Karen Kingston mentions in her Creating Sacred Space book the benefits of using full spectrum lighting as an alternative to fluorescent lighting. As I am starting a business in Kent I was wondering if you could tell me where these are retailed.
- E.G, England
Karen's reply:
UK: Wholistic Research Company www.wholisticresearch.com Go to the Healthy Home & Office section
USA: Healthy Home www.healthyhome.com Go to the Healthy Lighting section
If you don't live in the UK or USA, find the product you are looking for on one of these websites and the do an internet search for it in your own country.
I just finished reading Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui. Excellent read, info, refs. Question: My two bathrooms have wall to wall mirrors (sink/counter side). How do I correct /minimize the effect? Thank you.
- Sally Fisher, Canada
Karen's reply:
The problem with this type of mirroring is the fractured images reflected from the corner points where the mirrors meet, which fragment your energy. The solution is easy - install a strip that fits snugly into the corner joint from the base to the top of each mirror, to emphasize where one mirror ends and the next one begins. Wooden beading, 1/4 dowelling or even a decorative strip of paper will do.
We have a mirror facing the bed. I bought Lillian Too's Feng Shui Kit about three years ago and it said the mirror was a no-no so I too it down. Everything that could, went wrong. After a few weeks I put it back and normality was restored. What happened?
- Chris Dodson, UK
Karen's reply:
You say you used Lillian Too's Feng Shui Kit. Her system is very different to my own approach, which is based on a 25-year study of the energy worlds Feng Shui is based on. For me to make effective recommendations I have physically be in the place so that I can feel the energy emanating from the earth, experience first-hand how it circulates through the building, see the physical dimensions of the property, see the colours it is painted, smell the smells, and observe many other aspects of the space. I also have to meet the occupants. There is no such thing as one Feng Shui method that fits all - each person has their own unique purpose here on earth and Feng Shui needs to be tailored to that.
So there is no way I can tell you from your letter why moving the mirror had such an effect. It could be that it forms an energy matrix with other aspects in your home and moving it destabilized that matrix and caused disruption; if it was on the inside of an external wall, it could have been enhancing an aspect of the bagua in your space which then became unbalanced; yet another possibility is that that the disruption was actually a period of spiritual deconstruction so that a new you could emerge. There are many likely causes.
I have generally found in my own consultancy work that it's not advisable to have a mirror facing the bed (all the reasons are in my Creating Sacred Space with Feng Shui book) but there is also another very strong principle I give in the book: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" If your life is working perfectly well, then leave the Feng Shui of you home alone!
My daughter loves animals. She has a cat which roams the house except for our bedroom (I am allergic to cats but enjoy them), two birds in her room, fish in the dining room and a new rabbit which she currently has in a cage in her room, but sometimes takes to the basement. Are there any particular guidelines about pets and Feng Shui?
- J.H., USA
Karen's reply:
A pet in the home can help to revitalize the chi of the space. Problems arise when the type of pet or number of pets is inappropriate to the type or size of the space, or if there are hygiene issues. Children and the elderly, in particular, benefit greatly from having pets in the home.
I am about to purchase a new vehicle, and am concerned about which color to choose. Choices are gold, silver, red & blue. Question: Should I choose to balance the element of the vehicle (metal) & go with water or fire, or choose to balance my personality (slight introvert) with the color of fire?
- Dierdre Brust, USA
Karen's reply:
If you read my books you will find that my approach to Feng Shui is not as mechanical as this. When choosing the colour of a car I choose the colour I am most passionate about at that time in my life - the colour that lights me up and makes me feel good. This is because I understand that people have an etheric interaction with their cars and other kinds of mechanical equipment they use on a daily basis (computers, tools, etc), and the better the relationship with the machine, the better it performs.
For this reason I also name my cars, computers and other major pieces of equipment in my life, and yes - I talk to them and pat them and give them words of encouragement too. Ask any master craftsperson or musician and they will tell you that they have an intensely personal relationship with the tools or instruments of their trade, even to the extent that some can tell if they have been handled by another person without their knowledge (what they are sensing here is the etheric imprint that has been left behind).
