In honor of World Autism Awareness Day (April 2nd) I’ve compiled a list of Feng Shui neurodivergent bedroom design recommendations. Before I delve any further into this topic, let me first say Feng Shui is not a scientifically backed practice; rather, it’s an alternative environmental healing service that can complement your team of specialized educators, therapists, and medical practitioners who work with autistic children. The suggestions you’ll read below are from firsthand experience working with my clients, who are special education teachers and parents of neurodivergent children.

Feng Shui Neurodivergent Bedroom Design Tips:

• Declutter, Organize, and provide Structure: “Visual Noise” for anyone is already a nuisance. Reducing clutter and maintaining an organized space helps reduce visual sensory overload, lowers anxiety, and fosters a calmer, more predictable environment.

• Lighting:

  • When you can, allow natural light to filter into your child’s bedroom. Why? By letting natural light into the bedroom, it improves physical and mental health by increasing serotonin and regulating circadian rhythms for better sleep.

  • Try to avoid fluorescent lighting. This type of lighting is very harsh on the eyes and nervous system. The use of warm light bulbs can create a calmer environment, reducing stress and improving focus. If you can use warm LED light bulbs that dim, even better.

• Inform Transitions and Changes: This is very important. When guiding parents on how to change their child’s bedroom according to Feng Shui, much of what can be done will be based on how much change their child can tolerate. Why is this important? Changes through the lens of an autistic child can be extremely unsettling, especially when they are unexpected. Most parents know how much change is acceptable, while at times there are stricter limitations. Once the parameters have been set, the Feng Shui suggestions can be adjusted and customized as needed.

  • If you know there are certain Feng Shui changes that your child could accept, some experts recommend referring to a schedule, using countdown timers, or giving warnings about upcoming changes so no one is surprised.

• Use Visual Supports: Acknowledge your child through the simple display of their actual name.

  • Take that a step further and consider displaying their accomplishments (i.e., awards, certificates, framed art, etc). Again, be selective with what you display so you are not overburdening the wall space.

  • Also, take into consideration what excites them, their focuses, and interests. An example of this is with a client’s daughter, who absolutely loved anything to do with NASA. The mother reduced items within the bedroom that she knew could be easily removed, and brought astronomy-related visuals to the forefront of her daughter’s bedroom presentation in a minimalistic, organized way.

  • The display of family and friend photos is also a great positive visual anchor.

  • Section off the bedroom to have zones for sleeping, learning, and calmness (to help with self-regulation). In the world of Feng Shui, we use texture to help with this. Harder textures promote focus and mental sharpness (i.e natural looking wooden desks). Soft textures promote calmness, relaxation, comfort, and security (i.e., beanbag, soft blanket, pillows, etc.)

  • Important: Make sure the textures utilized within your child’s bedroom is calming to their sensory system. Not all textures are comforting.

• Bed Position and Desk Position: establish a ‘commanding view’ of the bedroom doorway.

  • Environmental psychology refers to this as creating a sense of refuge. Feng Shui refers to this as feeling protected and supported.

  • Depending on the bedrooms shape, availible wall space, and overall spatial dynamics will further direct how the bed and desk can be best positioned. In the practice of Feng Shui its commonly recommended that the headboard of a bed be placed along a solid wall when addressing older children, teen and adult bed placements. As for young children, it’s commonly suggested to cradle their beds between two walls to help create a feeling of comfort.

• Shape of Furniture: According to the National Institute of Health, rounded, organic furniture shapes evoke feelings of warmth, comfort, and safety. This is especially important for neurodivergent children.

  • In the practice of Feng Shui, these same design suggestions are recommended, and the reason is because it emulates the natural designs of nature. These studies can be found in the interdisciplinary fields of Biophilic Design and Environmental Psychology.

• Sound and Vibrations: Observe the sounds heard along the outside of your child’s bedroom window and from within the home itself. Using sound panels, area rugs, and heavy window curtains, as needed, can help reduce unwanted excess sounds.

• Colors: focus on reducing overstimulation and creating a calming environment using muted tones, pastels, and earthy, low-saturation shades. This is not to say you can’t have small pops of bright colors; however, if you do, it is tempered so as not to overstimulate the nervous system.

We hope these tips can be of support! For those interested in setting up a Feng Shui Consultation to better refine and customize the suggestions from a Feng Shui perspective, contact us!

Happy New Year of the 2026 Fire Horse! Gong Hei Fat Choy! Wishing you all great happiness, health, and prosperity!

Fun Insight: According to the solar calendar, the Fire Horse began on February 4th, 2026.

What's the difference between the lunar and solar calendars? The lunar calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, while the solar calendar is based on the agricultural or farmer’s (Hsia) calendar, which marks the hours, days, and minutes it takes earth to complete an entire orbit around the sun. To further expand upon this, there is also the lunisolar calendar, which combines monthly lunar cycles with the solar year.

The practice of Feng Shui utilizes the lunisolar calendar to track the flying stars of a home (building astrology - identifying the natal chart, annual and monthly changes), Bazi charts (personal astrology), determining auspicious dates (Date Selection), and implementing adjustments.

Curious to know what is in store for the year of the 2026 Fire Horse? Click on the article to learn more! https://fengshuimanhattan.com/.../-whats-in-store-for-the...

For those of you based in New York City, here is a list of FREE events you could attend in celebration of the 2026 Fire Horse New Year!

https://www.nycforfree.co/lunarnewyear

Here is a link for Long Island, NY events: https://www.newyorkfamily.com/lunar-new-year-long-island/

The lunar new year (spring festival) of the fire horse is upon us, beginning February 17th, 2026. Now is the time to prepare yourself and home for the new energy that is rapidly approaching.

In Chinese culture, the Horse represents vitality, perseverance and success. A common reference to the horse due to its positive traits is often referred to as the “victory horse”, achieving success swiftly and smoothly with less struggle.

Part of that preparation begins with becoming aware of what the Fire Horse has in store for this year. It's said to be a beneficial year for the arts, music, entertainment, beauty, and sports. Fire element can offer an optimistic feeling, with drawbacks of quick tempers, impulsiveness, and taking action without careful planning.

People may have more confidence to spend money on necessities, extracurricular activities and enjoyments, such as with travel. There is a lot of talk about 2026 being an intense year in the form of strong transformation, truthfulness, and not being afraid to release what no longer serves you. To better navigate this type of intensity, it’s recommended to be clear with your focuses so you can better direct the energy of 2026 to help define what thrives.

Is there a specific date for when to prepare?

In general, most will begin preparing their home in 2026, a few weeks before the start of the lunar new year. Preparations could kick off around February 10th. Others may begin even sooner if following the solar calendar, which say the fire horse new year of 2026 begins on February 4th. If adopting that practice, most will prepare their updated feng shui cures even earlier and put them in place on February 3rd.

Continue to follow this chain of posts for additional Feng Shui Lunar New Year preparation tips.

Adopting the practice and lifestyle of Feng Shui is a never ending discovery of new insights, perspectives and possibilities. Interpretations of this information varies from person to person as this practice is very subjective, being filtered from experiences, opinions, and observations.

What are the common approaches to Feng Shui?

• Modern-day (i.e. BTB Feng Shui, intuitive, stationary bagua, yinyang, five elements, etc)

• Classical (i.e flying stars - moving bagua, form school, yinyang, five elements, bazi, date selection, etc)

Depending on who you talk to, there can be a strong dislike for modern-day feng shui because its said to be a “cookie-cutter” approach. However, on the other hand, some will steer away from classical feng shui because that approach can feel too strict and unpractical. Even within the classical feng shui community, its not uncommon to find lineages debating amongst each other about who’s classical feng shui approach is ‘right’ vs ‘wrong’. With all that said, I am happy to share there are instances when these two seemingly opposing approaches can agree with one another when addressing certain structural design features of a building and kitchen appliance arrangements.

Due to these internal conflicts, for a combined 28 years, I’ve been researching and mindfully testing and measuring modern-day and classical feng shui approaches. From my own experiences and observations, I’ve found each approach offers unique perspectives on how to observe, interact and enhance the energy of the land, buildings and people. How so? Modern-day Feng Shui embraces the intuitive spiritual side of the practice, investigating predecessor energy, while inviting you to connect and see the hidden metaphors throughout the land and architectural structure of the home. This approach also highlights the importance of intention setting and actions needed to support those manifestations, paired with the reinforcement of ceremony and ritual. Flying Stars (classical Feng Shui) embraces specific formulas that provide you with the natal chart of your home, paired with important cycles of change to be aware of in the current moment while also helping you to forecast the future (i.e. annual changes for each year, month, etc).

Let’s take a look at the popular topic of deciding which direction to face when working inside your home.

• Modern-day: set yourself up in a commanding position - clear vantage point of the doorway, solid wall at your back. Mind you some do not like referring to it as modern so even that is ruffles some feathers in the community.

• Flying Stars: based on your home’s natal chart, face the best direction within your home and overlap that with the annual year. You could take that to the next level and rotate where you sit each month and maybe even change room locations too.

Which feng shui methods do I use? Remember, Feng Shui is very subjective and I’ll share what I’ve observed for myself through testing and measuring.

• I often reference flying stars to locate my ideal facing direction to harness the best energy possible when working. However, I can only do this to a certain extent. Meaning, I can’t always turn my chair or desk, or relocate myself to a new room each year and each month because its not always practical. When that situation arises, I turn to Folk Feng Shui.

• Folk Feng Shui is borrowed beliefs from ancient and modern times. I resonate to this method because it goes beyond the tangible connection of the mundane world and offers another avenue in how to create solution sets. Quickly, if you use salt water cures, talisman statues, coins, red strings, or crystals these are all examples of ‘folk feng shui cures’. You’ll find folk feng shui used in both modern-day and classical feng shui approaches. The time I rely on this approach is when I can’t adjust my self to avoid certain negative annual or monthly flying star energies. To offset those situations I’ll use salt water cures, talismans and prayer. I find this helps reassure my mind, all is being done to harmonize the energy of that given space, and have found that experience to be true.

• Even though I begin with flying stars, I’m still mindful of retaining a ‘commanding position’. Why? According to environmental psychology, having a clear vantage point of a doorway leading into a room can provide a sense of refuge, support and clarity. Leaving your back exposed to the entryway can make you feel uneasy. I resonate to this perspective from my own experience and often position myself to see the doorway when sitting, while making sure my back is cradled with a supportive structure behind it.

• Naturally, I’m also aware of my behaviors, decisions and actions to encourage the most favorable outcomes. In other words, adopting good spiritual hygiene practices, staying on top of my emotional intelligence and social intelligence to help cultivate a harmonious work environment.

Whether you embrace modern-day feng shui, classical feng shui or both, each one intends to offer a supportive ‘road map’ to living a healthy, happy and abundant life. A great way to know which method of feng shui appeals to your senses is by hearing yourself say, ‘ that makes sense’. That simple phrase is a great indicator of you are understanding the feng shui logic of that given approach you are learing about and experiencing.

We are happy to share, Laura Cerrano, founder of “Feng Shui Long Island”, also known as “Feng Shui Manhattan”, has been nominated for Best of L.I. 2026!

Laura is nominated in two categories:
1. “Best Reiki Healer” in the Health, Wellness & Beauty section

2. “Best Interior Designer - Feng Shui” in the Home & Garden section

Voting begins October 1st, 2025 and runs through December 15th, 2025. Voting structure - you are allowed one vote per person per day for each category.

Voting link for Best Reiki Healer: https://tinyurl.com/BestofLIReiki2026

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Voting Link for Best Interior Designer - Feng Shui: https://tinyurl.com/BestofLIFengShui2026

We thank you in advance for your support!!

This is very exciting news! I received an email from the Islip Art Council sharing my artwork in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month (which is from September 15th - October 15th) has been accepted to be displayed in the exhibit!!

The actual exhibition “Collective Heritage” is from September 26th - October 18th, 2025. The Islip Art Council will be hosting a closing celebration on October 18th, 2025 from 1-6PM at Islip Arts Council Gallery - 1701 Sunrise Hwy, Bay Shore, NY.

The celebration will be filled with performances by Maria Loreta Celitan's Spanish and Flamenco Dancers, as well as other events. Additionally, there will be an El Teatro Rodante Hispanico performance, a Bomba performance, the art exhibit featuring local Hispanic and Latin artists, and a 16' x 10' mural from Masters on Main Street set up in the courtyard, where models can be drawn and/or photographed in front of it.

The event is FREE and OPEN to the public!

See you there!

FYI: I'll be attending the earlier portion of the closing celebration because I'm also hosting a drum circle the same day at Emerge Wellness Yoga in Massapequa, NY from 4:30 - 5:30pm: Drum Circle and Movement Registration Link

RYBAK Development enlisted our company, Feng Shui Manhattan, to work along side their interior designers to help finalize the selection of materials, colors and other subtle design details in accordance to the principles of Feng Shui that best aligned with the energies of the building.

In celebration of The Austin's opening, they blessed the building with a Lion Dance Ceremony to help bring in happiness, good health, good fortune, prosperity and joy while at the same time removing unwanted energies. Attendees had the opportunity to write out positive intentions, place them inside a red envelope and feed them to the lion. By doing this its said to help further bless the residents who will be living at The Austin, alongside everyone involved in helping to bring this building to life and future stewardship.

The Lion Dancers blessed the exterior and interior of The Austin building from the ground floor up to the rooftop terrace.

We are so happy to share, our company “Feng Shui Long Island”, also known as “Feng Shui Manhattan”, has been nominated for Best of L.I. 2026!

We've been nominated for:

1. Best Reiki Healer in the Health, Wellness & Beauty section

2. Best Interior Designer - Feng Shui in the Home and Garden Section

Voting began October 1st, 2025 and runs through December 15th, 2025.

Voting structure - you are allowed one vote per person per day for each category.

Voting link for Best Reiki Healer:

https://www.bestoflongisland.com/voting/#/gallery/507037328

Voting Link for Best Interior Designer - Feng Shui:

https://www.bestoflongisland.com/voting/#/gallery/507038199

We thank you in advance for your support!!

Healing Drum Circles is a healing arts company founded by REMO Endorsed Certified Drum Circle facilitator Laura Cerrano. Her company is based out of Long Island, NY. She travels throughout Long Island, the NY Tri-state region, nationally and internationally providing drum circle programing for various populations requesting her services.

Laura’s enthusiasm for drumming blossoms from helping children, adults and seniors connect with their inner musician and enhance their overall well-being and social-emotional development while co-creating fun rhythmic beats and melodies. She became a certified drum circle facilitator through the Center for Advancement of Therapeutic Arts, Music for People® and Rhythm2Recovery facilitator and leadership programs.

All drum circle programs are tailored to meet the specific goals and objectives as requested by the client. Laura works with diverse demographics, including schools, universities, youth community centers, libraries, camps, corporations (team building events), bereavement care centers, special needs communities, senior care facilities for those navigating Dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and their caretakers.

Benefits of attending Drum Circles..

• Improves Immunity

• Feeling accomplished

• Creative and self expression

• Sense of support & control

• Building community

• Increases Mindfulness

• Improves cognitive functions

• Natural medicine for pain relief

• Develop Deep Listening Skills

Drumming with Adults, Seniors, Children and Special Needs Populations

Sample Client List of Organizations and Companies Laura Works With:

• TEDTalks/TEDxCUNY FAST TRACK - John Jay College, New York City - 8th Annual Conference

• Hope & Healing program | Willing Hearts, Helpful Hands Program | Parker Jewish Community Health Programs through The Parker Jewish Institute, NY - Drum Circles for Dementia and Alzheimer’s populations, as well as with their caretakers.

• Sousa Elementary, Port Washington, NY - Creative Arts Program Drum Circle

• Town of Huntington, NY - 5th Annual Juneteenth Celebration - Tri-CYA Fanga Drum Performance and Drum Circle

• The Bristal Assisted Living Communities: Drum Circles for Assisted Living and Memory Care populations

• Artis Senior Living of Commack, NY - Drum Circles for Assisted Living and Memory Care populations

• The Friedberg JCC: Drum Circle for their Dementia Support Programs - Parkinson’s Support Programs

• Orthodox Jewish Communities throughout Brooklyn, NY

• Strength for Life - NY: enlisted Laura’s healing services back in 2011 to provide a healing program for cancer patients and survivors during their weekend wellness retreat (which happens 4x a year). Ever since, Laura has provided healing programs for each retreat, adjusting the topic and experience in accordance with those attending. Over the years Laura has introduced a diversity of healing modalities that range from Feng Shui, Reiki, Art Therapy healing techniques, and drum circles.

To view an extend list of Laura’s Drum Circle clients, please visit HealingDrumCircles.com

To read Laura’s story about how Healing Drum Circles was established, please visit https://canvasrebel.com/meet-laura-cerrano/

I was recently interviewed by CanvasRebel, a magazine that features artists, creatives and entrepreneurs through the power of storytelling. The topic of interest I was selected to speak about focused on strategy - How Covid Changed My Business Model. This was a great interview to be part of because it allowed me to reflect on how much our company has grown from its first establishment by my mother, Carole Provenzale in 1997. The article delves into the history of our company, stories of resilience, buisness strategies and embracing the overall journey of life.

I had the pleasure of providing a Reiki talk and workshop at Columbia University Irving Medical Center Central in February 2025. In attendance were Columbia doctors, nurses, resident doctors and various other employees and staff from the university.

Interestingly, a good amount of those in the audience shared they never heard of Reiki. I found that fascinating because Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York was one of the first to advocate studies on Reiki during open heart surgeries in 2000 with Dr. Mehmet Oz and Reiki Master, Raven Keyes. Since that time, more studies have come out in support of Reiki.

Today, several hospitals throughout the United States offer Reiki Healing Services to those in recovery. Some of those locations include Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, Northwell Health, Yale New Haven Hospital, Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center as to name a few.

It’s great to see Reiki being integrated into western medicine practices. Studies so far have found Reiki to offer different benefits for patients. This including the reduction of anxiety, pain, stress, and improvement with a person’s overall emotional state. However, there are still researches who say there needs to be more quantifiable, reliable ways to study the effects of Reiki.

Before meditation was accepted as being beneficial, it too had to go through rigorous critiques and studies. We’ll see how the future of Reiki continues to unfold throughout the scientific medical community.

The session I provided at Columbia University included a brief history about Reiki, breath work, gentle guided Reiki meditation and suggested hand positions, subtle sound healing with soft chimes, a singing bowl and rainstick. The session concluded with everyone in the room chanting “Om” three times collectively to help reground the audience. I have to say, the closing vocalization was powerful and quite beautiful to receive.

I look forward to presenting at future Columbia events and are grateful for the opportunities.

Healing Services with Laura Cerrano

Reiki Healing Treatments

Sound Healing Treatments

Feng Shui Consultations

Geopathic Stress Dowsing

Healing Drum Circles - Music as Medicine

Space Clearing and Blessings

Soulful Sound Healing with Laura Cerrano

February 5th, 2025

10am - 11am

Oceanside Public Library, 30 Davison Ave, Oceanside, NY 11572

Free to attend!

Event has been completed. The next one is March 12th, 2025 at 10am. Registration Link: https://oceansidelibrary.libcal.com/event/14033700?hs=a

Virtual Reiki Healing Circle with Laura Cerrano

February 6th, 2025

7pm -8pm Eastern Time

Zoom (online group reiki gathering)

$10 per person

Registration: https://fengshuimanhattan.com/.../community-reiki-healing...

Winterfest Community Drum Circle with Laura Cerrano

February 19th, 2025

3:15pm - 4:15pm

Oyster Bay- East Norwich Public Library - 89 E Main St, Oyster Bay, NY 11771

Meet in the community room

Free to attend!

No registration required, just show up!

Drums and smaller percussions will be provided, however you are welcome to bring your own! No previous drumming experience needed.

January 2nd, 2025

7-8pm eastern time

Facilitated by Laura Cerrano

$10 per person

Registration: https://fengshuimanhattan.com/.../community-reiki-healing...

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Soulful Sound Healing with Laura Cerrano

January 15th, 2025

10AM - 11AM

Oceanside Library, 30 Davison Avenue, Oceanside, NY 11572

Free to attend! Adults and Seniors program.

Registration: https://oceansidelibrary.libcal.com/event/13546665

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New Years Drum and Dance Circle Facilitated by Laura Cerrano

January 16th, 2025

Time: 6PM - 7PM

Lakeview Public Library, 1120 Woodfield Road, Rockville Centre, NY 11570

Free to attend! Open to all ages!

Registration: https://lakeviewlibrary.libcal.com/event/13878086

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8-month Feng Shui Manhattan School Certification Program begins!

January 18th and 19th, 2025

Taught by Feng Shui Master Laura Cerrano

To learn more and register: https://fengshuimanhattan.com/the-feng-shui-manhattan...

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Sound Healing with Laura Cerrano

January 20th, 2025

7PM - 8PM

Jericho Public Library, 1 Merry Lane, Jericho, NY 11753

Free to attend! Adults and Seniors program.

Registration: https://www.jericholibrary.org/.../sound-healing-workshop...

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Community Drum Circle facilitated by Laura Cerrano and Erman

January 23rd, 2025

7-8PM

West Islip Library, 3 Higbie Lane West Islip, NY, 11795

Free to attend! Adults and Seniors Program.

Registration: https://westisliplibrary.libnet.info/event/12370314

Laura Cerrano of Feng Shui Manhattan was invited to be a panel presenter for Le Rose Atelier’s Grand Opening in New York City on October 29th, 2024. Jennifer Gómezcoello, CEO of Le Rose Atelier and Laura engaged in an enlightening conversation to help educate guests about the vital role of flowers and plants in Feng Shui.

During their discussion they covered an array of topics that included which types of flowers are great for certain areas of the home, the importance of flower colors, scientific studies on the benefits of plants and flowers, and so much more!

Wishing Jennifer and her family many years of success and bountiful blessing!

Happy Halloween!! I had the pleasure of pre-celebrating Halloween the day before by facilitating a drum circle for "Willing Hearts, Helpful Hands" programing through the Parker Jewish Institute for caregivers and populations navigating Alzheimer's and dementia. We enjoyed some sweet treats and great beats!

