Walking past a coffee shop two days after Halloween I shuddered as I heard Christmas music on their sound system. You know, the really cheesy pop-rock Christmas music. The kind of music that is an insult to both the holiday and music. Like it or not the holiday shopping season is upon us. Time for Feng Shui Holidays
Feng Shui is about harmony and balance – how can you stay in balance during the most frenetic six weeks of the year?
In the spirit of the harmony and balance of Feng Shui holidays, here is a brief animated video “Can Money Buy Happiness” with the fascinating information from scientific studies about how human think of, related to and handle money.
Key Points
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Money can buy you happiness – up to a point.
Buying experiences brings more happiness than buying things
Giving to others brings more happiness than buying things for yourself.
If you are saving for a big experience – a trip for example – don’t forget the everyday little treats that make life fun.
Money and Feng Shui Holiday Shopping
If you know what family and friends want, then the hard part is done. If you have family who don’t know what they want, or friends “who have everything,” then your work is cut-out for you.
How to Give Experiences and Interactive (non-electric) Toys
Think local, and I don’t mean the local mall. If your town is lucky enough to have a Main Street shopping district check it out. Find a local toy or craft store. Look in your newspaper for plays, concerts or museum exhibits that your giftee would enjoy and order tickets. A local sporting event – even on the college or minor league level can be great fun. Go together to a movie starring someone’s latest swoon.
One way is to step back from the commercial machine that the holidays has become.
Tips on How to Enjoy Feng Shui Holidays
How to Light the Holiday Table
How to Make a Merry Christmas – Plus the Recipe for Katherine Hepburn’s Deliciously Easy Brownies
Links for My Favorite Shopping Places:
Artbeat: The Creativity Store
Creative Adventure Kits – Sand art for all ages.
Ten Thousand Villages – handmade, original and exotic fair trade stocking stuffers and gift exchange gifts.
Don’t Aim For Perfection In Anything
Not the holiday meals, the decoration of your home, or the perfection of the gifts you give. Martha Stewart will NOT be making a personal inspection of your home and holiday preparations. It’s the mishaps that make the best memories. My family still laughs about the sweet little Christmas tree we got one year. Only to discover, once we got it home, its trunk was bent like a dog’s back leg. My mother simply tied the tree to the stair bannister and everything was fine.
Add A Little Feng Shui To Your Holidays
Help everyone handle the stress of the holidays in their own way. And make this time of year more enjoyable and meaningful. Think of Yin and Yang: Active and Quiet. They balance each other and are the guide to harmony. Balance out the activities of the holiday season with quiet time, either with your family or by yourself. After some active snowman building (the weather gods willing) gather together for hot chocolate, cookies and a quieter holiday video (Patrick Stewart’s A Christmas Carol), time for quiet play with new toys, or curl up with the book you received. Recognize that some family members may have more need to be active, while others have more need for quiet time (a little Five Element insight) and plan your activities accordingly.