Starsign gems and birthstones

jenny

ARIES

March 21 – April 20
For you, Aries, “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend”. These glittering gems are said to attract love and money, though there’s a catch: their powers are strongest when received as a gift. Rubies can lift your energy and libido, but if you’re revved up enough, watch out. Traditional April birthstone: Diamond

TAURUS

April 21 – May 21
Emeralds, known as “the stone of successful love”, are believed to strengthen the memory and promote a happy family life – it’s no wonder they’re your special stone. Topaz also resonates nicely with your sign, bringing purpose and helpful people into the picture. Traditional May birthstone: Emerald

GEMINI

May 22 – June 21
For jittery Geminis, Agate and Tourmaline are both a perfect match. Roman soldiers once carried these gems as lucky talismans, but today, Tourmalines are known as “healing stones”. To sooth frayed nerves or calm a racing mind, keep one close at hand. Traditional June birthstone: Pearl

CANCER

June 22 – July 23
Pearls embody the female spirit: soft and luminescent but strong and resilient – just like you, Cancer. Being lunar ruled creatures, Moonstones also resonate on a deep level. To balance your hormones and even out emotions, wear a silver Moonstone ring. Traditional July birthstone: Ruby

LEO

July 23 – Aug 23
For sun-worshiping Lions golden Citrines are said to attract good fortune, while Tiger’s Eye crystals bring courage, confidence and clarity of vision. Being the zodiac’s royalty, Rubies also resonate with your sign, especially when set in gold.
Traditional August birthstone: Peridot

VIRGO

Aug 24 – Sept 23
Once worn as amulets by warriors, Sardonyx are said to boost stamina and bring happiness; some even say they aid childbirth. Being a natural healer, Peridot also suits your sign; for a sense of peace and well-being, wear a necklace or pendant. Traditional September birthstone: Sapphire

LIBRA

Sept 24 – Oct 23
Being ruled by the scales, it’s no surprise that your stones promote balance and harmony. Opal, the “stone of hope and justice” is your official gem, but for a calming influence try Sapphires and Aquamarines. They should attract good fortune too! Traditional October birthstone: Opal

SCORPIO

Oct 22 – Nov 22
For Scorpions, golden Topaz really is “your little ray of sunshine”. Worn as a ring, this healing crystal should bring joy and good health into your life. To release negative patterns, try wearing a Malachite ring, know by many as the “stone of transformation”. Traditional November birthstone: Citrine

SAGITTARIUS

Nov 23 – Dec 22
Looking for equilibrium? Search out a Turquoise. Prized by Aztecs and ancient Egyptians, these stones are believed to energise the spirit and promote harmony in love. To recharge your batteries or raise spiritual awareness, wear a Topaz on your ring finger.
Traditional December birthstone: Blue topaz

CAPRICORN

Dec 23 – Jan 20
Garnets, known as balancing stones, are your perfect fit, Capricorn; not only do they inspire love and serenity, they are said to lift depression and ease arthritis. Jet and Onyx also hold an affinity to your sign, helping to clear the mind and lift the spirits. Traditional January birthstone: Garnet

AQUARIUS

Jan 21 – Feb 19
Aquamarines, known in ancient times as “the life force stone”, are believed reduce stress and calm fears. Amethysts also have a calming effect, and importantly, can open your mind to new ideas. For best results, wear as bracelets or necklaces. Traditional February birthstone: Amethyst

PISCES

Feb 22 – Mar 20
Once used as charms against disease, Amethysts exert an almost magical pull. When focused upon, spiritual awareness can be enhanced and negative energy cleared. Moonstones also resonate with Pisceans, helping to relax the mind and calm emotions. Traditional March birthstone: Aquamarine

Personal astrology readings
Want to know where you’re heading … or curious about your career, relationships or hidden talents? Phone 0411 631 940 or email jennyblume@iprimus.com.au

Click here to learn more about feng shui

Best feng shui house plants

jennyLeave a comment

air purifying house-plants

As feng shui is about creating a supportive, feel-good environment, indoor plants are often recommended. They help to harmonise homes and offices, and often work best in the east and south east sectors (although this can change, depending on your home’s unique energies). They also improve the air quality. NASA tested various plants for use on space stations. Here are some that rated well:

1. Bamboo palms: Unrelated to true bamboos, these plants are excellent at improving air quality. They remove formaldehyde and act as a natural humidifier.

