1. Assess and Create Sacred Space

We all have spaces that we declare as being sacred...those places and in our homes, hearts, offices, communities, network, in families, and in nature that we can call our own and that represent that which is spiritual in our lives. Whether it is a grand cathedral, an intimate corner in a shared room or a park bench by water, sacred spaces are a vital part of our expression of our inner selves. The things we surround ourselves with are a direct reflection of our inner spiritual being. What do your surroundings reflect about your level of spirituality?

2. Increase Energy Vibrations of Your Surroundings

The energy of your surroundings, known as "chi" can be free flowing (high energy) or it can be stagnant (low energy). Nothing affects chi energy of your spaces more than clutter or unfinished business. "Chi" is similar to blood of body. If blood of body becomes clotted or "cluttered," major health complications can occur (heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure.) Imagine that piles of clutter, books, and "stuff" in your attic are clogging arteries or flow of your home. Is it time to raise energy vibrations where you live and work?

3. Work Effectively With Color

Our reactions to colors are led by a combination of biological, physiological, psychological, social and cultural factors, and yes...color has an affect on way we operate and our ability to connect to our spiritual being. Certain color effects seem more universal, such as that of "warm" and "cool" colors. Warm colors include magenta, red, orange, yellow, and yellow-green. They speed up our perception of time and produce feelings that are warm and cozy. These colors are associated with excitement, happiness, boldness, and comfort. Cool Colors generally include violet, blue, light blue, cyan and sea green. Emotions associated with these colors include peacefulness and can also represent sadness, withdrawal and repression. Are colors you wear and have around you working for you or against you?

4. Resonate with Harmony and Joy

When vibration is timed to be in synchronism and it is noted that less and less energy is required to then excite system, resonance is said to occur. Pure resonance occurring in a system will allow a system when started vibrating to continue indefinitely. Resonance is a basic principle that affects everyone and everything. This same principle applies for a person in need of physical healing, and/or mental and emotional transformation. The correct frequency reminds body's energy field of its original design, and brings it into harmony. When we are in presence of a person who is expressing joy, energy field of their joy brings our own joy to surface, so we resonate together. There will be certain people, sounds, ways of being, music, foods, and objects that create resonance in your environment. Who or what are these? Find ways to include more of them as a way to enhance your spiritual well being.

5. Eliminate Emotional and Spiritual Blind Spots

Just because we moved out to country a couple years back does NOT mean we want to run a farm. Tending to animals is just not how we want to spend our time. We don't want cows or sheep or chickens. We don't want hogs or ducks. We don't even want a dog or a cat to train.

OK, so my wife says that she wants a cat, but that's only because she knows I won't have anything to do with it. I suspect that if I ever said, "OK, you win. Let's get a cat", she would run screaming down stairs pulling at her hair and just keep on running...causing damage to stairway carpet, not to mention window at bottom of staircase.

We don't want a parrot or a rabbit or a hamster or even a mouse.

But when you live in country, you have pets, whether you like it or not.

The first summer, we were welcomed by Muffet skunk. Although she never responded to that name, we let her keep it. She just loved our compost heap. In fact, she had a frequent-eater pass at all-you-can-eat compost buffet.

The second summer we were skunk-free, but this summer we were blessed with a new traveling perfume salesman. We did not name him, but we have determined that he is on a diet. He stays away from all-you-can-eat compost buffet.

He is also much less intelligent than Muffet. When we see him, we jump and shout and wave our hands to get his attention,. But we usually have to get his attention three or four times before something in his microbe-sized brain clicks in and says, "Wait a minute. That's not hot dog vendor beckoning me to clean up his leftovers. Maybe I should turn around."

But he is smart enough provide a two-tier burglar deterent. First, he drives them away with his odor. "Peee-ew. Let's go rob Jensons down road." Second he digs thousands of tiny pits all over lawn to trip any burglar foolish enough to try to escape.