June 2016
FENG SHUI TO THE RESCUE
A monthly e-magazine to help you rearrange your home, office, and business, shift energy, and transform your life with Feng Shui.

The View From My Feng Shui Window
Restrooms, Toilet Paper, Dating - and Feng Shui
airplace-takeoff-sunset.jpg
It's not unusual for me to spend a lot of time traveling during any given month, but my last series of trips had to be a record. I was on 17 planes in a 6-week period for trips to visit family, friends, and to work with clients around the country. And that means I was in a lot of airport restrooms and airplane lavatories - definitely not the highlight of my travels. Every woman knows (and some guys) that it's not just the general yuckiness of public restrooms that's the problem, it's the chronic shortage of toilet paper in those wretched things.
 
Now it seems that this TP shortage isn't only a travel buzz kill, but a "passion buster" as well according to the "Home Matters" survey of how a home can make or break a romance. This survey, from the Uber-like home services app called Handy and UC Berkeley's Center for the Built Environment, found that 47% of women reported that the lack of toilet paper is the worst thing to see in a date's home. Who knew? The survey also found that 15% of Americans have broken-up with a romantic partner because of the appearance of the person's home, with 42% of 51-55 year olds stating that they had chosen to do this. People from Washington, DC, and Arizona were the most likely to split with someone because their home is untidy or unclean. Almost one-third of Americans admitted to hiding photos of ex-lovers before their date arrived.
 
Doesn't this just sound like a problem that the Feng Shui Maven can fix? That's why this month I'm launching my new "Company's Coming" off-site consulting service. Check out the "Consultations" section in this newsletter for details. And watch my Facebook page for a press release about a fun new Better First Impressions Feng Shui Initiative.

Happy summer travels, everyone. Whether you're headed to the beach house or lake cabin, flying the friendly skies or driving the byways, or anything in between, may all of your rest stops be totally stocked with TP.
 
Carol M. Olmstead, FSIA

Feng Shui Master Practitioner



New In This Issue

Feng Shui For Your Next Road Trip
Treat your car like you treat the rooms in your home and it will take you far.
--Feng Shui For All Seasons section

10-Minute Clutter Clearing
Check out these 10 clutter clearing tips you can do in 10 minutes or less.
--Clutter Clinic section  

Barbara's Unexpected Home Makeover 
Sometimes success comes from an unexpected source.
--Success Story section  

Questions for June
Where to place a jade plant, storing suitcases under the bed, fish tanks.
--Q&A section

Trees Make Us Happy
It seems even pictures of trees can help us de-stress.
--Beyond Feng Shui section

Books That Inspire  
Check out the latest selections in my new Mindfulness Bookstore.
--FengShuiForRealLife.com Bookstore 
Stay Connected
Feng Shui For All Seasons 
Feng Shui Tip For June - Feng Shui For Your Next Road Trip
"It's better to travel well than to arrive."
--Buddha 
Car Are we there yet?" June is the unofficial start of summer vacation season for many families in the U.S., and more people are planning road trips this year because of reasonable gas prices. In Feng Shui terms a car that's out of symbolic balance can make the driver and passengers feel out of balance, too, especially on a vacation trip when you expect to feel relaxed. Feng Shui is not just for homes and offices, so a few Feng Shui adjustments for your car can make the time you spend in it more enjoyable and safe. And that's important whether you're traveling on vacation, running errands, or commuting. This summer, instead of threatening to "turn this car around," try a few of these Feng Shui tips to assure harmony for your next car trip:

Clear the clutter. Treat your vehicle like you treat the rooms in your home rather than like a "moving trash can" and it will move your vacation forward. Get rid of the fast food bags, empty cups, plastic bags, and all the other stuff you've been hauling around. Remember to check the glove compartment, the storage spaces, the cup holders, and the trunk for junk. Vacuum the carpet and the seats.

Take care of the windows.
Windows represent eyes in Feng Shui, and that means if you're driving with filmy, cracked, or broken windows your vision toward your destination is cloudy as well. Take time each week to ride around with the windows down, or try to park in the driveway with the windows down for a short while to allow fresh air to replace stale chi and odors.

Drink water. The Water Element represents a smooth and flowing experience, so sipping water frequently while you drive can help you smoothly cope with traffic and avoid road rage.
The water will also help flush out any negative chi resulting from electromagnetic energy generated by your cell phones.

Listen to the right music.
Turn the music on as soon as you get in the car to chase out any negative chi and bring in new, positive energy. As you drive, choose the genre of music that matches the mood of your trip. Try something soothing when you're stuck in traffic, something more up tempo when you're "rockin down the highway" on the open road, and skip the all-news stations unless you need to check the traffic reports. 

