Greetings to all the new newsletter recipients and for those of you who have been with me for the long haul! I've been having fun working on my house this month, ...how are you doing with yours?

My husband, being the handy guy that he is, just removed our rear patio overhang which was built too low (giving it a very heavy feeling on the head) before we moved in. WOW! We knew it would make a big change on the house but we cannot believe how much the chi in our house has changed! It's like we can finally lift our heads up high! We're popping up the porch over the front door and re-roofing too. The roof, attic and top of buildings in general are linked to the head, mind, thought processes of the people who live inside. I can't wait to see what kinds of life changes result from this rather drastic change to the house's head!

Hey, if you want to "get the cob webs out of the old noggin'," you might want to consider sprucing up the roof and attic of your place!

For those of you new to my site that have not figured out why so many feng shui books contradict each other I'm going to say it once again (because I get this question e-mailed to me all the time!) There are many styles of feng shui, just like there are many styles of pasta, many modalities of healing, and many styles of architecture. So, just like there is no right or wrong pasta or architecture, there is not right or wrong feng shui. They are all intended to help you better your environment; they just take different paths to get you there.

Some styles of feng shui use a compass, some don't. Some consider your birthday, some don't. Some say your door must face East, some say South, and some don't care which direction it faces. None are right, none are wrong.

The style of feng shui that I most speak of in my book is the Black Hat Sect Style of feng shui. It happens to be one style that does not use a compass or birthdays or "care" what way your door faces. But that does not say that the other styles are wrong - just different! And my advice for those searching for the right style for them is to:

Get an intuitive feel of a style, and if it resonates with you, use it. If it feels creepy or funky for some reason, don't. Some people's homes are so already set up for one style, it would be a shame not to choose the style that it is so close to mimicking already. But if you only know of one, no big deal. Just give it a go. My personal advice is to not mix and match styles unless you know what you are doing.

I have studied many styles of feng shui, and I use bits and pieces of many of them as I feel the need, or if the house is totally set up for it, but for the most part I work with the Black Hat style because I get the best results from it here in North America where most of my practice is located. I will quote the 1917 Encyclopedia of China's definition of feng shui to help you understand why I made this comment:

"FS is the art of adapting residences of the living and dead to cooperate and harmonize with the local currents of the cosmic breath."

Professor Lin Yun, the Grand Master of the Black Hat Style, literally created this version of feng shui to work with the "local currents" here in the West. So, with that said, use what style feels best for you.

Perhaps you come from a culture where a particular style of feng shui was used. I might consider using that one for you since you may already have a resonance with it. You won't go wrong. If you've got nothing going for you culture-wise, you might consider doing a bit of research on the styles to start you on your path of choosing. I will tell you this though, if it is your intention to heal a particular environment using feng shui (or whatever name the style you choose calls itself,) your energy attached to that intention will make it work for you, you have to just trust that this is so.

Question: Do you have any quick feng shui advice or cures to help empower someone who has been a victim of a crime?

Answer: I was asked this question from a volunteer at Witness Justice; a group dedicated to empowering survivors of violent crime with the information, support, and tools needed to establish a sense of justice and healing. They told me that one in four women in the US will be a victim of violence at some point in their lives. So I decided at that moment that this particular feng shui information was very necessary to release. We decided to make an article out of it for their website. Granted, this article was designed for people who had little or no feng shui experience or knowledge and may be redundant for you, but it's worth thinking about as far as "feng shui for safety" in case you have not done some of these "feng shui basics" yet. Here is the article and the link to their site:

Feng Shui Expert Offers Helpful Tips for Survivors of Crime

Karen Rauch Carter, a famous Feng Shui consultant, offers the following tips for survivors of crime to feel more in control, to rid their homes of negative energy or "chi" and to establish a sense of safety.

In addition to being an internationally recognized Feng Shui expert, Karen was present during a bank robbery that shook her own feeling of safety. When she feels anxious about going to the bank or questions her safety, Karen tries to focus on the present asking herself, "Am I safe right now?" She believes this practice helps to stay focused on the present, since that can be controlled to some degree.

Here are some of her recommendations:

Here's a success story that came in since last month's issue on prosperity:

"Thank you Karen, for that wonderful book, "Move Your Stuff." I have read it over and over and have initiated some changes. One change, I thought would tickle you. I thoroughly cleaned and cleared my bedroom and placed various items in my prosperity section (a amethyst egg, small brass statue of Ganesha, red jewelry box). Well, it seems to be working--for my husband! He doesn't even know the significance of what I did, or how it works. He just keeps getting checks in the mail! He even got a refund from the Parking Violations Bureau! (Since WHEN do they give money back?!!) He shares so its ok, but thought that was a hoot!"

