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A monthly e-magazine to help you rearrange your home, office, and business, shift energy, and transform your life with Feng Shui.
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The View From My Feng Shui Window
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Are the Holidays Here Already?
If you're feeling like there's too little time and too much to do, well, welcome to my Feng Shui world! Fall is usually my busiest season and this year is no exception. I've worked with some fun new clients, gave a lecture at a museum, and now I'm working on a presentation for a international real estate summit on China. Somehow, the October newsletter slipped through the cracks. So I've pulled together my favorite advice for transitioning into autumn and added links to my articles about Halloween and Thanksgiving in this "Fall" issue. I'll save the Christmas and Chanukah holiday tips for the next issue.
 I've always had a love-hate relationship with autumn leaves. Of course the colors are extraordinary and who doesn't love the distinctive crunch they make when you walk through a pile of them. But then there's the whole raking the lawn thing. My Santa Fe home doesn't have a lawn (think "high desert") and the multicolored leaves from my purple smoke bush, trumpet vines, and lilac bushes seem to disappear after they drop. The evergreens drop pine cones but I easily collect those and use them to replace the plants in the two cobalt blue planters near the front gate. My New York apartment has a view of the changing colors in Central Park but needless to say there's no raking involved on my part.
 Back when I had a home with a lawn I tried to convince myself that raking was good exercise. But every year I put off the task until it was overwhelming. One autumn I decided to leave the leaves right where they fell and deal with them in the spring - an epic
bad idea on so many levels. That was before I discovered Feng Shui and learned that
dead leaves accumulating on the lawn mean dead chi energy collecting around your home. Maybe that's why it was such chore getting the ugly, mucky mess off my lawn in early spring so the new grass had a clear path to the sun. The next year I turned the whole thing over to the neighborhood lawn guy and decided I would just have to get my exercise hiking through the falling leaves. Which is how it should be.
Happy Fall! Go out and crunch some leaves.
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Carol M. Olmstead, FSIA
Feng Shui Master Practitioner
New In This Issue
Transitioning Into Fall with Feng Shui
Even small adjustments at the start of a new season can bring big results.
--Feng Shui For All Seasons section
Clean Out Your Kitchen
Nothing good flows into your life until you make room for it, especially in your kitchen.
--Clutter Clinic section
Rose's Writer's Block
Rose made some changes in her office and around her home to help her get writing again.
--Success Story section
Questions For This Month
What to do with letters from an ex, sitting in front of a floor-to-ceiling windows, sleeping under a slanted ceiling.
--Q&A section
Is your guest room ready for the holidays? Is your house prepared for holiday visitors?
--Feng Shui Consulting section
Ten Questions That Will Transform Your Life
Questions to ask yourself that will help you attract what you want in life.
--Beyond Feng Shui section
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Feng Shui For All Seasons
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Tra
nsitioning Into Fall With Feng Shui
 The goal of Feng Shui adjustments is to bring your interior environment into balance with the natural world around you. The best way to do this is to make it an every day habit to tune in to the changing seasons and make adjustments in your home to reflect what is going on around you at different times of the year. Even small seasonal Feng Shui adjustments can bring big results.
That means as the cooler weather approaches and you find yourself spending more time indoors, you can begin some of those projects you put off during the warmer months, like clearing all that "stuff" from your attic or basement. Removing what you don't need from these areas can have a profound affect, because what's in your attic weighs down on you and what's in your basement supports you. Clearing clutter from these areas helps you move forward. Then, as you approach winter and limited daylight, make adjustments that bring more light into your interior environment, including switching to full spectrum light bulbs that simulate natural daylight.
Here are a few more of my favorite Feng Shui tips for fall:
- Pull up dead summer flowers in the garden rather than leaving them all winter because they represent stale chi.
- Display a bowl of fresh red apples in your kitchen to symbolize that your table will never be empty and you can always afford to feed your family.
- Clear the cobwebs from your outdoor furniture before you cover it for the winter because this symbolizes being so wrapped up and stuck that you can't move forward.
- Even if the weather outside is chilly, open your windows occasionally during the fall months to let in some fresh chi.
