Dream big, and long term

Do you dream of becoming a feng shui practitioner/consultant? Or adding feng shui to your current work?  Dream big and take your first step by starting your training on March 5.

I recently had the opportunity to play an abbreviated version of The Decade Game. The idea behind The Decade Game is for you to create a life by design, not by default. The rule is to think in terms of a decade as you are designing your life. Dream big and long-term, (10 years!) then start with initial steps. Playing the game reminded me of myself, ten years ago.

Are you having fun?

In the game, you are asked this foundational question:  if you are not currently having fun in the life that you’re living, then you’re playing someone else’s game.

In other words, the purpose of the game (and your life!) is to start playing – and having a blast – in your own game/life. Start by asking yourself what you want and take your first steps.

A little less than 10 years ago, I left the job that was not fulfilling me and took my part-time, weekends-only, feng shui “gig” to a full-fledged consulting practice with my own hours. What a joy it has been and continues to be! My life and work as a feng shui practitioner, consultant, teacher, and writer is exactly what I want to be doing. And, yes, I’m having fun!

Begin your feng shui training March 5!

Is working in feng shui or bringing feng shui into your current work something you’ve wanted to do?

You can begin as early as March 5^th by getting your feng shui certification training through the Western School of Feng Shui. I am going to be coaching and facilitating the fourteen-day, Fast-Track Essential Feng Shui® (EFS) certification training program from March 5 – 18, 2023. Join me, and other students, in this on-line training program with Zoom coaching calls.  I’ll be with you twice daily on Zoom throughout your training and will use examples from my fourteen years of experience as a feng shui consultant to enrich the training. Learn more here.

Here’s what one student from the October 2022 training had to say:

I hope you took some time to take a breath and enjoy the beautiful weekend after a fantastic two weeks full of Feng Shui. I wanted to send you a quick note to congratulate you on a very successful course and also thank you for sharing your knowledge with others. I really appreciated your teaching style and hope you feel great about the course as well! I learned so much and I know there is so much more to learn.

Many thanks again! Ryan

What do you want to be doing in a decade?  If feng shui is in your big picture, join me in March.

Two live, Zoom vision workshops announced for 2023!

The new year is around the corner. It’s time to make a date to create a vision for your 2023 by attending one of two live, Zoom vision board workshops:  Sunday, January 8, 2023 from 1 PM – 3:30 PM or Saturday, January 14, 2023 from 10 AM – 12:30 PM.

You manifest what you believe, not (just*) what you want!  Sonia Ricotti

I added the just* to the above quote because it’s important to feel and know what you want as a first part of creating your vision for the future. Believing that you can manifest what you want is paramount to the process.

The vision board workshops are live on Zoom so you can envision a new year for yourself and complete your board, all from home! Those of you familiar with this workshop (we’re in our 10th year!) know we use feng shui to power up the process. I’ll be with you throughout the workshop and available on screen or in the chat.

(Not familiar with vision boards? Read about them here.)

Join me in a live two-and-a-half hour Zoom vision board workshop to envision all the wonderful stories of your 2023 yet to unfold and learn how to manifest them. The cost of the workshop is $35 and includes my preparation list and custom vision board feng shui handouts. After you register, I’ll send your instructions, handouts and Zoom link.

Two workshops to choose from:

Sunday, January 8, 2023 1 – 3:30 PM  (Register here)

Saturday, January 14, 2023 10 AM – 12:30 PM (Register here) 

See you next year!

Interested in becoming a certified practitioner of feng shui?  Join me in the Fall 2022 for a two-week, fast-track online and Zoom course offered through the Western School of Feng Shui.

My life changed; yours can, too!

Many of you know that my life changed when I read The Western Guide to Feng Shui by Terah Kathryn Collins. I found my new career and attended the Western School of Feng Shui to become certified as an Essential Feng Shui® (EFS) practitioner. That was over 13 years ago and today, I am happy to announce that I’m facilitating, coaching, and supporting students taking a fast-track Zoom version of that same certification course this October, from 10/9 – 10/22/22.

