Thinking about a post for tonight I was wondering if I should relate one of my true "ghost" encounters in a home. It's All Hallows Eve, after all, the perfect time to tell one. But it's not one of them, instead it's (what else?) a Feng Shui Post....on VOICES. Something I have not covered before and a topic I feel is important that I don't believe many people are aware of.
We literally have hundreds of principles in Feng Shui and this story relates to ME in MY house and what I have learned----which is part of the reason I practice the way I do. There was something that had bothered me for many years in my home and although I've tried to look up the history of it, I can't find it. I do know it was built by early Dutch settlers on Long Island and that my block is named after the man who built it. There is a tiny burial plot on my block that is dedicated to him and his family (oddly enough placed right next to a house!). There were originally two exact same homes built at the same time, mine and my neighbors right next to each other in the same exact style. They are cottages, actually. An inline ranch which goes from the living room to the dining room to the kitchen. The original homes had two bedrooms and a bathroom off to the side.
So what's so "off" about my home? It's DOORS. There were doors everywhere. The entrance door, of course which leads into a "mud room" (door) which goes to a coat closet area (door) which went into the living room (door). From the living room to the dining room were two double doors, from the dining room to the kitchen was another door, from the kitchen to the back mud room yet another door. If you wanted to go to the bedroom/bathroom area you had to pass through yet ANOTHER door. This isn't taking into account the "normal" doors like the ones for the bedroom, pantry, basement or bathroom.
Since the house is over a hundred years old I could only speculate that they were trying to close off spaces for heating; not a very good theory since my living room does NOT have a fire place. The doors remained up but bothered me, I felt claustrophobic. Finally I went to school for Feng Shui and was surprised to learn that in the Black Sect Tradition of Feng Shui, the doors are considered VOICES. And an important principle to look out for. For example, two door that open together and hit or bump into each other are considered in Feng Shui as "Arguing Doors." This can lead to arguments with everyone from family to co-workers to friends. There is a blessing for this and while working with clients when I see it I can give it to them.
But MY doors, what to do about so many? The first teacher I had taught both Black Sect and Compass Methods and I asked if I could remove some of the doors. The answer was a flat "NO." I had children living here and they might felt as if they weren't "being heard." By removing the doors I would be removing their voices. The second teacher taught Black Sect only and I asked the same question---to another resounding NO. They were built into the house for a reason and were to be left, pretty much for the same reasons the first teacher gave.
My third teacher taught us "Western" methods of addressing Feng Shui issues without compromising Feng Shui Principles. What he taught during class made SENSE to me; you didn't have to renovate (which some people were told to do for different reasons such as finding your Bathroom in your WEALTH area); it also gave me another perspective to Feng Shui. I finally asked him whether I could take the doors down and he looked directly at me. "How would YOU feel about it?" he asked. I was amazed, would I have a say in such deeply rooted Feng Shui Principles. "I feel that it would open up the house" I told him and this is what he said:
To practice true Feng Shui, he told me, the further along you go the more situations you will come across. And while they may LOOK the same, your clients will all be different. The more ways you can look at one situation will help you be the best practitioner you can be. Gain different perspectives, see things in EVERY light before making a recommendation. And don't forget to acknowledge what your clients think and feel.
Take down your doors, he advised me and put an acknowledgement up that they were there. A tiny wind chime, a small Red Ribbon, something that shows you have appreciated it but it's time to let go. (This is something, interestingly enough that our other mentors had told us while having to remove a tree, for example). And see how you FEEL. It will not remove your children's voices or cause any harm; you must feel in harmony with your surroundings.
I did take them down and I did feel as if the whole house opened up. I watched the kids carefully for any signs that it may have affected them but they were just the same. Many people ask me if combining both Black Sect AND Western methods "compromise" a house. I don't believe it does, not for a second. It gives a blend that takes away fear and gives inexpensive solutions to Intentionally solve a Feng Shui dilemma.
Sadly, Western methods are no longer being taught, to my knowledge along with Black Sect and Compass methods. I was fortunate enough to gain some very valuable insights into how to blend a combination of all the best.
Your Feng Shui posts are always interesting and enlightening. What a delightful way to resolve your door dilemma and open up your house. You have so much knowledge and share it with us in a wonderful manner.
Carole, I wonder who came up with the western methods?
I also wonder what the implications are of putting french doors back up that had been taken down years earlier by a previous owner and left in a garage gathering dust and dirt?
A house I owned (one of the three haunted dwellings I've lived in) had various energy beings and a lot of angry energy. I don't know if the doors had anything to do with it, however I remember a wind chime that I had hung up right in front of the french doors (that we had put back up between the living and dining rooms after finding them in the garage) suddenly beginning to swing violently one time...in the middle of winter with not a single window open and no breeze in the room whatsoever....
