Having watched Larry King last night, it was interesting to hear the critics of "The Secret," the motivational DVD of the century. Don't rely on it, you were warned. Many of us have for years and found out, it WORKS.
There are so many misconceptions about Feng Shui (and we work using the "secrets,") I thought I'd try to clear some up. What does the secret teach you? That you can have a life of prosperity and abundance in all areas, by setting Intentions, sending out good Energy and believing that it works. You must take actions as well or opportunities may slip by you that you haven't even looked into.
Why is Energy so powerful? This journey started when I became involved in Wholistic Health. People that were given a limited amount of time to live by their doctors or had chronic, disabling illnesses would come in to work with Acupuncturists, Chinese Herbs, Amma Therapy and Biofeedback. And I watched them as their attitude changed and they started to get well. Seeing and being surrounded by these people, I wasn't sure HOW it worked, only that it did. There was something to this Energy Healing.
It came as a natural extension to me that your surroundings, then could have a negative or positive impact on you as well; when you can't think straight and your mind is cluttered, it is likely your home or office is as well. I attended the very first Certification course on Feng Shui Studies and this is what I learned:
For the principles of Feng Shui to work (working with Energy and The Laws of Attraction), we had to change our clients thought process. To see things from a positive point of view, to teach them about Universal Laws and how the very energy of your thoughts can attract negative things back to you. It's a difficult concept for many because it is hard to take responsibility for your own life. But after speaking with them and reinforcing it, getting them to practice sending out positive energy, making some changes in their environment, they found it worked.
Many people still regard Feng Shui as simply a trend or a hoax. It's much more then putting a plant in your wealth area, it is about the Laws of attraction. We were taught that when you make a change in your environment, you can't simply make the change, it must be infused with Intention (or sending out what you wish to create back). That is what will truly create transformations.
Our number one principle? Clean up the clutter. Clutter relates to the mind as well and if you're not clear in your surroundings, you won't be clear in your thoughts or actions. Changing the flow of Energy might be moving the furniture around so that it has room to flow freely and not get "stuck." Using the Bagua, you can make simple and inexpensive enhancements in every area of your life to attract more money, a new or improved relationship, even better health and careers. Another misconception is that Feng Shui (A consultant and the changes) are expensive. They don't need to be at all; many of my clients can't afford expensive items and can get wonderful things at Bed, Bath and Beyond that address Feng Shui. We work with elements as well and they are: Fire, Water, Metal, Earth and Wood. Many of these items you already have in your own home, we seek to achieve a balance of the elements.
From a Feng Shui perspective, the front door and the path leading to the front door is very important, it is considered "The Mouth of Chi" where all good energy enters. What can we use there? Solar lights to line the path, a wind-chime, a welcome sign to grace people in and a small waterfall when you enter. We use plants for "life force" and crystals to diffuse energy and keep it flowing. Nothing expensive there. Some consultants can charge up to $900 for a consultation of a home......Feng Shui was never meant to be about money, it was meant to help people and transform their lives. Sounds like an overstatement, I know, except that I follow up with my clients (and oftentimes become friends with them) and I've seen what's it done in my life and theirs. So if someone is not Certified or is charging high prices, or instilling fear in people with "negative" Feng Shui they're likely not doing it for the right reasons.
We also use for homeowners a lot of the principles that Home Stagers, which I do as well, use but we use them from a different perspective. A bowl of fruit on the table does incorporate colors, more then that, it is a sign of abundance. Fresh flowers are pure life force and make people feel energized as well as incorporating the color Red, which is an enlivening and stimulating color.
Chances are if you're open to The Secret, you're already in tune with Feng Shui and don't even know it! Because there are so many books with so many methods, it is too confusing to follow and understand and apply to your life. But certainly getting a Bagua (you can print one off Google Images) learning where your wealth area (or career or relationships) and making a few simple changes yourself while infusing it with your beliefs of what you wish to create, wouldn't hurt. And just might help.
If you're staging a home, all of the above can be incorporated for very little cost and giving the homeowner a different perspective as well. With their energy and yours, the results can be amazing.
Carole Provenzale
While I'm here, does anyone have a CLUE what this is? 
The BEST ice cream in the World---Carvels, 1961
Cherrywood Shopping Center, 1961 -- Even back then parking was bad :) Gotta love the cars, though!
St. Francis Church, Wantagh, New York 1961 (Before it burned down and was replaced.
The Front Entrance Before and After
The Waiting Room, Before and After
The Hallway--A Palette of Colors
