As promised, here are the official pictures from the Altar Your Space release party. I am sure you will see some old friends in these pictures.

Here is a picture of me and Romio Shrestha the premier Thanka artist and author of Celestial Gallery and many other titles from Mandala Publishing.

Enjoy.

On Wednesday night we hosted the Altar Your Space book launch party. The evening was hosted by Joely Fisher and Tara Home. It was sponsored by Organic Bouquet who donated 1000 organic roses for the party (pictures in later posting). We had nearly 375 of the sweetest and most thoughtful people come join us to celebrate the the release of the book. These attendees are friends of the Tara Home, clients and friends of Siri Darshan and myself. Girish and his band performed for the guests and shared his incredible heart and music.

While we will have some “official” party pictures up in a couple of days, here are some links to the wire services from the photographers covering the party. In these pictures you will see some of our friends like Joely Fisher, Carl Weathers and others who were kind enough to join us in ths celebration. Enjoy!

Wire Image
Getty Image
O Know they Didn’t
WENN
I’m not obsessed

Here is an excerpt from my book, Altar your Space. This story has quickly developed into one of the favorite metaphors in the book. I have shortened it a bit and the book offers a fuller explanation but you will still enjoy this.

Did you ever see an unhappy horse? Did you ever see bird that had the blues? One reason why birds and horses are not unhappy is because they are not trying to impress other birds and horses.
— Dale Carnegie

In the same way that our attitudes and intentions can invoke the sacred, they can also banish the sacred by provoking tension, restlessness and discomfort. Our attitudes and priorities around the things in our homes, relative to the people who live there or come to visit, affect those people and our home environments.
Last year I went to a shop in Beverly Hills to buy some quality cheese. It was a reminder gift to my wife of our beautiful trip to Paris the previous Christmas. Many of the terrific meals we had eaten in the Parisian restaurants had involved delicious cheese. I bought a large wedge of very fine white truffle cheese, took it home and put it in the fridge. The next day I took it out, intending to sample it.
“Hey Jagatjoti,” my wife said, “should we save the cheese for company tonight?”
“Oh, this is company cheese?” I joked. “So we only get house cheese? I want company cheese!”
“I want company cheese too!” said my almost–three-year-old daughter. But she was completely serious. Soon she and I were chanting together, “We want company cheese! We want company cheese!”
Of course my wife appreciated my silly humor, and we all ended up eating company cheese. Company cheese is now a family joke. But it points to a real principle about how to live, and not live, in our own homes. The principle is this: first and foremost, home should serve the people who live there. But sometimes we set up a home environment for the benefit of others, at the expense of those who live in it. This is a company-cheese mentality. It creates tension and discomfort, and makes people (usually the children) second-class citizens in their own homes.

Here is a terrific piece showcasing the Tara Home store in Venice, CA and a super sweet client. This clients, whose home is featured in Altar Your Space, had married throw eloping and decided as their live and careers showed an open window to have a wedding for all of their friends and family. We became terrific friends as we helped them create the perfect home during the week before the formal wedding. Enjoy them talking about the experience and what makes their house a sacred home.

While it is very rare when I would share this type of communication as I am not interested in the boost to my ego, I decided to share this with you today because Gabriella is able to articulate so beautifully her personal journey of discovery, self-realization and more importantly, the discovery of confidence and pride of accomplishment in creating a home which serves her, her marriage, her children and how they all feel each day when they come home.

She told me today how designing her home and altaring her space has created less fighting at home, more time together both intimate time with her husband, more time with her children doing projects, more time as a family eating together and meeting her neighbors more and interacting with them more as her house attracts people to just want to be near it because of how it soothes their heart and the list goes on.

I want you to see through the eyes of someone just like you how recreating, re contextualizing and taking a different view of your living space can so strongly impact your life for the better. She tells a great tale even if the kindness towards me makes me blush a little bit.

Enjoy and be inspired to Altar your Space!

