Feng Shui to the Rescue Newsletter
Helping you attract wealth, harmony, love,
and much more.
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January 2023
Feng Shui for Foodies
Happy New Year, Everyone!
You know I can relate Feng Shui to just about anything. So, you won’t be surprised that I’m starting out the year by making a Feng Shui connection to food, especially because the Chinese New Year starts this month. You could call this my "Foodie" issue.
But, hold the eggrolls...
Before I share a bit about bringing Feng Shui lucky bites into your home, let's talk about kitchen clutter. Long-time readers know that I try to do the "Feng Shui Fling" on New Year's Day and move around furniture and objects to make space for good things to flow. This year, I reorganized my kitchen drawers. Have you ever stopped to count the number of kitchen utensils you have but no longer use? Like my butter pat stamp? Really, I had one of those. Maybe you still entertain like that (and I'm impressed that you do), but those days are gone for me. Out it went into the recycling. I had no trouble moving around or getting rid of the required 27 things from kitchen drawers. It's never too late to give your kitchen a "Feng Shui Fling" clean-out. Then, you can think clearly about how your menus for the new year can support your health.
I often get questions in January about Feng Shui-auspicious foods to eat at Chinese New Year. In Chinese culture, the good luck quotient for a food is based on its pronunciation and appearance, plus how it’s prepared and served. You probably didn’t need an excuse to order dumplings from your local carryout, but it helps to know which good fortune is associated with these seven traditionally lucky Chinese foods:
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Dumplings represent wealth, especially oval ones that look like Chinese silver ingots. Supposedly, the more dumplings you eat during the lunar celebration, the more money you make in that year, so eat up!
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Spring rolls are another wealth symbol because their gold-bar shape and golden fried color represent “a ton of gold.”
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Oranges and tangerines relate to fullness and wealth because of their round shape and color, plus the words sound like “success” and “luck.” Leave the stems attached if you want to encourage fertility.
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Fish equals increased prosperity because in some Chinese dialects, the word sounds like “surplus.” The tradition is to serve a whole fish. Leave some on your plate to represent “left over” spending money.
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Longevity noodles symbolize happiness and long life because their seemingly endless length represents the eater's life.
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Glutinous rice cakes symbolize a better position in business, school, and career, because the words mean “going higher.”
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Sweet rice balls mean family togetherness because of their round shape. Their pronunciation means “reunion” and “being together.”
Happy New Year 2023 and Happy Year of the Rabbit! Wishing you health, happiness, and peace in the coming year! I love to hear from you, so please send your questions and success stories.
Carol M. Olmstead, FSIA
Feng Shui Master Practitioner
www.FengShuiForRealLife.com
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9 Feng Shui Ways to Lose Weight
If you made a New Year's resolution to lose weight this year and you're already worried about keeping it, you're not alone, because losing weight is at the top of the list of "New Year's Resolutions You Won't Keep." But take heart, Feng Shui can come to your rescue. Here's a reboot of my Feng Shui tips to help you stick to a diet and meet your weight-loss goals. Try one or all of these tips:
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Use blue plates. Blue is the color of the Water Element that reduces blood pressure and slows your pulse. The term "Blue Plate Special" was popularized during the Depression when restaurant owners found diners were satisfied with a smaller portion when it was served on a blue plate.
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Remove clutter. Excess "stuff" in the kitchen, basement, and attic can overwhelm you and psychologically add weight. The act of cleaning out the weight of kitchen clutter can especially impact the weight of the person doing the clutter clearing.
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Clear your closets. Get rid of clothes you've been saving for "when you lose weight" because holding on to things that don't fit symbolizes holding on to old behavior patterns. Plus, if you are holding on to outdated clothes, you won't feel motivated to lose enough weight to wear them.
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Remove blocks to weight loss. Relocate your workout equipment to a room where you will actually use it. Donate or sell any exercise equipment you don't use, because keeping it sends a negative message of weight-loss failure.
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Add mirrors. A mirror hung strategically on the refrigerator door or on the cabinet where you store snack food will reflect your body and reinforce your resolve to change your image.
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Hide your kitchen. If the kitchen is the first room you see when you enter the house, you're motivated to look for food. Keep the kitchen door closed or hang a mirror or artwork near the door to distract your eye away from the room. Avoid hanging photos on the fridge because they call your attention there.
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Avoid the color red. Restaurants know that the color red stimulates appetite and use it liberally, but it's best to avoid using it in your kitchen if you're trying to lose weight. Instead, choose blue, black, or floral patterns for your table coverings, placemats, and napkins.
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Dine at a beautiful table. Treat yourself as an honored guest in your own home, especially when you are trying to change your eating habits. Decorate your table with fresh flowers, and candles, and even use the "good" dishes so your smaller portions will seem more lavish.
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Balance yin and yang. Vary the color of your foods - serve light-colored foods in brightly colored containers, and mix hot and spicy foods with lighter and milder flavors to create a yin-yang balanced meal each time you eat.
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Clear Out Your Kitchen Clutter
A clean, food-filled kitchen is a symbol of health and prosperity in Feng Shui and is often the center of activity. The start of a new year 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.
- Replace old take-out menus, shopping lists, and other thing on the refrigerator door.
- Remove everything from your pantry or food shelves, 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 or dull and dusty herb wreaths, because they symbolize dead energy.
- Refill canisters or containers with fresh flour, sugar, coffee, 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/or 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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Ask the Feng Shui Maven
Q: I'm trying to use Feng Shui to bring balance into my life and I'm starting with my kitchen. I have a set of steak knives that I don't use and would like to get rid of, but I don't know how to do it. I don't want to donate them if they have negative energy that will harm someone else.
