simple shui | a beginner's guide

during a recent purchase, a sales associate inquired about my profession.

i replied, “i am a feng shui consultant.”

(long pause)

“ummm. i don’t know what that is, i guess,” she said.

“it’s kind of like move your stuff, change your life,” i offered.

“oh! i think i know what you’re talking about. i didn’t realize that could be a job…” she continued.

“it is, and i am,” i laughed.

we continued discussing it further, and before i left, she asked for my information.

this impromptu Q & A prompted me to explain feng shui in a way that you, my readers, know precisely what it is.

i’ve heard countless definitions over the years, and i have chronicled and developed a few favorites.

so, next time you mention shui (and maybe this blog!) in conversation, here are a few simple and excellent descriptions…

feng shui is environmental metaphor. think of it as a language of metaphor. everything in your environment is speaking right now. and those things reflect where you have been, where you are, or where you want to be in a few years.

feng shui is a different language for good design.

feng shui is acupuncture for architecture. it allows us to shift and mold our environments to better support our intentions and goals.

feng shui is a design system focused on achieving inner and outer balance and harmony.

feng shui allows us to see the connection between our environment and self-empowerment.

feng shui uses BIG PICTURE wisdom and intuitively incorporates it into an environment.

whether i offer grand sweeping suggestions or advise small shifts during my consults, the premise is always the same. shui efforts, big or small, become the servant of your intentions. our thoughts are powerful, but results come when we engage them with specific actions. and when your home or space is fed with intention, there is a healthy interplay of energy working genuinely for you.