Wash your car. Keep both the inside and outside of your car clean as a symbol that your path will be clear and easy. Consider a full detailing before your vacation.

Assure Your Safety. Print out the words "SAFE TRAVEL" in a large font on a sheet of white paper and place it in your car to set your intention to drive carefully and return home safely. And of course, only use your cell phone in hands-free mode and don't text! 
The Clutter Clinic
10-Minute Spring Uncluttering Tips
donations_box.jpg Got only 10 minutes to clear clutter? Here are 10 quick things you can do whenever you have a few extra minutes to clear out your cabinets, closets, and storage spaces. The goal is to get rid of things you no longer use or need and make room for new and better things to find you. The first step is to get a large empty box or bag and mark it "donations." The rule of thumb is that nothing goes in there that you wouldn't let your own family use.

  1. Check the expiration date on your sunscreen and get rid of any that is too old to give you any protection. Do the same for your prescription and OTC medications.
  2. Remove the outdated notes, flyers, and calendars from your bulletin board and refrigerator door.
  3. Locate one unfinished project and decide if it's worth finishing. If it is, finish it. If it's not, recycle the materials. Unfinished projects represent issues you are trying to avoid.
  4. Clear out your kitchen junk drawer, desk junk drawer, or any other junk drawer (you know you have at least one).
  5. Give your wool scarves a good airing in the sunshine for at least 10 minutes, then pack them away in mothproof containers.
  6. Take your wool sweaters to the cleaners. If you find any that you didn't wear at least once this winter, add them to the donation box.
  7. Help your child find at least one toy that he or she has outgrown, and then have them add it to the donation box.
  8. Clean out your sock drawer and get rid of the singletons. It's time to accept that the dryer long ago ate the match and you're never going to find it. Do not put these loners in the donation bag.
  9. Remove any clothes from your closet that you didn't wear even once in the past year, and put them in a donation box.
  10. Take the donation box to your favorite charity.
Success Story
Success Story: Barbara's Unexpected Home Makeover
Barbara's home was in a state of neglect when she called me for a consultation. She and her husband were having communication difficulties and the house was obviously both the cause and effect of their issues. Some serious clutter clearing and redecorating was in order. The couple didn't have funds to make all the needed changes, so they had to postpone the basement renovation for a later date. Barbara's first progress report was impressive:
 
SuccessStory Both the old carpeting (sad, as you described it) and wallpaper are gone. The whole inside of house, except for basement, has been painted. Our bedroom is in a skin tone color and our daughter's is a youthful purple. The outside of house has been power-washed and is being painted tomorrow. Our bedroom was cleared of the computer, desk, and nasty old carpet, and we are already sleeping better. The floor on the entry level was ripped up today and the new flooring should be finished in the next couple of days. There have been many trips to the dump and Goodwill, and many more to be made. So right now we're in the thick of it. Our pictures, wall stuff, and remaining junk are in the basement, waiting to be sorted. We realize we are in the necessary chaos that must happen in order for us to get to the other side. But the good news is that my husband and I are on the same page with our communication and desire to make this happen. He's been cool about letting go of stuff that's not connected to who he is anymore, and more in tune with how we want to express ourselves. The house has been so symbolic of our personal and marital stuck-ness. There is already a more positive, cheerful energy that has opened, even from just removing all the negative stuff we have. Our sense of creativity has opened up now that we have a cleared so much space.
 
And then, an unexpected thing happened to the couple. One of the painters left the hose on near the house, and the couple woke up to a flooded basement one Sunday morning. Here is Barbara's second progress report:
 
We had to bring EVERYTHING upstairs and called one of those emergency flood services. The whole carpet down there had to go. But painters owned up to doing it and are making it right. So now the basement will also have new carpet and fresh paint. At first, it felt like a huge step backwards and we were very stressed and bummed. But it forced us to deal with our STUFF, like books, music, papers, and pictures. Since it's all in our face in the living room we couldn't procrastinate dealing with it like we did when it was downstairs. It also fascinated me that the damage was from the Water element. Maybe it is a washing away the past sort of thing, or something profound like that.  
 
 
I would love to include YOUR success story in my next book.
E-mail me or call 1.800.652.9038 to schedule your home or office consultation. 
Ask the Feng Shui Maven
Q: I recently purchased a small jade plant and put it on my desk at work because I heard it was a good luck symbol. I was wondering if this is also the kind of low-maintenance plant I can put in my bedroom?
A: A jade plant is ideal in an office because its round leaves symbolize coins, and therefore, wealth. Any plant with rounded leaves is also a good choice for a bedroom. Avoid plants that have sharp or spiky edges since they send harsh energy that could disturb your sleep. While living plants are always the first choice, if you can't grow them because of limited lighting, it's acceptable to use high quality silk plants, photos of plants or trees, or fabrics with leafy patterns in your bedroom.
 
