Feng Shui to the Rescue Newsletter
Helping you attract wealth, harmony, love,
and much more.
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March 2023
Working From Home
The day before I wrote this newsletter, I taught a "Feng Shui for Your Home Office" webinar in celebration of Telecommuter Appreciation Week. It's always difficult to perfectly time these newsletters to address all seasonal topics, so when you read your copy, we might be past this celebratory week. I think it takes more than a week to appreciate how much our working life has shifted, especially during the past three years. I've been working from a home office since 1988 (yes, that long!). My first home office was a walk-in closet that had the three things I needed to launch my first business: a window, a light fixture, and an outlet. I cleared the shelves and moved out my clothes, brought in a desk, chair, Mac, and a laser printer, and took the leap. Look where we have all come now in terms of working from home in a variety of hybrid arrangements! While we may have a love-hate relationship with Zoom or Teams, now we have many options for staying in touch with colleagues and clients. But, of course, having a home office is not without its challenges.
Long-time readers know what I'm going to say next: Feng Shui can come to your rescue!
March is that perfect transitional month to audit your home office with your "Feng Shui eyes" and make some changes. Even a few small adjustments will help. If nothing else, see if you can find a way to turn around your desk so you sit in command position, or find a way to move it out of the bedroom. Trust me, there's usually another option for these two workplace recommendations that you are overlooking. That's why my main article this month is about working from home. I also answered an office question I received from a workshop participant that I've never received before in the almost 25 years I've been practicing. This month's success story shows how making some of these changes brought unexpected results.
Hybrid working is here to stay, so let Feng Shui help you make the best of it! On my website, I'm offering my special "Home Office Room Rescue" service to help you revitalize your home workspace in March. Also new this month on my site, I've added media articles that highlight my Feng Shui work, including “Why You Should Leave Your Bathroom Door Closed, According To Feng Shui,” “5 Ways to Balance Your Office with Feng Shui.” Check out these and other new articles on the Media page on FengShuiForRealLife.com.
Happy March! The daffodils and crocus are starting to poke their heads up around here. I hope it's beginning to feel like spring where you are, because we are all ready for it!
Carol M. Olmstead, FSIA
Feng Shui Master Practitioner
www.FengShuiForRealLife.com
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Feng Shui Tip for March
10 Work-From-Home Tips for Success
1. Sit (or stand) in “command” position. That is, face toward the room entrance door, preferably on a diagonal. If you can’t turn around your desk, hang or place a mirror so you can see what’s going on behind you.
2. Think like Goldilocks and choose the right size desk. A desk that is too small can make you feel like you are not up to the challenge of your work. A desk that’s too big symbolizes feeling overwhelmed by tasks. An unsubstantial desk will limit your opportunities for growth and promotion.
3. Sit in the most comfortable chair you can afford. Many companies embrace hybrid working and offer chairs and other equipment that employees can bring home. It doesn’t hurt to ask and take advantage of available options.
4. Keep work out of your bedroom. Try to find another space for your home office, like in the dining room if you rarely eat there, or in an infrequently-used used guest room. If there is no other place for you to work, separate out your workspace using a floor screen, standing plants, or a curtain hung from the ceiling as a divider.
5. Adjust the art in your workspace. Choose images that make you feel inspired, motivated, and calm. Get rid of anything you no longer like, and avoid art that’s dark, empty, lonely, or depressing, no matter how valuable or how much you paid.
6. Add a living plant. The ideal location for a natural plant is within 3 feet of your desk to balance any issues from electromagnetic energy. Silk is acceptable if you can’t grow plants, but avoid dried flowers because they symbolize dead, unmoving energy. Also avoid cactus or other plants with sharp spikes.
7. Accent your workspace with color. Choose accent colors to match the bagua areas of your workspace to enhance your career path. You can map these areas by downloading a bagua to match the shape of your office from the Basics section of my website, FengShuiForRealLife.com.
8. Add current photos. Display photos of mentors, family, and friends who support you. It’s okay to display photos of deceased relatives who were mentors, but balance these by also displaying current photos of you and/or your family to show continuing growth.
9. Lighten up your home office. Locate your desk as close to a window as possible, and choose full-spectrum or warm-glow bulbs that simulate daylight, rather than cold, blue-white bulbs. Avoid overhead fluorescents, and if you still have those harsh corkscrew-shaped CFLs, its long-past time to get rid of them – carefully, because they are full of mercury.
10. Tune in to tune out distractions. Play music or use a white noise device or app in your office to drown out any distractions from inside or outside your home. This is a good time to rethink your playlist and choose more soothing sounds to balance any work-related chaos.