Now you can learn from Terah and her co-teachers (via video) with me by your side (in your Zoom window) and with other students, all from the comfort of your own home, office, or coffee shop.

Content-rich, in-depth training.

This content-rich, in-depth training features over 100 hours of online videos, audios, and written materials prepared by Terah and her co-teachers.  The Western School of Feng Shui’s curriculum is a culmination and compilation of Terah’s study with renowned acupuncture teacher, author, and feng shui expert, Dr. Richard Tan.  In addition, Terah and her co-teachers have all practiced what they’ve preached for many years and share their experiences as practitioners and consultants.

You’re not alone! I’ll be with you along the way.

And I’ll be with you along the way! Together on Zoom, we’ll meet twice a day to go over the video-watching plan, the curriculum, share insights and then answer questions and dig deeper. We’ll get through the required training in the two-week program, and I’ll make sure you’re ready to complete your certification requirements on your own in order to finish and finalize the certification process. Not only will I be the “coach” in your Zoom window, but you’ll meet and connect with other students, too, so you’ll be sharing the experience and garnering their insights as well.

It’s the same great curriculum.

The curriculum for this program is the same whether you choose the in-person, seven-day training with a facilitator/coach (offered several times a year in different locations) or the self-paced, online version of the training. This new format – Fast-Track Zoom — is being offered for the first time for those who want to do the program within a two-week time frame and with other students and a facilitator/coach on Zoom – all from the comfort and convenience of your own space.

Learn more about the program here or contact me directly for more information.

Come join me!

Becoming a feng shui practitioner and consultant is one of the best experiences of my life. I’m so excited to help students absorb and understand the philosophy and tools of this Form School Feng Shui practice and share my experiences as a feng shui practitioner, consultant, writer, teacher, and business owner for over 13 years.  Come join me!

 Create a Vision (Board) for 2022!

I hope you are healthy and well, coping and emerging into our new normal. This past year wasn’t what we envisioned for 2021, but many of you are thriving. I know because you’ve told me and I’ve seen it. I hope you’ve had some “aha” moments and even experienced what one of last year’s vision board workshop attendees told me: “Everything on my vision board happened!” That’s why we do vision boards; because they work! (Also because they are lots of fun to do!) We’ll be on Zoom again in 2022 to be safe and wise. If you’ve never done a vision board before try it, and join us miracle workers and believers!

Two workshops to choose from live with Zoom:

I hope you’ll join me by taking your vision board workshop via Zoom this year from home on either of these scheduled dates for a live Zoom workshop:

Sunday, January 9, 2022          10 AM – 12:30 PM  (register here)

Saturday, January 15, 2022    1 PM – 3:30 PM  (register here)

You can:

• Register for your 2022 Vision Board workshop above and I’ll send your pre-workshop instructions. Registration is $35.
• Host your own sponsored vision board workshop, live on Zoom, for employees, clients, friends and/or family. Contact me for more information or read more here.

What’s a vision board?

A Vision Board is a collection of images that represents the hopes, goals, and dreams you have for your future, often created around the New Year. The images are mounted on a poster board and hung in a place that you can see every day. Vision Boards are proactive, intentional, and fun. And, best of all, they work!

Changes for the 2022 Vision Board workshops:

This year’s vision board workshops will all be happening remotely, on Zoom, with a live chat option so we can talk to each other and you can ask questions.

You will need to gather your materials – an actual poster or foam board (if you choose to create a physical board), some double-sided tape, scissors and magazines or other print material to cut, shape, and affix. (The Dollar Store is a great place for your materials if you choose to shop, or you can easily get everything online.)

If you choose to create your board on your computer using digital photos, you may wish to watch the live Zoom workshop on your phone or tablet so you can use your computer to create it.

