I wanted to let everyone know that The Feng Shui Money Couch will be released on Fridays which I affectionately refer to as Feng Shui Fridays. I will have 3 different formats for you to look forward to. A Solo episode where I share a story full of applicable Feng Shui wisdom much like the first episode of The Feng Shui Money Couch. A long format guest interview typically around an hour, much like last weeks interview with Numerologist Gail Minogue, or like today’s a quickie solo episode where I share a powerful and actionable Feng Shui take away to help invite blessings and abundance into your life! No matter which format, there’s always something to look forward to! I’m also really excited about the guests I’m scheduling for the new year and the Wisdom & Woo they have to share with you. Cheers everyone and enjoy the episode.

Hello & Welcome to THE FENG SHUI MONEY COUCH!

Today I want to talk about best practices for the end of the year through the multifaceted lens of Feng Shui, Astrology and Numerology. In all of these approaches we treat this time of year as a clearing, cleansing and closing out period. I’m calling this episode “A Season of Clearing; 27 Things.”

The year of the snake called for us to release all that no longer served through a process of death and rebirth. The 9 Universal numerology of the year asked us to complete and end things. So this year especially and in this particular cycle of time, it is advisable to whole heartedly clear the decks to prepare for a brand new year and energetic cycle.

In Feng Shui we have a ritual called 27 things. It begins with a proper and thorough cleaning of the home. Followed by a combination of decluttering and or rearranging of 27 items in the home. 27 reduces to the number 9 which is a powerful symbol of completion. I recommend jotting down the 27 things so you can keep track of what you edited out of your space and what got moved or rearranged. Once the physical shift of 27 things has been completed you can complete the ritual with a Palo Santo or Saging of your home coupled with a meditation or visualization of the blessings you have just made space for and are inviting in!

This is a powerful re-calibration and reset. You physically and energetically made space for your blessings and now the universe has space to fill with grace. I want to wish everyone a magical holiday season. I have a free gift for you. My complimentary Feng Shui Basics course is available now! You can find it in my Linktree and on my new website along with all my other offerings. I will share a direct link in the show notes here FREE FENG SHUI BASICS COURSE . I invite you to subscribe, like and share. Every little bit helps to support the Show! Many Blessings everyone. Cheers & CIAO for now.

Laura’s Substack ~ THE FENG SHUI MONEY COUCH is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Laura Carrillo & Gail Minogue

Discuss the numerological energy of 2026, highlighting the challenging period from 2025 to 2026 as the U.S. undergoes significant institutional changes. Gail explains that 2025 was a tough year (universal year 9) marked by endings, while 2026 (universal year 1) will be a seed-planting year. They delve into personal years, emphasizing the importance of adding one’s birth month and day to the universal year to determine personal energy cycles.

Gail advises on the characteristics and actions to take in each personal year, from planting seeds in a one year to networking in a three year.

Learn more about Gail Minogue at www.gailminogue.com and check out her YouTube Channel @GailMinogueNumeroly.

Laura’s Substack ~ THE FENG SHUI MONEY COUCH is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Learn more about Numerologist Gail Minogue by visiting GailMinogue.com. Be sure to check out her YouTube channel here Gail Minogue YouTube. By the way, I did not end up wearing either of my fit check dress options that I posted. At the last minute I chose a vintage inspired purple “For Love & Lemons” frock with a sheer lace detail. Gail really liked it…

If you’re new to the Pod, my name is Laura and I’m a certified Feng Shui Practitioner, Curator and Stylist for you and your Space. Join me and my guests for conversations around wellness with a focus on living and curating our best lives. New Episodes drop on Feng Shui Fridays. Subscribe for weekly tips on mindful living! This hybrid Podcast & Newsletter originates on Substack where you can follow me for all the visuals, text and video. The Show is now on video with interview guests along with solo episodes so I encourage you to subscribe and watch on Substack and YouTube. For all my other content and services check out my Link-tree.

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Moving & Upgrading!

If you’re new to the Pod, my name is Laura and I’m a certified Feng Shui Practitioner, Curator and Stylist for you and your Space. Join me and my guests for conversations around wellness with a focus on living and curating our best lives. New Episodes drop every Sunday. Subscribe for weekly tips on mindful living! This hybrid Podcast & Newsletter originates on Substack where you can follow me for all the visuals, text and video. The Show is now on video with interview guests along with solo episodes so I encourage you to subscribe and watch on Substack and YouTube. For all my other content and services check out my Link-tree.

Hello & Welcome Back To Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion! Today’s topic is on Moving and Relocation Tips because it’s a big topic here in La Right now and one the biggest reasons folks usually reach out to me. Here’s Your Go To Checklist From The Feng Shui Lady.

I’m sharing my top 5 Feng Shui deal-makers and breakers for selecting a new space.

Moving is a great opportunity to upgrade your life and write a whole new chapter for yourself. My goal here is to share some key tips for selecting the most supportive and auspicious environment for yourself. When it comes to selecting the ideal space for your new home or business, there are definitely Feng Shui red flags that people can look out for. Feng Shui is an ancient earth science that offers amazing space planning tools that are as essential today as ever. In a fast paced world that is so saturated with technology, we need a soft place to land and unplug. We need sacred space.

My name is Laura Carrillo aka The Feng Shui Lady and my practice is called Narrative Space Feng Shui. I see my work as Space Therapy. People’s spaces are both a reflection and an extension of who they are and what is going on with them. Clients reach out to me all the time when they are either about to move or have just moved. This recurring theme inspired me to write this piece so that I could share the Feng Shui deal breakers I see every day and help you avoid some of the less desirable circumstances people fall into when they move into a space that has bad Feng Shui.

Listen, even I have lived in spaces that have had really bad Feng Shui, so I speak from experience! It’s probably what led me to become a Feng Shui consultant. I actually believe that there are reasons, valuable experiences and lessons to be learned from every space we inhabit good, bad or otherwise. Each new space is like a new chapter! Even within a single location or home, there is so much you can do to change and shift the energy. Redecorating and remodeling can reboot your environment and your personal narrative in both practical and magical ways! For the purposes of this article, I will focus on best practices for selecting a new space from a Feng Shui perspective!

Maslow’s Heirarchy of Needs

In Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs, your home and shelter comes second inimportance just after food and water. That is how important I believepersonal sacred space to be! Feng Shui can help you choose a space where you at least have a good foundation for success. Life is challenging enough without your personal space creating a deficit.

Numerology

The first thing I look at is the actual address and numerology of a space to ascertain what the energetic theme is for the space and whether that is in alignment with the goals and intentions of the client. Each number has a specific vibration and narrative. You want to add all of the numbers of an address and reduce them to a single digit in order to know what the numerology is. If you live in an apartment building, you want to focus on the unit number as it has the biggest impact. You can also look at the building number for the vibe of the building and finally you can add the apartment number with the unit number and reduce to a single digit for the big picture. You will want to primarily focus on the individual unit number reduced to a single digit. You can go even deeper by exploring the numerology of your name to see if it’s compatible with the numerology of the home. I recommend an actual numerology or feng shui consultation for this level of depth. Here are the themes of the different house numbers:

1 — Represents singular, initiating energy that is perfect for singles who want to be single. Ones are good for new ventures, businesses and chapters. An ideal home for a fresh start or a good location for a new business.

2 — Is fabulous for couples or businesses to do with romance or partnerships. Can make a single person long for a relationship. Ideal for new couples.

3 — Is an active space, great for social activities and parties. Good for businesses that want to attract customers and community.

4 — This number has dual meanings and I typically try to avoid it because it rhymes with death in Chinese. It’s a grounding number in numerology but it can mean the end of a way of life or chapter for someone. It supports hard work with slow and steady progress.

5 — Is all about comings and goings. It’s a fun number with a lot of traveling energy or visitor energy. Dramatic, parties, fights, highs and lows. It’s considered a temporary residence or one of constant change and transformation.

6 — Is the most harmonious number and great for families, therapist offices, places of healing or community. Great location for a spa or a home for those who enjoy community and family. People will want to visit and may not want to leave!

7 — Is a very spiritual number and a great place for those who seek sanctuary. A good space for therapeutic businesses or home for meditative types.

8 — Is the most ambitious number for those who want to achieve success and are focused on working for that success. Eight is a prosperous number. It’s obviously a good number for businesses and people who are focused on their professions.

9 — Is a number of completion and typically a dwelling where people live for extended periods. It’s also a very spiritual number and great for those who want to plant roots.

Deal Makers & Breakers!

Knowledge is power. While Feng Shui is not a way to skip your process, these deal-makers and breakers can help you avoid more challenging spaces. That said, sometimes we can’t avoid certain situations because they are fated so I hope these tips help you navigate whatever path you are on so that you can ultimately get to your happy place!

I. Of my top 5 Tips Factor Number 1 is the Numerology of the space!

Consider all the numbers I just discussed and which ones thematically speak to where you would like to be. I told you about the number 4 and how it might be best to avoid. I have lived in such a space and can speak at length about my cautionary tale. However, it was a valuable experience that actually inspired me to become a Feng Shui consultant. So there’s that.

II. The next equally important factor is the floor plan and how it relates to the Bagua or energetic map in Feng Shui.

If possible look for a space that is either acomplete square or rectangle. Avoid L-shaped apartments because theyare energetically missing part of the Bagua or energetic map in Feng Shui. This can mean you are missing a major life theme like Love or Prosperity. You could be missing at least one or several Guas. There are cures for these deficits, however, the imbalance becomes part of your narrative while you inhabit that space. When I moved into a space that was missing the Career Gua, I was immediately laid of and unable to secure full-time work until just after moving out of the space. Even though it was a beautiful home and my time there was valuable, I would never want to repeat that experience.

III. Factor number 3 is Safety & Privacy.

If you have a choice between a downstairs front of the building apartment or something upstairs and in back, choose upstairs and in the back of the building. Think of it in terms of safety and privacy. Upstairs is better than downstairs and the back is better than the front. There are caveats to this as upstairs in front can be just fine especially if the view is better than in back and the numerology and floor plan are good.

IV. Number 4 on my mission critical list are External Factors.

There are a number of Feng Shui red flags like a home that is situated at the end of a cul-de-sac or a T-shaped intersection. The Sha Chi (negative energy) coming at your location can be too intense and/or too fast. You’ll find that a lot of car accidents happen at T-shaped intersections. A lot of electrical lines close by can create energetic distress or excessive EMF’s. There are many external factors to consider. There are also various Feng Shui cures for most of these factors but the factors still exist. It’s the difference between having to take medicine because you are constantly exposed to immune depleting circumstances or being in good health and safe from harm.

V. The final factor in my list of 5 is Curb Appeal.

I’m a fan of curb appeal! The surrounding circumstances and neighborhood have an energetic impact on your experience of life and your personal space. A beautiful relaxing setting makes a hugedifference. Is it a busy street? Are there potholes? Are the lawns maintained and manicured? Consider what is outside and how that will impact your view and sense of well being.

I have touched on the 5 key things to look for when selecting a new space, but there are still many more factors to consider. A professional consultation can go a long way to helping you understand what all the factors are, what cures are available, and what the cost benefit analysis is for a particular location. Knowing the pros and cons upfront can help you make the best decision for your sacred transition. To learn more or to work with me, visit http://narrativespacefengshui.com/ and reach out to The Feng Shui Lady directly via my scheduler at https://thefengshuilady.as.me/schedule.ph. Ciao for now!

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

If you’re new to the Pod, my name is Laura and I’m a certified Feng Shui Practitioner, Curator and Stylist for you and your Space. Join me and my guests for conversations around wellness with a focus on living and curating our best lives. New Episodes drop every Sunday. Subscribe for weekly tips on mindful living! This hybrid Podcast & Newsletter originates on Substack where you can follow me for all the visuals, text and video. The Show is now on video with interview guests along with solo episodes so I encourage you to subscribe and watch on Substack and YouTube. For all my other content and services check out my Link-tree.

Hi Everyone, and Welcome Back to Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion. Today’s episode is called “The Inside Job” because Feng Shui is an inside job. I also see it as the theme of this year. To look inward for answers and focus on the things we actually have agency over like ourselves, our homes, our inner worlds, our nearest and dearest. This year’s themes have been profoundly evident and reflected in my personal sphere.

I’m sure most of you are feeling it too. The world is changing so fast it’s hard to keep up with. The political landscape is currently like the Wild, Wild, West with the rules and the rulers in constant flux. This year’s Astrology is also extremely transformational, with every planet pretty much changing signs. If you watched or listened to my Year of the Snake Podcast, I mentioned that it’s a 9 year which signifies the end of a 9 year cycle so much of what we have known and become accustomed to is ending or drastically changing. It’s also the year of the Snake which is all about shedding a skin and that which no longer serves us.

This is a profound time to reinvent yourself. You are supported and encouraged by these energies to release aspects of your life such as work, home or personal life that just don’t reflect who you are or what you believe in anymore. If you don’t take agency over your life and make the changes yourself, the universe will.

I personally have been retooling my whole existence. Everything from my decor to my circle of friends, to my business systems and tech are evolving. It’s wild. In the middle of writing this latest newsletter and podcast my mother passed away and I have been processing that. It’s forced me to stop, reflect and press the pause button on everything including this podcast. It’s among the reasons there’s been a gap between this episode and my last. I’m back with today the question; Where am I going with this? What really matters and how do I want to proceed?

You could ask yourself the same questions…. These are universal energies affecting the collective.

In this vain, I have updated all of my Feng Shui service offerings and pricing and website to reflect my current level of expertise and approach which has evolved. I have a more elevated set of offerings that incorporate multiple approaches to Feng Shui and schools of thought. I’ve been doing this work for close to 15 years now and I have so much more to offer than when I began. It just came time to expand and pivot my business. As they say, adapt or die. I’m targeting a different boutique market and upgrading my level of service. It’s going to be more work for me but I will be able to provide more value and charge accordingly. I realize I have been keeping myself and my business small by keeping my rates and offerings modest. While I still plan to be generous with my content, I will be honoring my craft and level of experience by offering more high level services and boutique experiences. It’s time to go big or go home folks. Last year, I invested in some additional niche training in Fashion Feng Shui and upgraded my tech and I want continue to build on that this year.

What’s changing in your world besides everything?

