Feng Shui Tip for May

Feng Shui can come to the rescue by helping create a feeling of safety, security, and sanctuary at home. This can help you reduce stress and maintain good health. Here are some things you can do in your home and workplace to boost your health:

While closets and cabinets quickly come to mind when you think of the words “clutter-clearing,” other areas are easy to forget. Writing for Real Simple, Katie Holdefehr suggests you pay attention to these seven clutter categories almost no one remembers to declutter. Well, no one remembers except Feng Shui practitioners, that is! Of course, I've added my Feng Shui spin to these great recommendations:

1.   CDs, DVDs, 8-Track Tapes, and Records. Depending upon what decade you grew up in, you may have a collection of CDs or vinyl records lying around. If you no longer own the required player – or haven't dusted it off in years – it's time to move out these collections. Unless you can immediately sell these, the Feng Shui recommendation is to donate or recycle them because they continue to be clutter as you wait for them to sell.

2.   Books. This one is big for many of my clients. Books are such personal belongings that even the mere mention of decluttering a book collection elicits an emotional response. But typically, I find my clients hold onto a large number of books they will never open again. Do old college textbooks, how-to manuals, novels you will never reread (like that copy of Les Misérables you promise to finish) fill your shelves? If so, take a critical look and sort out anything you know you'll never read again. Donate books that are still relevant and in readable condition to libraries or schools, and recycle outdated printed materials, like an old phone book you haven’t thought about in years.

3.   Candles. If you are gifted luxury candles on every birthday and switch out scents with the seasons, you may have more candles than you know what to do with. Sort through your collection to keep any candles with ample wax remaining, then remove the wax from the rest, and recycle the glass jars. Again, it's better to donate these jars and containers instead of storing them “just in case” you might need them later.

4.   Liquor Cabinet. Since many liquors are shelf-stable, it's easy for your liquor cabinets to escape decluttering. First, look for any bottles that may have gone bad. In general, cream liqueurs last less than two years, and opened vermouth lasts up to a couple of months. For shelf-stable distilled liquors like vodka, rum, or tequila, evaluate what you actually drink. If there are bottles you haven't touched in many years, consider gifting them.

5.   Jewelry Box. Many of us didn't wear much jewelry during the pandemic. Now that we're out and about again, some pieces just don't feel right or are out of style. Sort through your collection to find pieces you no longer wear, and donate or sell those in good condition. Make sure heirlooms you'd like to pass down are properly stored, protected and insured.

6.   Old Tech Devices. Maybe in the same cabinet as those dust-collecting DVDs, you'll find old flip phones, a VCR, or an old, klutzy laptop that you can't boot up. Part of the problem with tossing out these antiquated tech devices is knowing what to do with them. Check out Apple, Best Buy, and sites like GreenDisk about recycling options, and search for non-profit sites that reuse old cell phones.

7.   Travel-Sized Toiletries and Cosmetic Samples. If you're a long-time reader, you know my recommendation for this category: Don't bring these samples home from your trips, and don’t request them, even if they are free with other cosmetic purchases. If you already have a collection under the bathroom sink, decide which ones you will actually use, then recycle or donate the rest to a local nonprofit that you know has a use for them.

These questions are a few of the many I answered in the "Health & Medical Issues" section of Chapter 7 of my book, Feng Shui to the Rescue.

Q: We have a couple of pairs of crutches and canes that have served us at various times when we’ve had torn ligaments and the like. I realized that I might be storing them in the Health/Wellbeing sections of the bagua in my house. Short of getting rid of them, is there a cure for keeping old medical equipment in your home? My husband doesn’t want to get rid of them because of the replacement cost if we ever need them again.

A: The Feng Shui symbolism of keeping these mobility aids in the house is that you expect to need them in the future. Therefore, the recommendation is to move these out of your home, because keeping them sends a negative message. Donate them to a nonprofit, sending them on the way with the affirmation that you’ll continue to be healthy, won’t need them anymore, and that you’ll be taken care of in the future. If all else fails and your husband won’t let them out of the house, wrap them in red cloth or red paper and store them out of sight in a closet.

