For those of you who have been asking, I'm starting to book workshops and seminars again, and am excited to roll out the first couple in January of 2007 in Northern and Southern California. I plan on offering up a lot of new things that are going to be in my next book (and a few that got cut!) Check out my travel schedule below for details.

Now that school has started again, and we begin to notice the shorter days and cooler temperatures, it is a good time to note where we are within the five element transformations. Autumn is about the pulling in of energy - as in plants pulling their life force out of the leaves before they fall, squirrels gathering nuts for a long winter, and bears getting ready to hibernate. This is the metal element time. This time is good for slowing down, and going more inward perhaps with your thoughts, your hobbies, or your work somehow.

Culturally, we attempt to continue our same work, sleep, and eating patterns as if every day of the year is the same. We tend to ignore our natural desire this time of year for a slower pace, by bumping up the caffeine intake and pushing ahead. We tend to ignore our natural desire for heartier foods that will warm our body chi and continue our imported salad and ice cream habits.

Because most of us have unplugged ourselves consciously from our connection to our natural environment, I wanted to take the time to remind you that you are a part of nature, like it or not, and that perhaps a little more attention paid to natural rhythms in this way can eliminate the need for that over-the-counter ant-acid or sleep aid.

Nesting, gathering of families, revisiting memories, reading, meditating, inward focus, spiritual retreats and a more quiet lifestyle are all in keeping with the natural flow of this time of year. See if you can re-arrange your life to include some of these if you feel like a fish out of water every fall. And use that helpful people box if you've got no idea how to make it happen....wish it into existence with your written affirmations and inward focus.

We've received more than enough response to our certification training idea so we have initiated planning the event. But it has become obvious that we will need to extend this training into two parts to allow time for absorbing and working with the information presented. Currently, we're planning four days of training including field consultation time in session one. Then we'll allow some time for you to do practice consultations on your own before part two begins. We'll get back together an additional four day session to complete the training. I really think that a two part course is invaluable to prepare your confidence level as a feng shui consultant.

As soon as costs are finalized, we will be taking tuition deposits via our web site. Look for it in the upcoming newsletters. One change though will probably be that we won't do the "rent-a-house in Laguna" idea because there seems to be legal and liability snafues involved. (Gee, the idea seemed so simple - who knew?)

To confirm your interest or comment on in this training series, e-mail me at karen@fengshuipalace.com

Finally, thanks to my friend and fellow feng shui consultant Janet Woods, there appears to be a way to create better service and a higher likelihood of results with feng shui consultations. What I always thought needed improvement in a consultation is even though I request that my clients get back in touch with me after three months so we can fine tune the energies, most people don't. Because this service is free, I'm left scratching my head wondering why. Did they get everything they wanted right away? Did they not do any of my recommendations and are too embarrassed to call back? Did they lose momentum and just aren't the follow through type? Did they think everything was going to change just by my being there and they had no work to do? Did they not want to wade through the "internal changes" that inevitably happen when the environment starts to change? After making a few calls, it appears that it is a mixture of all of the above.

If you've read my book, you probably remember the "Really, My 17 Cats and I Are Fine, We Don't Need Anyone Else" story. What you didn't get in my book was the long term changes that occurred with that gal because she had me return twice a year for several years. She hired me on her birthday and her "half birthday" ( a good mindful start, eh?) Very long story short, she went from being a complete recluse in an odorous, completely disheveled home, to an outgoing writer, speaker, and get this - western swing dancer, actually physically interacting with others.

Yes, it was a long haul, but her consistent work and tenacity paid off. You see, who could have predicted all that back in the beginning? Her initial words were, "I really don't like being around people, and don't really need them" when I asked her why there were no pictures of people in her home. So, when the onion was peeled, we found that indeed, once balanced energy entered her life, she wasn't as opposed to being with people after all.

For those of you who get great results immediately from simply using my book or having me come in person to your properties, perhaps this is not for you. But for those of you who don't seem to get the desired results, change your mind after you do get results, lose focus on how to finish the job (especially of clutter clearing,) or just plain old need hand holding with the process overall, here's what we're going to do.

