What Do Avatar and Feng Shui Have in Common?
First off, if you have not seen this movie, go see it… if not for the stunning 3D effects, then for the beautiful message it conveys.
Briefly, here is a plot recap…The scenario is set in the year 2154. Most of the natural resources on Earth have been depleted through excessive and ruthless exploitation. A mission is set to use military force to conquer Pandora to acquire a unique mineral that is desperately needed on Earth. Pandora is inhabited by a wise, peaceful, and nature-loving blue skinned beings who call themselves the Na’vi. They are warriors and ready to protect their habitat. They understand and respect their connection with nature and worship a pantheistic deity they call Eywa.
The Na’vi are an indigenous species who not only understand but embody the meaning of the interconnectedness of everything. Their habitat on Pandora is simply breathtaking with the Hometree being their primary residence. The Na’vi truly live in harmony with all the energies of Nature… from the ‘deadly’ animals to the beautiful fauna. They understand that everything contains the Whole and is, at the same time, an inherent part of it. The Na’vi have the ability to transcend their individuality and see themselves as inherent elements of a bigger structure- the all encompassing global Consciousness.
Living in harmony with the earth’s energy is the cornerstone and entire purpose of Feng Shui. And, yes, we can all have our own Hometree. And, yes, we can (and many people already do and are) experience and live by the interconnectedness of all energy. Although we don’t live outdoors in a jungle, our home can be just as interconnected as the Na’vi’s Hometree. There is energy running through every piece of furniture and component of your home, not to mention your pets, the birds and squirrels outside, and, yes, your neighbors.
Pandora is not a fantasy but a reality that is present right now. We need only to stop, be still, and feel. In the movie, they used their tails as their feeling source. Although we don’t have tails, we do have the ability to tune in and feel the energy of everything around us. This movie just gave us the visual of how energy works. My favorite part of the movie was when Jake went to pray to their god(dess) Eywa to stop the invasion, Neytiri said to him,
“She protects the balance of ALL life.”
In other words, she takes no sides but instead protects the balance of life. And so is true with Mother Earth. We live on a Planet and in a Universe that is constantly making adjustments, sometimes minor and other times major, to maintain an energetic balance. This balance of energy trickles down to each one of us as we seek to balance our own personal energy. And like the Hometree, we need to protect and maintain the balance of energy within our part of the Earth that we inhabit… our home. This is Feng Shui.
What was your favorite part?
Our Divine Feminine: How to Navigate in the New World
I think we can all agree on one thing: the world is changing. We can see it on every scale from the microcosm of our own daily life to the macrocosm of our Planet. Even if it appears the stock market and economy are rebounding, our perspectives have changed and our world is still in flux.
So what is at the root of all the changes currently going on? It is more than a failed banking industry, greedy creditors, international wars and conflicts, and an increase in global warming. In fact, these are only symptoms. The underlying cause is an energetic shift from the masculine to the feminine. In other words, it is a critical rebalancing of yin and yang energy.
All energy, including humans, is comprised of yin and yang energy. In other words, all males have yin (feminine) and yang (masculine) energy, as do females. It is our ultimate challenge to balance these two energies within ourselves. Relationships have proven to be the most common way to do this. For example, if we have an overbalance of masculine energy, then we will seek someone with an overbalance of feminine energy to, in essence, complete us, and vice versa. This critical yin yang balance within ourself is a template for our Planet.
For thousands of years, our Planet has become increasingly overbalanced with masculine energy. Masculine energy has served us with increased productivity, leadership, activity, technology, mobility, and other facets that have led to an amazing modernization of our Planet. However, with these advancements have come abuse of power, war, corruption, greed, superiority, and fear. As a result, women have been oppressed and our divine goddess, Mother Earth, has been abused.
In order for our continued survival on Planet Earth, the pendulum must swing the other direction. And it is. It is not coincidental that during this Depression, the only industries that have grown are those dominated by women: teaching and healthcare (particularly nursing). The industries that are falling are those based in masculine energy that got carried away with power and greed. Meanwhile, businesses based in compassion to men, women, animals, and the Earth are thriving. In other words, it is yin-related activities, businesses, and ideas that will work right now.