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To Whom It May Concern:

We bought our first home together just six months after the birth of our first child. The house is located in the historic district of Long Beach, a neighborhood which is in a state of transition between generations. It came furnished with the remnants of whatever the previous estate couldn’t sell-off in yard sales; antiques; wood paneling; glass chandeliers; and mirrors. The yard was as random; thirty-two Camellia trees planted in odd places; renegade bromeliads anywhere and everywhere; thick hedges and bushes lined every path; and the overgrown avocado tree in the backyard had been so badly neglected that its branches sprawled out across the roof.

But the house was strong and full of promise. First we killed the grass and ripped out all the landscaping. The older neighbors in the neighborhood were terrified; change can make others uneasy. We then gave away all the furniture to anyone who would take it. Having had moved from a one bedroom apartment, we had very little of our own belongings to fill in the space. There were whole rooms left vacant. One day my sister and I strapped on Rollerblade and turned the living room into a skating ring. We often hula hooped for fun and fitness; sometimes three or four people could hoop at a time inside our dining room. We would later turn hooping into a business concept. Strangely,this is how I met Jagatjoti.

While walking one day in Santa Monica, shopping for costumes to be used in the filming of our first “Hoopnotic Hoopdance” DVD, I passed Tara Home. I was drawn into the store by the warmth and aroma that seemed to pour from the doors. I didn’t have time to look inside, but I remembered the store later when designing the space for Hoopnotica’s office in Marina Del Rey.

My husband and I went to Tara Home one afternoon with the intention of designing a lounge/conference area for the office. Jagatjoti, with little or no introduction, met us in the front of the store. He invited Jheri and I to sit down and have some tea. “Kick your feet up; don’t be afraid to be comfortable”, he said. I liked that.

We spoke for a while about our intentions. I fell in love with almost every piece on the floor. I loved the decadence of it all; the textures, colors, carvings and paintings. In the end, I lacked the confidence to make decisions for our space.

Jagatjoti, whose name I never thought I would be able to pronounce let alone remember, offered to come to our office. He went over the pronunciation of his name slowly for me. “Juh-gat-joe-tee”. He told me that once I got it down I wouldn’t be able to get it out of my mind.

I gave him a budget and he came back with everything we needed- and more. There are four very strong women who work in this space together every day, and I considered finding something to suit them all to be a difficult task. At that point, I didn’t really appreciate fully whom I was working with.

From sumptuous red and gold silk textiles to a seated Quan Yin statue, Jagatjoti arranged pieces which transformed our workspace into a personal and inspiring place to be. He told me that he had envisioned all of us working there; seated on the couch talking, and how the colors in the textiles would look against each of our skin tones. It was comfortable, functional, beautiful, and surprisingly affordable. The new additions to our office came in under budget, and allowed for extras. The unexpected addition of hand crafted candles changed the scent in the office from “new carpet and air conditioning” to warm, sweet, floral. The candles sit on top of the table in the conference area, and their scent helps visitors and employees to feel welcome and relaxed. I couldn’t have been happier with Jagatjoti’s selections and placement. We placed a hoop in the Quan Yin’s hand, and she greets us every morning on our way into the office.

For my home, I felt a little hopeless. I wanted to create a beautiful environment for my family, and didn’t think I could do it without hiring a designer. In hindsight, I had never really been presented with the “opportunity” to design a space from scratch. My young bohemian style had always known no bounds as hand-me-down furniture met yard sale coffee tables, enhanced with vintage silk scarves and throws. Creativity was all I ever had. As a result, my interior design skills were compromised by what was available at the time. My idea of decorating was to staple old record covers and clippings from magazines to the wall. As a result, things were always changing and I never really lived in a space that felt like “me”. I grew to feel intimidated of design, and the inevitable problem in our house: If we ever wanted to have guests, we were eventually going to need a place to sit.

I called Tara Home, but Jagat was in India, and would not be back for a few weeks. I began to interview designers in the area. I desperately searched for someone to give me the answers: what, how much, what color, what fabric. I thought surely someone could just do it FOR me; make my home beautiful in a style that reflects me. Each designer I met with had a different take on my home and style. And each left me feeling restless and disheartened. I missed Jagatjoti.

He describes himself as a “Simple Shopkeeper”, and he is far from it. Who knows, really; maybe he believes it. Jagatjoti has sort of an undefined personality. I once asked him how he was able to choose a statue so perfect for me, without me being there… without having had seen my home ahead of time. “You would be able to do it too if you got up every morning before dawn and meditated for two hours”, he replied.

