Feng Shui to the Rescue Newsletter
Helping you attract wealth, harmony, love,
and much more.
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November 2021
A Month for Thankfulness
It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just around the corner. I've been thinking a lot about things to be thankful for as we seem to be pulling out of the dark days of the pandemic. From the Feng Shui perspective, you don't need more things to be grateful for in this month of thanksgiving, but you do need more room for thankfulness. You've heard my mantra: Nothing new flows into your life until you make room for it. Here are the five things I'm planning to get rid of this month so I can be thankful for the extra space I created for better things to flow into my life:
- One unfinished project
- One object that needs fixing but isn’t worth the effort
- One gift I never used even though I love the giver
- One souvenir that no longer has meaning
- One item of clothing I’ve outgrown (not just physically)
Want to join me in this gratitude purge? Write and let me know what you got rid of and what new things flowed in and filled the space you made for them.
We've all been reading about supply chain issues compromising the availability of all sorts of merchandise for holiday gift-giving. To complicate this, if you or your friends celebrate Chanukah, it's happening at the end of November. If you want some help in deciding about holiday gifts this year, check out my article "Feng Shui Gift-Giving Advice."
Paper is also expected to be in short supply, which will affect new book printing. That's why I'm moving up my annual Book Sale so you can stock up on already-printed books to give as gifts to friends, family, or yourself. I usually hold this sale during the February doldrums when we're stuck inside, but all things considered, now seems like the right time.
I've been getting lots of emails asking for Feng Shui tips for restoring and retaining health during this difficult time. That's why my lead article is a reboot of a previous article with some of my favorite tips, and there's a health-related question in the Q&A section. If you need even more help, check out the "Health and Medical Issues" section of Chapter 7 of Feng Shui to the Rescue: Rearrange Your Life, Shift Your Energy, Transform Your Life.
Carol M. Olmstead, FSIA
Feng Shui Master Practitioner
www.FengShuiForRealLife.com
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PS: About that Wallet
What an amazing response to last month's post about my new burgundy wallet (and my burgundy glasses)!
For those of you who asked to see which wallet I chose, click here and look at "Deep Red." |
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Holiday Book Sale
Sale prices good through December 10 to allow for holiday delivery!
You must use the links below to receive discounts.
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Feng Shui Quick Guide for Home and Office: Secrets for Attracting Wealth, Harmony, and Love
Still going strong after 10 years! Own the award-winning Feng Shui book that is practical and easy to understand. The book includes easy-to-follow basics plus tips and secrets to make the practical magic of Feng Shui work for you. Sprinkled among the tips are success stories from real people who followed them with big results. The book includes a tip-a-day calendar so you can make small Feng Shui changes each day.
List price: $15.95.
Holiday Sale Price: $10.00+S&H
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Feng Shui to the Rescue: Rearrange Your Space, Shift Your Energy, Transform Your Life!
My newest book answers more than 400 questions from clients, students, and readers all over the world, covering these most-asked topics and more: Love, Wealth, Harmony, Clutter, Careers and Business, Mirrors, Bedrooms and Beds, Real Estate. The book includes 30 Success Stories from my clients who made simple Feng Shui changes with big results, and 24 sets of tips called Fast 5 to help you avoid problems in the first place.
List price: $19.95
Holiday Sale Price: $15.00+S&H
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Book Duo - Order Both Books Together
Holiday Sale Price: $23.00+S&H
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Feng Shui Tip for November
Maintaining Good Health in Difficult Times
I've been getting a large number of requests for tips for maintaining health as we transition into fall and winter. It's obviously going to take more than an apple-a-day to get us through our health issues. Feng Shui can come to the rescue by helping create a feeling of safety, security, and sanctuary at home. This can help you reduce stress and maintain good health.
Here are some things you can do to boost your health:
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Connect to nature. Treat yourself to fresh flowers and healthy living plants with rounded, bushy leaves. Avoid plants with thorns or spikes, since they will add to the sharpness of the energy you already feel. Add the scent of lavender to your environment for its calming effect, especially in your bedroom to help you sleep. Display amethyst stones to promote calmness and reduce anger and irritability and to encourage tranquility.
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Create order. A cluttered environment is a chaotic one, and that chaos keeps you from being able to renew, restore, slow down, and let go because you're too busy dealing with all that "stuff" around you. An uncluttered environment helps chi flow smoothly, so you'll feel less anxious, less pressured, and generally in a better mood. Here's my Feng Shui "permission slip": get rid of everything you don't like, don't need, and don't use anymore no matter how much you paid for it. Keep and display only what you love.
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Refresh your colors. When you're already full of fire from the conflict around you in a troubled world, try removing some of the red and hot orange accessories. Instead, surround yourself with the color blue for relaxation and green for renewal. Make sure your colors and patterns aren't in conflict with each other. If a pattern is jarring to your eye, it's going to make you feel stressed and cranky without realizing what's causing the problem. Switch to solids in your accessories instead of stripes, plaids, or huge bold patterns.
