Author Archives: bette

September 30 New Moon I Selfless Before Selfie

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“Did you know that there are over three hundred words for love in canine?”
— Gabrielle Zevin

September 30 the “selfless before selfie” Chinese Zodiac animal wagged its way onto the horizon. Every month the leading zodiac holds a super power that can help us expand our awareness and reach our full potential. Dog has a multitude of exemplar traits so which do we choose? Its friendly nature? Faithful character? Smart brain? Straightforward manner? Venerable composure? Responsible attitude? Or is it our four footed friends’ “bow wow practice” that they have mastered so effortlessly? Bowing to the divine in their owners and feeling the wow of devotion. This simple act of expressing unconditional love creates strong bonds and gratifying relationships that can help you through difficult times. And maybe too that caring about what happens to another is all you need to feel good throughout the day. For us humans it might be easier to understand the love of dog by watching this Tonglen Meditation of Compassion performed by Tulku Tsori Rinpoche.

Will this month be pets and praises or dog poop? Discover what the stars are saying and how they can help. Rat: what you are working on goes smoothly and as you planned. Your fame will be outstanding and both family and romance will go well. Consider refraining from verbal disputes and avoid communication that creates misunderstandings or you may experience unexpected disaster. Ox: a good month to remain low key in the areas of investing, career changes and hosting a grand opening. There is a larger margin for interpersonal disputes. Keep your impulses in check. Be mindful that others may see through your schemes. Tiger: it’s a Three Harmony month!  Your luck will be auspicious. Wealth will be available but do not be greedy. Let Nature take its course and then money will emerge. Maintaining a benevolent heart and doing good deeds benefits your family and you will gather in fame, profits and much good fortune. Rabbit: lots of money lucky bunny so take advantage of the full throttle Ch’i to support your investments or partnerships. Romance will be smooth sailing. Dragon: it’s a month of Direct Conflict. It there is money loss consider it as a way to maintain the peace. Be on the look out for car accidents, illness and refrain from associating with folks who will demoralize you. Perform a good deed a day and be willing to help others. A “single act of benevolence avoids a thousand evils.” It’s the antidote to disaster. Spread it around generously. Snake: “Heaven helps a good man.” Helpful People are at your assistance. Your endeavors demonstrate luck, prosperity and ease. If you establish a new business or take a trip abroad, both will be profitable. If you are offered a joint venture do not reject but rather go with the flow. Horse: gaiety and joy will be in abundance. Your career will flourish, your assets will rise and progress will be smooth in all endeavors. Keep a calm outlook and remember that matters can be resolved through good communication. Ram: a month of Mutual Offense with possible adversities so avoid going out for a walk at night and beware of thieves. If you come across a dangerous situation, chant the “Five Thunders” mantra for protection. Monkey: you are in a Mutually Offensive and the Most Confrontational relationships. You must be extra, extra careful this month. Do not take trips, purchase real estate, change careers, start a new business or host a grand opening. Though there will be an influx of money, monitor your expenditures in accordance to your income. Rooster: luck of the month is Most Confrontational. Rooster and Dog fight so you may expect disharmony in your relationships. You may quarrel with your spouse or loved one you are dating. At work you may experience personal disputes. Practice forbearance and see harmony as fundamental to your everyday interactions. Perform “The Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell” at the beginning of the lunar month to avoid disaster. Dog: you will experience both bad luck and joy. Be mindful that sorrowful events and unexpected disasters are possible in your sphere this month. Keep kind thoughts and do good deeds in order to break through misfortune for “a single act of benevolence avoids a thousand evils.” Pig: your luck will be smooth this month. Monitor your expenditures in accordance to your income. Your health may give you trouble so watch what you eat. If you have a chronic condition perform “Changing The Ch’i Of The House”. If you request a cure from this forecast, I will ask you to honor the red envelope tradition. Have a great month, Zodiac friends! 

Thank you to Khadro Crystal Chu, Black Sect Esoteric Buddhist Feng Shui for your unfailing command of Feng Shui and Chinese metaphysics.

Have you decided this will be your year? “Boldness has genius”…start with one hour of Feng Shui A La Carte. Think of it as a fairy godmother for your house.

What I have discovered about our homes is that creating a heart healthy space leads to peace and contentment. The bedroom is where it begins. Start with my complimentary pdf: 27 Bedroom Concepts To Maximize Your Health, Happiness and Peace of Mind. Design your space to your best advantage. Subscribe to my blog and special offers. You’ll receive this valuable Feng Shui Guide as a thank you gift.

Polishing The Mirror

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“As you live deeper in the heart, the mirror gets clearer and cleaner.”
– Rumi

With tonight’s Mid-Autumn Moon Festival celebration I am reminded of the tens of thousands who venture out of doors to dine on moon cakes, drink wine with loved ones and pay homage to their ancestors. I too have worshipped the moon as I held my sake cup up high to the sky at the Portland Japanese Garden. In ancient China women would bring out water-filled basins to absorb the perfectly round moon used to purify their homes when they cleaned. This gentle influence can pull an entire ocean from shore to shore. And because of its power, it has been collected for centuries to remove heat from an angry heart or clear a furrowed brow of confusion.

Like the water basin filled by the moon, mirrors can also be filled–sometimes it is the moon’s yin essence, sometimes the sun’s vitality, yet it is always filled with intention. A “programed” mirror can create soft words between partners, pull water across a bed to attract money or flip an oppressive building upside down. Understanding how this esoteric magic works has largely remained untapped. If you desire to understand the transcendental nature of your mirror cure or if you are a first time seeker of Feng Shui, the following wisdom may give you a greater appreciation for an ordinary mirror.

Mirrors Help Us Release Judgement “The Mirror is an ancient Buddhist symbol for clarity, completeness of perception and purity of consciousness. A mirror reflects a thing objectively but what we see in the mirror is not the thing itself. Because the object is not seen directly, it may be seen more accurately – more clearly, without judgement and with great perspective. This can lessen the tendency to see a thing as fixed or solid and encourage better understanding. The mirror or perception, more effectively propels the mind toward insight and compassion than mere argument or lecture.”
–Baronet 4 Tibet

Mirrors Fill With Whatever Is Before Them A mirror has no color, no image and can fill itself with whatever is before it. This “empty” nature is what makes it possible. Take an object like a vase of red flowers and it becomes the flowers and the vase. Take it away and place a bowl of oranges and it becomes the fruit. We, humans, are also capable of reflecting what is before us. However we may not be conscious of the effect of the content of what fills us. Often this leads to unhappiness and limitations.