So it is important to recognize what constitutes feminine energy in order to not only make this shift into our new world easier, but welcomed and enjoyable.
More Being, Less Doing
Masculine energy is very active-oriented, while the feminine is about stillness and receptivity. In my article, Being More | Doing Less, I explain how the active pursuit of what we want no longer works like it used to. Instead, try allowing things to come to you. In other words, instead of beating doors down, notice which ones open easily. This is a personal balance that we must all find within ourselves in order to manifest what we want.
More Intuition, Less Mind
We have all had an experience where our intuition told us something that simply did not make rational sense to our mind only to find out later that our intuition was right. Our intuition can know things that our mind simply cannot know. This is actually a product of the right and left brain functions. Intuition comes from our right brain, while logic and rationalization comes from our right brain. Correspondingly, the left side of our body is our feminine side and the right side is our masculine side. In our new world, our intuitive skills increase while are monkey mind will drive us mad trying to make sense of the world. Thinking can be so overrated!
More Creativity, Less Structure
Like intuition, creativity is a product of the right brain. We are all being called to be creative. In being creative, we touch the core essence of our purpose here on Earth. Each one of us has a special gift that can benefit others, whether it is cooking, art, healing, gardening, or singing. Begin tapping into your creativity and you tap into your soul.
More Heart, More Heart, More Heart
As I mentioned above, the businesses that are now thriving are those based in compassion and love for their fellow humans, children, animals, and Mother Earth. In other words, they were started from the heart to make a positive difference in our world. Some businesses that may not have started out that way have evolved into helping others. Why? Just like our species… for survival. For example, more businesses are buying fair trade, donating to charities, recycling, etc.
The time is now for all men and women to embrace our Divine Feminine. Although gender is irrelevant, women have an inherent femininity that makes it easier to tap into the Divine Feminine. While men are being introduced to their femininity perhaps for the first time, it is especially important for women to completely embrace the Divine Feminine and become the goddesses of the new world.
Raising Your Energy Vibration Through Your Home
Referring to energy as “high” or “low” is actually a description of the rate of vibration or frequency. High energy is synonymous with a high (or fast) vibration or frequency. And simply put, the higher our personal vibration is, the better we feel… physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. It is the dense, or slow, energies that make us feel bad emotionally and physically. Dense energy can show up in our body in the form of disease or in our emotional system in the form of depression, anxiety, etc. Negative thoughts, repressed emotions, and stagnation are all examples of dense, heavy, or slow energies.
We each walk around with our own personal vibration, or rate of frequency. Our personal vibration can vary depending on the people we are around, foods or anything else we take in, current thoughts and feelings, and environment. By now, we are all very aware of the difference in how we feel being around people that don’t feel good to be around. This may be noisy neighbors, people at a public event, certain friends, or could even be your significant other. When you are around them, your mood quickly changes and you simply don’t feel as good as you did before you were around them. In essence, your personal vibration has dropped!
The same is true depending on the foods that we eat and the thoughts we think.
But the one major factor that tends to get overlooked that dramatically impacts our personal vibration is our home….the place we eat, sleep, make love, rejuvenate. Our home is the place we should find the most comfort from the rest of the world. It should be your high energy refuge – the place to recharge your batteries. Unfortunately though, it is not for many people to the point of being an energy drainer.
According to Dr. Wayne Dyer in The Power of Intention,
“the purpose of moving up the frequency ladder is to change your vibratory level of energy so that you’re at the higher and faster frequencies where your energy level matches up with the highest frequencies of all: the energy of the all-creating Spirit.” Everything is a movement of energy with higher and faster energy dissolving slower and lower energies. Dyer says, “if you’re experiencing scarcity, anguish, depression, absence of love, or any inability to attract what you desire, seriously look at how you’ve been attracting circumstances into your life. Low energy is an attractor pattern.”
