Feng Shui to the Rescue Newsletter
Helping you attract wealth, harmony, love,
and much more.
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January 2020
Happy New Decade!
I
t's another new year and I'm using another new template for my newsletter. The service that distributes this for me declared my previous template to be a "legacy," and required that I create a new one.
With so many readers using their mobile devices to open and then read their newsletter,
it made sense to create something standardized that would work on different mobile apps. But, I'm stuck on the definition of "legacy" as something that's no longer valid. As we enter a new decade, are you thinking about your legacy from the past 10 years?
I've been thinking about my Feng Shui legacy as I make major changes to my practice starting this month. The big news, as you know from my last issue, is the publication of my latest Feng Shui book,
Feng Shui to the Rescue: Rearrange Your Stuff, Shift Your Energy, Transform Your Life!
I've answered more than 400 questions in this book, shared 30 new Success Stories, and offers 24 sets of "Fast 5" tips to help you avoid problems in the first place. Adding that to the hundreds of questions I answered from my clients, students, and readers in this decade alone
—
well, that's a living legacy that makes me smile. I like to think that I've played at least a small part in bringing the practical magic of Feng Shui to you.
What are my New Year's goals for 2020? I don't make resolutions or promises, instead I make affirmations. For Feng Shui, those include getting this newsletter back on a monthly format, holding more
Modern Coping Skills For Women
workshops, and doing more off-site
Room Rescue
consultations. I love these consults because they help my clients quickly experience the power Feng Shui through simple changes in critical areas of their home or workplace. And they're fun and low stress. I'm also planning a video project based on the new book. I'll share more about these later in 2020.
Many people described 2019 as a dark year, so in the coming year I'm committed to bringing more light into our world through Feng Shui. What are your affirmations for your 2020 living legacy? I hope they include making some Feng Shui rearrangements so you can shift your energy for the positive
—
and transform your life!
Happy January! I wish you a prosperous and legacy-filled year (and decade) to follow.
Carol
Carol M. Olmstead, FSIA
Feng Shui Master Practitioner
www.FengShuiForRealLife.com
PS:
For this new template, I'm using the font and photo size recommended as the "sweet spot" for reader visibility no matter which device you use to open it. On my laptop it looks great, but on my iPhone it looks huge. Feel free to
email
and let me know what you see on your device so I can keep adjusting the template.
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Attract Prosperity in 2020
One way to attract wealth and prosperity in the new year is to find the Feng Shui "prosperity place" in your home and add the appropriate objects and colors according to Feng Shui principles. Our surroundings have a powerful effect on what we attract into our lives. When the energy around us is blocked or unbalanced, our prosperity, health, and relationships can be adversely affected. This is especially important when that blocked energy is located in the area related to wealth and prosperity.
You can use the Feng Shui
bagua
to map your home and find your prosperity place and make adjustments. Stand at your front door looking into your home and hold the bagua in front of you. The Wealth/Prosperity area is the upper left hand corner of your home. If that room is neglected, cluttered, or empty, your prosperity will be restricted and negatively affected. If that room is clean, neat, and filled with objects and items that make you feel prosperous, that is exactly what you will attract into your life. Here are some specific ways to improve the “prosperity place” in your own home.
Is your kitchen in the prosperity place?
Food is associated with wealth in Feng Shui, so display a bowl of oranges or red apples on the counter to symbolize prosperity. Keep the kitchen clean. The more burners you have on your stove, the more prosperity you attract, so either hang a mirror behind the stove to reflect the burners, symbolically doubling them, or place a shiny teakettle on the stove to reflect the burners.
Is your bathroom in the prosperity place?
Keep the toilet lid down and the door to the room closed so you are not symbolically “flushing your wealth” down the toilet. And to keep the water in this room from “washing away” your wealth, add a red object to represent the Fire Element or a brown object to represent the Earth Element and symbolically “dry up” the excess water.
Is your garage in the prosperity place?
Clear the clutter so you can actually park cars in there. Store only those items that you actually use. Paint the walls or decorate them with the colors red or orange. Hang posters or prints with images that feel wealthy and prosperous near the door that connects the garage to the house.