To get even more into the spirit of Halloween we played a drumming zombie game! This game was inspired by Rhythm2Recovery where we had one person (me, haha) stand in the center of the drum circle and slowly move like zombie toward other drummers who are playing. The way for drummers to not become zombified was by sharing one interesting unknown fact about themselves with the group. From this interaction we learned that a couple who was drumming with us has been married for 61 years!! We also found out, both of them were born on the same day! Pretty cool!

This is a great easy and fun way to encourage social engagement through rhythmic-making fun! As you can see this game is great for a variety of ages ;)

Feng Shui Master Consultant Laura Cerrano of Feng Shui Manhattan was recently interviewed by Erin Kennedy, host of the "Office Latte Podcast". During the segment we explored an array of Feng Shui topics which included the history of Feng Shui, the origins of our company (Feng Shui Manhattan), identifying different Feng Shui practices, how to represent the five elements within a space, quick home and office tips to help cultivate a harmonious environment, and client success stories.

To be fair, we scratched the surface of these varying Feng Shui topics. I'll elaborate in upcoming articles and videos to delve a bit deeper.

Certified New York Feng Shui Consultant Expert, Laura Cerrano of Feng Shui Manhattan was interviewed by PetiBaroque.com for the article, "Vintage Design Meets Modern Aesthetics: 25 Mistakes To Avoid". Older homes have unique personalities and require special care and attention, and not just in structural ways.

Through the lens of Feng Shui and Geopathic Stress Dowsing, when addressing historic homes and refurbishing vintage furniture, consultants absolutely venture into the dialogue of subtle energetic imprints left behind from previous owners. It's also very important to work with conscious contractors, designers and crafts-people who will not only preserve the aesthetics of a historical home, but also respect the spirit and personality of the home during renovations.

The article provides an abundance of insights, tips and suggestions from 25 interior design experts on how to harmoniously blend vintage and historical design with modern-day living.

Exciting news! Our company "Feng Shui Long Island", also known as "Feng Shui Manhattan", has been nominated for two "Best of L.I. 2025" category!

1. "Best Reiki Healer" in the Health, Wellness & Beauty section

2. "Best Interior Designer - Feng Shui" in the Home & Garden section

Voting started October 1st, 2024 and runs through December 15th, 2024. Voting structure - you are allowed one vote per person per day for each category.

Voting link for Best Reiki Healer: https://www.bestoflongisland.com/voting/#/gallery/458564645/

Voting Link for Best Interior Designer - Feng Shui: https://www.bestoflongisland.com/voting/#/gallery/458565466

Please know our company also provides Geopathic Stress Dowsing Services, Sound Healing, Space Clearing and Blessing Ceremonies, and Healing Drum Circles.

We thank you in advance for your support!!

Class is in session! For those of you who are looking to train in the art and science of Feng Shui, we are gearing up for another 8-month Feng Shui Professional Certification Program starting January 2025!

The Feng Shui Manhattan School provides an immersive 8-month Feng Shui Certification Program designed for anyone who wishes to delve deeper into the teachings of Feng Shui. You’ll receive comprehensive training from Certified Feng Shui Master, Laura Cerrano, who brings 27 years of Feng Shui Consulting experience into the classroom.

The information gathered provides every student with unique tools, insights, guidance, and self-empowerment for positive change. Throughout the 8-months, you’ll learn how to utilize your new set of skills immediately. As a class, we’ll thoroughly explore the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual components of Feng Shui with a blend of modern-day and classical approaches.

The Feng Shui Manhattan School course follows the Universal Standard of Teaching as proposed by the International Feng Shui Guild.

Early bird pricing is now available till November 1st, 2024. Payment plans available. Registration is open!

To view the schedule, modules and register, visit: 2025 Feng Shui Manhattan School Professional Certification Program

Reviews from Feng Shui Manhattan School Graduates:

Join Certified Long Island NY Sound Healer, Laura Cerrano to enjoy a rich tapestry of sounds from Tibetan singing bowls, gentle rhythmic drumming, tuning forks, and various other instruments. Sound healing provides a unique and immersive experience that can help release tension and stress, allowing you to feel more balanced, harmonious and at peace.

Facilitated by Certified Sound Healer, Laura Cerrano

Address: Jericho Public Library, 1 Merry Lane, Jericho, NY 11753

Time: 1PM - 2PM

Free to attend! Sponsored by the library

I’m happy to share I was interviewed by Well + Good, along side a fellow Feng Shui Consultant, to provide “8 Feng Shui Kitchen Tips to Restore Organization and Calm This Fall”. Enjoy!

As a drum circle facilitator and musican I can appreciate there is a time and place for rhythmic music-making in contrast to quietness. If the volume of daily noise is disruptive, this becomes a concern and Feng Shui categorizes the experience as ‘sha energy’ (life draining energy). According to The World Health Organization (WHO), noise pollution creates stress related illnesses, high blood pressure, anxiety, hearing loss, sleep disruption, and reduced cognitive function. Noise above 65 (dB) transform into harmful frequencies.

Some of the biggest culprits of noise pollution range from 70 - 120 dB’s include:

• Traffic - honking horns, racing cars and motorcycles in residential streets

• Lawnmowers and leaf blowers

• Trains, locomotives and their horns, and subways

• Aircrafts of varying sizes and models - including helicopters

• Prolong indoor (apartment/condo living) and outdoor house parties and music bands

• New construction and street paving

• Fire works

According to NASA and Science Direct, when most of the world went into a lockdown between March and April 2020, air and noise pollution from daily human activity dropped to healthy levels. COVID was horrible, no question about that. Yet, it provided a post awakening to better sensibility and awareness toward our environmental surroundings. Today, more and more local and global communities are taking action to address noise pollution when able to. However, these changes require the entire COMMUNITY to collectively work together - residential, commercial, transportation departments, local governments, etc.

What can be done to address noise pollution from a Feng Shui perspective? Be proactive, practical and creative.

• Install sound proof windows. However, this can be very expensive and the hope would be if a developer knows they are building in a noise polluted area this would already be taken into consideration

• Install black out curtains within rooms that need quieter environments

• If you sleep with windows open, you could mitigate the negative sound decibels with a white noise sound machine or small fan. Any of these possible ideas may not be your first choice, but it gives you a sense of control which can help reduce anxiety

• Use noise canceling headphones

• Inquire with your local government, town, village or city about their noise ordinance law and ask for support in enforcing it when appropriate

• If no noise ordinance law exists, perhaps advocate for one within your local community

• Intentionally give yourself a break from being overstimulated - i.e. constantly looking at your phone, surfing the web, watching TV, etc. Unplug. Visit locations that provide quiets spaces (maybe an outdoor garden, state park, etc)

• You can take action yourself with being spatially conscious of the noise your home produces. Is your dog barking outside for long periods of time? Is it time to turn in after throwing a house party? In other words, be considerate and use common sense. Embrace empathy vs only thinking about yourself

• Plant more trees. Trees are a natural buffer to sound.

It’s understood we occupy a world that is full of activity. While at the same time, it’s understood we ALL need moments of rest and pause to establish harmony. This is not just for humans, it’s for nature as well.

I am pleased to announce that I was recently interviewed by Natural Awakenings Magazine for an article titled "The Power of Healing Circles: Resilience and Enjoyment in Nurturing Company". The article explores the significance and advantages of Healing Circles whether it involves activities like drumming and dancing, specific healing rituals or simply trying something different in a community setting.

If you would like to learn more about the type of healing circles I offer, please visit Healing Drum Circles with Laura Cerrano.

It’s a fascinating topic to be aware of because Reiki treatments do not involve physical invasive procedures. There is no massage or the application of any type of physical pressure. The Reiki practitioner offers subtle touch with their hands to different appropriate regions of a person’s body. Or, sometimes the Reiki healer never touches a person’s body and just allows their hands to hover above. Other practitioners may offer distance healing, which means they are not in the same room as the person receiving Reiki.

What does it mean if a person who received Reiki shares an experience of discomfort after a session?

The Reiki community (along with various other metaphysical healing communities) refer to this experience as a ‘healing crisis’. This means during the healing process old symptoms could temporarily resurface as the subtle body frequencies are letting go of physical, emotional, and mental “toxins” that have been stored within their cellular memory. Causes to these toxic buildups could be a result of past traumatic experiences - illnesses, surgeries, poor health and pollutants in a person’s current, past and/or parallel lifetimes. To be clear, Reiki is not creating new uncomfortable sensations, its bringing awareness to imbalances that are already active within your energy system that are in need of healing.

How would you know you are experiencing a ‘healing crises’ after a Reiki session?

Some people may notice a shift in their energy within a few minutes, hours, or days after the reiki treatment has been completed. Common mild symptoms may include aches, soreness and subtle pain in areas of the body that have dealt with trauma in the past.

For those who are very sensitive to energy healing, their healing crises may show up with more intensity. This typically happens with clients who have held onto and repressed emotions from experiences such as grief, fear, depression, sadness, anger, frustration and overall immense levels of stress. More intense symptoms may include:

• flu-like symptoms

• fever

• crying

• headache

• sore throat

• coughing

• aching joints and muscles

• tingling sensations

• nausea

• constipation/diarrhea

• temporary changes with sleep habits

• more noticeable pain in areas of the body that have experienced previous trauma

To offer a quick example of a ‘healing crisis’ I’ll share my own experience…

3-years after my mother and Feng Shui Mentor, Carole Provenzale passed away in 2010 I was learning Reiki level 2 and blending that with various other healing modalities (inner child work, hypnosis, weekly healing meetings, etc). One evening I was standing in my bathroom and a strong feeling of wanting to throw up came out of no where. A huge release of buildup toxins came purging out of my subtle bodies and whole being through intense dry heaving. While in the process of this experience my inner guidance told me, “don't fight this, allow it to pass, it’s part of the healing process”. Within a few seconds (which felt much longer) the dry heaving stopped. Does this mean everyone will dry heave or have some dramatic release like that? No. Each person is uniquely different. As for me, that is how my healing crisis expressed itself.

What can be done to help process a ‘healing crisis’?

Let your Reiki practitioner know of your symptoms and they can offer guidance in how to process the experience. Perhaps this is done with guided meditation, journaling or having another session with them to further extract any stuck energy, as appropriate. From that point, the energy recalibrates and settles down and clients have reported feeling more calm, relaxed, less pain (if that was one of the symptoms) to no pain in areas that felt unbalanced. Reiki is a complement to your regular healthcare provider,

Please remember…

What you have read is not fear based information. It’s to help alleviate worry and concern. Our bodies are amazing capsules of history and can hold onto traumas knowingly or unknowingly. This article is offering a barometer of logic to an unexpected Reiki experience after receiving treatment. Awareness, knowledge and experience leads to wisdom.

Its understood this topic of discussion can feel uneasy for some because their expectation of what Reiki should be and feel like has been adopted from other people’s experiences. The best approach to receiving a Reiki healing treatment is to go in with your own clear intentions, an open heart, open mind and allow your experience to be uniquely yours.

The West Palm Beach site has an intriguing background as a once family owned and operated hotel (est. in 1925) that is currently functioning as a hostel. During the on-site Feng Shui analysis, we reviewed blue-prints, along with observing which parts of the existing building's facade would be preserved and integrated into the newly designed hotel. Inventory of the hotel’s 1925 original furnishings was also taken into consideration with a few pieces to be incorporated into the new hotel once constructed. Referring to the furnishings, I’m happy to highlight two keen observations.

Above you’ll see a photo of the hostel’s interior. This photo showcases an antique mirror that is an original piece and we hope to repurpose it in the new design. In Feng Shui we are very mindful of mirrors, however this mirror presented an energetically neutral feeling (which is great!). I believe much of that is due to the manager of the hostel who conducts monthly space clearings to keep the energy of the existing three-level building in balance.

Additionally, there is an image featuring three king palms, which has been recommended to be preserved and displayed within the new hotel. Why is this important? The selection of royal palms was deliberate from the original hotel owners, as they were meant to represent stability, strength, and permanence. They even planted a king palm outside the hotel to commemorate its opening in 1925. Two more king palms were planted near the owner’s home, symbolizing their children who eventually took over the hotel.

I bring awareness to this topic because when you have the opportunity to integrate positive history into a new development, it honors the story of the past, while cohesively blending the present moment. This could be accomplished through retaining certain aspects of an original structure or by refurbishing pieces of furniture. Just remember, acknowledgment of the past goes a long way.

In Feng Shui it’s commonly recommended not to see the toilet bowl upon walking into the bathroom. Why? By seeing this bathroom appliance right away, it’s believed to hinder (drain) a person’s energy. The toilet bowl has become a metaphor of drain due to the constant downward movement of water flow.

This becomes more of a concern if the toilet is aligned with a bathroom doorway that opposes a kitchen stove, bed, baby’s crib, desk or doorway leading into your home.

What Is The Best Feng Shui Remedy?

Design a bathroom layout where you conceal the toilet bowl. An example of this concept is below.

The images you see illustrate a toilet bowl hidden behind a wall.

The image above illustrates looking into the bathroom and not seeing the toilet bowl. This would be the ideal placement, to conceal it.

If you implement this idea, be sure the mirror(s) you install within the bathroom do NOT reflect the toilet bowl. Why? Mirrors in Feng Shui are believed to multiply what they see. So this means, you do not want to multiply the metaphor of drain.

Now, when it comes to the placement of the bathroom in regard to the overall floor plan of an individual home or apartment unit, that is an entirety different conversation. However, this is a small detail that can have a positive influence when considering the layout of your bathroom appliances.

I eventually identified the facing direction and recorded the compass reading. After doing so, I noticed a message on the sidewalk where I stood that said, "Live The Present." It was a lovely reminder for myself and to pass onto my client, to live in the present moment. It’s a great reminder to keep an open heart for receiving subtle messages of inspiration.

Topic: What is Geopathic Stress Dowsing?

Dowsing is a common practice in many cultures that dates back thousands of years. Dowsers of the past and today understand there is a subtle, yet powerful entanglement of energy between humans and the earth. The word Geopathic comes from two Greek words. Geo means ‘of the earth’, and pathos means ‘suffering’ or ‘disease’. Exploring Geopathic Stress Dowsing is a fascinating topic that can be extremely eye-opening by providing new perspectives in how you choose to cultivate beneficial relationships with your surroundings. During this program, Laura Cerrano will share a brief history of dowsing, key principles of dowsing, how to recognize the sign of Geopathic Stress, and demo on-site and remote dowsing techniques.

Address: Eyes of Learning, Levittown Hall, 201 Levittown Pkwy, Hicksville, NY 11801

Presented by Laura Cerrano, Certified Geopathic Stress Dowser and Feng Shui Master

Date: July 19th, 2024

Time: 8 PM - 10 PM

Fee: $20 per person

You can attend in-person or virtually. Pay in advance or at the door.

The Parker Jewish Institute is hosting a special event at the Lakeview Public Library in Rockville Centre, NY on Tuesday, August 6th, 2024 from 11AM - 1PM, "Drum and Tambourine Circle". The drum circle is facilitated by Laura Cerrano of Feng Shui Manhattan. Join us for a fun and interactive rhythmic experience that promotes wellness and community engagement.

All drums and small percussions will be provided! We'll drum inside the library in Meeting Room #1. No prior drumming experience is needed. We are encouraging the senior community to join us! However, all are welcome!

Date and Time: Tuesday, August 6th, 2024 from 11AM - 1PM

Address: Lakeview Public Library 1120 Woodfield RoadRockville Centre, NY, 11570

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Three Ways to Register for this FREE event:

1. Call Parker Jewish Institute at: (516) 586-1500

2. Register with the Lakeview Public Library. Contact: Adriana Arguelles at 516-536-3071 or email: aarguelles@lakeviewlibrary.org

3. Register online

YOU’RE INVITED…

Play, learn, share, collaborate, heal and transform. Laugh, cry, sing, dance in a safe and sacred space where we can work together to heal and grow balanced, inspired communities for practice and transformation in a most historic and magical place.

WORKSHOP DETAILS:

Reiki and Sound Healing Practice Workshop

Date: Saturday, June 29th, 2024

Time: 11AM-3PM

Location: Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park
1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay, NY 11771

• We meet in the Greenhouse Classroom

To reserve your spot, pre-payment is required. You can purchase tickets using Venmo or credit card.

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Workshop Cost: $40 (paying with Venmo: @FengShui-LongIsland)

Workshop Cost: $42 (paying with credit card)

• Please be advised, if paying with a credit card there will be a small merchant fee included into the overall total.

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State Site Parking ~ $8 per car, Free w/Empire Pass; 62 and over

• Payment for parking is processed by park admission machines on the day of

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HOW TO PREPARE...

• Dress for comfort and weather w/walking shoes, water bottle

• Yoga mat, blanket, drum, handpan or small acoustic instrument optional

• Light refreshments served

EXPERIENCE AND GROW…

• Learn / practice shamanic rhythmic healing

• Release old energy blockages to transformation

• Open up / share spirit through conscious music making

• Experience creativity, joy and peace

• Reiki Circles and Practice

• Meet your inner heart drummer

• Drum healing Ceremony

• Sound Healing practice w/bowls, gong, handpans, tuning forks, energy chimes

• Vocal explorations; toning, drum ’n chant, breathwork and vocalize w/nature

Questions? Contact Us

I find this topic refreshing because most articles rarely include end of life discussions with Feng Shui. From time to time clients request help to find the best location for where to place their cremated pet or human ashes. In our practice this is not an unusual request. By the end of the consultation the client embodies a sense of ease and inner peace because the urn placement is done with clear intention vs from a state of distress.

Please keep in mind there are various perspectives about how and where to place cremated ashes. What I share is based on my own personal experience (having been a pet owner for many years) and from the experiences of my clients.

To get this topic started, a few years ago I wrote an article regarding where to place cremated human ashes which can also be applied to pet ashes. You can read the article by clicking on: FENG SHUI TIPS ON WHERE TO PLACE CREMATED ASHES

To elaborate on the Wall Street Journal article, I’ll begin by sharing my own story in how I chose to honor my deceased pet.

The image you see above was of my beloved dog, Skylar. I was blessed with him as a gift during my early college years. Skylar was with me through some really important stages of my life. Such as with the loss of my mother and grandmother, but also with some amazing new chapters. This including meeting my husband and traveling with me throughout the United States by car, boat and plane.

When Skylar’s moment of transition arrived, it was heart wrenching. Yet, having gone through the conscious loss with two major human figures in my life (mom and grandma), it prepared me for the passing of Skylar which allowed me to grieve in a healthy way and also make sure his soul transitioned with ease.

This sharing goes beyond just placement of ashes but I feel it’s important to mention because it offers food for thought when grieving a heavy loss and making sure you do not become stuck as well.

Letting Go…

When people read these two words “Letting go” it may feel very unsettling because the mind reacts and fires off thoughts of, I don't want to let go, I want to see them again, I want to be around them, hold them, etc.

Letting go in this context is about not grasping your pet’s soul with such desperation that they can’t transition. My initial teachings about this topic came from my mother, Carole Provenzale, and was further elaborated by a friend’s grandmother and reading The Tibetan Book of the Dead.

Its important to align your mind and heart as one because the wisdom of the heart will provide you with immense knowledge and guidance in what it really means to let go. To try and illustrate this concept of letting go I’ll share what I did before the moment Skylar passing and how my mind and heart solidified this new reality.

During Skylar’s last day on earth I rushed him to the veterinarian hospital because he collapsed on the floor. I handed him over to the doctors and they recommended I go home and wait for their call. The only options for Skylar was to stabilize him or put him to sleep. I drove home extremely upset and once I arrived I retreated into my meditation room, laid on the floor and recited a prayer to the universe. I said, if it is time for Skylar to transition please make the message extremely clear and i’ll help him transition. Within 30 minutes of that prayer I received a call from the nurse and sure enough Skylar’s body was dying.

I met my father at the veterinarian hospital and we both stood near Skylar, petting him gently. I leaned close to him, looking into his eyes and said out loud, “ Skylar, you are safe and surrounded by loved ones. Mom, grandma, our family and other pets are ready to greet and welcome you as you transition. I release your soul from this Earth plain so you can be free of any pain and suffering allowing your soul to live on. We love you so much, journey well my friend.”

Within seconds of reciting that prayer of release, Skylar gave one last conscious look and his eyes closed. In that moment I felt his release within my heart. That is the feeling of letting go, knowing he was no longer suffering, which translated as my father and I no longer suffering with immense anxiety and worry for his well-being.

What’s done is done.

Reciting the prayer of release was not easy, but it was necessary. I did a similar prayer for my mother and grandmother when they were in process of transition. I do not shun knowing that i’ll be called to do this again for other family members because it’s the cycle of life.

Skylar’s Story Continues….

After Skylar passed away I made the conscious choice that I would invite his soul into my bedroom to say one last good bye. As I prepared my bed for the evening, I purposely positioned a pillow he would sleep on near my head. As I laid on my bed and place my left arm around the pillow, I awaited his visit. I drifted off and felt the pressure of my bed shift, resembling the movements of him walking on the bed when he was alive. I stayed with that sensation and welcomed it and in my dream state I said, “Skylar!” and there he was, healthy looking.

Right away he spoke to me. He said, “you need to let me out”. I completely understood what that meant and in the dream I walked him to the back patio door (as I always did when he was alive). Before opening the patio door in my dream, I asked Skylar if I could pet him one last time and he said, “ of course”, in such a mature voice. After that, I opened the door and off he went.

When I awoke, I was like, wow! That was a huge moment of experiencing what it means to let go in a very conscious and peaceful way.

How has this EXPERIENCE helped me?

For me, this experience helped me consciously acknowledge Skylar was no longer living through a peaceful and loving engagement in letting him go. Today, when I think of Skylar, I smile vs feeling sad. He’s in my heart and in the hearts of those who knew him. This goes the same when I talk about my mother, grandmother or any other deceased family member whose memories are kept alive through story telling.

Perhaps this can be a point of inspiration to create a ceremony of your own, such as with an end-of-life ceremony where friends and family come together to honor those (pets and humans) who passed away.

where are the best locations to place pet Ashes inside a home?

Somes people who experience a new loss may decide to place their pet ashes inside their bedroom. It’s noted most interior designers and Feng Shui consultants (including myself) will advise against that because you don’t want to perpetuate the feeling and visual connection of excess grief.