He says that we can all “deliberately raise our energy level” by “being cognizant of your immediate environment,” which includes becoming “aware of the energy levels in your home environment.”
Here are some suggestions on raising the energy levels in your home thereby raising your personal vibration:
-
Clear Clutter. This is the Numero Uno way to raise the energy in your home. Why? Clutter is stagnation and stagnation is dense, slow energy. Remove any items that you no longer use, want, or love. This will immediately raise your vibration and make you feel better. 100% guaranteed!
-
Remove or Add Artwork. The images on your walls are energy. Take an objective look at the pictures on your wall. Make sure that when you look at each picture, it makes you feel good. Does it evoke good or bad memories, positive or negative meanings. This also applies to photographs around your home. Are they energy enhancers or drainers?
- Furniture Arrangement. Is there a natural flow in your home, or do you find yourself bumping into furniture going from one room to another? Energy should be able to meander through your home to avoid stagnation. Oftentimes, we have too many pieces (or too big) of furniture for a space. This can clog up a space and even result in a constriction of our breathing. See if there is a better arrangement of furniture, or if there are any pieces that are unnecessary. If unsure, consult a feng shui practitioner.
- TV and electronic equipment. Having the TV “on” can dramatically reduce the vibration of a space. Be conscious of when and what you watch on TV. Notice how you feel when the TV is on versus when it is off. TVs and electronics can also affect the frequency of a space even when they are “off.” Fortunately, electronics are becoming more efficient in the amount of electromagnetic energy they emit, but nevertheless can negatively impact the frequency of a space.
- Colors. Just as you learned in 9th grade science, colors have a frequency… remember ROYGBIV? Colors in a space dramatically affect how you feel. There are hundreds of color therapy and design books written on this topic to consult. Otherwise, notice in your home if there is a room that doesn’t feel good to you. A new coat of paint can do wonders!
- Create a Sacred Space. While your entire home should feel like a sacred space, it is important to designate a space, whether it is a corner or an entire room, as your sacred space or personal sanctuary. This space can be used for meditation, reading, praying, yoga, or any other activity that inspires you. This is the space that you go to when you really want to recharge your batteries and raise your vibration. Read my article, 4 Steps to Create Your Personal Sanctuary for more information.
- Clean and Clear Your Home. It is important to periodically clean your home. This may sound obvious, but it all too often gets overlooked. Cleaning your home of dirt, dust, and cobwebs will make your home feel so much better thereby raising your personal vibration. Equally important is to energetically clear your home. The energy in your home carries its own rate of vibration which can be lowered or raised depending on the circumstances in your home, such as those listed herein. By energetically clearing your home, you break up the dense, stagnant energies that are lurking around which raises your home’s frequency. And as your home’s energy is raised so will yours! There are a number of ways to clear your home, such as sage smudging, bells and other sounds, and intention. For more information on why your home needs a space clearing, click here.
Healing Secrets With Deepak Chopra: Spirit and Healing
Dr. Eric Pearl Interview — The Reconnection
Why Your Home Needs a Space Clearing
Imagine an unseen world of energy in your home. Although not visible to most people, there is energy lingering throughout your home that affects you daily– physically, emotionally, and mentally.
Every object and, of course, person in your home has its own distinct energy field. So while your kitchen table isn’t conscious, it’s energy is still very much alive and emitting an energy field. And each time you sit down at that table, your energy field and its energy field converge and affect one another. In the book, Hidden Messages of Water, Masaru Emoto experiments with just this notion showing how the energy field of a glass of water is affected by loud music, words, love, etc.
In addition to objects in your home, the empty space, i.e. air, is all energy. This energy is also referred to as chi in Feng Shui. And how the chi flows through a space is the crux of Feng Shui.
What Makes Up the Energy In Your Home?
