August is closely associated with the Earth element. One of the attributes of this element is the taste of sweetness. In addition to its physical taste, metaphorically, sweetness also relates to savoring the sweetness of life. This special kind of sweetness lifts our spirits and helps us to increase our experience of love and well-being.
When the Earth element is in balance, both personally and in the Feng Shui of our surroundings, there is a natural flow of peace, joy, love, and abundance into to our lives. We feel nurtured and supported by our activities, relationships, and the space around us.
Creativity and joy are abundant. You feel acceptance and a loving energy toward others—possibly even toward people who act in ways that are unacceptable or have different values than your own. Obviously, your romantic relationships will also benefit. And life is very sweet!
To create more of this, notice the ways that Earth may be out of balance in your life either personally or in your home.
Some common indications of imbalance are:
- You think “more is better” and accumulate things which you really don’t want or need.
- Clutter or hoarding is an issue for you.
- You have too much stuff. Even if you have plenty of room for storage and it’s stored neatly, if it’s never used, its energy becomes stagnant.
- Addiction may be a problem. This can include shopping, alcohol, smoking, food, sex, video games, excessive time spent on your cell phone, etc.
- You may have an eating disorder or a weight problem.
- You crave sweets or other foods with a high sugar content.
- You’re not grounded.
- Personal decisions are difficult, causing you to procrastinate about taking action.You are overly resistant to change
- Your personal boundaries are regularly violated by people close to you.
Enhancements for Earth element imbalance:
- If clutter is an issue, make it a priority to start the clearing process. If it’s difficult to get started, commit to releasing at least 9 things each day. Over the years I’ve seen many clients who have what I call “organized clutter.” Just because you have room for something doesn’t mean that you should keep it. Some exceptions are prized mementos and things you use seasonally.
- Place plants or add the Metal element to areas where there’s too much Earth.
- In the event that you need more Earth, add an earthy object–like a ceramic sculpture–or something related to the Fire element such as candles or a red accessory. (Be sure that you’re only adding things you love and fit into your space. Otherwise, you’re creating clutter.)
- Learn to ground yourself. Place a rock or picture of a mountain in your Knowledge area or in an area you spend time in everyday as a reminder to ground. Also, simply putting your feet flat on the ground or walking outside on the earth can help you to ground.
Next month I’ll write about the Metal element and its relationship to art.
May the Sweetness of Earth Fill Your Heart,
Suzanne
© 8/7/14 • Suzanne Metzger • Feng Shui Consulting Services