Feng Shui Friday: Water

Octagon graphic, Bartett Designs
Every week I take a break from romance/erotic fiction writing and explore simple tricks to bring positive energy to YOUR writing...and life!

Last week I talked about Color Theory in feng shui. This week I want to begin covering each of the five elements of feng shui, starting with...

Water Element in Feng Shui

Water graphic courtesy Smicko on Stock Xchg
Water is one of the primary life-giving forces on our planet. Without it, we not only cannot live a harmonious, balanced existence, we cannot LIVE.

What Does Water Do In Feng Shui?

Water is responsible for a couple of very different--but equally important--facets of existence.

1. Water is the household "Money" spout.

Yep, think of wealth "flowing" into your home. Water chi is responsible for helping--or hindering that flow.

2. Water rules household "Emotion."

Emotions are as important as money? You bet! Our relative perception of harmony and happiness depends to a large degree on our emotions and how well we balance them. Chaotic emotions can be the ruin of even the wealthiest individual.

So I Need A Bunch of Fountains And Ponds?

Not necessarily! Granted, fountains are an extremely potent feng shui cure, because the constantly running water releases positive ions in the atmosphere and encourages a constant flow of money energy in the home. However, water features in the wrong zone (as discussed in prior posts) can have a negative effect, and after a point adding more of one element will not add more positive effect in any case.

In addition, water features may not be practical if there are:

1. Small pets in the home that may disturb a fountain (i.e., curious cats)
2. Small children in the home, same reason
3. Time issues or lack of willingness to properly maintain a fountain
4. Personal reasons for not wanting to use electricity to run a fountain (note:solar powered fountains are available for outdoor use)


Image Courtesy of Stock Xchg

What Else Can I Do Besides Fountains?

Plenty! One of the great things about Feng Shui is, there's no one MUST DO cure. If you can't utilize one suggestion, there's always a substitute. For example, any of the following (when placed with intention) can be used to represent Water:

1.Water Globes (with or without glitter "snow!")
2.Fish bowl/tank (with the same caveats regarding cats, children, and maintenance)
3.Photos or artwork depicting water or aquatic themes
4.Wavy shapes
5.Blue or Black colors

Any of these can be utilized in Feng Shui design to bring the Water element theme into play. Just remember to keep Water elements away from your home's natural Earth (which blocks Water) and Fire (Water destroys Fire) areas. (As per prior discussions, we learned that Fire is the natural element of the Fame area, and Earth is the natural element of the Family area.

Fixing "Water" Problems

Even if you don't add a single bird bath or water photo to your home, you can maintain proper Water balance by keeping chi-robbing factors at bay.

1. Keep Toilet Lids Down. Before you flush, shut it. Open toilets are believed to "suck away" energy, and on a health note, spray up a lot of microscopic germs to boot.
2. Keep Bathroom Doors Closed. The primary "Water" feature in any home is your bathroom, so keep energies from flowing out by shutting your door. (It's also a psychological boost to not have to glance over and see a toilet.)
3. Keep Drains Closed. When possible, plug drains when not in use.
4. Repair Drips And Leaks Immediately. These represent money draining from your home (and a constant drain on emotions)both figuratively and literally, considering drips add to your water bill.
5. Position Fountains For Maximum Effect. When placed outdoors (preferably not in your Fame or Family area if possible), position in such a way so that the flow of water points toward, not away from, your house. This draws positive energy in, not away. Indoors, try not to place fountains where the flow points at your front door, which similarly represents money flying out the door.
6. Don't Go Overboard. Some Water is good. Too much...yes, it can happen.

Okay! Too Much Of A Good Thing?

Absolutely. As with all elements, there is a necessary balance to Water. Too much overloads or floods us. Too little dries us out. The same is true when applying Water cures to your home.

Just because water enhances the flow of wealth doesn't mean going overboard with a water themed house. (Though I've seen it done by feng shui designers and it's very cool!) Make sure to balance Water with representations of the other feng shui elements, in order to establish and maintain overall harmony. A Man Does Not Live By Water Alone, and all that. Have fun exploring the ways this element can enhance your chi!


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Romance writer duties call!! I hope you've enjoyed Feng Shui Friday. Have a tip or dilemma to share? Please post in the comments! Until next time, may you find the magic within that brings a rolling tide of positive water chi your way!

Toilet Paper Tales!

(photo courtesy of Stock Xchg)

Okay, so lately I've been reading a lot of blogs talking about some innovative--and perhaps a bit wacky--ideas the publishing industry has been coming up with for releasing and promoting books. When I ran across THIS one, however, I simply had to pass the link along!

Seems a Japanese author has released a novella-styled horror piece...on toilet paper! And to think, some folks have been complaining that EBOOKS can't be lent to a friend afterward! Read the, er, scoop here: Toilet Paper Gets Creepy

Wild Dreams Wednesday #11

Photo courtesy of Stock Xchg

Tell Me Your Wildest Dreams!
Every Wednesday I venture away from romantic/erotic fiction writing to interpret your dreams. Have a recurring or puzzling dream? Send it to writerlisalogan@verizon.net and I'll try to shed some light on Wild Dreams Wednesday!