Mirrors Give Us Insight Looking into the mirror’s reflective surface reminds us of the impermanence of nature and bends the limitations of our thinking. We may experience a sudden insight that the thing is not good nor bad, not beautiful nor ugly. And we begin to see ourselves in the same way and embrace our true nature.

Polish The Mirror In Your Heart Sprinkling your day with meditation, spiritual breathing, chanting a mantra, for example, Om Mani Padme Hum, and taking walks, help you shift from a busy mind into focused perception. These precious, out-of-time still moments create a direct path to living deeper in your heart. The stillness polishes your mind and with your intention refreshed, your wish projects into the mirror and beyond the wall on which it rests, expanding all possibilities and opportunities.

Mirrors

  • Bagua mirrors protect everything that are behind them. Most often they are hung outside to protect everything within. Their power rests in the power of the eight trigrams, the five elements and theory of yin and yang.
  • Convex Mirrors widen an area of view, they broaden the scope of an adjustment creating an array of possibilities.
  • Concave Mirrors widen an image and soften a potential threat such as a knife-edge or an oncoming road.
  • Sun Moon Mirrors create balance that is represented by yin and yang, night and day, the moon and the sun. This universal balance of light can create clarity, cultivate good judgement, keep you safe and strengthen your prosperity. When life gets a little frenetic, this mirror can be like the ocean–calm, steady, rhythmic and pure.

What I have discovered about our homes is that creating a heart healthy space leads to peace and contentment. The bedroom is where it begins. Start with my complimentary pdf: 27 Bedroom Concepts To Maximize Your Health, Happiness and Peace of Mind. Design your space to your best advantage. Subscribe to my blog and special offers. You’ll receive this valuable Feng Shui Guide as a thank you gift.

Have you decided this will be your year? “Boldness has genius”…start with one hour of Feng Shui A La Carte. Think of it as a fairy godmother for your house.

September 1 New Moon I Be True To Yourself

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“Impossible is not a declaration, it’s a dare.”
 –Muhammad Ali

September 1 new moon, the high stepping Rooster with his vermillion crest and forthright manner strode onto the Zodiac main stage. Divine creature that calls in the new dawn, Rooster lives up to his colorful attitude as well as his honest nature as expressed by the ancient scholar, Tian Rao. “The five virtues of the Rooster…. The Rooster dons a crimson cap, a mark of literary sophistication! It claws its enemies, what martial prowess! It calls to its cohorts when food is available, a creature of compassion! It fights to the death with its nemesis, what bravery! And it never fails to keep time, a trustworthy soul.” What is unique about rooster is its ability to keep time for humans which leads the Chinese to the conclusion there is a divine spark in the rooster that makes it capable of this unique task.”

The great Ali portrayed many of Rooster’s exceptional characteristics with authenticity being his most outstanding trait. He leaves a legacy for us all, “be true to yourself’”. For when you stand true to your heart nothing is impossible and the grit built from your integrity is the foundation for manifesting your dreams.

Develop your character and your future will be guaranteed. But strategizing is always a plus. Let the stars help. Rat: your luck this month will be uneven. Take a conservative approach to all your endeavors. Refrain from sexual misconduct and entering establishments offering sensual pleasure. Be mindful of your speech and behavior because hasty conduct attracts catastrophes. Ox: it’s a Three Harmony Month!!! Your luck is on a high. You will find prosperity, experience an increase in your fame, wealth will come easily and your happiness will be doubled. In your career you will be acknowledged for your efforts. Entrepreneurs will enjoy much success. Tiger: disasters and obstacles have dissipated. Planning will be smooth with your endeavors achieving success. Beware of minor money loss. Watch out for gossips and crisis. Remain cautious, be conservative and keep a low profile. Rabbit: dear friend you are in Direct Conflict this month. Avoid aggressive individuals and be mindful of quarreling. Refrain from sexual misconduct and entering establishments offering sensual pleasure. If you experience depression then perform the Black Sect Tantric Buddhist “Nine Step Breathing”. Dragon: a time of harvest and plenty. Helpful People are about, take advantage of this lucky opportunity. Not only is your career on the upswing, people will take notice of you. Beware of troubles caused by sexual misconduct. Lead a clean and righteous life otherwise disasters may befall you. Snake: it’s a Three Harmony Month and you will experience peace and happiness in your family. Your career will glide on the waters of abundance. If you establish a new business or take a trip abroad, both will be profitable. If offered to go into a joint venture, go with the flow and take it rather than rejecting it. Horse: a month of “Mutual Offense”. Do things in a principled manner to avoid the risk of prosecution. Theft may come to your doorstep, valuables could be lost and there is a possibility of a traffic accident. Have your wits about you. Ram: don’t be surprised if the month has some volatility so welcome the smooth parts when they arrive. Keep calm and carry an attitude of steadiness. Do not let your emotions rule your life. Be careful of traffic accidents. Perform the Black Sect Tantric Buddhist “Driving Safety Cure”. Monkey: Helpful People are all around to aide you. You will enjoy good interpersonal relationships. It”s a month to stay on track with your work and be conservative with your expenditures. You may experience “Peach Blossom Luck”” do not let it go unchecked and develop into sexual misconduct. Rooster: your luck fluctuates this month with as much misfortune and auspiciousness. Be mindful of money loss, arguments in the family and marital trouble. You are advised to recite “The White-Robe Kuan-Yin mantra” in the morning and at night. Dog: this is the “Most Confrontational” month. There may be family disputes, money loss and illness. It is not wise to go into business partnerships with others. Practice patience and do not be led by negative emotions. Perform the Black Sect Tantric Buddhist “Nine Step Breathing” in the morning and at night. Pig: best advice is to be still, observe what is going on around you and don’t make any hasty decisions. If you have considered marriage you may just take the next step. If you request a cure from this forecast, I will ask you to honor the red envelope tradition. Have a great month, Zodiac friends! 

In China Feng Shui practitioners paint a red Rooster on the walls of a house for protection from fire or a white one to safeguard the home from demons.