- Remove dead leaves from your gutters and roof because they represent dead chi accumulating on top of your home.
- Trim back any large limbs that overhang your house because they symbolize extra "weight" on your shoulders.
- Rearrange your furniture to bring new energy into a room, even if you only move the sofa a few inches closer to the window or the lamp to a different side of the table.
- Start a new fall habit - when you change your clocks back to standard time also toss expired foods and old spices from your pantry.
Feng Shui cures can wear out over time - colors fade, furniture wears out or goes out of style, your preferences in art change - and that's why I recommend that throughout the year, you can
re-new,
re-adjust, and
re-align your Feng Shui changes with the new season.
 HALLOWEEN FENG SHUI TIP: It's fun to wear a mask for Halloween, but avoid hanging masks on the wall, especially in a bedroom, because they symbolize "hiding" or "covering up" something. Read more Feng Shui tips in my article "
Feng Shui Colors and Symbols of Halloween."
THANKSGIVING FENG SHUI TIP: Follow the 3H's of holiday entertaining to assure harmony at Thanksgiving: Harmonious Seating, Harmonious Decor, Harmonious Foods. This advice applies to other family gatherings and holiday celebrations. Read more tips in my article
"Thanksgiving Feng Shui."
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Clear Out Your Kitchen
A clean, food-filled kitchen is a symbol of health
and prosperity in Feng Shui and is often the center of activity at home. The approaching holiday season is the perfect time to clear out any stale energy from your kitchen to make room for family harmony. Here are ten quick things you can do to clear kitchen clutter:
- Throw out anything in your refrigerator and freezer that's more than six months old, or that is congealed, crystallized, or fuzzy.
- Update the old photos, take-out menus, and shopping lists on the refrigerator door.
- Remove everything from your pantry, wipe the shelves, and return only those items that are fresher than 6 months old.
- Buy a new pair of oven mitts or potholders to replace the burnt and stained ones.
- Remove dried flowers because they symbolize dead energy.
- Refill canisters or containers with fresh flour, sugar, coffee pods, tea bags, rice, and grains.
- Replace chipped dishes and glassware, stained dish towels, moldy sponges, and anything that no longer works.
- Clear the junk from your counters and get rid of the stacks of paperwork, unused small appliances, and half-bags of cookies and crackers.
- Keep the trash can and recycling bin out of sight and empty them often so they don't turn into negative chi that pulls down your wealth.
- Sweep the kitchen floor - toward the door rather than into the room - to symbolically remove any stale energy.
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Rose's Writer's Block
My client Rose was suffering from a case of writer's block when she contacted me for a consultation that centered around her home office. She had a lovely office space on the first floor of her home, but there was a bit too much sha chi (negative energy) that was keeping her from moving forward with her writing projects.
 Here's what Rose wrote:
I have made about 60% of the changes you recommended. I painted designs on both places on the sidewalk to fill in the missing areas of the bagua, fixed the problems with the fireplace, trimmed the overgrown shrubs in front of the office window, moved my desk so I was facing the door, and added an addition to make it bigger. I loved your explanation of how my too small desk was limiting my growth. I plan to have everything finished by the end of the year. Remember my prayer, "I want to touch the minds and hearts of millions of people?" Well, an interesting shift is happening: I have been invited to co-author a book with a woman who has published about 15 books on corporate issues! The writing has begun. Viva Feng Shui!
I would love to include YOUR success story in my next book.
E-mail me or call 1.800.652.9038 to schedule your home or office consultation.
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Q: I just moved and found old letters from a recently-ex relationship. I thought about having a burning ceremony or maybe sautéing them on the stove. How do I dispose of these things? Off to the landfill? Throw them over a cliff? I hope I don't sound nuts.
A:
Many clients have told me they burned letters from previous relationships, but no one has every mentioned sautéing them! The method of discarding the letters is less important than the act of moving these out of your new home. And the less fuss you make about getting rid of the letters, the more you lessen their power. Nothing new flows into your life until you make room for it. Burn them (safely), shred, or tear into a million pieces, it doesn't matter as long as you get them out of your home.
Q: I work in a ground floor office with floor-to-ceiling windows behind me. I love all the light, but sometimes I feel like I am too exposed.