But what happens if the person does not want to move pet ashes from their bedroom? When this happens, its recommended to balance excess yin (urn full of ashes/dead energy) with yang (life force/living energy). Normally, in Feng Shui it’s not recommended to have plants in the bedroom, however this would be a unique situation. The intended use of the plants would be to symbolize new beginnings for the pet’s soul, while at the same time neutralizing the excess yin energy. The amount of real plants could be one or two near the urn.

Placement of the pet ashes inside the bedroom is advised to be kept away from the bed. Overtime it’s strongly encouraged to move the pet ashes to another area of the home as to refresh the bedroom energy and truly reserve that room for deep rest.

I recently worked with a client in New York City who kept his pet ashes in the bedroom for 7 years. Upon entering into the bedroom his first question was, “should I move my dog’s ashes?” I responded, “yes!” We found a lovely shelf in the living room and his pet ashes have been relocated to sit along side a few deeply meaningful ancestral images and objects. We both agreed and felt this was a much better place for Jax to reside. The intentional relocation of his pet ashes helped shift the energy of the bedroom to feel brighter and uplifted. We even did a light space clearing ceremony to commence this new chapter of connection.

other rooms to consider for where to place pet ashes according to feng shui

• living room

• den

• library

• room dedicated for an altar

• indoor conservatory

When you relocate your pet ashes, you’ll want to make sure your pet’s memorial display does not look or feel depressed. This will most likely be a progressive adjustment. If you choose to keep pet ashes within your home, integrate them to be a happy addition vs keeping your sub-conscious mind attached to the memory of loss.

As shared, I’ve provided some key Feng Shui Suggestions about where to place cremated ashes in a past article. You can read additional insights in the Wall Street Journal article. As new insights and suggestions come about I’ll be sure to share.

Why does this matter?

From a human standpoint, if the feeling of resentment goes unchecked it has the potential to morph into….

• Anger

• Frustration

• Hostility 

• Bitterness

• Hard feelings

• Uneasiness 

• Hate and more…..

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, chronic anger puts your body into a fight-or-flight mode. Due to this, your heart rate, blood pressure and immune system can be negatively impacted. Chronic anger can also increase the risk of depression, heart disease and diabetes, among other conditions.

As human beings we are walking, living breathing bundles of energy. The energy we choose to cultivate from within can be felt all around us, let that be emotions of love and compassion, to hate and resentment. In the practice of Feng Shui and Geopathic Stress Dowsing it’s believed our thoughts, emotions and actions can affect our home environment. For example, in the dowsing community when humans engage in arguments or high levels of strong negative thoughts, it's believed to generate ‘emotional conflict points.’ These are negative imprints left throughout different regions of the home where arguments or large volumes of repetitive negative thoughts have festered.

Let’s imagine if you took those negative emotions and continued to spew them throughout your house (speaking out loud, thinking, feeling, maybe even behaving in a certain way) and than decided to direct those lower emotions and thoughts toward your own house. “ I don’t like this house”, “ I hate it here”, “ I don’t care about it”, It’s awful,” etc. How do you think your home would feel absorbing those types of frequencies day in and day out?

To sum that up quickly, not good. You're doing yourself an injustice because those lower vibrations are absorbed into the walls, ceiling, and floors which are than redistributed towards those occupying the home. Feelings of resentment generated within your home and towards your home, work the same way as if you were projecting resentment towards another human. It’s a cycle that never ends until acknowledged and stopped.

It’s understood each home and person has a unique story to why resentment and hate has built up. However, if the intention is to change your homes energy, it’s recommended to listen to your home’s request for help.

As your home heals, you heal.

Sometimes a home’s request is very simple, such as asking you to no longer spew resentment and hateful thoughts towards it. Perhaps the home needs certain maintenance repairs that have gone unchecked, or certain rooms or entire sections of the home require a serious refresh or energy clearing. There are so many possibilities to this dialogue, yet if you don’t take the time to listen, you may never hear what is needed.

To help provide a face and body to whom you're speaking with, in Feng Shui and Dowsing its believed each home has a soul and a guardian who can communicate their needs and express their feelings. This is the energy of whom you are connecting with. Or, you could even say, the home is a deeper reflection of your subconscious mind.

How do I communicate with my home?

There are many ways and I’ll share one method that works for me, my students and clients when appropriate. We invite you to be open to these ideas.

1. Take the time to meditate for at least 5-10 minutes. During this time, it’s recommended to call in your healing and protection guides. This overall process helps center yourself to become more receptive to deep listening and dialogue.

2. After, walk to the center of your home (in Feng Shui we refer to this as the heart of your home) and place your right hand on the center wall and left hand on your heart. Close your eyes and ask permission to speak with the soul of your home and/or guardian of your home.

3. Through deep listing you’ll receive a response. Each person is unique in how this dialogue happens. This is called tapping into your personal clairs. Some examples of the clair senses include…

• Clairvoyance – seeing - perceive information or events through clear mental images or visions

• Clairaudience - clear hearing - receive information through auditory perception

• Clairsentience - sense - or feel information on an emotional level

• Clairgustance - tasting - taste flavours or substances without physically ingesting

• Clairalience or clairolfaction - smell - perceive smells or odours that are not physically present

• Claircognizance - Knowing - sudden insights about a situation or information without any logical explanation

• For the purposes of connecting with your home I would say a good 90% of the time dialogue will happen through Clairvoyance, Clairaudience, Clairsentience and/or Claircognizance. As you become more connected with your Clair abilities you can better strengthen them as needed.

4. From there, within your minds eye or spoken out loud, ask your home what it needs help with. i.e. “How can I help you so that you are healthy and happy so collectivity we can cultivate a harmonious home for myself and family?”

5. Be open to how you receive a response. For some, they may receive information right away, for others, information could arise in other ways, such as through a dream, or dialogue with other people, or a song, or through words you see walking along the street or when reading a book. Remember, like with another human, this is an opportunity to find resolution and peace.

6. Once the session has concluded, give thanks for the opportunity to speak and remember to close down what you have opened up. Using the words from Dowsing, “I give thanks for this opportunity to speak with the soul and guardian of my home and ask management to close any doorways or portals that were opened expectedly or unexpectedly during the course of my communication with the soul and guardian of my home. I ask that my energy and the energy of my home return to normal working levels. And so it is.”

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Optional: if you prefer to journal your question you could. However, I’ve found the link of connection to be more powerful when able to physical touch the wall of a home for direct dialogue. Naturally, explore what works for you.

Let’s say you’ve done all this and you start to feel a shift for the better within the energy of your home and self. You’ll want to maintain that positive trajectory and begin looking into more practical adjustments to further support the refreshed energy.

1. Take the time to personalize your home. Express who you are, your likes, interests and joys. Simply put, begin displaying artwork, photos, textures, colors, etc that bring joy to your heart. Take the time to highlight what matters in your life. In modern-day Feng Shui terms, think of your home as a giant live-in vision board.

2. Become clear with the type of mood you’ll like to create. To help with this, decide on the function of each room. Is it a place for sharing meals, to entertain, to create (i.e artwork, music), office work, sleep, meditate, etc.

3. Declutter. An organized space means an organized mind and less stress. This is scientifically proven.

4. Stay in the present moment. Thoughts of the past and thinking too far into the future can create unwanted stress, worry and anxiety. Focus on adjustments that can be done in the current moment to improve the energy of your home right now. This is a step by step process.

Again, it’s understood the reasons for resenting or hating a home can vary, so the information provided in this article is a base introduction to help begin opening your heart, mind, and “Feng Shui Eyes.”

Written by Laura Cerrano, Certified Feng Shui Master, Reiki Master, Geopathic Stress Dowser. and Sound Healer. Contact Us

Workshop Description:

Join Certified New York Feng Shui Master Laura Cerrano to explore how your home and surroundings can affect your mindset, emotions, behavior and overall health. Learn how to combine the principles of Feng Shui and intuitive thinking to create powerful practical solutions to cultivate peace and harmony within your home and life.

Location: The Holistic Center for Soulful Living, 811 W Jericho Tpke, Smithtown, NY 11787

Time: 7PM - 9PM

Materials to bring:
* notebook and writing utensil

Admission: $40

THE EYES OF LEARNING SPRING FESTIVAL is happening on Sunday, April 7th, 2024 from 11 AM to 5 PM!

Enjoy a full day of shopping a large variety of vendors, listening to lectures, taking a chance on a raffle, being with like-minded people, and making new friends!

Snacks and drinks are available for purchase.

Admission:
$5.00 ~ with admission you receive free access to all lectures!
$25.00 ~ Psychic Readings

*If you would like a psychic reading, it's strongly recommended to arrive early to reserve your spot!*

Free Lectures!

Pat Anderson and Laura Cerrano kick off The Eyes of Learning lecture series with Jin Shin Meditation and Soulful Sound Healing from 12 PM - 1 PM.

List of full presenters, additional times and topics for the EOL lecture series are to be announced

Date of Festival: Sunday, April 7th, 2023

Time: 11 am - 5 pm

Location: Levittown Hall, 201 Levittown Pkwy, Levittown Parkway, Hicksville, NY 11801

See you there!

The Lunar New Year of the Wood Dragon is just days is on February 10th, 2024

Here is a Quick and Easy Feng Shui Tip anyone can do!

Purchase fresh flowers to symbolize new beginnings. When selecting your flowers, we invite you to be very intentional about this process and choose a simple bouquet of flowers that has a combination of FULLY bloomed flowers and BLOOMING flowers.

Why? Bloomed flowers symbolize the blessings and joys of life that are already within your home and heart. Blooming flowers are a fantastic symbol of blessings and positive manifestations to come. It's also great to select flowers that have some warm accented colors (i.e. reds, oranges, pinks, lavenders, etc) to welcome in the new year.

Common go-to flowers....

• Orchids

• Chrysanthemum

• Peonies

• Peach Blossoms

• Plum Blossoms

• Narcissus

• Flamingo Flower

As we wane from 2023, we steadily move closer to February 4th, 2024 to begin a new solar year. For those who follow the Lunar New Year, that begins February 10th, 2024. Besides stepping into a new year, as a whole we are also transitioning into a brand new 20 year cycle referred to as Period 9. I’ll get into the meaning of Period 9 with a separate article. For now, we’ll focus on a base overview of what 2024 has in store in accordance to the Yang Wood (Jia) Dragon (Chen). The Feng Shui insights derive from the five elements theory, trigrams, and Dragon characteristics.

Let’s start with Yang Wood. Yang wood by its own nature promotes leadership qualities, being persistent but also inflexible at times. In regard to the nature of the Dragon with wood element, this type of combo can promote an artistic expression, strong buisness sense, and confidence in taking advantage of opportunities when presented. However, when Dragon is not in a state of harmony it can have an underbelly of aggression, mockery and too much pride.

Dragon by its own nature is Earth element. Due to this in accordance to the five elements theory it creates a ‘destructive cycle’ with wood element, which could translate as increased stubbornness that emits a sense of lessened opportunities to negotiate and compromise. Some of the best lifestyle advice we could all embrace is to adopt healthy emotional and social intelligent practices throughout 2024. Pick your conversations wisely and leave space for compromise when tempered topics of discussion.

I know the introduction to the Dragon year is a bit heavy, but not to worry! The Dragon is also seen as a huge supporter of the arts, which means this energy embraces entertainment, various artistic mediums, musical events, beauty, culture, travel, academics and business pursuits. This helps give you insight into where to involve yourself for leisure and/or work to make the most of 2024. You can also harness the positive qualities of dragon of working hard and being more courages to take on business opportunities to help advance your status.

When looking at general health insights for physical, mental, and emotional well-being, here are some base tips to keep in mind. It will be important to know your emotional triggers and get a handle on them. This could mean being mindful of what you choose to watch, read, and who you spend time around. Embracing daily routines that harmonize your mental health is very important. Meditation, Qi Gong, Yoga, or Tai Chi are great options. Be sure to keep your body moving with regular exercise as health is wealth in 2024.

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How to Identify and Remedy Sha Energy and Poison Arrows

A very simple Feng Shui Principle to keep in mind is how to identify poison arrows and ‘sha’ or ‘shar’ energy. This begins to establish a gauge for the type of energy your overall home and surroundings currently encompass. Being aware of this could also bring attention to certain rooms or areas within a room that seem “off” and are in need of an energy shift. When looking at this topic through the lens of Feng Shui we also take into consideration the metaphors and subtle phycological influences poison arrows and sha energy could have on the human mind and emotions.

First, let’s define what poison arrows and sha chi (energy) means.

Poison Arrow: unsettling energy that emanates from anything sharply pointing toward your home or particular zones within your home (i.e. front door, bed, desk), and your body.

Sha or Shar Chi: is referred to a life-draining energy. This does not only refer to sharp-looking shapes, it could also relate to the energy of the land, the quality interactions with people, thoughts, and emotions being projected into an environment, the imbalance of elements, colors, and the overall design and flow of a space. Even landscape and parking lot designs can contribute to what looks and feels like sha chi. The feeling of sha (shar) chi emits a sense of anxiety, tenseness, tiredness, distraction, and any other lower emotion and feeling that negativity impacts us from peak performance.

Looking to the image above, here is a quick example of how to begin seeing poison arrows and sha chi. How many of us opt to leave knifes out along the kitchen counter space because it’s convenient. Many of us do, and according to Feng Shui, it’s not fully recommended because this is a subtle form of sha "‘cutting energy’. Depending on how the knifes are set up, it could also turn into a poison arrow (having a sharp item point toward you).

How to resolve this particular situation?

• Put the knifes away or at least conceal them behind another counter top appliance so they are out of site. We don’t want the knives to be among the first items you see upon walking into the kitchen. It could create a sense of feeling unsafe and uneasy, while establishing the metaphor of ‘cutting’ the energy down.

What Are Some Common Solutions to Dealing with Sha energy and Poison Arrows?

• Avoidance is usually the best solution, however that may depend on spacial dynamics, the configuration of a room, and what can really be avoided vs not

• Deflect or block a sharp edge to help mitigate the situation

• Remove the item(s) creating sha or position arrrows

Keep in mind, some situations that cause sha energy and poison arrows can be fairly obvious while other situations may require keen senses for tuning in. This is when conducting a Space Clearing or Geopathic Stress Dowsing investigation and Healing session is helpful.

• What you use to deflect or block poison arrows and sha energy will depend on the situation and what YOU personally believe in. In GENERAL, some may use Bagua Mirrors (but you need to know which one and understand what each mirror is intended for). Some may use protective statues or symbols. Other may choose to to use a screen, curtain or free-standing wall to offer a practical method of deflection.

What else to lookout for that might contribute to sha energy and poison arrows

• Phone or Power Towers

• Exposed Beams overhead (over a desk, bed, couch, stove)

• Poles in the middle of a home

• Staircase in the middle of a home, or aligned with the front of a door, side door or back door as soon as you walk in

• An over abundance of electoral wires outside or inside

• Sitting or sleeping next to very tall furniture

• Road Patterns

• T-Junction | Y-Junction

• Dead End roads

• Road Curving toward a house or building

• Cul-De-Sac Streets

• Hospitals

• Fire Department

• Railroads | Subways | storage facilities

• Power plants

• Cemeteries/Burial sites

• Places of worship (the energy could vary depending on the history of that place of worship and how they function today)

• Prisons | Detentions Centers

• Wind Gaps between buildings

• Home too close to highways, bridges, and tunnels

• Living near Zombie homes and squatter homes

• Home is sandwiched between two large buildings

• Historic battle fields

• Psychiatric Hospitals

• Doctor offices (some can vary in intensity of energy)

• Sites noted for shootings

• Garbage bins, dumpsters is clearly seen from your home or by the entrance

• Waste water plants

• Garbage Dumbs

• Food processing plants

• Tall building with sharp building edge pointing toward your home

• Tall building with triangular shaped roof pointing toward your home

• Narrow passages leading to a front door or the main access point into a building

• Temperature of the building (too cold, too hot, too dry, too moist)

• Front door opening into a wall

• Your front door is aligned with your neighbor’s front door (usually the case in apartment buildings)

• Constant construction around the building

  Each of these situations has its own meaning and reason for possibly contributing to sha or poison arrows. As you develop your own awareness you can further develop this list. Over the next few posts I periodically share why the topics you see above could be of concern.

If you are looking for specific recommendations, it’s best to schedule a Feng Shui consultation so customized guidance can be provided. However, in the meantime hopefully this helps you adjust your Feng Shui Eyes to become more attuned to your surroundings. And even just by doing that it can help offer a new type of energy to drop in because you have a new sense of ‘logic’, which offer a new solution set to help rebalance the energy.

In the practice of Feng Shui and Geopathic Stress Dowsing, there are overlapping topics of interest. In Bon Tantric Buddhism Feng Shui, we investigate ‘Predecessor History’ and in Geopathic Stress Dowsing, we refer to that as ‘Place Memory’. I love this aspect of the profession because it allows you to become intimately connected with the history of a location, while at the same time understanding where specific energy frequencies could benefit from healing and realignments, while still acknowledging and honoring the rich history of that given space.

With either description, it’s believed we’re entangled in the history of a location that could influence current moments if gone unchecked. Acknowledgment of the past is very important to co-exist with the energies that reside on the property and within the soul and spirit of a building. Everywhere you go, energetic imprints (some very obvious while others are more subtle) have been projected into the spaces we occupy today.

Think of it this way, have you ever walked into a building, or onto land that is barren of any construction, yet received a sense or feeling within your body or mind that began offering subtle cues of information? Perhaps the space felt good and you felt energized, or maybe you suddenly felt emotionally heavy, tired, or uncomfortable. Essentially, that is your body and intuition gathering information from past energetic imprints. These energetic imprints could be from a previous tenant or from centuries ago.

Some people are more sensitive to these interactions than others. How come? Perhaps they are naturally open to these subtle energies or have trained themselves to be more connected due to the nature of their profession (reiki healers, feng shui consultants, dowsers, historical restoration contractors, etc).

A building I had the pleasure of visiting to conduct a Feng Shui consultation and would love to highlight in this article includes ‘One of Harlem’s Most Fashionable Addresses’ in the Sugar Hill historic district of Harlem, NY.

Here a Some Fascinating Historical Facts:

• Architects, Simon Schwartz and Arthur Gross designed the building, constructed in 1917.

• Formerly called, the Colonial Parkway Apartments.

• The building was home to writers, musicians, intellectuals, and activists during the Harlem Renaissance. According to The New York Library archives, this building was an important site of Black political organizing—in addition to housing NAACP leaders Walter White and Roy Wilkins.

• Notable past residents also included W.E.B. and Shirley Du Bois, painter Aaron Douglas, literary critic William Stanley Braithwaite, sculptor Elizabeth Catlett, and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.

• Besides acknowledging the building’s rich history, it’s important to note it has also gone through remedial repairs and restorations in 2006 to maintain its classic Neo-Georgian style. This is important to acknowledge because when able to, it is greatly encouraged to take inventory of the materials used to construct a building. This particular location has a history of progressive change for the better, so honoring the fabric of the building (original building materials) where possible is another way to maintain that embodied spirit. It also shows great respect for the soul and spirit of the building.

• After those repairs were completed, strangely, the building was struck by lightning, and additional repairs were required. Due to that, the scaffolding has remained for just about 17 years, which gives this building the longest record of the oldest shed in the five boroughs. That is not the best record to have, but hopefully, that will change so the facade of the building can open up and remove visual obstructions by the front entrance.

Have you figured out the building yet?

——————

The building is 409 Edgecombe Ave

I have to admit, I was buzzing with excitement and awe when entering the building, knowing the rich history of the location. The building has a personality for sure, and the current residents within the building express that. The two words that come to mind are respect and poise. By the way, most of the residents who reside here today continue to foster creative pursuits.

Regarding the lightning strike, it could be signifying it’s a good idea for the overall building to have an energy clearing. However, that might not be feasible, so to keep things simple, residents who wish to reset the energy of their dwellings could conduct their own energy healing or hire help. The base intention is to release lower-frequency imprints of the past while still retaining the positive frequencies as a plug-in for creative inspiration.

What’s fascinating about this approach to healing is you are allowing yourself to acknowledge the history of a location and offer a moment of deep listening. Just reading this article, provides healing vibrations to the building, to those who once occupied it, and to the surrounding neighborhood. It’s a door opener to shift perspectives and become more aware of your surroundings. This empowers you to become a better advocate and steward of your home and land. Feng Shui and Geopathic Stress Dowsing acknowledges there is a constant ebb and flow to what influences the energy of buildings, the land, people, and animals. This means, sometimes you need to revisit the past to offer healing in the current moment.

If you found this article interesting, you may also want to read, ‘Become Familiar with the Predecessor History of Your Land and Home’. This complimentary article offers additional insights into investigating the history of buildings and the land, paired with a case study.

A Brief History of the Importance of Salt

In ancient China, salt was among the seven necessities of life. The saying is the following, 'Firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and tea are the seven necessities to begin a day.' These items were noted as early as the Song Dynasty, in a book titled Dreams of Splendor of the Eastern Capital, a memoir written by Meng Yuanlao. Salt is also one of the five flavors of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) (bitter, sweet, pungent, salty, sour), which correlates to the five elements and was first documented in the “Yellow Emperor’s, Classic of Medicine”. Salt is associated with the element of water through the lens of TCM. The flavor of salt is responsible for regulating the emotions of fear and anchoring, settling, and calming the mind and spirit. For centuries in ancient China, salt played a major role in the economy and establishing who had power. Symbolically, salt represented purity and was used to wade off evil spirits.

Bringing us up to speed in today’s world, salt in many cultures is still revered for its flavors and healing properties. However, for our purpose when Feng Shui-ing the home, we utilize salt for more ritualistic reasons. This may include helping to remove unwanted emotional imprints, neutralizing afflicted energy zones of the home according to Flying Stars (typically to mitigate the #2, and #5 stars), or supporting better sleep to name a few uses. The overall belief is the Feng Shui Salt Water cure helps to protect a home and its occupants by absorbing ‘negative energy,’ allowing the home to remain in a more harmonious state.

DIY feng shui salt Water Cure Supply List:

Now that you have a base introduction, let’s get into how to begin setting up your own Feng Shui Salt Water cure.

• 1 glass mason jar (16 oz or a bit bigger) or a glass jar or glass cup in general that is 16 oz to pint-size

• Sea Salt

• Water

• Biodegradable (if possible) plate, tray, or mat that is a bit larger than the mason jar. You may even be able to create a tin foil tray-like design. Why? Tin foil is recyclable and it’s made of metal.

