Things You'll Need:
- A rake
- An intention for new growth
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Step 1
office.microsoft.comCycles. Seasons. Balance. In the spring the energy waxes. In the autumn it wanes. The sun works a shorter shift preparing us for winter.
Folded beach towels to the bottom of the stack. Umbrellas at the ready. The bellows back on the hearth. -
Step 2
office.microsoft.comWell... that’s all very nice but just look at this mess! Dead leaves all over the place. Only ankle deep if you’re lucky. They stick to your shoes. They stick to the dog. Sometimes they’re slippery-slimy and sometimes dry and crisp and smell so good we must kick them around!
Is it Feng Shui OK to leave the little decaying pages of tree lore here and there to leach back into Mother Earth in their own time? Would this be a way to nurture next year’s crop of leaves and flowers? Well... no. We don’t want clutter, remember? We weed through our clutter, yes? Raking is the outdoor version of clearing clutter. -
Step 3
office.microsoft.comIt is not good Feng Shui to leave the leaves. It is good Feng Shui to remove the leaves. After the foliage falls from the tree, it is lifeless. Energetically it does not support you, your home and family, visitors, and the comings-and-goings of all of those. In Feng Shui you want to surround yourSelf with that which is alive and thriving. We want growth and expansion. Fallen leaves do not fit that ‘live’ category.
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Step 4
office.microsoft.com
Consider this. The Feng Shui Bagua can be superimposed over your entire property. Let’s say you have a huge deciduous tree in the back left corner. Indeed: the Abundance and Prosperity Life Area. Do fallen leaves represent how you feel about abundance? Or maybe that leafless tree is in the back right corner. That would be the Relationship Life Area. Crunchy leaves don’t conjure up warm and huggy do they? Or what if... never mind. Trust me on this and find the rake.
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Step 5
office.microsoft.com
When raking the leaves please remember to peek under the low-growing trees and bushes to be sure all Chi-less tidbits are removed. If the out-of-sight dead leaves are left behind they too can impact your life. Be thorough and if you can, be Green. If you have a home with a front yard and a back yard you may be able to manage the leaves with a rake. Take this opportunity to conserve energy and not use a blower.
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Step 6
office.microsoft.com
Raking may also be a good time to meditate; not unlike a walking meditation. Repeat a statement of gratitude for the consistent demonstration of abundance you are standing knee-deep in or maybe repeat a mantra. ‘Be’ with nature.
Remember also to set an intention while raking. Intend for the clearing of the space to open your home (i.e. your life) to new experiences, fresh growth. Be as specific as possible with your intention. Just like inside your home, as you clear something out, something new rushes in. -
Step 7
office.microsoft.com
Once all the leaves have been gathered up you may consider placing the heaps in your compost bin or in your garden garbage to be recycled and reused by your community. If you didn’t do this before, check with a local arborist or nursery about the compostability of your particular type of leaves. Will these enhance the quality of your compost or diminish it? Are these particular decaying leaves safe to have around humans, pets, and all who visit your garden (to include the feathered and multi-legged)?
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Step 8
office.microsoft.com
You will love how this feels! It is not only a matter of clearing leafy debris from your surroundings, it’s a matter of opening up for all matter of aliveness!
Take a look. This isn’t really a ‘former miracle’ is it?
In gratitude and with an intention to serve.
Comments
ReuseItAll said
on 2/11/2009 Lovely article! It makes me want to rake!!! 5 stars!
sneedc said
on 12/31/2008 Though lifeless leaves aren't feng shue, When we rake them into piles and them all of us dive deeply into them, causing a stir with kids & a dog, it somehow brings new breath into the dead leaves!!! LOL GREAT article, get the rakes out people, let's do this thing! THANKS FOR A WELL written, easy-to-follow article. 5*
BHolmes said
on 12/8/2008 Very interesting perspective. Thank you.
amylaine said
on 10/22/2008 Great article. Thanks for sharing. 5 stars!
Wasatch said
on 10/16/2008 very enjoyable article.Thanks