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Where Your Have Clutter, and What It Could Mean
Even in our digital world, paper still seems to pile up everywhere! In Feng Shui terms, clutter represents postponed decisions and the inability to move forward. But even more important, where you accumulate clutter has great symbolism. Studies show that of all the things we keep, we only reuse one item in 20. That means most people "pile" rather than "file," cluttering their spaces with things they never use. Feng Shui principles suggest that when you remove clutter, you open up the flow of positive chi into your home and workspace, and consequently into your life. And you just feel better. Here are a dozen common clutter locations and what they could be revealing about hidden aspects of your life:
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Entrance of Your Home: Fear of relationships.
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Closets: Unwillingness to examine your emotions.
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Kitchen: Resentment of care-taking.
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Next to Your Bed: Desire for change or escape.
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Under Your Bed: Fear of relationships.
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On Your Desk: Frustration, fear of letting go, and need to control.
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Behind a Door: Detachment from others.
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Under Furniture: Concern with appearances.
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In a Basement: Procrastination.
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In an Attic: Living in the past.
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In a Garage: Inability to reach your potential.
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All Over: Anger and low self-esteem.
Got clutter? Take my Feng Shui Clutter Challenge: Clear the clutter from one drawer, one closet, or one room today, and tomorrow watch what good things flow into your life to take the place of all that mess. Send me your success story, and I'll share it in a future newsletter.
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Ask the Feng Shui Maven
Q: I sit on a ball at my desk in my home office. In your webinar you mentioned getting the most supportive chair you can afford. How does this advice apply to a ball?
A: I've been practicing almost 25 years, and this is the first time anyone has asked this question! I'll have to included it in my next book. The goal of Feng Shui changes is to help you achieve balance and harmony. In the case of sitting on a ball, let's focus on the balance part of that goal. If your core is strong and you feel steady and supported sitting on the ball, I don't see any negative Feng Shui aspects. But, if you find yourself wobbling or "rolling around" during the day, leaning over your keyboard, or if you end the day with muscle aches and neck pain, I recommend finding a comfortable desk chair as an alternative. You can always take short intervals during the day to switch out the chair and balance on your ball.
Q: Is it OK to save the dried flowers and ribbons from my wedding bouquet? I keep the bouquet on my dresser, but we've been married for 5 years and the flowers are really starting to crumble and make a mess.
A: I often hear from people who want to hold on to their dried wedding bouquets or dried rose from their first love. I'm as sentimental as anyone, but dried flowers are considered dead, negative energy in Feng Shui, especially when they become unattractive. If your wedding bouquet is crumbling, it's turning into negative chi. An alternative is to save the bouquet ribbons in a scrapbook or keepsake box, and let go of what's left of the flowers. You'll encourage growth in your marriage by displaying living flowers or plants on your dresser instead of a dried bouquet.
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A Converted Skeptic!
Janet participated in one of my "Feng Shui for Your Home Office" webinars and put this question in the chat: “I moved my desk to face the window because I liked looking out at the back yard.This puts my back to the door, but you recommended a desk should be turned to face the door." I suggested she try moving the desk back to the original, command, position. After the session, she immediately made a few important changes in her home office, and saw immediate results. Even small results show that Feng Shui changes are helping change the flow of energy in a positive direction.
Here's what Janet wrote:
I was really skeptical when you suggested I turn the desk back to where it was located. But, combined with your comments on clutter and getting rid of what doesn’t make you happy, I knew I had to try and see what it would look like. I had a worktable in my home office that was always a cluttered catchall, which wasn’t my intention for it. I realized it was a source of stress for me each day to walk in and see that mess, because it seemed I never had time to address it. Yesterday, right after your webinar, I got rid of that table and turned my desk around. It feels like my desk and workspace are brighter, even though I’m not in front of the window. It does feel like I'm in command and can tackle anything in front of me. I did angle my desk as you suggested so I was still facing the door and could also look out the window! But all of that is not exactly what brought it home for me. You also told the story of turning your desk around and you got a great contract signed within two weeks. Well, this is not as awesome, but I did win a small amount on my lottery ticket last night! Same night as turning my desk around. So,you have converted a skeptic. Thank you for a great presentation. I’m going to try and keep going with each room!
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Enhance Your Space!
The Feng Shui Fixer series includes one-of-a-kind creations that are designed as simple, beautiful, and real-world Feng Shui "cures" and adjustments. These art pieces can be placed in a specific bagua area of a home or workplace to fix a Feng Shui issue, or to attract wealth, harmony, love, and much more. Hang them on the wall, in a closet, near the washer, or on the back of your computer monitor to block any negative energy. You can display one or a collection of them on a table-top easel. Place them anywhere you need to activate a Feng Shui Element.
Each unique Feng Shui Fixer starts with an imported vintage silk kimono textile. Then, it is embellished with embroidery floss, silk ribbon, vintage or new glass beads, natural stones, or charms. There are florals, geometrics, abstracts, and freestyle! Each framed design includes a small mirror on the back that symbolically pushes away any negative issues and attracts positive energy.
