NEWSLETTER

MAY 2002

 

    Feng shui greetings to all!  Yikes, it's nearly June but I suppose as long as this gets to you before the 31st I can still refer to this as the "May" newsletter.  At least, with the help from the high energy green dragon featured on the fan behind my desk chair, the book tour schedule for POSITIONED TO DIE is done details to be posted on the website.  I'm delighted to announce that I will be hosting a feng shui workshop in conjunction with a signing at the Barnes and Noble on 41st St. in Tulsa, OK, on July 6, and at the Books-A-Million in McLean, VA, on September 21st.  On September 27th, I'll present "Using Feng Shui To Improve Your Writing Career" at the Mid Atlantic Mystery Book Fair and Convention in Philadelphia, PA.

 

   Recently, A DEADLY ARRANGEMENT was the featured selection of a mystery readers group at the Cambrian Library in San Jose, CA.  On May 8th, I discussed the book, first in the Feng Shui Mystery series, well past the allotted time as a number of people had questions specific to feng shui cures/enhancements.  A first for me was a situation involving a fire hydrant recently installed directly opposite one man's front door.  After racking my brain, it finally occurred to me that he should hang a Bagua mirror outside and above his front door to deflect any negative energy.  His face lit up and he said that's exactly what he'd done and soon after, the chaos in his life ceased.  He then confessed that he'd picked up one of Lillian Too's books and from it learned of the positive results of hanging a Bagua mirror outside the house.  Even though he'd been indulging in "stump the author" (maybe he was a lawyer—someone who usually knows the answer to a question before he asks it!) I quite enjoyed the challenge, never having encountered fire hydrant energy before.

 

The German translation rights to A DEADLY ARRANGEMENT have been sold to publisher Schertz Verlag.  Though no pub date has been announced, I imagine the book will be released in Germany sometime next year. 

 

As I write this, the American Academy of Physician Assistants is having their annual convention in Boston and on May 27th, their philanthropic arm, the Physician Assistant Foundation, will host a silent auction as a fundraiser for scholarships for PA students.  I'm honored that a set of my books will be offered!  To tweak interest, the name of the highest bidder will be attached to a character in the 4th book in the feng shui mystery series.  Seems fair that character will be a physician assistant, as well.  I also like the fact that the 4th book finds Salome back in Washington, D.C. and the AAPA home office is right across the Potomac River in Alexandria, VA.

 

Those of you living in Hawaii or who may be traveling to the Big Island, feng shui practitioner Cathleen Rickard is firming plans to host feng shui workshops at the Orchid Hotel (formerly the Ritz) for guests.  You can take her Tai Chi classes and soon participate in a new program called Ke'ano Kolepa, the Spirit of Golf, at the Mauni Lani resort.

 

A couple of terrific websites you might want to check out are < http:// www.fengshuitimes.com> and http://homepeace.com, the latter the site for our featured feng shui practitioner, Gabrielle Alizay.  Read on, as her interview is just ahead…

 

Until next month,

 

Denise, your friend in feng shui

 

 

 

 

 INTERVIEW WITH FENG SHUI PRACTITIONER

                    
GABRIELLE ALIZAY


1.  Would you tell us how you became involved in feng shui?

 

 I originally became entrenched with Feng Shui when I was living in Northern California and Master Lin Yun, the bringer of Black Hat Tibetan Feng Shui to America, created a Feng Shui temple in Berkeley  I was there.  Over a decade and a half later, I have completed hundreds of personal consultations, plus given workshops, classes, and Feng Shui intensives internationally.

2.  Are there any areas of feng shui in which you've devoted time to special study i.e., health issues, entrances, kitchens, etc? 

 

 I have spent much time with the issues of health and abundance in my study and practice of Feng Shui.  I believe strongly in alternative medicine.  Feng Shui fits into that category--cleanup the Family/Health area of the house then watch health issues disappear.  I have seen it often.  Plus, abundance issues (which include not just money but having more than enough of everything--love, time, and more) is a constant area in my house, and with clients, that I am always suggesting to tweak to perfection.  Lastly, the front entrance, which is also the "Mouth of the Chi" is always a special concern to me, because life-force, or chi, cannot bless the rest of your life areas until it feels welcome into the front door.

3.  What do you see as the most common problems in residences i.e.,clutter, poorly lighted entrances, etc.? 

 

 In America, I have seen clutter as the biggest culprit to receiving all the benefits that a Feng Shui treatment on the home/office can bring.  It also seems that people are more readily willing to make any and all Feng Shui changes BUT to get rid of the chintskis in their areas.  According to Karen Kingston in her book, Clutter Clear With Feng Shui, clutter is anything that "lowers the energy"  thus for instance, that little bunny that you love can stay on the shelf, it is just that fake egg collection that does nothing for you that should be let go of--then gifts on the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual plane are assured. 

4.  Do you have an "amazing story" of a particular feng shui transformation?

 

 I have many testimonials from clients, who for instance, shut their bathroom door and their income increased, all the way to someone who cleaned up and "cured" the Family/Health area of her home and then got normal blood readings from her doctor the next week.  Before she has been suffering from high blood pressure.  Miraculous stories happen all the time.  Too many to list but so real and true that after a while I don't know why Feng Shui is not nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

5.  What is your philosophy of feng shui i.e., a natural science, intention-driven, etc.?

 

Feng Shui follows the Laws of the Universe and Nature. If done properly, it can not fail.  And of course, "properly" is inclusive of intention in every action.  Intention is the glue that makes Feng Shui stick to these life truths.

6.  In your practice, do you adhere to one particular school of feng shui and which one(s)?

 

 I practice the Black Hat Tibetan Feng Shui.  I find it very user-friendly and has the greatest propensity to fit inside a Western culture home.  It is empowering to the client and not as mysterious as some of the other schools.  Consequently, it is accessible to the masses.

7.  Of what does your practice consist:  on site consultations,
telephone/Fax consultations, lectures, workshops, all of the above, other?

 

My practice includes on-site and phone consultations, workshops, classes, and intensives.

8.  Do you have any advice for those just starting feng shui?

 

Do not get overwhelmed into non-action when making the Feng Shui changes to your space.  Start small and promise yourself to make one change a day at first, first instance hang a chi-catcher in a room, or turn your work desk around to face the door of the office.  Then when miracles start to happen because Feng Shui is like a leverage tool, move at your own pace.

9.  Please list publications, websites, or any place where we can find more information about you and your practice. 

 

Go to http://www.homepeace.com for more information on Gabrielle Alizay, her workshops and classes, Feng Shui tips, articles, shopping, and the opportunity to get a phone consult with Gabrielle. Also sign up for her monthly Feng Shui newsletter (back issues on available on the site).  Her book on Feng Shui is due out next year.

 

Newsletter Archive:  April 2002

 

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