Tag Archives: Balance

Landscape Conversations – Blocked Pathway!

2015-06-21 10.40.36

LANDSCAPE CONVERSATIONS

Renee Lindstrom  & Guest Writer ~ Dyan Grant Francis

  • Observations Written by Renee Lindstrom,
  • Personal Perspectives by Renee Lindstrom &  Dyan Grant Francis individually

*Make sure you read comments under postings as Dyan and Renee start a conversationIMG_20150715_120044

Observations

This is a tiny earth shaped house on a corner lot.  The front door projects out from the main house design.  A second projection on the side of the house may be creating a missing corner in the floor plan.  The peaked roofs are the shape of the fire element and the white trim is metal.  The brown and yellow of the house are earth colors.   The windows represent water.  This highlighted rectangular shapes in the door and window shutters represent wood. The mail box is metal, the house number is prominently displayed and there is a light on either side of the front door.  The front steps are adobe red brick.  Sculptured trees are featured in the landscaping.  

Read more on the the 5 elements


Personal Perspectives by Renee Lindstrom

The front door is a feature in the design of this house and considered an enhancement.  I  find it  curious that  the plants have been allowed to grow over the front walkway eliminating the pathway to it.  The steps up to the front door  are a welcoming red,  yet not visible.  To get to these steps one must walk up the driveway, turn onto a smaller path to walk along the front of the house and past the windows.   The side pathway is not accented and not easily noticeable.  The house number is displayed enhancing the front door feature and there is  balance  provided by  the lite on either side of it.  This balance is extended to  the plantings on either side of the original front walkway.

This cute house is well cared for and inviting until your eye travels to the the confusing walkway.  It could represent the residents need for privacy and less attention, yet the design draws attention!  When considering the five elements the landscaping and house elements are warming and leans toward the 5 element nurturing cycle.   Fire over earth in design with metal features and well balanced windows representing water.  The featured rectangular shapes on the door and window shutters, and the landscaping draws in the wood element.

The front door enhancement is in the placement of helpful people and career areas while the missing corner reflects the area of spiritualism or higher knowledge.  The overgrown front sidewalk could reflect an attempt to slow down these areas from too much activity,  or now, with the overgrow the experience could be stagnation in these areas.  This house number adds up to a 4 and reflecting on the meaning of this house number which in numerology represents hard work, organization, predictability and being conventional.  It is a masculine number and represents hard edges not unlike the appearance of the number itself and this house!  This house number represents order, tidiness, straight lines, sharp edges and control.

Read more on the meaning of house numbers….

                                                          Renee Lindstrom


Personal Perspectives by Dyan Grant Francis

Front Yard entrance to property

This appears to be a well kept property with little clutter or overgrown vegetation.  The front door is obvious and a prominent feature of this house because of it’s slight projection from the basic shape.  Without accurate measurements however, it is difficult to say if this projection creates a ‘missing corner’ which needs to be corrected. In this case, the bushes and trees have the effect of creating a more unified front aspect to this house even if their placement does not accurately define the corner..

A straight sidewalk leading to the front door would create a ‘secret arrow’ of rushing sha (negative energy) directed from the busy roadway to the centre of this house.  The plantings and re-configuration of the walkway help to minimize the impact.  The optimum would be to have a winding pathway leading to the front door.  This can be done with curved flower beds on alternating sides of the straight sidewalk however the residents have chosen to move the sidewalk entrance.

Regardless, the choice of paint colours and topiary shrubs bring swift attention to the front door creating some confusion.  This attention would have been amplified without the changes in the entrance to the property.  Not knowing the intention of the owners, one can only surmise about their desired outcome.

The earth features of this house – yellow ochre paint and low flat aspect give it a grounded feeling which is somewhat at odds with the prominent wood shapes, like tree trunks, on the front door and the rectangular windows.  The wood and earth elements are in conflict in the diminishing cycle of the 5 elements.  The addition of a strong fire element would bring the two into the nurturing cycle of wood – fire – earth and bring a more balanced sense to this house.

When identifying shapes in the landscape, it is important to have guidelines but also to be aware of you preferred perception.   For example, the square (earth) and the rectangle (wood) are both shapes with 4 sides and right angled corners, however

–   A rectangle has right angle corners, with opposite sides being parallel and equal in length

  • A square has right angled corners with opposite sides being parallel and all four side being equal in length.

These have been made more prominent by the use of the contrasting white paint increasing the diminishing cycle of these elements.

To have a calm and nurturing home it is desirable to increase the harmony and balance in your surroundings through the use of colour, shape and placement.