Emotions. As I mentioned, we humans also emit an energy field. And, unlike your kitchen table, we have a very powerful conscious and subconscious mind with which we think and feel. Thus, our energy field is much more complex. In fact, it is a blueprint, or hologram, of our physical, mental, and emotional body. As we feel angry, the emotion of anger is emitted from our energy field. If you feel loving, then that is emitted out. This is why it is so easy to pick up other people’s emotions just by being in the same room. The phrase, “you could cut the tension with a knife,” is a perfect example.
We have an array of emotions all of which carry a vibration. Some emotions have a slow rate of vibration, meaning the molecules are literally vibrating slowly. These emotions are thought of as “heavy.” And others, such as love and joy, are high vibrations and thought of as “light.” These heavy, slow vibrations can stagnate the energy flow in your home. And, if not cleared, it will attract more stagnation. In other words, when someone walks into that area, they will not feel good, either consciously or subconsciously. And, in fact, they will be more prone to feeling the low vibrations that initially caused the stagnation, just as one feels when an angry person walks into a room.
Objects. In addition to emitting their own energy field, objects also impact our subconscious mind. Every object in your home means something to you on some level. In other words, you have some mental or emotional attachment to the object, or else you would not have it. Whether it is a piece of art that you bought on a trip or a vase that you don’t really like but feel guilty for giving it away because your mother gave it to you…it means something to you. And every time your subconscious sees that object (which is probably daily), it attaches to that thought or emotion. Maybe it is a piece of furniture used solely for function, like your kitchen table. Each time you eat at it, you are appreciating its function. But what about if it has a wobbly leg? What do you feel towards it then?
Layout. The layout of your floor plan and furniture also affect the flow of chi in your home. Ideally, the energy should meander through the space. In other words, the floor plan and furniture should allow the energy to easily flow through the space. Factors include corners, sharp angles, openings from one room to another, and the amount of clutter.
Light. As we know, the light takes out the dark. The areas of natural light in your home will be less prone to stagnation. Conversely, those areas that do not get as much light will be more prone to stagnation, such as corners, closets, and areas hidden by furniture. That being said, it is possible to have too much natural light in a home causing an imbalance of chi. In other words, there can be too much yang energy. And too much yang energy makes it difficult to relax and/or quiet the mind. The opposite is true in areas of low, dim light.
Do I Need a Space Clearing?
For the most part, if you have never had your space cleared, then you most likely need to. If for no other reason, a space clearing is necessary to clear out the energy of previous owners. Yes, energy can stagnate for years! And, in fact, it can get stronger if the same energy is put into it. In my experience, I have yet to go to home that did not need to be cleared. I have one client who is very conscious of her home and clears it regularly. It was a delight to be in her space, except for one problem area due to the floor plan.
Another reason to clear your home is to dismantle old patterns. Like our body, our home contains our mental and emotional patterns. If you want to make changes in your life, start or, at least, include the home. We spend lots of time and money on self-help methods for ourselves. But it we continue to live and breathe the same patterns in our home day after day, it is difficult to make any permanent change in our lives.
For information on having your space professionally cleared, visit www.mindbodyhome.net
Coming Soon: How to Clear Your Space!
8 Ways to Bring in Abundance (Without Spending a Dime!)
With so much uncertainty in our economy, many people are turning to alternative ways to make money. Many are embracing their creative talents, while others are trying new marketing techniques. Ultimately, we are all being asked to change the way we do things and to become more creative in how we work and relate to others. If you look around at businesses right now – from restaurants to personal services — they are either failing or thriving. What is the secret behind those that are thriving?
I recently read the book, Think and Grow Rich, by Napolean Hill where he reports his findings of the secret behind the 500 most successful people, including Andrew Carnegie. Keep in mind: This book was written in 1937 during a similar economic downturn. What he found to be the commonality in all of their success was nothing that you would read in a business manual. Instead, it was the mental and emotional energy that each of these successful projected out.