He is a humble and confidant man. Jagat has such a dry sense of humor that it is possible to miss completely if you’re not careful. I find him to be very humorous, and conversation with him is always thought provoking and engaging.

There are many things that distinguish Jagat from other “Simple Shopkeepers”; refined intuition; the sincere implementation of personal spirituality; use of old ideas in a modern world; attention to the senses in design; and a superb sense of aesthetic (In the end, I decided to wait for him to return from India).

Refined Intuition:

Two days before Christmas we packed up the family and visited with Jagatjoti in Los Angeles. In one day we completely furnished our livingroom and dining room. Some of what we selected was entirely our decision, some was predestined.

Our dining room table for example, was a piece Jagat had envisioned for us. He knew that it was perfect for us before we did. He had never seen my home, and was working off of my desire to seat 10-12 people. The chairs came from his house. It is not uncommon for Jagat to pull pieces from his personal collection to assist his clients. If you ask, he will tell you that his wife will often come home to an empty house. He does not attach himself to objects, but surrounds himself with an array of carefully chosen, incredibly beautiful things.

Use of Old Ideas In A Modern World:

Jagat suggested an altar for our entrance, and that all outgoing bills pass over it. We have now set this small practice into our daily routine, and it gives more meaning to the chore of bill payment. In this area, good karma (if that’s what it is) is always welcome. Sometimes my daughter and I arrange flowers to place on the alter, or set aside an offering of fruit.

We selected an old Chinese piece for our “entertainment center”. Jagat recommended that we store all of our television components within the chest, and knew of a universal remote that would go through the doors.

Sensory Design:

The pieces we chose are low to the ground, allowing easy access for our children to interact with us. The colors and fabrics are rich and bold. The scent of the wood and the hand poured candles give the final touch to the aesthetic of the room. Much like the candles in our office, the concept of “aromatherapy” adds another dimension to Jagat’s design process. Our house smells amazing; unidentifiable, subtle, and very romantic. And everything you touch feels soft, smooth, and pleasing.

Personal Spirituality:

Although our family is non-denominational in practice, I find a sense of peace and solidarity within the image of the buddha. We selected two standing buddhas to grace our entry. They were not made to “go together” as a matching set, but work well as a pair. Jheri and I interpret this as representation of our own relationship and marriage. A seated buddha on the side of the house has become a conversation piece for the neighborhood. We consider him to be our “offering” to the outside world, and have framed him in within our garden using carefully trimmed hedges and lighting.
I fell in love with the small Luan statues. So much in fact that I bought the entire set of 18, and now the disciples of buddha are scattered throughout my home. Although they are all made in the same image, they are hand-carved and therefore each of their faces differ slightly. They are about the same size as my two year old daughter, and she plays with them. I like it when the Luans talk on the cell phone, or are all set up to have tea. Sometimes she whispers things in their ears…
Jagat travels to the far reaches to hand select pieces. He is very particular. He and Siri may spend an entire afternoon reviewing hundreds of buddhas. Each buddha to be brought home must have a particular aesthetic; the pose relaxed (but not too relaxed), the face kind (but not silly). As a result, they may spend the whole day shopping and find just a few statues.
Jagat does repeat business with furniture builders and knows the history of many custom pieces. Like our dining room table; an old carved chinese door topped with glass was made into a table. It is a stunning one of a kind piece.

Superb Aesthetic:

In the end we are left with a collection of functional art; every piece comes together harmoniously. Although the whole lot was purchased at once, you would never be the wiser. Nothing matches, but everything goes together perfectly. As though we had travelled to the far reaches of the world ourselves and sent home all our treasures; a collection which should have taken me years and years to create.