If you are longing for a personal consultation please inquire privately:
renee@insideawareness.com.  Renee Lindstrom offers:

Indoor & Outdoor Landscape Life & Wellness Consulting & Coaching which enhances relationships, emotions and flexible movement awareness!
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No house number & No Walkway

2015-06-21 10.40.36LANDSCAPE CONVERSATIONS

Renee Lindstrom  & guest writer ‘Dyan Grant Francis’

  • Observations Written by Renee Lindstrom,
  • Personal Perspectives by Renee Lindstrom &  Dyan Grant Francis individually

*Make sure you read comments under postings as Dyan and Renee start a conversation

20150706_180348-2

Observations

This house sits to the back of the property.  It has a darker trim color on the peaked roof  which accents the triangular shape symbolizing fire.  Underneath the triangular roof, the house facade accents the tall rectangular wood shape. The garage accents the low square shape of earth.  The window accents the water element  more defined by the extensions and design cut outs.  The green color of the house is the element of wood and the trim  is on the  grey spectrum of the metal element.  The three pots on top of the garage also reflect metal in shape and colors. Read more on the five elements

The front is open to view by passers-by and is broken into two  landscaping styles. One a straight line for the drive and the second creating a garden.  The drive is the yang and the garden is yin.  Read more on yin and yang

There is no visual house number and the sidewalk is missing.  There are tiles to the main street sidewalk, yet where you would expect a sidewalk through the garden to the front door, it’s missing!

Personal Perspectives by Renee Lindstrom

This house is a structurally bold design.  The paint colors may be an attempt to have it blend in and soften  its dominant features.   The design of the house and  property clearly demonstrate the five element and yin and yang symbology.  The house is angular in its design that is accented with the trim.  The carport and drive add to the straight line effect of this angular definition.  The second half of the front yard is a garden with walkway purposely designed to break the straight line pattern.    This creates two separate landscaping designs.  Perhaps the front yard garden is  designed to bring in balance with the drive and house design. The house and drive in Yang while the garden is Yin.

Unlike our first Front Yard posting that demonstrated a yard that was closed with no connection to those passing by,  this front yard is open and demonstrative.  It beckons your eye to travel to it and take in the view.  Imagine yourself as a guest walking up to these two different experiences; the one in the first posting and now this one.  This exercise demonstrates our silent communication  and the starting point of beginning to interpret experiences and relationships. We are perceptive and influenced by  this stimulus regardless of being consciously aware of this or not .

Looking closely the house number is missing and so is the sidewalk leading through the garden to the front door.  Passerby’s would have to know the house number in order to find it and also walk along the driveway looking for a way to go to the front door.  There appears to be a patio set under the front stairs which may indicate that the front door no longer is used as a front door and that it has been turned into the privacy of a back yard!   Read more on the importance of house numbers, walkways and of front doors!

My recommendations for the residents of this property is to stand in front and face inward.  With a view to observe the large tree to the back  left and compare it with the remaining front garden.  Is it light and airy enough to flow with it?  Does the shape enhances the garden or detracts from it? Imagine the wistful tree along the drive in it’s location.  It may create a distraction from the large mass of trees next door and create a definable boundary from them or not, depending upon the desired outcome.

I would also ask the residents to reflect on their intention in the community, with their careers and extended family.  Is there anything in these areas that they would like to improve?  For example when I view this house it represents a retreat and quiet reflective influence.  It may be these residents are retired or are creating a nurturing space to retreat to.  One future feature to consider changing may be the driveway surface to increase the earth element.  This could be effective using  an earth colored brick.   Smaller suggestions such as increasing color with plant selections and/or adding earth elements using adobe pots would be encouraged.  The element that is not supported equally in this landscape is the fire element.  Suggestion for increasing this element would  depend upon the intention, desires and experience of the occupants.

Renee Lindstrom


Personal Perspectives by Dyan Grant Francis

An interesting example of some of the choices that a practitioner needs to make when analyzing a home or building.  Here, we can see the elemental shapes as Renee has outlined.  However, the colour palate is metal.  The trim appears to be a light shade of grey, the stucco appears to be a light green…light and pastel are both in the colour spectrum for the metal element.  The pots on top of the lower 3 door entrance are clearly metal.  When assessing a home or building, one often has to choose between shape and colour to decide which is the more significant influence.

The ‘front door’ is not easily seen however the three door entrance (which may be the main entrance) appears to be a water colour (black or dark-toned spectrum of colours like charcoal and midnight blue).  In 5 element theory, water drains metal and thus the colour of these doors provides balance to the overall strength of the metal element.  The side gate and patio set are both water as they are black in colour.