Whether you are conscious of it or not, you are projecting your future through your conscious and subconscious thoughts. Thus, the best way to bring in abundance is exactly this way. Here are eight ways to use your energy positively to bring about wealth and properity:
- Helping Others
If you have ever been around really successful people (and by “successful” I mean prosperous in wealth and happiness), then you will quickly notice that they are always happy and willing to help others with their business. Many people think that to succeed, you must be competitive when, in fact, the opposite is true (even towards your “competitors”). Someone who is competitive and cut-throat is simply saying that they don’t trust in their own skills and talents.
If you are willing to help someone promote their business, they will do the same for you. In other words, what you put out you will get back in return. This principle has really been put to use in the new social networking world of Twitter. It is an example of the more you help others, the more you will receive in return.
There are so many ways in which we can help and encourage others. Here are some examples: a simple compliment, such as “Your ad in the paper looked great” or “I love your website”, making positive comments on others’ blog posts, offering others resources that were helpful to you, volunteering your services for free to a good cause, referring people, and being a patron of other people’s services. Helping others says that you are confident in yourself…and not to mention nice!
- Gratitude
Being grateful for what you already have is the Number One way to bring in more of it. Say “Thank You” to yourself, others, mentors, angels, God, Universe, Source, and/or whoever you believe is a part of what has helped you to get and achieve what you have thus far. By doing so, more will come your way. This is essentially a high vibration affirmation.
- Being Present
Living in the present moment is a phrase often used by those seeking a more zen way of life and/or enlightenment. But it is also a really great business practice. Your power is always in the present moment. When you align yourself with the present moment you have complete and total access to your own power. By “power” I mean your best skills, talents, and creativity. It is only when we look into the future that we become stressed, anxious, and fearful. For all that is meant for us to deal with in the present moment is just that…the present moment.
Because it is each small step (or moment) along our journey that makes up our life, the destination will only be as good as each of the moments that it encompasses. Eckhart Tolle profoundly describes this concept in A New Earth as follows:
“Everybody’s life really consists of small things. Greatness is a mental abstraction and a favorite fantasy of the ego. The paradox is that the foundation for greatness is honoring the small things of the present moment instead of pursuing the idea of greatness. The present moment is always small in the sense that it is always simple, but concealed within it lies the greatest power.”
So, try being present in each moment of your day, from sending emails to talking to prospective clients. You will be amazed at how much better your focus and productivity is.
- Use Feng Shui
Many may think that the ancient Chinese practice of Feng Shui is only used in Eastern cultures, but major U.S. businesses and business executives such Donald Trump are applying its 3,000-year-old principles in their daily business dealings.
By simply rearranging your office space, you are energizing your business in a new way. The shifts of earth energy in conjunction with your own mental intention can change your business quickly and dramatically. The position and arrangement of your desk can make a profound impact. Read my article, Feng Shui Your Desk, for more information.
And for businesses with a store-front, feng shui can make the difference between attracting customers and deterring them. Simply do a google search for a wealth of free information.
- Affirmations
An affirmation is a set of positive words or phrases repeated out loud, to yourself, or just set out in visual sight. The more the affirmation is repeated consecutively and over time, the more the subconscious is being programmed to believe it. For example, if you repeat an affirmation such as, “I attract abundance in all areas of my life,” your subconscious mind will take it as truth (as it has no filter) and the law of attraction will begin to bring you abundance.
You could consciously want more money, but your subconscious mind may be working on a different agenda, potentially sabotaged by old belief systems, implanted societal fear, or simple unworthiness. This is why it is so important to be conscious of our subconscious.
Using affirmations is a great way to re-program the subconscious mind to be more in alignment with what you consciously want in your life. The amount of time it takes will depend on how engrained the current belief system being re-programmed is in your subconscious.
For specific affirmations for abundance, read my article, 8 Affirmations for Abundance.
- Being Receptive
We are often our own worst enemy. As much as we would like to blame others or the economy, the truth is we oftentimes just get in our own way. Many of us have belief systems that prevent us from abundance. For example, some believe that they don’t deserve abundance, that wealth is only reserved for certain people, or that money is the root of all evil. If you consciously choose to have any of these belief systems, then so be it. But some of you may unconsciously have these thoughts while, at the same time, confused as to why money isn’t coming your way.
