Sun-Centered Sacred Ritual

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Sun Centered Sacred Ritual
Photo by Pixabay

Since the dawn of time, humans have been fascinated by the sun. Radiating power from the sky, our star, which is an unparalleled creative force. Its brilliant rays illuminate the seasons, give heat, to all living beings, and gives us our life force energy. The sun has been given many names by many cultures.

In ancient Egypt, for instance, the sun was worshiped as the god Ra, believed to be the creator and ruler of the universe.

Sun worship, or the veneration of the sun as a deity or as a symbol of divine power, has a long history in human civilization. It emerged independently in various cultures around the world and was especially prevalent in ancient societies where the sun was revered.

Sun worship can be traced back to some of the earliest known civilizations. In ancient Egypt, for instance, the sun was worshiped as the god Ra, believed to be the creator and ruler of the universe. The sun’s daily journey across the sky was seen as a manifestation of Ra’s power and benevolence.

Among the Germanic tribes, the sun was personified as the goddess Sol. Among the Germanic tribes, the sun was personified as the goddess Sol. The winter solstice celebration (Yule) was particularly important, as it marked the turning point where the sun’s power began to strengthen again.

Sun worship was also prominent in East Asia. In ancient China, the sun was associated with the concept of yang, representing light, warmth, and masculinity. This was part of the broader philosophy of yin and yang.

Throughout these diverse cultures, sun worship often reflected important themes such as life, renewal, power, and cosmic order.

To a large extent, our lives are ordered around the brilliant illumination of the sun. The sun drives the cycles of our days and seasons while providing us with a framework we can use for running our lives. The sun can be a powerful symbol of hope, elation, joy, growth, and creativity.

So, I want to honor our ancient ancestors by suggesting to you a simple, sun-centered ritual that can help you harness this loving energy.

  1. Awaken before dawn and go outdoors to watch the sun’s ascent.
  2. As it rises into view, close your eyes, bask in its light, and imagine your soul ascending alongside it.
  3. Feel yourself grow as you absorb the sun’s energy.
  4. Express your appreciation for all the sun gives to the world.

It’s fascinating to consider how our ancestors revered natural phenomena like the sun. While modern perspectives on worship vary widely, appreciating the sun’s significance in sustaining life is universal. Whether as a spiritual symbol or a scientific marvel, honoring the sun can be a profound way to connect with our shared heritage and the awe-inspiring forces of nature.

Are you wearing the best colors for you? According to the ancient art of Feng Shui, each of us has a power color based on the five elements and the day we were born. Sign up for my email list and provide me the day, month, and year of your birth and I will send you your birth element and power color!

Searching For Your Passion

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Searching for your passion and yearning for your true calling seems to be an integral part of the human experience.
Photo by Ánh Đặng

Searching for your passion and yearning for your true calling seems to be an integral part of the human experience. Here is what I have learned from my search – you can’t strategically discover your passion through some intellectual scavenger hunt.

Passions are born out of experiences.

Think about experiences that left a mark on you. You’re crazy about that one movie because of how it made you feel when you watched it for the first time. You cry whenever you hear that sad song because it was the first song you heard after you broke up. You love surfing because you like the taste of salt on your lips, water in your hair, and sun on your back. The emotions that they conjure up — the passion that you feel — only came after that initial experience.

Discovering your passion follows that same pattern. If you want to discover your burning passion, then put yourself in a position to have a burning experience.
Photo by Budgeron Bach

Discovering your passion follows that same pattern. If you want to discover your burning passion, then put yourself in a position to have a burning experience.

Read something new, talk to someone new, go somewhere new. Maybe you know a lot about dolphins, but you’ve never been to Hawaii where you can swim with them. Go there. Try it out. See where it takes you. Have a new experience — whether that’s around a familiar topic or an unfamiliar one.

Before discovering your passion, be curious and take action. Make different choices. Search out new opportunities. Create new experiences.
It is in the act of creating new experiences that we discover who we are.

If you’re searching for your passion now and haven’t found it, what makes you think continuing your search in the same way will magically bring your passion to you? Change your actions if you want to change the outcome.

If you want a new passion, then you need to create a new experience. Most people will tell you to start with what you know. I disagree.

