With all your Heart - find out more about all kinds of partner love and family

Feng Shui Design Inspiration

Where does your Feng Shui Design Inspiration come from?

My girlfriend, who started as a client my first year in business, and I were discussing style changes when I was helping her move recently.

“It’s crazy how your design style shifted once you moved.” She said

“Crazy.” I giggled as we shift her decor from cottage beachy to modern shabby chic.

“What was the inspiration for your major transformation? Was it your new house?” she asked as her decor shifted around her new kitchen glass mosaic backsplash.

“No, it was the round coffee table I bought off Kijiji for $60.00 months before we even put the old house up for sale. I had a vision of what I wanted in a floorplan and knew that the coffee table would be perfect for the space.

It had been a round dining table that was re-envisioned as a coffee table. It had already been distressed, saving me time and energy. The gal I bought it from shared her distressing method of which inspired all my DIY furniture refreshes.

Still in the old house, I then found the dining room set for $350.00 with the china cabinet, hutch and 6 chairs. I painted and distressed everything besides the dining table before the old house even sold. It stayed in the garage until we moved.

I literally found a home that would house the coffee table and the dining room set!” lol

The inspiration truly is my family. I wanted a home that would be perfect for our Sunday Family Dinners and be within walking distance to my grandchildren. As we were downsizing, the floor plan had to be open with lots of light. We wouldn’t even look at a house that faced north or had small windows.

The round coffee table is grandchildren friendly. It’s easy to walk around without the risk of bumping against sharp corners, and I have space to tuck little chairs in around the edges so the wee ones can colour and play at the table.

I love hearing “Grampy, will you play playdough with me, please? Can you please make a Gruffalo?” This is what home feels like.

P.S. I know that an area rug anchors a room. But we have 3 small dogs, and they think an area rug is house grass. So for now, in this season of life: we live with no area rug. lol

Bridget Saraka is the owner and creator of The Living Essence of Hybrid Feng Shui® Lifestyle. With over 20 years experience Bridget has and continues to assist countless clients from across the globe onsite and distantly. Read more about Bridget.

Article/Image Source: Feng Shui Design Inspiration

6 Bedroom Feng Shui Tips for Sleep and Support

Feng Shui Tips, With all your Heart

Why is the bedroom important?
Your bedroom is where you spend a significant amount of time – 1/3 of your life in fact! It’s the space that rejuvenates you and where you rest. This is also the room that is closest to your body and the most intimate. It is closely connected to your health and also to your Partnerships, no matter where it is located within the home. The bedroom is intended for two things only… Rest and Romance! Anything not related to these two things should be placed elsewhere in your home.

Tip #1 Make your bed daily
You would not come into a luxury hotel and appreciate or expect to see an unmade bed. Making your bed signals a fresh start to the day and welcomes you at the end of the day with a sense of peacefulness.

Tip #2 Ensure you have a solid headboard and foot board
Solid headboards provide support and backing for you in your life, within your business and with your health. They also help couples feel supported by one another.

If you have a headboard that is slatted, remedy this by weaving scarves or material through the headboard slats or placing material behind it. One of my clients hung a cherished quilt over her slatted headboard and immediately felt more supported and slept better!

If you do not have a headboard/foot board, purchase one or for a temporary fix, you can paint a headboard on the wall or paint the wall behind the bed a different color than the rest of the room. Another quick fix I used in a temporary living space was to hang a sari or scarf behind the bed to act as a headboard.

Tip # 3 Clean out under your bed
Make sure there is nothing under your bed as things and clutter under the bed relate to emotional baggage or communication breakdown. The items under your bed can also cause sleep issues. I had one couple storing some things under their bed. She was sleeping fine and he was not. Under his side of the bed, they were storing a relative’s relic gun! If you must store other things under the bed, make sure they are soft things like blankets or clothing.

Tip #4 Revamp your vision wall
You vision wall is at the foot of your bed. This is the last thing you see before you go to sleep at night and the first thing you see in the morning. One of my clients had her work task list posted on that wall! Can you imagine the stress you would feel if this is the first and last thing you saw before you went to sleep? Instead, place a painting or artwork on that wall that inspires you (and your partner). Ideally this would be a restful piece of artwork to bring you to a place of peace at night and in the morning.

