It's back to school time, which always feels like a big change in life for many. I've got the file "in basket" ready in the kitchen to receive my son's weekly papers, school notices and such. Luckily, I have counter space that is technically in the kitchen but not in the center of the cooking action for such uses. For those just starting "the school trail," get ready - you're going to have a ton of paper to keep up with so now's a good time to dedicate a space for it! If there is no dedicated space for it - trust me - it will be everywhere!

I have another request for those of you who are interested. I'm trying to compile a list of life changing events and situations that, if you had a checklist to follow, it would make your life a whole lot easier and safer-feeling and so on. I'm looking for things like "I just got married," I just became a widow," I am pregnant," "I am going through chemo," "I am plagued by insomnia," "I'm retiring," "My kids have all left and I'm an empty-nester," "My kids are getting bullied at school" as opposed to things about the house ("I live in a split level," or "My toilet is in the relationship gua...") If you think you've got a life situation that needs a good feng shui checklist, send it on over to info@fengshupalace.com. and I'll add it to my list!

Another thing going on in my life is a house renovation. I know you all think my house must be in a constant state of feng shui perfection or something, but it's not so. It is always a continuous and ever-evolving process. What is amazing is how hard it is for me to keep balanced during this process; knowing that the home is a metaphor for life, and when it gets ripped up, something in life is going to get exposed as well. I guess you must figure that I am keenly aware and sensitive to "house chi" - it's my job. Perhaps some people don't feel it as much, but this renovation is hitting me like a ton of bricks. I'm going through all kinds of feelings and emotions from doubt to confusion to frustration and even weepy-like sorrow. It appears to be affecting my husband in similar ways. Our son seems less affected for some reason, but perhaps I'm expecting it to manifest in an adult way and it just looks different in kids. I am grateful though that I now have first-hand knowledge for some future consultation when I help someone else in this same position. So, it's time for the teacher to get quiet and listen to figure out what environmental conditions can soften the blow of renovations. Here's what I did and am working on, and would suggest you do the same if you are to renovate:

1. Employ the helpful people box placing the names of the architect inside (I have to switch that to the contractors now though!)

2. De-clutter. I also made a very conscious effort to de-clutter every room and make it as livable as possible prior to demo, so when the dust flew, at least we had our interior spaces as in order as possible (I didn't want to live in a dusty, cluttered house!) I went through the files in the office, books on the shelf and tried to organize anything I could that felt disheveled.

3. Create a sane and safe haven somewhere in the home. Even if it is just a little corner somewhere that nurtures you. I really think you have to have at least one place in the house that feels sane and in tact. Since we have so many skylights, about the only rooms that feel untouched are the bedrooms - thank heavens! Yes, there has already been the occasional 2x4 accidentally crashing through the office skylight! Luckily no one was injured in the process - thank you helpful people box.

4. Do an exterior chi adjustment ritual "telling the house and lot what was about to happen" prior to demo.

5. Check your relationship guas, and enhance as best you can. I did not do anything to specifically bolster the relationship guas and do see some stress with my hubby and myself, so I'd suggest putting that on your to do list if you're going to renovate. We've got the typical designer/contractor conversations going on (I'm the designer and he's the contractor - literally.) As a matter of fact I think I'll stop typing right now and take care of this! I've got a new 50mm pink crystal that is going to be placed in our relationship gua with the intentions of softening our hearts during this process. I think I'll also find something to do with the color yellow as it does help with communications...perhaps a pot or vase of yellow flowers on the dining table. (Just planning to do this makes me feel better already. Yippee for good intentions! They are powerful.)

If you're curious, here is what we're doing to the house:

We're moving the front door forward to create a larger foyer AND to create a condition where the two rooms that were "in front of the front door" are now going to be "in the house" according to the bagua. We're also getting a new roof and skylights, and re-landscaping the front to accommodate for the door relocation. We also changed out all the duct work, heater and air conditioner. And we're changing out the carpet and adding tile flooring to two rooms.