  • Why do you need a plate, tray, or mat? As the salt crystals form around the rim of the mason jar, they tend to slowly crawl over the rim of the jar and move downward. Because of that, you’ll want to protect the surface of your floor and/or furniture (depending on where you place it)

• 6 coins made from copper (i.e. pennies) or brass (i.e. I-Ching coins)

  • If not pennies, some may use brass flat washers that are close to the size of a coin which you could purchase from Home Depot or Lowes.

  • If you decide to use I-Ching coins, it is recommended to choose ones from a successful dynasty. To be fair, I’ve tested all three ‘coin’ approaches (pennies, flat washers, I-ching coins). Personally, I found benefits with all variations of use. The coins you choose to use come down to what you believe in. FYI, some I-Ching coins could cost you an extra $25 -$76+ dollars because you tend to need a few.

  • As a side note, regarding any ordinary object, when preparing it for a ceremony, blessing, or to use as a Feng Shui cure I take the time to conduct the Black Tantric Buddhism Feng Shui 3 Secret Reinforcement ritual to help transform ordinary objects into power artifacts.

• Optional: 18-inch cut red ribbon. In Black Tantric Buddhism Feng Shui symbolizes protection. We cut the ribbon in increments of 9 to honor longevity. Again, this is optional.

How to Set Up Your Feng Shui Salt Water Cure

1. The average amount of salt to fill a glass jar is ¾ of the way. However, I’ve found in some cases if using a fairly large glass jar, you may need to add a bit more salt for proper interaction with the ingredients.

2. Place six coins on top of the salt in a circular pattern.

   Note: If using pennies, place the six pennies heads up on top of the salt. If using the I-Ching coins, place the coins (four Chinese characters face up) in a circle on top of the salt.

3. Optional: cut an 18-inch red ribbon and tie it around the rim of the jar. In Bon Tantric Buddhism Feng Shui symbolizes protection. We cut in increments of 9 to honor longevity.

4. Place a sizeable disposable small plate, tray, or mat, place underneath the jar that contains the salt and coins. Ideally, it would be great to use a material that is biodegradable.

5. Carefully fill the jar with water until it is even with the top of the jar’s rim. Keep in mind the water will evaporate over time, so when it does, just refill the jar with water to the top of the rim as needed.

6. In general, be sure the salt water cure jar is left out in the open and never placed inside a cabinet, drawer, or closet. Do not cover the salt cure with a lid either. It needs the air circulation.

7. If you need two saltwater cures or more, which is usually the case, just repeat steps 1 through 5.

Where to place the salt water cure within your home?

The placement of the location can vary depending on use. But here are some starting guidelines.

Typically, Feng Shui Water Salt cures are set up on February 3rd of each year. Why? This is the date right before the Solar New Year (Feb 4th). Others may set up the Salt Cure before the Lunar New Year begins (this upcoming year it begins on Feb 10th, 2024 - the year of the Wood Dragon).

1. When looking at Flying Star Feng Shui, the salt water cure is typically used to mitigate the #2, and #5 stars. Why? #2 = illness | #5 = obstacles and sickness. If you know your home’s natal (birth/permanent energy) chart you’ll be able to identify where to place the salt water cures based on where you see the #2 and #5. Another layer to this is also knowing the monthly movements of the Flying Stars and again, where you see #2 and #5 appear you’ll need salt water cures in those areas of the home. If you don’t know your natal chart or the monthly star movements, you could at least look at the annual Flying Star chart to identify where the #2 and #5 stars are located for the year.

   FYI: Keep in mind the #2 star is becoming timely (better for use) as we move into Period 9 (Feb 4th, 2024), so the good news is you won’t need to mitigate it with an overabundance of metal element cures. You could slowly begin using the #2 star to your advantage. However, because we are just beginning to transition out of Period 8 to Period 9, this shift of energy is gradual. So, if you choose to use the #2 star, you still need to be observant of its effects when activated. It’s recommended to have a balance of metal elements with earth elements to keep the #2 star in check.

2. Using a more intuitive sense, if you’ve noticed a lot of negatively charged energy (i.e. miscommunications) within certain areas of your home, placing a salt water cure could help neutralize those negative imprints and maintain a more harmonious space within the home. Personally, I have done this in my office (where I provide reiki healing sessions), in bedrooms, and by my front door. My belief is that salt cures help to maintain a neutral and calm frequency.

3. Placing salt water cures in bedrooms is another option to help mitigate unsettling dreams. The intention of using the salt cure within the bedroom is to create a solid boundary between who is allowed to visit your dreamscape vs not. This can also be helpful when sharing the bed with another person. You don’t have control over their energy, but you can be proactive with establishing protocols to help mitigate what they bring into the space.

   Important:

   Do not cover the salt water cure with a lid or place it inside a cabinet. It needs air circulation. Also, be sure no children, adults, or animals play or accidentally eat the salt cure. On a very practical level, it will make them sick. If you place it on the floor, have a disposable plate, tray, or mat to protect the surface. Ideally, you want to place the salt cure where no one will bother it. If the salt cure is accidentally thrown out or knocked over, create a new one.
   

How long do you let the salt water cure sit?

Once set up and placed, you can leave the salt water cure to sit for a full year from the date of placement. For those who follow Flying Star Feng Shui you may have multiple salt water cures, some of which are created to address the permanent (natal/birth chart) energies of the home, monthly, and annual energies. But the base guideline is you allow the salt water cure(s) to remain for one year and then release once that year’s cycle is done.

How do you dispose of the salt water cure?

You would gather the entire salt water cure(s), including the disposable plate or tray underneath it, and place all of it in the recycle bin outside. Again, if you can use biodegradable or recyclable items, that is best. It’s not recommended to reuse a salt water cure or any of the previously used ingredients to set it up because it’s been absorbing negative energy for the entire year. When I remove my salt water cures at the end of the year (Feb 3rd) I also say, “Thank you for blessing and protecting my home with great appreciation” and place the discarded salt water cures into the outside bins. Be sure to place the salt water cures into the bin and not aggressively drop them. It is good to have reverence for your actions. Once that is done, I’ll use white sage to further clear my home and state a prayer of my choosing to reset the energy and create space for the new salt water cures to be placed.

common Feng Shui Salt water cure question

Question: I’ve noticed the salt crystals have completely engulfed my glass jar, should I replace it with a new one?

Answer: Yes! That is signaling absorption is at its capacity. You can follow the recommendation on how to dispose of the Feng Shui Salt Water Cure and create a new one.

Question: Do I have to use the red ribbon?

Answer: No. That is optional and an adaptation from the Bon Tantric Buddhism Feng Shui practice of the red string theory.

Question: Can I use the salt water cure to mitigate other Flying Stars?

Answer: Yes. Some Feng Shui Consultants will also advise using the salt water cure to mitigate the #3 star (argumentive star). Not so much if the combo is all #7 or #6 stars because the salt water cure is associated with metal elements, to begin with, due to the six metal coins. This is just a very basic response and it’s best to have an actual Feng Shui consultation to customize the suggestions.

——————

The theory, practice, and application of Feng Shui are built on observations of cycles, patterns, calculations, and results. What has been shared in this article is a result of all those observations from my client's and my experiences. Being practical, not all of my clients want to use the Feng Shui Salt Water Cure due to the time it takes to put together, and maintain it, or feel it’s too messy. For those who don’t want to use that approach, there are plenty of other methods to enhance the energies as needed.

I’m excited and honored to share, that our company "Feng Shui Long Island Inc" has been nominated "Best of L.I. 2024" under the category of "Interior Design". Voting is now open!...from October 1st to December 15th. You can vote once a day. We thank you in advance for your support!

Here is the link for voting: https://www.bestoflongisland.com/voting/#/gallery/404108220/

Yet those who ask for a Feng Shui Consultation, are literally asking for help to change something within their life's story. Maybe it has to do with relationship dynamics, establishing work-life balance, being more courageous to follow a life dream, starting a family, or healing from loss. The life narratives are endless.  

The fact is that choosing to embrace Feng Shui is also saying you are choosing to embrace a newfound perspective on life. You begin to see the world differently and observe your daily interactions with a more keen awareness of what and who is truly adding value to your life vs not. Once your "Feng Shui Eyes" are open, you can no longer ignore the simple truths that have been holding you back.

Adopting the Feng Shui lifestyle encourages you to be the best you, live your best life, and establish and maintain the most supportive living and working environments. The principles of Feng Shui see an interconnected world, where cycles of change influence all of us. This can include everyday human interactions, to the selection and display of inanimate objects and artwork. Please do not ignore your thoughts, words, and feelings as they too can influence the energy. The practice of Feng Shui will even take into consideration the type of material your home has been built with (real elements vs synthetics). As a Feng Shui quick tip, real elements are always better. The level of care for the land a home has been built on also matters. We invite you to pay attention to how conscious are you of what you are reading, listening to, and watching. With the complexity of our world these days, being consciously connected to our inner and outer surroundings is important. It helps you become responsive (emotional maturity) vs reactive (impulsive emotional decision-making) which helps mitigate unnecessary drama, stress, and anxiety. More than ever, having a sanctuary to return to is vital. 

The image you see above is a great visual capture of Feng Shui through atmospheric representation. An ideal Feng Shui environment is balanced, harmonious, and peaceful, yet active in a way that invigorates your spirit and perspective on life. 

First, we’d like to wish you a very happy, fun, and safe family and friends gathering!

Next, for those who are still pondering what gifts to offer this holiday season, we've compiled a unique list of great personalized healing gifts to choose from.

* Feng Shui Home or Business Consultation
* Private Reiki Healing Session
* Reiki Healing Party
* Geopathic Stress Dowsing Home Healing Session
* Space Clearing
* Interactive Sound Healing Circle with friends and family
 

Any of these healing services is the perfect gift for family, friends, colleagues, and yourself as we begin our Holiday Season! Sessions are available for in-person and virtual visits.

Our 2023 Black Friday SALES have begun! You'll have from November 23rd -28th to SAVE! 

A quick response is to begin by choosing a desk that has a solid flat surface. Second, most desks are encouraged to be made of wood, as this symbolizes strong support and a growth mindset. But if you can’t find a wood-designed desk, at least make sure the surface offers a solid surface and not a glass design. Third, you’ll also want to make sure you choose a desk size (length, depth, and width) that suits the nature of your work. This meaning, do you need a lot of surface space to work on, or not so much. In any case, you want to be reasonable with what you choose so you don’t feel restricted when utilizing the desk surface. These are the most foundational observations to start with when considering what type of home desk to choose from a Feng Shui perspective.

After that, most other considerations are based on spatial and storage needs, paired with asking yourself do you prefer a desk design that is sit-down, stand-up, or both.

Not too long ago I suggested to my husband to use my back office while his office was being remodeled. He jumped on the idea with excitement and commented that he has always enjoyed my office because it felt good and inviting since it was remodeled at the beginning of the year. After we discussed the idea, I stepped out of my second office to grab some paperwork (mind you this is where we had the conversation) and when I came back up this is what I found.

My husband took my desk from the second office I was using, along with my chair, and immediately moved into his ‘new space’. To replace my desk he set up a tiny foldable dinner table and a foldable chair. I have to admit, I laughed so hard when I saw how he “Feng Shui-ied” my other office. I called out to him and asked, “What did you do?" Where are my desk and chair?!” He responded, “I set you up with a table and chair and you have an office with a view”.

So, here we have a perfect example of what NOT to do when selecting a desk and chair. Using what I have for the time being, I grabbed another table which provides a grander surface space, along with a more supportive chair. This is still a work in progress, but it’s a lot better than working on a tiny foldable dinner table.

Observing tiny details, you’ll see my desk position faces toward the windows. In Feng Shui, there can be debate within the community on that position being fine to do vs. not. It’s also worth noting, that this arrangement possibly puts me in an uncommanding view of the office doorway.

Everything has been done with clear intention and reasoning. Regarding the ‘commanding position’, my desk has a view of the outside which happens to provide a vantage point to the front of the home. So even though I don’t have a direct view of the interior office door, I can actually see who is entering the entire home from my office windows from the main front door. Besides that, I still have a pretty good peripheral view of who enters the office and have also set up BTB Feng Shui-inspired cures to offer another level of feeling secure. In regard to choosing to face toward the window, I agree that I do not want to have my workstation completely exposed with windows from floor to ceiling while looking out. If you notice, you’ll see there is a wall between the two windows and that is where I’ve set up the main computer which encapsulates all the work I do for marketing, Feng Shui/Dowsing report creation, blogging, teaching, etc. For me, that is how I feel the energy of wealth, production, and focus is retained vs. flowing out the window.

Why do Feng Shui Consultants suggest avoiding placing your desk facing a window, and the same goes for a cash register for businesses. In modern-day Feng Shui, windows hold the metaphor of letting energy out. Having a wall or even a makeshift wall by the window if you choose to work facing toward the window is a way to retain the energy vs. letting it flow out.

Referring back to my office, I’ve chosen to arrange myself as you see based on my home’s flying star natal chart because it has the #9 in the wealth position, within this area of my home. With that noted, I’ve chosen to face toward the #9. This is very good because as we inch closer to Feb 4th, 2024, #9 becomes stronger in power and I’ve been experiencing the benefits already.

One last quick notable home office Feng Shui tip is to make sure you maintain a clutter-free work zone. My profession requires a lot of heavy analysis, deep listening, energetic investigation, and problem-solving, so that means my office environment needs to be visually calm. When I say clutter, think of it in terms of, when you are doing work, do you find your surroundings adding to a level of ‘noise’ and distraction or focus? This is how you can begin to determine what is ‘clutter’ for you.

Naturally, there is much more I could comment on about how to establish a home office with Feng Shui. As you can see, the ‘logic’ behind how to arrange a space with modern-day feng shui can be personalized depending on various factors, however, this is a great start!

Laura Cerrano of Feng Shui Manhattan was recently interviewed by "Homes and Gardens". The interview combines practical tips from the perspective of Modern-day Feng Shui, Interior Design, and Home Organizing on what to include and avoid on your nightstands to encourage better sleep.

INTRODUCTION TO FENG SHUI

(OCTOBER 2ND)

Over the years the practice of Feng Shui has evolved from a classical to a modern-day format, which has created a lot of confusion with grasping the core principles. During this class, students will take a deep dive into the origins of Feng Shui, bridging the past and present to while also receiving easy-to-implement Feng Shui tips. Students will explore Land Form School, Compass, and BTB Feng Shui™ practices. 

Materials needed:

• Notebook

• Writing utensil

• Compass (hiking compass [preferred] or the compass on your phone)

• Floor plan of home (optional)

UTILIZING THE FIVE ELEMENTS TO BRING HARMONY INTO YOUR HOME (OCTOBER 16TH)

Understanding the cycles, language and symbolic importance of the five elements is essential in the practice of Feng Shui. Each of the five elements has a characteristic based on their nature of being and can be utilized within a space in a variety of ways. Students will explore how to embrace the natural healing energies of the Five Elements into their home to enhance positive vibrations.

Materials needed:

• Notebook

• Writing utensil

• Floor plan of home (optional)

• Compass (hiking compass [preferred] or the compass on your phone)

PRACTICAL FENG SHUI TIPS FOR MODERN-DAY LIVING

(OCTOBER 23RD)

During this session, students will explore how the home and surroundings can affect their mindset, emotions, behavior, and overall health. Laura will provide guidance on how to combine the principles of Feng Shui and intuitive thinking to create powerful practical solutions to cultivate peace and harmony within their home.

• Notebook

• Writing utensil

• Floor plan of home (optional)

• Compass (hiking compass [preferred] or the compass on your phone)

HEALING YOUR HOME WITH HOLISTIC DOWSING (PART-1)

(OCTOBER 30TH)

Holistic Healing Dowsing allows you to journey beyond the five senses, connecting more intimately with the unseen subtle energy realms. Dowsing is a unique way to investigate the root cause of Geopathic Stress that could be negatively affecting the home, land, and/or occupants. This is a fascinating topic to explore and can be extremely eye-opening in providing a holistic perspective in how you choose to cultivate a beneficial relationship with your surroundings. During class, Laura will demo on-site and remote dowsing techniques. 

Materials needed:

• Notebook

• Writing utensil

• Floor plan

• Pendulum and/or L-rod

HEALING YOUR HOME WITH HOLISTIC DOWSING (PART-2)

(NOVEMBER 6TH)

During this class, students will delve deeper into the practice of remote Holistic Healing Dowsing techniques, learning how to prepare their energy for dowsing, prepare their healing workspace, and conduct a mini holistic healing dowsing session on their home. Students will be provided with a specific topic to investigate during class with guidance and support by Laura. 

Materials needed:

• Notebook

• Writing utensil

• Floor plan

• Pendulum and/or L-rod

SOUND HEALING AND IMPROVISATION

(NOVEMBER 13TH)

Sound Healing has been credited with supporting better emotional and social development and improving psychological well-being. It provides a unique way to communicate and practice deep listening, while also re-establishing a stronger connection with community and self. In this final class, you’ll be introduced to a variety of instruments that can be experimented with while experiencing Sound Healing. If students have their own instrument, they are welcome to bring it to class! 

Materials needed:

• personal instrument/instruments (optional, yet highly encouraged)

CLASS DETAILS

• Registration: Register online beginning  Thursday, September 14, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. until class is filled. 

• Fee: $150 

  • Senior/Veteran: $75 (Reduced rate also applies to the physically challenged and volunteer firefighters)

• Program Schedule:  6 weekly sessions

• Location: Forest City Park, Wantagh, NY

• Day/Time: 

  • Mondays:  October 2 through November 13, 2023 (No Class: 10/9)  

    • 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

On August 7th, 2023 I was invited to host two healing programs for the Ovarian Cancer Coalition, New York Chapter retreat at the Vanderbilt Museum. This was such an honor to be of service to these amazing ladies!

Our first activity was the Reflections in Nature Healing Circle, where we gathered as a group outside, cultivating a safe space for those who felt called to share their journey with the support of sound healing and Reiki.

Later in the day, the ladies enjoyed Creative Healing Arts by painting butterfly transformation pieces while listening to Taylor Swift.

The entire day was wonderful! Filled with a variety of healing modalities to support retreat attendees mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. It’s always an honor to be part of this event.

When you hear the words, “Feng Shui”, what comes to mind? You may immediately associate Feng Shui with building orientation and structural design, which is all true for living Feng Shui applications. However, I invite you to adopt another perspective on the practice of Feng Shui to see it as a lifestyle. How so? If you delve into the origins of Feng Shui, you’ll learn the practice stems from Taoist teachings, which encourage humanity to be within the ebb and flow of life. This means, allowing change to be our greatest teacher and inspiration for spiritual growth.

What is spiritual growth? How I understand it, you are maturing to such a level that you become actively conscious of how you choose to interact with the entire world and all the life thriving on it. Compassionate, empathetic, loving, and forgiving are some notable characteristics cultivated when embracing your personal journey of spiritual growth.

To help illustrate this a bit more, over the years our consulting firm, Feng Shui Manhattan, has gone through many transformations. The business began by providing Feng Shui Consultations, serving as the core foundation of services provided. I remember my mother, Carole Provenzale, telling me before she passed away in 2010, “Laura, don’t just stop at Feng Shui, be open to other forms of healing”. She even gave me a hint (working with my hands) as to what I would train in next, which I later discovered was Reiki Healing.

I’ve kept her message with me ever since and found it has helped me embrace my journey of spiritual growth, which has also supported personal and professional transformations over the years. After learning Reiki, I explored additional healing practices that included Inner Child Work, Emotional Intelligence, Sound Healing, Kabbalah work, and Mystery School training. I also gravitated to studying Geopathic Stress Dowsing which seamlessly complimented the Feng Shui sessions and not too long after, began facilitating Drum Circles for public and private gatherings.

Embracing my journey of spiritual growth has not only enriched my personal life experiences but has also blossomed into a diverse healing hub of services through Feng Shui Manhattan Inc. to accommodate the various needs of our clientele, as appropriate.

Feng Shui is a fascinating topic that allows you to delve deeper into the roots of who you are, let that be by reflecting upon your thoughts, habits, and behaviors, and observing the subtle cues in how your surroundings influence you. An area on the modern-day Feng Shui Bagua map we love to acknowledge is called Family and Ancestors. This is an adaptation from the I-ching.

In short, this life section of Family and Ancestors encourages us to acknowledge your most sacred inner circle. This topic is interesting because not all families are built the same. Some families come about through adoption (such as mine), or perhaps you’ve chosen to embrace your friends as your family. In any case, we invite you to think about your family’s past and present and how you consciously choose to honor them.

It’s also important to note, if you have any family members who have not anchored true support throughout your life, please do not feel pressured or obligated to highlight visual memories of them within your home. In the practice of Feng Shui, we aim to honor energy that raises your vibration vs suppressing it.

Quick Feng Shui Tips on How to Honor Family

Include living plants. Plants, according to Modern-day Feng Shui, associates to wood element (floral, living plants). Be mindful to choose plants that are not prickly. Choose smooth and rounded-edged plants when possible.

Declutter. Yes, this sounds cliché, however, if you are holding onto family items that don’t have the best of energy or emotional memories, perhaps it’s time to rethink holding onto it. Or, if the items you have are historically related to questionable energy, you could contain the contents within a box and/or closet. This also includes furniture, clothing, photos, etc.

Do you have a dining table where your family can gather to enjoy quality time? Most modern-day homeowners and renters released the idea of a formal dining room. However, in the world of Feng Shui, having a dining table is essential. Why? The table becomes a symbol of support, allowing people to open up with each other about their feelings, share stories from the day and regroup. Even in my home, we released the formal dining room idea, however, we still have a table where my husband and I, family, and friends who visit can sit to enjoy coffee, snacks, and a meal.

Display photos. Select photos of family members who truly support you and bring about happy memories.

Is there a certain amount of family photos I should or should not display? If following modern-day Feng Shui, you could display 3 framed images at a time, or allow your own intuition to guide you. If you feel your family ‘overruns’ you, you may want to edit the amount of images you choose to display. By doing this, it signals to your conscious mind to set healthy boundaries.