I froze in fear and just sat there watching as the entire chime, including the main part, swung so hard that it would hit the ceiling on every swing. Perhaps the doors should never have been put back up.
Very interesting post.....reminds me of a website put out by a psychologist called 'voicelessness' and talks about 'voice' loss in children.
I'm glad that you were able to open your home up and were then able to feel more comfortable in it.
((-:
Jo
Wonderful insight and expressed so well.
I was under the impession that it (Feng Shui) is about how your surroundings make you feel and how that affects how you live?
I would think that doing something that frees your Spirit...would be the right thing to do!
Candy, Thank you! I got a valuable lesson that day and always try to "see" things from many different perspectives and it helps so much.
Cynthia, Thank you for your comment. I still love this work which is probably why I'm always writing about it :)
Jo, Thank you for your comment and the link. I do not know, unfortunately, exactly how Western Methods came into being but I do know the forerunners of them who were International Speakers on it were Terrah Kathryn Collins and William Spear (to name just two). Incorporating these methods allowed it to become practical for all those who couldn't afford to renovate their homes due to issues. My doors were stored downstairs (and escaped damage thankfully), and I did later add one back on with no "repercussions." It was cleaned and newly painted to go along with my kitchen "makeover." I can't speak for your own home (which was an angry spirit you said) but I don't believe the activity it showed had anything to do with the doors. I would have been terrified as well but although I've been in many homes that have "unusual" energy, I have never had to live in one. I have been in clients homes where they are doing renovations and taking down or adding doors, I have never heard (although I do ask and explain the belief) about children so it's something they are aware of. Interestingly, the client's that I've had to have actual "voice issues" felt to me that had resulted from years of having to keep quiet, both were apparently abused as children and could never speak. It seemed like later they manifested into physical issues.
Michael, Thank you for stopping by and commenting!
Katerina, Thank you, my home has felt so much better since then I was glad to get verification from someone that is was ok to remove them. I know you love your home and don't think you would have liked the feeling, either.
Joan, You would think so. Many of the principles are "strict" to me and that was one of them. Giving me the advice to see things in different ways and speak to my clients was extremely helpful to me all these years.
Lisa, No, I don't personally believe it's "bad" but I don't practice from a negative point of view. Everyone is unique and while it may be something to watch for with children, you're instinctive enough to know how it FEELS. There is, unfortunately some "Feng Shui Fear" where I have clients tell me they don't want to touch a thing until I get there because of something they've read in a book. Feng Shui in ANY form was never meant to instill fear, it was meant to inspire and create good feelings and energy.
Carole: What did your teachers tell you about the relationship between children and doors? I have been taught that doors affect communication and relationships, but had not heard that they specifically relate to children.
Thanks for sharing this!
Diane, Does your sunroom have three doors to go outside or inside the house? I find that a little odd as well unless it was for design or easier access? Thank you for your comment, wish I was more help!
Lizette, Maybe they just built old homes with many doors? I honestly can't figure it out for this house, if it had a fireplace I would think it would be for warmth but there is none--yet every single room was blocked off from the other by a door. Happy Halloween!!
Dan, Thank you, you can actually see them in client's homes and know there some kind of arguing going on, even if it's not in the family. There is a blessing or some people decide on pocket doors.
Robert, No, no book...yet. But it's something I'm considering; more of an E book. Thanks for stopping in and commenting.
Deborah, We were taught that specifically children will feel as if they are "not being heard" or "lose their voices" when you remove doors. Every Black Sect teacher mentioned that (and I'd bet we had some of the same ones). So I watched them very carefully but they were fine.
Candace, Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I have worked with this so long it's second nature to me.
Diane, Put a little tiny something up to "thank" the door for it's use although it's no longer needed. I use tiny red ribbons that can't even be seen or a little windchime. And good luck on your new home!!
Carole- I am not surprised at all to read about removing doors and children becoming 'voiceless'. When I was going through my very sassy pre-teen years, running through the house and slamming my bedroom door, my dad finally got through to me by threatening to remove the door from the hinges! Trust me, I quickly learned better methods of communicating.
Jackie
Jackie, That is too funny! It shut you right up :) Thanks for a great twist on this.
Diane, It's a good idea, to use some sage. I use only pure sage instead of the ones that are mixed; I don't know if it's personal preference but I love it.
Donna, Thank you so much, I am glad you have an interest in it. I was surprised that so many people had not heard of it, it's very popular here finally!
Deborah, I'm curious if you happen to see this as to what you were taught about the doors?
Tom, Thank you for the lovely comment. I am hoping to inspire some people who may not have used it to try it :)