Is your living room or family room in the prosperity place?
Display your valuable objects in this room to symbolize wealth, such as crystal, valuable collections, fine art. Add healthy plants in beautiful pots to symbolize flourishing wealth. If your plants die, replace them immediately with healthy ones to keep your wealth growing.
Is your dining room in the prosperity place?
Food and guests are associated with wealth. Hang a mirror that reflects your dining room table and you will symbolically double your wealth. Keep valuable items like crystal, silver, and china in the room to represent the continuing accumulation of wealth.
Is your bedroom in the prosperity place?
Hang artwork that depicts water, such as rivers and streams. Water represents the flow of abundance, so be sure that the water image in your art is flowing into your room. Art that shows water flowing out represents prosperity leaving your home.
Is your porch or deck in the prosperity place?
Choose high-quality outdoor furniture for this space, and keep it here during all seasons. Grow red or purple flowers in red ceramic planters during the growing season, since plants and flowers represent abundance. Hang a wind chime, flag, or bird feeder to attract chi to your home.
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9 Things to Throw Away
Nothing lasts forever
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your electronic devices become obsolete, your pillow goes flat, the cutting board gets scratched. There are a lot of things like this in our homes that we ignore. CNET published a list of 49 things that you should replace right now because they make your home unsafe. I'm sharing 9 examples that add to your clutter problems:
- Wire hangers in your closet. There’s a reason these things are free—they’re horrible and don't keep your clothes in shape. I think they secretly mate in the dark and multiply. Get rid of them or return then to the dry cleaners, then invest in a set of matching thin-style hangers.
- The fire extinguisher that came with the house. Fire extinguishers remain useful for five to 15 years, but check for dates on the inspection tag. If your fire extinguisher looks like an antique, it's time for a new one.
- Plastic containers with that mysterious haze. If your plastic food containers are cloudy, warped, or scratched, they could be harboring germs that could make you sick.
- Aging ice packs. After years of keeping your food nice and cold, old ice packs can crack ad leak chemicals into your lunchbox.
- Your pet's plastic bowls. Scratches from your pet's nails or teeth can act as a breeding ground for bacteria.
- Old ice cube trays. Some old trays could be made from plastic that contains a chemical called bisphenol A, also known as BPA, which can leach into food and liquid and be harmful to humans.
- Expired sunscreen and insect repellent. If your sunscreen has separated into an oil-and-film suspension and shaking it doesn't help, it's time for a new bottle. Typical mosquito repellents don't last longer than 18 months.
- Baby bath toys. That rubber ducky could be home to some ugly stuff. Bath toys that let water get inside can grow mold, drug-resistant Legionella, E.coli, and listeria.
- Worn-out surge protectors. After years of use, these can overheat, or lose their surge-protecting abilities, leaving your devices vulnerable to serious damage, or becoming a fire hazard.
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Q:
I’m doing a major renovation of my master bedroom. I love the idea of decorating it in only black and white. But, I’ve been reading a lot about Feng Shui colors and now I’m thinking it’s not such a good idea. I don’t sleep well as it is. What do you think?
A:
Black and white, a combination of the Water Element and Metal Element, will be too sharp of a contrast and high energy for your bedroom.
Black is considered the color of a void, and for some people it’s associated with fear and dark energy. White is considered a cold and hard color. The combination of the two
would contribute to your sleep issues rather than solve them. Instead of black and white, I recommend choosing neutral or skin-tone colors ranging from ivory to mahogany for your bedroom. For interest and to encourage romance, you can add accents in Fire Element colors, like red, orange, and deep purple.
Q:
Is it possible to have good Feng Shui in a laundry room? Mine is in the basement and it’s small, drab, and dim. It only has one hanging bulb for light. I hate going into it so I let the laundry – dirty and clean – pile up. Can Feng Shui help?