Thank you to Khadro Crystal Chu, Black Sect Esoteric Buddhist Feng Shui for your unfailing command of Feng Shui and Chinese metaphysics.

Have you decided this will be your year? “Boldness has genius”…start with one hour of Feng Shui A La Carte. Think of it as a fairy godmother for your house.

What I have discovered about our homes is that creating a heart healthy space leads to peace and contentment. The bedroom is where it begins. Start with my complimentary pdf: 27 Bedroom Concepts To Maximize Your Health, Happiness and Peace of Mind. Design your space to your best advantage. Subscribe to my blog and special offers. You’ll receive this valuable Feng Shui Guide as a thank you gift.

Take Command Of Your Sleep, Start With Feng Shui Design

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“By helping us keep the world in perspective, sleep gives us a chance to refocus on the essence of who we are. And in that place of connection, it is easier for the fears and concerns of the world to drop away.”
– Arianna Huffington, The Sleep Revolution

In July I shared with you I will be part of an anthology, Recipes For Living Coloring Journal. It’s no surprise my chapter is devoted to how Feng Shui bedroom design helps you sleep better. I truly believe the bedroom is the most important room in the house. So when I read Arianna Huffington’s account of her “wake up call” in The Sleep Revolution, I knew that the benefits of Feng Shui design need to spread throughout the world.

“We are in a sleep deprivation crisis,” writes Ms. Huffington. “I experienced firsthand the high price we’re paying for cheating sleep when I collapsed from exhaustion.” She goes on to say, “If we look at our lives as a spiritual journey, sleep becomes a key paradox: when we completely identify with our persona in this world–with our job, our appearance, our bank account–we are asleep to life’s deeper dimensions….We are living in a golden age of sleep science–revealing all the ways in which sleep and dreams play a vital role in our decision making, emotional intelligence, cognitive function and creativity. And how lack of sleep is often the culprit behind anxiety, stress, depression and a myriad of health problems.” (Harmony Books, The Sleep Revolution)

Consulting with my clients I have discovered a similar loop. Usually it takes the form of an underlying anxiety that monitors their decision making where their choices are based on a stress response. For nearly everyone of them this stems from an exhaustive bedroom design.

Sleep not only helps you work efficiently but be a productive part of society. Yet productivity is but one piece of the well-being matrix. Living fully and consciously means tapping into your creativity, your rich well of emotions and you soul’s purpose.

Of all the Feng Shui design advice I give on the bedroom, I have found “placing the bed in command position” carries the most weight in addressing productivity (yang) and creativity (yin) of our everyday lives. And for those who constantly deal with anxiety, worry and depression, it is a gift for the soul. Bed placement creates a palpable shift in your emotions and I have seen a positive attitude change as a result. Choices come from confidence rather than the seat of the pants. Clarity eliminates self-sabotaging behavior that cycles into stress. Inspiration flows freely as the brain functions at its optimal capacity rather than run on auto-pilot.

If you’ve had doubts why changing your bed position is a good idea, I’ve included a short list. You may be surprised how it influences your health and peace of mind.

  • Heart troubles. Where your bed is positioned can place stress on your emotional heart. Prolonged stress can develop into physical heart troubles including a murmur and arrhythmia.
  • Illness along the midline. Your major organs from your brain to your kidneys can be affected.
  • Insomnia and restless sleep. Our brain is responsible for our survival. It we’re too close to an entrance, either facing it, to the side of it or behind it, this placement triggers the amygdala (the fight-or-flight mechanism). Our brain never shuts off and this weakens the immune system which depends on releasing toxins and building tissue in sleep.
  • Missed opportunity. If you sleep in line of the door your body never lets down at night to rejuvenate. During the day you may be preoccupied with a low grade headache which will invariably eclipse a chance meeting or being considered for promotion.
  • Mood swings. If your bed is on the door wall, you cannot see who is coming, you may feel a sense of danger and you may be blind-sided.

Command position is based on H.H. ”Professor” Lin’s Theory of Relative Positioning which states, the energy that is closest to you affects you the most. Think of the gunslinger in the old westerns. He always had his back to the wall and his eye on the saloon doors. Never too close and not in line of those swinging doors.

  • Your bedroom door determines command position.
  • The door should be within eyeshot of the bed.
  • The bed placement should allow the widest scope of vision of the door.
  • The best placement when feasible is the farther wall from the bedroom door.

As you lay in bed tonight take a moment and observe your surroundings. What do you see? What do you feel? Self awareness is key to getting a good night’s sleep.

Have you decided this will be your year? “Boldness has genius”…start with one hour of Feng Shui A La Carte. Think of it as a fairy godmother for your house.

What I have discovered about our homes is that creating a heart healthy space leads to peace and contentment. The bedroom is where it begins. Start with my complimentary pdf: 27 Bedroom Concepts To Maximize Your Health, Happiness and Peace of Mind. Design your space to your best advantage. Subscribe to my blog and special offers. You’ll receive this valuable Feng Shui Guide as a thank you gift.

August 2 New Moon I Here’s Looking At You!

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“The plain fact is that the planet does not need more successful people. But it does desperately need more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, and lovers of every kind. It needs people who live well in their places. It needs people of moral courage willing to join the fight to make the world habitable and humane. And these qualities have little to do with success as we have defined it.”
– David Orr, Ecological Literacy: Educating Our Children For A Sustainable World

August 2 new moon we’re seeing double – the month of the Monkey in the Year of the Monkey. In the Five Elements Monkey is Metal and this Primate has lots of brilliance. Young Monkey children exhibit exceptional skills and acuity. Adaptable, amicable and always trying their best to help others, they are a popular zodiac sign. Excellent problem-solvers, Monkey dives into the heart of a discussion and leads the way to a smart answer that works for all. This month try on the curiosity super-power. You might be surprised what you find out about yourself–that it leads to a largess of spirit when you become deeply impassioned about the world around you. David Orr’s quote rather sums up Monkey’s open-mindedness and open-heartedness. These traits lay the foundation for kindness, for restoration, for living well, to be humane and that is sorely needed in a sometimes isolated, often times estranged world.

