8 Things To Welcome in the Earth Pig Year 2019

8 Things You Can Do to Welcome in the Yin Earth Pig for 2019! View this email in your browser

8 Things To Welcome in the Earth Pig Year of 2019! Welcome to Body Space Alignment Newsletter. On February 4th, 2019, the solar new year begins. The Yin Earth Pig will rise, as the Earth Dog of 2018 moves into storage.  This is the first of a three part newsletter to prepare you for the year ahead. Today, I begin with 8 things you can do to prepare for the changes that are coming. I believe this is essential step to repeat every year to balance our inner and outer landscape. Part two of this series will include the energy of the Yin Earth Pig while the  third segment will review points of interest in your environment and other activities that are beneficial for 2019. Let's get right to it! Elevate Your Consciousness! Mary Jane 1 & 2. Organize and Cleanse Your Environment: In Deepak Chopra's book The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga, he discusses how to integrate all parts of your life. This includes your environment, As a feng shui consultant and yogi,  I couldn't agree more with him. Within your physical domain, you have and extended body, and an energetic body. Your extended body is the environment, containing the never-ending supply of energy and information that is available to you. Every sound, sensation, sight, flavor, and aroma you ingest from the environment influences your body and mind. Each breath that you inhale and exhale is a reminder of the continuous conversation taking place between the physical body and your environment. With that being said, it behooves you to take note of what your surroundings are like and how you can improve it. Without getting into a long laundry list of things to do, go for the obvious infractions such as clutter, old and worn out items, tattered fabric or peeling paint. Start big and then refine. Once you complete the cleaning and organization steps, then cleanse your space. You can do this with herbs, bells  and essential oils. Have fun walking around your home and  removing old stuck energy patterns and refreshing it with new active intentions. I have several e-programs and books that can guide you every step of the way to dramatically improve the look and feel of your home. At the end of the day, you need to take responsibility for what is happening in your environment. 3 and 4. Complete Unfinished Projects and Clear Your Mind: I don't think I know anyone who doesn't have something hanging over their head when it comes to business and projects. Is there a project you've been working on but somehow let it get away from you? Aim at closing any loose ends, the logic is to start fresh and continue what is good, and let the rest go. Now that you can let go of the unfinished work, you can spend some time to clear your mind. First, make a list of all the good things that happened in 2018. Take some time to also list the not so good. When you review the list, are there any lessons for you to walk away with? Now, make a list of the things you would like to realistically accomplish in 2019. I say realistically, as many times we put so much down on our list we set ourselves up for failure. One of my yoga class themes for 2019 was " Lower Your Expectations." I know that may sound counterintuitive; however, if you look at it from the perspective of not expecting too much from someone or something that is simply not capable of giving that, it will save you a whole lot of frustration and angst. I suggest if you are writing a list for 2019, to break it down in monthly intervals. It will not look so daunting that way. Make sure you include a meditation practice in this process. You'll be amazed what comes up.  5 and 6. Manifest and Welcome the New: What is it you would like to manifest in 2019? Can you see it, feel it, smell it and taste it? Take a least one action everyday that gets you closer to your year goals. Meditate daily and see yourself living your desires. Especially take advantage when the energy is really high such as a full moon to do your visualization and meditation. When I was in India on retreat, the main theme was the Law of Attraction. Morning meditation down at the Ganges was extremely powerful. There was a mindset that seemed to attract things instantly. The working dynamic was to feel the emotion in real time of what you wanted to attract. This requires discipline and being willing to show up to do the work of meditation, visualization and applying these efforts into action. There are plenty of apps that you can download to your phone to assist you in the visualization process. Explore and enjoy the journey. The time is now! 7. Feng Shui: The first of the Chinese month is an excellent time to treat yourself to a feng shui consultation. That can be for your home or office. It is an excellent time to locate the most powerful points in your environment and how to open them up for new opportunities, prosperity, health and productivity. This is also a perfect time for a full 4 Pillars Astrology Life Reading that will  bring clarity for business, home - life, family, health, relationships, personal soul's mission and more. Having the right tools and information to work with is  powerful for the manifesting process. 8. Embrace the World Around You: Everyday take in the world around you. Receive all the visual information that is presenting itself to you now. Take it in: the things, the spaces between the things, the light and the shadow. Let the world's visual abundance offer itself to you as if the universe is giving you a gift. Notice the layers of details that you may often overlook. Gaze upon the infinite textures and colors around you. Dedicate your focus to a visual and mental exploration of what you see in front of you and let yourself marvel in it. Part 2 of this Newsletter series I will expound on the Yin Earth Pig energy for 2019. Look for part 2 in you inbox tomorrow! Part 3 of this newsletter series I will delve into the feng shui flying stars and what to pay attention to in your environment! Be strong in your Easy Pose during your meditation and visualization process for 2019!