Starting this year, I’m doing comprehensive Feng Shui Property Reports for the Real Estate Market and Individuals as well as current or prospective Home Owners and Renters. These reports are detailed and valuable investments for prospective buyers, renters and business owners. These reports serve as a treasure map for treating your home or property as a living breathing 3D Vision Board! They promise to help you connect with your environment and your ideal personal narrative. Property Reports are detailed reports which interpret Floor Plans from a Feng Shui perspective. The reports analyze everything from the neighborhood and approach to the property, elemental balance, room by room analyses and they explain the 9 energetic themes reflected in the Bagua. I provide specific recommendations for elements, materials and colors as well as placement suggestions. The reports highlight any areas of opportunity, cures and adjustments and how to maximize on the energetic potential of the property. They also cover the numerology of the space and its impact on the client as well as the Qua numbers and best directions for residents of the space. It’s an in-depth analysis.

I decided to create an offering that would help folks be able to best discern the most auspicious property for their needs and serve as source material they can turn to when making decisions about their home or investment. All that said, the reason I’m so excited about these reports is that they are like treasure maps uncovering all the potential magic your home or property holds. You can uncover everything from where love and money are represented, to how to activate these energetic centers!

I’m determined to focus my time and energy on projects that have an impact and where my talents can be of the greatest benefit. I’m also super excited to officially incorporate directional and numerological influences into my practice that I have been gradually adopting over the years. I think the longer you do something and cultivate your skills and perspective, the more you have to offer. I’m also exploring how to best share and offer my Fashion Feng Shui expertise and will spell and roll out those offerings more clearly later this year.

My in person and virtual feng shui consultations address much of what is included in the reports but not in the detailed written format. The reports are an optional add on or an individual service.

I’m truly passionate about creating sacred space for myself and others. I believe everything is an INSIDE JOB. As is reflected in The theme of the 9 Year of The Snake. I’m here to shed some light and insight. If you’re ready to take a deep dive on your sacred space, you know where to find me via my Link-tree. Many Blessings everyone and Ciao for now.

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

If you could use a pick me up to invite some positivity into your life, may I suggest a Sun-catcher? I just received a new Crystal Energy Sun Catcher! I literally gasped when I unboxed it because it was so beautiful. Here’s me clearing and charging it and doing a little dance. Place it in a window where it can catch and refract light. If you want one too, I have a link for it on my Benable Feng Shui house recommendations list. You can find my Benable link here https://benable.com/TheFengShuiLady. #raiseyourvibration #suncatcher #crystalsuncatcher #fengshui #fengshuitips #thefengshuilady

If you’re new to the Pod, my name is Laura and I’m a certified Feng Shui Practitioner, Curator and Stylist for you and your Space. Join me and my guests for conversations around wellness with a focus on living and curating our best lives. Subscribe for tips on mindful living! This hybrid Podcast & Newsletter originates on Substack where you can follow me for all the visuals, text and video. The Show is now on video with interview guests along with solo episodes so I encourage you to subscribe and watch on Substack and YouTube. For all my other content and services check out my Link-tree.

If you’re reading this before 1/29/25, The Astrological New Year has not officially begun! Please don’t give up on 2025, the energy is about to shift. I can’t promise it will all be rainbows and roses, but a shift is coming. The Year of The Snake which officially begins on 1/29/2025 will be very different than the year of the Dragon. This is also a 9 year numerologically. Think completions. The end of a 9 year cycle.

A Snake year will invite us to shed that which no longer serves us. This past year has been a “Wood Dragon” year. I looked it up and of all the different kinds of Dragons which include: Wood, Water, Fire, Metal and Earth; a Wood Dragon is the least like-able or appealing… In Chinese folklore, The Wood Dragon is described as follows: Introverted, less enthusiastic, and lacking in good relationships. All the other Dragon years are super positive with adjectives like smart, ambitious, and hardworking, easygoing, agile and flexible, persevering, farsighted, and vigorous. WTF?! Oh well, it’s almost over.

I think most of us can agree that Astrologically Romance was at an all time low over the last year. Chiron, the wounded healer was in Aries representing “men” in 2024. I personally took the year off from dating! I’m enthusiastic about 2025 though. It’s going to be a Yin year so more about being receptive. The Year of the Snake will be about setting realistic goals, devising strategic plans and working towards our dreams.

Feng Shui has many different schools of thought and approaches. As far as I am concerned, all roads lead to Rome. While my training was originally in Form School which is the 1st school of Feng Shui before directional practices emerged, I do pull from directional practices as needed as well Chinese Astrology. I predominantly look at a space as its own universe that begins at the entrance. However, I have adapted my practice to consider your best directions when it comes to where you sit and sleep and spend the most time. I also now address the yearly shifts in challenging directions. For this reason, I have started asking clients for their date and year of birth to determine their personal directions. Form school will inform most of my furniture placement with an emphasis on the Power Position and good chi flow. I do make adjustments as needed depending on the individuals best directions and whether they conflict with good form as well as the Challenging direction for the individual year. This can get tricky because every year the energies shift and there’s a Challenging Direction that applies to everyone universally for each year. It could end up being one of your personal best directions or a direction your head faces when you sleep. It could even be in a dominant area of your home or business. So it helps to know what area of your home is being impacted and how to remedy it. Yes there are remedies and protections so it’s not all doom and gloom, just a matter of awareness and adaptation as shifts occur. Much like in astrology, it’s a moving target. That is the nature of life! Nothing is static. Highs and Lows are based on cycles. What I like about knowing these cycles is that you can use the knowledge to navigate them.

The energy of time we are currently navigating inspired me to share some ways to make the best of the circumstances we find ourselves in. For context, I live in LA where many people are going through it due to the massive fires. I am personally safe and in a part of LA that was not directly impacted. I thought it would be helpful to share what the Universally challenging direction is for 2025 and how to navigate that. The official Chinese or Lunar New Year is on January 29, 2025, so you have time to prepare and perhaps even hire a Feng Shui Consultant now or later in the year.

TIP #1 -Make sure to take note of the direction of negative energy in 2025! They call this energy The Grand Duke (Tai Sui) in Feng Shui. In 2025 it is Southeast between 135-165 degrees on your compass. The idea is to avoid facing this direction for extended periods of time. Don’t worry you will not burst into flames should you mistakenly face Southeast just like you won’t die of lung cancer after smoking one cigarette. Just minimize your exposure. By the way, Southeast was also the negative direction for 2024 by the following degrees 105-135.

Listen, I didn’t immediately embrace a directional approach, it took some experimentation. I personally noticed when I stopped spending loads of time facing a Challenging direction and placed a protection facing that direction, my personal challenges cleared up. While my experience is Anecdotal, it is backed by thousands of years of wisdom and many other anecdotal examples. I also believe in Astrology and I recognize that there are cycles of change influenced by planetary shifts beyond the mundane. So I have made it my business to adapt to these shifts and help my clients find cures and enhancements to navigate these energies.

Feng Shui is a practice that is over 5000 years old and many of its “lessons” and “cure’s” are passed down through not only the written word, but through an oral tradition so you’re not necessarily going to find everything in books and articles. The knowledge and teachings are endless and nuanced and much of it is considered sacred and not to be shared frivolously. There was a time when only kings and queens had access to these teachings. I have taken the time to pull together some universally helpful tips.

I feel very protective of the Art of Feng Shui. It’s often misunderstood, misrepresented and misinterpreted. I can see why since it’s not cut and dry like say interior design or architecture. Both of those play a role in Feng Shui but Feng Shui is neither. I can tell you that Feng Shui is one of the 5 Branches of Chinese Medicine and as such it is actually a diagnostic tool. I can walk into someones home and literally read the room. Some places scream get out! Some say welcome home. They are all telling you something about their inhabitants though. You can learn about their love lives, health, wealth etc. It’s a truly beautiful physical language.

It is often the individual practitioners level of training, years of experience and personal approach, that truly brings the Feng Shui cures and practices to life. Ultimately though, the client themselves plays the most important role based on their desire to implement the recommendations and truly be in relationship with their own environment. There is a sacred energetic exchange between the practitioner and the client. It’s meant to be a healing practice. In my enthusiasm and passion for Feng Shui, I have at times offered or even blurted out unsolicited Feng Shui advice. It’s always bitten me in the ass! I have learned my lesson over time and realized it was ineffectual and served no one. Should the exchange not contain reciprocity and respect whether that comes in the form of payment, an exchange of services or at the bare minimum genuine gratitude or appreciation of the shared wisdom, then the cures and adjustments won’t be as effective. This is an energy practice after all and it has to flow both ways.

TIP #2 - Cleanliness is Close to Godliness! The year of the Snake begins on January 29th and New Year’s Eve is January 28th. It is said that if you sweep or do major cleaning on New Year’s day, you sweep away your blessings. Ideally you want to clean before the official New Year. New Year’s Eve or the days leading up are ideal for a deep cleanse and organization of your home. Clean like you’re hosting Royalty!

In my last Podcast, I shared an Orange Activation and Cure. Today I’m sharing an Orange House Blessing that is ideal for the new year! You’ll notice this cure uses water which is the Element LA is currently deficient in…

Tip #3 - The Feng Shui Orange Peel Blessing Ceremony is used to remove negative chi and return balance and harmony into an individual room or entire home. This is a perfect reboot for a home in honor of a new year. The Orange Peel Blessing is great for clearing a new home of predecessor energy. You can also use this remedy in a home after an illness, period of depression or arguing, and to remove any residual negative energy from guests. For this ceremony you need 3 fresh oranges, water, a glass bowl, and fresh flowers.

1. Peel the oranges and break them into 9 pieces each, for a total of 27 pieces. Place the pieces in the bowl and cover with hot water to about 3/4 full.

2. As you peel the oranges, state your intention for the ceremony in the form of an affirmation, such as “With this ceremony, I remove all negativity and replace it with positive chi.”

3. Take the bowl to the front door if you are clearing the entire home or to the entrance of the room that needs to be remedied. Starting at the entry, flick your ring and middle fingers outwards from the palm to sprinkle the water around the room. As you flick the water, repeat what is call the “Six True Words,” (pronounced Om Ma Ni Pad Me Hum) or another affirmation, mantra, or prayer of your choice. Visualize all the negative energy and bad luck leaving, as well as new, positive energy filling up the space. Be sure you move around all nine bagua areas, and include all closets. After you have completed the ceremony for the first space, move to other rooms as necessary and repeat the process.

4. Pour out the water and either throw away the orange peel or grind it in the disposal. Do not reuse the water for another ceremony. You can eat the orange as a celebration of all the positive new energy you have attracted.

5. Open all the doors and windows to let in fresh chi.

6. Place fresh flowers in a central location in the home or room. Replace the flowers every three days for a total of nine days. The final bouquet can remain until the flowers begin to wilt. I hope this Ceremony brings Blessing to all that read or listen to this especially my LA neighbors!

During this whole fire fiasco, I have spent my time solely indoors. I'm have been fastidiously organizing donations, cleaning my home and preparing and activating cures for the coming year. I feel truly blessed to have been safe and am eager to do what I can to be helpful. Whether it’s donations or researching and writing this piece.

I believe the silver lining to the LA Tragedy is the coming together of community. LA is shedding a skin and will emerge a new and improved city. It almost feels like a Communal Spiritual Awakening or Transformation. I want to spread Healing Energy, Comfort and Optimism. Many Blessings my friends and Ciao for now.

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

If you’re new to the Pod, my name is Laura and I’m a certified Feng Shui Practitioner, Curator and Stylist for you and your Space. Join me and my guests for conversations around wellness with a focus on living and curating our best lives. New Episodes drop every Sunday. Subscribe for weekly tips on mindful living! This hybrid Podcast & Newsletter originates on Substack where you can follow me for all the visuals, text and video. The Show is now on video with interview guests along with solo episodes so I encourage you to subscribe and watch on Substack and YouTube. For all my other content and services check out my Link-tree.

Hello & Welcome back to “Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion”! Podcast Episode 26. Happy New Year! I’m actually recording this on New Year’s Day…

Today’s episode is Feng Shui one! A new year calls for a refresh and I wanted to share a Feng Shui Enhancement & Cure for your Home, Body & Soul…

Refresh & Revitalize Your Chi with 9 Oranges, 2 Ways!

In Feng Shui Oranges are both a cure and an enhancement! We love oranges because they represent “The Sweet Life”! Oranges also represents creativity, fun, extroversion and sociability. Elementally they are wood element because they are a plant and fire and earth energy because of their color. Orange is a combination of red which is fire element and yellow which is earth. I have orange accents throughout my home because in recent years it’s become my favorite color to decorate with. It’s darn right cheerful, warm and grounding!

In order to implement the blessings I’m sharing here today, I suggest you go out and buy a large bag of at least 9 oranges. One of my favorite and easiest Chi enhancements and activations for good fortune and blessings is simply placing a bowl of 9 Oranges in my living or dining room area! It’s easy, it’s cheerful and it’s practical! They will serve you aesthetically, energetically and you can eventually consume them as well use their peels as a cure for whatever ails you.

The second way to use these 9 oranges after they have been beautifully displayed and appreciated is as a cure!

It’s an ORANGE PEEL BATH CURE

If you have been sick, sad, mad or just desiring a boost to your energetic field, this cure is for you! I used this cure to refresh my energy for the new year and it was such a refreshing energetic treat.

It’s a great way for you to clear your energy at the end or beginning of the year or really any time you need a reboot.

You Tear The Peels of 9 Oranges into small pieces and put them in your bath water.

Take a bath with the Orange Peels and release all that ails you. It’s incredibly refreshing!

After the bath you’ll want to perform the Three Secrets Reinforcement which I will explain all the while Visualizing yourself healthy, fresh and free of all harm!

The 3 SECRETS REINFORCEMENT

Which you will want to Apply after every physical Feng Shui adjustment for best results including the table top orange enhancement I just shared with you.

Our energetic Chi is just as important as the physical adjustments we make. So applying a sacred gesture that includes a physical, verbal and mental connection with your action is extremely powerful and guarantees greater efficacy. In Feng Shui no adjustment is truly complete or as powerfully effective as it could be without these steps.

You start with a BODY MUDRA - and I’ll show you 3 options depending on the type of adjustment you are making and your personal preference.

The Expelling Mudra is a good one for releasing negativity and clearing energy.

You flick your ring and middle fingers outwards from the palm.

The Heart Calming Mudra is often used in meditation.

You place your left hand on top of right palms facing up and tips of thumbs touching.

And my favorite Body Mudra for Feng Shui adjustments is the Prayer Mudra 🙏.

