The BUSINESS of Feng Shui in New York
I don't believe when Feng Shui came to New York it was meant to be ‘strictly business.' I don't believe back then ANY of us thought about Feng Shui as a ‘great way to make money,' or a ‘terrific business opportunity.' I DO believe that we did it because we were fascinated with it and after trying it, found out that Feng Shui WORKS.
When you're that excited about something you want to delve deeper and learn more. The more we could learn about Feng Shui (and continue to learn to this day1), the better we would be able to help our clients. The follow up letters and phone calls that follow a Feng Shui Consultation are sometimes nothing short of spectacular. People have received incredible new things that have come into their lives and they credit YOU and FENG SHUI with helping them attain heights they never would have believed possib
"These Days" were back in 1997 and sadly, Feng Shui has changed. As it grew and more and more Feng Shui Success Stories were told many others became interested in having a Feng Shui Consultation OR becoming a Feng Shui Consultant. A CERTIFIED Feng Shui Consultant.
There are still some wonderful Schools of Feng Shui that are licensed and accredited that offer Certification Classes but there are no standards on who can certify anyone. For example, someone can read a book (or two) on Feng Shui and declare themselves to be Certified Feng Shui Consultants. It's a scary and sobering thought that the meaning of Feng Shui and what it was intended for has become to some a money making BUSINESS.
I have seen these ads occasionally on the Internet. You can send in money, take a brief online course and presto! --- You're a CERTIFIED Feng Shui Consultant. Whether or not you are in New York be wary of booking a Feng Shui Consultant. Speak to them at length and find out more about their experience in the field. Someone who has been around for years is producing real RESULTS and is more likely to have had much better training.
THIS is what makes a Professional Feng Shui Consultant Shudder:
BECOME A FENG SHUI CONSULTANT IN 3 DAYS!!!!
F E N G S H U I
CERTIFICATE COURSES
Mon. Nov. 30 - Level 1 - Feng Shui Basics
Mon. Dec. 7 - Level 2 - Feng Shui Advanced
Mon. Dec.14 - Level 3 - Feng Shui Consultant
It's a sad thought: Feng Shui was intended to Inspire and Transform and now, in some cases has become just a business. Choose your Feng Shui Consultant carefully.
Carole Provenzale is the Founder of Feng Shui Long Island & New York, est. in 1997. She is a Certified Feng Shui Consultant from the first school in the Country that is licensed and accredited to offer Feng Shui Studies. Carole consults on site in Long Island including The Hamptons, Queens and New York City. http://www.FengShuiLI.com
For Feng Shui New York City - Manhattan Consultations http://www.FengShuiManhattan.com Laura Cerrano - Certified Feng Shui Consultant
You've completely spoiled me (and done a HUGE favor to your industry) by proving, through your blogs, that there is a dedicated thought process involved, which can NOT be achieved with a three day course. Feng Shui is all about interaction and understanding with a client- I'm not sure that the cheapening of your industry with a get-rich-quick scam will hurt you. I'm guessing that Feng Shui clients are more intuitive than that (and expect the same compassion from their designer)...
Hopefully, these new participants won't charge for the five minute consultation that it will take for consumers to identify a "fake"! :)
Carole, there's a lot of that going around these days, even for other industries/businesses. The online or correspondence 2-week-and-you're-certified, are a joke. (maybe a certified incompetent)
How can anyone learn anything that takes professionals years to learn?
I think we have to give people the benefit of the doubt, that when they set out to look for a feng shui professional, they will find people like you and Laura.
The 'Crackerbox Practitioners." Ah yes...like 'Certified Life Coaches' who take a super-pricey, super-short course and voila! Purported to straighten out someone's life. :)
Feng Shui is a practice so esoteric and ancient, it could not possibly be mastered in days or even years. I've been interested and utilizing FS since the early 90s but am as green as grass.
It sure is a wonderful art/science though. And BOY does it work!
You should post a list of interview questions for FS practitioners, Carole...it would do consumers a service.
Carole
I think Feng Shui is very fascinating; everything is cluttered around my area. Could Waukesha County use your help my friend.
Carole, it is the by-product of Internet. Almost anything can be done in a week and be called an expert. That's why it is so important to do researches and educate ourselves to find the real McCoy like you.
Carole -- About the only thing I would say that reading a Feng Shui book dod for me -- was help me realize what a truly valuable concept it is! As far as praciticing it, knowing a bit about the concepts has helped my in my daily life. BUT to actially consult about it - oh noI I am having someone like you do that for me. A good warning for the internet age. And too there are "therapists" out there who have no real training either. I would no more trust my psyche to them than I woul dmy home's energy to a three day expert!
Carole, consumers have to do their research instead of just going with the first person they called. I think some people can be lazy with investigating a person and just trust they are certified. I hope people will realize this more after reading your blog! :)
Feng Shui can change lives Carole. For a great practitioner like yourself, it is MUCH more than a business.
Carole -- Feng Shui is wonderful and it is too bad that some "fakes" may try to fool the public. Hopefully people check things out and locate professionals like yourself.
