Heavenly Heather

I knew spring was coming when I looked out in my yard and saw the heather blooming. Despite the chill that still hung in the air, I had to run out and run my fingers through it and take a few clippings to bring inside.

Heather is the national flower of Norway,  but it also a native of many of the Celtic lands, including Scotland and Ireland.  It loves the cooler summers of northern Europe. Heather comes in a variety of shades including pink, dark rose, and white. White is considered to be particularly lucky.

Heather has so many uses. It has been used as thatching for roofs, kindling for fire, bedding, teas, baskets, dye and more. Such versatility in such a small plant!

Heather tea makes a wonderful tonic for coughs and cold.  It's help calm a cough while helping you sleep. Add some heather honey, and you'll have a remedy worthy of any Celtic mother. Welcome to my Scotland  has some wonderful tales of heather. We at Celtic Chairde use heather in several of our products, including our Mela Tae Bright Eye Refreshers (tea bags filled with cucumber, heather and eyebright - a refreshing and soothing treat to tired eyes!) and in our face toner. It's slightly astringent quality is one reason we use it, but I think it adds a little touch of heavenly Irish magic.       

By Susan Tartaglino

Nature is beautiful in its imperfections and seems to express itself most fervently with the arrival of Spring. 

Life wakes up from the deep sleep of winter and everything comes alive.  People just can't wait to shed layers of clothing and feel the warmth of the sun on their skin.  Nature responds the same way. The crocus and day lily push their way thru the earth as they sprout new stalks and reach for the sun.  Shrubs and trees start to form buds and are turning green. 

The Chinese system of living in harmony with the natural elements and forces of earth is referred to as feng shui.  This ancient philosophy demonstrates that the world is defined by five elements of nature:  wood, fire, earth, metal and water. 

Each element has its own specific characteristics, and can be described in terms of season, direction, color and shape.  As a feng shui practitioner, it comes as no surprise to me that wood  is the element of Spring, and that the direction associated with wood is east, where the sun rises and the day begins. 

Wood promotes change.  It represents flexibility, growth and new beginnings. The color associated with wood is green (the color of photosynthesis) and the shape is tall, rectangular or treelike - all traits that are perfectly revealed during the Spring season.

Cyclically, Spring it is a natural time for us to focus on removing physical, mental and emotional clutter from our lives.  Your environment mirrors who you are.  Anything that is neglected, forgotten, unwanted, or unused will cause the energy in your home to slow and stagnate, and then you will feel that your life is not moving.  Clutter keeps you stuck in the past. 

Disorder, confusion, chaos and blockage are not signs of a healthy space.  When the energy in your home gets congested, so does your body.  The stagnant energy of clutter pulls your energy down with it, which can lead to fatigue or depression and even illness.    

Take the time to inventory your home (and office).  De-clutter by asking yourself the following two questions: "Do I really need this?"  "Is it something I really love?" The answer should be yes to at least one, but preferably to both of these questions. 

Let a little Spring cleaning and clutter clearing lighten your load physically and emotionally.  You will see procrastination dissolving and find yourself motivated for a lifestyle change.  Follow nature's lead - now is the time to be like wood.  Welcome change and try new things.  Take a few risks and be flexible in your thoughts and actions.

Susan Tartaglino is a certified Feng Shui Practitioner through the Feng Shui Institute of America.  Susan trained with Feng Shui master Nancilee Wydra and is a member of the International Feng Shui Guild.  Susan has attended workshops led by Karen Kingston, who is widely recognized as a leading authority on Space Clearing.  Additionally, Susan is training with Eileen Smith, ANGEL THERAPY PRACTITIONER™, Intuitive Healer and Reiki Master Teacher to achieve her Reiki Level Two certification.

For additional information regarding a feng shui consultation for your home or office or to discuss your home staging needs, please call Susan at 732-232-4962 or visit www.balanceyoursurroundings.com.