Holly Ziegler and I are having so much fun planning our seminar classes for the upcoming Alaskan cruise that I thought I'd share a little bit of what we're planning:

∙ We've got a special section set aside in the dining room just for us, so we will be able to meet, mingle, and eat with fellow feng shui seminar cruisers. In other words, we're not going to be bound to one table all week.

∙ We've got a cocktail party in the works.

∙ We've got the seminar times designed not to interfere with any sight seeing times on the days at sea, so no one will miss a thing when it comes to seeing any glaciers, seals, whales, etc.

I've also been receiving e-mails from people asking if the seminar would benefit them even if they are not in the real estate industry and the answer is - ABSOLUTELY! As a matter of fact, I'd say that since we have enough people interested, we will offer a feng shui practitioner training certificate as well. Since Holly and I are tag-teaming this event, we have added a break-out track that includes hands-on training examples with Q and A time so... sign up soon, space is filling up quickly!

Now that we've compiled our syllabus, it appears to both of us that when you add one and one, you get more than two with this event. We're so excited about all the great information we have to share when we combine talents. Together, we're bringing about 25 years of experience along with us!

We're requesting that you come prepared either with a floor plan of a home or office that you want to feng shui, or be prepared to draw one - because when this seminar is over, not only will you know how to apply feng shui to these types of spaces, you'll already have one location figured out. It's like getting my $495.00 telephone consultation for free! Feel free to bring more floor plans, so you can practice while cruising, and so you can share with others.

OK, enough about the cruise, I'm just excited that's all. I hope to see you there.

On Tuesday, April 4th, from 12PM to 1PM, I am being interviewed on the internet radio show HealthyLife.Net. To listen in, click on Healthy Life to get the home page, then click on the blue "Listen Live" button in the upper right-hand corner.

Question: Although I love taking vacations to see and experience new things, I always return more tired than when I left. I can never seem to feel comfortable enough to get a good night's sleep while traveling. Is there something that I can do to make my vacations more relaxing and enjoyable because I've got to sleep?

Answer: This question reminds me of the time I was sharing a hotel room with a good friend in New York City. She got up in the middle of the night to dig through my suitcase to get some mirrors that I had packed for a workshop I was giving. She then placed one up against each wall of the hotel room facing out and one facing down on the floor to deflect the noise away. We talked about creating a travel feng shui bag the next morning.

Depending on where you're going, it would be nice to consider the main element of the environment and bring any applicable items that may help balance where you are. For example, if you're going to the desert, water element is a good choice to take. If you're going on a cruise, earth element is a great addition to your cabin, as it helps to balance the abundance of water element that's in your new, temporary surroundings.

A little pre-planning can go a long way here. When you book a place to stay, ask what kind of decor and items are inside the room and make requests as to what you are looking for. It is not out of the ordinary for me to request the quiet side of the hotel, or a room far from the elevator and vending machine zone. You can also check for construction on the hotel or in the neighborhood, noisy individual AC/heating units versus central air, overhead beams, sloping ceilings, ceiling fans, and anything else that may inhibit sleep when you arrive. That way, you should have as few surprises as possible and you will feel prepared to feng shui the space.

Oh, and go ahead and place the hotel/ship/resort staff in your helpful people box before you leave. Write something like "Everyone involved with my vacation (including the actual land and facilities serving me) is most helpful in creating an experience where my sleep is fully supported and I have a great time," and place it in a metal box. Place the metal box in the front, right-hand area of your bedroom at home.

If I were to make a generic travel bag, here's what I'd include:

1. Earth Element. Get a stone (find it or buy it) to take along so you could place it under the head of your bed. This is a traditional cure to sleep more soundly. Earth element is still - a good energy quality for the job of rest and sleep.

2. Five Mirrors. Obviously from above you can figure out why. If there is a noise or some other item that needs deflecting away, you've got it handled. Five small ones ought to be enough but feel free to take more. There may be sloping ceilings or beams that need addressing as well. (My advice is to ask ahead when booking the place!)

3. Three Crystals. If there is a door in line with the bed or a ceiling fan above the bed, a crystal may help disperse the chi to make life more enjoyable during your stay. Three ought to get you by.

4. Lavender Oil. A little essential oil can go a long way to trigger relaxation - or even a Pavlovian response to relax - and lavender is a good one. If you have another favorite, feel free to bring it.

5. "A few of my favorite things." If you've got that favorite pillow or blankey, bring it along. A good night's sleep makes it worth the weight in your suitcase. Also, if you want to make a little "home altar" with some goodies from home, bring some things along that give you warm, cozy, homey feelings and place on the night stand or table when you get there.