A: The main Feng Shui issue with knives is giving them as a gift because this symbolizes cutting a friendship. I don't see any problem with donating knives, for example to a nonprofit that will resell them, as long as they are in good condition. However, if the knives are damaged or are especially dangerous for any reason, it would be better to wrap them securely and dispose of them responsibly rather than donate them.
Q: How does an attic affect the Feng Shui of a room below it? The entrance to my attic is a pulldown stairway in ceiling in my bedroom. Is there something I need to do?
A: What is kept in an attic weighs down on the occupants of the house, so the entrance to the attic is not much of a factor as long as you paint it the same color as the ceiling. What is more important in Feng Shui terms is what keep in the attic. An attic that is crammed full of items that are unneeded, unused, and unloved not only represents stagnant and stuck chi, but it represents the weight of the past on your shoulders. This is especially negative when the attic is located above a bedroom. Clear the clutter in your attic and you'll lighten your load and make room for new things to find you.
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No More Shoes at Michelle's Front Door
Michelle's primary reason for setting up the consultation was to find a new relationship. Like many people, Michelle kept her shoes near the front door instead of in the bedroom closet because she doesn't want to wear outside shoes inside her home. I explained that this added clutter to this important "mouth of chi" area that should be kept clear to allow the positive chi to flow into her home. Also, the Feng Shui symbolism of shoes visible near a door is "running away" from something. I suggested she store them in the hall closet, but she said there was no room.
Here is what Michelle wrote:
First, I placed a few masculine-looking hangers in my bedroom closet as you suggested and made room for a partner's clothes. Next, I cleaned out my front hall coat closet. I removed so much junk that after I was done, I had plenty of room to keep my shoes in there, out of sight but still convenient. The front entrance looks so much better and clearer without all those shoes. Almost immediately after I finished my Feng Shui changes, out of the blue I got a call from this guy I had dated several years ago. Back then I told him I was "too busy" to date and broke it off. What you said about shoes at the door symbolizing running away from something really resonated with me. Maybe I was running away from a relationship. We went out for dinner and it's obvious the spark is still there. Coincidence or Feng Shui? Who knows, I'm just thrilled!
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Enhance Your Space!
The Feng Shui Fixer series includes one-of-a-kind creations that are designed as simple, beautiful, and real-world 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, or on the back of your computer monitor to block any negative energy. You can display one or a collection of them on a table-top easel. Place them anywhere you need to activate a Feng Shui Element.
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 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. Each design includes a small mirror on the back that symbolically pushes away any negative issues and attracts positive energy.
- Use one Feng Shui Fixer to correct a problem.
- Group several to enhance the energy in a specific bagua area.
- Give a Feng Shui Fixer as a gift to family, friends, or yourself!
SPECIAL OFFER: Feng Shui Fixers work best in groups of three because they can be arranged in the triangle shape that represents wealth, abundance, and power. Choose any three Feng Shui Fixers and receive a 20% discount on your total order.
Click here to send your three choices to Carol to receive this special discount!
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FEATURED FENG SHUI FIXER: "Be-Leaf"
This is one of my favorites, named by my Facebook friends! Need to feel more balanced, grounded, or secure? You can unlock the power of the Earth and Wood Elements when you display this powerful Feng Shui Fixer in your home or workplace. It's a special 8" round size.
Title: "Be-Leaf"
Target Issue: Grounding, Security, Balance
Feng Shui Elements: Wood, Earth
Materials: Silk ribbon, cotton floss, Perle cotton floss, glass beads on imported vintage kimono silk textile
Size: 8" round
Framing: Hand-stained bamboo frame, ready to hang
Regular Price: $65
SPECIAL NEWSLETTER PRICE: $55+S&H
Shipping to the US only at this time.
Click below to see in detail and to order.
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Feng Shui Quick Guide for Home and Office: Secrets for Attracting Wealth, Harmony, and Love
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
Newsletter Special Price: $12.99+S&H
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NEW SERVICES AVAILABLE!
Virtual Consulting
When you have Feng Shui questions about your home, office, business, or workspace that go beyond the basics you can find on my website, and you need to speak to a 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 Zoom, FaceTime, or phone call to answer your questions and help you rearrange your space, shift your energy, and transform your life.
All sessions include:
- Review of photos or videos of your space.
- Consultation by Zoom, phone, or FaceTime.
- Personalized Feng Shui advice and guidance.
- Follow-up coaching check-in so you stay on track.
CHECK OUT THE OPTIONS:
If you're working in a hybrid situation where some days you work from home (WFH) and some days you work at your workplace, I created this package for you. We'll work on both of your office locations.
- 45-minute consultation including analysis of floor plans
It's your choice—ask about any room, any situation, any clutter-clearing problem, or any issue that needs Feng Shui help.
- 1-hour consultation including analysis of a floor plan
Perfect for any room in your home, condo, or apartment.
Ideal for the room where you work, either at home or at the workplace.
Great for when you want to rev up your relationship, find a new love, move forward after a divorce or breakup, or improve your self-esteem.
Virtual consulting services are effective and will transform your life!
Email Carol for current fees and to schedule.
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"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 you achieve balance between your 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 virtually. The "Feng Shui for the New Hybrid Workplace" webinar is specially designed to meet the needs of the new hybrid workforce.
This 1-hour webinar 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. Check out some examples on my website.
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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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.
FengShuiForRealLife.com 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.
©2023, Carol M. Olmstead
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