What does this lunar month hold for your Chinese Zodiac animal? Whatever the forecast, be brilliant. Rat: a Three Harmony month. Joyous events and wealth can be obtained through conventional and unconventional means. Adversity may show itself before the 10th of Lunar July (August 12). Be cautious and refrain from getting into conflict. After 10th of Lunar July (August 12) happiness and profits will come your way. Ox: as long as you are not greedy, investments will pay off. Opportunities to make friends are available but be discerning or you may be misled. All goes well in career and relationship. Expect they will be smooth. Tiger: double trouble. Your sign is in opposition to both the month and the year. Keep your eyes and ears open for scoundrels, lawsuits, money loss and unexpected disasters. In all situation make concessions to bring advancement. Learn how to be softer in your dealings. To avoid disaster perform “The Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell” ritual on the first day of the lunar month. Rabbit: a harmonious family leads to success in everything so avoid quarreling. There may be gossip among friends, avoid that too. And there may be interpersonal disputes, stay clear. If you plan to take a trip perform, “Walking the Red Carpet Cure” and carry nine fresh orange peels. Dragon: it is a month of Three Harmonies. Adversities will melt into auspiciousness. Wealth and your wishes will bear fruit. Your physical and mental conditions will be refreshed. It is the start of the Ghost month, do not go near water nor walk alone at night. Snake: luck of the month is good with minor misfortune. There will be happiness and sorrow. Because it is the Ghost month be cautious in all matters. Don’t move across the country nor across town. Be careful when driving and watch for theft and burglary. Horse: be careful of negative energy that may be lurking and avoid water. Fate is determined by the heavens so allow life to unfold naturally. Be cautious, someone who means you ill will might be around. You can minimize the effect by performing “Avoiding Harmful People Cure” Ram: be cautious of negative Ch’i, the month’s activities may not proceed with ease. Do not go into funeral homes, visit the sick nor young children. Avoid water during this Ghost month. Focus on your long-term plans, it will help with addressing everyday incidents. Avoid knee-jerk reactions to situations or you may lose a good friend. Monkey: life will be in the extremes with great luck and great misfortune! As it is the Ghost month, do not venture too far that goes for trips, relocating or getting married. Refrain from being aggressive in your dealings. Spend more time at home and with family. Avoid going to hospitals, funerals and going near water. Rooster: gather immunity with “Walking the Red Carpet Cure” and carry fresh orange peels should you decide to take a trip. Since it is the Ghost Month keep young family members away from water. If you have a health condition seek immediate medical attention. If legal disputes are pending seek reconciliation. Dog: after last month what a relief to have a good month. Your luck will be smooth. If you keep your attention on the job at hand you will reap rewards. Though traveling is favored there can be misfortune as well as prosperity. If you take a trip perform “Walking the Red Carpet Cure” and carry fresh orange peels. Pig: not only are you entertaining bad luck, due to the Ghost month, you must take extreme caution. Best advice is not to relocate and stay away from places that are unsafe. Do not throw caution to the wind. Refrain from dangerous exercises or extreme sports. Have your wits about you, accidents involving falls, bloodshed and unexpected events may befall you. If you request a cure from this forecast, I will ask you to honor the red envelope tradition. Have a great month, Zodiac friends! 

The Ghost Month is back! King Yama has opened the gates of hell letting all the spirits and ghosts ascend. The dead are welcomed and shrines are decorated. But some ghosts aren’t as friendly as Casper, here are 8 taboos to ghost-proof your life. 

Thank you to Khadro Crystal Chu, Black Sect Esoteric Buddhist Feng Shui for your unfailing command of Feng Shui and Chinese metaphysics.

Have you decided this will be your year? “Boldness has genius”…start with one hour of Feng Shui A La Carte. Think of it as a fairy godmother for your house.

What I have discovered about our homes is that creating a heart healthy space leads to peace and contentment. The bedroom is where it begins. Start with my complimentary pdf: 27 Bedroom Concepts To Maximize Your Health, Happiness and Peace of Mind. Design your space to your best advantage. Subscribe to my blog and special offers. You’ll receive this valuable Feng Shui Guide as a thank you gift.

Feng Shui Breakthrough To Happiness

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“Happiness is the highest form of health.”
– H.H. The Dalai Lama

Grace contacted me in the early spring of this year, she shared that an intuitive friend suggested she have a Feng Shui consultation. “Current issues in the house may have impacted my health and changes could support regaining my energy.” We talked and she revealed that the previous owners had divorced and the husband had died of cancer. Grace shared about herself that she has always been an optimistic woman and loves to decorate her homes. She had made cosmetic changes to her current house, painted the walls, refinished the floors, updated the kitchen, landscaped the yard but she couldn’t shake the uneasiness of vertigo that left her with poor balance, extreme fatigue, depression and not feeling in her body. When I came to the consultation she disclosed her western doctor wanted to perform exploratory surgery on her left breast. She was not happy about it.

Even before I walked in the door, the lot diagram and the floor plan told me a person living here, unless they had an exceedingly strong constitution, would encounter a health crisis. In the Chinese language  “4” sounds like death and the street numbers contained a 4. She had removed the master bathroom door that was connected to the master bedroom thus creating an “empty door” and her digestive issues flared. After a series of vertigo attacks she sought the help of an ND who advised her to make diet changes to address the dizziness. The head of her bed backed up to the stove which adversely affects the physical health of the brain. The corner of a wall from the home office to the hallway creates a “split view” and can create illness along the midline, confusion and the inability to make decisions. Grace’s gut was the key to addressing the vertigo but feeling like herself was taking longer than she wanted and she was feeling depressed. Many doors in a small space create digestive issues. There were at least five markers in her home that suggested her conditions and for her it became a health crisis. The final note: Grace had a painting in the center, the Health gua, that is visible upon entering the house. The composition and color mirrored the grief, distress and hopelessness that was overshadowing her life. By the time she called me she was ready to listen to her “gut” and change her situation. She embraced the cures with humor and courage and here is what she wrote three months later.

“Just wanting you to know how delighted I am as I make my way through the house with the cures. It’s taking time, but it seems to be working. Last weekend I was on the coast and bought a big splurge painting — haven’t done this in 40 years literally! When I brought it home, I was not just needing to remove the painting you suggested should not be in my entry but to rip almost everything off the walls — like a crazy woman, so different from the typical me. I was totally compelled to do this in such a strong and irresistable way that I couldn’t believe it. All this to say it feels so light and open from inside my chest. The new painting is a wonder to me, all movement and joy (impressionistic wave) with lovely light colors. I simply feel lifted every time I look at it. So this house is getting little facelifts and cures left and right in a kind of claiming it that is deeper than ever before. There’s more to do, but I’m pecking away at it.