A: Windows behind you can make you feel exposed, vulnerable, uncontained, and overwhelmed. To cure this situation, place a "wall" of plants on the floor behind you. You will still be connected to nature and get the benefit of the light, but you'll have privacy and protection.
Q: My bed is located under a slanted ceiling. How is this affecting me?
A: When you sleep under a slanting ceiling, negative chi presses down on you and it can interfere with sleep and result in health problems. If you can't move your bed, you can symbolically raise the energy of the ceiling. Some cures include hanging strings of tiny lights on the ceiling, painting the ceiling a lighter color than the walls, or stenciling images of clouds, vines, or birds on the ceiling. Or, you could place tall plants or tall furniture in the four corners of the room to symbolically lift the energy.
Do you have Feng Shui questions for the Feng Shui Maven?
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Company's Coming For the Holidays
 Is your guest room ready for holiday visitors?
Is your apartment or home too dirty for dating, too messy for marriage, too poorly prepared for parents or in-laws to visit?
Need to make a great first impression on the boss, but you're afraid to host a dinner party because your home sends wrong message?
My Better First Impressions Feng Shui Consultation is the perfect way to get Feng Shui clearing and cleanup "quick fix" advice. With this rapid response service, I'll conduct a 20-minute virtual walk-thru of your home by Skype, FaceTime, or photos/phone, and give you the 3R's - what to Replace, Repair, or Remove. This custom session will focus on these critical first impression rooms: living room, bathroom, bedroom, kitchen.
First Impressions Matter
The
Home Matters Survey 2016, devised in association with Berkeley social and personality researcher Dr. Lindsay Graham, PhD, for the on-demand home services app Handy, explored American attitudes toward their homes. More than 67% of people said they look at their date's home to see how compatible they are, and 15% said they had broken up with someone after seeing their home for the first time. New Yorkers cared most what other people thought of their homes, and those in Arizona, Ohio, and Washington, DC, were most likely to break up with someone because of their home. "Comfort" was the word most associated with home, and "clean" was the sixth. 42% of 51-55-year-olds said they broke up with someone because of their home.
Ready to make a better first impression?
Other Feng Shui Consulting Services
Find out how my on-site and off-site consultations for your
home,
office, or
business can help you rearrange your space, shift energy, and transform your life.
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On-Site Consulting
I
will visit your home, office, or business and help you rearrange your space, shift energy, and transform your life. During the session I will teach you Feng Shui basics, then we'll go through your space and I'll make suggestions for changing the placement of furniture and objects and dealing with color, moving what we can at the time.
All sessions include 30 days of free Feng Shui coaching to help you continue to make changes and move forward.
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Off-Site Consulting
When an on-site consultation isn't possible, I offer off-site and remote Feng Shui consulting for homes, offices, and businesses in the US and internationally. Off-site consulting package options include:
- Feng Shui Hotline
- 30-Minute Phone Consultation
- Room Rescue
- Floor Plan Analysis
- Whole House Consultation
Click here for off-site consulting.
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Where will the Feng Shui Maven go this month?
I set up private consulting appointments with clients all over the country.
Appointments fill up fast, especially on weekends.
I welcome your referrals!
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Bring on
e
of my Feng Shui workshops to your city. I will create a custom presentation for your business
or group to help you make simple changes to attract wealth, harmony, love, and much more.
From keynote speeches, to "munch and learn" workshops, to half-day or full-day seminars, my interactive sessions are full of practical advice, tips, and fun. Feng Shui workshops make great fundraisers because they always sell out.
People Are Talking About Carol's Feng Shui Workshops!
My three sisters and I attended your workshop, and I wanted to write to you and tell you how much we enjoyed it. It was packed full with such great information and the fact that you helped each individual at the workshop was incredible! The three hours went by so fast that everyone in the workshop thought you were just taking a break and we were all shocked that it meant the workshop was over. We all purchased your book and got several more copies for family members that could not attend because we love it.