So explore to see what belief systems you have surrounding money. You may be surprised. In order to receive, your must be open. For a clinched fist will never be able to receive anything. And don’t forget to be present… for something to fall into your lap, you must be still.
Also be open to where the sources of abundance may come. While your energies may be in one direction, the fruits of your labor may return to you from another direction. Be open. Be receptive. And, again, be present.
- Make a Vision Board
A vision board is a powerful visualization tool that activates the Law of Attraction to begin manifesting your dreams into reality. The concept of the vision board, also known as a goal board or treasure map, has been around for generations, but has gained a renewed interest and popularity from the documentary, The Secret.
A vision board is a visual collage of the things that you want to have, be, or do in your life. To make one, simply get a poster, cardboard, or foam board, magazines, glue and/or tape, scissors, and a desire. Cut out images either exact or symbolic representations of the things that you want in your life or the things that you want to become. Paste them on your board and display it, preferably somewhere visible to you. In no time, you will be amazed at what you will attract into your life!
- Use the Number “8″
It is no coincidence that I used the number “8″ for this article. Numbers are one of the oldest symbols in our collective conscious. Each number carries its own meaning, frequency, and energy. The number “8″ is the number for abundance.
In Numerology, anytime you have double or triple digits, add them up until you come to a single digit. For example, 107 = 8; 44 = 8, and 800 = 8. So take advantage of this built-in power. Incorporate it into your life. For example, price your services or products using this auspicious number. I even once lived in an 8-house that made me lots of money when I sold it. Be creative with it!
Conclusion
If you are not bringing in as much wealth and prosperity as you would like, then try incorporating some of these concepts into your daily practice. Sometimes there is no need to spend a fortune on advertising or expensive classes. Invest in your own personal power first. Afterall, you are your most important asset.
Reconnective Healing: The Future is Now
I recently had the opportunity to participate in and witness the future of science and healing while training for Reconnective Healing. What we have been waiting for in the development of science, medicine, and healing is here. In fact, it’s been here for years. Only now however are hospitals, universities, top doctors, and leading scientists starting to notice.
As someone who is attuned and sensitive to energy, I was astounded by this frequency. During training for Reconnective Healing, within minutes I could feel the frequency in the palms of my hands. This was unlike any energy I had ever felt. By the end of the workshop, we had all either witnessed and/or experienced for ourselves a healing. Over half of us experienced a healing on the physical level. This was without even having the intention to do so and through the hands of our fellow trainees.
Reconnective Healing™ was first “discovered” by Dr. Eric Pearl. Eric ran a highly successful chiropractic practice for 12 years. Then one day, his patients began reporting that they felt his hands on them, even though he hadn’t physically touched them. Patients soon reported receiving miraculous healings. All this occurred when Eric simply held his hands near them. When his patients began reporting that they were effecting similar results on their friends and family, he realized that this gift was transferable.
Eric has dedicated his life to teaching Reconnective Healing and has done so in more than 70 countries. Six books to date have documented this new level of healing, including Eric Pearl’s international bestseller, The Reconnection: Heal Others, Heal Yourself, now published in 30 languages.
As Dr. Pearl explains in his book, Reconnective Healing is a form of healing that is here on the planet for the very first time. It reconnects us to the fullness of the universe as it reconnects us to the fullness of our beings and of who we are. It is considered to be able to reconnect us to the universe and to our very essence not just through a new set of healing frequencies, but through possibly an entirely new bandwidth. The reality of its existence has demonstrated itself clearly in practice as well as in science laboratories.
Reconnective Healing has been studied, measured, and researched by the world’s top scientists, including Dr. Gary Shwartz, William Tiller, and Konstantin Korotkov. The results are unanimous that something amazing and unprecedented happens during Reconnective Healing (which is way more scientific than I can wrap my head around… but it involves DNA). But no one has yet been able to explain the “hows” and “whys.”