This Week's Wildest Dream:


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“I dreamed about sharks! I was in the water with a "friend" I've never seen before in real life, and we had to swim for our lives from a pair of sharks. Before long a bunch of other people wound up dumped in the water with us, too. I wound up having to leave the friend behind to swim for it, and felt guilty (though admittedly relieved) when I made it to shore alone. Gak!"
--anonymous
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ah, shark dreams. Great fun...not!

Sharks can have a couple of different meanings. They may represent people in your life who are greedy or manipulative, hurting who they must to get what they want. However, sharks can also represent your own emotions--feelings of hostility or aggressive tendencies. By swimming away and leaving others to the sharks' mercies, you may have subconscious concern over a situation where others took the brunt of an issue where you came out on top. Or perhaps, you worry that YOU were the shark in a situation where you succeeded at the expense of others...whether it was true or not.

In short, sharks represent our own aggression or anger, or that of others directed at us.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wild Dreams Wednesdays interpretation by romance author/editor Lisa Logan is meant to be used for education and entertainment purposes only. I hope you've found this week's post useful! Stay tuned until next Wednesday, when we again delve deep into our Wildest Dreams. Sleep Tight!

Mystery Date Monday: Grant Decker

Photo courtesy "Surely" from Stock Xchg
Every Monday I'll treat you to a Mystery Date with a character from one of my romantic or erotic fiction novels!

This Week's Mystery Date:

Who: Farmer-turned-beachfront-home-builder Grant Decker

What Book He's In: BEWITCHING LOVE, a paranormal romance

Where He Lives: San Simone Shores, California

Why He's So Fascinating: Grant Decker is a man with big dreams and simple beliefs...until he gets entangled in the web of a witch's love spell. Enchanted by the woman he must forget, Grant discovers that crazy neighbors and magically coerced seduction are the least of his worries. When the job he needs to to fund construction on his dream home drives him right into the heart of a vampire's obsession to make the witch his mate, Grant must decide once and for all whether his feelings for her are no more than one enchanted spell, or the result of the greatest power known--love.

A Memorable Moment with Grant Decker:

Grant dropped the nail gun like a hot poker, grabbing hold of the thumb he had just impaled. Blood flowed as fire shot through the flesh, but within seconds hadn't elevated itself to the dire proportions he was expecting. Examining the wound, he realized the nail hadn't truly drilled a hole through joint and bone. He'd merely grazed a chunk of skin.

Damn fool. Get your head on the job.

His mind was in turmoil today, and he couldn't keep to the business at hand. Why he had no idea, but the result was distraction to the point of danger to himself and others—had anyone been around. As typical, he was working a solo act.

Stalking back to the trailer, he rinsed the bleeding thumb in the sink and held pressure as best he could while rooting around in the first aid kit. While the whys of his lack of brainpower might elude him, he knew the who behind it.

Dream.

Antibiotic cream and a Band-Aid later, he was back out in the grilling heat of late morning. If only he could find a way to rid himself of the witch's spell, maybe he wouldn't be crucifying himself against the support struts of his house. But he'd been caressed by a magic for which there seemed no cure. He felt boxed in despite his open surroundings, trapped in a world that forced him to obsess over the specter of what might have been. Endless nights were spent with his enchantress beneath him, writhing and crying out to him to make more like it.

He tried to avert his eyes whenever he saw his neighbor leave or return—and to stop himself from staring at the house where he'd experienced erotic wonders he'd never thought possible. And that they weren't—the whole thing was a mere facade, a phony display brought before his eyes, body, and soul by some perverted rite. Knowledge of this, however, failed to shake him loose from a need to steal glances at the satin movement of her hips and sparkle of her hair whenever he could—a sight that threatened to ensnare him all over again. Afterwards, he'd hammer and screw and drill until the churning effusion of want quieted enough to regain his sanity.

Were he a religious man, perhaps the answer might be sought from a higher source. At the rate things were going, perhaps becoming one would be wise. Until then, all he could do was finish the task before him and steer clear of the feminine persuasion in San Simone Shores. By and large they seemed a dangerous lot.

“Grant?”

Squinting into the bright sun, he watched as the voice resolved itself into the DeSanto girl. So much for steering clear.

He nodded.“Morning.”

“I'm Lacey. Remember me?”

“I do.”

She strolled around, hands folded in front of a bikini top and torn denim shorts that left little of her well-turned figure hidden. Women here didn't seem any more inclined to clothe themselves than the men, though in light of the broiling weather this shouldn't keep surprising him.

“Wow,” she said.“The place is really coming along.”

“Thanks.”

Her eyes slid over him in an appraisal ending with a movie star smile.“Looks like a lot of work.”

Already he smelled the damp hay of ulterior motive, and he hadn't the time nor constitution for it. Short of being rude, which he hadn't ruled out yet, he couldn't decide how to get her near the real point of her visit. So he opted for silence.

He met her eyes until the lack of words grew loud and uncomfortable. Her smile slipped a bit.“I...wanted to talk to you.”

“Isn't that what we're doing?”

“About Dream.”

A muscle twitched in his jaw, and he had to bite down to avoid ordering the brunette off his land.“I assured her that the house will only be single story. It won't hamper her precious ocean view.”

He started to walk back toward the nail gun, but she stepped in front of him.“That's not what I'm talking about. I know what happened between you.”

Good Christ. Had the girl blabbed to the entire seaside?

His brows knit.“Even if I knew what you meant, that's not a conversation I find fitting with a woman I barely know.”

“Oh, but sleeping with one is okay?”