Tip # 5 Remove bookshelves
Bookshelves or piles of books in your bedroom is not only very heavy energy, it’s a lot to think about – consider all of the words in those books swirling around in your head while you sleep! Having a book or two on your nightstand is fine. However, move the rest of your books out of the bedroom. One great idea is to place a bookshelf in your closet. That way, you have quick access to your books from the bedroom and their energy is contained.

Tip #6 Remove TVs and electronics
TVs and other electronics and electrical wires present several energetic issues. TVs are a “black hole” that suck energy; and TVs, electrical wires and other electronics also generate electromagnetic smog, which can be harmful to your health.

I recommend either removing the TV from the bedroom (preferred) or covering it while you sleep (a beautiful fabric throw can be used for this purpose.) Electronics (such as electrical wires, cell phones or Ipads) should be kept at least 18” from the bed.

Create an oasis in your bedroom and this will soon become your favorite room. You’ll feel more relaxed, calmer and more rested every day which positively impacts every other area of your life!

Article contributed by Kim Julen, IFSG Membership Director

Kim Julen, founder of Finding Your Fiji, is a dynamic thought leader, writer, entrepreneur, speaker and shift master. She provides unique tools, guidance and courses to bring harmony to your head, heart and home. Read more about Kim.

www.FindingYourFiji.com

Attracting Love and Partnership with Feng Shui

With all your Heart

Love and Partnership Tips from Carole Hyder The partnership gua is the upper right corner of the bagua and it is used to call forth love, a romantic partner, enhance a current relationship or bolster self confidence. IFSG member Carole Hyder tells us about a time when she activated this gua to benefit herself.

Recommendation/cure/advice:
Place an indoor-appropriate wind chime in the Partnership area of the bedroom to “call in” a partner.

Back in 1992 when I was first studying Feng Shui with Professor Thomas Lin Yun, I hung a wind chime in the Partnership area of my condo. I wasn’t calling in a partner as much as counteracting a bathroom and laundry room that was located in that area. I rang it occasionally as it was a sweet, small bell that had a beautiful sound to it. In the meantime, I offered this suggestion to several of my clients as well and, as attended 3 weddings as a result.

It wasn’t until I was moving out of my condo a couple years later, with the man who was to be my husband, that I realized he and I had met 90 days after I had hung my own wind chime. Even though it wasn’t my main focus, it worked anyway. I still have the bell and the man is still the love of my life. Now when I ring it, I ring it with gratitude.

Carole Hyder is an internationally recognized consultant, speaker, teacher, author and trainer in the field of Feng Shui. Carole has been a Feng Shui consultant since 1992, having studied with His Holiness Grandmaster Thomas Lin Yun, Her Holiness Crystal Chu Rinpoche, and Roger Green. She founded the Wind and Water School of Feng Shui in 1998.

Children and Creativity Gua – A Classroom Case Study

On the Job, With all your Heart

Learning is a lifelong journey but to enhance a child’s creativity is extra important to ensure that they will always enjoy learning especially in the classroom. IFSG member Julie Pelletier-Rutkowski outlines how she enhanced the Children and Creativity gua for a client with favorable results.

Children and Creativity in the Classroom, Julie Pelletier-Rutkowski

Julie’s client was a returning young middle-school reading teacher who was filled with angst about the upcoming school year. She wanted assistance with arranging her classroom for positive chi flow and support for both herself and the students. She identified three issues:

administrative pressure to return students’ work in a timely manner;
distracted students in the classroom unable to focus and prematurely approaching her desk with questions related to the assignment;
stress over difficult students with known behavioral concerns joining the class.

During the visit it was clear that her client had many challenges for the upcoming school year. The focus was primarily on the placement and location of the furniture. We discussed the color scheme and “decorations/art work” in the room and trying to separate yin and yang space; yin space for the students to learn, and yang space for the students to grow.

First, the client’s desk was moved the front corner facing the students to behind the students. She could now watch the students from the back of the room. They created a wide path from her desk to the front of the room, where the blackboard was located. This solved the issue of uninterrupted time to correct papers and return the students’ school work. When students were assigned quiet work, the environment encouraged students to stay on task decreasing the amount of time students were at the teacher’s desk. Lastly, the desk was intentionally placed in the Children and Creativity gua and specific students’ desks in the most helpful and supportive gua; children with family issues in the family gua, students with learning issues in the skills and knowledge gua, and students with health concerns in the center of the room.