Reconnective Healing is different.
No longer is it necessary to remove, release, or clear out “negative” energy and clogged chakras. No longer is it necessary to relive trauma or release emotions. Reconnective Healing works instantly and bypasses the usual processing required in older modalities of healing. The light and information transmitted by this frequency works instantly within one to three sessions.
One thing it does have in common with other energy modalities is that it is just as effective through distance healing. It can also be used on children, animals, and in spaces.
If you would like to schedule an appointment or need more information, email me at tisha@mindbodyom.com .
The future is already here! Are you?
O’Panel O’Panel, Where Art Thou: How Obama Could REALLY Solve the Energy Crisis
President Obama ran his campaign primarily on the slogan of “Change.” And for the most part, so far, he has lived up to this campaign promise while still staying within the presidential box. At the top of his agenda of change has been the energy crisis.
Obama has been particularly vociferous about reducing our energy dependence as a way to resolve domestic and international problems. In fact, he stated, “If I am President, I will immediately direct the full resources of the federal government and the full energy of the private sector to a single, overarching goal – in ten years, we will eliminate the need for oil from the entire Middle East and Venezuela.” Well, Mr. President, I have the solution: Install Solar Panels on the White House.
In my recent post, Why Don’t We Have Solar Panels On All Roofs, I pondered just that question — Why don’t we have solar panels on all roofs. In doing so, we not only eliminate our dependence on oil, but coal. This would allow everyone of us to be living off the grid and in complete harmony with Mother Earth. It didn’t take me long to ask the next question– Why doesn’t the White House have solar panels?
If President Obama really wants to walk the walk in regards to new energy technology, then this is the way.
Through legislation, federal and state governments are encouraging the use of solar panels. For example, the federal government is offering a 30% tax credit for homeowners who install solar panels or solar water heaters through 2016. This credit covers materials and installation costs with no ceiling on claims. At the state level, as reported in USA Today, in More States Want Solar Panel to Be an Option on New Homes, a growing number of states are requiring builders to offer solar electricity and hot water as an upgrade option, right alongside granite countertops. But legislation is not enough.
In my article, what I discovered as the answer to why we don’t have solar panels on all roofs is simply cost. For example, I calculated it to cost $85,000 to install solar panels on my 2000sf home. This sort of reminds me of the cost of big screen TVs in the ‘80s, laptop computers in the ‘90s, and smart phones in the 2000s. As I learned in Econ 101, once demand rises, competition increases and prices dramatically fall. This will be the case with solar panels. So how do we get demand to increase?
The need is already here. We have just gotten used to the idea of paying for oil and electricity when we could be getting it for free from the Sun. So awareness and buzz must be the driving force for the demand. What better place to start than the White House. If the White House were to install solar panels, the buzz of this around the globe would be phenomenal.
Once it became known just how much these panels are saving in taxpayer dollars, not only will Obama be seen as an energy hero, but every household will start inquiring, “Why don’t we have solar panels on our roof?” Not to mention the pentagon, other government buildings, and the Obama motorcade.
What about the cost of installing solar panels on the White House, you ask? There has already been much debate as to whether the Obama’s should foot the bill for redecorating the White House. As an interior designer and feng shui consultant, my personal opinion is that the White House is in dire need of not only redecorating (I’ve seen the pictures), but a space clearing (would you want to share the same energy as the former administration?).
It is in our best interest as citizens that the Obama’s create a living space in which they can optimally live and work. That being said, the Obama’s could use a portion of their decorating budget to foot the bill for the solar panels. I would guess that there are many budding solar panel contractors that would love to be credited for installing the White House solar panels in exchange for a considerable discount. Not to mention the 30% tax credit that President Obama will receive come tax time! As for me, I will be happy to offer my feng shui and space clearing services to the Obama’s… ‘on the house’.
(As a footnote, President Carter installed solar panels on the West Wing in 1977 but they were removed in the 1980s.)
Why Don’t We Have Solar Panels on All Roofs?