I will be leading you through the process with an explanation of our feng shui principles, which help us acknowledge all parts of our vision for the future, and with plenty of time in between segments for you to work on your board and ask questions.  There will be time at the end for anyone wanting to share their thoughts about the process or their board!  (Sharing your board is always a powerful announcement to the universe about what you want!)

Host your own private vision board workshop

It’s easy to host a private or sponsored Zoom Vision Board workshop for your employees, clients, friends, book group, work colleagues or fellow board members.  Contact me if you have questions.  This makes a very unique gift and you have an opportunity to connect with your tribe! I like to have a minimum of 10 participants.

Incorporate these feng shui habits—all expressions of yin and yang energy—into your daily routine and enjoy a balanced lifestyle. Or, as I like to call it, la vida feng shui! Yin and yang can be explained as equal and counterbalanced forces that make up chi, the life force energy that exists in all things. They are equally important, can’t exist without the other, and work well together, like good partners, to create wholeness and balance. When we balance these two energies within ourselves and our worlds, we can live a more harmonious life.

Be clear on what you want and let your actions take you there.

A powerful way to clarify and remind yourself of what is important to you is to create a vision board, a big-picture view (literally, a collage of pictures) of your dreams and goals. Looking inward to discover your deepest desires is an expression of Yin energy. Taking outward action to realize your goals expresses Yang energy.

Take care of yourself before taking care of others.

This is the same thing as putting on your own oxygen mask first. Meditate, eat breakfast, exercise, write in your journal—do whatever it is every day that nurtures your body, mind, and spirit, and give yourself the gift of time to make it a habit. Everyone else you care for or connect with—your family, clients, neighbors, and fellow drivers on the road—will benefit from your caring for yourself (Yin energy) in preparation for helping others (Yang energy).

Take stock and be grateful.

Take stock of your blessings, small and large. Being grateful expresses Yin energy. Showing your gratitude in ways that are meaningful to you is a powerful expression of Yang energy. When we are grateful, we open the window of opportunity. I like to think of gratitude and prosperity as dancing partners: taking turns leading and following to create a harmonious dance.

Show up. And make sure that what you’re doing aligns with your values.

Whether it’s to your job, a volunteer position, or helping a family member, if you’ve made a commitment, follow through on it. This is feng shui Yang energy expressed as action powered by your integrity (Yin energy).

Express yourself; e.g., play!

Dance, make music, create art, write, play golf, cook, read, puzzle, knit—whatever your creative outlet, make time for it and enjoy it without judgment. Creativity is the mind at play, and without it we can become dulled, robotic worker bees (which is an insult to bees). Play brings balance into our lives and expresses both Yin and Yang energies—you need both to power the seesaw!

Be helpful. And accept help when you need it.

When you help others with joy and intention, it’s like getting a hit of oxygen or a B-12 shot—an instant energy boost. The action of helping is Yang energy. The Yin side of helping is being able to ask for help, and then accepting it. This can be difficult, but it’s also a habit that can be learned, to the benefit of all—you get the help you deserve, and your helper gets an energy boost.

Rest.

I saved the hardest habit for last. We are notoriously bad at resting. Even on vacation, people pack their time off with a list of activities. Some people even brag about how little sleep they get (to the detriment of their bodies, minds, and spirits.) Feng shui reminds us to balance our environments. This includes your body. Balance your body by giving it a chance to rest and rejuvenate after a full day of work and play.

Repeat, and you’ll be livin’ la vida feng shui!

Feng shui reminds us to find balance in our work, in our lives and in our spaces to help us stay healthy – physically, mentally and emotionally. Today, during the Covid-19 pandemic upheaval, this is crucial. You can work from home productively, find time to enjoy yourself and get much needed rest to reset by following these feng shui tips. They work for those of you with dedicated home offices and those with temporary workspaces (like the dining table or the couch.)

Tip #1 Start the day with gratitude. 