My house sits lower than the street by about 20 inches or so, so I purchased a weather vane to place on the top hip of the roof. (Basic tip for purchasing a home: don't buy it if the finish floor elevation is lower than the street. :) )This is a good cure for lower-sitting homes if you happen to have one. I got a "heron in flight" weather vane. We attached it to the roof with the intention that the bird lift up our house with it's outstretched wings! It adds height to the overall feeling of the house, too.

Well, I'll let you know in future newsletters how things are going, and I'll put together a resource list for those of you who are having sick house problems like high EMF's or mold or humidity problems but don't even where to start looking for help. There are actually forensic investigators who specialize in building problems and usually win cases in court for the poor homeowner who gets taken advantage of somehow.

If you need to know how to perform the exterior chi adjustment, please go to the product specials and "purchase it" online for $1.99 and I'll e-mail it to you. This is one of those rituals that I had to promise to follow "the tradition of the red envelope" and not "give away" in my training. This is how I figure I can follow the rules and still get the information out there without you having find a feng shui ritual seminar somewhere. I'll put your order and credit card number in a red envelope once I receive it on this end.

Wish me luck!

We found this big honking crystal (80mm - like paperweight size) that we thought might be fun to sit on a table somewhere that needs a little extra sparkle. Perhaps it is your desk, or perhaps it's on a table between a front and back door that line up. I also thought it would be a fun decoration for the holidays (if you're the type to plan that far ahead!) And I'm putting the big pink pastel 50mm crystal that I'm using in my home for relationship balance during the remodel on the specials page in case anyone out there needs one! Here's the link: Feng Shui Palace Product Specials. You'll have to go buy the yellow flowers somewhere else though!

EMF METERS and STUFF

And for those of you who are trying to figure out if you have high EMF's and electrical fields in your living spaces, check out this link: Less EMF. I decided they had more choices of products than I could ever put in my inventory, so I'm cutting myself out of the middle and won't be selling these meters through Feng Shui Palace. I personally like the single axis digital gaussmeter found on this page: Less EMF Gaussmeter for $79.95 because it goes up to 200 mG. The Dr. Gauss meter is a good price - but it only goes up to 10 mG - which is fine, as you don't really want to hang around in even that level, but you don't know how much worse it is if it is more than 10mG. I also like the ELFLX Detector for detecting electrical fields...and at $9.95, how can you go wrong? That's on page Less EMF ELFX Detector

Knowing how I feel with half my house in shambles during this renovation, I imagine I'll have to more than double that to get a sense of what the Katrina-affected people are going through right now. Losing your house is literally losing a part of yourself. There will be grief, sadness, anger, and all the things that go with loss. The environment has changed and is not life-sustaining right now. As a matter of fact, some places are quite dangerous with toxic water, etc. Getting back to a state of balance and harmony, it will be no doubt a long haul. But knowing a bit about feng shui, perhaps decisions on the re-creation of the home environment can be made in such a way that when all is said and done and rebuilt - the environment will be physically and energetically stronger than it ever was before. Let's focus our intentions on visualizing safe and harmoniously rebuilt homes and cities in the hurricane's path of destruction.

Here are the links to Habitat For Humanity and the Red Cross to make donations for our friends in the South Eastern states: Habitat For Humanity and Red Cross

I always remain calm and centered even in the eye of the storm. (This is for those embarking on re-building after the hurricane and those embarking on a remodel.)

Change is always happening and I always choose to thrive during the process.

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.

Florida

October 13-23, I will be in Florida checking on my vacation properties (anyone interested in vacationing in a feng shuied Naples, or a PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens condo?:) ) and am considering doing consultations or possibly a workshop while there. If you are interested in either, please contact me at karen@fengshuipalace.com . Possible locations are Ft. Myers to Marco Island, Ft. Lauderdale or possibly even Maimi to West Palm Beach, and possibly Orlando, depending on my time and availability.

Colorado Springs, CO

October 18, I am interrupting my Florida trip to speak at the Colorado Association of Realtors State Convention at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, CO. The Theme is "The Rhythm of Real Estate." I will be speaking from 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM. For more information, click on: Colorado Association of Realtors . See you there!

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