The transformation of our home has been a personal journey. I feel more confidant in my ability to design. Even with Jagat’s help, I really feel as though I did it all myself. I like the way Jagat would casually guide my experience without taking credit for an idea:
ie. “Might I suggest [an altar]…” “Perhaps you will consider [a small buddha]…” etc.
His humble guidance is empowering, while I have found that the “suggestions” of others usually sound more demanding:
”You know what you should do? I would place the table there, the couch there… create a conversation pit blah blah blah…”

We were able to easily integrate our love of art into our new home; our collection of abstract paintings somehow fits seamlessly into the overall aesthetic. Even our Catholic and Greek icons look great; as if they were somehow “meant to be”. Our home is far from ordinary, and a perfect representation of “us”. I feel blessed to wake up every morning surrounded by such beauty, and it effects my whole outlook on life. My home is living proof of how blessed I am to have “stumbled” into Tara Home. I feel grateful, and honored to have been asked to share my experience. Please feel free to slice and dice this up to fit your needs in any way!

Gabriella Redding; wife, mother of two, CEO… homemaker extraordinaire.

Gabriella Redding
CEO Hoopnotica, Inc

I have had the blessing lately to design a couple of childrens rooms including my own daughters space. It is tough challenge as you want to make sure that your child is engaged and soothed at once. Energized by their creativity and able to relax into the perfect slumber. The colors have to agree with the child but also be some what sustainable. It would be tough to keep painting as the child like Picasso goes through the blue stage, then yellow and then a tartan inspired by Braveheart and so on. Our children evolve as people through their stages and certainly their needs for their space. We must be conscious of the timing for new additions, removals, and changes in our child and their needs in order to effectively serve them and provide them with a space which will serve their spirit and soul.

Here are a few things that my clients often pay attention to while working with me to create a space to serve their children:

–Color. Work with your child to select a color palate that at once inspires and calms. Children will know what they like and want. You just need to present them with some cool options that fall into line with colors that they already gravitate to in their shoes, clothing etc. And I always try to help them find a couple of options that are outside to see how they are responded to.

–Music. I find that must will always “sooth the savage beast”. Bring the joy of music, the heart of song and the inspiration into their rooms with sound. Get them a sound player that they can operate, drop etc. Teach them how to use it (however if your child is like my two year old, they will quickly be teaching you). Introduce them to different types of music including some that you play when they are falling asleep while you are reading to them. Music is an important anchor and introducing them to it will serve them for their lives.

–Bed. Make it comfortable and not too stimulating. I know everyone wants to make their child happy but I find the over stimulating car beds, airplane beds and other theme beds too over the top and t stimulating in addition to dating very quickly when the cuteness wears off. Don’t waste your money by purchasing something so potentially out of fashion with who your child is and find something simpler and timeless. Sheets can be changed when the child out grows Popeye (as if that ever happens), beds are not so easy or affordable (unless you don’t mind and can spend like that but that brings up others issues of environment and sustainability). Make the mattress ORGANIC. Unless you can tell me why we should continue to support the most destructive crop in the world, cotton, make your child safe, healthy and our planet stronger with your purchase of an organic mattress. An organic futon starts at $400 and an organic mattress starts at about $800 on sale but I expect mattress pricing to go done over time. And one last note about the bed, smaller is better if space in the room is an issue. Leave room for forts, medical tables/examination areas(when they play doctor) blocks, toys and everything else a child collects and plays with. They are small, no reason to give them a big bed unless they have a very large room, or you need to have their room double as a guest room for special guest on special events. (don’t make them feel like the space is not theirs and can be taken without their agreement or consideration or you will make them insecure).

More to come…

Fushionmag.com is a terrific website slash blog dedicated to sharing with its readers the coolest, hippest and most interesting “finds” throughout the country.

According to their website: “Fushion is the one-stop-story-shop for today’s woman. Whether you’re looking for that perfect red lipstick, the it-jean, plush pillows for your bachelorette pad, or need a crash course in money management, we have you covered. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the read.”

They were nice enough to feature an article about my new book, Altar your Space, a guide to the restorative home on their blog and website. The article is about using tips from my book to help you make the change in your heart and home after a break-up or divorce. I think that it is a terrific article. Send it along to anyone who you think would be served by a fresh and new perspective in their lives. Enjoy!

I am tickled to announce that the great Girish is going to play for our friends and clients when they come celebrate the release of Altar Your Space, a guide to the restorative home.