The driveway leading to the 3 door entrance is also considered to belong to the metal element including all rocks and stones such as marble, granite and flagstone.  Here you can see the grey shades of the flagstone.

The large trees at the side of the home help to provide a sense of shelter breaking the strong winds from that direction.  The vegetation in the front of the home provides a sense of privacy often allocated to the rear yard.  As this home has a small or minimal backyard, the front yard has been enlisted to provide the private seating area.

There is some controversy about which we perceive first – shape or colour.  Personally, I see colour first and then I take a moment to discern the various shapes involved in a structure like this one.  Colour and shape are intricately connected yet an analysis like this requires that we separate them and examine them somewhat independently.

_______________________________________________________

If you are longing for a personal consultation please inquire privately:
renee@insideawareness.com.  Renee Lindstrom offers:

Indoor & Outdoor Landscape Life & Wellness Consulting & Coaching which enhances relationships, emotions and flexible movement awareness!

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Hidden Front Entrance to Property

2015-06-21 10.40.36LANDSCAPE CONVERSATIONS

Renee Lindstrom & Dyan Grant Francis

  • Observations Written by Renee Lindstrom,
  • Personal Perspectives by Renee Lindstrom &  Dyan Grant Francis individually

*Make sure you read comments under postings as Dyan and Renee have a conversation

Observations

This is the front entrance off the street to the property.  The front walk way entrance is not easily seen by the passer-by.  It is overgrown with a large barrier of trees that have  grown to create a living fence and a truck parked along the front roadway blocks the front gate from view.  Looking at the property you can barely see the peaks of the house above the tree line.

Personal Perspectives by Renee Lindstrom

The front garden or entrance to the property is how one is recognized in the community.  It is how the community will perceive you.

In this case study the story is a need for privacy and unusual need for protection.  The height of the trees obscures the beauty of the house behind.  It is not welcoming or open but rather, closed and the statement they may be telling the world, “Leave us alone!  We do not want to be disturbed.”  Entering a forest of trees draws one into a meditative inward state of settling whereas trees creating a barrier is the opposite.  It could be describe as a strong yang warrior type experience.

When I view this site I do not recognize this as the front yard.  My mind tells me first that it is an entrance off the back alley.  There is no house number to ground the residents onto the land for visitors to easily find.  The entrance pathway is blocked from view and your eyes are met with a large closed gate, a municipality parking sign and electrical wire.  Read more on the importance ofhouse numbers, walkways and of front doors!

The story I would personally put to this home is that either they are hiding or have something to hide!  To change the story and increase the chi coming into the lives of these residents, I would recommend cutting the trees to an even height low enough to show some design of the house itself.  I would suggest trimming back the trees around the entrance way and relocating the truck.  An added feature could be flower pots or boxes along the outside of the trees facing the roadway to draw attention and add color.  It would let the community know they are welcome and the residents themselves may be more welcomed by their neighbors.  If one is protective they are distant.

Renee Lindstrom

Personal Perspectives by Dyan Grant Francis

This is an interesting example of landscape.  There is nothing obvious about this residence except the high laurel hedge and large wooden (metal?) gate that may open to a driveway.  The front yard is considered to be ‘yang’, the public space and the connection between the home and the ‘world outside’.  The back yard is considered ‘yin’. the private space and an extension of the activities of the home.  In this case we can only assume that there is a front yard and a back yard as the roofline of the residence is evident above the hedge.  The hedge creates an effective barrier between the internal world of the home and the neighbourhood surrounding it.  This would create a subtle feeling of isolation.  We can assume many things about the people that live here but there are few clues to use in evaluating the accuracy of those assumptions.  There is also nothing to indicate if the truck belongs to the residents or is just randomly parked on the street.   Clearly the residents value and maintain the hedge for their own personal reasons.

Dyan Grant Francis

_______________________________________________________

If you are longing for a personal consultation please inquire privately:
renee@insideawareness.com.  Renee Lindstrom offers:

Indoor & Outdoor Landscape Life & Wellness Consulting & Coaching which enhances relationships, emotions and flexible movement awareness!

More on the Language of Nature

The Month of Romance and Love: #13 of 14 Tips for finding better love

by Renee Lindstrom, GCFP @ Inside Awareness
Day 13: Positive personalities are most attractive

There are concrete studies that show people with positive personalities are seen as more attractive and more physically appealing than those who are rude, negative and unfair. Is your glass half-full or half-empty?

Love Day 13Today’s Tip:  Explore your own inner messaging patterns.  Do you beat yourself and others up? Imagine how attractive this is to others and commit to change through creative self-development!   Begin your practice now!