Is it okay to display images of deceased family members? My response is yes, however, you’ll still want to be mindful of where you choose to display those images. For example, my mother is deceased and so is my Uncle, Grandmother, and grandfather, among a few others. To honor them, I’ve selected a few key images and set them up around my home throughout the living room, dining room, and kitchen.

Can I keep Family Photos Within The bedroom? On a base spectrum, it’s recommended to keep family photos (living or deceased) out of the bedroom and typically reserve that just for you and your spouse. It allows a moment of pause and reconnect. If you're not sure about this, test the theory out and see if you notice a difference when sleeping.

Can I keep Family photos in the bathroom? Most will say no and I’ll agree with that.

How else can I honor family if I don’t want to display family photos throughout my home? Think in terms of symbols, objects they may have given you or that you associate with them, quotes (word art), books, music, certain animals, artwork, or through storytelling. If you happen to know anything about your ancestors, that is another fantastic way to honor the deep past.

Keep in mind, what you read for honoring family, could also parallel honoring friendships as well.

In all, take the time to reflect upon your family story and become more conscious of what you wish to highlight as you honor your family’s past and present. Also, think about what you would love to contribute to your family’s energy. Maybe this means, setting aside more time to visit with family, to speak with loved ones over the phone, or share a simple meal.

Embracing the practice and lifestyle of Feng Shui encourages us to participate in life vs watching it pass by.

A common question in Feng Shui is, is it good to have a wall directly across from the front door?

The short answer is no. Naturally, there are variables, however, here is one simple way to help gauge what is considered obstructive. As you walk through your front door and see a full-length wall about 4 to 5 feet away, ask yourself if this setup feels off-putting. A common verbal response from people is describing a pushed-back feeling or feeling uncomfortable in general. So if any unsettling sensation comes to mind as soon as you walk in and see a wall within that distance of 4 - 5 feet then yes, that is most likely indicating the energy is obstructed in some capacity.

The remedy? Depending on the overall layout of the home is to remove the wall altogether so the foyer has more breathable space. If you can’t remove the entire wall, perhaps you could create a half-wall opening. Again, these are generalized solutions and you’ll have to understand what could really be adjusted structurally when speaking with a contractor.

What if I can’t remove the entire wall or reduce it to a half wall? What else can be done will depend on how invested you are in making the changes and your budget.

1. If able to, perhaps you could change the front door design to have some glass. The glass could allow natural light to filter into the enclosed front entrance, thus helping to release pressure.

2. Another way to help open up the space is to include windows in the foyer. Again, you’ll need to speak with a contractor to see if this is even possible. For those who already have windows within their small foyer space, that can be helpful.

3. Make sure the overall front entrance has good artificial lighting.

4. Perhaps you could display artwork along the wall, but choose a visual that emotionally and visually provides a sense of openness. Perhaps a peaceful landscape image with open fields or even open skies. If choosing abstract artwork, again choose an image that provides a lot of breathable space. Avoid overly busy abstract designs.

5. For those who follow BTB Feng Shui, some may recommend hanging a 30 or 40-mm round faceted crystal from the center point of the foyer ceiling. The belief is, the crystal captures all the rays of the rainbow, and hanging it in a darker, heavier energetic area within the home, it helps keep the energy moving.

These are some starting ideas, but really it’s best to have a session with a feng shui consultant who can provide a true evaluation and guidance for the location.

About the Author:
New York City Feng Shui Consultant Laura Cerrano has over 26+ years of experience providing bicoastal consultations and workshops for residential, real estate developments, Fortune 500 companies, and healing facilities. She is currently writing her first book that focuses on bridging the gap between the ancient wisdom of Feng Shui with modern-day living.

Today was a wonderful visit down Feng Shui memory lane. A women's group inquired about experiencing a guided walking tour of the first Feng Shui-designed and LEED Certified hotel on Long Island, called The Viana Hotel and Spa. The Viana Hotel and Spa was a Feng Shui project my mother, Carole Provenzale and I worked on together back in 2007.

During the tour, the women's group learned about all the Feng Shui details that went into the overall architectural planning and interior design decisions for every aspect of the building's creation.

This particular Feng Shui tour was truly special. May is the month of honoring Mother's, while at the same time, May is also the anniversary of Mom's passing (May 18th, 2010) and the anniversary of the Viana Hotel and Spa's grand opening (May 19th, 2013).

Love you, Mom! We all felt your loving presence and warmth during the entire tour.

www.vianahotelandspa.com

www.FengShuiManhattan.com

THE EYES OF LEARNING SPRING FESTIVAL is happening on Sunday, April 23, 2023, from 11 AM to 5 PM!

Fill your day shopping at the large variety of vendors and listen to lectures!

Admission to the festival is $5.00 ~ with admission you receive free access to all lectures!

Pat Anderson and Laura Cerrano will kick off The Eyes of Learning Spring Festival lecture series with Guided Meditation and Soulful Sound Healing from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm.

Additional schedules for lectures will be posted at the event

Daniel Akner…All things Metaphysical

Winter Brook...Spirit Guides

Steve Interrante...Aligning, Healing & Connecting Powers of Sound Frequencies

• Purchase a psychic reading ticket: $25

• Take a chance on a raffle.

• Snacks, food, and drinks will be available.

• Spend a day with “like-minded individuals” and make new friends

Website: www.eyesoflearning.org

Date: Sunday, April 23rd, 2023

Time: 11 am - 5 pm

Location: Levittown Hall, Levittown Parkway, Hicksville, NY 11801

Event Description:

Whether you are a professional, a student or an amateur, “Improvisation for All” will expand your musical vocabulary. There will be group instruction by master facilitator Mary Knysh, followed by smaller breakout sessions for more focused practice, led by Music for People staff. The university cafeteria will be open for lunches. While both days will feature improvisation and leadership components, the workshop on Sunday will offer more intensive instruction and practice leading improvisation activities.

Location: Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Avenue, Rockville Centre, NY

Dates: May 6th and 7th, 2023 (Saturday & Sunday)

FYI: if you can only attend one of the two days, that is perfectly fine. Visit the link to see which day you'll want to choose.

Time: 9 am - 5 pm (both days)

Cost: (early bird sale, regular price, and music teacher/college student discount)

Early Bird Special Sale Happening now till the end of April 16th, 2023:

Early Bird Special Full Weekend Tuition: $198

Early Bird Secialy Single Day Weekend Tuition: $99

Regular Price goes on Sale April 17th, 2023:

Regular Price for Full Weekend Tuition: $300

Regular Price for Single-Day Weekend Tuition: $150

Music Teacher and College Student Discounts happening now till May 7th

Music Teacher/College Student Dicsounted Full Weekend Tuition: $150

Music Teacher/College Student Dicsounted Single Day Tuition: $75

INTERACTIVE SOUND HEALING PROGRAM

When: Tuesday, March 14th, 2023

Where: 3 Higbie Ln, West Islip, NY 11795

Time: 7 PM - 8 PM

Facilitated by: Laura Cerrano

FREE to attend! Sponsored by West Islip Library

Program Description:

Sound Healing has been credited with supporting better emotional and social development, and improving psychological well-being. Join Certified Sound Healer Laura Cerrano for an interactive hands-on workshop that explores the history and key principles of sound healing, while also being introduced to a variety of musical instruments that participants can experiment with to cultivate healing sounds as a group. Attendees who have their own instruments are welcome to bring them to the workshop.

There are 3 ways to register:
1. Click on the program: Register for Sound Healing Program
2. Call the library at (631) 661-7080 Ext: 274
3. Visit us in person at the Reference Desk (3 Higbie Ln, West Islip, NY 11795)

Feng Shui Manhattan's annual BLACK FRIDAY SALE has begun!

Save 10%, 15%, or 20% on in-person and virtual Feng Shui, Reiki, Space Clearing, or Geopathic Stress Dowsing Healing Services. These are all wonderful unique Holiday gift ideas and this is a great time of year to save!! From the date of purchase, you have one year to redeem. Click on the provided link to view a list of BLACK FRIDAY SALES. No special code is needed. The SALE prices have already been included in the final total upon checkout.

To learn more about Laura Cerrano’s journey to becoming a Feng Shui Master, please read: Laura Cerrano shares her journey to becoming a Feng Shui Master

To learn more about the virtual 5-part Adoptee Healing for Feng Shui, please read: 5-part Adoptee Healing for Feng Shui workshop

Join IAMAdoptee and Certified Feng Shui Consultant, Laura Cerrano of Feng Shui Manhattan for a virtual Feng Shui Adoptee Healing 5-Part workshop. Please note, this 5-part workshop is for adoptees only.

Dates: Mondays | Nov 21st and 28th | December 5th, 12th and 19th in 2022

Where: Online (ZOOM)

Time: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM Eastern Time

Exchange: $125 per person for all 5 sessions (this breaks down to $25 per class)

If you feel you cannot afford the full amount, IAMAdoptee provides scholarship options. You can select a request for a scholarship option when registering.

Registration is directly handled by IAMAdoptee.

Date: Wednesday, October 26th, 2022

Time: 7:00 PM -9:00 PM

Location: Village Zendo, 588 Broadway Suite 1108, 11th floor, New York, NY 10012

Facilitated by: Todd Rogers and Laura Cerrano

Suggested Donation $10

Together we will use our spontaneous creativity to create a convergence of rhythmic joy. Drumming together breaks down boundaries and the experience is FUN, UPLIFTING, LIBERATING & ENERGIZING. In community, we connect and engage our spirit with the Greater Spirit. You do not have to be a "musician" or "drummer" to attend and no prior musical experience is necessary. The circle will be lightly facilitated in such a way to guide the experience into greater depths. All instruments welcome! We will have an array of hand drums and other percussion instruments available, or you can bring your own. Please feel free to share this invite….and hope to see you there!

(212) 925-9423

https://villagezendo.org/

https://goo.gl/maps/kfKqVmX5cAvdGujt9

A session description below, but first a couple of important points:

The building is not open and the Zendo is officially closed, so someone must come down from the 11th floor to open the doors for you. We are asking that everyone please arrive by 6:45 so that we can let you in without interrupting the session. If you arrive after 6:45 you may have to wait a while to gain entry. BEST TO RSVP SO WE KNOW TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR YOU.

If you need a late entry, please text Todd at (315)-569-3635

Laura Cerrano of Feng Shui Manhattan was interviewed by Fallon Jordan who hosts "Fridays with Fallon" to explore various topics of Feng Shui. The interview is about 24 minutes long. Enjoy! Click on the provided link to listen!

• What is Feng Shui?

• Feng Shui to Support Mental Health

• Exploring colors and Feng Shui

• Discussing the Evaluation system of Feng Shui when beginning to work with clients

• Space clearing and blessings ceremonies (encouraging families and children to participate to create a stronger bond)

• New builds with Feng Shui

• Feng Shui Kitchen Observations about the importance of stove placement,....as to name a few topics we discussed

Robyn Spieler of Reiki & Rouge, invited Laura Cerrano, Certifed Feng Shui Consultant to be a guest speaker on the 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁! In 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝟰, 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗼 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗢𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗢𝘄𝗻 𝗗𝗿𝘂𝗺, Robyn and Laura discuss insights into the world of Feng Shui, share our own experiences in how this practice has transformed our lives, and offer quick tips in how to bring balance back into your life and day-to-day! To listen to the full podcast interview, please click on the provided link.

Feng Shui is not just about establishing a harmonious home environment, it also encourages healthy lifestyle changes that raise your vibration mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. One of my personal favorite ways to do this is by attending drum circles!

With the world in constant flux these days, drum circles seem to be one of the best ways to bring people together from all walks of life. The illusion of separation melts away and the inner child of each person emerges with immense curiosity, playfulness, and joy.

Drum circles allow people to reinvest in community gatherings, create healing sounds, communicate, and simply be present with each other and their surroundings. In today’s modern world, drum circles are considered a wonderful healing tool to help reduce stress and anxiety, improve mood, provide an inclusive atmosphere, and offer a safe space for self-expression. What’s also interesting about drum circles, is each circle always provides a unique rhythm depending on who shows up to play, which helps keep drummers flexible and adaptable, helping to refine deep listening skills. I find this serves as a great metaphor for life.

If you would like to join the Long Island NY Drum Circle community, please do! You can find scheduled Drum Circle events by visiting the Hand Drummers of Long Island, NY Facebook Page. There are various drum circles hosted all over Long Island NY, which include Long Beach, Robert Moses Beach, Sunken Meadow Beach, Port Jefferson Village, Venetian Shores Beach, and South Hampton, to name a few locations, and New York City at Village Zendo.

Most drum circles are free, however, it’s best to double-check as some drum circles may require a fee or a suggested donation. If you have your own drum, bring it along! Most circles tend to have some extra instruments to share, but if you are someone who plans on attending drum circles often, it’s worth investing in your own drum.

We look forward to jamming with you!

3-Part | In-person Feng Shui Healing Class Details

Dates: Wednesdays, August 3, 10 & 17 in 2022

Time: 7pm - 9pm

Where: Forest City Community Park, 3099 Morgan Drive, Wantagh, NY 11793

Instructor: Laura Cerrano, Certified Feng Shui Expert

Feng Shui Healing Topics:

Part 1: Intro to Feng Shui

Part 2: Feng Shui and Health: Exploring the Human Anatomy in Relation to the Bagua Map

Part 3: How To Space Clearing The Energy of Your Home

Class Fee: $75 (that breaks down to $25 per class). Registration is now open and is required for all 3 workshop dates.

Discounted Class Fee: $37.50 (Reduced rate applies to Seniors, Veterans, the physically challenged, and volunteer firefighters)

To learn more about each Feng Shui topic and to register, click on the provided link

IG LIVE interview with NYC Feng Shui Master, Laura Cerrano, and Interior Designer, Carole Vaudable took place on Thursday, June 2nd, 2022 @ 12PM Eastern Time. Laura and Carole discussed, how can you use Feng Shui to improve your well-being?

During this episode, Laura and Carole explored the 'seen' and 'unseen' aspects of Feng Shui and offer tangible real-life stories of how Feng Shui has been utilized to create more harmony in homes.

1. The seen

Decluttering
Furniture placement
Colors & the 5 elements

2. The unseen

Predecessors
Space clearing
Energy cords

You can rewatch the IG LIVE recording by Clicking Here.

After a two-year break from international travel due to the covid pandemic, my husband and I decided to journey abroad this year, seeing that the world is re-opening. Our first destination on our travel itinerary was Paris, France. Paris holds a special place in my heart, not only for its amazing exploration of world history but even more so as this was the last major travel destination my mother explored before passing away in 2010.

Paris is an amazing city to visit and of course very romantic. The city also captures your curiosity about the historic streets and buildings that are so well preserved. You really are travelling back in time. For this particular Feng Shui post, I thought we could visit The Louvre, specifically The Louvre Pyramid and explore that structure through the Architectural lens of Feng Shui and Dowsing.

A Brief Background of the louvre pyramid:

The French government asked Mr. Pei to design the new entrance into the Louvre to mitigate traffic flow and make it more efficient and less taxing for thousands of visitors. The design Pei created includes one large pyramid (which is now the new Louvre entrance), three smaller above ground pyramids, and two small inverted pyramids.

Louvre Paris, France Travel Tip:

To avoid crazy long lines, it’s best to reserve tickets in advance and enter through the underground mall. Another quick tip is to consider purchasing the Paris Museum Pass and it’s well worth the investment.

Some Main Feng Shui Observations:

• The Louvre’s new entrance is in the shape of a pyramid which in Feng Shui represents fire element. Fire element contains the strongest amount of yang energy, helping to stimulate a strong energetic pulse and commanding presence.

• Two main elements observed within the structural foundation of the Louvre are earth (the museum’s overall structure) and fire (The new Pyramid entrance). The combination of the two through the lens of Feng Shui Architecture is said to provide a creative cycle of elemental support. This means fire produces earth and that equates to success for the Louvre!

• The pyramid entrance invokes strong Yin Yang energies with the juxtaposition of the past (from Medieval Fortress to Renaissance Palace origins) to the present (I.M. Pei. Louvre Pyramid - transforming the Louvre into the most visited museum in the world). The use of glass to create the pyramids provides a wonderful connection between the street surface to the Louvre’s underground mall entrance. Metaphysically speaking we would refer to this as a direct link between the heavens and earth.

Some other thoughts to consider outside of Feng Shui:

The symbolic shape of the pyramid holds its own interesting observations. Depending on who you're speaking to, the interpretations of what the pyramid represents could vary. For example in the ancient Kingdom of Egypt, pyramids were utilized as burial tombs, along with regarding status and power. Having this bit of information, when the new Louvre entrance was constructed it was not well received as many critics paralleled the pyramid shape with the symbol of death in relation to Ancient Egypt. As for the inverted pyramids, they seemed to take on their own religious interpretations as well, with some saying those designs related to negative symbolic references.

Below is a video interview of Pei where he shares firsthand his intention behind the Louvre design.

For those who are interested in sacred geometry, here is an article link that briefly explores the Vesica Pisces embedded into the pyramid formation. This article in particular utilizes the Giza Pyramid as a point of reference.

Others who delve further into the mystical interpretation of pyramid forms, like David Wilcock, say pyramids act as an antenna of sorts to help strengthen our connection to the conscious, subconscious minds and the divine. Expanding on this topic, Mr. Wilcock also says pyramids are a form of technology that can support healing. If you find these insights tickle your curiosity, perhaps check out this youtube channel that dedicates itself to the independent research of the science of pyramids.

Naturally, the information being shared is ongoing research and as mentioned these collections of videos are from independent researchers. From what I understand, these claims have not been backed by mainstream peer-reviewed scientists, so what is being shared is simply offering another curious vantage point.

the Meridian line that runs through Paris:

Let’s start with the term meridian. The word meridian comes from the Latin ‘Meridies’, meaning midday, and helps define our path to the sun. As nations around the world began to develop, they would establish their own prime meridian lines to help keep track of time and create navigational maps.

Hyper focusing and fast-forwarding through a brief history of Paris, France, the development of the French cartography during the rule of Louie the 14th allowed for more accurate measures to help determine the figure of the Earth via the arc measurement method. Claiming this, the Paris meridian arc became the prime meridian line for years on maps within France and parts of Europe.

In 1884 the international Meridian Conference gathered in Washington, D.C. to vote on choosing only one Prime Meridian (point zero line) of the world to make navigation around the world easier for all. Greenwich, London was voted on as becoming the Prime Meridian of the world and France rejected that decision until 1911, then finally conforming with the international standard in Greenwich.

However, due to the mathematical research of the French, the metrics system became the global standard in how the Prime Meridian measurements are referenced. Even though the Paris Meridian Arch is theoretical, it can still be traced back to structures such as the Paris Observatory, The Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, and onwards to La Défense. In fact, you’ll find small Arago medallions along the route embedded into the city streets to help you navigate the Paris Meridian Arch.

What About Energy Lines that run through France?

According to dowsers who study the legend of St. Micheal, there is a St. Micheal ley line that crosses through seven monasteries ranging from Skellig Michael, Ireland | Cornwall, United Kingdom | Normandy, France | Turin, Italy | Mount Gargano, Italy | Symi Monastery, Greece| and finally concluding in Haifa, Isreal. The ley line is said to represent the energy of St. Micheal defeating Lucifer, serpents, and all negative affiliations that would harm humankind.

Final Thoughts for Now

Of course, there is more to share, however, we are just scratching the surface and I think my head will explode if I go any further with researching, as this material is pretty dense. In any case, the intention of this post is to help open your Feng Shui eyes to seeing the world around you a little differently. As more information comes into view, I’ll be sure to update this post.

A base principle in the Feng Shui Community is to avoid living near a cemetery due to the large volume of Yin (death) energy. Cemeteries in Feng Shui are seen as portals, so to speak, that make it easier for wandering spirits and lost souls to become entangled within the homes and properties of the living.

What could be done if you don’t have the option to avoid living by a cemetery?

Some common Feng Shui recommendations to help offset excess yin energy is to invite more Yang (living) energy into the home and throughout the surrounding property. This could be done by welcoming wildlife onto the property with bird feeders, planting pollinating trees and flowers, and utilizing elements that express yang qualities, such as with a fire pit or even a pond with moving water that is home to aquatic life. As for the cemeteries, they too can participate in enhancing the overall presentation of more yang energy additions. There are other factors to keep in mind, but above are some quick ideas to consider.

On a practical level, if you think about the time it takes for human remains to fully decompose, it can be a bit off-putting and this can also be a more logical way of understanding why living near a cemetery is not so appealing. For example, an un-embalmed body could take about 8-12 years to decompose into a skeleton and 100 years to be reintegrated back into the earth (minus some teeth and durable body parts). Through the lens of Feng Shui, that is a long time for strong Yin energy to permeate the land and overall surroundings.

Having these observations in mind, I recently came across a TED talk presented by Katrina Spade, who is the founder and CEO of Recompose. The reason I bring up Ms. Spade is she created a system called "recomposition", which transforms the remains of deceased human bodies into nutrient-rich soil.

Say what?! Yes, that’s right, deceased human bodies are literally being transformed into nutrient-rich soil that can be utilized to grow plants and trees once again. The estimated time with recomposition for a body to turn into nutrient-rich soil is six to eight weeks, which according to Ms. Spade is more eco-friendly for the environment. Each family also experiences a “laying-in” ceremony that represents a moment of transition.

From a modern-day Feng Shui perspective, you would think reducing the amount of decomposing bodies inside a cemetery could lighten the energy and be a good change. However, it’s understood in traditional Yin Feng Shui practices, the corpse is usually preferred to remain intact and protected from the natural elements. Cremation is an option but is not the preferred approach.

The system of ‘recomposition’ could spark interesting possibilities in how to mitigate excess yin energies felt throughout cemeteries. However, you can see there are variables to be aware of due to religious practices and cultural beliefs. Time will tell if this new death care approach could provide notable differences in the perspectives and conversations about death, burials, and cemeteries.

—————-

Please know, what I’m providing in this post is a quick snippet about ‘recomposition’. I strongly recommend you watch Katrina’s TED talk and visit the official website of Recompose for more information. As updated information about ‘recomposition’ arises I’ll be sure to share.

You May Also Enjoy:

Become Familiar with the Predecessor energy of Your Home

Why Rituals are Important

What To know about Graveyards, Cemeteries and Feng Shui

Space Clearing - What are Hungry Ghosts

What is Geopathic Stress?