Girish is an eclectic artist with roots in jazz, world, and sacred music. His musical talents find expression in a wide array of instruments – including tablas, world percussion, guitar, harmonium, and voice.
Beyond that, he sings like an angel and you can not help but to have your heart moved and opened by the sweet graceful sounds of Girish and his band.

The party is November 7th and he is expected to start playing around 20:00/8:00 pm.

Check out his website at the link above and if you can not make this party, check out his schedule to see where he will be playing near you and go see him. You will be better from the experience.

Any place that we declare and design and serve as sacred, becomes an altar. A bedroom dresser top, a bathroom or kitchen counter-top, a living room coffee table, a built-in nook in a hallway or stairway, inside a closet – all are suitable locations for a household altar. It can be the dramatic focal point of a formal prayer and meditation space. It can be a small fountain surrounded by flowers in a garden corner.Below are some common things that people place on their home altars.

–Fruit, fresh herbs or flowers picked each day from your garden.
–Spiritual icons, statues and framed pictures connected to your particular path or faith.
–Sacred items like holy ash, oil or incense from ashrams, temples and churches.
–Personal items with special meaning or emotional value for you, which may include photographs, paintings, drawings, found objects, mementos acquired during your travels.
–Sensual items like incense and essential oil infused candles (mint for awakening, lavender to calm, etc).
–A Wish Box or God Box. This can be a wooden box, a ceramic container, or even leather or silk pouch. A Wish Box/God Box is a place to put pieces of paper on which we’ve written our wishes, hopes and dreams, our problems and concerns, our prayers for others and even their photos. By placing them in the box with a prayer or meditation, we symbolically surrender them into “God’s hands”. Reviewing these notes later, you will often find that problems have been resolved, wishes have been fulfilled, and goals have been, or are on their way to being achieved, and individuals prayed for have in fact been helped or healed.
–Beads and jewelry such as malas, rosaries, crystals, or more personal jewelry items.
–Advertisements, pictures and images of things you want to work towards whether material, emotional, spiritual or physical. These images can involve anything that anchors a focus on your particular activity, goal or dream.
–Pictures of a friend or family member who you want pray for because of illness, physical or mental.
–Anything else that you feel moved to place on your altar.

We’ve known for ages, since long before the advent of color therapy, that various colors express and stimulate diverse moods, reflections and responses. Colors can energize and stimulate, calm and refresh, and even inspire and heal us. Red famously draws attention and stimulates decidedly energetic, aggressive, or erotic responses. Matadors wave red flags at bulls to provoke aggression. It’s no coincidence that sexual zones around the world are called Red Light Districts. Statistically, police pull more red cars over annually than cars of any other color. Blues and greens tend to relax, soothe and calm, which is why talk show guests often wait in a Green Room before going out to face lights, cameras and audiences.
Because colors do affect us, it’s important to choose carefully the color schemes in our living environment. Colors can soften or mute a room, as in “tone it down”. They can make a room warmer and cozier. They can energize a room, making us feel more awake, creative and alive. The key to choosing a color scheme for any room is knowing what we want to experience and how we want to feel in that room. Then we can explore the range of color option and pick the right colors for the right room for our particular needs.

The primary determining factor in any color choice is what you like, whether it be strong, flamboyant colors, rich primary colors, airy pastels or simple conservative shades. Experiment with one wall or area of a room. Be creative, even playful. Liberally paint your chosen color there, or roll wide swathes, vertical or horizontal, of possible colors on different walls. Then let it dry. Sit with it for a while. Sleep on it. See how it looks in different shades of light at different times of day or night. Notice how it draws your eye, how it makes you feel.

Below is a brief general description of the basic effects of colors on the human psyche.

Pink - Pink is physically, mentally, and emotionally soothing. It enlivens compassion, love, and purity.
Yellow - Yellow is awakening and mentally activating. It stimulates intellectual activity.
Red - Red stimulates the mind and body. It encourages sexuality and passion. It can be extreme and very powerful. Use it wisely and sparingly.
Green - Green brings balance, encourages growth, and instills calm.
Blue - Blue enhances creative expression. It is peaceful and expansive, like the sky.
Purple - Purple has a hypnotic effect. It encourages intense emotions – from anger to sublimity. It should be used very sparingly.
Orange - Orange activates optimism and refuels energy reserves.