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Lighten up. Make sure the lighting in your home isn't too harsh. Look for full-spectrum lighting that mimics natural daylight, and choose bulbs with warmer tones. Light is considered to be upbeat yang energy, so bring in all the light you can to balance dark yin energy from the violence and chaos. Also bring in all the natural sunlight you can by cleaning your windows and opening the window treatments.
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Change the view. If there's anything in your home that "drives you nuts," it raises your anxiety level because it continues to occupy your mind even when you're not home. This includes projects that never get finished, wall cracks that need repairing, stained furniture, and any repairs you've been postponing. Follow my Rule of 3Rs: Remove, Repair, or Replace these items - right now. Also, if you have an unattractive view from any one of your windows, hang window treatments to block it to help you change your point of view.
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Add uplifting images. This is a good time to take a good look at everything you have on the wall, and to remove images that are dark, violent, or dangerous looking. No matter how much you paid for it, if your artwork doesn’t feel soothing and calming it can negatively affect your stress level and your health. One good choice to reduce stress is an image of mountains to represent the Earth Element attributes of strength and grounding. Choose images that have smooth mountains rather than jagged peaks. Hang mountain images in the center of your home and on the walls of your stairways to help ground what is considered a “hole” in your home.
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Consider black tourmaline. This stone is thought to help mitigate the negative effects of EMFs, which are the electromagnetic fields created by your cell phone, TV, WiFi, and all the other electronic devices in your surroundings. Try placing two pieces of black tourmaline near your bed to reduce the EMFs in your bedroom and to help you get a good night's sleep, and near your computer in your workspace to deflect EMFs.
You can read answers to the most-often asked questions about Feng Shui and health in Chapter 7 of Feng Shui to the Rescue.
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7 Ways to Avoid Creating Clutter
There is a story shared by Feng Shui consultants about the wise Feng Shui practitioner and the confused, cluttered client. When the wise practitioner walked into the cluttered client's home, all she could see were piles of paper everywhere.
"There are two types of people," the wise practitioner said to the client, "those who put their papers in files, and those who put their papers into piles."
"Which is better," the cluttered client asked, "the one who files or the one who piles?"
"The one who throws away," said the wise practitioner.
The best way to keep your life moving forward is to avoid accumulating cutter. Here are seven simple ways to avoid piling, and instead remain clutter-free:
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Donate Weekly. Once a week, collect 10 things you don't need and donate to your favorite charity, give to friends and family, or recycle.
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Practice the Five-Minute Rule. Wherever you work these days, find three clutter-clearing actions you can complete in five minutes or less each, then do them immediately rather than add another piece of paper to the piles of workplace clutter.
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Organize Your Closet. Try rearranging your clothes so your outfits are grouped together. Grab the outfit on the right side of your closet in the morning, then at night hang it on the left side so you will rotate your clothes and never "outwear" your favorites.
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Derail Junk Mail. Locate your recycling bin and shredder near your mail sorting area so you can get rid of the junk mail immediately.
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Plan Ahead. Locate a bench or cabinet near your front door or door to the garage, and each night place your purse, totes, and backpacks there rather than scattered all over the house. That way you can grab them on your way out in the morning.
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Just Say No. If you don't have time to take on a new client or an additional volunteer project - and all the paraphernalia and clutter that comes with it - politely decline.
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Follow the One Out/One In Rule. Promise yourself that you won't bring one more thing into your home or workplace until you first get rid of one thing you no longer love, no longer use, or no longer need.
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Q: I moved into a new rental home. I think I read somewhere that the head of the bed should face north or south, but in this bedroom, the only way to put the bed is facing east with the head of bed under a window. I have no mirrors in the bedroom and my bed does not face the door. I am sleeping better, but can you share with me what the pros and cons are with the directions? When I moved in the front of this house was dirty and the landscaping was unkept, and the last people never used the front door! I work from home as a massage therapist, so I cleared the front of the house and front door area first, removed cobwebs, added a new doormat with arrow of coins underneath pointing toward the door, hung a wreath on door, and scrubbed the screen door.
A: You were so right to start at the front door. It’s the mouth of chi where all positive energy and wealth enter your space. That’s important for everyone, but especially for a home-based business. And, that’s all the more reason for opening the front door each day. I am not a Compass School practitioner so I don’t use directions when locating a bed. I practice a western approach to Feng Shui that focuses on using the bagua and orienting furniture based on the main entrance to the room. For a bed, my main recommendation is that you have a clear view of the door without being located directly across from it. Since your head is under a window, make sure you have substantial window treatments and close them at night before you go to sleep. So many people are having sleep and dream issues because of all the over-active energy that we’ve had in our environment for some time now, and changes in sleep patterns aren’t unusual when you move into a new space. Plus, since you say you are “sleeping better” my question back to you is: “What’s the problem?!” Perhaps the Feng Shui changes you made to the front of the house have already created a calmer home than you’ve had in the past and your body is rewarding you with good sleep.