The 2nd step in the 3 Secrets Reinforcement which you perform with hand gesture is the SPEECH MUDRA which is essentially a (mantra)

One example is the 9 true words in Buddhism which are:

Om Mane Pad-me Hum

Or some other Mantra or powerful Statement of your choosing…

The 3rd and final step is the MIND SECRET - which is to Visualize your desired outcome (most important)! This really cinches the deal.

I have to admit, I haven’t always applied the 3 Secrets Reinforcements to all of my adjustments and while they still worked, The results weren’t as powerful as when I’ve applied this sacred practice.

When you’re done using the Oranges as an Enhancement and a Cure you can treat yourself by consuming a yummy nutritious orange. TADA!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR FOLKS & CIAO FOR NOW…

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

You can learn more about Elsa Elbert and her company by visiting Composed Living .

My apologies for the delay on this episode! I was navigating some crazy technical issues in uploading the video. The irony of this episode is that I have been in the midst of some personal chaos within my physical space while sharing ways to make sacred space at home! Haha… My building is currently undergoing construction and disruption making my personal sphere rather chaotic. I filmed this episode a day before the demolition began! While the chaos is still “happening,” the worst is over and I am seeing how that translates energetically with all aspects of my life! Cheers folks and please enjoy the Episode!

If you’re new to the Pod, my name is Laura and I’m a certified Feng Shui Practitioner, Curator and Stylist for you and your Space. Join me and my guests for conversations around wellness with a focus on living and curating our best lives. New Episodes drop every Sunday. Subscribe for weekly tips on mindful living! This hybrid Podcast & Newsletter originates on Substack where you can follow me for all the visuals, text and video. The Show is now on video with interview guests along with solo episodes so I encourage you to subscribe and watch on Substack and YouTube. For all my other content and services check out my Link-tree.

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

GUEST ~ MARGUERITE INSOLIA ~ FREQUENCY HEALER

You can find Marguerite on Instagram @margueriteinsolia and @casadellemadre

Website - https://www.casadellamadre.com/

If you’re new to the Pod, my name is Laura and I’m a certified Feng Shui Practitioner, Curator and Stylist for you and your Space. Join me and my guests for conversations around wellness with a focus on living and curating our best lives. New Episodes drop every Sunday. Subscribe for weekly tips on mindful living! This hybrid Podcast & Newsletter originates on Substack where you can follow me for all the visuals, text and video. The Show is now on video with interview guests along with solo episodes so I encourage you to subscribe and watch on Substack and YouTube. For all my other content and services check out my Link-tree.

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

If you’re new to the Pod, my name is Laura and I’m a certified Feng Shui Practitioner, Curator and Stylist for you and your Space. Join me and my guests for conversations around wellness with a focus on living and curating our best lives. New Episodes drop every Sunday. Subscribe for weekly tips on mindful living! This hybrid Podcast & Newsletter originates on Substack where you can follow me for all the visuals, text and video. The Show is now on video with interview guests along with solo episodes so I encourage you to subscribe and watch on Substack and YouTube. For all my other content and services check out my Link-tree.

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

If you’re new to the Pod, my name is Laura and I’m a certified Feng Shui Practitioner, Curator and Stylist for you and your Space. Join me and my guests for conversations around wellness with a focus on living and curating our best lives. New Episodes drop every Sunday. Subscribe for weekly tips on mindful living! This hybrid Podcast & Newsletter originates on Substack where you can follow me for all the visuals, text and video. The Show is now on video with interview guests along with solo episodes so I encourage you to subscribe and watch on Substack and YouTube. For all my other content and services check out my Link-tree.

Hello & Welcome back to Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!  I’m Laura aka The Feng Shui Lady ®️ and I specialize in Feng Shui for designing and curating our homes and wardrobe.  In the words of Developmental Biologist and Epigenetic’s expert Bruce Lipton, “You change the Container, you change the Contents.” In this analogy, your home and wardrobe are your containers and you are the contents.  What you surround yourself with and how you adorn yourself actually have an energetic impact.  Epigenetic speaks to this and I am endlessly fascinated with uncovering ways to create the most supportive set and setting for people to thrive in.  I’m excited to be having conversations with different experts and guests with many different vantage points and areas of expertise around wellness themes. If this is also your jam, I invite you to tune in and zen out!  Also please subscribe, like and share. 

In Today’s episode, I want to share some energy and Space Clearing tips to help you navigate Thanksgiving along with all your holiday gatherings.  Many of us gather with Family whether it’s our family of origin, in-laws or chosen family as in Friendsgiving.  When we gather with different personalities sometimes tensions can be stirred.  The wine is flowing freely and opinions and tensions can bubble and come to a boil.  

This year in particular might be tricky for a lot of folks.  If that’s you let me suggest some ways to create a more neutral environment and also ways to clear the air afterwards if things do go south.

Before your guests arrive try setting an intention or prayer for a positive and cheerful evening.  In regards to your attire and decor, may I suggest avoiding the color red or any red spectrum colors which while exciting and stimulating, can activate peoples fiery side. Instead of red roses opt for Yellow or White flowers.  You can also choose softer hues and earth tones in your overall decor to reduce potential tension. Play soothing background music. And If you have a diffuser, you can try diffusing a gentle calming essential oil blend to set the tone. 

Seating arrangements are super important.  In Feng Shui we love round and Oval tables because there are no sharp corners.  Sharp corners can create Sha Chi or piercing energy. If you do have a square or rectangular table, then a table cloth can soften those corners.  

If you have the option to seat folks at a round or oval table that can help smooth the edges so to speak.  If possible seat everyone with a view of the entrance of the room, whether they are facing the entrance or there’s a mirror reflecting it in their field of vision.  As much as possible we try to seat folks in the power position in Feng Shui and this means not having your back to the door or at least having a view of the entrance even if it’s just a reflection in the mirror.  The host should always be in the power position since they are the nucleus of the event.  

Obviously don’t seat people with conflicting points of view across from each other or near each other if possible. Listen If in spite of your best efforts things do get heated, once the event is over, you can Smudge with sage. I also recommend placing small bowls of salt in the center or corners of the rooms where friction took place for about 12 hours this helps absorb all the negative energy.  Again play some soothing music while you clean up and make sure to dispose of the salt either in the garbage or toilet.  Be sure to  keep your pets and kids from consuming any of it.  I also highly recommend spritzing with a soothing essential oil like lavender or geranium to soften the energy and offset the element of fire with water after saging.  

We will be in the thick of Mercury Retrograde during Thanksgiving so our words and intentions have a higher likelihood of being misinterpreted.  It’s not the best time to broach sensitive topics so stick to simple pleasantries and congenial subject matter when possible. Let’s do all we can to be the voice of reason this season!  I’m wishing for a peaceful and cheerful holiday for us all and Many Blessings!

Next week I will have Psychic Medium Susan Schueler joining me so I invite you to tune in and Zen Out.  Cheers & Ciao for now!

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Hello & Welcome to the FENG SHUI Money Couch! Yes, I changed the name and I am sitting on the aforementioned Money Couch. I’m finally Back after an extended hiatus in which I moved. I’m in a whole new set and setting which clearly inspired the new name. I’m in beautiful Aliso Viejo just 15 minutes inland from Laguna Beach. I love my new more expansive space and environment.

That said this wasn’t something I planned on doing or even fathomed at this particular juncture in my life because it was neither in my budget nor in my sights! I lived in my last home for 14 plus years and this year I participated in an elite level Feng Shui Mastermind with my colleague Kristina Hollinger who specializes in Black Hat Feng Shui. This is a very mystical Buddhist School and interpretation of Feng Shui.

The new tools I acquired in that Feng Shui Mastermind took both my life and my practice to a whole new level. It was basically Feng Shui on Steroids incorporating the most powerful, ancient, mystical practices for inviting abundance and manifestation. I leaned in hard and it literally changed my whole life.

I invested in redecorating and up leveling my entire home and life with sacred Feng Shui Principles and rituals. And guess what? As soon as I maximized on the full potential of that space my life and circumstances completely changed.

My financial situation transformed which allowed me to invest in all the new furniture. I’m talking new bed, sofa, art, buffet, rugs pretty much everything! I was also gifted a brand new car. My love life transformed and the ideal space for a whole new chapter opened up to me. That’s the power of really good Feng Shui. The shifts I made triggered what I can only describe as divine intervention.

It’s important for me to mention that all of this was happening in the midst of personal crisis with the loss of my mother in February, my own health issues following her death and later additional family drama. I bring this up because it’s pertinent here. My life was complicated and messy but Feng Shui helped me both navigate it and transform it.

So in the last couple months, I have been busy moving, managing family obligations and Restructuring & Redesigning my personal life and business! It’s taken several twists and turns however I have felt guided and blessed by using sacred practices that I honed during that mastermind.

The reason I have been mia on the pod was Due to these unforeseen circumstances. I had to move rather abruptly to support my family so yes I took a beat, several beats, but I’m back with a story to tell! I have lot of Feng Shui wisdom to share with you.

I don’t even know where to begin! In previous episodes I have talked about this being the year of the snake which is all about death and rebirth. Shedding what no longer serves to make way for a new improved version of yourself. It’s the perfect analogy to Feng Shuiing and Space Clearing your entire life.

I know I am not the only one for whom this year has rocked their world. I’m here to share how Feng Shui can help in even the most challenging of circumstances. It is a manifesting tool that allows you to collaborate with the universe and your surroundings to make the most of your circumstances.

This year, I have quite literally Feng Shui’d everything in my life! There’s not a single aspect of my world that hasn’t undergone a make-over! My body, my wardrobe, my car, my furniture, my relationships, my home, and even my business.

I can’t tell you how excited I am to be here hosting The Podcast in my new studio and home. The truth is that I now see my entire home as a Studio, a Showroom, an Office and my Home Sweet-Home! This has required a lot of attention to detail and intentional Feng Shui design.

The reality is that when I was looking for a new space, I was under a lot of pressure to move quickly. My brother who is living with and taking care of my 85 year old father was simultaneously diagnosed with cancer in his Kidney and in need of a quadruple heart bypass surgery. Both health issues were urgent and I needed to basically drop everything and move close to my family.

My father lost my Mother earlier this year and the toll of losing her and the possibility of losing my brother were more than he could handle on his own. I knew I had to move immediately but I also wanted to be strategic.

The most critical factors for me were location, floor plan, numerology, aesthetic and amenities. I scoured through listings with the goal of finding a place close to my family that met all my Feng Shui criteria. Of all the places I looked at, this one had the best floor plan from a Feng Shui perspective and the ideal numerology for me. These factors ruled out so many spaces and ultimately narrowed things down to this specific place.

Even though it felt like I was looking for a needle in a haystack, when I finally found this space, it was the obvious choice. The bedroom is in the Love Gua a feature I have always aspired to. And The amenities went above and beyond! I have always wanted a Pool and a Jacuzzi, but I never considered them deal breakers. They have been on my vision board for a few years and now I have both. I even have an in unit washer and dryer. These are all luxuries for me!

This living room is in both the family and prosperity Guas. I’m currently seated in between both. The Family Gua to my right and The Prosperity Gua to my Left. Family is the reason I moved here. This Gua also represents our day to day expenses and having more than enough money to cover our needs. It’s where I will be filming the Pod and growing my Community which is a form of Family!

The Prosperity Gua which is adjacent to the Family Gua represents Wealth and surplus money for luxuries, savings, investments and high ticket items. It’s basically to the left of me and also on my balcony. The balcony looks out over a beautiful view of palm trees a pool and jacuzzi! A confirmation of my long held dreams from my vision board coming true. From this new vantage point, I look forward to helping others find their needle in a haystack and make their dreams come true!

I want to share a teachable Feng Shui moment I experienced during my move and what actually inspired the new Podcast Name. When it comes to living rooms, I think of the Sofa or Couch as the crowning jewel of the room and the biggest investment and statement piece. This Sofa is the most expensive piece of furniture I own!

Everything socially revolves around the aesthetic and placement of your Sofa. When I was redecorating my old apartment earlier this year, I pulled the trigger on my dream sofa! It was a large beautiful burnt orange art deco sofa with a bench cushion. I had been eyeing it for years and it had been sitting in my virtual shopping cart for someday.

The day finally came when I could afford it back in April during my Feng Shui Mastermind. It was my biggest investment piece at the time! My living room where the Sofa would live was in my Love Gua of that apartment so the burnt Orange color was intentional and actually served to fire up my love life.

I had been celibate for close to 2 years and as soon I got that Sofa my love life lit up. I affectionately came to call it the Sexy Sofa!

Fast forward to my move at the end of October. The Couch got stained during the move. I tried everything to remove the stains and nothing worked. I was devastated. I looked to see if I could find another one just like it but they no longer made it. Meanwhile I stewed and kept looking for something that could even approximate the art deco aesthetic.

I had purchased the original sofa from Urban Outfitters so I decided to look on the Anthropologie website because they are under the same parent company. Lo and behold, I found an almost identical sofa in velvet with the rounded art deco lines, pleated back rest, and bench cushion but in Emerald Green!

That’s when it occurred to me that the Fiery Orange Sofa which had been so perfect in my old apartment, was actually doing damage in this one. I was literally burning through money! The element for the Family Gua is Wood and fire diminishes wood. Green however Represents Wood. It’s also the color of Money. This Emerald Green Sofa feeds both the Family & Abundance Guas of this home and I am calling it the Money Couch! Another interesting detail is that this Sofa is actually called the Serpentine Sofa! Seriously! The year of the snake has literally forced me to shed all traces of my old life and here I am on a whole new timeline and trajectory.

It took about 2 months to get this couch and when it arrived; I was like it’s a BOY! He manifested from the Snake theme of the year to the centerpiece of my home and narrative. He’s also the most expensive piece of furniture I now own. So I affectionately call him the Money Couch.

I didn’t think I could love a couch more than I did my Sexy Orange Sofa, but I have to say I am deeply in love and inspired by The Money Couch. I feel like it was destined for me.

Decorating and Curating with Feng Shui is like story boarding. You have to take into account which life theme or Gua you are in and what elements, themes, shapes and colors support that area and choose accordingly. What seems perfect in one space doesn’t necessarily work in another so here we are.

I should mention that my home isn’t the only thing that I have upgraded! My business infrastructure was ready for an upgrade and I finally found the right platform to reimagine and redesign both my website and business. It’s been both an investment and a learning curve!