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Quick Cures to Manage Your Environment

The solar New Year is nearly here! Stay tuned for my Earth Pig 2019 analysis. In the meantime, it's a perfect time to assess your environment and work out the kinks. Here is a quick reference list that can help keep things balanced.

1. Clear out your clutter. Sorting through wardrobes, drawers and cabinets and throwing out all that accumulated stuff will allow the things you need and treasure to breathe. Better yet, you'll know there is order even in the hidden places.

2. Visit the local dump about twice a year to get rid of those bulky objects that are an eyesore every time you catch sight of them. When you finish the job, take some time to chill out, relax and have a tasty meal.

3. Give to a consignment shop or thrift store. This is a great way to give back to the community while releasing what no longer serves a purpose for you. It also follows the law of karma - selfless acts that flow good things your way.

4. Recycle. It is rather shocking the amount of waste that we produce. It stresses the planet and disrupts our links with nature. Recycle everything you can. In the process, you will recycle your thinking patterns.

5. Get through your backlog of chores. Try starting early in the morning and moving through all the chores you have put off. Take a short break for lunch and continue moving through the process. You'll feel great when you are done and any downtime from this point onward will feel doubly relaxing.

6. Change up the chores around the house by rotating with your partner or children. You might just find a fresh eye brought to regular household routines that will reveal efficiency and joy.

7. Rearrange the furniture. Experiment with new circulation routes. Break the grip of habit upon your domestic surroundings. You'll be amazed how different things will look and feel. It will give you a  new perspective on life.

8. Clean your windows. Smears and other marks on glass may seem trivial, but they interpose themselves between you and the outside world. The windows are considered the eyes of the home and the eyes are the windows to the soul.

Enjoy managing your Environment!

Mary Jane - Feng Shui Yoga Girl - www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Earth Friendly Design

My Simple Earth Friendly Interior Design Downloadable E-Program

Consider the interior of your home as a series of layers, beginning with hard, durable surfaces such as floors and walls, moving on through with furniture, and finishing with fabrics and soft furnishings. Careful consideration of these layers is what makes a well-balanced and eco-conscious home. Here are a few ideas to assist you when choosing fabrics and wall coverings. After all, they play an important role in every interior. In addition to adding color, pattern and texture, fabrics can also reduce heat loss from a room when used to cover windows.

Fun Eco-Conscious Fabrics:

Felt - This has once of the simplest manufacturing processes. Felt is nonwoven textile that relies on small scales of wool fibers. Historically it is made with pure wool, and so its properties and colors can reflect the breed from which it was cut.

Lycocell - This is a man-made fiber created from the natural cellulose found in wood, which makes it 100% sustainable. This fabric is currently used for clothing, bed linens, pillows and quilts.

Organic Cotton - It is made from the soft cellulose fiber that contains the seeds of a cotton plant. This fabric is now being used to produce a whole range of products, from clothes to dish towels, and bed linens. Just make sure the cotton is made from fair-trade organic cotton.

Alpaca - This fabric is amazingly warm and luxurious, and much stronger and lighter than wool. It is perfect for throws. There are up to 22 different shades, from creams, grays to blacks, and even rose.

Linen - Made from flax, linen is highly sustainable since the whole plant can be used. This is a good material for warm climates as the fabric is breathable and adjusts nicely to temperature shifts.

Hemp - As with linen, the entire hemp plant can be put to use. This is a great insulation material. Its porous fibers can take on dye very easily. It also is great to resist mold and offers good UV protection.

Recycled Textiles - This is great when it comes to reducing embodied energy and landfills. You can find reclaimed fabrics in markets, antique stores, thrift shops and online. This is a great option to really reduce the level of outgassing toxins in the home.

Earth Friendly Walls:

Treating your walls is the easiest and most cost effective way to impact on the look and feel of a space. Using environmentally friendly wall finishes need not limit what you can do within an interior space. 