The result was quite positive and came quite quickly after implementing the changes. Her client particularly noticed that using the ba gua proved to psychologically/emotionally beneficial. And by keeping a clear walkway to this new “safe area” (desk area), and she retreated there periodically, the students remained calm and most of them stayed on-task.

Children and Creativity in the Classroom, Julie Pelletier-Rutkowski

Julie Pelletier-Rutkowski, MS, RN, is owner and principal consultant for Feng Shui Services of New England. She writes, educates and consults about balance and harmony using the Western principles of Feng Shui. Julie has been called the “home care nurse” because she works to heal homes, offices, and workplaces. Read more about Julie.

Summer time Feng Shui

Landscape and Gardens, With all your Heart

Summer time is the perfect season to ‘Feng Shui’ your home and garden.

According to Essential Feng Shui®, being in Nature, up close and personal, turns UP the supply of energy that sustains your vitality, loving relationships, and an overall sense of well-being. Essential Feng Shui® also gleans wisdom from Chinese Medicine, relating summer time with laughter and heart-centered activities. Tis the season for projects that are fun and collaborative, and that deepen your connection with Nature.

Summertime Feng Shui with Terah Kathryn Collins

Community Garden by Carolyn Kates

A COMFORTING EMBRACE
A great place to start is to assess how your home is situated on the land. Feng Shui, literally translated as “wind and water,” focuses on your safety, comfort, and happiness. To assure these qualities are literally held in place, homes are ideally located where the elements of wind and the water are not too close and not too far away. These ‘just right’ sites include a protective embrace of natural features such as mountains, hills, or trees around the back and sides, and a beautiful view of water from the front. Open your Feng Shui eyes and take a look at how your location corresponds with these guidelines.

Clearly, the location of most homes doesn’t fit this description. You may live on the edge of a cliff, atop a hill or mountain, or in a canyon or lowland. It may be the opposite of an ideal Feng Shui configuration, with a big hill in the front that blocks incoming Ch’i and a pool in the back that offers little protection. Relax. The good news is there are many ways you can capture the essence of an ideal location. And, the more your projects are fun for you and your kids, family members, friends, and neighbors, the better!

For instance, throw a potluck party with close friends and plant evergreen plants in your back yard together. Eat, drink, and make memories while adding a natural backbone of protection to your home. Create your own little ‘barn raising’ by inviting the neighbors over to help install side yard foliage or fencing, followed by a barbeque. Neighborly collaboration increases a comforting embrace around your home in more ways than one. Involve your children in choosing and planting ornamental or fruit trees to define a property line. The fruit and flowers of your labors will nurture your family and enhance your sense of safety, comfort, and beauty throughout every season.

Don’t have any land to play with? There’s still plenty of things you can do to enhance your location. Houseplants, screens, art depicting Nature, and window treatments can be arranged to promote your sense of security, comfort, and beauty indoors.

Summertime Feng Shui with Terah Kathryn Collins

Photographer: Unknown

A WATER VIEW
Water is classically located in front of a house to increase the energy flow into your home. When you don’t already have a water feature in your front yard, you can add one via a birdbath, fountain, urn, pond, stream, pool, or waterfall.

When choosing a fountain, select one that flows 360 degrees around, like many fountains in plazas and courtyards. Or, install a waterfall or fountain to face toward your front door, directing the flow of Ch’i into your home. Most kids love water, making it a fun Summer project to find and install the water feature with them.

No front yard? Consider placing a small water feature or aquarium in your foyer or entry area. When there is space for it, create your own mini-garden by including plants or flowers in your design.

Please note that any water feature requires maintenance. While a bird bath or fountain takes a few minutes to maintain each week, a stream, pool, pond, or aquarium may require hours. When choosing a water feature that’s right for you, consider the time that you or a hired professional will need to keep it fresh and beautiful. Once you’ve made a choice, enjoy your water view, knowing that it is a timeless Ch’i enhancement, prized for uplifting and nurturing all aspects of your life.