I transferred my entire business model to Kajabi so I could host accessible courses for folks who can’t afford to hire me privately or just want to dip their toes into Feng Shui wisdom before diving in more deeply with me. I have all new services at a variety of price points with flexible payment plan options and a backend that can scale with me.

My entire SUITE Of VIP SERVICES has also evolved to include the most powerful sacred wisdom and manifesting tools. So I invite you to explore everything including my FREE Course called FENG SHUI BASICS. It’s my Holiday gift to you and a great way to start your Feng Shui journey. It gives you a foundational perspective on Feng Shui and actionable easy to apply tips to get you started. All that and it’s free because I want you to experience the magic of Feng Shui! I am building a collection of course offerings and services. Including my first paid course called BEDROOM FENG SHUI which I priced at a very accessible price point of $333.00. I plan to do Live In Person Bedroom Feng Shui Events in my new community in the New Year so if you’re in Orange County or LA and want to learn Bedroom Feng Shui with me in person stay tuned and be sure to subscribe to the pod for updates and special promotions.

I know not everyone can afford a private consultation but most people can afford my Bedroom Feng Shui course and I can’t state how important your bedroom is from a Feng Shui perspective. It’s the most important room in your whole life!

You can check out my entire Suite of Services on the new website. I am sharing the link here in the show notes and it’s also available in my Linktree and on my new website! Linktree: https://www.narrativespacefengshui.com/offers/GovqMtwu/checkout,

Ok my friends, I have a special guest joining me next week to talk about the Numerology of 2026 and what we can expect! Her Name is Gail Minogue. She’s a Numerologist Extraordinaire! I’m wishing you all the most Blessed Holiday Season. Cheers & CIAO for now!

Laura’s Substack ~ THE FENG SHUI MONEY COUCH is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Hello & Welcome back to “Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion”! Podcast Episode 21 with my 1st guest, Spiritual Mentor and Coach Grace Vieira. You can find and learn more about Grace at Gracevieira333@gmail, 310-770-2048, http://www.connectingwithgrace.com/.

Grace Viera

My name is Laura and I’m a certified Feng Shui Practitioner, Curator and Stylist for you and your Space. Join me and my guests for conversations around living and curating our best lives. New Episodes drop every Sunday. Subscribe for weekly tips on mindful living! This hybrid Podcast & Newsletter originates on Substack where you can follow me for all the visuals, text and video. The Show is now on video with interview guests so I encourage you to subscribe to and watch on Substack and YouTube. For all my other content and services check out my Link-tree.

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Grace Vieira ~ Spiritual Mentor & Coach

Hi it’s Laura aka The Feng Shui Lady ®️ with an update about the show!  I am excited to be hosting my first interview for Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion this Saturday 11/16/24 with Spiritual Mentor & Life Coach Grace Vieira!  This is part of the vision I had for the show and it’s finally coming to fruition just after the full moon which is today Friday 11/15/24.  Grace is kind of like a modern day mystic who does profound healing work while at the same time having a background in fashion, so she and I will have plenty to talk about.  The interview should be up on Substack, Spotify and YouTube on Sunday 11/17/24!  I’m also really looking forward to my growing lineup of guests which in addition to Grace, include Professional Organizer & Business owner ~ Elsa Elbert who I’ll be interviewing next week along with Design & Real Estate Whisperer ~ Camilla Rantsen.  I even have an interview with my Psychic Medium ~ Susan Schueler the following week and so much more to come.  We are going to be having conversations around designing our best lives. Whether it’s our homes, places of work, wardrobes, our self care routines, what and how we eat, exercise and celebrate.  If you know me at all you know I’m going to inject a little woo into the mix to liven things up so some of my guests will definitely reflect that.  I’m just so excited about the different folks I’m scheduling.  I just heard back from a well known Numerologist that I’ve been following for years!  She’s agreed to meet with me and us in January of 2025 and I can’t wait.  I have a number of people in the pipeline that truly inspire me and It’s a blessing to have the opportunity to converse with people who’s work I admire and also have an expertise that my audience can benefit from.  I invite you to tune in and zen out, also please subscribe, like and share to help build community around curating and living our best lives.  See you Sunday!  Ciao for now.

My Look for the Preview is a Love & Lemons dress acquired 2nd hand from Poshmark

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Hello & Welcome Back To Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion! My name is Laura aka The Feng Shui Lady ®️ and I specialize in Feng Shui for Decorating & Dressing you and your Space. Because it’s all connected. I help people use Feng Shui to align their environment and their wardrobe with their goals. I also have guests on to Discuss the energy, of our environment and aesthetics from many different vantage points!

In Today’s episode I am talking all about my new passion for Mod Fashion!

In previous episodes, I’ve been sharing how you can help fund your new wardrobe with your old one. And today’s episode continues on this theme.  By this I mean selling and or trading your unworn and unwanted pieces in order to finance your new pieces!  By the way this is also really good Feng Shui because it makes space for the new clothes. Those clothes of course don’t have to be quote unquote brand “new” but rather previously owned and new to you. This is both green and frugal. Waste not want not!  

The history of Mod clothes originated in England in the late 1950’s with men’s clothes and evolved into women’s styles well into the 60’s. Mod is short for Modernist and it was part of a cultural movement of intellectuals artists writers poets who listened to Jazz music.

The Men’s styles were slim fitting and beautifully tailored Italian suits with tapered pants and pointed shoes. Knitted polo shirts and skinny ties were also a thing.  The men looked so dapper and stylish in these looks.

For women some of the key features of mod clothes are Shift mini-dresses often with bold colors and prints. They also paired these looks with Gogo boots and colored tights.

Some of the Fashionista’s of the Mod scene were Twiggy, Jean Shrimpton and even Jacky Kennedy.  The aesthetic is very feminine and fun.  The shorter skirts were new to women’s fashion and a bit more flirty than their longer predecessors.  It’s a fresh youthful look for women that will eternally feel modern while still looking classic.

All three of the Mod looks that inspired today’s discussion were purchased 2nd hand. And are pictured in the body of the newsletter here on substack and I’m wearing one of them.  I talk a lot about how to do a wardrobe makeovers without breaking the bank by Shopping Green. You can shop green via old school brick and mortar stores or online. Crossroads is an example of Brick & Mortar while Poshmark is an online example. There are many more examples of both but these 2 are my biggest go too’s.

So the dress that sent me on this modernist tangent was this Mod Zara dress I found at Crossroads Trading! This Dress inspired a whole new Mod trend for my wardrobe. It’s a black and white short sleeved checkered print Aline Shift mini-dress that acquired at a trade value of just $17 from Crossroads Trading.  It’s comfortable, feminine, and classic yet modern. I love it so much I ended up getting 2 more shift dresses.  This silhouette really flatters us gals with what some describe as a pair shape. Where you’re smaller up top than below.  In fashion Feng Shui ®️ we call this a Water body because it’s like a rain drop!  Once you find a silhouette that works for you, you will want to emphasize it in your wardrobe.  So now I am totally enamored with Mod clothes and plan to style my wardrobe more and more in this direction over time. 

The Second look in this genre I acquired from Poshmark is a black Aline mini shift lace dress from Zara which I’m wearing with a round edge zip up cream Peter Pan collar I found for just $37.32. 

The final look in my mod trio is a sleeveless cranberry colored lace trapeze minidress which I acquired through Poshmark. It’s a Free People dress that would have retailed for about a $120 and I paid $22.38 including tax and shipping.  

As you can see, the new Mod wardrobe Capsule I’m building has not been a huge financial investment. It is a genuine investment in my personal style evolution with an aesthetic and silhouette that feels very authentic and aligned with the style narrative I’m cultivating.

All right folks, I hope you enjoyed my take on mod fashion!  I invite you to like, comment, share and especially to subscribe on Substack where you have access to all the visuals, video and text. As promised, for the upcoming episodes, I have lined up some really exciting guests including an Astrologer, a professional Organizer, a Real Estate professional, and a Feng Shui client of mine with a powerful story about the transformative power of Feng Shui.  Cheers and Ciao for now!

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

INTRO (for every episode which you can skip if you have heard/read it before)

Hello & Welcome back to “Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion”! Podcast Episode 19. A place for Home & Wardrobe Inspiration. My name is Laura and I’m a certified Feng Shui Practitioner, Curator and Stylist for you and your Space. New Episodes drop every Sunday Morning. Subscribe for weekly tips on mindful dressing and decorating! This hybrid Podcast & Newsletter originates on Substack where you can follow me for all the visuals, text and video. My stories about Feng Shui & Fashion are told in part through pictures and visuals in the body of my newsletters here on Substack. So if you’re listening on Spotify or ITunes, you can subscribe for free on Substack. For all my other content and services check out my Link-tree.

Wardrobe For Today’s Show - Free People Dress acquired via Poshmark for just $25 plus tax and shipping…

Hi Folks It’s a whole new vibe here at Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!  New Set, New Moon!  This is a video episode so for those of you listening on Spotify or ITunes, I highly recommend you check out the episode on Substack or my new YouTube channel also called Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion.  Today I’m filming just after the new Moon on November 2 which happens to be Dia De Los Muertos or Day of the Dead. This period just after the new moon is an auspicious time for creating sacred space.  I have been shifting a lot of energy in my environment to create a productive and supportive new setting for Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!  I am excited to finally be filming here in my living room and sharing the new set with you. I’ve been curating a space where I could film in my living room and host in-person guests.  I got these 2 matching cloud chairs with this in mind.  For those of you listening, They are these 2 cushy cream colored faux fur womblike chairs that sit low to the ground and allow you to sit Indian style if you are so inclined.  My friends love them and so do my 2 cats.  It took some time and planning to figure out the right setting and all the tech.  You’d be amazed at how much goes into the tech of creating a set!  Framing the shot in a flattering way that captures 2 people with a pleasing background, lighting the shot and getting 2 people miched properly for sound quality all while shooting on my IPhone!  This is my fancy new blue tooth microphone!

Trust me there’s been a lot of trial and error!  This was my most challenging Feng Shui puzzle to solve.  That said, I can now interview guests for the show and you can look forward to those interviews in the coming weeks.  I’m having Conversations with potential guests with an expertise in everything from fashion, feng shui, design, art, architecture, makeup, interiors, real estate, Crystals, Astrology, Aesthetics etc.  I also really want to explore topics like Epigenetic’s and how our homes and wardrobes are telling a story, our stories..  I felt it was important for me to share my space with you and how I interact with my environment as a Feng Shui practitioner. I’m also going to continue to share my fashion with you and examples of Fashion Feng Shui in action as well.  The location of my home where I will be shooting the show happens to be in the Children and Creativity Gua of my home which merges with the Career gua of my living room.  Gua’s are energetic centers of the home that represent specific theme’s.  The themes represented here are Creativity and Career so it’s the perfect nook for the show! Tonight I’m dressed in an all black lace aline mini dress in honor of day of the dead.  Black represents Water element in Feng Shui.  Water element is all about free flowing creativity and depth.  The black feeds my soul while the lace represents metal element.  The Metal Archetype speaks to precision and elegance and helps to command respect.  The dress is short and tight so there’s a nod to fire and my spiky earrings and tiger print purse for the evening are pretty fiery.  Fire Element commands attention and connection.  

Check Out My Fiery Retro Statement Tiger Purse from Crossroads Trading! I got it for trade at just $25 and since it was for trade, I didn’t actually “pay” anything.

I love dressing with intention and allowing my wardrobe to serve a purpose above and beyond aesthetics.  It’s a mindfulness practice which can help us all align with our goals and dress for success.  Ok folks, I’m sending you all many blessings during this magical time of the year.  I’ll see you next week. Ciao for Now!

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Hi Everyone, I’m launching a new video version of the show with guests. I just created a set in my home with seating, lighting and audio in place so I can host and interview folks. I’m inviting guests to join me here on the show who have an expertise in fashion, feng shui, design, art, architecture, interiors, real estate, crystals, astrology, aesthetics etc.  I film at my home in Los Angeles and am currently interested in in-peron live guests so If you’re in Los Angeles and interested in joining me on Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion, you can connect with me at narrativespacefengshui@gmail.com.  I’m looking forward to hosting you and learning more about you!  Cheers & Ciao for Now!

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

INTRO - Hello & Welcome back to “Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion”! Podcast Episode 18.  A place for Home & Wardrobe Inspiration. My name is Laura and I’m a certified Feng Shui Practitioner, Curator and Stylist for you and your Space. New Episodes drop every Sunday Morning. Subscribe for weekly tips on mindful dressing and decorating! This hybrid Podcast & Newsletter originates on Substack where you can follow me for all the visuals, text and video. My stories about Feng Shui & Fashion are told in part through pictures and visuals in the body of my newsletters here on Substack. So if you’re listening on Spotify or ITunes, you can subscribe for free on Substack. For all my other content and services check out my Link-tree.

Today we are exploring Shades of RED which in Feng Shui represents Fire Element. Shades Of Red ~ Feed The Fire for Luck & Attraction. Red attracts attention and is a power color. It’s dramatic and bold. Red is associated with passion and romance. 

In china brides wear Red on their wedding day for all the aforementioned reasons. In Feng Shui we recommend wearing the color red when you have an important meeting or presentation. Think Good Fortune, attraction, power and luck. 

Red spectrum colors run the gamut from shades of pink, fuchsia, oranges, bright red, wines, plums, and purples. Skin tone, disposition and tastes differ and fortunately there is a fairly broad Spectrum of red hues. 

As a Winter, my skin tone looks best in jewel tones with a range from Fuchsia to Purple. Bright red is not my jam. I will wear a print with a splash of bright red in it, but I can’t pull it off from head to toe. 

I also have to be in the right mood for Red Spectrum Colors or it can feel like I drank too much coffee. It’s not the color to wear when you want to fly under the radar or are feeling off. It can feel like too much energy for me sometimes, so I’m very particular about when and where I wear it. Shown here are my versions of fire element color. 

As you can see pictured here my range goes from fuchsia, to purple, to burgundy. Essentially blue based reds or a slightly watered down version of red. 

Last week on episode 17 called “HOW TO DRESS IN YOUR ELEMENT” I showed you how I dressed water element in a fiery way. Guess what’s happening today? I’m dressing Fire element in a watery way! It’s especially notable in the last two looks where I am dressed in two different burgundy velvet looks. The first one is an aline Wrap mini dress with long bell sleeves which I’m wearing right now and I can see on the screen that it reads as black.  I promise you it’s burgundy. The second look is a long velvet burgundy jumpsuit with a deep v neckline, spaghetti straps and palazzo style pants. What’s watery about both of them is the velvet material and how dark the burgundy is bordering on black. The bell sleeves on the dress are watery and so are the flowy palazzo style pants. Freedom of movement and comfort is watery feature.

