| [This is an actual Feng Shui consultation; all names and | | | | drifting due to the empty room was a question I did not |
| identifying features have been changed to protect the | | | | feel capable of answering. However, looking at that |
| confidentiality of the client] | | | | same gua on the second floor alerted me to a very |
| I drove up through a suburban subdivision, viewing the | | | | inauspicious problem there as well. |
| large homes with their expansive three car garages | | | | The love/marriage area was located directly in the |
| and driveways. Approaching my new client's home I | | | | master bath. In my understanding, Feng Shui masters |
| couldn't help but notice that the front door was almost | | | | have never really been that crazy about indoor |
| completely obscured by laurel hedges and large trees. | | | | plumbing due to the deleterious effects of Qi running |
| The gold colored house numbers were almost invisible | | | | down the drain, literally. But indoor plumbing has been |
| against the brick walls of the house. But I was happy | | | | around for quite some time, so there are Feng Shui |
| to note that once I figured out where the front door | | | | cures or fixes for this issue. However, I'm never very |
| was, it was a curved path leading up to a symmetrical | | | | happy to see the love/marriage area situated directly |
| entrance, flanked by two ceramic lions. | | | | in a bathroom. |
| The lady of the house was a pleasant looking woman | | | | It was interesting to hear Sally tell the tale of the |
| in her late 30's, dressed casually for a Sunday | | | | purchase of this house. She had loved her old house |
| afternoon. Sally led me through the large foyer, which | | | | and didn't want to leave. But her husband persuaded |
| was punctuated by a large, curved stairway to the | | | | her that the house was too small and they needed a |
| upper floor. On the left side of the foyer was a living | | | | larger yard for the kids and areas for them to grow |
| room, tastefully decorated with an Asian feel, in tones | | | | into as they became teens. So they purchased the |
| of brown, beige and navy. To the right was a formal | | | | house they were in, obviously without having a Feng |
| dining room. It contained two large china cabinets, four | | | | Shui consult. If they had had one before purchasing, |
| chairs and no table. The missing table would later be | | | | hopefully the practitioner would have pointed out the |
| explained. | | | | unfortunate placement of the love/marriage guas and |
| As Sally led me to the back of the house, there was | | | | the divorcing couples' energy and advised against it. |
| another seating area to the left, also tastefully | | | | But she was there for good, at least for the upcoming |
| decorated in beiges, browns and dark blues, also in an | | | | time period, because she didn't want to disturb the kids |
| Asian style. Both of the seating areas looked as if no | | | | anymore then they needed to be with their dad |
| one ever sat there. | | | | moving out and the divorce becoming final. So we |
| We seated ourselves around a kitchen table. As usual, | | | | concentrated on the two love/marriage areas and |
| I asked the million dollar question: "Why am I here?" | | | | brainstormed ways to fix the energies in them. |
| Sally had two elementary aged boys. She also had a | | | | First stop was the ground floor hallway/room space. I |
| missing husband - soon to be permanently missing due | | | | encouraged Sally to make a decision about what its |
| to a divorce in the works. Remarkably she seemed | | | | purpose was. As most of the walls were painted |
| calm and free of anger. | | | | white or beige in the home, I also encouraged her to |
| Sally was concerned about both the past history of | | | | allow more color in the home, starting with this room. |
| the house and its implications for the present and | | | | The love/marriage gua resonates with reds, pinks and |
| future. It seems that she and her husband had bought | | | | peaches, so Sally started considering those colors to |
| the house from a divorcing couple. Along with the | | | | paint the walls. This would have a dual purpose of |
| house, they had purchased the entire dining room set; | | | | increasing the love/marriage vibrations of this room |
| table, china cabinets, rug and chairs; in its entirety. | | | | and also filling it up, creating warmth where there |
| When her husband decided to leave, he took the table | | | | previously was none. That could only help attract |
| - but not the chairs. Sally had no idea why he decided | | | | energy into this space. |