Writing down what you’re grateful for and affirming what you want in life (in the present tense) is a powerful positive energy boost. Keep your list in notes on your phone, start a gratitude journal, or turn to someone in your home every day and say, “thank you.” In feng shui, gratitude kick starts prosperity.

Tip # 2 Identify your goals for working from home and set up your office to reach them.

• Decide what you need to accomplish your goals – computer, pad, pencil, workspace, chair, light — and set your tools up in the place you designate as your office.  Or, place all items in a basket or tray that you can carry with you if you need to work from the dining room table or another sitting area. If working in a dining area, clear off items that are normally there for mealtime. Let this be a clear space for your work, or shared space for office and schoolwork. Energy flows where the eye goes: help your eyes to focus on your work wherever you set up.
• Set your “office” hours and post them where you’ll see them (the refrigerator is perfect). These will probably have to be flexible and may be in set periods throughout the day. Don’t set yourself up for failure by thinking you’ll get 8 hours of work in. You probably won’t – but you don’t need to. Many studies have been done suggesting that 5 hours of work at home is the same as 8 hours of work at an office.

  

• De-clutter the area where you’ll be working. In feng shui, clutter equals stuck energy which is the opposite of what you need: flowing, positive energy moving in and around you while working. Put stuff in a laundry basket to clear off your space, then, at the end of the day, go through and clear out that basket. (After hours of not looking at it you’ll be able to tell what needs to be filed/put away, used or tossed.)

Tip # 3 Move or rearrange something in your dedicated home office.

This action signifies that your work life has changed, and your office will now reflect that. Moving furniture, art or accessories invites you to literally “see” things differently.

• Place your desk in the “power” position, where you can see the door. If your desk has to be facing a wall, due to space constraints, place a small mirror next to your computer or in your workspace so you can see behind you without turning around. This command position helps you feel confident and powerful in your work.
• Erase your white board or take everything off your bulletin board and start fresh – maybe with work goals, funny memes or inspirational quotes.
• Change out lamps and/or artwork. Go “shopping” in your home for other art and accessories to switch out with.
• If your home office is also the guest room, make it less guest-ready (no one is coming to visit right now). For example, if there is a Murphy Bed, fold it up. With a dedicated guest bed, you can change to a plain bedcover to lessen its visual impact on the space. If you need more space, push the bed against a wall. This is Your Office now.
• Spray an essential oil mist or light a scented candle in your space to signify that it’s work time. Select something energizing, like citrus. The sense of smell is an energy trigger; put it to work for you.

Tip #4 Build a “work fort.”

For those of you with children at home and no dedicated workspace, this is an option to separate out your space with a physical barrier. You could also have “school forts” for your children while they’re doing their schoolwork if they need separation.

• Use a cardboard trifold display board to create your “fort.”(These are often used for science fair projects and easy to purchase online.) It can be decorated on the outside by your kids, if you wish, while the inside is a place for you to post your work goals, affirmations or office hours. When the trifold is open and placed on your workspace (dining table or couch) you are in the “office” and at “work.” Conversely, when it’s folded and put away, work is done.

Tip #5  Drown out distractions with white noise.  

Even for those of us with dedicated offices, white noise can be essential. Use your phone and headphones and plug in to a Spotify white noise selection.

Tip #6  Clean off your desk, put your work supplies on your tray or in your basket and STOP working at the time you specify in your “office hours.” 

Now it’s time to exercise, go outside, play with your kids, read a book, watch Netflix and relax.

Tip #7 Give yourself permission, and a schedule, to go online. 

 Use discretion with your news diet.

Tip #8 Go to bed at the same time every night and get up at the same time every morning.

This will help you get enough sleep and give you some structure. Whether you work Monday – Friday or some other schedule, take some days off every week. Structure helps us during this unsettling time by giving us some control over our lives.

Remember that this time of sheltering, and working, at home will end and a new normal is around the bend. Being flexible with work, rest and play now will help you to balance your life in the future.

Stay sane and safe!