Red has a powerful impact that isn’t always for everyone.

How does red make you feel? It’s definitely stimulating. Too much red in a physical space can insight arguments and make people feel edgy. That’s why we balance the elements. 

BAGUA MAP

From a Feng Shui perspective red is the color associated with the Fame Gua which is the energetic center of your home that represents your reputation and how you are perceived in the world as well as how visible you are. It can be found in the far back center area of the home and each individual room. Pictured here is a Bagua map to help you find your Fame gua. You might want to place some red there or perhaps a candle of any hue.

Not everyone likes a red spectrum color palette so there’s a number of ways to introduce the element into the environment or your clothes without color. Using the actual element as with the aforementioned candle or a pointy fiery shape like a star or triangle. In fact color is never the whole story for any element. Shapes, the actual element, and artistic representations of an element will all work. 

A few ways to water down your fire ensembles include: wearing long flowing skirts, like the one I’m wearing at the top of the newsletter, sheer materials, something with a ruffle, velvet material and pairing your red with black also does the trick! 

It’s a matter of dialing an element up or down based on how you feel and what you want to project. It’s also a very individual expression of your own elemental make up. I’m already pretty fiery inside which is why I usually dial down the volume on my red until it feels just right. The same applies when I wear black or water element and don’t want my fire completely extinguished. I think we each have specific sensibilities and sensitivities in relationship to color and the elements. For example, I can barely tolerate any amount of earth element. Think earth tones like brown and taupe.  This element makes me feel lackluster and stodgy particularly in the color spectrum. You won’t find Brown in my closet other than my beloved comfy Birkenstock sandals. We all need some earthly grounding and I can handle a small detail like a cozy sandals or a square shaped piece of jewelry or neckline. Square shapes also represent earth element. These are all subtle nods to earth. 

I see Dressing & Decorating as a form of alchemy, similar to cooking. You discover what ingredients appeal to your pallet and how they all go together. Your tastes can change and evolve along with your recipes. Bon Appetite! All right folks, I hope you are coming to understand some of the nuances of dressing with the elements and I look forward to sharing more examples with you soon.  Many Blessings & Ciao for now!

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

INTRO ~ Hello & Welcome back to “Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion”! Podcast Episode 17.  A place for Home & Wardrobe Inspiration. My name is Laura and I’m a certified Feng Shui Practitioner, Curator and Stylist for you and your Space. New Episodes drop every Sunday Morning. Subscribe for weekly tips on mindful dressing and decorating! This hybrid Podcast & Newsletter originates on Substack where you can follow me for all the visuals, text and video. My stories about Feng Shui & Fashion are told in part through pictures and visuals in the body of my newsletters here on Substack. So if you’re listening on Spotify or ITunes, you can subscribe for free on Substack. For all my other content and services check out my Link-tree.

BACK ON THE RED CARPET!

Today’s episode is about “How To Dress In Your Element! And it includes ~ A Water & Fire Fashion Show…” With a video of the show Embedded here in the newsletter and on my YouTube channel for Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion.

In Fashion Feng Shui ®️ we seek to embody our personal archetypes and elements while simultaneously dressing for our body types, coloring and lifestyle. Discovering our elemental makeup, archetypes and influences can be a truly cathartic and revealing experience. During my journey of discovery I wasn’t surprised to learn that I was Water because I love black. Black represents Water Element. It’s the only color I’m displaying in all of the looks I’m sharing with you today.

What came as a surprise to me during my Fashion Feng Shui ®️ journey was that while Water was a dominant element in my makeup and serves as a strong influence particularly in my color story, it is not my essence. Much to my surprise, my true essence is Fire.

I’m a combination of two opposite elements water and fire which makes for a dramatic result. To understand this from an archetypal perspective, Think Ambivert or someone who is equally as introverted as they are extroverted. The way this shows up in my fashion is that, I love to cloak myself in sheer black flowy frocks but I often dress in a provocative manner. The obvious signs of fire fashion include the color red, body conscious attire, short, fitted, skin bearing and attention getting. Animal prints and actual animal hide such as leather are also representations of fire. Stilettos and triangular, star or pointy shapes also exhibit fire energy. Because I don’t wear red or stilettos and am so into black, I assumed I was purely a water girl! However there’s nuance to this. The telltale signs of water Fashion are as mentioned black and very dark colors like navy, sheer flowy pieces, asymmetry and even fringe. You’ll definitely be seeing a lot of sheer and flowy looks here and even some fringe along with plenty of black. If color was all that mattered it would be easy to paint me as pure water. The thing is, I wear water in a fiery way which is what this fashion show is about. Color is not the whole story. How you style yourself has just as much to say if not more than just color. These 7 looks I’m sharing with you today highlight both water and fire elements and show me in solid black while still lit up with fire accents. Wether it’s my first look, the black mini dress with sparkly sequins, worn with Burgundy leather Doc Martens and fishnets or my black Leather Jacket I paired with a few of my looks or my overall skin bearing dresses with fiery accents, I’m delivering the fire in my styling. Even Sequins is fire! You don’t have to wear red to light up a room. I wear water in a hot way so to speak and so can you!

If you are curious about your elemental makeup feel free to reach out to me to learn more about what I do and how I can help you. I specialize in Feng Shui for Dressing & Decorating you and your space because it’s all connected! You can visit my Link-tree. for all my offerings!

All right folks, enjoy the rest of the fashion show. I hope this inspires you to look beyond color and consider how your clothes are styled! If you want my help, you know where to find me! Cheers and Ciao for now!

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

This is my favorite Fashion Therapy Tip…. Cultivating your power walk is a great way to discover your Main Character Energy! Seriously, find your runway and take a stroll in your favorite frock. Mine is in the hallway…

Cheers 🥂

Laura

MOD Dress $17 from Crossroads Trading

Hello & Welcome back to “Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion”! Podcast Episode 16.  A place for Home & Wardrobe Inspiration. My name is Laura and I’m a certified Feng Shui Practitioner, Curator and Stylist for you and your Space. New Episodes drop every Sunday Morning. Subscribe for weekly tips on mindful dressing and decorating! This hybrid Podcast & Newsletter originates on Substack where you can follow me for all the visuals, text and video. My stories about Feng Shui & Fashion are told in part through pictures and visuals in the body of my newsletters here on Substack. So if you’re listening on Spotify or ITunes, you can subscribe for free on Substack. For all my other content and services check out my Link-tree.

Shop Green & Save Green is my new mantra! Clothes achieve a greater lifespan and our bank accounts retain their worth. It’s easier than ever because it can be done online just as easily as at your local consignment store or used clothing store.

You can also make a profit from your hand me downs. It’s genius and it’s really good Feng Shui! You can incentivize yourself to declutter that closet, in order to make money and acquire some welcome new additions to your wardrobe. We all have clothes in our closets that are just taking up space. Pieces that we don’t need, love or wear. It’s dead energy that could be replaced with a more viable option. You want to refresh the energy of your closet periodically and also the narrative or story your clothes are telling about you. They are essentially costumes so what roles are dressing up for and what roles do you no longer want to play? I try to edit both my closet and my clients closet’s with this in mind.

Just as our Epigenetic’s speaks to how our environments have a tremendous impact on us, so too do our clothes. They are our most intimate environments since they adorn our physical bodies. The energetic of our clothes are a powerful tool.

Styling from a Feng Shui perspective goes much deeper than the clothes. It’s a Therapeutic experience that reveals our inner workings and empowers our goals. Think Dress for Success!

I have personally been cultivating a couple of different capsules wardrobe themes. The most prominent being my Yin & Yang capsule wardrobe. It’s a collection of Black & White wardrobe pieces that are versatile, and emphasize Metal & Water elements. I also have what I call my dating capsule which are outfits I plan to wear on romantic dates. For my Yin & Yang collection, I recently acquired a number of dresses in black and white, along with blazers, pants, skirts and a leather jacket. Revamping a wardrobe can get expensive so I funded this endeavor with the profits made from selling off my underutilized items. I also purchased most of my new pieces 2nd hand via Poshmark & Crossroads Trading at a tremendous value.

My most recent acquisition is the Mod inspired Black & White checkered Short Sleeve Aline dress pictured at the top of this story. I absolutely love this little number which was just $17 at Crossroads Trading! I see myself wearing this for business and pleasure, perhaps even Halloween with the mod theme. It’s a Zara brand dress that would retail in $100 range. It’s retro inspired and I got it at a fraction of the price it sold for. Why spend more when you don’t have to? Why not shop green?

CROSSROADS TRADING

The same day I got these 2 dresses from Crossroads I also sold something. So my trade value for the 2 dresses each priced at $17 totaled just $28.97 with tax.

Pictured here is the 2nd dress I bought that day. Omg yes folks believe it or not it’s a colorful dress! I finally strayed from my Black & White theme! This one is a very body conscious and intended for the dating capsule. This dress is a fitted stretchy ruched Floral Strawberry mini dress with a scooped neck by AFRM whose dresses retail at around $120. As mentioned, I paid $17 for it. It’s in brand new condition and very flattering. While shopping at used clothing stores can be hit or miss, when it is a hit, it’s exhilarating! I feel like a huntress on the prowl when I shop these stores and while I don’t always come home with prey, I’m usually able to sell something and come home with a profit. Shopping online at resellers like Poshmark or ThredUp, tends to be much more efficient, however since you can’t try things on, you run the risk of purchasing something that may not work out. Returns on Poshmark are only an option if the item is damaged or miss-represented. That’s why you want to shop brands with consistent sizing that you’re familiar with and check for and ask for the measurements.

In the second picture I styled the strawberry floral dress with my new Truth & Pride Black Leather Motorcycle Jacket also purchased 2nd hand from Poshmark. Even the black patent leather purse is 2nd hand from a while back. The leather jacket was more of a splurge at $116.38 but a worthwhile investment for this brand in genuine leather that retails at around $300.

Wardrobe planning and editing can be time consuming and for some folks a tedious task. I personally love Wardrobe planning and going through clothes and both editing and styling closets. That’s why I decided to pivot my Feng Shui practice and Incorporate Fashion Feng Shui ®️. If you’re interested in learning more about my styling services, you can schedule a complimentary intro zoom to learn more here Scheduling Link.

All right folks, I hope this inspires you to edit your closets with themed capsules and to shop green, so you can save green. If you want my help, you know where to find me! Cheers and Ciao for now!

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Hello & Welcome back to “Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion”! Podcast Episode 15.  A place for Home & Wardrobe Inspiration. My name is Laura and I’m a certified Feng Shui Practitioner, Curator and Stylist for you and your Space. New Episodes drop every Sunday Morning. Subscribe for weekly tips on mindful dressing and decorating! This hybrid Podcast & Newsletter originates on Substack where you can follow me for all the visuals, text and video. My stories about Feng Shui & Fashion are told in part through pictures and visuals in the body of my newsletters here on Substack. So if you’re listening on Spotify or ITunes, you can subscribe for free on Substack. For all my other content and services check out my Link-tree.

The Chanel Spring & Summer 2025 Collection! A Yin & Yang Color Story…

Today, I’m reporting on The Chanel Spring & Summer 2025 Collection and doing a side by side of my personal wardrobe collection inspired by the Chanel color story. I have included a video showcasing 12 key looks from their collection and mine. The video showcasing all the fashion is embedded in the newsletter here on substack as well as my new YouTube channel for Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion. I hope you enjoy this new approach and I welcome your feedback and comments!

This stunning collection led with a Black & White color story and included a giant Open Birdcage that the models walked around alluding to their freedom to truly fly!

From a Feng Shui perspective it had a Yin & Yang elemental pairing of Water and Metal elements with some fiery accents. These are complimentary elements!  Black represents Water which symbolizes freedom and creativity an energy that flows.  White represents metal which is pristine elegant and traditional.  Think old money vibes. It elevates.  Paired with water, metal gives water a safe elegant container from which to create!  The visual story was Metaphorically highlighted with a giant open Birdcage.  I really appreciated the symbolism and aesthetic of the collection which also incorporated feathers. Feathers represent animal or fire energy in Feng Shui adding excitement and drama to the collection!

While my interpretation of the collection does not include feathers it culminates with a leather biker jacket at the end which is animal or fire energy and alludes to a hint of rebellion and freedom preceded by a number of more conservative looks.

The Chanel show featured Riley Keough, the daughter of Lisa Marie Presley and granddaughter of Elvis poignantly singing Princes’s  “When Doves Cry” as the models circled the giant Birdcage and runway.  It was a powerful and beautiful show.

Let’s look at the video I put together highlighting my favorite looks shall we?! I am going to share my screen…

Look how beautiful and aspirational these ensembles are! And here’s my Chanel inspired collection…

Chanel was originally inspired by mens wear and was known for her feminine suiting and the “lbd” or little black dress.

As shown in video, I introduced black Blazers cropped and oversized into my collection with most of my outfits, to give my looks structure and some formality.  Something that was missing from my wardrobe until recently. A great black blazer or jacket is versatile and classic.  I had all these looks that needed completion and something to elevate them so I finally invested in both a cropped black blazer and an oversized one along with an edgy black leather motorcycle jacket shown as my final look!  Taking me from business meeting to date night.  The leather jacket is my informal late night option for introducing fire into the equation…  I believe it’s our jackets that inform where we are going and how we will be received. Are we formal or casual, fitted or loose, long or short, traditional or edgy? Jackets complete our looks and provide structure to our outfits. For me this was a main ingredient missing from my closet until recently. I finally feel “Put Together”. What’s missing in your wardrobe?

White French Connection Corset Dress & cropped black Anne Taylor Loft Blazer both purchased 2nd hand via Poshmark

While I don’t own any Chanel, I have obviously been channeling the vibe! I aspire to their aesthetic which I would describe as Metal energy. While the collection included plenty of water and sparks of fire, the overarching theme of the brand is metal. We apply a number of different fashion criteria to each of the Feng Shui elements and archetypes. White is the color most closely associated with the Metal element however many other factors apply. Metal is expensive, elegant, structured, luxurious, traditional and pristine. All these terms define metal fashion and Chanel. It’s aspirational and even if you aren’t wearing Chanel you can Channel the aesthetic just like I have here!

