Testimonials

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The following are a few results from our previous monthly feng shui tips - thanks to all our subscribers who have reported back to us!

Results of Monthly FSII Pyramid Feng Shui Tips

Location for your home office

You might be lucky enough to have an extra room to devote to a home office, and if it’s out of the traffic pattern or in a quieter part of your home, so much the better. If you just don’t have an extra room, don’t make the mistake of putting it in a corner of your bedroom. Your bedroom is made for rest, and working does not align with that purpose. Better to find another corner in another room and use a room divider or screen to define the workspace. I’ve seen closets made into very effective workspaces.

• "I set up an office using a library table behind my couch. This way I have the advantage of the view from a sliding glass door and use a coffee table with nooks where I place some baskets to store my work for easy access and no clutter." - Therese G., Sagamore Hills, OH

To improve heavy or oppressive feeling spaces

Are you or anyone in your family feeling overwhelmed and unsure about how to proceed? Did someone visit you to vent about a problem and leave you feeling drained? Do you know someone walking around with a cloud of negativity? If you say “yes” to any of these questions, here is a quick recommendation to improve the feeling of the space while you contemplate the broader meaning and actions required.

All you need is a bowl of warm water, rosemary essential oil and a soft cotton cloth. Mix several drops of rosemary oil into the warm water; add a bit of hot tap water to diffuse the scent. Now it is time to start taking care of you. While wiping down horizontal surfaces in the room, you will notice your mood lifting. The rosemary scent will energize you while warming of the hands will calm you. Everyone who enters the space will sense the elevated and positive feeling.

• “I was feeling blah from too much winter and a sinus infection when this tip came in. I ordered the rosemary oil online, mixed it in the warm water and wiped down all the battered wood doors/frames in the house, breathing deeply the whole way. I felt refreshed and much happier! I'm keeping the rosemary oil by my kitchen sink where I can inhale deeply often. Thanks!!” - Kathy N., Bend, OR

Lighting that can interfere with relaxation

Generally one bright light directed from the ceiling is experienced as daytime. Daytime body rhythms are active because it is during the light filled hours that our species is meant to do the work required to survive. In fact, when darkness descends, hormones that actually make us sleepy are released in our body.

Ceiling lights that spread a diffused overall luminosity replicate daytime and actually depress our ability to relax.

Recommendations:

1. Turn off the ceiling lights and use only incandescent light from individual lamps.
2. Aim the existing ceiling lights on paintings or a door.
3. Purchase a lamp for the room you spend most of your time in that throws a cone of light.
4. Low-wattage wall or ceiling spots with colored bulbs located every several feet can produce a yin atmosphere, which is conducive to unwinding.

• “I decided to keep just the closet light on as I went about my nightly routine in my bedroom; the result was fabulous! I fell asleep much faster than normal! Thanks for a ‘bright’ idea!” - Tracey H., TX

A staircase that is seen as soon as you enter the home can disrupt family unity

A home is an intimate community, and when there are several members the community is knitted via the shared spaces. The gathering space is the epicenter of the family community, and when entering the home all paths should lead to it, not to alternate areas. In traditional two-story houses staircases typically lead to private spaces. If you proceed up the stairs, you will be disconnected from community spaces.

If you can see a staircase upon entering your home, there are a few ways to counteract the effect and enhance family cohesiveness:

1. Hang a shiny or light-refracted object from the ceiling beyond the staircase and in the direction of the main gathering space.
2. Lower the light wattage over the staircase and install a motion detector that will turn the light on only when someone uses the staircase.
3. Place a runner over the floor area leading away from the staircase, such as down a hall to the gathering room.
4. Place a re-circulating fountain just past the staircase toward a gathering space.
5. Dispense vanilla or spiced apple scent or other familiar and loved scents in the gathering room.

• “I do have a staircase that is partially placed in front of our front entrance. I hung a crystal from the ceiling away from the staircase and into the common rooms as you suggested. So far, I am pleased to report that a level of harmony has been restored to my relationship with my husband even though he has a cognitive impairment. Thank you so much for your monthly tip and know that I deeply appreciate it. Blessings to you.” - Carrie S., NC

How to lessen the negative effect of a bed’s placement in front of a window

Any concern or distraction compromises your ability to let go as you need to do for both sleep and sexual activity. If your bed is in front of a window, you won’t be able to help feeling vulnerable. The fact that you are separated from the outside world by only a thin glass membrane may make you feel exposed and even endangered.

Although it is best not to place a bed in front of a window, sometimes it is unavoidable, in which case you can:

1. Buy a headboard that has no open design or slats.
2. Install wood shutters with latches.
3. Cover a pierced headboard with a caftan or heavy throw to give it a solid appearance.
4. Hang a bell on the part of the window that is likely to be opened.
5. Attach lightweight bells to the hem of existing curtains.
6. Hang two sets of curtains, one transparent and light, the other an opaque, thicker fabric, and close the opaque set when you need to feel out of harm’s way.