“That's not for discussion. I keep to my business. Feel free to keep to yours.”

He stalked back to the frame section he'd been working on, hoping she'd be too girl-minded to follow him into the maze of power tools and dusty boards.
She wasn't.

“Dream's devastated about what happened, you know.”

He turned to her with a stare that stopped her advance.“So much that she couldn't wait to brag? Tell me, is there anyone in this town she hasn't told?”

Lacey frowned.“She only told me. I'm her best friend.”

His snort in reply was less than kind, as was her return glare.“I thought you were a nice guy the day you moved here.”

He turned back to his work, dropping the same nail three times.“I am a nice guy. People around here just seem hell bent on undoing that.”

--from BEWITCHING LOVE
~~~~~~~~~

When Grant is Available: BEWITCHING MAGIC has not yet been released.

How You Can Get His Story: BEWITCHING MAGIC is currently under consideration for publishing. Stay tuned!

Feng Shui Friday: Color Wheel

Octagon graphic, Bartett Designs
Every week I take a break from romance/erotic fiction writing and explore simple tricks to bring positive energy to YOUR writing...and life!

Last week I talked about theories of positioning in feng shui. This week I'll cover something I've touched on during our exploration of the nine zones--color theory.

Feng Shui Color Theory

Here's the ba gua I displayed in last week's post, showing the colors associated with each of the feng shui life zones. Red for Fame, pink for Romance, blue for Career, and so on. This chart is not exhaustive or exact, nor does it mean your Fame area has to be painted bright red. Still, color is a powerful feng shui cure that you will not want to overlook, one that draws specific energies that can be beneficial--or not--to the goals of a given area of your life.

But How Does Color WORK in Feng Shui?

Actually, I believe there are a couple of reasons why color matters when applying feng shui principles to a given space.

1. The "power of positive thinking" angle.
Consider wealth for a minute. What color(s) automatically come to mind when you think of money or riches? GREEN, many of us would say. Aha! Yes, green is a prime color for the Wealth area. Why? We associate it with money, and when we look at that area of our house, we subconsciously SEE money. Others may as well. Which means positive brain waves--energy--are frequently flicked toward bringing in wealth.

2. The scientific theory of color itself.
Colors are light, or electromagnetic energy. (By the way, electromagnetic energy is also used to determine traditional positioning in feng shui.) Different waves of light/energy bouncing off an object produces the different colors we see. Considering there are slightly different energies involved in each color, it's not hard to imagine that perhaps energies that tend to attract, say, wealth are similar to those that produce the color green.

So Green in My Wealth Area Assures I'll be Rich?

Nope! It's not that simple or we'd all be rolling in the dough!

Ah, cheer up. Using certain colors in specific zones of our home produces something of a mirror effect. You see green in the location where relative or magnetic energies are most susceptible to wealth, and you think wealth. That energy adds itself to the zone's own energy. The color green itself is made up of energy that also draws wealth. Add other money-drawing cures that we will continue to explore in this series, and you have reinforcement upon reinforcement of wealth-drawing energy in your home.

Of course, there's then the wealth-drawing energy you apply directly by way of earning it, but you will find money comes to you more readily and at times you least expect it when you've optimized your Wealth area.

But A Different Color In Each Zone? My House Will Look Like a Circus Tent!

I hear that complaint from time to time, especially from people with open floor plans. However, there are two pieces of good news here.

1. You don't have to use large splashes of a color for it to be effective. In fact, with some colors this is not recommended. Too much red, for instance, can become too fiery and cause dissension. Large amounts of blue (water) in a relationship or family area can cause excessive emotion. Small touches can be used as "accent" colors that will make your cure "pop" without looking out of place.

2. Every zone has more than one color that will work. How, considering all that talk about specific energies, etc.? Well, think about it. Health, Romance, Career, etc. can all be impacted by a number of different factors. So there's not necessarily just one singular color that can have a positive effect. If a zone recommends a color you hate, don't use it! Pick an alternate that suits you or your decor. In short, you have to live with it, and if you have an unpleasant association every time you look at a cure you don't care for, that casts negative energy toward the very thing you are trying to improve.

Okay! So What ARE All The Color Options For Each Area?

Thought you'd never ask! We covered this when discussing each of the zones, but I thought it would be helpful to consolidate this into one list

Career: Blue, Black, White
Knowlege: Black, Green, Blue
Family: Green and Blue
Wealth: Green, Purple, Red, Blue
Fame: Red, Purple
Marriage: Pink, Red, White
Creativity/Children: White, Pastels
Helpful People: Gray, Silver, Black
Health: Yellow, Green

You might note that several of these colors overlap or complement each other nicely. So your house need not look like the color wheel above in order to have harmonious feng shui!


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Romance writer duties call!! I hope you've enjoyed Feng Shui Friday. Have a feng shui tip or dilemma to share? Please post in the comments! Until next time, may you find the magic within that brings colorful chi your way!

Wild Dreams Wednesday #10

Photo courtesy of Stock Xchg

Tell Me Your Wildest Dreams!
Every Wednesday I venture away from romantic/erotic fiction writing to interpret your dreams. Have a recurring or puzzling dream? Send it to writerlisalogan@verizon.net and I'll try to shed some light on Wild Dreams Wednesday!

This Week's Wildest Dream:


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“I keep dreaming about my old job, the one I had before leaving for college last fall. I mean, like almost every night I'm back there working!"
--anonymous
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dreaming about work can sometimes mean you're having a lot of stress at--suprise!--WORK, but it can also mean anxiety and issues with a current project. Since you're in college now, perhaps you're under a lot of pressure with project deadlines, papers, etc. Also, dreaming of a past job can indicate that this is a place of familiarity to you, and a subconscious wish to return to a time and place where you had learned to accomplish tasks more readily than the unfamiliar tasks in front of you now. Also, your subconscious may be trying to offer you a hint--perhaps you can apply logic and approaches you used in that former job to aid you in your current position. Best of luck!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wild Dreams Wednesdays interpretation by romance author/editor Lisa Logan is meant to be used for education and entertainment purposes only. I hope you've found this week's post useful! Stay tuned until next Wednesday, when we again delve deep into our Wildest Dreams. Sleep Tight!