A:
You know I’m going to give you the expected advice to keep clutter out of the laundry room. That usually involves adding more storage so you can put away the laundry detergent and softener, and adding a table so you can fold laundry as an encouragement to put it away as soon as it’s dry. But, I understand that doesn’t always work in a small space. Instead, try decorating your laundry room. Use the bagua map to determine the Element for the location of your laundry room, then hang art that activates that Element. Look for art that’s fun and upbeat, maybe even whimsical. Also, upgrade the lighting. At the very least, find a fun covering for that solitary light bulb.
Q:
I’m moving into an apartment with a balcony, which I’ve never had before. Are there any special Feng Shui tips?
A:
Avoid overcrowding your balcony, and don’t store broken or unwanted items out there. Grow bright flowers in colorful planters in season. Be sure to check your planters after a cold winter and replace if they are cracked. Avoid growing spiky cactus or pointed-leaf plants on the balcony since they could repel any positive chi that’s trying to flow into your home. Sweep the balcony frequently to get rid of dirt and dead leaves. If you have an unattractive view, place tall plants in the corners to hide it.
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Alice and Jim Move Forward
Alice and Jim were living in a house in need of updating. Jim had inherited it from his grandparents, but the couple had made few changes in the nine years they’d lived there. When their last child left for college, they decided it was time for a serious Feng Shui makeover that included renovating and redecorating. One issue was their family room, which was lined with built-in shelves on three walls. Not only had they accumulated a lot of unnecessary stuff, but these tall shelves were hard to clean and were coated with dust and cobwebs near the ceiling. I explained that cobwebs represent being stuck and unable to move forward. The heaviness of the shelving weighed down on the room, and its sharp edges pointed at the couple wherever they sat, making it an uncomfortable space. These edges are called
poison arrow
s that represent harsh energy pointed at you like an arrow aimed at a target. No wonder they couldn’t relax in the room!
Here’s what Alice wrote:
I am happy to report that we finally took down all the built-in shelves in the family room. It was a lot of work and took a lot of repairing, but the room immediately looked bigger, better, and cleaner. We gave the whole room a coat of paint in the warm color you recommended. As you know, Jim was having trouble with his supervisor, and as you pointed out, the room is in our Future area. The very next day after we finished repainting, an announcement came out that Jim’s boss was transferring to another division and Jim was being named director. Was it cause and effect? I don’t know, but we certainly lightened the heavy load aimed at us, and an unexpected promotion came our way. I’m thinking it had more to do with Feng Shui than with luck. More of your recommended Feng Shui changes are planned, and who knows what else will manifest in our lives.
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NEW!
Feng Shui to the Rescue: Rearrange Your Space, Shift Your Energy, Transform Your Life!
My new book includes more than 400 answers to the questions my clients, students, and readers have been asking for the past 20 years. These are new
Q&A
, in addition to those I answered in my first book, and they're arranged by room, by topic, and by situation. I've also included 30 new
Success Stories
and 24 sets of topic-specific tips I'm calling
Fast 5
that are designed to help you avoid problems in the first place.
The book covers the most-asked topics, like these and more:
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Love
(finding it, losing it, finding it again)
*
Wealth
(making it, keeping it)
*
Harmony
(maintaining it, especially at holidays)
*
Clutter
(tidying it up)
*
Careers & Business
(finding jobs and clients)
*
Mirrors
(placing or removing them)
*
Bedrooms & Beds
(encouraging sleep)
*
Real Estate
(buying or selling a home)
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SPECIAL SALE!
Feng Shui Quick Guide For Home and Office: Secrets For Attracting Wealth, Harmony, and Love
This is my award-winning book that includes easy-to-follow basics plus secrets to make the practical magic of Feng Shui work for you. This practical and easy-to-understand volume includes success stories from real people who followed these tips with big results. I've also included a tip-a-day calendar with 366 tips (there's one for leap year) to help you attract wealth, achieve harmony, improve relationships, advance your career, and clear clutter every day of the year. As a bonus, there's a month-by-month guide to clutter clearing.
This book is the
perfect gift
for everyone on your list: clients, colleagues, family, friends, and you. Plus, it's a great way for real estate agents to say "thank you" to sellers and to welcome buyers to their new home.