| to leave the chairs. | | | | We also talked about putting some cozy chairs in the |
| Was the presence of a former unhappy marriage a | | | | corners, so she could read to her sons and also use it |
| factor in her situation? | | | | as a quiet reading and meditative place for herself, |
| I find the bagua map a very helpful tool in analyzing a | | | | again filling the room up with comfortable and happy |
| home's energy. In addition, I keep my feelers out for | | | | energy. We moved a large silk plant from upstairs into |
| color, art, furniture placement, and general feelings of | | | | the love/marriage corner of the room, which |
| the home to detect ways to improve the flow of Qi; | | | | symbolized growth and new beginnings - that is, once |
| life energy. | | | | the plant was dusted off! |
| It was very obvious that this house was empty. Most | | | | Sally had artistic aspirations and once had the idea of |
| of the rooms were unused. As a matter of fact, both | | | | creating a large collage with her sons on one of the |
| during the time when the husband was present and | | | | walls of this room, using magazine photos and glue. |
| after he left, the favorite room in the home was the | | | | Her husband had nixed the idea but I thought it would |
| "bonus" room over the garage. In this smallish room | | | | be great for the three of them to create a family |
| was a sectional sofa, TV. books, games, two desks, | | | | vision board expressing in pictures the new family |
| computers - in another words, it was the nerve center | | | | dynamic they would be building together. I offered the |
| of the home. Luckily, it was placed in the knowledge | | | | idea that covering the wall in poster board or foam |
| and wisdom gua on the second floor; a good spot to | | | | core might be a good idea in the event they wanted |
| have homework stations for the boys. | | | | to sell the house and the removal of the collage would |
| Upon further exploration, the downstairs bagua | | | | be a simple one. |
| revealed an almost completely empty love & | | | | As we brainstormed ways to fill up the room with |
| marriage area. This strange space was part hallway | | | | purpose and energy, Sally got more energized and |
| leading up to the second level but not really. It was a | | | | excited. She did confess that since her husband left |
| room but it felt like it was a place to pass through. It | | | | she found herself singing more and more - bursting into |
| was so empty that it echoed due to the high ceilings, | | | | song with her sons and by herself. Apparently, the |
| hard wooden floors, and lack of furnishings. Even more | | | | separation of this couple was not entirely a negative |
| telling was that the husband and wife had never | | | | thing for both parties. |
| decided on what the room's purpose was. Was it a | | | | As for the bathroom upstairs, we immediately closed |
| place for a pool table? A couch? The kids' toys? An | | | | all the drains on the bathtubs and sinks. The toilet seat |
| art studio? A TV room? As they pondered the | | | | cover was to remain down at all times. Painting the |
| purpose of this large area, it became emptier and | | | | walls peach was another idea to infuse the area with |
| emptier until the day I walked through, when it | | | | love energy. In addition, Sally was to be on the look-out |
| contained a few boxes of toys, a folded up ping pong | | | | for objects in two's - two plants, two figurines, and |
| table and little else. | | | | images of two's - to increase the "coupleness" |
| Sally related the story of her marriage as one where | | | | potential of this area. We also discussed hanging |
| her husband slowly drifted away, spending more and | | | | crystals in the bathroom corners to raise the Qi |
| more time at the office. He began taking night classes | | | | quotient. |
| which took him further away from the family and the | | | | I left Sally with a large list of Feng Shui cures or fixes |
| home even more. When he was home, he was | | | | for other areas of the house and entrance way. She |
| studying, reading or distancing himself on the computer. | | | | appeared optimistic and energetic - excited to get on |
| Later she found out that he had become emotionally | | | | with her life and provide a stable and loving home for |
| involved with a woman in his office. | | | | her sons. |
| Whether the love/marriage gua became empty | | | | I'll check in with her a few months to see how things |
| because the husband was drifting or the husband was | | | | are going. |