2. Snake Plant: Another excellent choice, especially for darker corners, this hardy plant is commonly called the mother-in-law’s tongue because of its sharpness.

3. Areca Palm (Golden Cane): Not only do these palms look great, NASA found that they are one of the best air purifying plants for general air cleanliness.

4. Spider Plant: A great indoor plant for removing carbon monoxide and impurities. Spider plants are one of three plants NASA deems best at removing formaldehyde.

5. Peace Lily: Peace lilies could be called the ‘clean-all’. They’re perfect for bathrooms or laundry as they’re known for removing airborne mould spores.

6. Gerbera Daisy (for sunny spots): Not only do these flowers remove benzene from the air, they’re known to improve sleep by giving off more oxygen overnight.

Other plants that tested well were: Aloe Vera (brilliant for sunburn!), English Ivy, Heartleaf philodendron, Elephant ear philodendron, Weeping figs, Rubber plants.

FENG SHUI TIPS:

  • Plants with heart or oval shaped leaves create a calming vibe, making them an ideal choice for entrances, landings and living areas. As round-leaved plants are said to attract wealth, try placing Jade plants or ‘money trees’ near your front door.
  • Scented plants and herbs such as rosemary will lift the vibe in any home, and as a bonus, rosemary is said to enhance the memory.
  • Fruiting plants like cumquats and oranges are also said to attract good fortune, along with scented, flowering plants like jasmine and gardenias.
  • Bamboo is another popular choice, as it represents strength, longevity and protection; ‘lucky bamboo’ plants make ideal gifts, especially for older people.
  • Pointy-leaved plants such as palms and cactuses will add a masculine energy to your home. This can be useful for livening up quiet corners, but when placed in a prominent position, spiky plants can create a prickly, argumentative energy.
  • Plants are not generally recommended for bedrooms, with the exception being orchids, which represent sensuality and fertility; alternatively, place one in your living area to invite more luck and harmony into your home.

Want to know more about ‘Space Clearing’ your home? Click here

Find out more about Jenny’s consultations

Mercury retrogrades

jennyLeave a comment

meditating at sunriseMercury, the planet of communication and travel, is coming to a standstill today (February 7), at least from our perspective, as he shifts into a month-long retrograde phase. It’s well known, at least amongst astrologers, that Mercury retrogrades can feel like an exercise in frustration (and patience!), but insights gained over these slower, more reflective periods can be invaluable, even if we can’t see it at the time.

Delays and hiccups often prove to be fortuitous as they give us an opportunity to reassess and improve our plans. Pivotal people from our past often pop back onto the scene under Mercury retrogrades or forgotten dreams bubble up to the surface. If we’ve taken a wrong turn, retrograde periods can help to get us back on track.

Adding an interesting edge to this particular retrograde (they occur roughly three times a year) is Mercury’s mystical rendezvous with dreamy Neptune. Occurring in the sign of Pisces, this super-sensitized aspect is perfect for strengthening our connection to the spiritual world; think meditation, dream interpretation, artistic or musical expression, spiritual healing work, psychic development or communion with nature. Slow down, soak it all up and enjoy!

It’s eclipse season!

jennyLeave a comment

total eclipse - astrologyNew moons often bring fresh starts, but eclipses* can bring revolutions.