Q: I keep my suitcases under my bed because I travel quite a bit. Is that OK?
A: The Feng Shui recommendation is to avoid keeping anything under your bed so the chi can circulate around you and encourage peaceful sleep. Keeping suitcases under a bed symbolizes being ready to "pack up and move out" on a moment's notice. If your travels are for pleasure and you want them to continue, it's acceptable to keep suitcases under your bed if you have no other place to store them. You could even keep guidebooks, photos, and other items related to the places where you'd like to go. But, if your travel is for work and it's making you weary or is interfering with your relationship, it's time to move those suitcases out of your bedroom and into a closet. If you want to stop traveling but have no other place for your suitcases, put a rock in each one and cover with a blanket to help them stay put for a "rest" and to keep you grounded at home.

Q:
Do I have to have a fish tank or fish bowl in my home in order to attract wealth? Everyone in my family is busy and we we're not sure we want to get involved with maintaining one more thing, but I want to attract wealth. 
A: A fish bowl or tank is considered a sign of wealth in some approaches to Feng Shui, especially when it's located near your front door. But, contemporary Feng Shui
is all about surrounding yourself with what you love to make you feel comfortable in your surroundings. If you don't like fish or don't want the responsibility of caring for them, of course it's not necessary to have them. A modern Feng Shui remedy to attract wealth is to display images of fish. You could also display art and objects that represent wealth and abundance - whether or not these images include fish is up to you. If you do decide to set up a fish tank, the ideal Feng Shui choice is a tank with nine goldfish, one of which is black.
 
Do you have Feng Shui questions for the Feng Shui Maven?
 
Questions 
Feng Shui Consulting
INTRODUCING MY NEW CONSULTING SERVICE - "COMPANY'S COMING" 
Is your apartment or home too dirty for dating, too messy for marriage, too poorly prepared for parents or in-laws to visit? Need to make a great first impression on the boss, but you're afraid to set up a dinner party because your home might send the wrong message?

My new Company's Coming Consult is the perfect way to get Feng Shui clearing and cleanup "quick fix" advice. With this rapid response service, I'll conduct a 20-minute virtual walk-thru of your home by Skype, FaceTime, or photos/phone, and give you the 3R's - what to Replace, Repair, or Remove. This custom session will focus on these critical first impression rooms: living room, bathroom, bedroom, kitchen. 

First Impressions Matter
The Home Matters Survey 2016, devised in association with Berkeley social and personality researcher Dr. Lindsay Graham, PhD, for the on-demand home services app Handy, explored American attitudes toward their homes. More than 67% of people said they look at their date's home to see how compatible they are, and 15% said they had broken up with someone after seeing their home for the first time. New Yorkers cared most what other people thought of their homes, and those in Arizona, Ohio, and Washington, DC, were most likely to break up with someone because of their home. "Comfort" was the word most associated with home, and "clean" was the sixth. 42% of 51-55-year-olds said they broke up with someone because of their home.

Ready to make a better first impression?
Click here for details and to schedule a Company's Coming Consult.  


Find out how my on-site and off-site Feng Shui Consultations for homes and businesses and offices can help you rearrange your space, shift energy, and transform your life.
Map
Where will the Feng Shui Maven go this month?
I set up private consulting appointments with clients all over the country.

Contact me and I'll arrange to be there!
Appointments fill up fast, especially on weekends. 

I welcome your referrals! 
Call 1.800.652.9038 or email Carol Olmstead to reserve your date.

On-Site Consulting 
I will visit your home, office, or business and help you rearrange your space, shift energy, and transform your life. During the session I will teach you Feng Shui basics, then we'll go through your space and I'll make suggestions for changing the placement of furniture and objects and dealing with color, moving what we can at the time. All sessions include 30 days of free Feng Shui coaching to help you continue to make changes and move forward.

Click here for residential consulting. 
Click here for commercial consulting. 
Off-Site Consulting 
When an on-site consultation isn't possible, I offer off-site and remote Feng Shui consulting for homes, offices, and businesses in the US and internationally. Off-site consulting package options include:
  • Feng Shui Hotline
  • 30-Minute Phone Consultation
  • Room Rescue
  • Floor Plan Analysis 
  • Whole House Consultation

Click here for off-site consulting. 

Feng Shui Workshops
Red Chairs Square
Bring one of my Feng Shui workshops to your city. I will create a custom presentation for your business or group to help you make simple changes to attract wealth, harmony, love, and much more.  
 
From keynote speeches, to "munch and learn" workshops, to half-day or full-day seminars, my interactive sessions are full of practical advice, tips, and fun. Feng Shui workshops make great fundraisers because they always sell out.  
   

People Are Talking About Carol's Feng Shui Workshops!

