“The Feng Shui process makes me more aware of how things feel to me in the house. I pay attention to how my body feels in an environment,” says Beaton, of Janice Beaton Fine Cheese. “I’ve had Feng Shui done by others and Geli is really top drawer.”

Spending time in Beaton’s new living space, Hamilton and Beaton worked closely together, basing recommendations on Feng Shui principles and Beaton’s personality. She recommended special positioning of her bed and adding lighting to uplift certain rooms. In Beaton’s home office, she advised that she does not sit with her back to the door. Since Beaton is an ocean lover, she suggested Beaton hang ocean photography with horizons symbolizing possibility and add a water feature to the front vestibule and alcove.

Hamilton approaches any space or situation with the intention of creating balance. Following the natural energy flow or “chi” through a client’s home or business, she will identify areas of disturbance, stagnation or flow that is too rapid. Using the Bagua, or Feng Shui compass, as a guide, she connects her findings to the area of her client’s life they may be affecting. “The other aspect of Feng Shui for me relates to the person,” says Hamilton. “Just as much as they are affected by the space they affect the space. For me the change only takes places in yourself first then you express it in your environment.”

THE PRINCIPLES OF FENG SHUI cannot only be applied to outer spaces, she says, like houses and landscapes but also to inner spaces. Keeping this in mind, Hamilton has developed Dancing with the Dragon, a ten-week meditation class. (“Dragon” symbolizes transformation to Hamilton.) Among her Feng Shui tips for new homeowners, she suggests choose colours they have an affinity for, define places like bedroom, use lots of natural light, keep only silk or real plants and clean up.

Hamilton is one of the increasing number of Calgary practitioners and interior designers offering Feng Shui residential services to homeowners. “Feng Shui, as literally translated from ancient Chinese, means “wind and water” and it is all about creating an environment where you live in harmony and balance with your surroundings,” explains Debra Ford, author of the Calgary best-seller In the Feng Shui Zone.

Interior designer Liz Nandee of Basic Black Designs (http://www.basicblackdesigns.com) has clients who have requested applying Feng Shui into their home or work spaces to enhance health, prosperity and life balance. “Many people in Calgary have been very open and accepting with Feng Shui and the benefits of its practices and are eager to incorporate it into their spaces,” she says.

“People know about Feng Shui as a “trend” a few years ago and like some things it soon faded but now it seems to be appearing again. As many have now studied and researched it and appreciate its importance.” For new homeowners, Nandee would introduce them to a Bagua map of Feng Shui to breakdown the spaces and divide the elements to enhance the areas in life they would like to focus on.

Calgary Feng Shui practitioner Debra Ford (http://www.fengshui-zone.com) admits she is “blown away by the interest in Feng Shui in Calgary.” Ford launched the new Feng Shui practitioner certificate program at Mount Royal College. Almost 30 people have graduated from the program so far, and everyone is busy with corporate, retail and residential clients.

Recently, Ford teamed up with Marc Poissant to form Feng Shui Residential, bringing together architects, designers and builders. They will be designing floor plans, virtual tours and specifications for Feng Shui homes where the energy flows. “A Feng Shui home is a peaceful home,” says Ford. “A home that will improve your mental and physical health, add to your peace of mind, encourage relaxation and meditation, and nurture your soul. It has a sense of order and correctness in which the energy is balanced from front to back and from left to right.”  NL

What simple Feng Shui guidelines can you adopt in your new home? Debra Ford offers these suggestions:
Change colours.
One of the basic changes you can make is changing colours in your home. Colours all have their own vibrations. For example:
    Pink – love
    Blue – calm and stillness
    Red – power
    Green – growth
    Purple – royalty and money
    Black – professionalism
    Yellow – balance and health

Place your furniture well.
Furniture placement is important. Furniture may be blocking pathways. You want it to be visually appealing and incorporate a babbling brook feeling.

Use the five elements: water, fire, earth, metal, wood
Try to incorporate all the five elements in your home.
For example, fountains represent water and candles represent fire.

Declutter your home.
You should not have things around you that don’t support you. Essentially: If you don’t love it or need it, then it shouldn’t be in your space.

Look at pre-existing energy.
Every thing and place has its own energy. For example, if you’re remarrying and blending two families, then combining belongings from the past may
be bringing negative energy.
Or if you have antiques they may own energy tied to past owners. Feng Shui practitioners can assist by doing a space clearing.

Manifest your home’s destiny.
Think about and write down the goals for your home and new life there.

Feng Shui websites

• www.fengshui-zone.com
• www.consciousconnexion.com
• www.feng-shui.ca
• www.basicblackdesigns.com
• www.tchiconsulting.com
• www.fengshuipalace.com
• www.jamilin.com
• www.lillian-too.com