Okay, eclipses don’t have a great reputation, but they can spur us into making sweeping (and often, long overdue) changes in our lives. If you’ve been resisting the tide or hanging onto something that’s holding you back, try to let go – or the cosmos might do it for you. Scorpio moons deal symbolically with death and rebirth, so making fresh starts will rarely be easier. Whether it’s your fitness, finances or love life that needs attention, try to take some proactive steps, even if they’re only small. Fitness programs begun under this strong, steadfast sign tend to build muscle fast.
On the investment front, keep digging around and researching your options, then make a move after November 10, when Mercury shifts back into forward gear. With the eclipse reverberating for the whole of November, insights gained over this period might prove to be profound; they might even set you on a whole new path. This sign also rules mysteries and the underworld, so don’t be surprised if you uncover some big secrets as well.

*The eclipse will occur on Sunday evening, AEST. Total solar eclipses, like this one, occur when the moon passes exactly in front of the sun, so they always coincide with the new moon. Unfortunately, this one won’t be visible from Asia or Australia. We have to wait until next April for that!

Feng shui compass sectors

jenny

sheng cycle - jenny blume feng shui sydney

.
Want to try some DIY feng shui? I’ve draw up a simple feng shui compass sector chart (known as a Sheng cycle), to get you started.

Feng shui works on many levels – from simple to super-complex – but the principles are generally the same. Certain sectors rule particular areas of life (you may need a compass to work them out) … if family relationships have been rocky of late, try sprucing up your EASTERN sector, starting with a thorough clean and declutter, then boost the energy with plants or flowers. Lucky bamboo is also suitable here, along with timber, the colour green and happy family snapshots.

If you’d like to book a space clearing or professional feng shui consultation email jennyblume@iprimus.com.au for a free quote.

To find out more about Jenny’s consultations, please click here

Perfect pairings

jennyLeave a comment

romance2

Looking for love? Star signs can be surprisingly helpful, although when magic happens, rules tend to fly out the window!

ARIES: Lively Leos and Sags are your perfect pairings, but don’t discount chatty Geminis, Librans and Aquarians. You’ll never be stuck for conversation!

TAURUS: Virgos, Capricorns and Taurians may share your values and need for security, but Pisceans and Cancerians could inspire great things.

GEMINI: Aquarians, Geminis and Librans should click instantly, along with fun-loving Aries and Leos. Opinions might fly, but you’ll rarely be bored.

CANCER: Pisceans and Scorpios are your traditional love matches, but earthy Taurians, Capricorns and Virgos can bring a lovely sense of stability.

LEO: Relationships with Aries, fellow Leos and Sags should sizzle, with Geminis and romantic Librans a close second. Fire and air signs spur each other on!

VIRGO: Taurians, Virgos and Capricorns may be your rock, but If you’re after more passion and excitement, search out a heart-ruled cancerian or Scorpion.

LIBRA: Geminis and Aquarians are traditional love matches, but if you want more heat, fire signs like Aries, Leos and Sags should get things sizzling.

SCORPIO: Passionate Cancerians, Scorpions and Pisceans should hit the emotional spot, along with salt of the earth Virgos and Capricorns.

SAGITTARIUS: Leos, Aries and fellow Sags should send romantic sparks flying, but if you’re searching for a more cerebral relationship, try a Libran or Aquarian.

CAPRICORN: Virgos, Taurians and Capricorns may feel comfy (like an old pair of slippers!), but if you’re after fireworks, find a heart-ruled Scorpio or Pisces.

AQUARIUS: Geminis, Librans and fellow Aquarians often resonate instantly, but if you’re after more passion and pizazz, let a Leo, Sag or Aries light your fire.

PISCES: Scorpions, Cancerians and fellow Fish may feel like kindred spirits but in the celestial compatibly stakes, Capricorns and Taurians aren’t too far behind!

Click here for 2018 forecasts

Click here for DIY feng shui projects

Feng shui colour therapy

jennyLeave a comment

painting-swatches.

Colours often have an instant and very obvious impact, but they can also affect us in more subtle ways.

Red is well known as an appetite enhancer (Red Rooster and McDonalds might be onto something!), making it an ideal colour for restaurants and fast food outlets, but if you want to turn people off their food, use purple, mauve or black.