It recently struck me as odd as to why we don’t have solar panels on all of our cars and homes. Is anyone else stunned by this? Afterall, solar-powered calculators were invented years ago, specifically 1978. This prompted me to do some research on the history of solar panels.
In fact, the first solar powered water heater was invented and patented in 1891 by Clarence Kemp. Throughout the early 20th Century more research was done by scientist, including Albert Einstein. In the 1940s, passive solar buildings actually became popular in the United States. The book, Your Solar House, was even published and featured 49 of the nation’s finest solar architects. But it was in 1954 when the photovoltaic technology was invented by Bell Labs. This PV technology was the first solar cell capable of running everyday electrical equipment, including the calculator!
Today’s solar panels use this same PV technology that has been around for centuries. The solar panels silently convert light into electricity. There are no moving parts. They require little maintenance and are designed to last for many years. Solar panels can supply a substantial proportion of the electricity needs of a typical household.
How do Solar Panels Work?
They are often mounted on the roof or on the ground and connected to the local electric utility, either supplying all the power directly to the home or pumping the excess back to the utility. Apart from reducing your utility electricity bill homeowners can often sell any surplus electricity directly back to the utility at an attractive rate.
Solar panels are also used for commercial applications ranging from large-scale power plants to small family-run businesses. The applications are almost endless, but each has the same idea in mind: harnessing the power of the sun to make clean, affordable electricity.
Are Solar Panels Available Near You?
I then did a search on the availability of solar panels. There are many companies that manufacture solar panels. Finding someone to install them however may be more challenging. I did a local search to see if I could find someone in my area. (Nashville isn’t exactly the green capital, although it is doing much better.) By googling “Solar Panel Installation Nashville” I found at least one reputable company that could install solar panels on my house.
So, again, why don’t we all have solar panels on our roofs?
Cost. Based on the website estimate calculator of the TN contractor, it would cost approximately $85,000 to install enough solar panels to cover all my electricity needs (based on a 2000sf house). That’s a far cry from the free solar-powered calculator. There is however an attractive 30% federal tax credit for the total solar cost. So, that would really be $59,500. Taking my electricity bill of approximately $200/month into account, it would pay for itself in 25 years. However, if it were financed over 30 years along with the house, then it wouldn’t seem as daunting.
Hope for the Future!
Many new homes, particularly in areas such as New Orleans that are rebuilding with green design in mind, are in fact building the homes with solar panels. As demand grows, so will competition. And with increased competition, the prices will inevitably go down. Already demand has increased over the last few years as more people are either seeking to be off the grid or wanting to be less reliant on utility companies. In fact, even Home Depot now sells and installs solar panels! Go to Home Depot for more information.
Ultimately we are all tuning into the fact that there is an unlimited energy source beaming down at us on a daily basis. Why not harness that energy AND without harm to the environment?
For other resources, visit www.evergreensolar.com and www.globalgreen.org.
Are You Living With a Ghost?
There are many different explanations of what ghosts are. Many believe ghosts are lost souls that are stuck in an in-between world not able to leave Earth, but not able to go to the Light either. Others believe that ghosts are nothing more than mental or emotional thought forms trapped as energy. This happens when strong mental impressions are created most likely by someone from a traumatic or emotional event. It then becomes a psychic impression that plays back over and over like a tape that gets more powerful as more people mentally ‘feed’ it.
On a similar note, these thought forms, or ghosts, can form by someone simply ‘picking up’ left over energy in a particular area. For example, if you have a heated argument with someone in an area of your home, this area will become more and more susceptible to future arguing due to the ‘left over’ energy. This is also the case with a positive event or ‘good’ memories. We’ve all experienced a time when we can still feel the energy of a loved one in a space even when they are no longer there. So perhaps the Indigo Girls were onto something when they they wrote, “I’m in love with your ghost.”
If you are living with a ghost that you no longer want or need, a space clearing is advisable to clear the energy. Feel free to post a comment, or contact me for further information. Also visit http://www.mindbodyhome.net/