Feng Shui Healing Topics for the 5-Part Feng Shui Workshop:

Part 1 - Intro to Feng Shui

Part 2 - Utilizing the Five Elements to Bring Harmony into Your Home

Part 3 - Introduction To Flying Stars Feng Shui - Building Astrology

Part 4 - Healing Your Home with Holistic Dowsing

Part 5 - Vision board Creation

Workshop Details

Where: Forest City Community Park, 3099 Morgan Drive, Wantagh, NY 11793

Dates: Wednesdays, March 16, 23, 30, April 6, April 13

Time: 7pm - 9pm

Instructor: Certified Feng Shui Expert Laura Cerrano of Feng Shui Long Island, Inc and Feng Shui Manhattan, Inc

Cost: $125 (that breaks down to $25 per class). Registration is now open and is required for all 5 workshops dates.

Important: If you are a Senior or Veteran you can receive a reduced rate of $62.50 for all five feng shui workshops. The reduced rate also applies to the physically challenged and volunteer firefighters.

If you need help registering, please contact the Town of Hempstead directly.

Phone: +1 (516) 292-9000

The early beginnings of Feng Shui emerged from shamanic practices in the mountain ranges of China around 6,000 B.C. and are called Yin Feng Shui. Yin Feng Shui, which is still practiced today, locates the best burial sites for the deceased. This approach of Feng Shui says that by honoring the dead through finding the most auspicious burial plots, descendants will benefit and continue to prosper in life.

Over the years, the practice of Feng Shui evolved into Yang, living Feng Shui. Form and Compass School were the first practices to be modified to help transform the energy of households to benefit the living. In due time a cross-pollination of ideas, cultural practices, and individual, as well as group interpretations of Feng Shui, gave birth to modern-day approaches. Many refer to newer interpretations as New Age Feng Shui. Whichever method you choose is up to you so long as you feel that it helps you navigate your intentions and participate in the transformation process within yourself and your surroundings. Each practice starts with similar foundations.

The Five Elements — Water, wood, fire, earth, and metal provide important insights into each cycle of change in how they relate to the human mind, body, emotions, and overall environmental shifts. They can even be applied to buildings for another added layer of insight for healing.

YinYang — Exploring and understanding constant states of change, moving from one extreme to the other to create equilibrium or universal balance.

Eight Trigrams — Trigrams derive from the Tai Chi Symbol. The Trigrams are the foundation of Chinese philosophy, Feng Shui, and the I-Ching. They help describe how nature works and exhibit to us how to live a naturally balanced life.

Ba Gua — Also known in modern-day terms as a ‘life station map’, the Ba Gua provides insights into a macro and micro relationship with your inner and external worlds. Feng Shui utilizes two types of Bagua maps. The first is referred to as the Early Heavenly Bagua which is utilized to evaluate burial sites and land formations. The second is referred to as the Later Heavenly Bagua, which is utilized to evaluate building structures.

Compass — The Chinese compass is called a Luo Pan or sometimes, Lo Pan. It helps locate directions and reveal hidden narratives that refer to the union of Heaven and Earth in regard to electromagnetic fields. It is also good to remember that there are variations to this approach that move into the area of astrology for both the person and building in question.

Form School (for the living) — Studies the land formations of mountain ranges and valleys for the best energy flow to establish the ideal sites for homes.

As you can see, Feng Shui does not encompass only one perspective, there are nuances and shades of gray, which is symbolic of having many different paths to choose from to achieve your goals. The teachings have evolved over time due to various influences, and because of that, contradictions will come about from time to time among the various Feng Shui approaches. It is important to remember that by choosing to adopt Feng Shui into your lifestyle and environment, the overall universal intention is to help humans — and animals too — to positively enhance, harmonize, and cultivate peaceful living and working spaces that occupants can thrive in.

For this post, I’m focusing on the Dining Room.

The dining room in Feng Shui takes on the energy of social gatherings, connecting with family, friends, and your community. Over the years, American’s have drastically reduced the use of formal dining rooms, except for the occasional holiday or birthday celebration. But since the Covid-19 pandemic has emerged, the return of using the dining room has increased, more so as an extra in-home office but hopefully to also be utilized once again for family and social gatherings.

How can I accommodate the dining room table for work and life usage?

The best recommendation is to make the transformation of the dining room into an in-home office space easy. This means beginning to inventory and/or looking for dining room furniture that provides storage options, so when work is done, you can easily clean up and put those work-related items away. Furniture storage ideas could include buffets, sideboards, drawers in the dining table, built-ins, hutches - and be sure the spatial dynamics of the dining room can properly accommodate a hutch.

What if I have to conduct work ZOOM calls?

Designate an area within the dining room, perhaps a corner or certain wall, that is staged for easy ZOOM call setup. This means that the section of the dining room still looks great and fits in with the rest of the room’s decor, but it’s also easily accessible to conduct ZOOM sessions on the fly.

Great Go-To Foundational Home-Office Tips

• If you know you’ll need to multi-task the dining room as an in-home office, the type of table you work on is also worth considering. In general, a solid wood dining room table is at the top of the list.

• Establish yourself to be in a commanding position so you can see the dining room entrance. Ideally, it would be great to have a solid wall behind your back to energetically support you.

• Another approach to establishing a strong position is to face toward your best working direction according to your Kua number. If you can still have a solid wall behind you, paired with a clear vantage point of the dining room door, even better! To discover your Kua number you can Google “how to calculate my Kua number” and you’ll find various resources on how to do this.

• The general inclusion of a real plant or two within the dining room is a great way to symbolize and promote growth in your career.

• Open the blinds and pull back the curtains to let in natural light throughout the day while working.

• Be sure you have good lighting as not to strain your eyes if you happen to be working at night.

• Playing soothing instrumental music in the background while working can aid in creating a different mood and mindset while working in this space.

• Be sure you have a comfortable chair that you're sitting on, ideally choosing one with arms.

• If there is something that you could display within the dining room that links this space back to the nature of your job, while still blending into the overall decor of the room, that can be a great addition as well.

Quick Tips to Transform The Dining Room Back to a Social Gathering Space

• Naturally, put all work-related items away.

• The use of placemats is a great way to welcome in yin (soft) energy and to help each person claim a spot at the table. And yes, take the time to set the table - each person receives their own cups, eating utensils, plates/bowls, or whatever it is that you need. It really does make a difference.

• In general, having a table centerpiece is also a great way to shift the energy to a more homely feel. Some general ideas include the display of a low-sitting plant, a bowl of fruit, or some decorative candles. Either option could do well on the table.

• To encourage the energy of social gatherings, even if beyond the dining room, be sure to have another area for seating (I.e. living room, den, back patio, front patio, having extra chairs on hand - could be foldable chairs).

• If you don’t feel comfortable having friends or family members visit with you at your home due to covid, make the conscious effort to stay in connection with them. Connect over the phone, text, and/or zoom. Or, when the weather allows you could set a date to meet outside with friends and family.

The main takeaway is, to be flexible with how you utilized those areas of your home as nothing is set in stone. Feng Shui embraces change so here is the perfect opportunity to put these principles to practice. It’s not only transforming the environment in which you occupy but also training your mindset to be adaptable as well. It’s also important to remember to create space (within your home and heart) to nurture your social life. How you do that is your choice. I welcome you to take these ideas into consideration and see if you notice a shift in your established workspace and social well-being.

4-Part Series

1. How to Adapt Your Dining Room as an In-home Office Space

2. How To Adapt Your Bedroom as an In-Home Office Space

3. How To Adapt Your Living Room as an In-Home Office Space (to be written)

4. How to Adapt Your Kitchen as an In-Home Office Space (to be written)

HKANY CNY teamed up with Feng Shui Consultant Laura Cerrano of Feng Shui Manhattan to celebrate the year of the Water Tiger Lunar New Year 2022 Celebration! Participants joined from around the world - Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, and the United States, to name a few places. Congrats to all the winners of the three feng shui prizes!

The day before Christmas eve was an early gift for those of us who’ve collaborated on the development of Long Island City’s newest residential building, NOVA, located at 41-05 29th street. Construction is still in process, but it was a treat to attend the Topping Out Ceremony to see how far the development of NOVA has come!

This has been a really interesting feng shui project to work on due to the configuration of the land plot and I can’t wait to see NOVA fully completed! To top off the energy and blessing of NOVA a lion dance ceremony is on the horizon for when the grand opening date nears.

The principles of Feng Shui have been integrated throughout the entire developmental process of NOVA (ground-breaking ceremony, architectural review, interior design review, and in due time the grand opening ceremony). If I heard Joseph correctly while at the Topping Out Party, the NOVA is said to be done in about 8 months or so.

The Feng Shui principles evaluate energy through various observations that can be classified as Shen, Sha, or Suu Chi. For this particular post, we are referring to Sha chi - life-draining energy, and how to recognize it.

One of the most common ways in how you can introduce yourself to recognizing Sha chi is by avoiding too many designs that have a sharp 90-degree angle, and/or leaving items out on display that can literally pinch, prick, or cut you. The image you see above is a picture of the Cholla (Choy-ya) Cactus. It’s common sense why you would not want to be near or touch these cactus spines.

Looking to the interior of your home with how to recognize Sha chi, you could start by observing any protruding wall edge that faces toward your front door (or any doorway), your bed, and/or desk. A view of protruding edges on a daily basis can create an off-putting feeling. In Feng Shui, we refer to this observation as ‘cutting your energy down.’

Taking a broader look at what else could be classified as Sha chi, keep an eye out for spaces that have limited natural light, mazy-like hallways, blocked views of the outside, unkempt landscaping, clutter, stairs across from the front door, sweeping energy, fans placed over a bed or desk, broken appliances, exposed structural beams, non-working light fixtures, and/or broken building structures throughout the home.

When dowsing homes, Sha chi is referred to as Geopathic stress (trauma to the land). These are subtle circumstantial energies that can be felt and sensed, but they may not be so obvious to the naked eye with what is draining your energy. It’s also important to note, any negative thoughts, actions, behaviors, habits, and emotions also have the potential to contribute to the level of Sha chi permeating throughout your space. And yes, we even get into the conversation of spiritual activity that could be disrupting the energy.

There can be many other ways in how you classify Sha chi, however, what has been mentioned tends to be among the most common situations.

Laura Cerrano - founder of Feng Shui Manhattan, Emily Hochman - founder of Wellory, Sophia Godkin - health psychologist, and Shizu Okusa - founder of Apothekary have all been invited as keynote speakers for Morgan Stanley’s Women and Wealth Experts to focus on physical health, emotional well-being, and mental wellness. The talk takes place on December 15th, 2021 from 5:15 pm - 6:45 pm est.

Webinar series - this event has been completed.

Other important environmental sciences and design integrations include Biophilia, Urban Acupuncture, Biophilic Urban Acupuncture, and Feng Shui. Below is a quick description of each approach that has been inspiring and engineering green spaces throughout urban neighborhoods and within living and working dwellings.

Biophilia - a theory that says humankind seeks to connect with our inherent need to affiliate with nature in the modern built environment. This approach utilizes designs inspired by nature which can include formations, patterns, and shapes found in nature, colors, sounds, quality of lighting, and aromas) and integrates that into the architecture, interior design, and landscape design of buildings.

Urban Acupuncture - a social-environmental theory that combines contemporary urban design with traditional Chinese acupuncture, using small-scale interventions to transform the larger urban context.

Biophilic Urban Acupuncture (BUA) A theory that intervenes in specific urban places to help improve people’s moods, connect people to place, and help improve mental health. Biophilic urban acupuncture blends biophilia and urban acupuncture.

Feng Shui Healing - an ancient healing practice that originated from the mountain ranges of China about 6,000 years ago. The approach and language of Feng Shui have shifted to meet the needs of modern-day living and translation. Feng Shui invites a new lens of perspective in understanding how our surroundings have a profound impact on our emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual well-being through the observation of a person’s history of a place, intentions for change, natural elemental interactions, and cycles of transformations. Feng Shui is steeped in symbolic and metaphorical languages, while at the same time it can be very practical in supporting the overall well-being of those occupying living and/or working environments.

Examples of Green Spaces in NYC

To help share real-life examples of green spaces (literally and artificially) the images you’ll see below capture views of the Little Island at Pier 55 and the Penn Station entrance between 33rd and 32nd street in New York City. For those who wish to go abroad, Singapore is the top-rated city for integrating green spaces!

Quick Feng Shui Observation: Curving pathways relate to the natural curvature of waterways to allow the energy and people to move with ease.

Quick Feng Shui Observation: Curved designs relate to Sheng Chi - life-nourishing energy. Science has also proven that our brains prefer curved designs and find them to be more appealing and emotionally soothing.

Quick Feng Shui Observation: Feng Shui encourages the integration of all five elements within our exterior and interior environments. The five elements include fire, earth, metal, water, and wood. When orchestrated in a balanced manner, the five elements modern-day theory says you help to cultivate a harmonious blend and cycle of five characteristics that speaks to the peaceful inner nature of humans.

Quick Feng Shui Observation: To have unobstructed views is said to symbolize endless possibilities.

A few ways Biophilic design can be integrated artificially into architecture is through shape, colors, visuals of nature, and lighting as you see demonstrated here in Penn Station.

Penn Station and Moynihan Train Hall (originally called the James A. Farley Building, where the United States Postal Service used to be) are both going through a full revitalization process. News sources say the entire project will be Sustainable and LEED silver certified. It’s also worth noting, there seems to be a good amount of biophilic design fused into the revitalization process as well.

The image above is of Penn Station’s entrance between 33rd and 32nd street. As you travel up the escalator, you are greeted with a pretty amazing view, paired with a map of New York City.

Quick Feng Shui Observation: When able to allow more natural light into a space, do so. This helps to refresh the energy and literally energize the occupants.

Some who observe the design of this new Penn Station entryway through the lens of Feng Shui may feel this design is creating a sweeping feeling (fast-moving energy). I would have to agree and say, yes that is the feeling (having ridden the escalator up to the top). In fact, the design gave me a tiny bit of vertigo. However, compared to what this area used to look and feel like, I would personally describe this new opening as a pressure release point for the heavy, stuffed-up energy that accumulates within Penn Station to escape. Since this is a transportation hub, perhaps encouraging the energy to move up and out at a quicker pace is not such a bad idea.

This is a pretty interesting topic to explore and you’ll probably have even more appreciation when recognizing and encountering green spaces on your own. If you happen to be visiting the NYC area, please visit the above-mentioned Green Spaces. To provide yourself with a full self-guided Green Spaces walking tour along the west side of Manhattan, it’s recommended you start at Hudson Yards (where the Vessel structure is located), stroll along the High Line, and continue moving South toward the Little Island. Be sure to wear good walking shoes! You’ll for sure get in your 10,000 steps for the day.

Feng Shui Long Island, Inc (a.k.a Feng Shui Manhattan) has been nominated for Best of L.I. 2022! Voting has begun October 1st, 2021, and goes through December 15th, 2021.

We can be found as: "Laura Cerrano - Feng Shui Long Island, Inc - Interior Design Category"

How to vote?
You are allowed one vote per person per day. To vote for Laura Cerrano of Feng Shui Long Island, click on this link: https://www.bestoflongisland.com/voting/#/gallery/304961105/

Remember you can vote once a day till December 15th, 2021! We appreciate your support!

An important, yet overlooked aspect to any successful energy work, is being a conscious eater. Food in its own regard carries certain vibrations that can either support or drain your energy and focus. A more tangible way in how to translate this is choosing to eat foods that are lighter vs denser in feeling during, and after consuming them. In the holistic healing community, it’s said lighter foods leave your body more open and receptive, while denser foods help ground you (when eaten in moderation) or could shut you down (making you feel heavy, sluggish, and tired).

Laura Cerrano is not a medical doctor, so it is strongly encouraged to know your own body and discover what foods work for you vs not. When in doubt, perhaps team up with a trusted certified nutritionist to find out on a scientific level the types of foods that specifically support your body type. It’s also understood, you can go even deeper into this conversation about the choices of eating meat vs not. The information provided is a starting guideline and each person will need to come to their own conclusion on how they choose to define consciousness eating for themselves.

Base Recommendations to Consider:

General High-Vibrational Food List:

• Raw nuts and seeds

• Olive and coconut oils

• Ancient grains, such as buckwheat, amaranth, and spelt

• Raw chocolate

• Clean, mineral water

• Herbal teas

• Raw honey (in moderation)

• Fermented foods

• Brown rice

• Legumes

• Green supplements, like spirulina

• Avocado

• Fresh fruits (choose fruits that have a less sugary content when able to)

• Fresh veggies, lightly steamed and herbs

• Extra-virgin organic olive oil

• Quinoa

  
  

General High-Energy Vibrational Protein List:

If you can, try to receive your protein from plant sources and/or keep to fairly lean protein-based meats that you ingest.

• Lentils

• Kidney beans

• Black beans

• Walnuts

• Oats and Barley

• Split peas

• Pinto beans

• Chicken and fish are said to be ok when eaten in moderation. Even take into consideration for chicken if they are free-range and how they were fed. Same with the fish, it’s recommended to only choose wild-caught fish. These can be your grounding foods.

General Low-Energy Vibrational Food List:

• Processed foods - canned & frozen foods

• Microwaved, GMO, and pre-packaged foods

• Alcohol

• Coffee and any other caffeinated drinks

• Soda

• White rice & flour

• Cold-cuts (processed meats)

• Fast food meals

• Pasteurized dairy products - milk, cheese, etc

• Beef and Pork

• Canola oils, Palm oils and margarine

• Sugar and artificial sweeteners

Remember…

The preparation of food is important too! My mother, Carole Provenzale used to say, our food is prepared, created, and served with love. Holding intention in all that you do really does matter.

One last final insight is to eat portion sizes that don’t fill you to the brim. Even that simple reminder can help you stay light on your feet and sharp as a whip when providing holistic Feng Shui healing sessions to your clients.

There are four common rooms my clients request help for when multi-purposing the space including the bedroom, living room, dining room, and sometimes the kitchen. I’ll break down each area in separate blog articles so you can explore and digest the various options in how to begin implementing these Feng Shui ideas into your own home. Again, these are general ideas to consider as each home, room, and family is unique.

FOR THIS POST, I’M FOCUSING ON THE BEDROOM.

The bedroom is meant to help restore your energy from the day. However, with covid amongst us, for some, the bedroom has been transformed into a home office space as well. If you happen to be in a similar situation, please do not fret. Below is an overview of a few quick Feng Shui bedroom office tips to test out. The keyword here is boundaries.

GREAT GO-TO FOUNDATIONAL BEDROOM HOME-OFFICE TIPS

• Establish clear boundaries between your work and sleep zones. Depending on the size of the bedroom, the use of an area rug by the bed offers a simple physical boundary line between the sleep and work areas within the room.

• You could display artwork that supports your subconscious mind while working, allowing you to feel grounded and focused. Since this artwork will most likely be seen from the bed, you’ll also want it to invoke soothing energy when sleeping.

• On the desk or around the general designated workspace within the bedroom office, you could display your business card or something that highlights your name and position with the company you work for. It’s important to acknowledge yourself, even from the home office. In a more traditional office setting, this could also be done by hanging a certificate or professional document that expresses your expertise within your chosen field of work, as appropriate.

• For those interested in utilizing crystals, the display of selenite in the designated office area within the bedroom is a great way to help establish energy boundaries. Selenite is said to dispel negative energy and enhance clarity, focus, and calmness in any space.

• It’s understood in a typical bedroom with Feng Shui, you don’t want to include plants. However, if multi-purposing the bedroom with office functions, perhaps consider including at least one, or maybe two slow-growing plants by the work area. Possible plant options could include succulents, snake plants, pothos, Chinese evergreen, or jade plants. Naturally, take into consideration the amount of light being received into your bedroom by the designated office area and that can help further refine your plant selection.
  
  

Decide upon the type of work surface you’ll need: Traditional sit-down or standing desk? Mounted folding desk? Drop lid desk? Each of these options has pros and cons.

Traditional Sit-down or Standup Desk:

• pros: seen as the most sturdy in Feng Shui - especially wood material desks. They can be easily moved and readjusted.

• cons: they can take up a good amount of space and you want to be mindful of the desk edges so they are not pointing back toward the bed or bedroom doorway (this creates sha - cutting energy). An ideal desk shape is typically rectangular with curved edges.

Mounted Folding Desks:

• pros: this is a space saver for sure! And this desk can fold up to help visually close down the work-energy if you keep a fairly minimalist workspace.

• cons: has to be mounted to the wall, so once it’s set, it’s set. You can move it if need be, but placement may be limited and you’ll need to patch up any holes along the wall each time you move it.
  
  

Drop Lid Desks:

• Pros: this type of desk can also move around. This type of desk design can literally close down, helping to conceal all your work materials.

• Cons: Most likely this will be limited to facing a wall. If that is the case, look for a wall near a window so you have breathable space near the desk vs feeling shoved into a corner.

With any of these options, you always want to make sure the desk in question fits the size of the room and the area of the room you are looking to position it. Also be mindful of Drop Lid desk height, width, and depth. Very bulky furniture in a small space is not ideal. It could create a psychological feeling of oppression and be overwhelmed.

• If sitting down at the desk, be sure you have a supportive office chair. A healthy erect spine with good posture is linked to better energy, flexibility, and focus. To help with this, raise your computer monitor stand so when looking at the computer screen you are not straining your neck in a downward direction.

• Be sure to take mini breaks from working on the computer. Perhaps every 1.5 hours you could take a break by walking and stretching.

• Establish a commanding position. This means the occupant sitting at the desk can clearly see the bedroom doorway, while not being in direct alignment with the doorway.

• If possible, sit with a solid wall behind your desk. The solid wall acts as a ‘mountain’ behind your back, encouraging a supportive feeling.

• For those who follow eight mansions Feng Shui, you could calculate your Kua number and discover what directions are most supportive to you when working. Ideally, you’ll want to face your ‘success’ direction for work, but if you can’t do that then at least try to be in and/or face in any of the four primary directions that best supports your overall energy. To discover your Kua number you can Google “how to calculate my Kua number” and you’ll find various resources on how to do this.

• Naturally, keep an organized work and sleep space. Make it a habit at the end of the day to clean up your work area. This is especially important if you can’t physically conceal your workspace.

