problems, a heart condition.

Reduce heating or cooling appliances to their minimum when rooms are unoccupied for a long time (but don’t put them off unless you leave for a week or more).

Use fans for relief from hot weather. Running fans costs much less than air conditioners.Use evaporative coolers. They are very effective when installed correctly. The operating cost of an evaporative cooler is only a fraction of that of a refrigerated unit.

Very effectif: electric blankets are the cheapest form of bedroom heating.

If you own a house, put more insulation in the attic and solar generated ceiling fans that automatically came on at a certain temperature. Ask experts if they can have the solar radiant barrier spayed on the under side of the roof of your house.

Lights:

Turn off lights when not in use.

Use light translucent shades, as opaque or dark shades require bigger lamps.

While reading, writing, etc. use a local light near the task (”task lighthing”). It is more effective and more efficient than a central light.

Use fluorescent tubes and replace incadescent lamps (traditional light bulbs). The fluorescent tubes use about a quarter of electricity used by ordinary globes and they last much longer.

Don’t forget than fluorescent tubes can be switched on and off as often as you need. This will not affect operating cost.

While fluorescent tubes are still more expensive to purchase, they pay for themselves with time. Actually, they 1/4 of the power and have a life of 6 to 10 times longer.

Important: DO NOT use fluorescent lamps in places of very high humidity like bathrooms.

Dust your incandescent or fluorescent lamps and light fixtures with the power off. Be aware than even a thin layer of dust reduces light levels.

Portable and baseboard electric heaters are real power hogs and if improperly used can be a fire hazard (see the Apartment Safety page). Setting the temperature a couple of degrees lower during the winter can save you a lot of money.

Washing and drying:

Adjust the water level in a washing machine to economically wash a partial load. But it is better to wait until you have a full load (don’t overload the machine).

Use correct type of detergent. It allows you to use cold or tepid water to wash clothes effectively.

Why do you use a dryer? Use solar energy to dry washed clothes – it costs nothing. Wash your clothes and then hang them up, especially the heavy stuff.

If you need to dry clothes in a dryer, operate it using the fan alone. Switch the heater on if it is really necessary.

If you really need to use a dryer, never overload or underload it – you get most economical operation with the correct load.

Appliances:

Computers, printers and particularly laser printers can run up your power bills. Some printers take as much power as 660 watts. Keep printer turned off using the switch on the printer, when not in use.

If you are going away from the computer for a rather long period of time (let’s say one hour or more) turn the computer off. You will save more power in that hour than that used to power one regular fluorescent lamp for 24 hours.

Use a hairdryer sparingly and don’t use the maximum heat setting, not only will you save energy, but your hair will thank you.

Finally, do least two electricity audits a year, one for the coldest month and one for the hottest to understand how much power are you using and where can you save.