Oh, did I mention that I feel 100% better. I have a Chinese practitioner and a new naturopath, and what they’ve done has been phenomenal, but I consider the house energies, the Feng Shui, being free to circulate as they should a huge contributor to my improved health. So, once again, thank you!!”

If you are experiencing health issues, I want you to have the opportunity to change that around. Here is one of my favorite cures handed down from H.H. Lin Yun. Hang a 50mm crystal from a red cord in the center of the bedroom. It has a clarifying effect on your mind. It is helpful if your bed is not in a good placement in the bedroom. In particular it will help your health. Visualize you maintain good health and if a problem arises you receive an intuitive message before anything serious arises.

The seen and the unseen are both relevant to your home, your choices and your sense of peace. Give equal value to influence of each one and your life will seek its level of balance.

Have you decided this will be your year? “Boldness has genius”…start with one hour of Feng Shui A La Carte. Think of it as a fairy godmother for your house.

What I have discovered about our homes is that creating a heart healthy space leads to peace and contentment. The bedroom is where it begins. Start with my complimentary pdf: 27 Bedroom Concepts To Maximize Your Health, Happiness and Peace of Mind. Design your space to your best advantage. Subscribe to my blog and special offers. You’ll receive this valuable Feng Shui Guide as a thank you gift.

July 4 New Moon I Keep Calm And Believe In Yourself

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“Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

July 4 New Moon Ram’s energy is a contrast in calm to the rapid fire Monkey year. The 8th animal of the Zodiac brings a gentler expression to the constellations. Easy going, content, gentle, family loving and peaceful, Goat is also imaginative.

And there lies magic! George Lucas’ cool, beautiful, ram-horn-coifed, Princess Leia conjures up Ram power at its zenith of refinement. With her blanc de chine robes and complexion, Leia’s larger-than-life, compassionate, sensitive, nurturing, rebel princess image reminds us that character expressed as calm is a super power and has unseen strength. Perhaps this lunar month we all can be inspired by Princess Leia and Ram. Post a note on your refrigerator to remind yourself to feel at peace and cultivate your imagination. Watch for evidence of ‘believing in yourself’, it can make anything happen, in at least destroy the Death Star of doubt.

What does this lunar month hold for your Chinese Zodiac animal? Whatever the forecast, keep calm and believe in yourself. Rat: you are in Most Confrontational relationship this month and your luck is not good. You tend to overdo, rushing around, wasting your efforts and have nothing to show for it. If you experience an illness, seek medical attention immediately. Do not visit those persons who are suffering from bereavement nor meddle in other people’s affairs. Do not travel, invest or make real estate purchases. Ox: poor health may be in the cards. Scoundrels may cause you harm. There is the potential for traffic accidents, money loss and other unexpected disasters. Contracts may not go as you intended. Changes will backfire and beware of family quarrels. Perform the Black Sect Tantric Buddhist School of Feng Shui “Driving Safety Cure”. Tiger: good month where efficiency runs high. Your money-luck is fair. Pay attention, situations are like a revolving door. Take precautions when traveling and perform the Black Sect Tantric Buddhist School of Feng Shui “Walking On Red Carpet Cure”. Rabbit: this is an auspicious Three Harmony month. Go for what you want, the momentum will bring about success. Your money-luck is smooth; fame and the ability to acquire attention and status is good. On the other hand watch for minor illnesses, small disasters and pay attention to the security of doors and entrances. Dragon: this is a Mutually Offensive month, there will be as much sadness and joy. Money-luck is fair. Stay put and remain conservative in your dealings. Your love life may experience a change. Keep rational and calm, relationships are predestined and cannot be forced upon. Snake: luck of the month is auspicious and smooth. Your money-luck will be fair. Business and planning will work out well. Best to maintain a low profile and be modest. Refrain from boosting and acting egotistic then you will have a greater degree of success in your relationships. Horse: it is a Six Harmony month where luck, fame, status, profits and fortune arrive. With friends and family there may be illness or accidents. Carry nine pieces of orange peel when visiting the sick. Good news comes from far lands, accept, do not let it go. Ram: you will experience both anxieties and joy. Your fortune will be good but be cautious not to spend it on extravagant items. Think things through three times before taking action and apply the appropriate amount of effort based on your strength and limitations. Be helpful to those who need it. Monkey: it is an auspicious month and your endeavors will be rewarded. But there is a caveat be on the watch for deceptive scoundrels who gossip. There may be health issues so seek medical attention if you get sick. Be sure to stay away from death Ch’i. Rooster: health and happiness are on the rise with peace and tranquility in abundance in your physical and mental capacities. At work you will receive recognition and be appreciated. Work to maintain harmonious relationships with business partners as well as kind to subordinates. Dog: this is a Mutually Offensive month where luck is not good nor auspicious. You may lose personal property. Pay attention to disputes at work. Arguments can be potentially harmful to business cooperation. Pay attention to your physical and mental health, focus on tranquility and calm. Perform nine good deeds a day to offset the bad luck. Pig: business, wealth and career will be smooth. You are in a “Peach Blossom Luck” phase and will get attention from the opposite sex. Extend your time to your family and have open-hearted communication. If you meet up with dispute, make concessions to avoid complications. If you request a cure from this forecast, I will ask you to honor the red envelope tradition. Have a great month, Zodiac friends! 

Thank you to Khadro Crystal Chu, Black Sect Esoteric Buddhist Feng Shui for your unfailing command of Feng Shui and Chinese metaphysics.

Have you decided this will be your year? “Boldness has genius”…start with one hour of Feng Shui A La Carte. Think of it as a fairy godmother for your house.

What I have discovered about our homes is that creating a heart healthy space leads to peace and contentment. The bedroom is where it begins. Start with my complimentary pdf: 27 Bedroom Concepts To Maximize Your Health, Happiness and Peace of Mind. Design your space to your best advantage. Subscribe to my blog and special offers. You’ll receive this valuable Feng Shui Guide as a thank you gift.