• Try to designate a time when you ‘shut down’ from work mentally, emotionally, and physically. I literally put my phone on airplane mode so I’m not tempted to look at it throughout the night. It’s understood this bedtime ritual may not be ideal for all, yet see if you can find a positive habit that works for you.

• Let natural light filter into your bedroom during the day. The daylights help to charge the room with yang energy and at night, naturally, close the curtains.

• Colors in the bedroom office can vary depending on how you approach what you apply. A general Feng Shui approach could be by choosing soothing, pastel colors as a backdrop within the bedroom office, and then accenting the colors in accordance with the western Bagua map or compass directions.

• Be sure you have good air circulation. When the weather allows, open up the windows and welcome in the fresh air. If that is not an option, consider including an air purifier within the bedroom, placing it closer to the office space.

• Establish clear communication with those living with you about when you need to use the bedroom for work. This can also help communicate a period of quietness and calmness that is needed for better focus.

• Use ambient sounds to help maintain focus. This can be done with folk, classical or instrumental musical sounds, sounds of nature, or even background sounds of being in a cafe while working.

• Before going to bed, consider adopting the habit of turning off your wifi, shutting down the computer monitor within your bedroom. It may even be worth the extra step of literally unplugging those electronics when not in use. However, I know that may not be practical, so naturally do what makes sense for you. As for cell phones, its best to keep that out of the bedroom. If you can’t do any of that, then look into other options such as the use of magnetic Shungite to harmonize the EMFs. Yet the best policy is distance and literally shutting down the electrical charge to the actual appliances.

Make time for work/life balance. Give yourself permission to make plans to meet up with family and friends (being mindful of covid safety protocols and your own comfort level of interaction). Take yourself on a staycation or vacation. Set aside at least a day or two throughout the week where work is not on the agenda. You need to allow yourself to reset and breathe.

Four-Part Series

How to Adapt Your Dining Room as an In-home Office Space

How To Adapt Your Bedroom as an In-Home Office Space

How To Adapt Your Living Room as an In-Home Office Space (to be written)

How to Adapt Your Kitchen as an In-Home Office Space (to be written)

Holistic Healing Dowsing allows you to journey beyond the five senses, connecting more intimately with the unseen subtle energy realms. Dowsing is a unique way to investigate the root cause of detrimental energy (Geopathic Stress) that could be negatively affecting the home, land, and/or occupants. The accumulation of detrimental energy could occur over days, months, years, or even centuries. If not released, it has the capacity to negatively influence a person’s body, mind, emotions, and spirit. Common tools utilized to assist in the investigation of Geopathic stress include pendulums or dowsing rods. Even more importantly, is the string of questions that helps to activate the movement of the dowsing tools to respond ‘yes’ or ‘no’ in guiding the dowser to where the Geopathic stress is located inside the building, on the land, around the person, or animals. The process of dowsing can be done remotely and/or in person.

Can dowsing and Feng Shui work together?

Absolutely! Each healing approach puts on a unique lens of consciousness and connectivity to the situation at hand. There are some obvious and subtle differences between Feng Shui and dowsing, yet each healing approach can absolutely complement each other. By doing so it will only enrich the overall energy healing and clearing process, and beneficial maintenance of the home, land, and occupants.

Other articles you may enjoy:

What is Geopathic stress?

Become Familiar with the Predecessor History of Your Home and Land

Introduction to Feng Shui

The Petropolist Podcast interviews Feng Shui Expert Laura Cerrano of Feng Shui Manhattan on how to establish healthy home and pet shop environments. The entire interview is about 52-minutes long. You can listen by clicking on either of the provided links, and we've even highlighted the various topics so you can navigate your way to specific sectors of the interview for key feng shui pet tips. Enjoy!

Time mark 00:47 - Brief Intro About Laura Cerrano

Time mark 03:26 - What is Feng Shui?

Time mark 04:17 - Starting Feng Shui Advice for Pet Owners

Time mark 04:54 - Conduct a mini self-reflection - Your own energy can influence your Pets’ energy

Time mark 08:46 - What is the first impression upon entering your home?

Time mark 12:13 - Feng Shui Elements to place by the Front door for good energy

Time mark 14:47 - Mirrors by the front door and Feng Shui mirror anatomy in general

Time mark 17:25 - Establishing a good space for your pet’s to sleep at home

Time mark 23:21 - Placement of litter boxes for cat owners through the lens of the use of the Feng Shui Compass method approach

• Better locations for litter box placement

• Locations recommended avoiding placing the litter box

Time mark 27: 33 - How to find the Feng Shui compass directions (you can also watch this portion on the youtube interview version)

Time mark 33:31 - Feng Shui for Pet Store Introduction

Time mark 34:34 - Feng Shui Pet Store tips - First impressions for the exterior

Time mark 40:48 - Ideal placement for cash register

Time mark 43:09 - Topping off some quick Feng Shui pet tips for the Home

• Using healing shapes

• Pet photos

• Quick Correction: For pet owners who are interested in researching their pet’s Kua number (eight mansions Feng Shui), the correct spelling is “KUA”. The Kua number allows you to calculate your pet’s primary element and utilize that information to help you position and place them in areas within your home that are considered most supportive to their well-being.

• Be mindful of visuals supporting your pets

• Declutter

• Be conscious of your thoughts being projected toward your pets

Time mark 49:52 - Closing remarks (https://fengshuimanhattan.com/)

The Divine Healing by Davina podcast interviews Feng Shui Consultant Laura Cerrano of Feng Shui Manhattan who shares Feng Shui success stories, the importance of setting intentions, establishing healthy boundaries, demystifying common myths about Feng Shui, how to address mirrors in bedrooms for better sleep, and additional easy Feng Shui tips anyone could utilize right away! The full podcast is about 44 minutes long. The actual interview with Laura begins at the time mark of 1:57 for those who wish to skip ahead. Enjoy!

When it comes to the topic of Space Clearings, Land Blessings, and Feng Shui, consultants believe it’s important to clear away any unbeneficial predecessor energy left behind from the previous occupants. It’s believed when people (and even animals) entangle with lower frequency energy (negative feelings or thoughts left behind from a previous occupant's, or even trauma to the land), it could potentially influence the new occupants’ thoughts, patterns of behaviors, and how they feel.

Experiencing a space clearing and blessing provides the home, land, and occupants with an opportunity to refresh the energy and fuse their own intentions into the fabric of the building. By doing this, it helps people feel more connected, harmonized, and grounded to the location they will be residing in.

Enlisting the professional services of a space clearer can be beneficial at any time, especially before or after moving into a new location. In the case of Rockrose Development, they chose to space clear and bless their new residential development, The Cove after construction was completed with the help of Certified Feng Shui Master Laura Cerrano. Below are photos that share a glimpse of Laura Cerrano guiding the Rockrose team during the Feng Shui space clearing and land blessing ceremony.

You may also enjoy reading:

FENG SHUI INSIGHT: BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE PREDECESSOR HISTORY OF YOUR LAND AND HOME

WHAT IS GEOPATHIC STRESS?

In the practice of Feng Shui, mirrors play various roles in how they could be utilized to affect the energy of people, animals, and the overall energy of a space.

On a more general response to mirrors, they are typically not recommended inside the bedroom, more so if they are facing the bed. Why? Mirrors in Feng Shui are seen as an ‘activation’ cure, which means they could possibly overstimulate the energy within the bedroom. From a scientific perspective, our everyday house mirrors have the ability to reflect some sound waves vs absorb them. The metaphysical science of mirrors perceives them as being portal-like, making it easier for other types of energies to influence the resting body, mind, and spirit (more so for those who are very sensitive to energy). Due to these varying factors, a mirror across from a bed could influence unbeneficial sleep patterns or even dreams.

However, there could be some exceptions to the Feng Shui principles of mirrors inside a bedroom. To help you assess your own situation, consider these quick observations below….

If the mirror is not reflecting the occupant while sleeping and there is no reporting any disrupted sleep patterns, this situation could be seen as less of an issue.

If the mirror is reflecting the occupant while sleeping and is a notable culprit to what is influencing a disruption with sleep patterns, creative problem solving may be needed to help resolve the matter. The approach for resolution is different for each client, depending on surface space availability for implementing change, paired with how invested and detailed they wish to go to help remedy the situation.

Here are a few insights into how to address mirror situations within a bedroom:

• If able to, removing the mirror from within the bedroom and/or shifting the placement of the mirror so it’s not reflecting the bed is one of the better and more practical means to addressing this situation.

• If you wish to keep a mirror inside the bedroom, see about placing it within the room where it would not reflect the bed and perhaps instead reflect the outside. Yet again, be mindful of what is outside the bedroom window and make sure that the reflection is positive. The mirror has the ability to double the energy of what it sees (reflects) and pull that energy into the room.

• Some clients use a decorative cloth of their choosing to cover the mirror at night.

• Others may use a decorative vase with artificial flowers to block the overall reflectiveness of the mirror.

• Depending on how the mirror is hanging along the wall, I’ve seen some clients hang artwork over the mirror when not in use or install flat-panel artwork installations to conceal the mirror.

• I’ve even encountered a handful of clients who shared they were not bothered by a mirror facing across from their bed and decided to utilize the power of reflection to spice things up or even encourage the energy of baby-making!

Each situation is unique to the context of how the mirror influences the energy of the space and each person. Naturally, as people change, so will their energy patterns and the overall environment. This meaning, at one point in time, a mirror in the bedroom may not have been a bother. During another stage in life or cycle of energy that the person and/or house is transitioning through, the mirror could become too powerful and needs to be removed or adjusted with a cure.

About the author

Laura Cerrano is a Certified Feng Shui expert with 24+ years of experience. She provides bicoastal Feng Shui consultations and workshops for residential, business, real estate developments, Fortune 500 companies, and healing facilities. Laura is also the founder of the Feng Shui Manhattan School - providing an 8-month integrative professional training Feng Shui certification program. To complement her Feng Shui consultations, by request Laura provides Reiki Healing and Holistic Healing Dowsing sessions. She is currently writing her first book that focuses on bridging the gap between the ancient wisdom of Feng Shui and modern-day science to establish the practice of Feng Shui as a credible form of health care.

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Are Mirrors a New Age Feng Shui Cure?

When you hear the word clutter, you may immediately think of a home or closet space. However, for this particular reference to clutter, we are referring to the excessive use of artificial outdoor lighting from cars, offices, school buildings, factories, outdoor advertising, and homes that leave lights on throughout the entire evening. This unconscious behavior of leaving lights on all night long may seem harmless, however, the negative implications of this act cause detrimental side effects for many.

According to the American Medical Association (AMA), exposure to excessive outdoor artificial lighting is detrimental to humans because it interrupts the production of melatonin - the sleep hormone. The body produces melatonin during evening hours when it’s the darkest and by doing so, helps the body maintain a healthy circadian rhythm. Insufficient sleep is proven to cause fatigue, headaches, stress, anxiety, and other health problems.

Studies referenced in the UN Environmental Program also say that light pollution is a huge problem for wildlife by negatively impacting animal behaviors with migration patterns, wake-sleep habits, and habitat formation. This includes land, sky, and marine wildlife. Light pollution has also been recognized by entomologists as contributing to the decline of insect populations.

According to National Geographic, some of the most light-polluted countries in the world include Singapore, Qatar, and Kuwait. Vast areas of the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia are also notable light-polluted countries. Curious to see where your country and neighborhood stand in terms of light pollution? Click on the button below to find out.

Does this mean turn off all the lights and go completely dark? Of course not, though if you want to see the stars from your home again, it’s not a bad idea. If anything, this article is encouraging you to become more conscious of your surroundings and participate in the solution vs contributing to the problem.

What can be done to help reduce light pollution?

• #1 recommendation….turn off all outdoor and indoor lights that are not being used.

• Put shields on outdoor lights to help direct artificial light where it’s needed vs spilling into the night sky.

• Use motion-activated outdoor lighting. And again, when you don't need them, turn those lights off.

• Use warm-colored LED lights instead of blue-white lights (more so to help our tiny insect friends).

• Spread the word by educating your family, friends, and neighbors on how they can help reduce light pollution and be part of the solution too!

What can you do to set your bedroom up for better sleep when dealing with light pollution?

• Purchase blackout curtains. They can also help in reducing noise (which is another form of clutter).

• Remove all laptops, cell phones, Ipads, and any other digital device from your bedroom as not to have that subtle buzzing of EMFs around your energy field.

• At least one hour prior to sleep, remove yourself from being on all digital devices. Instead, read a book or do a light meditation.

• If there is a lot of outdoor light pollution clutter on the outside of your home, make sure that is not the case for the inside of your bedroom. Declutter your entire room, including the closets and drawers.

• Only keep in the bedroom what is absolutely necessary and choose only visuals that will truly support a good night’s sleep.

There is plenty more you can do, but this is a great start!

The response is, no. The use of mirrors dates back around 300 CE, during the emergence of Magical Taoism. This system of Taoism used shapes, the 5 elements, yin-yang principles, communing with nature spirits, benevolent and malevolent spirits, soul rescue and retrieval, utilization of power artifacts, establishing altars, and methods of protection were all part of the founding principles for Magical Taoism. These very principles have been filtered down into the founding roots of Modern-day Feng Shui, such as with BTB Feng Shui practices.

In regard to the use of mirrors, practitioners (shamans) of that time used mirrors to protect homes. And yes, modern-day Feng Shui consultants who choose to follow in the footsteps of the Magical Taoism traditions, they too will still utilize convex, concave, or flat Bagua (Pa-k’-ua) patterned mirrors to deflect away harmful energies from the home.

Why use the octagon-shaped patterns? It’s believed the octagon shape helps increase the power of a mirror’s use for protection. While at the same time, the octagon shape helps to call in good health and good fortune.

Convex Bagua Mirror

The convex mirror is the one that is bowing out, like a dome or fisheye. It is a more aggressive way of dealing with the negative energy as it bounces the energy back from where it came. This is not recommended in modern-day feng shui practices as a perpetual cycle of negativity seems to bounce between the source of the malevolent interaction and your home. However, there can be exceptions from time to time.

Concave Bagua Mirror

A concave mirror (the mirror that “caves in”) is said to neutralize or even eliminate the negative energy by pulling it into the mirror vs the home. Due to this constant point of attraction (pulling negative energy in toward the mirror), it’s recommended to replace the concave mirror at least once, just as you would do with the Feng Shui Salt Cure.

Flat Bagua Mirror

This mirror design is said to neither absorb nor bounce back negative energy and more so, neutralizes the interaction of malevolent energies. Think of this as the Tai-Chi mirror cure. And yes, it can still have the octagon shape surrounding the flat mirror.

there are two Bagua Mirror designs to be mindful of

There is the Early Heaven and Later Heaven Bagua mirror design. When it comes to protection, look for the Early Heaven Bagua design surrounding the mirror. This is the design with the three unbroken lines on top (Chi’en trigram) symbolizing the energy of Heaven. You can see a clear image of what this looks like below.

Typical situations when a Feng Shui Bagua mirror could help

• Dealing with a T-junction intersect

• A very busy business or residence

• Facing across from a cemetery

• Facing a piece of abandoned land

• Facing a house with aggressive design features pointing at your front door

• Facing a house with negative energy very close to your house (constant arguments, fights, aggression, etc)

• Facing a construction site

Placement of the mirrors?

Typically, these types of mirrors are placed outside above the front door or a large window, facing in the direction of the intrusive energy.

What If I Don’t Want to Use Any Of These Feng Shui Mirror Cure Options?

If you choose not to use any of the Feng Shui Mirror Cure options to protect the energy of your home, no worries! Feel free to modify (as this is what shamans have done for centuries - adapted as needed). Some clients of mine have decided to simply use the shape of the octagon and place within the center of the octagon shape a different symbol that they personally resonate with and feel brings them and their home peace, harmony, balance, and blessings. Remember, there are varying factors that contribute to the overall energy of every space. So this is just one of many Feng Shui approaches to raising the vibration of your home that could be adopted into your home and lifestyle.

In the Cantonese language number 4 (four) sounds similar to “death” and due to that, a stigma against 4 evolved. A similar perspective is recognized throughout Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia. It’s said that building, elevator, and house numbers are purposely missing the number 4. This is also noted among property prices and driver license IDs.  

Perhaps because there is such a strong collective belief in the number 4 being so bad, that this is what gives the dreaded number 4 its power. In Ancient Greek, they referred to this as Tetraphobia (τετράς (tetrás) 'four', and φόβος (phóbos) 'fear') which means, the practice of avoiding instances of the digit 4. Let that be four as it stands alone or numbers that add up to the single digit of 4. 

What can you do if you come across a property that has the number 4 or an address that adds up to the number 4?

• It’s said that you could encase the number four with a red circle, holding the belief that the red color will help to 'burn’ away the negative energy associated with the number 4.

• If not that, perhaps you could place the number four on a circular or oval-shaped plaque (if that suits the look of the house or apartment number presentation).

• I’ve even heard of others encasing the number four in a singular gold circle, once again helping to contain the energy and to reduce its negative effects.

• Or, in general, know that by enclosing the number 4 in a circle, the inauspicious effects of this perceived negative number are contained.

Taking On Other Approaches…

• You could display amulets from your culture or personal lineage that blesses the home’s front entrance.

• Establishing overall good Feng Shui hygiene for your home in general.

• Installing the annual Flying Stars Cures each year (if you follow that method).

• Conducting annual space clearings and blessings of your home and land to renew and refresh the energy.

• Establishing a strong front door (referred to as the mouth of chi - the breath of energy)

• Setting up black tourmaline crystals, smokey quartz, or even selenite crystals, as to name some quick possible protective stones that you could place near the front door.

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The Valuable Lessons of Number 4 In Feng Shui

The Feng Shui analysis of your home first begins with the observation of the exterior surroundings, paired with how you navigate (walk/drive/bike) toward your home. In regard to outdoor Feng Shui principles, there are a variety of observations Feng Shui Consultants take into consideration. Hyper focusing on the concept of street names through the lens of Feng Shui, even this tiny detail could present a certain energetic vibration worth paying attention to. 

While in North Carolina, exploring the Historic Oakwood Community I noticed some of the street names had a bit of an aggressive tone, such as "Poor House Rd" and "Bloodworth St." This is not to say because your home resides on streets with questionable names such as these, that negative energy will be created. Yet, it’s also not something to completely ignore. If anything, I invite city, borough, and district council members (as they are the ones who allocate the naming of streets) to really reconsider using lower frequency words that will collectively surround a neighborhood.

If you happen to live on a street with a lower frequency name, the very fact that you are choosing to Feng Shui your own home and land will help raise the vibration of your location. You could even display your version of uplifting words along the front of your home, such as with “Bless this Home.”

Looking at words and/or combinations of words from a metaphysical scientific perspective, according to Dr. Emoto the power of words is measurable and could impact us on subconscious, emotional and physical levels. 

The base understanding of what Feng Shui is and how to utilize it tends to present itself in seemingly confusing and at times, complex ways. This is due to the constant evolution of the practice in how it’s utilized, paired with cultural and societal cross-pollination. Below lists the most commonly referenced Feng Shui methods out there to date.

• Compass Method

• Form School

• BTB Feng Shui

• Flying Stars

• I-Ching

Humbly, I offer this perspective to help sum up the various methods. Feng Shui is a holistic practice that encourages people to live a happy, healthy and balanced lifestyle.

In regard to any research that has been done to study the benefits of Feng Shui, there is not much out there. I did see articles in Science Magazine and Jstor.org. Yet, respectfully, they fall more into the arena of comparison vs establishing standardized quantifiable Feng Shui questions and testing procedures.

However, I did come across one Feng Shui scientific article referenced in Kmpdi.com, posted in 2019. These studies seemed to offer a more thought out and structured attempt to evaluate Feng Shui scientifically. The main Feng Shui method utilized in the studies was the form school in feng shui thoughts blended with the green building assessment system practices to evaluate both micro-climate and topography. In short, the studies did recognize benefits from an ecological perspective. However, there needs to still be many more studies that can be easily replicated and peer reviewed by trusted scientific journals.

A Thought for Scientific Feng Shui Research…..

It would be really interesting to see if the practice of Feng Shui could affect the physiological and neurological components of humans.

What alternative healing practice has broken the barriers between pseudo-science to real science?

That would be, meditation. Most research conducted to investigate the benefits has come from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which takes pictures of the brain and records brain activity during the scan. One study on meditation in particular that caught my attention was recognized by Harvard Medical School in 2012.

Gaëlle Desbordes [an instructor in radiology at HMS and a neuroscientist at MGH’s] “took before-and-after fMRI scans of subjects who learned to meditate over the course of two months. She scanned them not while they were meditating, but while they were performing daily tasks. The results demonstrated that changes in brain activity within subjects who have learned to meditate held steady, even when they’re not meditating.” [1]

In layman terms, the accumulation of practicing meditation helped the subjects to better regulate their emotions and thoughts, which reduced their ‘fight and flight’ reactions, allowing for lower stress levels and increased immune systems to which support healthier bodies.

Possibilities for future studies with feng shui….

Perhaps a scientific evaluation of Feng Shui could be adapted from Desbordes approach of research. Feng Shui also requires time to learn, time to implement changes within the living environment, and time to maintain a healthy and balanced practice of conscious living.

Who could be some possible collaborative experts to help configure studies on Feng Shui?

• Environmental Psychologist (which many of the EP principles cross paths with traditional Feng Shui principles that have been adapted to modern day living)

• Ecologist

• Neuroscientists

• Biophilia Researchers

• Feng Shui Consultants coming together from various practices to agree on standardized core principles that can offer the scientific community an easier way to study Feng Shui.

Or, maybe Feng Shui requires a integrative approach such as with Quantum Mechanics. Questions upon questions.

Images by https://unsplash.com/@vadim_gromov

Image by https://unsplash.com/@fakeller

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

To further show my support and love, I’ve decided to create artwork in honor of his father’s spirit and dig deeper into the symbolic meaning of the Praying Mantis.

Here is what I found….

• You have the power to adapt to any situation, however painful. Take a deep breath and make the adjustments needed.

• Embrace space to yourself so you have time to receive peace, quiet and calm within your life.

• Take the time to be more conscious of your choices.

• Embrace the virtue of patience.

• Achieve goals with precise action.

