Parapsychology. What a fascinating subject it is. When I first became interested in it I was at my local college, having enrolled in some psychology courses. We had our breaks at the same time as the parapsychology class and I found THEIR discussions much more interesting then OURS. The next year I enrolled and took two years of it.
The Rhine Research Institute used to have a place right here in New York City and I found it to be amazing using the strict controls and standards to measure such things as Telepathy, ESP, Psychic Ability, Remote Viewing (which was then called out of body experiences and near death experiences). And they found accuracy in many people.
Parapsychologists are sometimes called for what is believed to be a "haunted" house and they measure things such as electrical energy, photography and keep measurements for temperature control for "cold spots." They seem to be able to document that something is in a home or business depending on their findings but to my knowledge, they don't DO anything to rid the place of Spirit Energy. They often then call in a psychic or medium-all which can be a bit time consuming to say the least.
A Feng Shui Perspective is a bit different. We were taught to think of the LAND as well as the home or Business but not taught of "evil" spirits, just that some souls can get "stuck" on an early plane. Some are playful, some definitely DO scare you but in all the years that I have been called for this, I (thankfully) have never felt "threatened." We ASK (silently) for the predecessor energies to be on its way---rather then approaching it in the form of an "exorcism" which demands a spirit leaves..
For the outside we use a special blessing that is sacred having been passed down thousands of years and for the inside we use Sage. When I work with Realtors I suggest they ask their clients to sage the home they are trying to sell. We were also taught energy can "attach." For those of you who think this is outlandish or your clients will never "go for it" I wonder how many have buried a St. Josepeh's Statue upside down outside? Native Americans smudge a body with Sage to heal it, we use it in homes to cleanse it while protecting ourselves from any possible attachment.
It works. For many homes it only takes one visit and the occupants feel so much better as well as others who enter the space. The longest it has taken me was three visits-and then, after YEARS of these clients living with noises and being frightened by the TV turning itself off an on by itself, it stopped.
**Foo Dogs: Often used in Feng Shui for Protection
Some years ago people still were afraid to speak of it so they lived that way....not having their own "Sacred Space." Now they aren't fearful of calling....and no one thinks they're "crazy." Having your new home or business blessed can get you off to the best possible start-and you'll LOVE coming home at night.
**Carole Provenzale has been a Certified Feng Shui Consultant since 1997 and is the Founder of Feng Shui Long Island & New York. Along with Feng Shui Consultant Laura Cerrano, on site Feng Shui Consultations provided for New York City (Manhattan) and all of Long Island for Homes, Apartments, Businesses, Corporations, Renovations and New Construction. Workshops and lectures are also provided for small and large groups and companies.
Carole - very interesting the foo dog is something I was unaware of. Thanks for insight into the world of feng shui.
Carole, I learn something new from you all the time. I have heard of blessing houses with oil and the St. Joseph's statue but not the sage or the Foo Dog. Your field is full of knowledge and there is no doubt you are the expert.
Feng shui many realtors need to educate themselves therefore bonus points working with those clients, good luck with all we do.
That would FREAK ME OUT if the TV turned on by itself. I will have you on the first plane to Idaho if that happens here ! It's nice to know that someone can actually do something about it.
I actually have two set of foo dogs in my house. I admire their beauty and strength. Did you know the one in your picture is female?
Carole.and to think I know my very own "Ghost Whisperer"....very cool!
Carolwe
This still makes for an interesting ride.
Sincerely
Tom Braatz
Carole--There are so many of these beliefs in so many cultures that there has to be some truth to them. You are wonderful at explaining the energy and dynamics of Feng Shui so that it is easily understood.
Carole - this is very interesting. So you ask them to move on? What if they aren't ready? I'm asking for personal reasons, I need you to come to my house! Nothing scary, just definitely there.
Hi Carole ... Sometimes, a customer will just want to flee a home he is viewing ... he cannot explain it but will say "I could not wait to get out of there." and I always take this seriously. These are not homes that physically make you want to flee. I could not help but think of this while reading your post. I wonder how much of this feeling is a subconscious recognition of predecessor energy.
It happened again last Sunday. My customer told me that she had to get out of the house. She could not breath. It was a fine looking home, spacious and not old.
I have never had to go back to one of these homes, so I don't know if another person would react the same way. Very interesting!
Joan, Feng Shui has many symbols and uses for certain items, it's always interesting to me.
Gary, Thank you. Foo Dogs are for protection, these ones that I found are huge and they actually go inside the house :)
Lynn, I believe it would be a good idea to have some knowledge of Feng Shui for Realtors, it will certainly help in the coming years.