I have decided to take on a limited number of people on a one-year basis, and "feng shui coach" you throughout the year so there is no loss of momentum, and there is a continued mindfulness throughout the year with regard to creating the most supportive environments possible to support the ever-changing you. The equation looks something like 1+1=5, meaning that with both of us working together on your goals, there is exponential benefit: You'll have someone to cheer you on through your life-changing process and you'll have someone to lean on when times get tough.

The process will consist of:

1. An on-site consultation (if local) or a telephone consultation. If necessary, I will follow up with an e-mailed priority list of the changes suggested. (Some people can't listen, comprehend, and take notes at the same time.)

2. Quarterly follow up plan. This may include a completely new feng shui consultation, (some people may move, renovate, or drastically change their space,) or a list of modifications to the existing home/office. It may also include distant space clearing or other rituals done by me for you and your environment.

3. Monthly e-mail letters where interim questions are answered, or a monthly telephone call if necessary.

4. Other one-of-a-kind help as needed.

For the initiation of this new service, I have decided to roll it out with a special price of $1200.00. (Payment options will be available.) Because there is only so much time for me to do this I will be limiting this service to somewhere around 27 people. Then, as someone drops off the list I will be adding those on the waiting list.

So, if there is ever a time to be specific about your holiday wish list in that ol' helpful people box, now's the time! This could be a great "New Year, New You" gift to yourself and your family. To sign up, please contact my assistant Mary at mary@fengshuipalace.com

It is my hope that with this new service, there is a perfect choice for everyone, and that there will be a much higher rate of clients getting EXACTLY what they are looking for out of their feng shui consultation.

Success Story 1.

I took our session to heart and got rid of everything that wasn't serving me. felt so good! sold a bunch at a yard sale, gave away a lot, threw a lot of stuff out. it's amazing how much better and lighter I feel with all that stuff gone. I feel like I haven't been able to focus on the important stuff until I got rid of all the past that was holding me back.... I spent a whole day cleaning out our garage out back and getting rid of stuff, going through boxes,....THAT was exhausting but cathartic......your book should really be titled "throw shit out, change your life". It's amazing how much weight I'd been carrying mentally - especially with regards to my room. there was so much stuff in there that I couldn't see the forest for the trees...I can find things quickly now, it's not such a hassle to find things or put things away. my room is a comforting but not a cocoon -- it's not a place to escape the world from..that's the other thing - I feel much better about the apartment in general. As if it's not holding me back anymore. It's a nice place to stay but not hide-away. does that make sense?

Success Story 2.

My husband and I had an awesome career experience that ties into feng shui. My husband had been unhappily employed and found out his contract would not be renewed. He took this kind of hard as he felt he had given 110% to the job. He began looking for a new job. Meanwhile, I was researching stones one day and stumbled upon a blurb about how black sapphire was a good stone to carry/wear while looking for a job and/or to manage a current job. I told him about this and he was interested. I found a stone on eBay that he bid on and won. He received the stone and within two days had a solid lead on a job that he obtained very quickly and painlessly. He just completed his first week of work and is very happy. I didn't think about the feng shui connection until receiving your newsletter - BLACK sapphire (color = career section).

By the way, I LOVE your book :)

Susan/Washington State

Success Story 3.

I have been having so much fun with your book. My son was getting desperate looking for a job. I went to his home and began in the career area. He removed all the wood in front of the house. Moved a black metal swing up to the front, painted in his address numbers 701, and placed a black mailbox under them. We added a tin bucket of water. Swept and cleaned everything up. The very next day, friends told him of two leads. He has received his new teaching job. Thank you so much for this fun week.

Success Story 4.

Needed background now: as a breeder of high-end exhibition quality poultry, I am a participant in the National Poultry Improvement Plan. This is a federal program administered by the states. As such, I have our farm inspected four times a year, and all my bird's blood tested once a year for disease. This year the state of KY is putting together an Avian Influenza monitoring plan. One of the things we've been working on is controlling who comes onto our property, in order to prevent the potential transmission of disease (some poultry diseases can live on truck tires, boots or shoes, clothing, or even in people's hair.) So far I have had pretty good bio security measures in place: when someone comes here who has poultry they are to wear clean clothes, rubber boots, and I walk them through a bleach bath before they come down the hill (driveway entrance is at the top of a minor hill, driveway runs meandering down so no direct arrow chi, but more on that later.)