 

Feng Shui Matters To Your Heart

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“If light is in your heart, you will find your way home.”
– Rumi

If you are like me you may be feeling an ache in your heart for Orlando, the LGBTQ community and their families. After the Bataclan attack last year I wrote “How To Manifest Peace”. These tragedies and the ones preceding, Aurora, Newtown, Roseburg…, could conceivably keep our spirits rattled for some time which may settle into a despairing belief that peace is not possible in our communities. I believe we have options. We can begin to repair when we understand how these events have placed stress on our hearts. Making a shift to focus on kindness, our communities’s purpose and the influence our home has on our heart’s well-being can be healthy antidotes to combat despair. I compiled “Feng Shui Matters To Your Heart”, a list of design details that cause conflict. I have seen time and again when we modify stress in the walls that surround us, we don’t just keep the healing to ourselves, the empowerment goes out to our loved ones and our communities.

The ancient Chinese scholars identified the Heart as the director of all the other functions of the body primarily because of its leadership quality, its ‘shen’ or ‘spirit’. “In The Yellow Emperor’s Chinese Classic–the oldest text in Chinese medicine–the strength of the shen is essential for good health: ‘If shen is strong, the body will be strong; if we lose shen, the body will perish.’ ” – Epoch Times

So we see something more than a regulator of blood circulation as western medicine would indicate. The Heart is an organ of consciousness. It is the spark that moves the body in rhythm with a love song; stirs the pulse when hearing a rousing poem; ignites passion when seeing a powerful speaker; the soul of the pen that radiates an uplifting letter. It is the Heart that guides our intellect, studies the world, gives us a sense of mindfulness…it is the supreme governor that directs our purpose everyday, fulfilling our ‘why’. 

“The shen likes peace and calm.” It is a balanced state for the Heart. When you experience shen disturbances such as anxiety, insomnia, sadness, obsession, stress, heart palpitations, heart disease, depression or an inability to speak clearly, these symptoms are revealing some truth about your situation. The imbalances caused by the environment, either in your body or the landscape that surrounds you, can be a catalyst to explore not only conventional and Chinese medicine, but also an opportunity to inquire what in your home may be creating an unsettled spirit in you. 

I believe we are in the midst of extraordinary transformation. What is prompting the change are extreme, sometimes tragic, but always heart-opening experiences and our response to transmute these into positive events is clearly in the early stages of evolution. There is no better time than now to focus on aligning the Feng Shui in your environment to support your emotional well-being. This design detail conflict indicator is a tool to help you examine what is going on in your home especially if you or a family member is experiencing emotional distress, high blood pressure or heart disease.

Front Door Disadvantages A spiral staircase near the front door. A spiral staircase acts like a screw that burrows down into the house affecting your heart.

A stairway out the door can create illness along the midline which includes the heart. A nuance is there may be conflict locked in of the heart of the inhabitants. These emotions can deplete the heart/shen from functioning in its natural capacity of joy.

Difficult interior doors Biting doors are doors that face each other and are misaligned. This creates the trauma of a split. Chaos is created. It can create conflict for the inhabitants which can lead to divorce, career downturn or difficult bankruptcy. When they are misaligned by exactly one half there may be verbal and physical fighting. If they are misaligned in a child’s room they may encourage bullying behavior.

A Contrary door is a door that opens to the wall instead of the large part of the room. You may feel you are working hard for little gain. There may be back issues as the back slumps over the lungs and heart, this positioning creates respiratory and heart disease.

Piercing Heart Doors are three or more doors through which you could walk in a straight line. They create an invisible obstacle which creates obstacles between family members. As the crevasse widens over time, it becomes more and more challenging to touch the heart of another.

Hollow unhappiness Health is the center of the Ba-gua. A stairway in the center creates a lack of stability that can lead to worry and restlessness. You may feel depleted of hope and peace. Ch’i may escape from the everywhere in the home and from its inhabitants. Your health maybe particularly affected.

An elevator and air shaft are in this category of a hollow center for they create a void.

Center conflict A kitchen in the center of the house. The function of the stove is to create a flame that heats your food. It may overheat the emotions in your heart.

Inoperative operating systems If there are problems associated with the air conditioning system or the heating system, those are connected to the heart functioning well.

Slants, edges and blocks blues Slanted ceilings can be particularly uncomfortable if you have low blood pressure.

A knife-edge that comes at the bed will affect your heart, especially if you have an irregular heartbeat.

A blocking wall will make your stomach feel squeezed, pushing your breath back up to your lungs and putting pressure on your heart.

A slanted hallway especially if it leads to the bedroom over time depletes your joy.

Bed distress A lack of commanding position of the bed in the bedroom can cause, but not limited to the following: restless sleep including insomnia, illness along the midline, anxiety, phobias and heart trouble, including arrhythmia and murmur.

If you want to receive a cure for any one of these design features, I will ask you to honor the red envelope tradition.

In 1999, when I started my practice, I chose the name, Shén Mén Feng Shui because our home has a spirit and by linking our spirit to our home’s spirit, I believe we become self-realized beings.

Have you decided this will be your year? ”Boldness has genius”…start with one hour of Feng Shui A La Carte. Think of it as a fairy godmother for your house.

What I have discovered about our homes is that creating a heart healthy space leads to peace and contentment. The bedroom is where it begins. Start with my complimentary pdf: 27 Bedroom Concepts To Maximize Your Health, Happiness and Peace of Mind. Design your space to your best advantage. Subscribe to my blog and special offers. You’ll receive this valuable Feng Shui Guide as a thank you gift.

June 4 New Moon I Your Next Adventure

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“Tell me, what it is you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
– Mary Oliver

This June 4 new moon take your precious life into your imagination and let it run the entire lunar month. The influences are keen for it. The clever Horse is energetic, quick, enthusiastic and loves an enterprise. The sparkling, creative Monkey likes to make things up as it goes and relishes making ingenious plans. Horse and Monkey are experts at thinking up new adventures. Make use of their charisma by taking some time from your schedule, “because it is important to attend to the well-being of your personal self…” (Abraham Hicks)

You can amplify your well-being and take advantage of what you desire to accomplish with these four things you can do everyday from Abraham Hicks.

Meditate 15 minutes everyday. Quiet your mind with the simple intention of allowing your cork to float.