Q: I have had various health issues for almost two years after I had surgery. I have never felt really well. I struggle with my mood, and I have put on weight that I'm having trouble losing. I had Covid, I broke a tooth and needed a crown, and I had problem with another tooth. I had just started to feel better, but now have a problem with a frozen shoulder. I feel I am constantly "off form." Is it something I am attracting or something I'm holding on to?
A: I’m so sorry to hear that you have been having so many health problems, and I wish you a speedy return to full health. This has been such a difficult 18 months for everyone in so many ways. I have no medical background so during the years I’ve been practicing I’ve not be able to provide specific Feng Shui advice for specific health issues and always recommend consulting a health professional. One book that has been recommended by other Feng Shui practitioners is Feng Shui and Health: The Anatomy of a Home: Using Feng Shui to Disarm Illness, Accelerate Recovery, and Create Optimal Health by Nancy SantoPietro. From my own practice, I can share two general tips for creating a space that’s conducive to supporting good health:
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Clear the Clutter. Clutter represents the inability to move forward. You might be aware of obvious clutter, but sometimes it helps to have someone else come into your house and point out cluttered areas that you might have been overlooking. Also, what you keep and where you keep it can also affect your health. You can read more about this in my article "Where You Have Clutter."
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Fix Broken Things. As with clutter, sometimes we stop noticing things that are cracked, broken, ripped, torn, stained, etc. Have someone help you look through your space to find anything that needs to be repaired, and take care of these things as soon as possible. This includes things like getting rid of any dead or dying plants, repairing a drippy faucet, making sure all your appliances are working, etc. When you are surrounded by negative energy, called sha chi, it keeps you from feeling balanced, and you are more vulnerable to illness.
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Adjusting to a Smaller Space
My client sold her large suburban home and moved to a small urban apartment. While she loved being close to everything in the city, she couldn't quite settle into her downsized space, especially with the confinement of the pandemic. She had a large painting of a ship, which is often considered a Feng Shui symbol of wealth "sailing" into a home, but she couldn't figure out where to hang it.
Here's what my client wrote:
Got your book yesterday. I started by skimming it and wound up devouring it! Yes, apartment living is different than living in a house, but I had quite a few “aha” moments while reading the book that help me settle into the new space. I finally figured out where to put that huge ship painting in my new much smaller apartment. I think it will literally bring the flow that has been missing! The ship painting is now where I can see it. My new apartment has lots of dead ends. No wonder I felt stuck! I actually laughed out loud when I realized, while reading your book, that I wasn’t just imagining the lack of energy flow. I’ll make a few more changes now that I’m understanding what needs to be worked out, and look forward to even more positive results.
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Feng Shui Fixers
Feng Shui Cures to Attract Wealth, Harmony, Love...and More!
The Feng Shui Fixer series includes one-of-a-kind creations that are designed as simple and beautiful Feng Shui "cures" and adjustments. These art pieces can be placed in a specific bagua area of a home or workplace to fix a Feng Shui issue, or to attract wealth, harmony, love, and so much more. Hang them on the wall, in a closet, near the washer, on the back of your computer monitor. They can go anywhere!
Each unique Feng Shui Fixer starts with an imported vintage silk kimono textile. Then, it is embellished with embroidery floss, silk ribbon, vintage or new glass beads, natural stones, or specially-selected charms. There are florals, geometrics, abstracts, and freestyle! Every Feng Shui Fixer comes ready to hang in a natural wood, hand-stained, or flexible frame. Or, you can display one or a collection of them on a table-top easel. Each design includes a small mirror on the back that symbolically pushes away any negative issues and helps attract positive energy.
The collection also features a series of Feng Shui "Spirals" that are especially useful to cure or correct for the missing Career/Self/Work bagua area.
Use one Feng Shui Fixer to solve a Feng Shui problem, or group them to enhance the energy in a specific bagua area. The chose is yours.
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Feng Shui Fixer for November
Title: "Intersections2"
Target Issues: Grounding, Stability
Feng Shui Element: Earth
Materials: Cotton embroidery floss & Czech glass beads, imported vintage kimono silk textile
Size: 5" round
Framing: Natural wood frame, ready to hang or display
Price: $38.
Shipping & Handling: FREE
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Virtual Consultations Available!
"Feng Shui - Your Way"
When you have Feng Shui questions about your home, office, business, or workspace that go beyond the basics and you need to speak to the Feng Shui Expert, this virtual consulting option is for you! I will customize advice for the way you want to live in your home, or work in your workspace.
