Homework by Kate Emery General

“Home is the nicest word there is” – Laura Ingalls Wilder

As I check off the items on my to-do list this first day of every month, I think of the importance of my front door. My front door has its own personality, it is adorned with crystals and bells. The windows are dressed in antique lace tablecloths. Next to the door is a tail hook from the air craft carrier that my father-in-law flew off of. An antique milk can from Wyoming holds seasonal plants.

Feng Shui experts consider the front door to be the portal of energy in a home. To keep that energy positive, I do a thorough cleaning each week. Feng Shui suggests paying close attention to the removal of leaves, dirt, and cobwebs. To increase the positive vibe, I have a beautiful stick of Selenite (crystal) hanging on my door knob. Selenite is thought to cleanse unwanted energies from your surroundings. Bells are hung for protection and for their delicate sound. 

The Evil Eye on the transom is a gift from Greece.

Front doors can be accessorized with a wreath. In the fall, wreaths incorporate nuts, fruits, and pine cones, which symbolize the bounty of the harvest. My front door has a knitted acorn instead of a wreath.

On the first day of every month, I place a tablespoon of ground cinnamon in my right hand, stand outside my open front door and gently blow the cinnamon into my foyer. Cinnamon is thought to bring abundant blessings and protection into the home.

Cinnamon plays a big role in my life; I use it to repel ants; I drink it every day in my coffee and sprinkle it on my oatmeal and apples. Cinnamon Essential oil is one of my favorite oils to diffuse. Cinnamon is anti-viral, so it has an added health benefit as we approach cold and flu season. The health benefits of cinnamon are incredible, I could talk about it for hours. 

Is Feng Shui just hogwash? Maybe, but people have been practicing it for centuries, so there might be some value in it. I know that I feel better when my house is clean and that feeling is positive energy. In the Fall, magazines and home websites list the importance of cleaning our chimneys, gutters, window screens, ceiling fans, etc.. These activities keep our homes in good working order, which equals positive energy!