Pam, I've seen it...and the lights flickering and the doorbell ringing--except no one is there. It can be a little frightening at times but then again, it's VERY frightening for the people who live with it!
Rich, I wasn't sure, I knew that the paws on the two were differnent though. I have smaller ones inside the house but here would have to cement them in or someone would lug them off somehow!
Joan, Now you know who you would call :) I'm sure there are no ghosts in your house, only GOOD energy!
Tom, Thank you.
Teri, Thank you and you're right about all the different cultures. My client today was from Lebanon and I didn't know there is such a high interest in Feng Shui Principles there! I get educated from my lovely clients.
Chris, Usually with the Sage, they do....they don't feel that it's a demand but rather that you are there to help. That one house had excessive energy and I went back three times but it finally left and there was calm.
Marie, Some people are much more sensitive then others and they can feel something almost as soon as they step in the door. It's happened to me where I haven't been able to give a consultation until I have blessed....not often but it's happened. Usually I just feel heaviness.....
I just paid my first visit to Cassadaga (above Orlando) last weekend--have you heard of it? Historical Spiritualist community--pretty famous. We stayed at the old Cassadaga Hotel, reputed to be a site of some 'activity', but aside from the really great people I didn't have any strange encounters!
Interesting Carole - I have seen those Foo dogs in peoples homes and did not know until your post what they represented. Thanks for sharing this info!
Sincerely,
Grace
You are describing something I have felt in three different houses I've entered. In one, I could not get comfortable and could not wait to leave. I went back with a client, and he turned to me and said, "This house feels funny!" Another time, I felt a heaviness as if my body was being pulled to the earth, and it was a chore to walk. Quite univiting and quite unsettling -- some unhappy energy to be sure. That one, I never had to show, thank goodness.
It is common practice here to cleanse a home with white sage. It's common practice in the Catholic church to bless a home with holy water -- in fact, Catholics bless everything! Whether you call it a cleansing or a blessing, the positivity it presents is worth the ritual.
Carole: I find myself more and more intrigued by your posts. I have learned so much from you. I have personally experienced what Marie talks about in her comment above. Sometimes, there's just an anxious feeling to get out of a house for no obvious reason. Very interesting.
This is amazing. I enjoyed this post. I am experiencing some of the same things myself in the office where I work. I actually had the office blessed. I don't think it is any thing harmful but still all in all, it wouldn't hurt to try the sage.
Carole, I wish I had found you a year ago. I was blessed with a "second sight" or esp or a spirit guide or angels...what ever you feel comfortable with. This has saved my life several times. I "feel" something is going to happen and then it does.
Small example: My son-in-law was driving on to a piece of land he was making his homestead and he wanted me to see it. We drove in and my whole being was affected. I said, pull the truck back. He just looked at me and shut it off. I said, PULL IT BACK. He said why? I told him that tree was about to fall. We had a minor debate but as his mom-in-law he listened. I told him when he could stop.
We were walking over by the homesite and we were both looking that way and """"CCCCRRRRAAASSSHHHH"""...down went the tree. It would have smashed the truck. We both just looked at each other and he told me I was creepy!
I have many more stories...ugh. I call them my angels.
You are wonderful.
Later in the rain~Deb
Loretta, I have heard of it many years ago but I haven't been there. I did stay at the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego which is supposed to be "haunted" but I didn't feel a thing there (thankfully :)
Grace, I actually think they're kind of cute---but yes, they are for protection.
Elaine, You're right, there are many different types of blessings or clearings....in Feng Shui the longer you are learning (which for me has been forever :) there are special blessings as well...for almost everything you can think of including lawsuits, health and many other things. And special forms of protection.
Donna, I have felt it and so have my clients. One client had just went to closing and got the keys, went to her new home and she told me it suddenly felt awful. She called me literally the day she moved in.
Laura, The Sage won't hurt a bit, it is not only used by Feng Shui Consultants but by Native Americans and many other cultures across the globe.
Deb, I defintely believe in Angels and that's exactly what I call them as well. I will get very strong feelings on rare occasions but I don't believe I have ESP -- I actually believe the things that come to me after a consultation from a client are because of the energy exchange. You definitely are being watched over!
I wish I would have had a Foo Dog last week, I could have used it ...LOL. You didn't think I was going to miss your posts did ya?
Hi Carole,
Very interesting post as was your post before this one. I too, believe in spirits, I try to believe only in the good ones and not in the bad ones.
Foo Dog is pretty darn cute!!
Fernando, you are missed here in the rain. And thank you for your special effort to sign on and say hello!
Trace, They are not all that cute, some are downright scary! I don't like them, it makes me not want to go near the building!!