We'll schedule a 1-hour Zoom, FaceTime, or phone call to answer your questions and help you rearrange your space, shift your energy, and transform your life. It's your choice—ask about any room, any situation, any clutter-clearing problem, or any issue that needs a little Feng Shui TLC.
The "Feng Shui - Your Way" consultation includes:
- Review of photos or a short video of your space.
- 1-hour consultation by Zoom, phone, or FaceTime.
- Personalized Feng Shui advice and guidance.
- Follow-up coaching check-in so you stay on track.
After you register for the consultation, you'll receive instructions for creating a short video or taking photos of your space, and for scheduling the session. During the consultation, I'll give you practical recommendations to rearrange, reorganize, and reuse what you already have, plus a plan to bring Feng Shui harmony to your space. You can take notes or record the session.
"Feng Shui - Your Way" recommendations typically cover this and more:
- Re-arranging furniture
- Picking the right decorations
- Selecting and hanging artwork
- Choosing the right color
- Finding storage solutions
- Dealing with clutter
- Correcting lighting
- Working at home
- Locating your office power position
- Setting up an at-home classroom
- Re-purposing what you already own
This virtual consulting service is effective and can transform your life!
Click on the link below to schedule your consultation!
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NEW WEBINAR!
"Feng Shui for the New Hybrid Workplace"
The new way of working is here to stay. Employees are continuing to work at home, returning to the workplace, or experiencing a combination of both. This hybrid experience is different for each member of the team. The good news is that a few real-world Feng Shui tips can help them achieve balance between their personal and work lives.
For more than 23 years, I have inspired diverse groups ranging from 5 to 500 with my in-person workshops. Now, I'm offering customized versions of the same presentations via Zoom. I have taught thousands of clients, readers, and students the simple secrets of using Feng Shui to improve their lives and careers, and now I can teach them to you and your group via Zoom. The "Feng Shui for the New Hybrid Workplace" webinar is specially designed to meet the needs of the new hybrid workforce.
This 1-hour session will show each employee how to make Feng Shui “go to work” for them. They will learn how to rearrange their space, shift their energy, and achieve calm in this rapidly-changing world. In this fun and informative session, I share simple and often low-cost tips for using Feng Shui to transform both a home and workplace office. There will be plenty of time for questions.
I will customize the webinar for your group, but a typical session includes:
- Overview
- Group Icebreaker
- Five Power Principles
- Transformation Tools
- Top 10 Tips
- Resources
- Q&A
All my webinars include customized training that I create to meet the specific needs of your organization, office, or group.
I also offer this and other training on a one-to-one basis for individuals. Click here for frequently-requested workshops and webinar topics, and email for details.
People are talking about Carol's Feng Shui Webinars for the New Workplace!
Thank you so much for hosting such a great presentation today. We’ve received really positive feedback from everyone, and I’m so happy to know there are small steps I can take to really feel more comfortable and positive every day.
– EG, Operations Manager, Washington, DC
Thank you again for the webinar yesterday. We got great feedback and tons of excitement around it. We hope to have you back sometime soon.
– AJH, Senior Manager, New York, NY
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NEW!
Feng Shui for Your Office
Take a look at the video I did for the "Interview with the Experts" series for Interior Motions, a custom office design firm in California. I share tips for bringing Feng Shui into any office. I also talk about the Five Power Principles of Feng Shui, how any office can implement these principles to increase productivity, and what you should avoid doing when arranging an office. And of course, I talk about avoiding clutter in the workplace.
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Grow Your Business with Feng Shui
My 90-minute, self-paced video course includes tips for activating the Career/Work bagua area, along with simple changes you make at home to advance your career or business. You'll learn six amazing tips to 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 opens the door to success.
People Are Talking About Carol's Classes:
Carol, you're a rock star! I loved listening to the podcast of your interview with "Law of Attraction Talk Radio with Jewels," so I took your class. You continue to be an inspiration to me and have forever changed the way I arrange each home I've lived in since I first heard you speak in 2012. Keep up the good work! -
-GO
I took your class and watched several of your videos. Excellent! You have an absolute warm and welcoming approach. No wonder you are so successful.
--CW
This video class is nothing short of a delicious treat for your career. I loved it! Great practical pieces of advice. Well-taught in a fun, inspiring way.
--RW
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DID YOU KNOW?
Carol M. Olmstead, FSIA, is certified by the Feng Shui Institute of America and earned Red Ribbon Professional Status from the International Feng Shui Guild.
Articles in the Feng Shui To The Rescue Newsletter are copyrighted, but can be shared with credit to Carol M. Olmstead as author and link to www.FengShuiForRealLife.com.
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.
©2021, Carol M. Olmstead
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