Mystery Date Monday: Dominique Trudeaux

Photo courtesy "Bixo" from Stock Xchg
Every Monday I'll treat you to a Mystery Date with a character from one of my romantic or erotic fiction novels!
NOTE: The following excerpt contains adult themes.

This Week's Mystery Date:

Who: Joan Collins-wannabe Dominique Trudeaux

What Book She's In: A GRAND SEDUCTION, a tale of contemporary intrigue and mystery

Where She Lives: Quakertown, PA

Why She's So Fascinating: Dominique Trudeaux is a well groomed, successful divorcee--turning the sour lemons of an ugly breakup into the lemonade of a lucrative investing business. Everything about her is sexy and smooth--from her designer wardrobe to her blood-red fingernails and her Porsche Boxter with MNYDIVA on the license plate. Smooth enough to be the brains behind a contrived seduction scheme designed to spare a best friend from a divorce as financially anemic as her own...but not quite smooth enough to keep from getting trapped in her own web of sex, deception, and murder.

A Memorable Moment with Dominique Trudeaux:

Dominique watched as her friend’s face turn red, eyes bulging at the contents. “What is all this stuff?”

“What the hell does it look like?”

Ridelle’s lip sneered, but a wicked smile lurked beneath. “Sex toys.” She picked up a rainbow colored shaft of studded rubber. “Some really wild ones.”

Dominique threw her head back and laughed. “Right you are. There’s a bit of tramp in all of us, darling.” She leaned over and pawed through the treasure trove before holding up a tube labeled Tasty Twist—butter cream.

The other girl shook her head, her voice pounds lighter than when she’d first walked in. “So what’s your point here? If you can’t beat ‘em, tramp with ‘em?”

“No. It’s that what you’re feeling isn’t betraying a friend. It’s just natural born chemistry.”

“That doesn’t make this all right.”

The woman’s eyes landed on a pair of old handcuffs, a memory alighting in the pit of her stomach. Good times. “You’ve been asked by Fran to help do this. You agreed. Now, you believe that to prove your intentions pure, you should punish yourself by obtaining no sexual pleasure from this whatsoever. Does that about sum this up?”

The girl dropped the bright orange love ring she’d been examining with puzzlement back into the case. “Yeah. Something like that.”

Dominique shook her head. “It can’t work like that, honey. You’re a healthy young woman. Bruce is no George Clooney, but he isn’t exactly Woody Allen, either.”

To visualize her point, she pulled out an eight-inch jelly dildo in bright purple and waggled it at her friend. Ridelle’s eyes shot open and she exploded in laughter. “You’re crazy!”

“He’s a wealthy, distinguished businessman who has an eye for you.” She waggled the dong closer, as if it were a walking Bruce. “Of course that attention is flattering. He wants you. That’s flattering, too.”

Ridelle was scarlet from laughter. “Stop!”

The other’s eyes twinkled mischief as she reached into the case, extracting the cock ring Ridelle had just abandoned. She danced it slowly toward her the dildo hand. “Then here you are, playing an undercover role. A woman of erotic mystery, dressing in sexy clothes and playing the part of seductress. That’s exciting.”

The toys shuffled closer to one another as Dominique went on. “The tension between the two of you grows. The anticipation. Does he really want you? Bad enough to risk anything? Are you truly that desirable?”

The girl’s face had gone purple, and she was holding her sides. The tears now streaming were from gleeful hysterics, not guilt. Yes, I was always quite the holy terror at parties.

“Just when one thinks that’s all the sexual tension two human beings can stand, there’s a final blow.” She waggled the jelly penis and love ring in front of Ridelle’s face to within centimeters of each other, then froze them in place. “Their lust is forbidden.” She strained the dildo and cock ring toward one another, quivering them to elicit another paroxysm of laughter from her friend. “They want, but cannot have. In not having, their want grows. Fires their need until they are consumed. Then, finally, Boom.”

Dominique’s toys jammed together, consummating rubbery passion in a graphic depiction of adultery as her demonstration concluded.

Ridelle wiped tears from her eyes, chest heaving with hiccuping exhaustion. “You are one completely crazy bitch, you know that?”

She tossed the toys inside the box and shrugged. “Whatever it takes to make my point. I was captain of my debate team, you know.”

Laughter subsided into a dull hoot. “Oh, no doubt. With you waggling fake dicks around, the other team probably forgot what they were supposed to be arguing.”

She leaned her left hand on the table, reaching across to Ridelle with the other to brush back a wayward strand of hair. “Please stop slapping yourself around for possessing female hormones. If you get some physical enjoyment out of the deal, don’t treat it as something evil. Use it to your advantage. Use it to get you through what must be done. If nothing else, consider it too small of a reward for what you are doing for Fran in return. Right?”

She nodded.

Dominique shoved the box closer. “Good. Now I want you to take this home.”

Eyebrows shot up. “What? I’m not taking that stuff!”

“I assure you, it’s sanitized for your protection.”

“I don’t need dildos to get me in the mood for this job, remember? That’s the whole problem.”

She shook her head. “Not for that. It’s to remind you of our talk. If you start wavering again, I want you to take out this box and look through it. Remember that you are human, and were cajoled into doing this. The fun part is your silver lining.” Dominique winked at the girl and started to flip the lid shut when something caught her eye.

Digging into the box once more, she came out with an iridescent silver phallus that could readily have borne the logo “Official Dildo of NASA.”

“Not this one, though.” She thumbed on a switch, bringing the space aged device to surprisingly forceful life. “I think we have a date tomorrow.”

--from A GRAND SEDUCTION
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When Dominique is Available: A GRAND SEDUCTION is available now.

How You Can Get Her Story: Get it in print from Amazon, or eco-friendly eBook from Fictionwise

Feng Shui Friday: Positioning

Octagon graphic, Bartett Designs
Every week I take a break from romance/erotic fiction writing and explore simple tricks to bring positive energy to YOUR writing...and life!

We've just completed an introduction to the nine zones of a house as defined by Feng Shui. Before we go on, I feel I should mention that there are different methods to defining these zones, and the way used in this series is a simplified, modern version of traditional feng shui practice. For those interested in the standard approach, I wanted to talk about it a bit today.

Feng Shui Compass Positioning Method

The bagua octagon shown at the top of every Feng Shui Friday post is used to find the locations of each feng shui zone in your home. But the traditional way is to use an actual compass, or Lo-Pan, on an individual lot in order to identify precise geographic direction. Thus, the Fame area may not fall along the rear wall of every home in this method.

There are those who believe feng shui cannot be practiced properly without the use of a compass--which is true IF you are using the traditional direction method. You might think your front door faces true south, but it may actually be south east or even west. Checking with a compass may surprise you.