Most of my recent purchases shown were made at a great value via Poshmark. I hope you are inspired to channel whatever aesthetic you’re inspired by without feeling pressured to spend beyond your means. You can shop green and still dress metal! All right folks many blessings and Ciao for now!

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Laura’s Substack ~ THE FENG SHUI MONEY COUCH is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Hello & Welcome back to “Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion”! Podcast Episode 14.  A place for Home & Wardrobe Inspiration. My name is Laura and I’m a certified Feng Shui Practitioner, Curator and Stylist for you and your Space. New Episodes drop every Sunday Morning. Subscribe for weekly tips on mindful dressing and decorating! This hybrid Podcast & Newsletter originates on Substack where you can follow me for all the visuals, text and video. My stories about Feng Shui & Fashion are told in part through pictures and visuals in the body of my newsletters here on Substack. So if you’re listening on Spotify or ITunes, you can subscribe for free on Substack. For all my other content and services check out my Link-tree.

What I have learned from this Eclipse Season is that the Obstacle truly is the Path! Eclipses are an Astrological phenomenon that brings powerful shifts in often dramatic ways. They can feel non negotiable because they are! Eclipses come in pairs, about 2 weeks apart and can be felt just prior, during and for weeks and even months after. That’s why they call it Eclipse season. This season is marked by an Eclipse on September 17 and a second on October 2nd of 2024. Eclipses can be super intense. How’s it going for you? Many of my friends have been going through massive shifts! We can certainly see change is afoot on the world stage. For me personally there has been a series of highs and lows!

I’m writing this on September 27 between the eclipses and I am still reeling and processing all that has transpired so far.

This September/October eclipse season began with my decision to get new glasses at the beginning of the month. I felt like my vision was not as sharp as it could be so I decided to get glasses from Warby Parker. I was also feeling very self conscious about the way I looked in my glasses and I wanted a new signature look for myself that I felt truly suited me. A new look to tie in with my new chapter with Fashion Feng Shui. I brought my sunglasses with me as a style reference.

They have a dramatic oversized cat eye style and my salesperson Silvia at the Warby Parker Silverlake location found a perfect match with the Warby Sonia frames. Though spelled differently, Sonia is the namesake of a beautiful friend of mine. I got them in jet black and oak barrel. They have a distinct cat eye vibe. The black ones are intended for work as I ordered them with blue light filtering, and the oak barrel frames are intended for the outdoors as they are light responsive and turn into sunny’s.

The “Sonia” in Jet Black & Oak Barrel

Listen if our eye’s are truly the windows to the soul, then we should really take great care in how we frame that view. I’ve been wearing reading glasses for about nine years and I’ve never quite found a style that felt like me. I’m usually a little embarrassed and sheepish about having to wear them publicly. I started to notice people with super chic glasses and I knew it was time to figure out my personal style vision.

For context, I need glasses for reading and writing which I do all day! They are kinda like bifocals because they transition between reading and regular sight. These Precision progressives can be discombobulating if they are not properly fitted. When I received them on Thursday September 12th, I immediately loved the way they looked and fit however I was having a hard time focusing and my eyes began to hurt that first day. I felt dizzy and nauseous. I called Warby Parker and they suggested that I may need a brief adjustment period. Apparently this is very common. If I felt no improvement in a week or so they would happily replace or refund them. That evening, I decided to give my eyes a break from reading and writing and watch some tv instead. As soon as I turned on my Tv, the screen went black. It had sound but the screen was gone. I was perplexed; I can’t read or watch tv?! The next day I had a scheduled Zoom meeting with my teacher and mentor Ellen for the completion of my Fashion Feng Shui Certification. It was a big deal! I woke up and my eyes were still struggling to focus properly with the glasses. I went to turn on my computer and it wouldn’t turn on! It would not turn on or take a charge. It too was dead. I ended up having to get on the Zoom with Ellen from my phone as I struggled to focus. She joyfully told me I had successfully completed my Licensing requirements for Fashion Feng Shui and I should be receiving my official license within days!

On the one hand I was thrilled, but on the other I was freaking out. I explained to Ellen what was going on with all my tech and my vision. Ellen was lovely and calm and assured me I could get everything sorted out and repaired. After the Zoom; instead of celebrating the milestone of completing my FFS International requirements, I had to run over to Best Buy to look for a new TV and computer. I was feeling super emotional and thought I can’t see properly, and both my tv and computer have gone dark! WTF?! This is not the time for this, I have work to do and plans implement! I had all these next steps on my agenda including what would have been last week’s podcast. However, I was at a standstill without a computer. I got myself over to Best Buy Asap.

I have to say, I loved my old tv. It was my first smart tv and it had a spectacular picture quality. It was also relatively new. It was purchased during the pandemic when TV was super important. I got it with the help of an boyfriend who was very techy. He helped me find the best resolution and quality for the money. It was also on sale because it had a small flaw; a broken wonky leg or base. It still worked great and as long as you didn’t move it around, the base stayed in tact. My ex was the one who programmed it which I was grateful for as I can get intimidated by new technology.

After we stopped dating and were just friends he became rather abusive and took to incessantly rage texting me when he drank. He would also stalk me on social media and mock my posts about Feng Shui. He never did this while we were actually dating so it was jarring to have him belittle me for being myself. For these reasons, we no longer speak. When heading back to Best Buy to replace the Tv on my own, all these memories came flooding back. I remembered buying the original tv with my ex during a time when he had been kind and helpful. I also remembered all the insults and erratic behavior that came later.

Left to my own devices I essentially bought the same Tv but a new enhanced model with the latest technology. This one was in perfect condition and didn’t have a wonky leg. I proudly installed and programmed it myself. I also threw my back out carrying it up the stairs to my apartment but I did it myself! Later that evening while taking a salt bath to relieve the pain from the muscle spasms I was experiencing, I realized, it was Friday The 13th. I could not help but laugh! Is it Cursed or Lucky? It’s all perspective because it was ultimately a blessing in disguise. All of it. When I was in high school and played soccer, I chose the number 13 as my Soccer Shirt number because I thought it was badd-ass. Yes I’m superstitious, but I also think you can shift any circumstance to your benefit by your response to it.

As for my computer, the tech geeks at Best Buy got it to take a charge and explained that most likely both my TV and Computer had been damaged by a power surge. A very common occurrence during the recent LA heatwave. I was happy to hear that I would be able to access my files and content however, I still needed a new computer. The laptop could no longer keep a charge and it also had a cracked screen so it was pretty much dunzo. I called my Mom who is super techy and lo and behold, she offered to buy and program my new computer! It arrived in time for my Dad’s birthday on September 21st, so I had several reasons to come home and celebrate with my family. My mom painstakingly transferred all of my files, music and content to the new computer and installed all the programs! It took her several days. When I finally brought it home and connected it myself to my WiFi, and printer, I was thrilled. The only thing that would not work was my Yeti Microphone! No matter what I did Substack rejected it. So I ordered a Podcast Specific microphone that my mentor Ellen had recommended and uses for her podcast called FENG SHUI DECODED. Both my mentors host this show Ellen & Terah along with 2 other Feng Shui experts! So if you’re into Feng Shui, you should check them out on Spotify.

Back to the eclipses. The first one was on September 17 and the next one is next Wednesday on October 2! Can Not Wait!! Haha…. My eclipse season has been highlighted with the death and rebirth of all my systems! It’s all good, because I can see clearly now after a brief period of adjustment and the future looks bright. It’s a whole new world! I’m a newly Licensed Fashion Feng Shui Facilitator with a new TV, a new computer, a new Microphone and a whole new point of view! Also, as of today, I have a new YouTube channel called Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion! I hope this Eclipse season brings you many blessings, even if they come in disguise. Cheers everyone and Ciao for now!

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Hello & Welcome back to “Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion”! Podcast Episode 13. A place for Home & Wardrobe Inspiration. My name is Laura and I’m a certified Feng Shui Practitioner, Curator and Stylist for you and your Space. New Episodes drop every Sunday Morning. Subscribe for weekly tips on mindful dressing and decorating! This hybrid Podcast & Newsletter originates on Substack where you can follow me for all the visuals, text and video. My stories about Feng Shui & Fashion are told in part through pictures and visuals in the body of my newsletters here on Substack. So if you’re listening on Spotify or ITunes, you can subscribe for free on Substack. For all my other content and services check out my Link-tree.

In Episode 12 of Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion, I spoke about my Origin Story. Today, I’m sharing Part 2. There’s a series of events that are pivotal to my narrative and pertinent to my story. You know how in Joseph Campbell’s Heroes Journey, there’s an easy part at the beginning and then it gets hard? This is the hard part 😉.

As I’ve mentioned previously, prior to becoming the Feng Shui Lady ®️ in 2010, I worked in the corporate world. While I was making a very nice income with excellent benefits, I felt creatively and spiritually unfulfilled. You can be making good money and still feel empty. That said, I was not considering leaving my job. In fact I probably wouldn’t have left my corporate career had it not been for what I can best describe as divine intervention.

I’m a Capricorn with a Taurus rising mind you. Earth and more earth! Neither of these signs likes change or risk! Thank goodness for my Fiery Leo moon to help spice things up. It took something rather dramatic for me to change course and eventually become The Feng Shui Lady ®️. I had to have a health crisis or 2 in order to shift my perspective. These events left me reflecting on my life’s path. Sometimes we need a nudge from the universe to make a course correction. Yah sure I was drawn to Feng Shui, but I know for a fact that certain circumstances and nudges from the universe were instrumental to my journey.

Unbeknownst to me, I was born with a congenital hiatal hernia. In other words I was born with a hole in the middle of my body that was waiting to break through since birth. PS, the symbolism of a gaping hole in the middle of my body, is not lost on me. I can tell you that emotionally this is an accurate depiction of how I felt inside for most of my early years.

My parents had failed to mention this health condition until after the diagnosis, so I was not exactly holding back when it came to core work or exercise. It wasn’t until I turned 40, that the condition made itself known to me. By the time I figured out what was happening, I needed to have a very serious surgery immediately. It came with a shockingly painful recovery that required an extensive healing period. A hiatal Hernia is much higher up in the body than say a more traditional and well known hernia in the groin area. In my case, internal organs were are at risk and the surgery was way more invasive than a hernia in the groin area. Mine in particular was a rather large breakthrough that had been growing for a number of years and needed immediate attention. It was made clear to me following that surgery that gaining substantial weight or becoming pregnant would be deadly and ill advised. So that was a fun plot twist. It was during my painful recovery that I conceived of the idea for my new life as The Feng Shui Lady. I thought if not now then when am I going to do as I please! How much time have I really got left and what does that look like? This was the year I turned 40. It felt like a rebirth and a total life redirect.

I got Certified in Essential Feng Shui in 2010 and I spent the next 13 plus years building my practice with numerous additional certifications in the field. For a good portion of that time, I also had a day job. I worked in the Furniture Space for about 7 years because what do you do with furniture? You arrange it. How can you do that in a Mindful and Intentional way? With Feng Shui! It’s the link between interior design, wellness and prosperity. That said, many of those years were frustrating and often demoralizing because I was only doing Feng Shui on the side. I entered the furniture space thinking it would be the perfect place for me to build my practice and find clients. However, folks buying furniture weren’t necessarily interested in Feng Shui and my employers didn’t necessarily embrace it either. I found myself working in the service industry in LA where people can see past you and having my true calling belittled by those who simply didn’t understand it. Selling furniture was also a rather physical job where I was on my feet all day often dragging furniture around the sales floor. I suppose it was a blessing when in the summer of 2017, I woke up one day and both my knees were on fire. It was so painful, I could barely walk. I’ve been a runner most of my life and the wear and tear on my knees suddenly reached a critical mass. I went to the doctor and got X-rays, and an MRI and fluid drained from one knee and a shot of cortisol etc. I was told I had a torn meniscus in one knee and osteoarthritis in both and I could no longer continue to run as I had been for years or work on my feet. My employer at the time would not make concessions for my condition and that was that. I was done, not by choice, but by circumstance. Earlier that same week my car got stolen and my apartment went up in flames! The fire in my apartment was quelled and I got my car back and by the end of that week, I no longer had a day job. It didn’t feel like a coincidence that all these things happened together. Knees and cars represent how we get places and the Fire marked another death and rebirth. 7 years after I became The Feng Shui Lady®️, I was officially working for myself and have been ever since! That’s divine intervention right there folks… I think the universe really wanted me to focus on Feng Shui without the distraction of a day job.

I know that I probably wouldn’t have stopped working in the furniture space if I hadn’t had a health crisis that forced my hand. I can only look back now and feel grateful for those non-negotiable interruption’s to the path I was on.

Both these health crises happened within 8 years of each other and each one jolted me out of the work I was doing and the path I was on to a better more aligned one. I have definitely paid my dues as a Feng Shui practitioner. After getting certified in Elemental Feng Shui, I continued to self cultivate by adding to my toolbox. I studied Space Clearing with Denise Linn, became a Red Ribbon Professional through the International Feng Shui Guild, got well versed in Numerology and Astrology and even Trademarked The Feng Shui Lady ®️. Most recently I am in the process of completing my Fashion Feng Shui ®️ Apprenticeship!

I can truly say that I’m happiest working for myself and I feel blessed to now be in a position to do so. Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart though. Financially it can be feast or famine and you have to be great at not only your craft, but marketing, accounting, tech etc. That saying “what would you do even if you weren’t getting paid” applies here. I would be doing exactly what I’m doing and a lot of what I do, I’m not getting paid for. I don’t get paid (at least not yet) for creating content and putting myself out there to share my gifts and while a lot of these activities are valuable marketing tools, I was starting to feel depleted. The ROI just wasn’t there. My energy felt like it was mostly flowing out. So I came to the conclusion that something needed to change. In order to make the next pivot in life, I needed some kind of motivation. This time however, it didn’t take a health crisis! Thank God. Instead I have been Profoundly Inspired and following my heart.

Ideally we are drawn to something because it’s so bright and shiny that it lights us up. That’s how I felt when I decided I wanted to marry my 2 favorite things, Feng Shui and Fashion. I was already practicing Feng Shui, but as mentioned there seemed to be a lull with my work. Covid didn’t help and post Covid hasn’t been easy either. In a down economy, one has to consider how they can offer desirable services that people are willing to invest in and make them accessible. I also sensed that I needed to shift something about the way I was showing up in the world and with what I was doing. For a lot of People Feng Shui seems like a Luxury. Dressing however is a necessity and appearance for women in particular is a very central topic. I decided to lean in to Fashion and tailor my practice to a combination of mindful dressing and decorating. So here I am in the final stretch of my Fashion Feng Shui®️ Apprenticeship.