Spend time in Nature. Go outside no matter what the weather and move around in it in appreciation of this planet. Look up and around and find things to acknowledge and talk about them right out loud. Such as when Esther walks through her garden and says to everything,“You are my favorite. You are my favorite bird in the tree, you are my favorite stone on the path, you are my favorite flower in bloom…”

Write in a notebook daily. You could call it, “My Book of Positive Aspects”. Fill it with three to five pages of positive aspects. Choose five different subjects and write on the positive aspects of each one. You are train your vibration into an upward place.

Look upward and acknowledge universal forces. Best if you do it outside or at a window. Acknowledge there are universal forces that are focused right at you. Acknowledge it by calling it by name. And then say, “I acknowledge that I am the object of your positive attention. And I am appreciating your continual gaze on behalf of my well-being. And today, no matter where I am, no matter where I am going, no matter what I am doing and no matter who I am doing it with, I will be in conscious awareness that you too are there with me. Appreciating me, supporting me, assisting me, acknowledging me, inspiring me, guiding me, having fun with me, helping me, aware of me, loving me, showing me, uplifting me…get into an endless loop of that acknowledgement. And watch what begins to happen.

To get into the spirit, I add the vitality of the rainbow colors to my wardrobe. A scarf is a quick lift. Something more permanent, like a wind sock at a corner eave, helps me drink in all the seven hues and sustains my energy.

What does this lunar month hold for your Chinese Zodiac animal? Read on and imagine your next adventure. Rat: you are in Direct Conflict with Horse. There will be obstacles and obscurity in your endeavors. There are prospects in love but be cautious in making any concrete decisions. Scoundrels may be about, perform the Avoiding Harmful People Cure (aka The Scoundrel Cure). Ox: this is a Mutually Offensive month. Remain passive and conservative. Avoid disputes and gossip. Be cautious of your health and do not invite trouble by lack of attention to matters. Tiger: this is a Three Harmony month. Auspiciousness is on its way. You may be promoted at work and advance in your career. The stars are favorable for buying real estate, making investments and going into partnerships. Your money luck and good and Helpful People are standing by ready to help. Rabbit: this is a Mutually Offensive month. There is as much good luck and there is misfortune. Do not be demanding, work hard and naturally you will see fruitful results. If you reach for something beyond your grasp, you may get nothing. The good news your luck will change towards the end of the lunar month. Dragon: it’s an auspicious month but still follow a routine and proceed with your affairs in an orderly manner. Refrain from acting rashly for mistakes can be made for overlooking details. Your money luck is very good. You are advised to purchase real estate and make investments. Snake: business planning and job searching will be fruitful. You will have an abundance of money and riches. Snake men should subside their lust for the opposite sex. Should you abide by this all will be at peace. Horse: this is a very favorable month to travel abroad or start a new business, make investments, purchase assets, establish partnerships and broaden your career. For both men and woman in relationships, marriage is a possibility. For young students you will reach scholastic advancement. Ram: it is a Six Harmony month when bad luck turns to good, life goes according to plan and good fortune comes to your doorstep. Joyous events will fill your household and you will be flush with success. During such an advantageous time, it is wise to pursue new business and opportunities. Monkey: there will be joyous celebrations, including possible weddings. The household is filled with happiness and auspiciousness. You may make investments, purchase real estate, take trips, sign contracts or set up new businesses. Rooster: luck of the month is Mutually Offensive. Be on the look out for those who are speaking behind your back, even betraying you and be watchful of traffic accidents. Perform the Avoiding Harmful People Cure (aka The Scoundrel Cure) and Driving Safety Cure. To avoid bad luck host a celebration in your home to offset the negative energy. Dog: this month’s fortune is on the rise. You will reap power, fame, status, money and profit. On the other hand to not push your luck or strive to interfere unnecessarily. You are advised to seek out interpersonal harmony, see the big picture and act in the interest of everyone. Pig: the sun has come out after many rainy days and so has your luck. Wealth is coming in through conventional and unconventional channels. Beware of scoundrels placing obstacles in your way and causing setbacks in your endeavors. Perform the Avoiding Harmful People Cure (aka The Scoundrel Cure). If you request a cure from this forecast, I will ask you to honor the red envelope tradition. Have a great month, Zodiac friends! 

Thank you to Khadro Crystal Chu, Black Sect Esoteric Buddhist Feng Shui for your unfailing command of Feng Shui and Chinese metaphysics.

Have you decided this will be your year? “Boldness has genius”…start with one hour of Feng Shui A La Carte. Think of it as a fairy godmother for your house.

What I have discovered about our homes is that creating a heart healthy space leads to peace and contentment. The bedroom is where it begins. Start with my complimentary pdf: 27 Bedroom Concepts To Maximize Your Health, Happiness and Peace of Mind. Design your space to your best advantage. Subscribe to my blog and special offers. You’ll receive this valuable Feng Shui Guide as a thank you gift.

Feng Shui. How Your Emotions Decorate Your Space

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“An interior is the natural projection of the soul.”
– Coco Chanel

Feng Shui design reveals how your house is talking from joy to abundance to anxiety and stress. If you walk into a room and it triggers unhappy thoughts…your emotions decorate your space and visa versa, the door, the stairs, the stove, the bed may initiate physiological stress that creates mood swings.  Here is what Jeanette discovered. Her family decided to move across country so her husband could take a new position and they could be closer to her parents. She had one week to choose a home for her family. The home she fell in love with had vaulted ceilings, a view of the back yard from the front door, a large master suite that stretched from front to back, a three car garage…it was certainly the right neighborhood and the school was perfect for her children. Once they settled into the new house she thought everything would be as before. But the stress of moving never dissipated. A barrier progressively developed between she and her husband. They were silent at the dinner table and he stopped coming home at reasonable hours. Her 13 year old son did not like sleeping in his room. It was so good before the move, what happened? 

Wanting to find the husband she had lost, to help her son stop his nightly wandering and bring some happiness to herself, she called me for help. Jeanette’s story is a powerfully moving scenario and not unlike the stories clients share expressing their profound loss and disbelief over what has happened to the life they once had. She had read several Feng Shui books. She suspected the emotional issues between she and her husband, her son’s distraction and her moodiness were stemming from her home. And she admitted she didn’t feel good being there. When I shared what I saw, my words immediately resonated with her. She had no trouble making a plan and her next step would be decorating using Feng Shui design.