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Feng Shui Fixer of the Month - "All Fired Up!"
Didn't get what you wanted this Valentine's Day? Looking for a partner, or need to rev up the love you already have? Need to "fire up" your career? You will unlock the power of the Fire Element when you display this powerful Feng Shui Fixer in your home or office! This design includes all the Fire Element colors: red, orange, purple.
Title: "All Fired Up!"
Target Issues: Power, Passion, Excitement, Romance
Feng Shui Element: Fire
Materials: Silk ribbon and glass bugle beads on imported vintage kimono silk textile
Size: 6" round, framed and ready to hang or display
Give a Feng Shui Fixer as a gift to family, friends, or yourself!
Regular Price: $65
ONLINE SALE PRICE: $55+S&H
Shipping to the US only at this time.
Click on the title below to for details or to order.
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SPECIAL OFFER:
Feng Shui Fixers work best in groups of three so they can be arranged in the triangle shape that represents wealth, abundance, and power.
Choose any three Feng Shui Fixers and receive a 10% discount on your total order, and a copy of 52 Feng Shui Tips for Balance and Harmony in 2023.
You must contact Carol directly to activate this special offer. Click on the link below.
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Feng Shui Quick Guide for Home and Office: Secrets for Attracting Wealth, Harmony, and Love
Own the award-winning Feng Shui book that is practical and easy to understand. The book includes easy-to-follow basics plus tips and secrets to make the practical magic of Feng Shui work for you. Sprinkled among the tips are success stories from real people who followed them with big results. The book includes a tip-a-day calendar so you can make small Feng Shui changes each day.
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VIRTUAL CONSULTING
When you have Feng Shui questions about your home, office, or business that go beyond the basics, this virtual consulting option is for you! I will customize advice for the way you want to live in your home or work in your space. We'll schedule a Zoom to answer your questions and help you rearrange your space, shift your energy, and transform your life.
All sessions include:
- Review of photos or videos of your space.
- Consultation by Zoom.
- Personalized Feng Shui advice and guidance.
- Follow-up coaching check-in so you stay on track.
CHECK OUT SOME OF THE OPTIONS:
Ideal for the room where you work, either at home or at the workplace.
It's your choice—ask about any room, any situation, any clutter-clearing problem, or any issue that needs Feng Shui help.
Perfect for any room in your home, condo, or apartment.
Email Carol for current fees and to schedule.
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"Finding Work-Life Balance with Feng Shui
The new way of working is here to stay. Employees are continuing to work at home, returning to the workplace part time, or experiencing a combination of both. This hybrid experience is different for each member of the team. The good news is that a few real-world Feng Shui tips can help you achieve balance between your personal and work lives. For almost 25 years, I have inspired diverse groups ranging from 5 to 500 with my in-person workshops. Now, I'm offering customized versions of these presentations via Zoom. I have taught thousands of clients, readers, and students the simple secrets of using Feng Shui to improve their lives and careers, and now I can teach them to you and your group virtually.
The "Feng Shui for the New Workplace" series of webinars is specially designed to meet the needs of the new hybrid workforce.
All my webinars include customized training that I create to meet the specific needs of your organization, office, or group. Your webinar will be customized to show each team member how to make Feng Shui “go to work” for them. They will learn how to rearrange their space, shift their energy, and achieve calm in this rapidly-changing world. In this fun and informative session, I share simple and often low-cost tips for using Feng Shui to transform both a home and workplace office. There will be plenty of time for questions.
I will customize the webinar for your group, and a typical session includes:
- Group Icebreaker
- 5 Power Principles
- 8 Transformation Tools
- 10 Top Tips
- Unlimited Resources
- Q&A
People are talking about Carol's Feng Shui Webinars for the New Workplace!
Thank you so much for hosting such a great presentation today. We’ve received really positive feedback from everyone, and I’m so happy to know there are small steps I can take to really feel more comfortable and positive every day.
– EG, Operations Manager, Washington, DC
Thank you again for the webinar yesterday. We got great feedback and tons of excitement around it. We hope to have you back sometime soon.
– AJH, Senior Manager, New York, NY
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Feng Shui for Your Office
Take a look at the video I did for the "Interview with the Experts" series for Interior Motions, a custom office design firm in California. I share tips for bringing Feng Shui into any office. I also talk about the Five Power Principles of Feng Shui, how any office can implement these principles to increase productivity, and what you should avoid doing when arranging an office. And of course, I talk about avoiding clutter in the workplace.
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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 make at home to grow your career or business. You'll learn six amazing tips to 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 Classes:
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.
FengShuiForRealLife.com 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.
©2023, Carol M. Olmstead
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