To make things even more confusing, you'll note the compass looks pretty complicated. That's because a traditional feng shui compass also utilizes astrological calculations in determining specific orientation and positioning. Many feel this is not necessary, but that any compass--provided it is accurate--can be used along with the ba gua shown below in order to identify a lot's feng shui zones.

Relative or Doorway Positioning Method

Many practitioners are turning to a simpler method of determining zones without the use of the compass. This is done by considering the "mouth of chi"--the front door to a home or space--as the commanding position of any space. Thus, the ba gua can simply be oriented with the career zone (north) along the front door, and the rest falls into place. This is the method I use in my series.

Okay, So Which One WORKS?

Oddly enough, both! It would seem that if guesswork to determine north doesn't work, and a compass like the one above was vital to finding zones, the Doorway approach would be wholly ineffective. Yet, it is a proven valid method. How?

Let's think about it for a minute. The front door represents the commanding position of a home, just as north functions as the commanding position on a compass. By simply aligning these two planes physically and mentally, we can achieve similar results without the need for specific calculations. The doorway method makes feng shui practical and simple for anyone without a compass--and allows for the practice of what I call micro or mirrored feng shui--boosting your results by layering cures room by room, or even to a desktop or single surface in a room. We'll be talking about micro-feng shui later in the series.

So if you're interested in the more traditional, old school method of feng shui, grab a compass, print out the color wheel above and take a look. Whichever method you choose--but especially with the Relative Positioning method--be sure to involve your intention for these cures to work in your life. In the end, the magic of our own will is a great antenna for power boosting positive results!


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Romance writer duties call!! I hope you've enjoyed Feng Shui Friday. Have a feng shui tip or dilemma to share? Please post in the comments! Until next time, may you find the magic within that brings good chi your way!

Wild Dreams Wednesday #9

Photo courtesy of Stock Xchg

Tell Me Your Wildest Dreams!
Every Wednesday I venture away from romantic/erotic fiction writing to interpret your dreams. Have a recurring or puzzling dream? Send it to writerlisalogan@verizon.net and I'll try to shed some light on Wild Dreams Wednesday!

This Week's Wildest Dream:


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“What does it mean when you dream of money? I was depositing a check and the ATM wouldn't take it but kept shoving out $$ anyway?"
--NuellePena, Twitter
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Not surprisingly, money in our dreams is related to personal value, success and achievement. In this dream, you are getting more in return than you are trying to invest, which could indicate that you've recently experienced successes that have exceeded your expectations, or that seem even more fortunate than you would have thought possible in light of the effort you put toward them. You also may be realizing and appreciating your own value and talents in a new way you hadn't previously felt entitled to.


~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wild Dreams Wednesdays interpretation by romance author/editor Lisa Logan is meant to be used for education and entertainment purposes only. I hope you've found this week's post useful! Stay tuned until next Wednesday, when we again delve deep into our Wildest Dreams. Sleep Tight!

Mystery Date Monday: Warren Ross

Photo courtesy "Surely" from Stock Xchg
Every Monday I'll treat you to a Mystery Date with a character from one of my romantic or erotic fiction novels!

This Week's Mystery Date:

Who: Homicide Detective Warren Ross

What Book He's In: A GRAND SEDUCTION, a tale of contemporary intrigue and mystery

Where He Lives: New York

Why He's So Fascinating: Warren Ross' investigation into the motel room shooting of a wealthy businessman while in flagrante delicto takes him to Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where he encounters a sexy brunette whose girl-next-door charms turn his head after hours. Just one problem: his new squeeze is far closer to the investigation than he suspects.

A Memorable Moment with Warren Ross:

“Man, haven’t I been there before.”

She glanced sideways, just enough to fix him with a get lost stare. “Excuse me?”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to distract you from your troubles,” the man said. “I just recognize that look intimately. Weight of the world.”

Her intent to shoot a stream of acid his way evaporated at his blue-eyed gaze, which pierced the shield around her resolve to sit alone and brood. Square shoulders spanned beneath an equally square chin nicked in the center; close-cropped hair was peppered with shades of silty brown and rust, as if it couldn’t quite decide which to be. Still, it was the smile in the midst of this handsome melee that undid her—smoky, knowing, and sincere rolled into one skirt-lifting package.

Despite herself, her mood lifted into a half smile and shrug. “Just call me Atlas.”

He held a hand out to her for a firm, yet supple shake. “Pleased to meet you, Atlas. I’m Warren. Warren Ross.”

“Ridelle ‘Atlas’ Walters.”

The sizzling touch of his hand partnered with that smile to instantly unlatch her virtual chastity belt. Or would have, had she’d still possessed one.

Shifting sideways on his stool, he rested one elbow on the bar and the other on his chair back, hands folding in front of his torso. “Live here in Quakertown?”

“Yep. Not a native though; transplanted from the Poconos. You?”

A quick shake of his head tousled the sheen of reddish-brown. “New York, as I’m sure my dashing lilt gives away. I’m here on business.”

“What kind of business?”

Brows went north. “The stressful kind.”

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to pry.”

“You aren’t. I just don’t find shop talk very useful when trying to dazzle a beautiful woman.”

The word beautiful danced through her midsection.“Is that what you’re doing?"

“That depends. Is it working?”

Ridelle gazed in front of her, twirling the stem of her empty glass between her fingers. “It’s definitely not failing.”

“That settles it. You’re obviously a skilled diplomat. White House publicity rep?”

A grin twisted one corner of her mouth. “Hardly.”

“Professional schmoozer, certainly.”

Well, there is that...

She laughed, offering a small shrug. He sat as she twirled, obviously waiting for an answer she couldn’t give. Honestly, anyway. There was the truth, and then the stylized version she told her family. But hell, this was just a stranger in a bar. She didn’t owe him truth or anything else. Besides, hadn’t he just cleverly dodged the same question? Well, she could be mysterious, too.

Abandoning her thoughts and the glass, she turned back to him. “So, Warren...do you dance?”

His smile lit all the stars in her heaven. “Willing to find out?”

--from A GRAND SEDUCTION
~~~~~~~~~