My three sisters and I attended your workshop, and I wanted to write to you and tell you how much we enjoyed it. It was packed full with such great information and the fact that you helped each individual at the workshop was incredible! The three hours went by so fast that everyone in the workshop thought you were just taking a break and we were all shocked that it meant the workshop was over. We all purchased your book and got several more copies for family members that could not attend because we love it.
--GW

Feng Shui Media
Quick Guide Cover

Books
Feng Shui Quick Guide For Home and Office: Secrets For Attracting Wealth, Harmony, and Love

This award-winning book contains my best Feng Shui advice in one place, including Feng Shui basics, success stories, a monthly guide to clutter clearing, and a tip-a-day calendar of 366 Feng Shui secrets.

Available in print and Kindle editions.

My award-winning book is part of the Amazon Matchbook program. That means when you buy the print edition, you get the Kindle edition for only $1.99, which represents an 80% savings.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

 
Video Classes 
Grow Your Business with Feng Shui

My 90-minute, self-paced course includes tips for activating the Career/Work bagua area, along with simple changes you can make in your home that will advance your career or business. It includes tips and advice for everything you need to succeed, from choosing a desk, to lighting, plants, and art.

You'll learn 6 amazing tips that will help you create a space that supports you and your business. Watch as I use Feng Shui principles to conduct a hands-on transformation of a client's workplace and create a dynamic home office that gives more clarity, less clutter and distractions, and ultimately, more success. 
 
Click here to watch the trailer!

Mindfulness Bookstore

I continue to add books to this collection that will help you feel more organized, calm, grounded, and mindful. Email your suggestions for resources to add.
 
Click here to check out this month's selections!

Beyond Feng Shui
Even Photos of Trees Can Make You Happier  
sunny-tree-boughs.jpg Research shows that people who spend time outside in sunny, green, and natural spaces tend to be happier and healthier than those who don't. We all know that intuitively. But, until now, whether the health benefits come from the physical activity itself, the sunlight, or camaraderie if you walk with friends rather than the trees themselves hadn't been studied.

Now, researchers in Amsterdam are focusing on the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
The first system responds to stress by triggering a fight-or-flight reaction, raising heart rates, and putting us generally on edge, while the second system counters those responses, bringing physiological calm. For this study, university students were outfitted with sensors to monitor electrical activity in the heart and then shown photos on a computer screen. Half the pictures displayed urban spaces full of buildings and parked cars, the rest were green places - but the green places were unattractive scenes like empty pathways flanked by trees, rather than beautiful scenes like parks. 

After viewing the photos, students worked on a series of increasingly difficult computerized
math problems while an on-screen assessment compared their results with the average performance and, whether accurately or not, showed them to be subpar. This test has previously been shown to raise stress levels. Afterward, the subjects again looked at the pictures, retook the math test, and looked at more photos. When the students saw green spaces after the math stressor, their parasympathetic nervous systems kicked in, lowering heart rates. Interestingly, the same green scenes when viewed before the math test did not lessen the reaction to stress; in fact, their heart rates still rose as they struggled with the problems. 

According to the scientists, the data suggest that "short durations of viewing green pictures may 
help people to recover from stress." While the same photos probably won't protect viewers against future stress, but finding this effect with even boring visual stimuli - no spectacular green views, no sound, no smells - was surprising, the researchers say. The effects would probably be magnified if someone could visit nature or even look out a window and see actual greenery, they add.

The bottom line is when you can't go out a talk a walk - especially if you work in a cubicle or windowless office - set your screen saver to show trees.

Read the study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

FYI 
Share Articles From This Ezine.
Articles in the Feng Shui To The Rescue newsletter are copyrighted but I encourage you to share them. Please credit Carol M. Olmstead as the author, and when you share the article please link to www.FengShuiForRealLife.com.

Schedule a Space Clearing or House Blessing. 
Carol Olmstead is an Ordained Minister specializing in Feng Shui house blessing ceremonies and space clearing Call 1.800.652.9038 or e-mail Carol Olmstead for details.

Schedule a Consultation or Workshop. 
If you would like to set up a home, office, or business consultation, or schedule a customized workshop, contact: 
Carol M. Olmstead, FSIA 
Feng Shui Master Practitioner 
Call 1.800.652.9038 or e-mail Carol Olmstead  

Carol M. Olm
IFSGstead, FSIA, was certified by the Feng Shui Institute of America and earned Red Ribbon Professional Status from the International Feng Shui Guild.


Feng Shui for Real Life, LLC, and the Feng Shui To The Rescue newsletter serve as a reference and guide for the principles of Feng Shui and as such bear no responsibility for results that a client or reader experiences. Individual results may vary based on the client's participation and intent.

�2016, Carol M. Olmstead