5/30/04
REAL ESTATE VOODOO
This is one for the Feng Shui version of the Guinness book of world records! I just heard from someone who was trying to sell his house for three years. It just sold two hours after doing a Feng Shui cure. I suggested that he do it in the dark of night so as not to freak out the neighbors. Not only did he get a good offer that very evening, but he got a second offer the next morning after accepting the first one. When he told me of his ordeal of closings that had fallen through, it was clear to me that he needed to attend to Helpful People. I remember saying, “Well, that sounds pretty strange even from me, but what can it hurt?” So what did I suggest that turned things around? Okay, here goes. I told him to bury a flashlight in the Helpful People (near right) sector of his yard, and bury it ON and pointing UP like a beacon! Even I was impressed with the speedy results. But was I surprised? NO! I love the power of INTENT mixed in with a smidgen of ancient Chinese “voodoo”!

5/9/04
BUDDHA & OTHER MENTORS
A mentor is someone who has helped in some way. Often a mentor is associated with education, but the Helpful People sector (near right one ninth of any building or room) is more inclusive and a great place for pictures of those who have helped you. Whether it’s a picture of your grandmother, your father, best friend, Buddha, Mother Mary, Bette Midler, or Winnie the Pooh, you subconscious brain will associate those faces with assistance, pleasure, good times, or at the very least, not having to do everything yourself. This sector is where to put your gray things, metal things, and anything white, round and/or metal. It is associated with Father in the Chinese tradition of the breakdown of family members into individual guas or sectors.

4/6/02
GAYLE’S BIRTHDAY
As we prepare to celebrate Gayle’s 46th birthday tomorrow, the one she almost missed, we are deeply grateful for her courage and perseverance since June 3rd. Surviving a head on collision with a truck that caused 123 breaks and fractures takes a lot of help from others, too. And Gayle got plenty! From the lady who was out in her yards with her cell phone who ran when she heard the crash and stayed until help came; from the two off duty EMTs who were the first to get hit but not hurt who began the rescue process; from all the police, fire, and ambulance personnel, from all the emergency room doctors and nurses; from her lawyer, insurance people, and social workers; from all the known and unknown who prayed and continue to pray for her; from all her family and friends who came to be with her, help, and support her over the many months; from all the medical staff, aides and, yes! even the cleaning people at the hospital and the nursing home; and from all those who helped in many unseen ways. Thus, it always pays to keep the Helpful People sector (near right) of your yard, your home, your office, and each individual room, in good order. You never know when you’re going to need help, so go clean, clear and activate!

2/2/02
ST. BRIDGETT VS. THE GROUND HOG
According to the Celts we should light thousands of candles to let the world know that Spring is coming instead of watch some furry little creature for a sign of his shadow. St. Bridgett of Ireland is said to have started that brilliant, fiery tradition. Talk about good Feng Shui! Candles are fire and can increase your Fame. Becoming a Saint ain’t too shabby! Not only that, but candles are very Yang. This masculine energized Ch’i is a welcome change from the wet, cold Yin of winter, especially back in those drafty castle days. During these shortened wintry days, the ritual of lighting candles when you come home from work can help chase away the blues, increase romance, stimulate new ideas for bringing greater wealth, or simply brighten up a darkened corner. The only place where you do not want an overabundance of candles is in the Children/Creativity sector which is the middle right one-ninth of any space. Because the element here is metal and fire melts metal, it has the power to destroy. If you want a candle or two here, go for round white ones. Because fire creates earth, candles in the middle one-ninth are fabulous. They can be a wonderful stimulation to robust health. Go for yellows, oranges, reds, and earth tones here. Obviously the corner sectors of Wealth, Love, Helpful People, and Wisdom can benefit by lighting candles of appropriate colors, purple for Wealth, pink for Love, silver of gray for Helpful People (but not too many here) and blue for Wisdom. Remember to always light the candle with intent. Think what it is you would wish for, just like on your birthday, then light the light.

12/1/01
SANTA’S LIST DAY
According to Blue Mountain cards, December 4th is the day to figure out what you want for Xmas. So as not to offend non-subscriber’s, let’s just look at the idea of making a wish list. Whether you’re wishing for one thing or seven things, there are several ways to help make your wishes come true. Now I don’t believe that we get everything that we wish for. Often what we get is “more perfect” at a soul level. But that’s too much to discuss here. Let’s just look at empowering your desires. Whether you want someone close to you to get well, to finally get that raise, or your child to be accepted in a certain school, Feng Shui can help. First of all, make the wish real. Put it in writing. You can enhance this first step using color. Go to your Ch’i Sheet and look at the center sector. If your wish has to do with Health, you might use Red ink on Yellow paper. Red is the color of Fire which creates Earth which is Yellow. Now the wish needs a container. Because we put the wish out into the world, we are in essence asking for help. Aha! Helpful People sector. The color is gray, but wouldn’t silver be better? So a silver wish box for your wish is your next step. As Karen Rauch Carter points out in Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life, if you can’t find silver, wrap any old box in tin foil. The visual affirmation is still there. Now place the box WITH INTENT in the Helpful People sector of you home, office, one special room, or bury it out in the yard. Every time you pass the box, whether visible or not, your brain says, “Oh yeah. That’s my wish. Oh, please! Please!” Or for you affirmationists, “Oh, thank you! Thank you for what I am about to receive!”

7/27/01
FRIENDSHIP DAY 8/2
Friends are our Helpful People as we are Helpful People to our friends. So in preparation for Friendship Day on the second, take a look at the near right one-ninth of you yard, your apartment building, your home, every room in your home, even your office away from home. Try to see like a stranger. And ask yourself what these places say about your Helpful People. Is it an unused room? Is it trashed? Or is it gracious and welcoming? Then think about how you are doing in the “friends” department. If you’re satisfied, leave things alone. If you’re not, change what you see day in and day out. Remove clutter and anything that is broken, anything that reminds you of past hurts, and all the red, pointy, and fiery things. Yes! You may want to get rid of that bank of candles. Helpful People draws from Creativity/Metal and is melted by Fire. If you wish to add anything here, add white, gray and silver things, round things, and things that good friends have given you. Then sit back and watch your friendships shift effortlessly. Oh yeah! If there’s only one chair, bring in another. After all, where will they sit?

6/16/01
FATHER’S DAY!
Yo! Papa! It’s time to celebrate Yang energy, the daylight image of Father Sun! Your Chinese equivalent is Ch’ien which means heaven, and in I Ching the symbol is three solid lines. According to Compass School dad’s direction is Northwest, while the Black Hat folks celebrate you in the Helpful People sector, or the near right one-ninth of any yard, home, office, or room. In picking appropriate gifts, look for anything round, metal, white, gray or silver. Sounds like golf balls and clubs would be perfect Feng Shui! And doesn't beer come in a round metal can sometimes?

6/9/01
FLAG DAY!
Waving flags and banners at your front door may be a good idea, or not! If your front door is in the middle of your home, that flag fluttering in the breeze is activating ch’i in your Career sector. That’s great if you still have a kid in college and one in private school. But if you’re ready to retire, it may be time to take it down. If your door is on the left in Wisdom, or on the right in Helpful People/Travel, can anyone have too much of either? But then, if you’re an I-Can-Do-Everything-Myself/Stay-At-Home, a flag on the right might bring in the wrong energy. Get the idea?