When Warren is Available: A GRAND SEDUCTION is available now.

How You Can Get His Story: Get it in print from Amazon, or eco-friendly eBook from Fictionwise

Feng Shui Friday: Health

Octagon graphic, Bartett Designs
Every week I take a break from romance/erotic fiction writing and explore simple tricks to bring positive energy to YOUR writing...and life!

This week we'll cover the last zone of a house as defined by Feng Shui...

This week: The Health Area (center)

Flip the above octagon so the Career line lies against the wall where your front door sits. Continuing clockwise around the octagon from last week's Helpful People area discussion, you will see that we've come full circle (or octagonal) back around to the Career zone we started with. We're out of "sides!" But there's one more place in the home where energies abound--the very center. Energies here directly involve the health of those living in the home, so this is a vitally important area.

Find yourself under the weather a bit? Tired, with a lack of vitality? Catch every germ that comes down the pike? Feng shuit is NOT a replacement for proper health care, of course, but changes to this zone may help give your home a health boost.

As with each of the eight sides of the octagon, the same types of issues block helpful chi (chi=natural, life giving energy):
*Clutter
*Poor/no lighting
*Dirt
*Lack of vital purposing (dead or incorrectly apportioned space)

Health Area Fixer-Uppers:

1. Clean it up. Clutter blocks healthy energy from reaching you, and dirt here can represent blights on your health. (And of course, there's the obvious correlation between having a dirty, dusty home and increased rate of illness, fatigue, or allergy). So a solid clean 'n clear here is key!

2. Light it up. Burned out light bulbs here can have a symbolic effect on energy and health. Replace them immediately. If you lack energy, light the path with bright and cheerful lighting.

3. Dress it up. Colors here favor yellows and earth tones. Earth is the natural element of the Health area, so plants are especially useful here. Living plants give a scientific health boost as well, by taking up C02 and releasing oxygen, but a good silk plant can give the area a "lift" as well. Good shapes to represent Earth are cubes, squares, and rectangles. (I'll bet you were thinking spheres! But Earth here means solid stability.) Pottery objects work well in this area.

4. Fix it up. The least desirable element in this area is Wood, so if you have wood here either relocate or "cure" it by adding more Earth elements or include all five elements for harmony. If you are using plants in this area, try to avoid plants with spiky/sharp leaves. Sharp points represent daggers piercing/attacking good health.