Light reflective surfaces, such as some recycled plastics, and translucent materials, like glass, can bounce natural light around your home and so reduce the need for additional artificial lighting. Eco-wall coverings, including wood, and natural fiber wallpapers add  impact, character, and texture, while using eco-friendly paints keeps your home toxin free.

Here are some additional wall Eco- conscious paint ideas:

• Natural paint made from water, chalk, natural oils and clays.
• Insulating paint that use hollow glass microspheres which trap air , and act as a thermos insulator.
• Lime plaster allows moisture to seep in and evaporate out.
• Recycled glass tiles made from colored glass are great for bathrooms
• Eco-wallpaper with decorative designs
• Reclaimed lumber or paneling

This is just a taste of what you can do to design a healthy home for a healthier planet and a healthier you. If you want to see how to design every aspect of your home in a mindful way you can learn more earth friendly design ideas from my basic Eco-Conscious E - program .


Mary Jane Kasliner
www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Honor Your Environment Honor Your Body

Your body is an extension of your environment. Honoring both is a perfect way to balance your life. If you think of your body as a means to access the world, then taking care of it is of utmost importance. If you think of your environment as a means to protect and nurture your body, then tending to it also becomes important. 

It is through your body that you experience sight, sound, touch, taste and smell. Your body is made up of countless complex systems that collaborate to enable you to move, be still, to laugh, cry, and to experience pain and pleasure. Honor your environment and your body by treating them with respect and awe.

Simple Ways to Honor Your Environment:

• Assess your environment on a weekly basis for any extras things that you really don't need and remove them. 
• Spruce up your walls, floors and furnishings. Move things around to create a new look and feel, especially when seasons change.
• Create focal points of interest with interesting artwork, books or sculpture.
• Infuse natural scents and soothing sounds.
• Less is more when decorating, so be mindful of what you choose to place in your rooms.
• Create an inviting look from the outdoors to draw the positive energy inside.

Simple Ways to Honor Your Body:

• Commit to exercise
• Eat healthy
• Groom
• Meditate
• Love yourself 
• Embrace challenges
• Live mindfully
• Be present

Living in an embodied state means to honor the your house; the one that houses your body and the one that houses your soul.

Om Shant,

Mary Jane

Feng Shui Yoga Girl

www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Being Mindful With Your Plants

Did you ever think that being mindful with your plants can actually keep you in the present moment? We can most certainly learn something from our plants. Notice how they acclimate to their surroundings - sunlight, water, air temperature -  and how they use those surroundings to thrive. Plants can teach us the great lesson of patience, humility and impermanence; the cycles of beginning, maturing, ending and transforming.

In feng shui, plants are a symbol of growth, vitality, health and abundance. They are notoriously positioned in the area of "wealth" and "health" within an environment as a reminder how we need to take responsibility in these areas of our life. Just as we tend to our plants, we also must tend to our health and wealth.

We can rejoice in seeing new leaves sprout, flower shoots emerge, and plants growing taller and wider. It is an amazing feeling to know your plants are thriving because you are tending to them. Can you do the same for yourself?

Mindful Exercise:

Take a moment to connect with your plants. Perhaps have a little chat with them. They make wonderful listeners! Observe weekly any new shoots, and take note of how they emerge. January is the month for creating, so why not create plant groupings that remind you of memorable trips and locations: a bowl of cacti evokes a desert landscape while a terrarium of ferns and mosses recalls the soft floor of a forest in the Pacific Northwest.

Being mindful means engaging with other living things. A plant isn't as demanding as a pet or another human being, but can offer us comfort and happiness. Take the time to nourish your plants and you'll be amazed how nourished you feel in return.

Om,
Mary Jane Feng Shui Yoga Girl.
www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Be Strong, Be Creative and Find Your Roots!

