“Our homes are mirrors of ourselves. They reflect our interests, our beliefs, our hesitations, our

I finally started reading Sacred Space, Clearing and Enhancing the Energy of Your Home that a friend gave me a few years ago. It's message is coinciding perfectly with my trip to Bali. As expected, I was inspired by the beauty of the island but not just in the way you would think.

What I was truly impressed with, was the way their spirituality was part of their daily life. From the woman in the massage

shop weaving the "chanang" (a type of offering bowl) out of palm leaves, to the hotel employee meditating at one of the altars, to the bag full of chanang and incense hung from the shop doors to be placed by the employees.

I am working on getting a refund from DWP to remove some of the grass in my backyard and make it into a seating area. I want to incorporate a walking labyrinth into the decomposed granite area, install a water feature and find a Thai spirit house to consecrate the space. While this will give me the seating area I want (away from the bombarding basketball), it will also incorporate the sacred element. I can make that happen through my design, but I will also enlist the help of my friend, Stephanie Syd Yang, of Blue Jaguar (is) Love (http://bluejaguarlove.com/). I want her to perform a ceremony that will dedicate the space to my family and our future.

While this may seem a little "woo woo" to some, I feel that our space should incorporate all aspects of who we are. If you want help with your space, or just have a question, you can contact me through my website http://www.the-silver-lining.com or by emailing me directly at info@the-silver-lining.com

Remember to always look for the silver lining.

Avril Martin