My Health area falls largely along a main traffic path, not particularly ideal. I've set up this "zone" near the smack middle of the home to emphasize health.

I do tend to use silk plants in numerous areas of the house, but here I use a live plant basket. Small natural stones represent the Earth element as well. A photo of my spouse and I sit here to reap health benefits that will extend onto the rest of the family. These items rest on a large rectangular shelf unit.

I've lived in three different homes since beginning the practice of feng shui, and my Health area has been a work in progress in all of them. Aside from this zone being located in a heavy traffic pattern, our Health area suffers from another problem--the rectangular shelf the pictured items are resting upon is made of wood. Wood is not the ideal choice for this zone, and while the rectangular shape represents Earth, this piece of furniture is the single largest item in the zone and throws things off balance. As we are unable to move or replace it right now, I enacted some cures. First, the use of the live plant rather than silk. Also, I ultimately included all five elements for balance. (Fire--the candles. Metal--the brass candleholder. Water--there are round black items positioned above and below this area, just out of frame.) Finally, I hung a leaded crystal sphere from the ceiling in the exact center of our house, to attract positive, healthy chi.

The results have not improved things as much as I'd like, and I feel we could still use more of a health boost. I'm planning on adding more yellow to this space (there's a small yellow decor sitting in the plant basket). I'm likely considering a yellow fabric cloth to drape over the top of the shelf to subdue the Wood element. If all else fails, I will have to relocate the shelf.

Anything you do to enhance the Health area should be done with focus and intent! Picture yourself (and your family) healthy and strong; envision your body shrugging off illness with ease. There's a lot of power inherent in our own will to succeed--in any task. Don't underestimate it!

~~~~~
Romance writer duties call!! I hope you've enjoyed Feng Shui Friday. Have a creativity tip or dilemma to share? Please post in the comments! Until next time, may you find the magic within that brings good health and cheer!

Wild Dreams Wednesday #8

Photo courtesy of Stock Xchg

Tell Me Your Wildest Dreams!
Every Wednesday I venture away from romantic/erotic fiction writing to interpret your dreams. Have a recurring or puzzling dream? Send it to writerlisalogan@verizon.net and I'll try to shed some light on Wild Dreams Wednesday!

This Week's Wildest Dream:


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“I dreamt it was night, and some strange guy I knew in the dream was acting threatening. The police came and started chasing him off. Instead of waiting I ran the other way--along a deserted dark vacant lot. Two guys in a van drove up. I got scared in the dream, thinking they could throw me in that van and take off. Sure enough, they stopped and jumped out after me. I woke up before much more happened, but I remember thinking what a frying pan/fire scenario it became. What does this mean?"
--anonymous
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There are quite a few themes worth exploring in this dream. First, it happens at night. Nighttime in dreams tends to represent things we cannot see clearly, or obstacles that obscure our path. Someone behaving threatening to you in the dream can represent a feeling of being emotionally attacked or bullied. Police have a variety of meanings in dreams. Here they arrive to help you (though wind up chasing the guy rather than arresting him), representing a symbol of authority that may or may not be capable of solving issues hindering you. Instead of waiting around to see, you run off--and running away in dreams indicates an issue you are hoping to avoid. Instead, you run into TWO attackers in a van. Vehicles in dreams represent directions we can head in our lives--and clearly that van was a direction you did NOT care to head. And this time you aren't just running, you're being chased. Being chased involves emotions or situations that disturb you, again that you'd rather avoid.

To put all these together, perhaps you've encountered a relationship or career situation where you felt emotionally or personally attacked, and attempts to correct the issue not only fell short of your hopes, but perhaps lead to some sort of retribution (or you may have fears of retribution). Your subconscious is acknowledging your tendency to try and avoid these scenarios, rather than risk a greater negative outcome.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wild Dreams Wednesdays interpretation by romance author/editor Lisa Logan is meant to be used for education and entertainment purposes only. I hope you've found this week's post useful! Stay tuned until next Wednesday, when we again delve deep into our Wildest Dreams. Sleep Tight!

Mystery Date Monday: Dream Ballantyne

Photo courtesy "Bixo" from Stock Xchg

Every Monday I'll treat you to a Mystery Date with a character from one of my romantic or erotic fiction novels!

This Week's Mystery Date:

Who: California girl-slash-witch Dream Ballantyne

What Book She's In: IMMORTAL MAGIC, a paranormal romance in progress

Where She Lives: San Simone Shores, an affluent and hip (fictional) Southern California beachfront town.

Why She's So Fascinating: Dream Ballantyne lives in a beautiful home overlooking the glittering Pacific Ocean...wealthy, beautiful, and a powerful witch. But darkness preys on San Simone Shores, a darkness that cost her both her parents and any chance at a normal life. When her attempt to conjure a love spell works a bit TOO well, Dream finds herself with a whole set of new problems--including the gorgeous new neighbor-turned-one-night-stand who has no intention of associating with a witch, and a vampire stalker who has every intention of taking Dream as a mate--forever.

A Memorable Moment with Dream Ballantyne:

A well-crafted spell was not unlike the careful chemistry of baking a cake. A proper blend of intent, correspondences, and actions provided the best results. Several books into her search, she opted for a two-part spell, done overnight to utilize both the moon's feminine, mystical energies and the sun's potent male power. Tied to the incantation would be a spell bag full of ingredients, specially selected for their potent love qualities.

Yes.

“When the moon is waxing,” she read aloud,“place the witch's ball under the pillow.” She snapped the book shut, dropping it in her lap.“Easy enough. Sleep the night away on the potion bag, then do the actual incant tomorrow.”

Groaning to a stand on legs protesting the lengthy research party, Dream didn't bother to replace her books as usual. Grabbing her spell journal, she slid downstairs through a mantle of descending night, pausing outside the door to snatch several tiny white flowers just opening on vines snaking along the railing. Night blooming Jasmine.

Gathering more ingredients on the way to the kitchen, she narrowed her thoughts to a single purpose—the power of attraction. Lighting a narrow red taper, she focused her will on the flame for a few moments, then dripped a quarter-sized circle onto a square of tin foil. Allowing this wax coin to cool, she set the candle aside and laid out a square of cheesecloth. Into this would go nine correspondences of love, attraction, and lust: jasmine, her favorite moonstone, a copper penny, a sprinkling of cinnamon, a slice of red apple, a dash of vanilla, three pink rose petals from the bush outside the front door, and a photograph of herself.

A rather particular photo.

Turning behind her, she gazed out the window overlooking the front of the house. The home was elevated with a vacant lot directly across, and she was fairly certain no one could see in. Still, she twisted the mini blind louvers closed, then snapped up the Polaroid and fiddled with the self-timer. When she was as ready as she could get, she shrugged out of faded blue jeans and a double layer of tank tops, heaping the works in a pile at her feet.

“Just point and shoot,” she said, grinning like a fool at the irony of exactly what part of her was pointing of its own accord at the camera on the counter before her. Being naked while alone in ones' own home was hardly cause to feel jumpy, but she was no Playboy model. Not that the photo had to be professional quality, but a nervous shiver ran through her nonetheless.

Still, plenty of witches did all their casting in the altogether—some during group ritual. Surely she could manage this.

Giggling like a schoolgirl, she struck a ridiculous and awkward hands-behind-the-head pose, held her breath and waited. As always, she managed to blink right as the flash went off. Damn. As the mechanism spit out the results, she left it alone to develop.

--from IMMORTAL MAGIC
~~~~~~~~~

