There are several Schools of Feng Shui, and while they may differ in approach or method, all of them address the flow of ch'i in and through our environments, seeking to balance and harmonize that energy so that our spaces support our lives. My personal training is in the Black Sect Tradition, established by Professor Thomas Lin-Yun and taught through The Wind and Water School of Feng Shui (www.carolehyder.com). This tradition is very flexible, practical, and intuitive. It focuses on four primary principles: everything is energy, your intention is the most important thing, your home reflects your life, and nature provides the patterns you need.

A Feng Shui consultation usually begins with an introductory phone call to discuss in general terms how the client came to hear about Feng Shui and what they would like to accomplish during an appointment. Before we meet, I ask for a basic blueprint of the floor plan of their home or office, along with a list of three issues or concerns they currently have. I prepare a packet for them that includes general Feng Shui information as well as specific information pertaining to their home or work area. I also prepare an energy map called a Bagua that is based on their blueprint; we will refer to this during our time together. An average appointment lasts about two hours. During that time I ask the client to tell me about their space and how it impacts their life. I then offer my insight on how the energy is flowing, what adjustments might be appropriate to bring balance to their environment, and how Feng Shui can help address their concerns.

My Feng Shui approach as a consultant is distinguished by my application of the creative cycle of the Chinese Five Elements in my work; this ancient Chinese understanding of how the universe cycles and moves provides a pattern and a process for how to realize change in our own lives. Beginning with the Element of Water, and then moving through Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal, I consider each element as a metaphor for a phase in the process of bringing balance and harmony to environments. Here is a general idea of what a client can expect using this approach:

	WATER: This is the time to envision your life, to consider what you want to do, where you want to go, and what change you desire to see. The Water phase encourages you to let yourself flow, to go deeply into your imagination, to reflect, and to swim in the possibilities for your life. It helps you gain clarity on what you want to address with Feng Shui.
	WOOD: This phase of change has to do with the growth of your new vision for your life. Ideas begin to take root, a plan of action blossoms, and a direction to take becomes evident. During this time we see what is going on in the home, what is supporting your vision, and what is draining your energy away. We also discuss appropriate options to shift the energy into a different direction. This is when we initiate something new, moving toward your goal with strong intention.
	FIRE: This Elemental phase in the cycle of change happens when you are actively applying Wood's ideas and/or plan to your space. This is the time when things are repaired, clutter is cleared, and adjustments are made with the deepest intention for your life. During Fire, the home environment is changed in some way, resulting in a shift in the flow of energy in your life.
	EARTH: This is the phase in which you settle into your home, dwell in your space, and experience how the energy has shifted for you. You have made some changes in your home, and now is the time to see if those adjustments support your life. The broad, stable, grounding Earth phase can take some time and the changes can be experienced as subtle to profound.
	METAL: This is the final phase in the Five Element cycle. It is a time to reflect on the vision for your life that you started with in the Water phase. If your home reveals who you are now, and if it supports your life, then you have reached the culmination of the Five Element process. If, however, some issues still remain unanswered, it is now time to clarify your intention and refine your space further.

Working through these five elemental steps gives you a plan for how things will unfold. Change is always easier when you know where you are headed! And, in the end, you find yourself back at Water……envisioning your life anew, staying current with your deepest wishes for yourself, and bringing Feng Shui principles into play to help you realize your goals. An Elemental Feng Shui consultation gives you a way to initiate change in your life. As a result, you will gain a fresh sensitivity to how spaces affect you, how energy flows, and how you can orient your life to live in harmony with that flow. For more information please contact me.