“Supply is infinite, but there must be receptivity.  We can have all the supplies we will give.  But that is where the barrier is–the unwillingness to give.  That is where the lack or limitation is.”
Joel Goldsmith


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Copyright 2025 Renee Lindstrom, GCFP,
Feldenkrais® Practitioner since 2007, Value-Based Communication Relationship & Life Coach since 2004, Art of Placement  since 2000, Founder of Greater Victoria Peace & Intercultural Celebrations since 2010 & Greater Victoria Labyrinths since 2012, #yyj Peace Week Calendar Founder – 2014 & 2015

The Month of Romance and Love: #11 of 14 Tips for finding better love

by Renee Lindstrom, GCFP @ Inside Awareness

#11 – The Connection

Your intuition will tell you immediately if you are in company with someone compatible if you are listening to it!  It’s all in the open gestures, comfortable friendliness levels, pitch of voice and eye contact.  One way of noticing compatibility is the language connection.  It’s not about what you say, it’s how you say it that might give you answers to the longevity of this relationship.

Love Day 11Tip of the day:  Within 10 minutes you will know if it will be rewarding to put time and energy into pursuing a relationship.  Notice it their eyes remain in contact with yours.  This indicates they are into you.  Notice if the words they use are the same or similar to yours.  For example:  Do you both use, Great as an expression or a statement such as I am interested in…..  Pay attention to words they use that disturb you.  This will never change it will only become more annoying!

“We are most alive when we’re in love.”  John Updike



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Copyright 2025 Renee Lindstrom, GCFP,
Feldenkrais® Practitioner since 2007, Value-Based Communication Relationship & Life Coach since 2004, Art of Placement  since 2000, Founder of Greater Victoria Peace & Intercultural Celebrations since 2010 & Greater Victoria Labyrinths since 2012, #yyj Peace Week Calendar Founder – 2014 & 2015

The Month of Romance and Love: #10 of 14 Tips for finding better love

by Renee Lindstrom, GCFP @ Inside Awareness

#10 Real-Time Face-time

Filling your date nights and getting out yet? In real-time you can experience how your date influences you and if they are interesting. Online, not so much! Online you may be distracted from your loneliness yet it doesn’t do much for the flirty side of romance. Online profiles are misleading and untrustworthy and lead straight to the end game. If you lack time to get out to meet and greet until something clicks and are seriously looking get a matchmaker or go to specific singles events!

Love Day 10Today’s tip:    Use the 80/20 Rule

Spend 80 to 100 percent engaging in real-time face-time and 20 to 0 percent online.  If you are looking for love, romance and nuances that make relationships sparkle online simply isn’t reflective of this experience.  However, if you are lonely, lazy,  love anxiety and sometimes deceit, it may meet your needs!

“There is never a time or place for true love. It happens accidentally, in a heartbeat, in a single flashing, throbbing moment.”
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen


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Copyright 2025 Renee Lindstrom, GCFP,
Feldenkrais® Practitioner since 2007, Value-Based Communication Relationship & Life Coach since 2004, Art of Placement  since 2000, Founder of Greater Victoria Peace & Intercultural Celebrations since 2010 & Greater Victoria Labyrinths since 2012, #yyj Peace Week Calendar Founder – 2014 & 2015

The Month of Romance and Love: #9 of 14 Tips for finding better love

by Renee Lindstrom, GCFP @ Inside Awareness

#9  Listen to your intuition

Meet new prospects in public in an easy, fun and lighthearted location. (Don’t stay online – take it public) Listen to your ‘first impression.’ What is your gut telling you? Can you be authentic and stay integral to what matters to you? Are you comfortable? Are they comfortable? Can you be yourself? Your goal is to find out if they are looking for a successful relationship or the novelty of attraction. A successful relationship is life-enriching and the novelty of attraction becomes life-draining and can become a fatal attraction.

Love Day 9Tip of the Day:  

Be objective.  Notice the warning signs and if you stay centred or if you’re trying too hard and giving too much.  Go beyond the physical attraction.   If conversation is a struggle now it will always be a struggle.  Notice the rewards in connecting.  Yes, conversation is rewarding.

“Love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is done well.”
                                                 Vincent Van Gogh

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Copyright 2025 Renee Lindstrom, GCFP,
Feldenkrais® Practitioner since 2007, Value-Based Communication Relationship & Life Coach since 2004, Art of Placement  since 2000, Founder of Greater Victoria Peace & Intercultural Celebrations since 2010 & Greater Victoria Labyrinths since 2012, #yyj Peace Week Calendar Founder – 2014 & 2015