When Dream is Available: IMMORTAL MAGIC is a completed manuscript currently seeking publication. Stay tuned!

Feng Shui Friday: Helpful People

Octagon graphic, Bartett Designs
Every week I take a break from romance/erotic fiction writing and explore simple tricks to bring positive energy to YOUR writing...and life!

This week we'll cover the eighth of nine main zones of a house as defined by Feng Shui...

This week: The Helpful People Area (front left corner)

Flip the above octagon so the Career line lies against the wall where your front door sits. Continuing clockwise around the octagon from last week's Children/Creativity discussion, if you're facing the front door, the Helpful People area takes up the front left corner of the home (or room)--adjacent to the Career zone we started with. Energies here are involved with several aspects of life: networking; the influence of others who may help or hinder you; travel; fortune and luck of male relatives.

Do you have trouble getting help when you need it? Losing touch with friends? Trying to network and having difficulty meeting new people that will bring good value to your interest or career? Planning an upcoming trip (or do you travel a lot)? Have a husband or son in need of some increased fortune? This is the area of your home to turn a keen feng shui eye upon.

If you've been following the series thus far, you are well familiar with what types of things your eye should be seeking here. Helpful chi (chi=natural, life giving energy) in this area can be blocked by:
*Clutter
*Poor/no lighting
*Dirt
*Lack of vital purposing (dead or incorrectly apportioned space)

Helpful People Area Fixer-Uppers:

1. Clean it up. Clutter blocks help from coming to you, or can cause hiccups in travel. Dirt can mar friendships or luck of male family. You know what to do!

2. Light it up. If you feel the need for a helping hand, easy travel, etc., increase your lighting here--but no candles. As always, replace burned out light bulbs immediately.

3. Dress it up. Colors here favor gray, black, and white. Metal and water are good elements to include. Photos of friends, male relatives, or travel destinations are useful.

4. Fix it up. Fire is an undesirable element in this zone. Relocate candles, and if you have a fireplace or kitchen (stove) in this area balance the fire element with either green plants, a mirror (represents water) or a water feature. Avoid a lot of red here as well. If you are moving and are having difficulty selling your home or finding a new one, make sure to remove obstacles in this area and spiff it up.



This is my Helpful People "zone." In my case, this corner falls directly behind the door, in effect "cropping short" this area. (Uneven spaces that project out or cut in will be discussed later in the series.) To address this "cutting off" of helpful influence, I dedicated my entry wall to Helpful chi. Note the use of black and white here, and people photos. Especially prominent: male relatives (my sons). My spouse and I don't travel often, but my sons do--with the military. On the shelf beside the largest photo is a metal safety talisman, to promote safe travels. I am currently seeking a friendship symbol to hang on this wall, and off camera hanging on the front door hinge is a leaded crystal sphere strung with red ribbon to help boost energy in this "shortened" space.

Anything you do to enhance this area should be done with intent! Picture a strong network of friends and associates, envision unhindered travel, etc.

~~~~~
Romance writer duties call!! I hope you've enjoyed Feng Shui Friday. Have a creativity tip or dilemma to share? Please post in the comments! Until next time, may you find the magic within that brings help your way when you need it!