If everyone only did what they already knew, then we would never learn new skills, change careers, or try anything different.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with utilizing your current skill set. I encourage that. There’s no reason to waste the talent you already have. But don’t choose a new path simply because you can do it.

Your choices should be based on what you like and not what you know. What you like is different than what you’re passionate about. Likes may turn into passions eventually, but they are simply interests right now. Everyone has an interest in something.

To find your passion, you need to dedicate yourself to a cause.

Eventually, the new experiences will deliver you to the next step: finding a goal to work towards. Just the simple act of having a goal and striving for it, whatever it is, plunges you into a strong current that carries you to places you could never have expected or believed were possible.

The value in having a goal and pursuing new experiences is as much the journey it leads us on — the experiences we have, the lessons we learn, the doors it opens — as it is the accomplishment of reaching it. You cannot predict where a journey will lead and what passions it will reveal. You can only start the journey and let the passions evolve naturally.

The pursuit will bring your passion to you.
Photo by cottonbro studio

The pursuit will bring your passion to you.

I’ve been fortunate to have perfect moments when I have said to myself, “This is it, and this is what I am meant to do.” I can tell you that you don’t find moments like that, they find you.

And when you show up every day and dedicate yourself to a cause and continue your journey towards new experiences and new goals, those perfect moments have a tendency to find you more often.

Finding your passion isn’t about knowing with certainty that you have chosen the right direction for yourself. It’s about picking a direction and pursuing it with urgency, consistency, and enthusiasm.

And if you do this, then the experiences that you have will bring your passion to you.

Are you wearing the best colors for you? According to the ancient art of Feng Shui, each of us has a power color based on the five elements and the day we were born. Sign up for my email list and provide me the day, month, and year of your birth and I will send you your birth element and power color!

Balancing the Fire of Summer

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Balancing the Fire of Summer
Photo by Ylanite Koppens

It is the yang summer season! As we enter the vibrant summer, we are greeted by the radiant energy of the fire element, which is associated with summer and represents warmth, passion, and creativity. It is a time of expansion, growth, and embracing the fullness of life. However, excessive heat and imbalances in the fire element can lead to issues such as restlessness, and irritability. Balancing the fire element during this season is not only about finding calm and coolness but also tapping into the fiery, yang aspects that bring vitality and inspiration. Let’s explore how we can harmonize both aspects of the fire element for a balanced and invigorating summer.

Here are seven tips:

  1. Embrace the fire within – Summer is a time of heightened energy and passion. Embrace the fiery, yang aspect of the fire element and tap into your inner drive and power for manifestation and goal execution. Explore new hobbies, artistic pursuits, or projects that ignite your passion and allow your creativity to flourish. This can bring a sense of energized purpose to your life.
  2. Recharge and Rejuvenate – Summer’s vibrant energy can pull us into lots of activities. Find a balance with moments of relaxation and stillness.
  3. Nurture Yin – In all of yang heat we must maintain balance by nurturing the yin energy within us. Try restorative yoga, meditation, and deep breathing.
  4. Embrace Cooling FoodsEmbrace Cooling Foods – Counterbalance the extra heat in your body with refreshing fruits and vegetables such as watermelon, cucumbers, leafy greens, and citrus fruits.
  5. Stay hydrated – Water is the balancing element for fire. Stay hydrated to maintain the equilibrium within your body. Drink plenty of water.
  6. Create a cool and tranquil environment – Incorporate natural, water-like elements such as water features, blue/green glass, and indoor plants to add a sense of freshness and coolness.
  7. Connect with Nature – Spend time outdoors, bask in the warmth of the sun (with protection), and absorb its nourishing energy. Ground yourself by connecting to the earth; walk barefoot, do some gardening or simply sit in the grass.

As we embrace the fiery energy of summer, let us honor both the yin and yang aspects of the fire element. Find harmonious balance between action and contemplation, celebration and stillness, passion and tranquility. Align with the rhythms of nature and nourish your heart, ignite your creativity, and cultivate joy in your life.

Have any Feng Shui questions? Feel free to contact me at michelle@michellecromer.com and sign up for your Power Color. Visit me on Facebook at Michelle Cromer Creating a Meaningful Life.