So as well as the colour of a car, how it feels is also important. The five element principles of feng shui offer guidelines upon which to base choices, but continually adhering to feng shui dogmas can be self-defeating. Your ordinary mental consciousness is very limited. Go higher. Tune in to your intuitive knowing about what works for you and discover a whole, vibrant new approach to feng shui, from the inside out rather than from the outside in. This, after all, is how ancient feng shui masters, who were great spiritual adepts, first distilled the wealth of feng shui knowledge that exists today.
Of course the main problem with this more advanced method is that your choices will then depend on your degree of spiritual discernment. If you are concerned about 'getting it right' then this may feel too risky for you, in which case you will have to consult a classically trained feng shui practitioner for a prescription to your current dilemma and I'm sorry I've made you read so far to find this out!
I understand that patterns can have an impact on us. With that in mind do you know if there is an increased benefit to laying tiles diagonally in a room - effectively creating diamond shapes - as opposed to the regular 'square' way.
Best Regards - Carol, USA
Karen's reply:
Laying tiles in the 'square' way creates a sense of security and regularity for the occupants. The diagonal way gives a sense of expansion and allows for greater creativity in the space.
Should you keep cremated remains of people or animals in your house?
- Samantha Horton, USA
Karen's reply:
To answer this question, it is first necessary to understand that during the process of the fire purification process we call cremation both the physical and astral bodies are substantially altered. The physical body is transformed into ash while the astral body is released back to the realms of energy.
In my energy sensing work, I am able to read astral imprints in buildings and in the cell tissues of living beings such as people and animals. I have also energy sensed cremated remains and have not found that they retain any astrality from the original living being. Whether this would be different in the case of a spiritually enlightened being, I have not had the opportunity to discover, but for most of the human race what it means is that there is no point in keeping ashes after cremation. This explains why it is traditional in many cultures to scatter them to the elements of earth, wind or water, and it is what I recommend too.
Another reason why it is good to scatter ashes rather than keeping them is because, like any other physical object, they will attract stagnant energies if stored for long periods of time. Disposing of them in an appropriate way reasonably soon after cremation is by far the healthiest option.
On the Space Clearing tapes there was a mention that Feng Shui corresponds to graphology. I've looked through numerous FS books as well as graphology texts with no reference to this and how it works. Would appreciate resources for further study of this comment. Thank you.
- J.S., Phoenix, AZ, USA
Karen's reply:
I mention this in Chapter 4 of my book, Creating Sacred Space with Feng Shui: All objects become impregnated with the energy of what happens around them. If you buy something second-hand, it will carry the energy traces of the person who owned it before. If it was used a lot, used for a long time, or had very strong emotional connections for that person, the emanations will be correspondingly stronger.
This is the whole basis of psychometry, that a trained person can hold, say, a ring belonging to another person, and can translate the vibrational frequency of that ring and describe everything about the person without ever meeting them. And this is also why so many people want to have something that belonged to or was touched by a holy person or a saint. It is why personal belongings of movie stars, football heroes, and the like, are so sought after. People want to own something that has the energy imprint of the owner on it. An autograph combines the energy flow from the hand of the famous person with an illustration of their energy matrix, which anyone skilled in the art of reading handwriting will soon be able to decipher. It is the next best thing to having something which belonged to them.
As with most of the information I teach, you won't find references in books by other authors. This is because I don't get my information from books. I source it directly from the core. If you are interested in the technique, I explain the principles in my Advanced Space Clearing workshop.
As far as graphology is concerned, each person's handwriting is a description of the way energy flows through them. Feng Shui is the study of the way energy flows through spaces. It's therefore a very simple matter to put the two skills together. Unfortunately most schools of Feng Shui now teach the theories that Feng Shui is based on rather than the ability to directly read the energies in buildings, and graphologists likewise teach handwriting analysis rather than how to tune in to the core essence of a person through this medium.
How can I best prepare a nursery room in my home for the arrival of my new baby next month?
- Jennifer Dodds, USA
Karen's reply:
1) Have your partner or a close friend do a Space Clearing ceremony in your home before the new baby arrives so the energy of the whole place is fresh and clear. Babies are very connected to the energy worlds and are very sensitive to them.
2) Decorate the room in pastel colours or skin tones. Bright primary colours are fine for when the child is older but are too harsh for a new arrival. Be sure to use organic paints, building materials and furniture which don't outgas toxic fumes for years like normal products do.
3) Check for geopathic stress to make sure that the baby's cot is not placed over any unhealthy earth energies. Geopathic stress is strongly implicated in cot deaths and many other health problems.