6. A wind up alarm clock and perhaps a flashlight. This is because I want you to unplug everything that you can from the room. There's nothing like being kept up all night because the mini refrigerator keeps going off and on, or you're sleeping in electrical fields. If your hotel has a wake up service, then perhaps the clock isn't even necessary. The only thing that you might want to have plugged in is a white noise-maker if you think a consistent sound might help you go deeper in your sleep. If the TV is exposed in the room, I'd take a bath towel and cover it while you sleep.

7. Walkman and relaxation/meditation/hypnotherapy tapes/CDs. - specially if you have listened to them at home to a point where they become a Pavlovian trigger when you are somewhere else. I have a music tape called "Gardens of Serenity" and a hypnotherapy CD series called "Cleaning Out the Closet of the Mind" that I could highly recommend.

8. If you think you'd be up for a space clearing ritual when you arrive, that may help change the chi in the bedroom space. You can clap your hands with intention or play relaxing music when you arrive to change the chi. If you know any other space clearing rituals, feel free to bring whatever it takes to perform it. You could just be so sensitive to energy that sleeping in a place where so many people have slept keeps your chi-sensors up all night.

9. A little bag of salt. You can either place this in the tub for a soak, or place it near the bed while you sleep to absorb any negative energy around. If you know the salt burn space clearing ritual, feel free to use it in your temporary bedroom. But for fire safety and ease, I'd say just placing the salt nearby is a good alternative to actually doing a burn. ( Feng Shui Palace Newsletter 01/01/2002 is a link to the salt burn ritual in an archived newsletter if you don't know what a salt burn ritual is.)

We've put together a little special this month combining some of the things we have that could start your travel collection: Product Specials is the link.

1. I am safe everywhere I go.

2. I sleep well whenever and wherever I go.

3. I am adventurous!

I am excited to be back doing private consultations and speaking events again! I will be incorporating the new techniques from my upcoming book in my consultations, and look forward to seeing the results in the lives of my clients.

I have already been booked for several conventions and speaking events. If you would like to contact me to question how a feng shui lecture or workshop might fit into your professional event, feel free to contact me or my assistant Mary at (714) 508-9935 or email Mary at mary@fengshuipalace.com and we'll be glad to work something up!

April 8-11

There are a couple of spots left for consultations in the Palm Beach County area. The consultation fee is $799.00 and will take a minimum of 2 hours. Please call Mary at 714-508-9935 or email her at mary@fengshuipalace.com if you are interested in a consultation and she'll see if you can be worked into the travel schedule.

May 12-14

High Point, North Carolina

Karen will be available for private consultations in the High Point North Carolina area. The consultation fee is $799.00 and will take a minimum of 2 hours. Please call Mary at 714-508-9935 or email her at mary@fengshuipalace.com if you are interested in a consultation and she'll see if you can be worked into the travel schedule.

May 17- 20

San Diego, California

Karen will be available for private consultations in the San Diego area. The consultation fee is $799.00 and will take a minimum of 2 hours. Please call Mary at 714-508-9935 or email her at mary@fengshuipalace.com if you are interested in a consultation and she'll see if you can be worked into the travel schedule.

May 24-26

Los Angeles, California

Karen will be available for private consultations in the Los Angeles area. The consultation fee is $799.00 and will take a minimum of 2 hours. Please call Mary at 714-508-9935 or email her at mary@fengshuipalace.com if you are interested in a consultation and she'll see if you can be worked into the travel schedule.

July 29 - August 5, 2006

"REV UP YOUR REAL ESTATE CAREER WITH FENG SHUI" CRUISE

Here is the link for more information and to register:

Come take a fun-filled feng shui and real estate cruise with me and Holly Ziegler, author of Sell Your Home Faster With Feng Shui And Buy Your Home Smarter With Feng Shui. We'll set sail out of Vancouver, B.C. and work our way to Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan through Glacier Bay and the Tracy Arm fjords. Be inspired by your surroundings as we explore ways to:

Have what it takes to talk confidently about feng shui to clients.

Be able to easily attract more clients toward you.

Be able to showcase rooms that sell. Know what makes good "curb appeal" and what doesn't.

Know how to unblock the 7 secret stumbling blocks that usually foil your ultimate success. Know what cures are necessary to help bring a transaction to a smooth completion.

Plus, so much more!!

(And if you are a California Realtor, the classes will count for 6 CEU credits.)

As stated above, this seminar series is not only geared towards the real estate industry but ALSO to non-real estate individuals looking to increase their knowledge of feng shui for their own use or to become a feng shui consultant will also benefit from our "dynamic duo" presentation!

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