A Feng Shui Vacation
Yvonne Phillips-Feng Shui for Basic Everyday Living!
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412-215-8247
We plan all year to go on that vacation of our dreams, but is it always one of our “dream vacations”?
Here is my take on a recent trip to Mexico as a Feng Shui & Foodie expert.
I was met at the entrance by a hotel bellman with a pleasant smile, and he immediately asked me how he could assist me. Ahh very nice start, my shoulders start to relax from the airplane and shuttle journey to get to my final destination. He gives me the details on how to register and he would be very glad to handle my baggage until I was registered.
• The entrance to your home brings in the good, healthy chi energy.
It will also give the same results if you pay special attention to the area.
On my way to the registration area, a lovely lady met me with several cocktails of my choice. I didn’t want to be rude, so of course, I helped myself to a cool looking Mohito. Yes, it was just a perfect start of the holiday vacation! This was a gracious, hospitable beginning and I was eating it up as I have worked in the hospitality business for a long time.
The registration area was well manned and I was given immediate attention to handle my check in and my accommodations for the week. It went smoothly and I was taken back to the gentleman who had my luggage and he escorted me to my room. Thank goodness, as it was a maze of different pathways to navigate with my luggage.
I am a very visual person and all the sights and colors and sounds captured me immediately and I couldn’t wait to explore the resort. All of my Feng Shui senses were at full attention. The seating areas in the open gathering spaces were colorful and had uplifting music to help weary travelers start the transition from home to vacation.
All of the elements of Feng Shui, water, earth, metal, fire and wood were present everywhere I looked. The beautiful, well designed swimming pools, the well maintained tropical forests were just wonderful and made me smile immediately. But then there was a big surprise waiting for me on the other side of a curved walk way. Right in the middle of
my path was the most extraordinary peacock I had ever seen and for some reason I was shown the glorious color display.
• The symbolism of a peacock is good luck and rejuvenation
• Chi – This great energy is achieved through having winding pathways that replicate streams of water.
As in most of the Mexican resorts the colors are the earthy tones of oranges, yellows, soft greens and very welcoming. My room was no exception; it made me happy right away. I threw the bags down and was on the search for my new island resort wardrobe that I could hardly wait to wear. Now the trick was to find my way back along the curving pathways to the swimming pools. Have no fear; the place is very well marked and easy to navigate. I find Pool number 1 and it had the most amazing children’s water pool I have ever seen. It was totally separate of the other pools and had everything that you as a parent would hope for, including two lifeguards who were actually interacting with the children in the pool.
• The Earth element is very important for your relaxation and re-centering.
On to pool number 2 (the adult pool) l, hmm there is a sign for a “Quiet Zone.” Yes, I am going to check that pool out. It was located in an area that was away from the children and any other loud activities like the water volleyball or singing and dancing that were going on. This was my first day and I needed to de-stress to be able to enjoy my time at the resort and this seemed like the perfect location for me. As I entered into the pool area, I saw a large waterfall with a lovely pool underneath it. Does it get any better than this for a Feng Shui expert? I am home and I am going to enjoy a relaxing time until it was time for lunch.
• Water - Still or slow flowing water such as a fountain, bird bath, pond or pooled water from a stream. Colors representing water is blue makes for the most relaxing areas.
It is exactly 12 noon which means it is time to check out the food. As I am a foodie from way back, this was very, very important to me. There are many outdoor dining rooms to choose from, but I decided on the one that was easy to go to with their lovely buffets and well-designed food areas. I can hardly choose my food as I am going through the area just enjoying how well they have prepared the food area for our arrival that day. Every food station was merchandised with fresh fruits and veggies and had a great display of plants intermixed throughout the area including miniature water falls mixed in the displays. Yes, I was happy, happy, happy! These are areas that I work in on a daily basis in my food career and was delighted with their attention to detail. Now the real test was what to eat easily and safely for me.
Food safety experts tell you to not eat the fruit and veggies or to drink the water for health reasons. The main reason not to eat any items grown in the soil is that they don’t have the standards that we have here in the USA. But that is what everyone, who is not in the food industry usually, eats. They think it is ok, but in reality, it isn’t.
No fruit, no veggies, no water and now what. My first day was a burger and fries, just because they were cooked well and nothing was there to upset my system until I was more used to their food. I didn’t give them a 5 star rating on any of their dining areas, I would say more like 3.5, but I critique food on a daily basis and I always go for the gold in the food area. Most other diners were perfectly fine with their food choices.
• Key to successful Feng Shui is feeling safe in all that you do!
I am admiring the views and out of the forest a parade of Lemurs, jumping and interacting with me. What a delightful surprise! All of the animals there including cats, tropical birds, pink flamencos and lovely Lemur’s made my vacation the best.