Kimberly

(Yes, a supportive environment positively affects everyone who is in it no matter if they created it or not! Karen)

My friend and fellow feng shui advisor, William Spear, sent me a letter from Sri Lanka where he is still helping those devastated by the tsunami. He says there is still much work to be done, and with the monsoon season about to unleash, he's requesting additional funds to help sleeping conditions for those currently forced to sleep on the ground (which will be wet ground soon.) His wish is to get people's sleeping mat off the ground, and hopefully to be able to buy mattresses once they are have a safe and dry place to put them. As you all know, we feng shui consultants pick on the sleeping places of our clients the most, because health, attitude, relationships, safe feelings, and so much more revolves around the sleeping place.

He tells me that he's getting a single mattress for under $10 US from one source, and hopes to supply all the camps he comes upon with good sleeping conditions. So, if you'd like to read up on exactly what he's up to or would like to help financially, please click on this link to do so:

Fortunate Blessings, Tsunami Relief

1. Clean out the attic and check the roof for "headaches."

2. Add symbols of protection at the front door if you feel the need.

3. Add earth element or a symbol of wisdom in the skills and knowledge gua (front, left-hand area once you walk in the door) with the intention of helping you discern between feng shui styles - if you are still looking for the style that suits you best!

4. Clean the refrigerator drip pan if you refrigerator has one. (It can be a breeding ground for mold - yuck!) Find it by removing the bottom front panel of the refrigerator.

Attention. Attention! We had a quality control breach! If you purchased a set of mini baguas in the past 3 weeks you may have a set that was printed in reverse! (I can't believe no one has contacted us about it!) So, take a look at your mini baguas and see if the color pattern is correct or in reverse. Please send the incorrect ones back to us and we'll send you out a correct set, OK?

Our address is: Feng Shui Palace 1100 Irvine Boulevard #189, Tustin, CA 92780

And if you're looking for some small "personal feng shui items," the new mini baguas may be what you're looking for. They fit into purses, pockets, wallets and notebooks to hold your intentions for health, wealth and safety. And let's not forget the 2" bagua mirrors that can also slip into some small spaces to reflect away unwanted attention or attitudes. We've placed them on special, too!

Telephone Consultation Special For Newsletter Recipients

My consulting fees will be rising soon, so we're putting the telephone consultation on special this month. Now is the time to get a telephone consultation if you were thinking about it. This is only advertised to newsletter recipients only! So when we chat, please mention that you are a newsletter recipient and you will be charged only $229.00!

Feng Shui Palace Product Specials is the link for the products and Feng Shui Palace Phone Consultation is the link for the telephone consultation.

I am always safe wherever I go!

I am wise and consistently make great decisions.

I am forgiving.

If you are in the real estate industry and would like me to speak at an event, feel free to visit Broker Agent Speakers for additional information.

If you would like me to speak at your company conference, industry convention, or set up a workshop at a corporate retreat, feel free to contact me at karen@fengshuipalace.com to request a speaker's packet and to see if my schedule is open for your event.

Los Angeles, CA

May 10, 2005 - I will be speaking at the Body Mind Spirit business networking dinner meeting. If you wish to share some time, swap business leads, and hang out with fun like-minded people come on by! Contact Debbie Donovan 949-515-8727 for reservations and information.St. Louis, MO

May 14-16, 2005 - There are a couple consultation slots still open in the St. Louis, Missouri vicinity. Feel free to contact me at karen@fengshuipalace.com if you have not done so already, and my assistant will be calling you to set up a time. Please type in your address or "map-able neighborhood" so we can create the most efficient schedule for the consultations.

Costa Mesa, CA

May 18, 2005 - I will be speaking at the Body Mind Spirit business networking dinner meeting. If you wish to share some time, swap business leads, and hang out with fun like-minded people come on by! Contact Debbie Donovan 949-515-8727 for reservations and information.

Breckenridge, CO and Denver, CO

June 5 - 6, 2005 - I have a few available consultation openings left in the Breckenridge, CO and Denver area. Please contact me at karen@fengshuipalace.com and my assistant will be calling you to set up a specific time and date.

June 7, 2005 - From 1:30 to 4:30 PM, I will be speaking to the Colorado Association of Realtors Summer Conference at the Beaver Run Resort in Breckenridge, Colorado. For registration information, see Colorado Realtor

Dallas and Houston, TX, San Francisco, CA (Bay Area)

Sorry we haven't found the time for me to come to these cities yet! Hopefully things will be opening up soon. If you would still like to get on our list to contact for a consultation (or would like to book me for a speaking engagement that you are involved with) please let me know by e-mailing my assistant at mary@fengshuipalace.com

San Diego, CA

August 6, 2005 - From 11:00AM to 12:30 PM, I will be speaking at the International Feng Shui Conference at the Hilton San Diego Resort in San Diego, CA. The conference is from the 4th through 8th. For registration, accommodations and other details, go to:

Feng Shui Seminars, Conference 2005

Southern California (San Diego, Orange, Riverside, Los Angeles Counties, CA)

If you live anywhere between San Diego and Santa Barbara, and from the Pacific Ocean to Indio and you would like a personal feng shui consultation, feel free to call and set up a time at (877)952-2482.

With intentions of being of service,

Karen

If you are having trouble reading this newsletter, please go to the newsletter that is printed online at Feng Shui Palace Newsletter