Hi Carole,
Welcome back! I've missed your blogs! Hope everything is OK and that you were just extra busy, resting, or on one of your wonderful trips. Carole, I would imagine that you have lots of referrals by happy clients who tell others about what a dedicated professional you are. It would be fun to be a fly on the wall and watch you at a consultation and how you interact with your clients-to-be! Unfortunately people will have to learn by hard experience if they don't do their "homework" when looking for a Feng Shui consultant.
Have a great Thanksgiving with your family, Carole!
Carole, you continue to illustrate a true practitioner in the art and science of Feng Shui. Maybe a few facts can be learned in a few days, but the depth of knowledge and years of practice and application of the art/science, cannot be purchased. A 3-day school for a license is Funny-Shui :-) Yes, some folks are just out there, clowning around!
Carole,
Feng Shui seems to bring balance in peoples' lives. I would love to have A CONSULTANT come and get my home straightened out. Hope all is well.
Sadly, the times we live in are opportunistic for anyone seeking to gain money in a hurry, for access on "how-to" is readily available via the Internet. The GOOD part, is that those seeking services have also become mini-private investigators prepared to do due diligence on the backgrounds. This is where YOUR credibility comes in, for you have outstanding references and available consumer credence through your blogs. There has and will always be those who have fraudulently "made-off" from bilking... but rest assured, eventually they will be exposed, while the genuine will remain.
Personally I think that there are businesses that need a better system for gaining a license, accreditation, ect. Real Estate is one of them!
Carole - there is always someone that will try and make money on something! I am with Candice and the Life Coaches - puhleeze..... I do believe that it takes a "Special" person to be a Feng Shui consultant and expert and NO simple class is going to give that to them. You, my friend, are a rare find and bring such a class and expertise to the field!
Carole,
I don't see how anyone could possibly become a feng shui consultant in 3 days! The public should be asking for credentials before hiring anyone, no matter what the profession is.
Jo
Carole - I really think that Feng Shui takes a special person to practice it well. I can look at your picture, and feel that you are in your element practicing it as your profession. People need to find ways to support themselves. The hope is always that they find their bliss when they do. . .When it isn't truly their thing, I don't think they do well!
Laurie, Thank you for the beautiful comment. Many people will call a Feng Shui consultant when they are dealing with difficult issues and they are looking to you for help. The people that take these "courses" are not going to be able to help anyone. I can't believe what I've seen over the years in this profession.
Sylvie, I know it is happening in many professions but it's SO sad to see this. Fact is you can never, EVER learn everything about Feng Shui and I have no idea what these places are creating by offering something like this.....
Candice, It DOES work and you're so right, you can never learn all of it. These people that "graduate" from one of these classes is likely to do more harm then good. As you know it's working with people's lives and they depend on us...these people are not going to be able to help them at all!
Tom, Decluttering is our first "rule" but there are so many more...and so many levels of Feng Shui.
Rita, Unfortunately when people see the word "Certified" they automatically believe it's from a good school and that someone has received the proper training. I don't know if they know to really research who they hire first.
Alexsandra, I know some people are more careful then others to check into a person's credentials but the fact is, most just believe whatever you write about on your website. Very few people ask to veryify anything and there is nothing on me they can't check out or have access to....but they often just believe what's on your site.
Jackie, Thank you, that's why I wrote it. There are different levels of Certification and it doesn't mean what it used to. Also, some people that are not "officially" certified have been doing Feng Shui for a number of years and are very good at it. I would think in hiring someone to check into their years of exerience in Feng Shui.
Gary, It IS so much more. I do wonder if the "schools" like this and people that run them know they can be doing harm...or if they care.
Joan, I do hope they check ANY "professional" out very carefully. It would save them a lot of grief over getting someone who doesn't have much of a clue what they're doing.
Bruce, I have been out of the rain because of some wonderful things coming my way...thank you for noticing I wasn't here :) I do have a lot of referrals at this point and it's not "business" I'm concerned about....it's the unsuspecting clients that fall for this. They really don't know to check out their practitioner.
Mara, It is more then disheartening to see this. I do happen to believe that what goes around comes around and people that give these courses...or take them and are not honest about their experience will not produce good results for themselves or their clients.
Debbie, Feng Shui does bring balance and other wonderful, often unexpected things along with it! I hope people find qualified consultants, there are many good ones out there.
Diane, Thank you, you are right. Eventually they will be exposed and it's so sad to see that this beautiful art has become just "MONEY" to some. It wasn't supposed to be, it was supposed to be about helping others.
Bill, I would agree with you on that one. Real Estate AND Feng Shui should both be held to stricter and uniform standards.
Leesa, Thank you. I am concerned for the many people who don't know and think one Certification is as good as another. There are NO standards in place on who can and cannot certify. It makes me wonder if people are now "certifying" themselves!
Jo, I agree with you 100% but they don't. If they ask for anything it might be a reference and let's face it, they can be calling your best friend that you give them as a reference. They need to check EXPERIENCE in Feng Shui is what I now believe.
Myrl, It's true, I don't believe they do well or they leave a bad feeling behind with their clients. It's just so sad that it's really invaded such a healing profession and become nothing but a business opportunity---at someone else's expense.
Hi Carole, I noticed that too and I think this is dishonest. It is impossible to learn a millenary philosophy in 3 days! I noticed that is common practice in United States. This country speaks "MONEY" (capitalism) and some people do anything to get more and more.
It is very important to check the background of any professional before you hire them.