I believe Feng Shui education goes a long way in creating awareness that our home influences our well-being. With that in mind, I composed this Feng Shui guide to help you understand how the design of your home influences how your emotions decorate your space. This guide will help you make informed decisions when you purchase your new home. And if you are already settled in your space, you might recognize one or two design features where your emotions decorate your space, limit your freedom and curb your peace of mind. 

Want a picture? Here is a helpful companion blog on floor plans, “Unraveling Your Home’s Floor Plan With Feng Shui.
 Depletion That Paints You Into A Corner
A hidden front door is when you cannot see the door from the street. Here’s a surprising example how emotions decorate your space. Feelings of isolation can develop over time. What Professor Lin would call “strange chi.” At an office there may be loss of income, feeling frustration, depression and loss of motivation.
• An obstacle (blocking tree, wall, utility pole or column) at the front door can limit opportunities.
• Double doors can create confusion, especially if the door to enter is not marked properly.
• A slanted front door creates a slant on daily interactions that explode into unexpected events related to all areas of life.
• A blocking wall inside the front door can impede the forward movement of everyone in the household. Everyone may struggle with their career. Faith in the future may be lost.
• Front door /back door alignment may possibly create a split through the whole house. The closer the doors the worse this patten is. Parents may feel a barrier between them and lead separate lives. Parents and children lose touch. Money may leak and opportunities dry up. Money, motivation, reputation, health and good luck may fly out the back door.
• Your emotions decorate your space when there is a split at the front door. This detail can affect all areas of life dramatically. The brain is activated unevenly and the two sides will start to lack coordination. The inhabitant may act more and think less. Or think more and act less. In either situation there is an imbalance. As a result illness along the midline can development. Also confusion and the lack of sound decision making can cost a family their health or business. Non-stop arguing and violence can result with a split at the front door. Extreme marital, family and business interactions can take place here.
• A split stairway (typical of split level homes) aka Mandarin duck stairway creates an environment where everything begins to fall apart; it can even shatter a person’s peace of mind. The different levels affect partners where they are more likely to experience miscommunication or not speak at all; children have difficulty feeling accepted; finances fluctuate wildly. Invariably health is unstable. When it is a company and affects all the employees, the consequences can be disastrous.

 Bad Luck That Colors Your Morale
• Seeing a cemetery, a morgue or a deserted house from your front door may bring illness and sudden expected disasters.
• If your home is at end of a “double T” intersection your luck may dwindle in all areas but in particular health and finances.
• A narrow driveway or path. The opportunity to expand your heart and mind may never happen. And if you see opportunity you won’t be able to grasp it, feeling shut down.
• A toilet over the front door brings bad luck to the entire household or business.
• A stove that is backed up to the toilet that is on the other side of the wall affects your luck to the point it may run out.
• A dead door is a door that is nailed shut or that cannot be opened. This feature may stifle’s one’s voice completely. If the original door has been closed there can be a sudden downturn in fortune or slow loss of resources.

Details That Design Conflict
• Arguing Doors are two doors that when they are open bump up against one another. The clashing is jarring to the senses and disturbs the inhabitants equilibrium. Conflict results. It may run throughout the house.
• Biting Doors are a very troubling example how emotions decorate your space. Biting doors are doors that are out of alignment with one another. Visualize walking out of your bedroom and seeing part of a door entry and part of a wall. This design feature creates a split and has the effect of a front door split. Biting doors create discord between parents and parents and children. In a child’s room it can create a bully. You may lose friends and neighbors can turn into enemies. In an office setting there may be gossip, back stabbing and power struggles. Biting doors at the front door are especially detrimental as the conflict and verbal fighting can reach into the neighborhood.
• Piercing Heart Doors are three or more doors which you could walk in a straight line. They create an invisible obstacle through the house which impedes relations between partners, partners and their children and between siblings. Alienation and separation tear the family apart.
• Many doors opening into a small space. I think we all have this one, especially around the bedrooms and bathroom. A door is a “mouth”. This area can be especially noisy because all the voices are trying to speak at once. Listening is difficult and family members may end up quarreling. This design feature is the underpinnings for health issues, particularly the digestive organs.
• Too many doors in relationship to the windows and the adult voice may be too powerful. This ratio may silence the voice of the children. In a business situation management (the adult) may not heart the feedback of employees (the children). There may be a conflict of wills.
• Too few doors in relationship to the windows and the children may create havoc. On the job, employees may strike or rebel.

Architecture That Exhausts All Your Emotional Resources
• A door that is below the level of the street make every movement feel like an uphill climb. Time becomes altered and energy depleted. There is an inability to follow through and complete projects.
• A contrary door is a door that opens to a wall instead of the main part of the room. Everyone who lives in the house may find they are laboring and not enjoying the results of their work. They may feel exhausted and disappointed most of the time.
• If a stove is in line with the front door, family problems may never be resolved. There is constant worry and pressure which can exhaust everyone who lives there.
• If a bedroom is the first room an inhabitant sees when entering the house, they may be too tired to take care of their responsibilities and daily duties.

 Exterior And Interiors That Are Blueprints For Illness
• An industrial park or factory next door may be overwhelming. The distraction and pollution create physical and mental imbalances. Being empty at night they create a yin presence. All of this affects your ability to concentrate, be clear and effective.
• A bathroom in the center of the house or office can deplete all life situations. Poor health can plague every inhabitant year after year, effecting succeeding generations.
• A fireplace in the center of the house can burn up money, create infamy and heat up passion so it is burns outside the house, drying up your creative juices. The flow of your career may come to a drizzle and your inner growth may be non-existent. Your vitality is depleted and your emotional capacity to lift your life to joy is severely restrained.
•A stairway that ends too close to a wall may impede the flow of Ch’i in the building and the bodies of the inhabitants. You may feel blocked physically, emotionally and in your career.

If you would like to receive a cure for any one of these design features, I am happy to share I request red envelopes, here is the red envelope tradition.

Have you decided this will be your year? ”Boldness has genius”…start with one hour of Feng Shui A La Carte. Think of it as a fairy godmother for your house.

What I have discovered about our homes is that creating a heart healthy space leads to peace and contentment. The bedroom is where it begins. Start with my complimentary pdf: 27 Bedroom Concepts To Maximize Your Health, Happiness and Peace of Mind. Design your space to your best advantage. Subscribe to my blog and special offers. You’ll receive this valuable Feng Shui Guide as a thank you gift.