It's always the changing of the season that inspires me to write my newsletter and today's first cold snap is no exception. Autumn is probably the favorite season of most Southerner's, since August and early September can be so hot and humid, we rarely get to enjoy outdoor living and what's left of our gardens.

Before I sat down to write, I turned my small cottage in the woods into a "pavilion" by opening all my windows and French doors. The only sounds I hear come from the chorus of birds just outside.Our home is an extension of ourselves and like us, needs to breathe. Fresh air and natural light must flow freely through the home if the occupants are to enjoy abundant energy and good health.

The natural energies created by our environment highly influence the way we feel. Fresh air, for instance, can make us feel fresh, sparkling and energetic as air is the primary source of life energy. Research has shown that using only air-conditioning or central heating in your home can make it ion-depleted. The result is tiredness, and loss of mental and physical efficiency.

Electrical appliances like televisions, microwave ovens, hair dryers and refrigerators all emit hazardous pollutants and contribute to the formation of positive ions. When too many positive ions occur, you may become tense and irritable. If you don't have the luxury of opening your windows to a vista of the countryside, and you don't want to buy an ionizer, quartz crystals contain silicon dioxide which imbues them with pyro-electrical qualities. This means that, when stimulated, they emit electrical impulses giving the crystal the capacity to absorb, store and release vibrations.A crystal is also able to restore balance between positive and negative charges. Quartz crystals come in a variety of colors and sizes and are extremely beautiful.

Electrical disturbances from seemingly harmless things like radios, alarm clocks, bedside lights and televisions can also distort the natural electromagnetic field in your home. One way to check this is by using a good compass. Turn it until the needle lies directly north and move it slowly over the area in question. As the compass approaches an area of disturbance, the needle will swing away from the north position. Since it's sometimes difficult to hold the compass steady, try using it over a small area like a bed, chair or sofa, passing it over the area a number of times from different directions to ensure accuracy when pinpointing a disturbance. Move any furniture which is used for any length of time (like a bed, sofa or favorite chair) away from this area or place an insulating blanket or piece of wool carpet under the piece of furniture. Avoid electric blankets, clock radios and alarm clocks and turn off the television at the wall socket if it is in your bedroom.

Light is the purest healing force in the Universe. Pure sunlight contains all of the elements necessary to keep every living thing in perfect health. Light is necessary for both biological and physiological health. On a physical level, the pituitary gland, and on the spiritual level, the soul, both need to be nurtured by living light. We need this energy so that we will glow with good health and have lots of energy. Color vibrations come to earth as part of the electromagnetic spectrum contained in pure white sunlight. Each color vibration has a different wave-length and strong effect on us. The colored rays affect not only our physical body but also our emotions, moods and mental frame of mind. Every cell in our body is light sensitive and also gives off its own light vibrations. Color not only enters our eyes but also enters our body through our skin. Just as we need a varied and balanced diet, we also need a balance of the seven spectrum colors. These travel in vibrations and we pick them up through our eyes, our skin and our energy field. Through the use of full spectrum lighting and full spectrum paints, we can create this balance in our environment.

To be healthy and happy, we need the energy from the full spectrum of color vibrations found in natural sunlight. Seasonal affective disorder, for instance, is caused by a lack of natural sunlight. As each color vibration has its own powerful energy and quality, we can use certain colors to improve our general state of health. Light colors in our surroundings raise our vibrations as pale colors reflect more light vitality. Dark colors require more pigment, thus reducing the amount of natural light reflected. Warm colors are stimulating while cool colors are relaxing. When decorating your home, remember that you need to create a balance between warm and cool colors. Every color has a warm or cool shade. Take gray, for example. A dove gray has a warm tone, while a steel or battleship gray is cool.Living or family rooms are best decorated in tones relating to the atmosphere you wish to create, using one or two main colors, plus a contrasting balancing color.