--GW
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Books
Feng Shui Quick Guide For Home and Office: Secrets For Attracting Wealth, Harmony, and Love
This award-winning book contains my best Feng Shui advice in one place, including Feng Shui basics, success stories, a monthly guide to clutter clearing, and a tip-a-day calendar of 366 Feng Shui secrets.
Available in print and Kindle editions.
My award-winning book is part of the
Amazon Matchbook program.
That means when you b
uy the print edition, you get the Kindle edition for only $1.99, which represents an 80% savings.
Click here to get your copy!
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Video Classes
Grow Your Business with Feng Shui
My 90-minute, self-paced course includes tips for activating the Career/Work bagua area, along with simple changes you can make in your home that will advance your career or business. It includes tips and advice for everything you need to succeed, from choosing a desk, to lighting, plants, and art.
You'll learn 6 amazing tips that will help you create a space that supports you and your business. Watch as I use Feng Shui principles to conduct a hands-on transformation of a client's workplace and create a dynamic home office that gives more clarity, less clutter and distractions, and ultimately, more success.
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Mindfulness Bookstore
I continue to add books to this collection that will help you feel more organized, calm, grounded, and mindful.
Email your suggestions for resources to add.
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10 Questions That Will Transform Your Life
 The average person has about 60,000 thoughts per day, and 90% of these are repeated thoughts. How do we direct our thoughts in a positive way?
According to an article by Richard Kronick in the Huffington Post, whenever you find yourself thinking negative thoughts or feeling down, simply re-direct your mind by asking yourself, out loud or silently, any of the following 10 questions. Weave these into the fabric of your life and watch as you fill up your life with gratitude, excitement, and love.
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What am I really grateful for and why? This question will help you generate feelings of gratitude and serenity, and will calm feelings of anger, frustration, or fear.
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Who do I really love and why do I love them so much? The people we love are often the greatest sources of joy. Dwell on the face of someone you care about deeply. Recall some of the things they have done that make you smile.
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What is something that I am really excited about and why? This is a great question to ask yourself when you feel bored or sad. Find something that you are excited about and imagine what it will feel like when that experience happens.
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Who or what am I really proud of and why? Think of something you have accomplished that gives you a deep sense of pride, or think about another person who you are proud of and why you are so proud of them
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What are 10 amazing or beautiful things I can see right now? Ask yourself this question when you discover that you're thinking negatively or if you are waiting in line or bored.
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How did I get to be so lucky? The more you ask this, the more you will find evidence of how truly lucky you are.
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What can I do today in order to create the future I want? This question is the key to opening the door to your dreams and keeping you focused on your goals.
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What will be great about today? Start the day off with this question and you set the wheels in motion to create a great day.
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What are the three best things that happened to me recently?
This question will remind you of the beauty around you and the happiness that you have been given in your life.
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How can I give of myself so that I can increase the joy of others? A life well-lived is a life which makes you smile when looked back upon. In the end, the purpose of life is to be useful and enhance the happiness of others. The more we overflow with happiness ourselves, the more we are able to pass our love and joy onto others. Fill yourself up with joy so that the overflow can enrich the lives of those around you.
Click here to read more.
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FYI
Share Articles From This Ezine.
Articles in the Feng Shui To The Rescue newsletter are copyrighted but I encourage you to share them. Please credit Carol M. Olmstead as the author, and when you share the article please link to
www.FengShuiForRealLife.com.
Schedule a Space Clearing or House Blessing.
Carol Olmstead is an Ordained Minister specializing in Feng Shui house blessing ceremonies and space clearing Call 1.800.652.9038 or
e-mail Carol Olmstead
for details.
Schedule a Consultation or Workshop.
If you would like to set up a home, office, or business consultation, or schedule a customized workshop, contact:
Carol M. Olmstead, FSIA
Feng Shui Master Practitioner
Carol M. Olm
 stead, FSIA, was certified by the Feng Shui Institute of America and earned Red Ribbon Professional
Status from the International Feng Shui Guild.
Feng Shui for Real Life, LLC, and the Feng Shui To The Rescue newsletter serve as a reference and guide for the principles of Feng Shui and as such bear no responsibility for results that a client or reader experiences. Individual results may vary based on the client's participation and intent.
©2016, Carol M. Olmstead
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