copyright Bela Johnson, published by Inner Tapestry, June/July 2003

Looking tired? Worn thin? Need a change? Such phrases remind us that life involves an ongoing process of death (letting go) and renewal (starting afresh). And even though we are bombarded in our consumerist culture with invitations to endlessly gather, letting go of what we no longer need or what no longer serves us must come first. In this, the season of the New England yard sale, perhaps we can reflect on how letting go of what we no longer need can make room for better things to come our way, on many levels.

In Dr. Frank Lipman's new book TOTAL RENEWAL, we are introduced to a multifaceted healing system which addresses the body and beyond. Among his suggestions, we are encouraged to release what are termed "burdens" in order to experience resilience, vitality and long-term health. These burdens include, but are not limited to, environmental toxins (air pollution, noise pollution, food chemicals, mold, mildew and heavy metals), drugs, allergins, toxic diets and constant dieting, nutritional deficiencies, physical tension, too much or dissatisfying work, low self esteem, lack of joy or love, holding grudges, judgments, chronic worrying, doubts and pessimism, loneliness or isolation, lack of sleep or exercise, climactic extremes, lack of gratitude, separation from nature, lack of trust in self or the Universe, and a sense of disconnection from a Higher Power.

Many of us attend to some of Lipman's list while excluding others. For example, walking three miles a day and eating a balanced diet rich in organic foods and supplements can be very energizing. Yet maintaining a self critical attitude which is reinforced by unsupportive friends and family can more than offset our good intentions. If we are feeling depleted, our body's sympomatology may still be informing us of an imbalance. Pain is meant to get our attention, and as a spiritually gifted teacher I know likes to say, "the gods whisper before they scream." If Carl Jung was right, then, and those gods reside within us, the body, house of the soul, bears listening and paying attention to. Renewal begins then, quite literally at home. Like a house with a warm kitchen but an office full of disorganized stacks of paperwork, we might, for example, be using the comfort of food to offset anxieties about unfinished business. Like pictures hanging crooked on their mountings, we may not even notice how chaotic our inner lives have become. A leaky faucet might symbolize the emotional waters we have been trying to bypass, in an ongoing rush to succeed financially at the expense of nurturing relationships.

In the ancient Chinese art of FENG SHUI, it is said that house is metaphor for self. Feng shui (pronounced FUNG SHWAY) is the Chinese art of placement, or intentionally creating harmony in one's physical environment. Feng shui offers rich symbolism which can be utilized and reflected upon in everyday life. By creating an intentional relationship with our environment, we are creating an opportunity for rejuvenation, as defined by Webster: "to make, feel, or seem new or fresh again." I like Webster's second definition as well, "to increase the grade and speed of flow of a stream," as we are reminded to "go with the flow," or to "follow a stream of consciousness." If we are to surrender to these more flowing aspects of ourselves, however, we need to clean up the messes which prevent movement. And though there are many books written on feng shui, one of my favorites is a remainder I picked up on a Border's table called THE PRACTICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF FENG SHUI by Gil Hale. This beautifully illustrated work is packed with useful tips, such as "if our working lives are hectic, our living rooms will (ideally) reflect our desire for a peaceful haven. Lonely people should, however, use this room to reflect their need for companionship and remove all single images - such as pictures of lone figures; ornaments should be grouped in pairs, and the room should be used to create a positive energy." In a family environment, for example, one child's work should not be overly featured, to prevent others from feeling less important.

Another way in which we can observe the state of our inner house is to pay attention to our dreams. Again, remember house is metaphor for self. Notice if your "dream" house is a castle, a shed; cluttered or open. Does it feel safe or threatening, is it multileveled or on one plane? The dimension and feeling to the spiritual house gives us clues as to where we are in our life process. Attics may represent higher mind, where cellars symbolize the subconscious. Where is your dream taking place? What is the condition of your space? What colors predominate? (as colors in feng shui represent various elements: green/wood, red/fire, yellow to brown/earth, blue/water, white, grey, silver or gold/metal). Feng shui focuses on how energy moves or does not move, throughout our environment. How does energy move or feel restricted in our "dream" house?

In the science of Physics, the Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy never dies, it only changes form. The Law of Inertia conveys that once an object is in motion, it remains in motion until an equal or greater force opposes it. Energy, by its very nature, seeks movement. We humans are energetic beings, and human growth and development is in constant flux. If this growth and development appears to stagnate, movement is still continuing on some level. But rather than that movement being of an intentional sort, proceeding in a direction we intention through our desire, it may change form into something like cancer, for example, a disease symbolizing out-of-control growth through the rapid duplication of the "wrong" kind of cells. As for the Law of Inertia, what must come into our lives to challenge us, if we remain "stuck" for too long? Instead of resisting change, an all-too-human dilemma, embracing life's inevitable ebb and flow allows us to renew ourselves through shedding, grieving, and inviting new experiences and opportunities for growth.

How can we reorient ourselves to a process which liberates more energy so that we might feel the effects of renewal in our lives? We can start by spring cleaning - cleaning out our metaphoric and literal houses, cleaning our bodies through sensible diet and exercise, those which we are drawn to and which feel good (i.e., if you can't stand exercising on machines inside a closed building, a gym membership is probably not a wise investment. Take a daily walk in nature, and dress for the occasion!). Clear out toxic relationships and other "burdens," to use Lipman's term. This might feel stressful at first, especially if you feel it must be "all or nothing." Yet remember energy does not die, rather it changes form. Your relationship to friends and family can simply change form rather than terminate, for example. Treat yourself to a more self respectful lifestyle. Get rest, schedule a massage. See a therapist or begin a meditation or yoga class. Notice the patterns you have established in your life. Even changing some little way of doing a thing might create enough movement to pick up momentum which can carry you in a more self validating direction. Realizing that beneficial change takes time, we can allow ourselves time to reflect, reorganize and renew. This can certainly lead to rejuvenation, body, mind and soul.