Anyway, this past summer we had a number of people who blew past my bio security efforts and could have potentially brought in disease. The one that really set me off was when the utility company sent some tree trimmers out to trim branches away from the power lines. These people not only waltzed right into my secure poultry area without my permission (I didn't know they were here right away), but picked up and moved the bleach bath in front of it, rather than walk through it! I was livid. These guys had been on every farm in the area, not knowing what diseases they might have been carrying on their boots. After that I decided we needed a gate across the driveway to protect us.

James (my husband) went to work and put up something that was to be temporary, but which we've been using since the end of July. Now, are you ready? He drove in two t-posts (metal), and using two pieces of red rope with a clip in the middle, made a "gate" which effectively stopped anyone from coming through (although folks like the UPS guy just drive around, which you can do.)

So, do I feel dumb?! Red rope. Blocking all chi from coming to the house. After I realized this (and got out of the shower) I sent him up and asked him to take it down (the t-posts are still there.) I could just smack myself in the head. It will be really interesting to see how things change now (especially since we are in a new month, which is a One month in a One year for me.) But I do feel silly, all that blockage, all those instances of Set coming up in the Egyptian Cartouche cards, (the symbol of problems at all levels), all that frustration and feeling ineffective and powerless. All because of one silly little red rope.

This message has gotten much too long, but I wanted to THANK YOU for giving me the mental poke in the ribs I needed. It will be very interesting to see what comes now from all the cures I had done over the past two months that were effectively blocked by the lack of chi coming into the house and farm.

Laura H

Success Story 5.

I checked out your book a week ago & set a few things in motion. It turned out the bathroom is our Fame & Reputation gua - so no wonder my partner's tai chi classes couldn't get hardly any students -AND to add insult to injury guess what color the shower curtain was? BLACK! I used the appropriate cures & in the space of a few days, he's had someone request private lessons (more costly than attending regular classes) a student already taking class has people at her gym wanting him to come teach them, & a member of the downtown YMCA is wanting to see about getting an early morning class started there. My son comes home tonight & after working at the same job for a year with no promotion & raise, has been told he may have one by next week. I love your book. It speaks to me like nothing else ever has. I've signed up for your newsletter & as soon as you offer certification, I'm signing up for it. I'm a true believer.

Warm Regards,

Tracey

Question: How to garages play into the bagua? Mine is full of junk and appears to be taking up my whole skills and knowledge gua. My sister's totally sticks out in the front of her house, and my dad's house has a detached one. Is there one answer for all these garages?

Answer: Let's answer one thing at a time here. First of all, everything that you own, or are surrounded by over a vast period of time affects you somehow. So, to start the conversation, I'd first want to address the junk, and then talk about the bagua. "Full of junk" indicated "issues" with in the household, and/or lack of health or opportunity in life. My teacher once said, "Put the issues in the tissues and get on with it." He noted that getting rid of (or through) the tears or emotions that go along with the removal of junk piles and clutter certainly aids in bettering the chi in the person doing the de-cluttering. There are many techniques on de-cluttering in my website, so I'm going to move on to the bagua part of this question for now.

Where your garage is within the bagua of your home or lot makes a difference just like anything else in your home or on your lot. If the garage sticks out in front of the front door, it is not within the yang bagua of the house - but it is within the sphere of influence of the lot (and possibly within the yin bagua - which is the bagua that overlays onto the whole shape of the house. - This is not in my book by the way.) It may not affect you as strongly, but it is affecting you. I had one gal who unlocked her whole world by eliminating the inherited things in her detached garage, so I don't take a cluttered distant garage lightly just because it is not in the house's bagua zone.

Now, because yours is stuck with junk and clogging up your skills and knowledge energy, I would suggest possibly enhancing the skills and knowledge area of all the other main rooms in your house where you spend a lot of time - at least until you clean up your garage. The room guas can help support the weak house gua - but I'm not suggesting enhancing them and forgetting the clutter because the garage clutter is still affecting you on some level and should probably be dealt with.