• “Many thanks for the tips sent to me regularly.

Regarding the window behind the bed, I have one good solution which I would like to share. I put dark black color curtains on the window and use dark black color bed sheets and pillow cases to solve my problem. The dark black color has helped me get a good deep sleep and I wake up more fresh and energetic for any activities I want to do.” - Aajjay M., Maharashtra, India

Use lighting to promote lingering and socializing at the dining table

If you have ever huddled around a campfire after sundown, you have experienced the camaraderie stimulated by a campfire’s light. Conversely, darkening the area around a table while lighting the perimeter can envelop the diners in a feeling of being sequestered in a cozy, contained atmosphere. The veil of darkness can, in some cases, be the positive counterpoint to the more typical experience of rooms that are lit uniformly.

Recommendations:

1. To darken the table area, mount channels up from the wall’s electrical sockets and affix ceiling lights pointing to perimeter areas.
2. To lighten the table area, string rope lights up from a wall outlet and mount them on the ceiling over the table.
3. Lower or increase the wattage in bulbs over the dining table until it is either brighter or darker than the surrounding area.
4. Should you have an appropriate central fixture, add some pink bulbs – pink light glows with warmth.
5. Use an area carpet under the table and chairs several degrees lighter than the existing flooring.

• "In reading the tip for August, I find that I already do a number of these welcoming lighting suggestions:

Every switch in my house has been changed to a dimmer switch.

In the living room, hallways and guest rooms, I use pink or peach light bulbs where strong light is not needed. One of my friends said to me not long ago 'the atmosphere in your house is always so inviting and cozy ….'

I use rope lighting under all my kitchen cabinets so we have a cozy atmosphere when we eat in the kitchen or are done for the day and leave the room. It is a very open kitchen and the light is visible from just about every angle in the house. I also have rope lighting on top of the cabinets for an indirect lighting effect.

I have Travertine flooring in very light beige and an oriental rug under the dining table and chairs. I added sconces on the walls with dimmers just as I use a dimmer on the chandelier over the table for perfect lighting. My chandelier has six light bulbs and three of them are peach color. This works well since my guests hardly ever leave the dining room after dinner, even though I invite them to the living room for more conversation.

I am very happy that lighting was the topic of this month’s tip. In my opinion, the right lighting is an important factor in creating a “homey and cozy atmosphere'. Adding candles throughout makes it even nicer." - Sigrid B., Jacksonville, FL

What feature promotes neighborhood camaraderie

Sidewalks or footpaths between neighbor’s homes.

The essence of neighborhood is the concept of connectedness, or Tao (pronounced “Dow”). Simplistic as this may sound, none of us could survive happily without connections to our community. In fact, not one iota of life as we know it would survive were it not for a network of connections. In the most profound way, failing to sustain connections means riding against the tide of life.

Suggested Recommendations:

1. If sidewalks don’t exist in your neighborhood, consider making a portion of your front yard a walkway or an obvious meeting place. Clear away a portion of grass and replace it with gravel or some other paving material.
2. Place an actual bench or a plank over two logs in your front yard, inviting people to occupy outdoor, front-of-the-house space.
3. Create mini-encounters such as a table holding a bountiful crop of tomatoes or extra flower bulbs removed after weeding out a daffodil bed, free for the taking.

• "I very much like your tip and for the last 8 years have a very inviting bench in front of my oleanders under some queen palms (taller than my house). On each side of the bench there are planters/urns always filled with various beautiful flowers. People stop when they see me outdoors to tell me how beautiful and inviting my front lawn looks. I also have a 4-tier active water fountain in the center of the front lawn." - Sigrid B., Jacksonville, FL

If you do not have any houseplants

Evolutionary psychologists now believe that humans are genetically programmed to engage in behavior that will advance their gene pool into the next generation. Because our offspring require a longer period of care than those of any other mammal, we need to have a natural predisposition toward long-term care giving. We are connected to our natural biology when given an opportunity to care for living things, so caring for plants satisfies an important instinct.

Put a plant or a representation of vegetation inside your living space. If you don’t possess the proverbial green thumb, ask a local nursery to sell you a hardy vine that is appropriate for your area. Train the vine to drape over a windowsill or wrap around a pole. Adding light or color increases the chi of the vignette.

Be creative and have fun. If a plant dies, be sure to get another. Also, it’s better to have a silk plant than none at all. A silk plant connects us to nature in the same way a painting of a landscape does.