My biggest takeaway from these experiences is that we all have a divine path or destiny. The Universe wants us to succeed and is willing to help guide us when we get off course. I believe we receive signs from the divine when we are not on our true path. If we don’t pay attention to the more subtle signs, that’s when the universe intervenes. I can tell you that inspired action and calculated risks are much more enjoyable than having a medical crisis! I finally got the hint to follow my bliss. I hope you feel inspired to follow yours. Blessings everyone and Ciao for now!

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Hello & Welcome back to “Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion”! Podcast Episode 12.  A place for Home & Wardrobe Inspiration. My name is Laura and I’m a certified Feng Shui Practitioner, Curator and Stylist for you and your Space. New Episodes drop every Sunday Morning. Subscribe for weekly tips on mindful dressing and decorating! This hybrid Podcast & Newsletter originates on Substack where you can follow me for all the visuals, text and video. My stories about Feng Shui & Fashion are told in part through pictures and visuals in the body of my newsletters here on Substack. So if you’re listening on Spotify or ITunes, you can subscribe for free on Substack. For all my other content and services check out my Link-tree.

Long before I was a Feng Shui consultant, I had a fascination with the art of placement. I was drawn to Eastern practices from an early age. It started with Astrology, then Numerology and eventually Feng Shui. These were my interests and passions. I was intrigued with Feng Shui and had been reading about and informally studying it for many years prior to my formal training in it. I couldn’t fathom how one could make a career out of it, but I secretly longed to. I fastidiously experimented with my environment by using my home as a Feng Shui lab of sorts.

It wasn’t until I first moved to Los Angeles in 2007 and into the beautiful Spanish 1920’s building in West Hollywood pictured at the top of this story, that I had a life changing experience with Feng Shui. I hired a professional Feng Shui practitioner for the first time. Prior to this, I was just winging it with information I was getting from various books and contradicting sources. I realize now that many of my followers on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Substack are going about Feng Shui the same way. I liken this to getting your medical information online without seeing an actual doctor. I totally get it and I did the same thing until I had a real Feng Shui emergency! You can certainly get helpful tips from videos, stories and books; but not an accurate examination or prognosis of your actual space. Feng Shui isn’t just the art of placement, it is actually one of the 5 branches of Chinese medicine. A real consultation is the only way to get a proper diagnosis.

I moved to LA for a job. It was a fully paid relocation from San Francisco to Los Angeles and it happened very quickly. I moved into an apartment sight unseen based on an impressive Craigslist post. Big Mistake!!! While the neighborhood was idyllic and the building exceptionally beautiful, the home itself had very challenging Feng Shui. You’re probably wondering how that is possible. Well here’s the thing, aesthetics are only one aspect of good Feng Shui. Your floor-plan is the biggest indicator of your homes narrative and energetic potential. The numerology also has a big influence and in the case of my first LA home, both factors were compromised.

My new home was in this gorgeous 1920’s Spanish building, however it was an L shaped space. The Career gua was completely missing as well as the Travel & Helpful People gua. Bear in mind, guas are individual energetic centers that represent different life themes in what is essentially an energetic map called the Bagua. The Bagua maps out 9 different guas or Life Themes in Feng Shui. All nine are equally important. The idea is to have all of these areas balanced and well appointed. Having a missing Career gua poses obvious problems… Having a missing Travel & Helpful People gua is just as important. It’s the gua of synchronicity and help from both mundane and divine sources. It’s also significant if traveling is your thing… In my first LA home, the Career and Travel & Helpful People guas where literally outside of the home.

BAGUA MAP

For some reason, I have consistently lived in homes where my Prosperity gua is in the bedroom and the Relationship gua in my living-room and work space. Perhaps this is part of my life’s lesson plan, to find harmony between love and career. The Bagua is arranged sort of like a tic-tac-toe board as seen above. Before, I became The Feng Shui Lady, I typically worked in outside sales jobs with a home office. The home office was inevitably in my Relationship gua. I didn’t know what a Feng Shui faux pas this was until I had a professional Feng Shui consultation. That said, the theme of work being my major relationship was certainly true for me and played itself out in all of my homes.

In addition to the 2 missing guas, the numerology of the place was a 4. This number represents death in Feng Shui or Chinese. I had an “uh, oh” moment when I realized all of the challenges my new home posed. Four is a grounding number in numerology, so it wasn’t all bad news. Symbolically, the four in Feng Shui doesn’t have to literally mean “death” but rather the end of a chapter or the completion of a certain way of life. It was still alarming to me. That home was like a Feng Shui worst case scenario. I would describe it as a Feng Shui emergency! Anything can be cured or at least balanced with Feng Shui, but these kinds of challenges where beyond my novice understanding of Feng Shui at the time.

I did a little research online and I found and hired Tess Whitehurst, a professional Essential Feng Shui consultant and author.  I was so excited when Tess came to my home. A real live Feng Shui consultant was in my house! She gave me an eye opening and life changing consultation. Tess made me feel extremely comfortable, almost like I was having therapy or house therapy. She recognized all of the deficits the home posed and offered creative solutions. Feng Shui is all about solutions and cures that balance the energy in your environment. She made all of these great suggestions and taught me a lot about Feng Shui in the process. Tess insisted that I move my desk and home office out of my relationship gua and into my family gua. She said that having my office in the Relationship gua symbolically meant my career was my primary relationship to the exclusion of others. Interesting, since I was single and work was my priority at the time. When the Family gua is well appointed, it assures you will have the care and financial support needed for your day to day expenses and positive familial relations. While the Family Gua seems a curious choice thematically for an office, this was the only non offensive available gua in that space. I followed Tess’s instructions to a T! I was so excited to see what would happen. A week later, I was laid off from my job and my primary relationship ie job and career was effectively severed. It’s fair to say that the changes where transformative, immediate and dramatic. While getting laid off sounds awful, I received a substantial 6 month severance and benefits and my family was extremely supportive. I had a significant salary at the time and that money combined with unemployment was enough to live on for a year, which is how long I lived there. A powerful, pivotal year.

I was in that home for a reason. I mean think about it; I had literally moved to LA for this job and within just a few weeks of doing so, I was laid off! The company was a start up and their funding got redirected to other departments. My entire retail team was abruptly laid off. For these reasons and the fact that I relocated my whole life for the job, they were very generous in providing me with a severance package. I was in LA, in this beautiful home and a totally new environment. It all happened so quickly, it was like a whirlwind. I felt like the universe picked me and my whole life up and placed me where it wanted me. It was fate. Thank god that through Feng Shui, I was able to maximize on the energetic potential of that space and make the most of it. Even though I couldn’t find work while I lived there, I was financially taken care of and all my needs where met. The themes that prevailed in that space where the end of my old life, the seeds of my new life and a step back from career to focus on who I was at my core.

That was the year I began studying Buddhism, meditating, became a vegetarian and took up painting. I made some amazing friends and had a pretty good time… I don’t want to make it sound like I wasn’t looking for a job, because I was but the process was lengthy and the economy challenging. It was during this time that I started to see life more keenly through narrative and I developed a whole new relationship with my environment. My home was serving as this mirror that accurately reflected the story of my life. Feng Shui helped me manage the energies that I was working with and the cards I was dealt. The time served as an enforced and well-funded stay-cation for the purpose of self-cultivation.

When I got my next job and moved to a new apartment, I hired Tess once again. This time, I made sure my apartment had a career gua and was a complete rectangle. Ideally, you want a floor-plan that is a complete square or rectangle with no holes or jutting out. Minor gaps are no big deal as there are easy cures for that. In the case of an L Shape, it’s quite challenging to compensate for entire gua’s that may be missing. When Tess came to see me, she was so impressed with my knowledge of Feng Shui that she referred me to the Western School of Feng Shui, where she had her training and encouraged me to really pursue it as a career. The following year, I took her advice!  I’m so glad I did.  For me, Feng Shui is a calling.

One of the important take-away’s you should glean from this story is that certain spaces and homes that may appear to have imbalances such as missing life themes or guas, can serve a positive purpose. Feng Shui is not a way to skip your process, but rather a way to navigate it in an empowered way. We all have experiences and challenges we are meant to have, so rather than fear or avoid these challenges, we can embrace them with grace. With Feng Shui, you can manage any imbalances present and make the most of the narrative of any space. My first home in LA forced me to focus on areas of my life other than my career and ultimately inspired me to change my career. I did not find gainful employment until after I gave up that home; IMMEDIATELY after. In spite of the challenges that home posed, it came with its own set of blessings. I look back on that time with some fondness. It was a period when the areas of life that the home emphasized, such as Self-Cultivation, thrived and my trajectory was completely realigned. All right folks have a magical day and Ciao for now!

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Hello & Welcome back to “Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion”! Podcast Episode 11. A place for Home & Wardrobe Inspiration. My name is Laura and I’m a certified Feng Shui Practitioner, Curator and Stylist for you and your Space. New Episodes drop every Sunday Morning. Subscribe for weekly tips on mindful dressing and decorating! This hybrid Podcast & Newsletter originates on Substack where you can follow me for all the visuals, text and video. My stories about Feng Shui & Fashion are told in part through pictures and visuals in the body of my newsletters here on Substack. So if you’re listening on Spotify or ITunes, you can subscribe for free on Substack. For all my other content and services check out my Link-tree.

What we learned during the lock-downs with The Feng Shui Lady ® herself aka Laura Beatriz Carrillo.

The last few years have brought us all home whether we liked it or not. I like to say that Feng Shui is an “inside job” and we have all certainly spent a lot of time inside our homes. Any jobs or careers that weren’t considered “essential” became virtual. Covid turned our homes into our whole universe; a microcosm of our entire lives. No more commuting to work, no more going to the gym to work out, no more concerts or dining out or even going to the bar! Our homes literally became all these things.

I personally have an office, a gym, a movie theater, a DJ, a bar and a restaurant in my home and I run all of them! The truth is my home always had these things because of what I do and my personal philosophy that everything is an inside job that starts at home. By the way, you don’t have to live extravagantly to have all these things. My bar for example; is a beautiful functional bar cart. The gym is a fold-able exercise bike and a yoga mat that I can store when not in use. You get the idea… It’s about making your space work for you and your lifestyle such that everything you need is there.

I’m a big fan of elegantly modular pieces that can be stored or moved around easily. From a Feng Shui perspective, If something is important; you incorporate it into your environment. For me fitness and wellness are priorities, so I have my version of a home gym and keep my fridge well stocked with plenty of nutritious foods. Sounds logical right? Whatever is important to you; make sure you have easy access to it at home. I feel like Covid actually forced people to improve their Feng Shui whether they realized it or not! Since our access to external locations was so limited for so long, folks had to adapt.

There where some great new habits that came from the lock-downs like people learning how to cook and do crafts at home. There where also some detrimental ones like drinking way too much. For some folks happy hour was any hour. My favorite upsides from the lock-downs is how home gyms and offices became all the rage. We where largely left to our own devices and our homes reflected whether we made the most of these times or not. I feel like necessity is the mother of invention and many of us rose to the occasion.

I say bravo to everyone who used this time to enhance and remodel their homes. They became our castles! Many people redecorated or at least got better organized. I certainly did. I completely re-imagined my home office and it transformed my whole personal and professional trajectory. I moved my office from my Love Gua to my Career gua and just like that I put love and career in their rightful place in my life! Everything changed for the better. It was like night and day.

There’s something called a Bagua Map in Feng Shui and Guas are the 9 energetic centers in our homes that represent all the themes in our lives. See below…

BAGUA MAP

When I moved my office from my Love Gua and into my Career Gua, my opportunities for love and business improved dramatically! Having your home office in your love gua lends itself to an imbalance between career and love. Your career then becomes your primary relationship. Where before this shift my whole life revolved around the work I was doing, afterwards my career goals became clear and focused while my love life began to bloom.

Shift ~ Home Office in The Career Gua…

Shifts we make in our environment can have a powerful impact. The way Feng Shui works is both physical and energetic. If you think it’s super woo, think again. Feng Shui is an earth science that is over 5000 years old. Our relationship with nature and our environment is essential to our survival and Feng Shui is a system that is all about having a positive relationship with our environment. Your home is essentially a living breathing 3D Vision Board so when you collaborate with your environment you can re-imagine your whole life! Feng Shui isn’t an event, it’s a lifestyle. We are always in relationship with our environment! Feng Shui is not just happening at home. It’s our relationship with the natural world. It’s everywhere and anywhere you go. Think of it as a physical language that’s universal. Covid had a universal impact on all our lives and we all got to come home to ourselves. It was like a two year crash course in Feng Shui. If you want to learn more about how to make Feng Shui work for you, you can visit https://thefengshuilady.onuniverse.com/. Many Blessings from The Feng Shui Lady ® aka Laura Beatriz Carrillo.

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Hello & Welcome back to “Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion”! Podcast Episode 10.  A place for Home & Wardrobe Inspiration. My name is Laura and I’m a certified Feng Shui Practitioner, Curator and Stylist for you and your Space. New Episodes drop every Sunday Morning. Subscribe for weekly tips on mindful dressing and decorating! This hybrid Podcast & Newsletter originates on Substack where you can follow me for all the visuals, text and video. My stories about Feng Shui & Fashion are told in part through pictures and visuals in the body of my newsletters here on Substack. So if you’re listening on Spotify or ITunes, you can subscribe for free on Substack. For all my other content and services check out my Link-tree.