I have heard from one feng shui practitioner that he does not count the garage, because he only counts "livable space," but I disagree. I don't "live" in the attic, the cupboards, or up on the closet shelves if you go by this logic.

I did decide once, that an attached garage with no direct access into the house, where you did not "feel" the presence of the garage from anywhere within the house, was not a part of that home's bagua - but that was once. I have not seen/felt that particular arrangement before or since. I'm saying this to show you that indeed, for just about every rule in feng shui, there is some example of where you could break that rule.

You may not like this answer, but I'm sure that if you took the time to think about this and write it, you probably have a gut feeling that it is indeed, something that needs to be addressed within your home and your life. Good luck.

Now that school is back in session and many people's lives turning into hyper-school mode, relationship chi may be a bit depleted. So we decided to put the family and relationship crystals (pink and green) on special this month. Hang them up with good intentions for smooth and harmonious relationships between parents, teachers, and kids. And we also placed silver helpful people boxes on special this month for those need one. Feng Shui Palace Product Specials is the link. (Every book order received this month will receive a free index, valued at $2.99!)

1. I live in the universal flow of peace and joy.

2. I am always in the flow with the natural rhythms of the time of year, and I am healthy and happy in return.

Most of my lecture work these days comes from private companies and venues that cannot be accessed by the public (thus the lack of events in my travel schedule.) If you know any meeting planners, destination management companies, or conference heads who are looking for a speaker to do a keynote, workshop, or breakout session, I'd love to be given the chance to forward my information. Think of the groups you belong to and see if a feng shui speaker can bring a new dimension to the conversation. It may just help get me to your town or get you a referral fee! Feel free to let me know by e-mailing me at karen@fengshuipalace.com

Thanks in advance.

San Francisco Bay Area, CA

October 6, and October 23, 2006

I am available for consultations in the San Francisco Bay area. Please call (714) 508-9935 to inquire and set up a consultation time.

San Diego, CA

October 16, 2006

Karen will be available for consultations in San Diego. Please call 714-508-9935 to inquire and set up a consultation time.

L.A., Oxnard, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Salinas, San Jose, Oakland, etc.

October 23 and possibly the 24th

I will be traveling down the 101 freeway From Marin County to Orange County and will be doing consultations along the way. Please call (714) 508-9935 to inquire and set up a consultation time. San Francisco Bay Area, CA

January 19 and February 2, 2007

Friday Night Feng Shui - Level 2 Seminar Series

Karen will be giving her best level two feng shui tips in a two part series on Friday nights in the San Francisco Bay area at the Four Points Sheraton in San Rafael, CA. (1010 Northgate Drive, San Rafael, CA) The Friday night sessions are held on January 19 and February 2. The sessions begin PROMPTLY at 6:30PM and will end at 10PM.

The class registration fee is $397.00. Early-bird special before December 15 is $297.00 so reserve your spot now by clicking at Feng Shui Palace Seminar Series. Advance ticket sales only - There will be no walk-ins admitted.

A pre-requisite for taking the class is to have read Karen's book Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life and have an understanding of basic introductory feng shui terminology and concepts. To purchase a copy of Move Your Stuff, go to: Feng Shui Palace Products. Every book order received this month will receive a free index, valued at $2.99.

Orange County, CA

January 6, 2007

One Day Level 2 Seminar

From 10AM to 5PM, Karen will be giving her best level two feng shui tips in a one-day level 2 feng shui seminar at Awakenings in Laguna Hills, CA. (25260 LaPaz Road, Laguna Hills, CA.)

The class registration fee is $397.00. Early-bird special before December 1 is $297.00 so reserve your spot now by calling Awakenings at 949-457-0797. To register online, visit Feng Shui Palace Seminar Series. Advance ticket sales only - There will be no walk-ins admitted.

A pre-requisite for taking the class is to have read Karen's book Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life and have an understanding of basic introductory feng shui terminology and concepts. To purchase a copy of Move Your Stuff, go to: Feng Shui Palace Products . Every book order received this month will receive a free index, valued at $2.99.

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