Be Strong, Be Creative and Find Your Roots View this email in your browser

Welcome!       January is the month of the ox that pulls the plough to prepare the soil for the seeds of creation to take root.  There is a great deal of elements that combine this month to set the wheels in motion for 2019! The temptation to set lofty goals, albeit admirable, can work against the natural flow of things. Instead, align your intention to your soul's mission, and then release it. In yoga we refer to this as a Sankalpa. The intention is formed by the heart and mind. It is a heartfelt desire  or affirmation that harmonizes the mind, body and spirit.      Patanjali explains that suffering is caused by attachment. By and large, when setting goals for the new year, there is a tendency to become attached to the outcome. This year, why not step into your power and suffer less by lowering your expectations. I know that sounds counterintuitive, but if you look at it from the perspective of not expecting too much from someone or something that is not capable of giving that, then you avoid the attachment and suffering that goes along with it. In 2019, decide to shift your attachment and linger in the present moment. This will help you navigate the bumps along the spiritual path.   Elevate Your Consciousness! Mary Jane   Be Strong, Be Creative and Find Your Roots! Strong wood (yang) is present this month in the LoShu Grid. Each month there is a new element that shines and releases its qualities into the atmosphere for all living things to absorb. If you refer to the tree image to the right, it is easy to notice the graceful stretch of the branches high into the sky, and as it soars, guidance is present. The roots reach deep into the ground and find strength. Think of this support system as a family's dynamic. It provides roots so you may know strength and develop the ability to grow, thrive and meet your potential. This energy teaches us to develop strength of character, build a strong body and sound mind. It provides fertile ground to plant the seeds of our creativity, manifest our desires and put ideas into action so they may blossom and bear fruit in the world. The strength of the ox this month assists in the process of creating new things because it is willing to do the work that is required of us. The ox perseveres no matter what obstacles may arise, and does it with a helping hand. This is much like the legendary goddess  Durga who can help empower your aspirations and tap into the leader within. Environmental Accents to Support Roots and Creativity: 1. From the center of your home, locate the east portent. Remove any clutter, items you no longer like and anything in disrepair. 2. Place a few family photos, especially of elders. Use qualities of three when positioning photos or other décor accent pieces. 3. Include a cultural piece or item depicting your heritage. You may also add artwork or photos of trees, water or landscape scenes. 4. Add a few healthy plants and accents of blue or green with a splash of fire. Columnar shapes are perfect for this area. 5. Add a water feature such as a fish bowl or water fountain provided it is not a kitchen or bedroom. 6. Add upward light source and place a notebook or journal that is easy to access so when an idea comes to mind you can write it down. 7. Wake early and take notice of nature, especially trees and repeat this affirmation: I cultivate and live a dynamic life of strength and purpose.           The Winter Water: This is the time of year when water is strong. In 5 element theory, a system used in Chinese medicine and Feng Shui, the element of water prospers in the winter. It refers to our life path, belief and the journey ahead. It is a promise of one's life path and a bringing forth of one's dreams. There is only one journey, and that is to go inside yourself. It is through the inner work we find the courage to reveal our true self and be authentic. Without the element of water, there is no fuel to feed the creative process. Water pulls us in so we can reflect, contemplate and meditate. The result is flowing ideas for strong wood to propagate so we can take action. This is why it is important to have artwork with water scenes or actual water features in your environment. The aforementioned bode best in the East, Southeast or North directions, as long as these areas are not the kitchen or bedroom. Water ignites the second chakra (Svadhistana) where our creative resources lie. It is the dwelling place of the self. As humans, part of our nature is to create. We create in many ways from giving birth, gardening, writing, art, cooking or when we find a solution to an old problem. Anytime we take raw materials, and transform them into something new, we are using our creative energy. 3 Yoga Poses to Assist Water Energy:   Seated Pelvic Circles Baddha Konasana (Butterfly Pose) Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose) Mantra: I personify the attributes of strength and courage. I am in the flow. Earth - The Element of Stability: Earth is the stabilizer. It revolves, centers and  provides a strong foundation for whatever we decide to venture into. In Feng Shui, it represents the aspects of inner knowing and how we relate to others. It is a point where all else revolves around including our roots, blessings, soul's mission, joy, heavenly spirit and life path. Without the earth we have no reference point of matter. >From this place of stability, we are able to create and let our ideas root deep giving us confidence and strength. The element of earth awakens the root chakra (Muladhara), a reminder of the power of grounding. It's our core connection to the Mother and humanity. It is helpful to anchor the root by having strong earth elements in your environment, especially in the center, Northeast and Southwest directions. Accents such as a stone pillar or statue bodes well. Carrying grounding stones like black tourmaline in your pocket is also advantageous. 3 Yoga Poses to Awaken the Root: Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend) Janu Sirsansana (Head-to-Knee Forward Bend) Virabhadrasana II (Warrior 2 Pose) Mantra: I rejoice and live in peace, freedom and joy. My path is enlightened with clarity and wisdom. Putting It All Together: Your focus this month is to create. Rely on the wisdom of elders and true-self. That's it! Nothing fancy or expectations that pull you from your dharmic path. Rishikesh, India Many Blessings! Mary Jane

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