Looking for more ‘fun shui’ Summer projects? Here are 9 more ways to enjoy yourself:

Grow food! Integrate veggies and fruit trees into your garden design; fill planters with edibles; and team up with neighbors to grow and harvest food together.
Include bird feeders, plants having berries and flowers that birds and butterflies love, and other enhancements that encourage helpful creatures to visit your garden.
Design an gracious path to your front door that includes points of interest, such as statuary, wind chimes, a water feature, or seating.
Create a fabulous view outside every window and door. Be creative!
Design curvy meandering pathways, patios, and borders to compliment the straight lines of your home’s architecture.
Create aesthetically pleasing and organized storage areas for trash cans, tools, and garden supplies.
Plant protective landscaping in the front of your home when it’s located on a busy street, at the end of a cul-de-sac, or at a T-junction.
Include very comfortable outdoor seating where you can relax and enjoy your surroundings.
Install plenty of lovely lighting to enhance the safety and enjoyment of your handiwork.

Summertime Feng Shui with Terah Kathryn Collins

Photo by Amy Chini

Remember, the fun, laughter, and camaraderie you enjoy sows Good Ch’i into everything you do. May your Summer time projects remind you of great times with lovely people for years to come!

Terah Kathryn Collins is a best-selling author and the founder of the Western School of Feng Shui®. She is also the originator of Essential Feng Shui®, which focuses on the many valuable applications Feng Shui has in our Western culture while honoring the essence of its Eastern heritage. Read more about Terah.

Feng Shui for the Way You Love

With all your Heart

Feng shui design serves the mind, body and soul by increasing energy in appropriate spaces – like offices, fitness areas, and social areas of the home. Bedroom feng shui, by contrast, incorporates energy in the space differently. Read more from Feng Shui Professional, Samantha Shields.

Samantha Shields, Feng Shui Love, Bedroom Feng Shui With intuitive bedroom feng shui design, the master bedroom serves as a restful retreat, conducive to serene sleep and enriched with romantic allure. Unfortunately, since this area is often kept behind closed doors unseen by visitors, it tends to be the most forgotten and neglected room of the home.

Setting the Scene

Bedroom feng shui creates an enticing ambience that offers benefits such as:

Promoting restful sleep
Increasing feelings of security
Improving focus and concentration
Supporting recovery from heartbreak or sorrow
Encouraging the development of a new relationship
Stimulating intimacy and romantic connection
Providing a personal sanctuary
Revitalizing your energy daily
Eliciting positive emotions
Inspiring your creativity
Rest and Rejuvenation

Samantha Shields, Feng Shui Love, Bedroom Feng Shui Bedroom Feng Shui design pays special attention to our natural need for rest, rejuvenation and deep sleep.

Sleep is a basic physical requirement necessary for self-preservation, giving us the strength and clarity we need to survive, thrive and flourish each day.

Feng shui takes into account the complex nature of our human needs – fulfilling our most basic requirements and supporting our aspirations for future achievements. In the bedroom, feng shui design helps us gently disengage from our daily activities and stresses. It allows you to peacefully slip into the sanctuary of your bedroom to bring back balance to your body and mind. Bedroom Feng Shui also encourages you to create habits of self-care to nourish your body and soul.When you feel well rested and refreshed, you are more able to share yourself enthusiastically with your partner and the world.

Rekindle Your Relationship

If you feel your current relationship has lost its “spark,” bedroom feng shui design can help you create an intimate space where you can rekindle your romantic connection. The loving relationship that is supported in the bedroom is positively affected by furniture arrangement, color, romantic enhancements, sensual comforts and personal mementos.

Treat your bedroom as a sanctuary where positive communication is encouraged and your physical and emotional health are nourished each day.

Design for New Love

Feng shui wisdom teaches us to open our hearts and clear our minds to make room for new opportunities. If you are single and looking for a partner, allow your bedroom design to reflect an openness and readiness for a thriving relationship. Prepare for love by creating a space designed for two instead of one.

Healing a Broken Heart

If you have experienced a breakup or other personal loss, bedroom feng shui adjustments provide supportive healing energy as well as inspiration to move forward and invite happiness.

Samantha Shields For more than 20 years, Samantha worked as a sales and marketing professional. Though she enjoyed professional success in her career, she had a desire to pursue a more creative path. Through a love of decorating she discovered Feng Shui and began incorporating it into her life. Read more about Samantha.