Communicate and Co-Create: Your 2020 Vision Board workshop will help you envision, create and manifest a fabulous year, in all aspects of your life.  Save 1/5/20 or 1/19/20 for your workshop, or host your own!

A Vision board is a collection of images that represents the hopes, goals, and dreams you have for your future, often created around the New Year.  The images are mounted on a poster board and hung in a place that you can see every day.  Vision Boards are proactive, intentional and fun.  And they work!

We will use Feng Shui organizing principles – the Bagua, Five Elements and Yin/Yang balance – to design and make our boards.  With Feng Shui guiding us, we will make sure to communicate with our deepest selves, balance our vision with work, rest, and play and incorporate our careers and journeys, health, wealth, family and love lives!

The workshop includes materials (including your board, scissors, tape, glue and extra magazines) but attendees are encouraged to bring their own folder of images.  Upon registering, each attendee will receive a how-to-get-started list, an FAQ and payment instructions.  You must register in advance for this workshop.  Registration is $30 through 12/31/19, $35 after 1/1/20. Contact Lorrie Webb Grillo, Thriving Spaces Feng Shui @ lwgrillo@thrivingspaces.com.

Start collecting your images now!  Each attendee will leave with their own personal 2020 Vision board at the end of the workshop.

Host your own vision board workshop in your space!  Contact me for more information.  This is a wonderful workshop for your employees, clients, friends and family.  Let’s get this set up @ lwgrillo@thrivingspaces.com.

Two workshops to choose from (more may be added):

Sunday 1/5/20 in Lowry at the Schlessman Family Library, 1:30 – 4:30 PM

Sunday 1/19/20 in Lowry at the Lowry Print Shop 1 – 4 PM

Save your spot now!

I will be speaking about different aspects of feng shui at these upcoming events this fall. Some are free workshops and one has a small fee. See below. Hope to see you at one of these events!

10/13/18      Feng Shui for Health & Wellness: a hands-on workshop with tools you can use.

In this introduction to Feng Shui for creating greater health & wellness, you will learn how the energy of spaces and things impacts our everyday lives. You will be introduced to some tools of the practitioner – the Bagua and the Five Elements – and how to use them to make changes in your environment for health & wellness. You’ll even have a chance to test your new knowledge. And, you’ll be introduced to some excellent Feng Shui teachers through their books – usually available through your library!    

Parker Public Library,  20105 Mainstreet, Parker, CO 80138,  Event Hall A

2 – 4 PM

FREE EVENT

Sign up: 303-791-7323 or go to https://www.dcl.org/parker.

10/17/18      Feng Shui for the Holidays

In this :30 minute introduction to feng shui, you’ll learn specific tips to you manage your holiday stress with the help of feng shui!

Sponsored by Women, Wine & Wellness – Lowry and Amanda Holliday, Ways to Optimize. Women, Wine & Wellness is a women’s networking group where wellness-minded women mingle, enjoy a glass of wine and snacks and learn about a topic to enhance their wellness (physical, emotional, spiritual, financial).

6:30 – 8:30 PM

Community Banks of Colorado – Conference Room

7900 E. 1^st Ave., Denver, CO 80230

$15 with pre-registration OR cash or check at the door

RSVP to Amanda Halliday for your invitation at waystooptimize@gmail.com

11/30/18      Feng Shui 101: an introduction to this ancient design system  – CANCELLED DUE TO LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT (updated 10/23/18)

In this introduction to Feng Shui, you will learn how the energy of spaces and things impacts our everyday lives. You will be introduced to some tools of the practitioner – the Bagua and the Five Elements – and how to use them to make changes in your environment for health & wellness. You’ll even have a chance to test your new knowledge. And, you’ll be introduced to some excellent Feng Shui teachers through their books – usually available through your library!    

Eugene Field Library, 810 S University Blvd, Denver, CO 80209

(720) 865-0240

2 – 3 PM

FREE EVENT