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Off-Site Consultation
Do you have one room in your home or an individual office that needs a special Feng Shui rescue, but you're overwhelmed and don’t know where to start? This off-site
Feng Shui Room Rescue Consultation
is for you. This
low-cost
service is designed to help you rearrange your space, shift energy, and transform your life.
For Your Home
- Is your guest room accumulating too much stuff?
- Does your bedroom need a relationship rescue to rev up your love life?
- Is your kitchen or dining room table so cluttered that you can’t serve a meal?
- Are the kids’ rooms so disorderly you close the doors and try to ignore the chaos?
- Is your family room so crowded with video games or toys that there’s no place to sit?
- Do you have a tired, overcrowded room that needs a fresh outlook?
For Your Office
- Is your work space so cluttered you can’t find files when you need them?
- Is your cubicle or workstation cold and impersonal?
- Is the furniture and art sending the wrong message?
- Is your home office intruding into your personal life?
- Do your spirits dip when you enter your office instead of soar?
- Are you moving into new space and want to make sure your business succeeds?
If you said “yes” to any of these questions, or if you have a space that is driving you crazy but you don’t know where to start, the off-site
Feng Shui Room Rescue
is for you.
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Modern Coping Skills for Women Workshop
Using art, mindfulness, and Feng Shui to find inner calm
Looking for calm in a chaotic world?
This small-group workshop is for you!
Join Feng Shui Master Practitioner
Carol Olmstead,
and Clinical Mental Health Counselor
Nancy Olson
as we help you distance yourself from negativity, clear mental clutter, and achieve inner peace. The workshop takes place in a beautiful, healing setting and includes a gourmet lunch option.
You'll learn how to:
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Identify your own "energy vampires"
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Distance yourself from negativity
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Reinvigorate your coping skills
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Use the support of friends and community
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Experience art as healing
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Create a Feng Shui home sanctuary
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Enjoy the power of place as relaxation
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Thrive despite troubled times
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Develop a positive worldview
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Find guilt-free self-care strategies
Participants are talking about the Modern Coping Skills Workshop:
Love the space to talk about my current situation. Carol and Nancy were fun and direct and were clear in their presentations. I felt inspired to clean & create and review my personal space.
Enjoyable - educational and well presented in a safe environment.
I enjoyed hearing ideas for how to keep calm. I loved hearing the others’ stories.
Register for yourself, or schedule a custom workshop for your group!
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Grow Your Business with Feng Shui
My 90-minute, self-paced video course includes tips for activating the Career/Work bagua area, along with simple changes you can make in your home that will advance your career or business. You'll learn six amazing tips that will help you create a space that supports you and your business. Watch as I use Feng Shui principles to conduct a hands-on transformation of a client's workplace and create a dynamic home office that opens the door to success.
People Are Talking About Carol's Videos and Podcasts:
Carol, you're a rock star! I loved listening to the
podcast
of your interview with
"Law of Attraction Talk Radio with Jewels,"
so I took your class. You continue to be an inspiration to me and have forever changed the way I arrange each home I've lived in since I first heard you speak in 2012. Keep up the good work!
--GO
I took your class and watched several of your
videos
. Excellent! You have an absolute warm and welcoming approach. No wonder you are so successful.
--CW
This
video class
is nothing short of a delicious treat for your career. I loved it! Great practical pieces of advice. Well-taught in a fun, inspiring way.
--RW
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Did You Know?
Carol M. Olmstead, FSIA,
is certified by the
Feng Shui Institute of America
and earned Red Ribbon Professional Status from the
International Feng Shui Guild
.
Articles in the
Feng Shui To The Rescue Newsletter
are copyrighted, but can be shared with credit to
Carol M. Olmstead
as author and link to
www.FengShuiForRealLife.com
.
Feng Shui for Real Life, LLC
, and the
Feng Shui To The Rescue Newsletter
serve as a reference and guide for the principles of Feng Shui and as such bear no responsibility for results that a client or reader experiences. Individual results may vary based on the client's participation and intent.
©2020, Carol M. Olmstead
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