Dear Karen,

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!