4) Check for electromagnetic stress. Do not place the baby's cot anywhere near electrically operated equipment, including equipment in adjacent rooms (the electrical field goes straight through the wall) and dimmer switches for lights (these have very high electromagnetic fields). Baby alarms also emit very high fields so never place one too close to the cot.
5) A wooden cot and futon mattress with natural rather than synthetic bedding is ideal. Especially do not use a cot or mattress with any metal elements if there is any geopathic or electromagnetic stress in the room, because the metal will amplify it and conduct it into the baby's cell tissues.
6) Place the baby's cot so that the head of the bed has a wall behind it and it is possible for the infant to have a view of the door and any windows in the room. This is the most secure position for it to be in. Avoid placing the cot in the energy draft between the door and a window, or between two windows.
If you need help with any of these aspects, I have some excellent practitioners who will be happy to advise you.
I have practically devoured your book, Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui'. I am energized, finally understanding why it's been so difficult for me to get rid of stuff. I do have one question. You suggest not keeping a dirty laundry basket in the bedroom because stale energy hangs around it. Where do you suggest putting a laundry basket?
- M.L., USA
Karen's reply:
The reason it isn't good to sleep with a laundry basket in the bedroom is that during sleep your energy field is very open. The same applies when you are meditating, so of course you wouldn't want to store a laundry basket near to where you meditate. It's best not to place a laundry basket in the prosperity area of your home or the prosperity area of any room in your home because it can stagnate the energy there. But apart from these restrictions, you can out it anywhere outside the bedroom. The bathroom is ideal.
If it's totally impractical to do this because of space restrictions then the best you can do is place your laundry inside a sealed container inside a cupboard in your bedroom. When travelling and staying in hotels I often have no choice but to sleep with laundry in my room, so my method is to store it in a sealed plastic bag inside a cupboard, as far away from the bed as possible. I have found this to be reasonably effective.
Help. I have a gift store and since last August, the store and my life have both taken a dive. I live in an area that is zoned for mixed commercial and residential use. A club, whose deck is about 20 feet off of my balcony, has changed its format and has 'Rave disco' music playing 6 nights a week. I do not hear any music - just a constant loud and penetrating base beat that hits me in the chest... another neighbor has complained that they felt like they were having a heart attack the first time they heard it. It generally lasts from 9pm until 2am every night except one each week. I am at the point of snapping.
My business requires me to work 12 hours a day, seven days a week most weeks. I am not getting enough sleep. Ear plugs won't work because it is primarily the vibration of the base beat that gets me. Currently our city has no codes to protect me or the other residents of the building from this nightly disruption. I am afraid that my business and my life are on a downward spiral headed toward a terrible crash.
Sincerely and desperately, B.H, USA
Karen's reply:
Uncontrollable external noise in a person's life, in my experience, is symptomatic of internal noise - something inside a person that needs to be heard. After you listen internally (and you may have to go many layers deep to get to this), the external noise situation gets resolved.
Everything you have told me points to the fact that there is something in your life that needs to change but you have not wanted to hear that. We each have a life purpose and if we don't fulfill it our Higher Self will create a way to get our attention so that we have to change. Some people resist this and then the process can be very painful.
I suggest you take a day off - yes, a whole day off! - and do it soon. Go to a place with beautiful scenery and a peaceful atmosphere that you have never been before. Take a notebook and pen with you and some food supplies. Your project for the day is to write about your ideal life.
At the top of a page, put the title: MY IDEAL LIFE. Have the attitude that from this day on you can do anything you choose to do. Then start numbering down the page, and beside each number, describe a different aspect of your ideal life, free from any limitations, financial restrictions, commitments and responsibilities to others. Allow your mind to soar. If you could do anything, go anywhere, be anyone... what would those things be.
This process is likely to bring up emotions. Allow yourself to feel them. Don't suppress them. In feeling them, the stuck energy of your current situation can start to move.
It is wise in times of change to have support while you do this. After all, if you could have made the changes by yourself, you would have already done so! For this I highly recommend rebirthing, and there are many excellent rebirthers in the USA, maybe even close to where you are. If not, you will have to take the longer route and start reading. Having made a start on this personal inner work, Space Clearing your outer environment can then be very helpful.
What is Space Clearing?