Yellow stimulates the intellect, making it an excellent choice for busy call centres or workplaces where people need to stay alert. Yellow can also work well in schools and study areas, as it aids concentration.

Shades of orange and yellow can lift the spirits and cheer up patients in hospitals, while bright orange is said to lessen emotional shock – making this an excellent hue for emergency rooms and intensive care units.

Pinks and peaches can lessen fears and calm people down, making them ideal colours for prisons, hospital waiting rooms and counseling centres; interestingly, hot pink is said to help people kick addictions.

Blue can help to calm the mind and reduce stress, but day in, day out, some people can find blue quite a depressing colour. Always add warm accents to balance blue rooms, but avoid it all together if you suffer from depression. Grey can also be a bit of a downer, so be sure to add a few colourful touches (yellow is ideal) and use it in moderation.

Turquoise and aqua, on the other hand, are creative, invigorating colours, making them ideal for media industries and design-related professions. These lively colours also aid communication, making them a good choice for boardrooms and conference centres.

Dark blue is the colour of authority, stability and respect, which might be why it works so well for police officers, while violet is associated with high ideals and service to others.

Green is the colour of balance, harmony and growth, making it ideal for health industries, natural therapy centres, mediation rooms and legal offices. It can also help patients to heal, making it an excellent colour for rehabilitation centres.

Click here for simple feng shui tips

What is space clearing?

jennyLeave a comment

‘Space clearing’ can be likened to spring cleaning your home on an unseen, energetic level. As negative vibes – from previous occupants, arguments or illnesses – are cleared, you should feel a fresh sense of energy and enthusiasm. After a clearing, objects may seem to sparkle or colours will appear to be brighter. Best of all, this energetic lift should reflect onto you and your family.

When are space clearings beneficial?
After moving into a new home
When you feel ‘stuck’ or need a lift
If the atmosphere doesn’t feel right
When the feel of past occupants is strong
After a death or run of illness
If nightmares are getting you down

What’s involved?
Space Clearing involves some preparation both at your end and mine, with the actual clearing taking roughly 2 hours. Before any space clearing, a thorough clearout is recommended. Hanging onto clutter  can not only trap you in the past, it can block fresh opportunities from entering your life. Various rituals and procedures are involved, including a protective four corner blessing.
Jenny conducts seminars, space clearings and feng shui consultations in the Sydney and Gold Coast areas.

Photo: Thanks to Nikki Yazxhi

For bookings email jennyblume@iprimus.com.au or phone 0411 631 940.

Woman’s Day Space Clearing story – 2012

Feng shui for homesellers

jenny1 Comment

Feng shui consultants believe that an inviting entrance not only attracts good fortune, it also attracts people – and potential buyers.

TIPS FOR SELLING

1. Clean and declutter your home, both inside and out, and check that paths, gates and fences are all in good order. On an unconscious level, dirt, weeds and peeling paint can conjure up feelings of poverty.
2. First impressions count, so do your own drive-by. Is your house number obvious? What subconscious symbols might people pick up on?
3. Smell can repel or attract, so fill your home with pleasant aromas. Coffee, scented flowers, lavender and vanilla will all help to lift the vibe. Go easy on the incense, though, or buyers may think you’re hiding something.
4. Place pots of yellow flowers near your front door or pop some fresh flowers into a vase. Not only is yellow a happy, uplifting colour, it’s said to encourage sales.

Feng shui & styling tips for home sellers
By combining her skills in feng shui, colour and design, Jenny can offer cost-effective suggestions to improve your home’s appeal and attract buyers.  Priced from $200 (for on-site assessments) to $350-$550 for full written reports.
Jenny also offers a special ‘Home Seller’s Package’, that includes styling and feng shui advice for selling; astrological timing; feng shui appraisals on potential properties; a space clearing and traditional feng shui report on your new home or office; colour advice.

Click here to find out more about Jenny