An ideal kitchen should be a warm and nurturing place for gathering and expressing creativity while nourishing your body. The colors in your kitchen can stimulate your senses, releasing the stresses of the day. Earthy, rich and warm colors are great in kitchens set off with lots of green. The color orange and all colors with orange in them are perfect for dining areas as they stimulate the appetite and aid digestion.

If you want to create a loving, supportive, yet relaxing bedroom, use shades of pink as pink is a muscle relaxant and the color of love while its therapeutic action is reinforced by the color green. If you wish to create a quiet, cool and peaceful bedroom, use predominantly blue or green with touches of pink or peach for warmth.

Babies are still very connected to spiritual forces which is why it is traditional to decorate their rooms in very soft pastel colors. As children start to grow, they become increasingly interested in the world around them. Their curiosity and experimental learning can be aided by introducing primary and other bright colors. However, many children who have soft, quiet personalities may feel overwhelmed by bright colors and will withdraw into themselves. Older children may need to have quieter, calmer colors in their rooms to study and concentrate. I find that most toys are brightly colored, so I created a very soft twilight blue for my daughter Alexandra (Alexandra Blue) which makes a soothing backdrop for the over-stimulation that toys can create.

In our latter years, it's natural for our thoughts to turn towards spiritual matters, however, the elderly person also needs mental stimulation and a reason to get up in the morning. Therefore, variety in the colors of their environment can boost interest in the world and stimulate the mind, so using several different but harmonizing colors will help. Blue is the color of peace and links us to our intuition and higher self, while all forms of violet or purple reflect a desire to develop spiritually. Balance can be achieved through the use of yellow as it is a very optimistic, mental color.

The bathroom should be a place to relax and nourish the spirit as often it is the only time we have to ourselves in the day. Make the most of it in an environment which offers the best opportunity to de-stress. Choose a color which makes your skin glow. Peach and pink tones reflect a healthy skin glow, and appear warming. On the other hand, if you want to create a cool, refreshing feel to the bathroom, decorate it with turquoise, blues or greens with white. Use soft lighting, especially bulbs with a yellow or pinkish tint. Turn your bathroom into your own home health spa by keeping a candlestick or candles permanently in the bathroom. If you can, link your bathing area to nature by opening it onto a courtyard or garden. A skylight over the tub is another way to do this. Keep moisture loving plants in the room and make sure you have relaxing music nearby.

To further create a harmonious sanctuary that engenders health and well being, the use of essential oils can create a pleasant atmosphere when used as a room fragrance. As all plants utilize sunlight for their life and growth, if properly preserved, essence from the plant can have a powerful effect on us and our environment. Specific oils will have an effect on your mood, creating a good ambiance for work, relaxation, inspiration, meditation, romance or sleep. To energize and stimulate use ginger, rosemary, peppermint, cinnamon or clary sage. Neroli, geranium, rose and lemon cypress are known to balance and restore. For relaxation and sleep try sandalwood, chamomile or geranium.If we consciously create a healing home, it will help us find our spiritual connections with nature, the community and the planet, while providing us with a safe haven where we can enjoy inner peace and contentment. One way to tell if your home is a true sanctuary, is by answering this question:

"How much time do you enjoy spending at home?"

The energy Autumn brings with it couldn't be more perfect for making improvements to turn your home into a sanctuary and with family holidays just around the corner, don't waste another minute!

Our line of Full Spectrum Paints has several new colors. Originally formulated as custom colors for various clients, they turned out so nice, we added them to our main palette. Also, we no longer have to ship our paint to out-of-town customers! Simply place your order with us and we will make arrangements to have the paint available to be picked up at your nearest ICI Dulux Paint Store! For more information on our Full Spectrum Paints:

Wishing you many blessings for a delightful season!

SUMMER 2002 LIVING WELL (Creating a Sanctuary)

SPRING 2002 LIVING WELL (Working with Color & Light)

WINTER 2001 LIVING WELL (More Color Therapy, What Color are You?)

AUTUMN 2001 LIVING WELL (Color Therapy)

SUMMER 2001 LIVING WELL (Create Healing with Nature's Colors)