Q: Is it possible to Feng Shui a hospital room? I’m scheduled for surgery and want to know if there is anything I can do to make the environment conducive to healing?

A: First, use the bagua map to locate the Health and Grounding areas of your home. Then, remove clutter, dead or sickly plants, and anything that doesn’t look healthy or whole from that area. Display lots of bushy plants with rounded leaves, and other green and wooden objects, along with images of healthy growing things, like meadows or forests, in this area. For the Grounding area, add some rocks or ceramic objects and images of mountains to give you a solid base. In your hospital room, surround yourself with sweet-smelling flowers and plants, and avoid sharp plants like cactus or stunted plants like bonsai. Display photos of your family and friends who support you. Bring upbeat reading material—no murder mysteries or horror stories, please. Play soft, pleasant music on your mobile device so you don’t have to deal with unpleasant hospital noises and conversations. If you can, bring your own nightgowns or PJs rather than wearing those institutional ones. I’m sending positive chi your way for a speedy return to good health.

Q: My question concerns a friend who is getting injured a lot and can’t do her regular exercising. The injuries don’t happen while she’s working out, but when she’s just walking or doing normal things during the day. When I asked what she has in her Health area, she said that her apartment was pretty bare and needed help figuring out where to make changes. My first thought is to put a couple of living plants there, but I defer to your awesome knowledge!

A: Of course, the first thing your friend can do is consult a medical practitioner. Then, from a Feng Shui perspective, you can help her use the bagua to locate the Health area, plus pay attention to the Helpful People and Grounding areas as well. Next, help her clear the clutter and remove anything that’s broken, malfunctioning, or cracked. She should avoid storing in these areas the crutches or other medical devices that she needed when she was injured. She can add plants or images of lush, growing plants with rounded leaves in these areas, and obviously no cactus, other spiky plants, or bonsai with their stunted growth. She can add Earth to the Grounding area in the form of images of mountains or earthy things, like pottery, clay, and terra cotta objects.

I've been practicing Feng Shui for almost 25 years, and one thing remains constant: the top three issues people ask me about are attracting Wealth, Harmony, and Love. Here's a reboot of three of my favorite Success Stories about the "Big 3."

I have collected many success stories from clients and students who follow one of my favorite Feng Shui tips: "At the beginning of the year, buy a new red wallet to help attract wealth." This is a symbolic step to attract new sources of wealth. Jesse had been experiencing financial difficulties when I gave her that tip.

Mirrors are sometimes called the "aspirin" of Feng Shui, but like aspirin, mirrors should be used sparingly and only as needed. When a mirror reflects something that is not appealing, it can symbolically double it. One of the issues my client Leslie faced was feeling overwhelmed by the household chores that were distracting her from spending time with her family.

When I walked into Laura's L-shaped home it was obvious that the Love/Relationship area was missing. Divorced for many years, Laura was more than ready for a new relationship but it wasn't happening for her. I explained how the missing area related to the love that was missing in her life. Then I helped her mark the missing corner of her house with a pair of red ceramic flowerpots that she had been storing in the basement, and suggested she plant red geraniums in them. Some time later, I received a positive e-mail from Laura.

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.

Need to feel grounded, balanced, or secure? This is the Feng Shui Fixer for you! This simple but powerful design is all about the Earth Element colors - yellow for the sun, and brown and terracotta for the earth. Display it in the room in the center of your home to activate your Earth Element energy for grounding, or anyplace where you need a sunny lift.

Title: "Reaching for the Sun"

Target Issue: Grounding, Security, Harmony

Feng Shui Element: Earth

Materials: Cotton floss, silk ribbon, and glass beads on imported vintage kimono silk textile

Size: 6" round, framed and ready to hang

Regular Price: $65

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 also offer this and other training on a one-to-one basis for individuals. Check out some examples on my website.

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.

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.

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! 

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. 

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. 

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.