Feng Shui for Father’s Day

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Feng Shui for Father’s Day
Sam’s wedding day

I love a holiday that focuses on thanking someone for all they do, and Father’s Day is at the top of my list.

Barry and August
Barry and August

In Feng Shui terms, the Northwest sector of your home relates to the masculine energy of the family, which is the farthest left-hand corner. So, a gift might be a gold metal turtle to put in the corner of whatever room it is at your home. This signifies longevity and protection to the patriarch and family wealth. 

The helpful people section of the home is in the front right-hand corner, and fathers are certainly that. Perhaps in this section stand in honor of this masculine energy, this father archetype in your life, and give thanks, offer a prayer on their behalf. And, perhaps add a vibrant green plant in this area symbolizing their health and wellness.

Dad with Dam
Barry and Sam

Is your dad a gadget geek, a craft beer enthusiast, or an eco-friendly urbanite? Does he like to dive into a book or spin a few old records? Or is he more in tune with nature and the outdoors? Give some meaningful thought to his passions. I like to give experiences over things so perhaps a gift certificate for a round of golf or a weekend of hiking in Sedona. You know what this giver of the wisest of wise advice really likes. 

Food is a big deal in my family so making a special lunch and dinner complete with their favorite desserts is always appreciated.

Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers, grandfathers, stepdads, fathers-in-law, and anyone who fills this critical role. And especially to all the dads they didn’t have to be. And a huge happy Father’s Day to our Barry! Our boys have loving hearts, compassionate spirits, and humble natures due to the direct example that he has shown our boys their entire lives. Wishing all the dads a heartfelt Happy Father’s Day!

Have any Feng Shui questions? Feel free to contact me at michelle@michellecromer.com and sign up for your Power Color. Visit me on Facebook at Michelle Cromer Creating a Meaningful Life.

How to Clear Samskara

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How to Clear Samskara

A viewer and a friend reached out to me to ask how to clear Samskaras. This is one of those words that has no single exact corresponding word in the English language. The word Samskara’s closest approximation is the word impression – like the impression of a shape on the sand.

In Indian philosophy, samskaras are impressions that develop from perception, choices, interaction with others, our thoughts, willful actions, and karma. If samskaras build up enough they can block the flow of energy flowing through, you.

No matter the word, our state of peace and harmony are challenged with energetic imprints in the unconscious mind that grow and affect our future.

Samskaras are not metaphors. They are real. They don’t just disappear on their own over time.

But Bob’s question was how do you clear samskara?

I’ve decided to stay in my wheelhouse and explain how to clear chi or energy that is blocking your flow which I have done for the past 20 years in my feng shui practice. I like to marry other energy modalities in my practice like Reiki or acupuncture which can release energetic blockages.

But where are Samskara’s stored in our bodies so we can be sure to clear that area specifically? They are stored in our heart center or the heart chakra. The heart closes when it is blocked. It gets blocked by unfinished energy patterns from the past.

In feng shui, the heart of your home is the furthest right-side corner.

the most meaningful way to clear samskaras, chi, prana, qi, or any energy and make the chi flow is to do acts of kindness and service.

So, the first thing you are going to want to do is to clear up this space, no clutter here. Then in this space do some mindful meditation, deep breathing, say an affirmation that could be “I am grateful to resonate in the frequency of love. Love lives in me and in my heart always.” Pray in this space, and develop a meaningful ritual here. Fear is a significant blockage to your heart so allow your fears to surface, call them out, see them, then release fear – give fear a voice, but not a vote.

To me the most meaningful way to clear samskaras, chi, prana, qi, or any energy and make the chi flow is to do acts of kindness and service. Everyday. Life provides us with opportunities to help each other. Find ways to serve the planet, animals, the homeless, the sick, and the elderly but these acts must come from an authentic place from an unselfish heart so that you eventually wake up and get excited because you have another day to breathe in and out and serve. That is why we are here to serve each other. My mantra is: I want to be as healthy as I can, to live as long as I can, to serve as many people as I can. What is your life’s mantra?

Clearing samskaras is often a gradual process requiring consistent effort and self-awareness. Combining multiple approaches may yield the best results.

Have any questions? Feel free to contact me at michelle@michellecromer.com and sign up for your Power Color or visit me on Facebook at Michelle Cromer Creating a Meaningful Life.

Michelle Cromer