• Cultivate a balanced lifestyle of work, play and rest.

• Adopt graceful movements and contemplative ways.

• According to South African National Biodiversity Institute, finding a praying mantis inside your home indicates the presence of ancestors.

I’d say for the transition my friend is experiencing, this is a great symbol to have close to his heart and within his home.

cover photo by David Clode from upslash.com

“Where is the best place to locate cremated ashes?

This is a common question I receive from clients who have just lost a loved one. I understand this topic can be sensitive to many and for various reasons. Respectfully, I invite you to take what I share with an open heart and mind. If you resonate with what you read, perhaps consider incorporating the tips into how you set up the urn when honoring deceased loved ones. There is no right or wrong, it’s what you personally connect to.

In the practice of Feng Shui, there are some areas within the home recommended to keep cremated remains away from. These areas tend to include the:

• front entrance

• bedroom

• bathroom

• kitchen

• attic

• basement

On a very practical level, a few of these rooms tend to have high foot traffic which makes the cremated remains inside the urn more susceptible to someone accidentally bumping into it and knocking it over.

As for the front entrance, it’s among the first impression and imprint you’ll see day in and day out. In regard to the bedroom, ideally it’s recommended to reserve that space for your own time to reset and rest. Avoiding the kitchen is more so for cleanliness. The bathroom is reserved for flushing away and removing waste, which does not present the most proper setting to honor the deceased. If you are looking to promote a healthy grieving process, keeping the urn ‘hidden away’ within the attic or basement may not be ideal. The attic relates to the future and the basement, to the past. However, if the attic is finished and being used, that could be the exception.

Essentially, from a Feng Shui perspective, it’s typically recommended to place the urn within an area of the home that provides breathable space and healthy boundaries for both the living and the deceased. There’s a lot of heavily charged energy coming from the symbolism and physical remains within the urn. It’s vitally important to allow the human mind and emotions space to rest. Quite honestly, this is the same for the deceased. According to Buddhist teachings, when the living tug on the soul cords of deceased loved ones who are in process of transitioning, we unknowingly tend to keep them stuck on the earth plane and that is not ideal for either parties.

Returning to the recommended placements of urns with ashes, more commonly recommended areas to place them include:

• living room

• den

• home library

• room dedicated for an altar

• indoor conservatory

Each of these areas tend to promote more neutral yang (uplifting - life force) energy. It’s also easier to blend the urn into the decor of the room or yard.

Some other Considerations:

Besides urn placement, also take into consideration the atmosphere in how you choose to display the urn. There is already a lot of yin energy (death - stillness), so if the urn is to remain within your home for a short or prolonged period of time, it would be wise to bring in more yang energy influences to rebalance the space.

• Adopt living plants into the space of where you’ll be displaying the ashes

• Place the urn in a location that receives natural daylight

• Display a photo of that person and be sure to choose a happy, healthy image

• Place a ceremonial cloth beneath the urn

• Maintain a clean table or shelve the urn is placed on

• Allowing the urn to be close to eye level vs placed on the floor

• Display a universal symbol or symbol of your choosing that unifies the living and deceased, in a respectful way

An example of this can be viewed below. I recently had a client in Los Angeles, CA who shared the best location to place their grandfather’s urn was literally by the front entrance. After surveying the home, she was correct. Being practical, we made some simple subtle changes, while also being very intune with what was truly allowed to be changed vs not.

Some Key Takeaways My Client Did:

• exchanged a fake plant for a real one

• opened the blinds nearby to allow in more natural light

• decluttered the front entrance so nothing hang over the altar and blocked the pathway into the home.

• changed the artwork above the altar to fit the energetic atmosphere and altar appropriately. We shopped around my client’s home and came across the flower of life artwork. For this purpose, the image really pulled the altar together, while also creating a feeling of stability and neutrality. The flower of life can hold a few meanings, yet for this purpose the intention was to honor cycles of life and offer a easier transition of those cycles for the departed family member and those living within the household.

The Results?

Within a few short moments of making the Feng Shui adjustments, we could all feel the energy shift into a lighter frequency. It felt more open and welcoming. One of the family members who was upstairs, came down and said, “I feel like grandpa has more space to breathe.” The energy shifted from sad and sorrow to feeling a bit lighter with a sense of saying hello as they walk past the altar. Of course my client and her family is still grieving, but the emotional management seems to have taken on a much more balanced state in navigating the acceptance of their grandfather’s transition.

Certified New York City and Los Angeles, CA Feng Shui Consultant Laura Cerrano was recently interviewed by Business Talk Radio Host, Joey Sims. This interview provides a brief introduction to who Laura Cerrano is, a look into the history and background of her Feng Shui practice and how services are provided. If you're curious to learn more, the interview is a quick 10 minutes and 40 seconds.

A big thank you Business Talk Radio for this opportunity!

Enjoy!

Feng Shui New York City Consultant Laura Cerrano of Feng Shui Manhattan was interviewed by WellandGood.com to share tips on "How to Use the Western Bagua Map to Feng Shui Your Home."

Ms.Cerrano goes through each Gua (life station), referencing their element, colors, subject matter and how to begin activating each gua, along with providing a step by step guide on how to begin understanding and utilizing the Bagua map in very practical ways.

Laura Cerrano - CEO, founder and president of Feng Shui Long Island has been nominated best of L.I. 2021. The voting period started on October 1st, 2020 and runs through December 15, 2020. Based on the voting procedures, you are allowed one vote per person per day for each category. We thank you for your support!

You can find Laura Cerrano listed under the following:

Nominee: Laura Cerrano - Feng Shui Long Island, Inc
Section: Home & Garden
Category: Interior Designer

Navigate the Video with Ease:

• Importance of Surrounding Environments - 00:07

• Local Parks Near Skyline Tower Long Island City - 02:11

• Declutter and Organize - 2:34

• Let the Outside In - 3:38

• Furniture Arrangement - 5:08

• Include Plants - 6:52

• Artwork - 9:41

• Kitchen Tips - 13:08

• Bedroom Tips - 14:17

• Western BTB Bagua Map - 16:47

• Closing remarks - 22:20

“Do you have any insights into what a backed up drain pipe represents in Feng Shui?”

This is a great question! So, let’s dig a little deeper into the symbolic representation of what water element and drain pipes represent according to modern day Feng Shui principles.

Water element is linked to emotions and the subconscious mind, When water element is present in the ideal locations (north: career, east: family, southeast: wealth) inside a home and along the land, there is a sense of controlled movement that flows with ease and serenity as you navigate life.

In Feng Shui drain pipes relate to wealth and health (blood flow and the intestines, which also relates to the immune system). In regard to the reference of wealth, some may say leaky pipes is draining away your finances. Or, a clogged drain pipe could be backing up your finances, such as with not receiving payments on time, or perhaps your feeling overwhelmed with certain financial responsibilities.

The message will be unique to each person depending on where they are in their current state of life. In any effect, through the lens of Feng Shui, we see these interactions with the home and land helping to bring consciousness to the behaviors, emotions and thoughts you have been cultivating over time. Are they of benefit or are they hindering you from personal and/or professional growth and transformation?

what could you do to cure clogged drains and leaky pipes?

1. First and foremost be practical and get any leaky, broken or clogged pipes fixed!

2. A more transcendental approach (energy approach) is to query the possible message being sent to you. Some sample questions may include: What has been my emotional temperament leading up to the discovery of the leaky, broken or clogged pipe? Have I been stressed? Overwhelmed? Did something traumatic just occur or has a traumatic situation been lingering? Have I been practicing self-care? Once you have begun gathering responses to your questions, participate in making positive changes to help rebalance your lifestyle.

3. You could use intention to help heal your home. I know this may sound far fetched, however, before you completely judge this suggestion, why not try it out. My personal go-to is to recite a prayer of healing and blessings, sending that divine energy into the fabric of my home’s walls, foundation, appliances, drain pipes, etc. For those who practice dowsing, you could locate the power center(s) within your home and then project those divine prayers into your home. Think of this as an energy channel that instantly links into all aspects of your homes soul for a general healing.

4. It would be a good idea to adjust the Feng Shui of the building, rebalancing the five elements (water, metal, earth, fire, wood) and declutter accordingly to help enhance the overall energy of the space.

5. Take notice to any subtle messages your home is trying to send you, which usually relates to adopting better self-care practices mentally, emotionally, physically and/or spiritually.

In regard to case studies and even incidences within my own home in times past, I’ve noticed when anything having to do with drain pipes malfunctioning, there tended to be an emotional trigger that set things off, such as with grief. Just like with humans, a house also needs to release pent up negative energy periodically, otherwise if not, it tends to express itself like a pressure cooker just exploded.

At first this all may seem like a bad thing, but through the lens of Feng Shui, its not. The Feng Shui principles see this as an exchange of energy - releasing what no longer serves you or your home to replenish the space and yourself with healthy vital life force energy.

Read the full article by clicking on the button below:

The surface of the earth is woven with intricate networks of energy threads identical to that of meridians you’ll find throughout the human body. These networks of subtle energies are responsible for the health and growth of nature, and any interruption to its harmonious flow could have profound effects upon the land, water, and living organisms.

Derived from the Greek words, "Geo" means "Earth" and "Pathic" means a disease or suffering. Put them together and you have “suffering of the Earth.” However, the word ‘pathic’ is also found in words that relate to the ability to feel, perceive or sense specific energies for healing (as in empathic and telepathic).

The general definition of Geopathic Stress is the study of earth energies (earth rays) and their detrimental effects on the well-being of humans and animals. Please keep in mind, not all earth rays are bad, there are some that can be very beneficial, such as with healing vortexes. Other earth rays could also be neutral, allowing you to shift the energy to be in a more favorable frequency.

Some dowsers, geomancers, and Feng Shui Masters umbrella other geopathic findings that are responsible for stress-related diseases. These findings may also include underground subterranean water currents (water veins), large mineral concentrations, different fault lines that emit specific electromagnetic fields, underground mining tunnels - cavities, or even explosions into mountainsides to create roads or train tracks. Geopathic stress could even be due to emotional trauma or violence that took place on the land (such as with wars and riots).

It’s also important to keep in mind, it’s not that the earth's rays make you sick, it’s more about the rays weakening your energy, thus compromising the immune system and making you more susceptible to illnesses.

Is every human negatively affected by geopathic stress?

No. As for humans, If you are just passing through an area with geopathic stress, there will be little or no concern. However, if your home or office is located in a geopathic stress zone, you may be at more risk since you are spending 7 -8 hours within that area. If this is the case, locating where the GS is and taking preventive action is key!

How to cure GS? Depending on who you speak with, the response will vary, paired with what type of distorted energy you are dealing with. There could be at least 50 different categories healers need to review before finding the main reason or reasons for the energetic disturbances.

How about Animals, Can They Be affected by Geopathic stress (GS)?

Yes. Some animals love GS, while others will purposely avoid it. This goes the same for insects.

Animals who AVOID GS:

• dogs

• horses

• cows

• sheep

• pigs

Insects who THRIVE in GS:

• slugs

• ants

• wasps

• bees

• termites

Animals who THRIVE in GS:

• cats

• owls

• corvids

• snakes

How Would You Know if you Have Geopathic Stress?

There have been common symptoms reported that range from subtle to fairly extreme that seem to appear out of nowhere with no logical explanation in how to remedy the situation, even after visiting your primary care and speciality doctors. These symptoms may include:

• Children bed wetting

• Babies crying continuously

• Allergies

• Fatigue

• Disturbing Dreams/Nightmares

• Emotional irritability

• Anxiety

• Impatience

• Cancer - i.e. breast cancer, prostate cancer, throat cancer, etc

• Insomnia - trouble sleeping

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

• Miscarriages

• Sick building syndrome

• Irrational mood swings

• Domestic disharmony

• Problems buying or selling a home (divorce homes)

• Bad-tempered

• Mentally worn down

• Past life/karmic issues

• Constant employee turnover

• Unhealthy patterns of revenue

Have there been any peer-reviewed scientific studies about Geopathic stress and its effects on the human body?

Not officially.

However, there have been independent studies by geobiologist Alf Riggs, Roy Riggs, Dr. Ernst Hartmann, Dr. Curry, and Winfried Otto Schumann.

Based on their research, its believed the most devastating of these symptoms is cancer. They have found tumors to develop the most around the spot where two or more GS lines cross a person’s body as they lie asleep in their bed. The bed is supposed to be a place for our body to rest and regenerate. When dealing with GS, the earth's rays prevent that from happening, thus making the immune system more prone to stress and illnesses. Again, this information is based on their collective studies from over the years.

Can the STructure of Home Express Geopathic stress symptoms?

Absolutely! Remember, in the teachings of Feng Shui your home is never separate from you and vs versa. Symptoms of a home/building that may have GS could include:

• cracked foundation walls

• cracked/broken windows (happen out of nowhere)

• damp/moist environment

• constant leaky pipes

• electrical malfunctions (happening all the time)

• chronically unresolved clutter across a house and outside of the house

• dead or stunted gaps in hedges and avenues of trees

• strangely twisted trees 

• tumors in trees

• ivy, bindweed, nettles, thistles, foxgloves, ferns, and nightshades are naturally attracted to Geopathic stress

Final thoughts …. for now …

As you can see, geopathic stress is not just one thing, there tends to be a lot of factors thrown into the discussion. The intention of this post is to help introduce yourself to seeing the world that you are constantly interacting with, through a new lens. Please stay tuned for additional upcoming dowsing and healing posts.

1. investigate the PREDECESSOR Energy - History of the home and land

This Feng Shui tip invites you to investigate the history of the land and previous owner of the apartment (predecessor energy). The history that could be discovered may be favorable such as with, the previous owner just married and outgrew the space. Or, maybe the history reveals emotional or physical trauma unfolded due to chronic illness. Either way, it’s important not to ignore an energetic imprint has been set.

You could dig even deeper by dowsing for geopathic stress, water veins or any other detrimental energies. By doing so, you are providing yourself with additional insights about the type of energy you are about to step into and guidance in how to address it.

2. How is the Building Structure?

Based on Feng Shui principles, the overall structure of the building represents the human anatomy (internally and externally). This becomes even more important when working with a client who is already dealing with an illness. The intention is to choose a home with a foundation that is literally and energetically well cared for. A common phrase in feng shui is, ‘take care of your home and your home will take care of you.’

Quick Examples of How the Human Anatomy relates to the Home:

• glass = eyes

• doors = mouth

• walls = skin

• South = heart

• East = liver

• North = kidneys

• West = lungs

Keep in mind, this is not to say you can’t move into an apartment that may need some work. Of course you can, and I’ve worked with plenty of clients that have had to. Within a reasonable amount of time the space was brought back into balance. Yet, if you can find an apartment that is ready for you to move into and requires no or minimal maintenance, that is pretty ideal for practical and energetic reasons.

3. Is there HEALTHY Vegetation Surrounding the building?

Even if you plan on living in an apartment, there can still be greenery either around the building or at least by the front entrance. Some buildings may allow climbing plants to grow along the wall, while others may reserve a small patch of green grass with a minimalist garden or a couple of potted plants near the entrance into the building. Be sure to also observe the vegetation surrounding the neighborhood.

Do you see trees, shrubs, bushes and/or flowers? How about in the center of the building?…is there a courtyard that offers a place to sit or walk amongst some green foliage? Seeing and interacting with healthy vegetation really does make a huge difference in mood and atmosphere.

4. How much Wildlife do you see?

Is there an abundance of healthy wildlife in the neighborhood you are considering to call home? Most common furry friends you’ll encounter in the city include squirrels and birds. Naturally, if you live closer to the water or a park (such as Central Park), you see even more amazing varieties. However, keeping this very simple, witnessing the presence of these creatures offers a great indication of healthy energy.

5. How Windy does it get around your building?

How the wind moves through city streets can also affect the energy of a building. It’s best to choose a building that will NOT be in alignment with receiving wind-tunnel effects. When entering and exiting your apartment, it should be a pleasant experience.

If looking to live inside a high rise apartment, inquire with management to see if soundproof windows have been installed. This can help reduce a lot of noise pollution from outside; gusty winds, honking horns, the sounds of people on the sidewalks.

6. what Sounds can you hear from Inside The Apartment Walls?

This tends to be an issue with older apartment buildings, being able to hear every sound and conversation from your neighbor. Yet, this is still very much something to keep in mind when evaluating a space (no matter if it’s an older building or brand new). Observe how much noise pollution can be heard from inside the apartment.

7. what Views do you see from the Apartment Window?

What do you see when looking outside the apartment windows? Are the views unobstructed? Does the view feel open and vast? Is there a local park or playground, do you see a harbor or ocean view? How about the other buildings and homes? Do they seem well taken care of? Do you see a blend of healthy vegetation mixed in with the architecture? This helps to balance yin (nature) with yang (man-made structures).

Or, do you observe sharp angles from other buildings facing toward the apartment windows? Sharp angles in Feng Shui relate to ‘cutting down’ a person’s energy. Another common situation to look out for is another building directly in front of your window, hogging all the light and making the space feel claustrophobic. It could also be wise to inquire about any new buildings being constructed around the one your looking at. If so, that is okay, as long as your view will not be interfered with. Is a minor detail but worth not ignoring.

Also keep a look out for views of graveyards, hospitals, fire departments, garbage dumps, construction sites, above ground subways and raised highways. The energy of these locations run the gamut of being extremely yin (graveyards and dumps) to very yang (hospitals, fire departments, subways and highways) due to function. The energy holds the potential to negatively impact the apartment, even more so if you choose not to Feng Shui the space and clear the energy before or after moving in.

I invite you to take a look at the image above. At first glance you may think, this view is awful! However, this client was in a bind for time and also budget. Based on their circumstances, this was the best option they came across. I’m sharing this quick back story and visual example because it also helps to illustrate negotiations to the feng shui real estate principle - what views do you see from the apartment window?

In my clients case, he may not have the best view (according to luxury and everyday standards), yet it’s also not the worst. Unlike some of his apartment neighbors, he does have much more open space, paired with a view of a community garden.

Please keep in mind, there are plenty more Feng Shui Real Estate tips to consider. For now, I invite you to keep these tips mind and I’ll share more recommendations in the near future.

Happy Home Manifesting!

The best way to connect with Lisa is through email: lisa@ayurprema.com

HEAL Ayurveda: Health Empowerment thru Ayurvedic Living
Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU)

Long Island Feng Shui Consultant Laura Cerrano interviews Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner Lisa Jacoby who share a number of Ayurvedic Tips to better our well-being mentally, emotionally and physically.

The video is just shy of being 50 minutes long.

Interested in particular topics? Navigate the video below:

* Base Introduction - 0:00 video mark

* Lisa Jacoby sharing her journey into the World of Ayurvedic Healing - 1:27 video mark

* Know thyself: Brief introduction into the three Doshas - 6:17 video mark

* Lisa shares an array of Ayurvedic tips for self healing - 7:03 video mark

* Lisa shares a healing chant from the Ayurvedic practice - 31:58 video mark

* Lisa shares how she works with clients and where she works - 34:44 video mark

I work with clients who range between feeling they NEED feng shui chotskies, are open to utilizing some items, to absolutely having no interest. The common link that i’ve found among all my clients when expressing interest in utilizing feng shui items is that they already believe in them or are open to exploring what they might be able to do.

When prescribing feng shui recommendations, I encourage my clients to repurpose and reuse what’s already within their environment, while some clients may choose to also invest in new things for various reasons. The only times I really observe clients purchasing feng shui chotskies is when they are dealing with life situations that seem to have no logical explanation in that moment. I’ll ask, “how does this item make you feel and why do you feel you need it?” They’ll commonly share they feel it gives them a stronger sense of support and stability, especially during times of uncertainty. Well if that is so, in regard to them, this is part of their personal formula for success in shifting the energy for the better.

Have you ever used a Feng Shui item within your home? Let’s take a look at The Five Elements Pagoda as a quick example.

First of all, What is the Five elements Pagoda?

In folk feng shui teachings, this is considered a powerful tool to stop inauspicious energy from damaging the home, business and its occupants. The five elements refers to earth, wood, fire, metal, and water; which is represented in the design of the pagoda itself.

How To Use It?

It’s recommended you open up the top of the five elements pagoda to fill the hollow center of the structure with dirt from around your home. Why? It’s believed that any negative energy will be ‘locked up,’ thus protecting your home and business.

Optional: Some may accompany the dirt with crystals of their choosing (i.e. hematite, tigers eye, pyrite or copper). It’s also noted that some may include additional written mantras and place that inside the center of the pagoda with the dirt. Either way, the main ingredient that needs to be in the hollow center of the five element pagoda is dirt from around your home.

You can also place dirt inside the top portion of the pagoda and then reseal it.

Where to place it?

Following the annual flying stars movement (astrology for the building), the placement will change each year. During the year 2020, the five elements pagoda is recommended to be placed in the easterly sector of your home, where the #5 Yellow Star of Misfortune is visiting. The five element pagoda is said to help ward-off, reduce and mitigate the risk of illness and injury.

Can you Reuse this item each year?

Most say no, due to the amount of negative energy that is collected inside the pagoda and recommend buying a new one each year.

Take notice to the bottom of the pagoda as you’ll see there is another area that could be opened by using a coin. Once this is opened, you can let go of all the old dirt when the year is up. Some may clear the pagoda’s energy using space clearing techniques after the dirt has been removed, preparing it for new use.

So, do you believe the 5 elements pagoda works and could help the energy of your environment?

It’s a personal choice in what you believe.

Do all my clients revert to buying feng shui items for extra support? No. Yet, that option is there if they feel they need it. Some may stretch further and step into a state of prayer, which is even less tangible yet ironically, more acceptable in society.

Ideally, Feng Shui promotes the use of real elements when possible (fire, earth, metal, water, wood) to help rebalance energy sectors of the land, home and office. And if that is not an option, this is why many consultants tend to branch into more symbolic references through the use of artwork, colors, water features, etc. And for those who believe in the mystical - folk teachings of feng shui, they could adopt statues and other items from those time periods into their living - working environments.

I recommend before making any final judgment on if you love or hate feng shui items, chotskies and trinkets, conduct your own research and learn about what they represent (just as I shared with the five elements pagoda). And of course be practical with knowing your own budget and what you are willing to invest in. This is such a subjective topic, it’s best to come to your own conclusion through first hand experience.