• "I have had experiences with April's tip that succeeded nicely even though I do not have a green thumb. In the past, all of my attempts to keep a healthy plant failed even though I gave them all the required care. Over time I got used to the idea of adding nature scenes into my living spaces which developed into a real need to be surrounded by nature. My apartment's main entrance was old and bare. I have my office at home so I felt the need to create a warm ambience in order to welcome my clients as well as all the visitors. I purchased three huge nature scenes to decorate the entrance along with other nature items to give the entrance a garden appearance. There is one particular nature scene that really captured my interest and affection. Interestingly enough, my life began changing in a positive way. As the weeks passed, I was becoming more myself, experiencing the very core of me, my true essence. The change was subtle but very real. I decided to move this nature scene onto my office wall in the Self Area, according to the Pyramid School Ba-gua. Within a few days, I was able to speak my mind freely and directly, focusing entirely on my inner essence. There was no more room for uncertainty, only truth and freedom of choice. Now I have great success with real plants and truly enjoy them. My home is like a lush garden! Thanks to FSII for the great tip!" - Nathalie L., Quebec, Canada
• I agree with this tip! I am a plant lover and always have lots of plants in my house. I take care of each one and love to have them flourish. PLANTS ROCK!" - Joanne S.

Use light to help you heal after death or divorce

Consider how vital sunlight is to vegetation’s growth. Consider how many skin ailments improve with sunlight and how some forms of depression are actually triggered by lack of light and can be remedied with light therapy. Letting sunlight into the home is one of the best defenses against feeling blue. In the Jewish religion, during the first seven days after a death in the family the survivors close all curtains and cover all mirrors. This makes sense, for in the first week after the loss it is appropriate to grieve and feel the pain. Suppressing these feelings is harmful, for what is suppressed comes back to haunt us. We need to grieve after a death or a divorce before the healing can begin. Thus cutting off your connection to normal life and not being able to see yourself in a mirror is appropriate right after the death of a loved one. After this intense period has passed, however, the opposite environmental experience is what is needed for us to move on.

Here are three ways to use light for healing:

1. During the day, open curtains, pull up shades, and move obstructions that are blocking sunlight.
2. Mount a spotlight outside the home to illuminate the exterior, bathing your outdoor surroundings in light during the nighttime.
3. Hang yellow curtains so they will give the illusion of light when nighttime demands privacy.

• "I have always needed a lot of light to feel good. Picked my house because of south facing exposure, cleared outdoor areas to increase light exposure and practice all three of the suggestions in your tip. Having been a social worker for many years and meeting with many clients and patients suffering loss, I’ve seen firsthand the tendency at first to burrow into a deep dark place and the need to change after a time for the sake of their recovery. It helps!" – Dee M., Healdsburg, CA
• "I fill my house with light all day and have minimal window treatments. I find sunlight is very important to my mood." – J. King
• "I am new to Feng Shui so I appreciate your monthly tips very much. I laughed when I got your email containing the tip about light – I was sitting in front of my light box at the time! I live in Texas where we have the air conditioning on almost half of the year. It conserves energy to keep the windows covered, but I wasn’t raised this way and every year it drives me bonkers to be in the dark all summer. I took down my blinds in the kitchen and living room and replaced them with yellow curtains. Both rooms glow with warmth when the sunlight comes through. The glow actually draws me into the living room for a restorative break on the sofa. It’s wonderful!" – Mackedie S., Lewisville, TX

Have new opportunities slowed down

Check your entry and be sure it is inviting, easy to see and free of clutter. Be sure your doorbell works too!

• "I did try the tip. I removed the extra clutter and the plants and made the pathway and main door clean, polished the same and let the morning sun rays fall on the door and the pathway. The intention was to make more opportunities come in. The wonder of wonders, problems at my work place were solved and new opportunities came my way. I am a happier person now thanks to Feng Shui." - Rahul P., India

Use Sound to Reduce Stress

In today's world stress is an epidemic. To relieve stress add sounds from our natural world:

1. Select a CD that uses nature as its instruments. Your local music or New Age store will be able to make current suggestions. For example, the CD may feature water flowing soothingly over rocks and around outstretching logs and branches. Play the sounds of nature twice a day, once in the morning when you wake up to set a tone of harmony for the day and again between 4:00-6:00 p.m. or at the end of the workday and the beginning of personal evening time.
2. Purchase a clock that chimes with birdcalls on the hour.
3. Add a water feature, such as a table top water fountain, in a room used for relaxation.
4. Position a fan on an indoor plant to hear the sounds of its leaves rustling.

• "Petting your cat and/or dog for more than 10 minutes is also medically proven to help... also the sound of that purring cat.... I also like water features and wind chimes. I have and do all of the above." - Betty M., Eustis, FL

When You Are Feeling Out of Sorts

Check your environment to see if there are areas that need sprucing up, cleaning or de-cluttering. This always helps to re-energize both you and your space.

• "This tip I have to work on constantly ... I have been cleaning out closets and storage areas ... giving away unneeded "stuff" to charitable organizations. It feels so good to carry the boxes away and see room for the important stuff ... also clearing away table clutter." - Betty M., Eustis, FL

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