NEFERTITI & AKHENATEN

Are you a seeker? I have always been someone who was a seeker. However, it’s not easy searching for answers while also questioning everything. That’s the tightrope I walk. Secretly wishing for deep revelations but questioning what’s real. The truth is that in my search for spiritual enlightenment, I have come across grifters and charlatans but have also met and experienced the divinely gifted and blessed. My heart and trust has been both broken and redeemed. This is life. I’ll say this be aware of false profits. You might find that it’s you who actually holds the truth inside. We all have a direct line of communication with the divine. Maybe it’s in your dreams or deep in meditation. Perhaps it’s under hypnosis or as I discovered, through plant medicine. It’s all of the above really! Don’t give up. Remember your magic…

During a Shamanic Plant Medicine experience back in 2021, I was shown a past life in Egypt as a queen! There was a lot of sand and I couldn’t shut up about it during the “journey”. So much sand and Cat hieroglyphics and what not. Fast forward to May of this year 2024. Imagine my delight when I came across these Egyptian head busts pictured above. I was walking home one night and they were just sitting there on the sidewalk a couple houses from mine! Here in LA some people toss out furniture and house wares and leave them on the sidewalk for passersby’s to take. It’s like a garage sale but free and on the sidewalk. I of course took this as a sign and brought these Egyptian Busts home. So this may sound a bit out there but during the “journey” I was specifically told I had been Nefertiti who was an Egyptian Queen and wife of the Pharaoh Akhenaten. I swear to god I didn’t know who either of them were! I had to look Nefertiti up after the “journey.” I know how woo and pretentious this sounds. That said these busts turned out to be heavy Bronze Replicas of Nefertiti and her husband Akhenaten. Coincidence? I mean talk about punctuating a point with a physical sign. The foreshadowing of the “journey” and the arrival of the busts was not lost on me. What a blessing! They are currently residing the Love Gua of my bedroom. This is the area of my bedroom that represents my love life. It’s in the far back right corner of the room. I have an altar there where the Love gua of my bedroom meets the Prosperity Gua of my home. Feng Shui can get really interesting folks. It’s a physical language with plenty of symbolism and metaphor. It’s fun. There can be paradox and yes Love and Money themes can merge and they do in my bedroom. I thought how Nefertiti & Akhenaten where a royal couple who reigned together. They symbolize both love and wealth beautifully so why not create an altar with them. Think power couple. That’s the vibe. The Art found me and I am honoring it.

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

On my very first Shamanic Plant Medicine Journey back in 2020, I experienced an intense Virgin Mary download. FYI she wasn’t the only deity I experienced on that journey… My spiritual influences are not limited to one religion or culture. In fact I’m a practicing Buddhist who is a quarter Jew and raised Catholic. For the purposes of this story and how the art found me, I’m sharing my Virgin Mary experience.

Mary’s presence came through during a rather harrowing first plant medicine journey. I had a rather traumatic super premature cesarean birth and I was brought back to that experience during the journey and how that impacted the dynamic between my mother and I. I knew I was not planned so I could feel her resentment of me. It was like I crashed a party I wasn’t invited to. The brutal bloody birth experience was a lot to revisit and it was heartbreaking. As a baby, I did not feel welcomed, loved or embraced. Mary came to comfort and assure me of HER love for me. Mary made me feel special and like I was born for a reason. That was my big question going into that journey. Why am I here and what are my spiritual gifts? Guess what she said? Feng Shui! At the time I had strayed from my Feng Shui practice in part because of Covid and other professional and financial distractions. She wanted me to go back to focusing on Feng Shui and stop doing the draining work I was doing. You are the Feng Shui Lady ®️ she insisted! She told me to bring my gifts to a wider audience with a tv show. I told her I didn’t know how to extricate myself from the business I was running at the time and she promised help was on the way. After that journey I headed her advice and took the steps necessary to let go of the professional distractions I had become tied up with. Just as promised, I was able to unburden myself from the professional and financial obligations I felt so trapped by at the time. Miraculous solutions appeared and I was finally free to lean back into Feng Shui.

Last night on 8/18/24 was a full moon and I was doing a late night load of laundry when I came across 3 Pieces of Art on the floor by the basement garbage depicting Mary!!! A Trifecta of Mary’s was just sitting there waiting for me. One of them is a Mexican incarnation of her called OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE. She has bright beams of sunlight shining all around her with a bright red background and she’s wearing a gold crown. You can literally feel the fiercely supportive energy emanating from her. The other 2 are more traditional interpretations of Mary. They were all on the ground by the garbage and I was not going to let them end up as trash! I brought them upstairs and hung 2 in my living room in the Travel & Helpful People Gua of my home! The small traditional Mary I hung next to the front door protecting my mouth of Chi. The Our Lady of Guadalupe I placed in the living room area for all to see! The energy shift was palpable.

MOTHER MARY

The larger traditional Mary I placed in my bedroom Closet aka my Skills and Knowledge Gua blessing all my clothes with her arms outstretched!

I have to admit I forgot that I put one of the Mary’s in the closet and when I went in there the following day, I was startled and delighted to find her there! I felt so much love from her outstretched arms. I realized she was symbolically there to help usher in this next chapter of my practice where my Feng Shui Meets My Fashion. She came with back up and on the full moon which happened to be in my 10th house of career. She really delivered on her promise to help me navigate aspects of my life that were holding me back from my true purpose. When she saw that I delivered on my promise to follow through with her direction to focus on Feng Shui, she came to see me and live with and support me in an even more tangible way. I know this could sound like magical thinking because I have a discerning mind and nature. I also believe embracing magic and mystery in our lives requires some suspension of disbelief. Mary knows me well enough to know what “signs” and “symbol’s” it would take to convince me. She also knows timing is everything and her timing was and is impeccable.

Each of these pieces of art from Nefertiti & Akhenaten, to the 3 Mary’s came to me after introducing themselves during Shamanic Sacred experiences and showing up essentially at my doorstep. You can’t make this stuff up! That’s why it’s so cool and has given me such hope. From a Feng Shui perspective, the art depicted in our homes and on our walls becomes our story. I always recommend my clients choose wisely to curate their ideal personal narrative. Sometimes it chooses you like in my case and that is truly a gift of divine intervention! Blessings Everyone & Ciao for now!

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Hello & Welcome back to “Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion”! Podcast Episode 9. A place for Home & Wardrobe Inspiration. My name is Laura and I’m a certified Feng Shui Practitioner, Curator and Stylist for you and your Space. New Episodes drop every Sunday Morning. Subscribe for weekly tips on mindful dressing and decorating! This hybrid Podcast & Newsletter originates on Substack where you can follow me for all the visuals, text and video. My stories about Feng Shui & Fashion are told in part through pictures and visuals in the body of my newsletters here on Substack. So if you’re listening on Spotify or ITunes, you can subscribe for free on Substack. For all my other content and services check out my Link-tree.

If you are new here, you’re probably listening because you’re interested in Feng Shui or Fashion or both. If you’ve been listening to me since the start of this podcast in June of 2024, you would know that my inspiration for “Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion” was fueled by my Journey with a mindful system for dressing called Fashion Feng Shui ®️. I’m completing my Apprenticeship ahead of a total rebrand and professional pivot where my Feng Shui Meets Fashion.

I recently had a conversation with my professional mentor and teacher Ellen about my Elemental Influences. Much like in regular Feng Shui, we work with the 5 Elements in Fashion Feng Shui ®️ . We have 2 main elements that define us and one that we choose to pull in to achieve our goals. Your ELEMENTAL ESSENCE can be Water, Wood, Earth, Metal or Fire and they each have both physical and personal traits associated with them. Your ELEMENTAL INFLUENCE is also one of these elements. It’s kind of like Astrology in that you have a Sun Sign and a Rising Sign. In the case Fashion Feng Shui ®️ your Sun sign would be your Essence and your Rising sign would be your Influence. And I suppose your Intention would be like your Moon sign. What you want emotionally. More often than not how people perceive and experience us astrologically has more to do with our Rising sign than our Sun sign. So in this case your Influence can be how people perceive you.

As far as my Elemental make-up, Ellen and I had come to the conclusion (or at least I had) that my Essence is Water, and my Influence Metal, while my Intention was Fire. Water people are offbeat and creative and can be more reserved or introverted. They also love their freedom. I deeply relate to this energy. Metal people are very precise and organized and love aesthetics which I also relate to. What I felt I was lacking was Fire so that’s why it became my Intention. I felt like I needed more of what fire attracts, things like visibility for my work and in my personal life.

Ellen felt I wasn’t seeing myself accurately or how people actually see and experience me. She said Laura you are very sociable and warm, you talk fast and get really excited. You’re emotional. You also like revealing clothes that are body conscious and eye catching. You may not realize this but you are FIRE! I was a little taken aback because I hate bright red, the color associated with fire and I don’t like crowds of people which Fire folks tend to love. Even though there are certain aspects of the Element I don’t align with, it can still be essential to who I am. She suggested that somewhere along the line certain circumstances had doused my fire but it was still visible. Perhaps I just needed to embrace it.

Fire? Who me? MIND BLOWN! I took Ellens words under advisement though. And Yes, I had a bit of an identity crisis, but I slept on it and came to a similar conclusion. While my Essence is Water, my Influence is Fire and that’s how people see me. I feel like water but I burn like fire… My confidence and self esteem had been shook by certain life circumstances and it had dimmed my light making it hard for me to see myself as fire. However it was still there ready shine given the opportunity. The 3rd Element in my Trifecta is still Metal, but instead of being my influence or metaphorical rising sign, it was actually my Intention. What I’m really wanting to cultivate are the Metal attributes of Excellence in my Craft and Respect for my work. Metal is a perfectionist energy that cultivates order, respect, and success. In my personal life I want potential partners to take me seriously as a romantic partner and not just someone to have “fun” with. Fun is fire and I’m plenty fun but that’s just scratching the surface and I require a deeper connection and respect. Water and Metal energies. I now realize that the only thing men were responding to was my fire. I have to say folks that this system that is ostensibly for dressing, also serves to uncover what’s underneath it all. Then you dress it up, once you know who you are dressing and what you’re dressing for!

Since Ellen first suggested I was Fire, I have been hearing “Common baby light my Fire…” by The Doors play in my head. Jim Morrison singing this ditty to me is a confirmation that yes indeed, I am Fire. My guides use music to communicate with me and this song served as a great confirmation from above. Now I just have to go be the FIRE and shine my light.

By the way you can be fire without actually wearing red. For instance Purple or Fuchsia are fire spectrum colors. As seen in my picture at the top of this story! It’s still super extra and that’s the vibe. I also shared in my last story how animal prints can represent fire as well. Sometimes it’s just about how you style something. If it’s sexy, it’s fire baby. Cheers my friends and Ciao for now.

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Hello & Welcome back to “Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion”! Podcast Episode 8. A place for Home & Wardrobe Inspiration. My name is Laura and I’m a certified Feng Shui Practitioner, Curator and Stylist for you and your Space. If this was a TV show it would be a cross between the Zen of Marie Kondo and the Chic of Rachel Zoe. This hybrid Podcast & Newsletter originates on Substack where you can follow and subscribe for all the visuals, text and Video. My stories about Feng Shui & Fashion are told in part through pictures and visuals in the body of my newsletters here on Substack. So if you’re listening on Spotify or ITunes, subscribe for free on Substack. For all my other content and services check out my Link-tree.

Today’s story is about Stripes, yes Stripes! It’s called STRIPES & INSTITUTIONS! I recently realized I didn’t have any stripes in my wardrobe. It’s not like I’ve never owned any, but when I did they just rarely if ever saw the light of day.

I’ve been completing my Fashion Feng Shui ®️ Apprenticeship so my clothes are going through a comprehensive audit. I don’t just see them as clothes but as my identity which feels like it’s changing. I’ve been going through a process of shedding much like a caterpillar preparing to become a butterfly. I’m making room for a whole new identity and a new chapter in my life.

I have a teacher and mentor called Ellen who I adore and I’m working directly with her on my Apprenticeship. Ellen has helped influence some of the new additions to my wardrobe, most notably all my new Leopard Print pieces. She recommended this print because animal prints are considered Fire element in Fashion Feng Shui. This element helps one garner greater visibility and attention which I want to cultivate for my career and personal life. It’s hard not to notice someone in Leopard Print!

I immediately embraced her suggestion! I love Leopard Print so why don’t I have any I thought? I found pants, a jumper, a skirt, and this dress for good measure!

LEOPARD PRINT / FIRE / VISIBILITY

Imagine my surprise when, I had an entirely different reaction to her next suggestion. Ellen sent me the Picture of the striped pants pictured near the top of this story. I immediately hated them and had a visceral reaction. I thought what is my problem? They are just pants. I figured it was the cut which to be fair is not super flattering or figure conscious. It was deeper than that though, much deeper.

From a Fashion Feng Shui ®️ perspective, stripes represent growth and support energetic endeavors. Ellen was only trying to help. I decided to find a striped pant that I did like so I could embrace her suggestion. I found a really cute jumpsuit in a style much more to my liking and ordered it.

STRIPES / WOOD / GROWTH

Cute right? It’s a striped jumpsuit with a strapless top and horizontal lines on the top. The bottoms are a cropped Aline cut with a cinched waist and the lines are angled in a v shaped. The outfit is a soft stretchy cotton with a white background and thin black stripes. I really want to like it. The problem is after trying it on and styling it, I felt weird. I could see objectively that the outfit was flattering and aesthetically pleasing, but I felt uneasy in it. I made myself wear the jumper for an hour until I couldn’t stand the discomfort and even dizziness I was experiencing. I changed and immediately felt better. It was almost like the outfit had triggered a trauma response in me.

I decided to do some research on the history and psychology of Stripes. Lo and behold, I discovered that Stripes have quite a sinister history!

“Servants and court jesters wore striped cloth; so did prostitutes, madmen, and criminals, not voluntarily but by official orders. The bold, broad, contrasting stripes of their garments seemed to stand for neither-this-nor-that, ambivalence, ambiguity, and a realm of unclear and violated boundaries.”

-John Major on LoveToKnow

As I have come to learn, historically Stripes where the uniforms of people who where jailed or Institutionalized in Insane Asylums. Slaves were forced to wear stripes. Members of the Military were also required to wear them. Later, Mobsters and Anarchists or rebels “chose” to wear them as a way of rebelling against “normal” society.

Perhaps I was experiencing a manifestation of ancestral trauma or some past life experience. Either way, the history is real and so was my discomfort. Not everyone experiences stripes the way I do. Obviously… If you love stripes go for it! Stripes were later embraced by both fashion and rebels and even conservatives! Me personally, I’ll stick to florals and denim for my Wood Element, thank you very much!

As you may have gathered from this story, what we wear communicates something! It impacts both ourselves and everyone who sees us. We are like walking billboards advertising something at all times. What’s your outfit saying? Let me know in the comments how you feel about stripes. Do they make you feel rebellious or confined, or like me dizzy and confused? Many Blessings everyone and Ciao for now.

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Hello & Welcome back to “Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion”! Podcast Episode 7. A place for Home & Wardrobe Inspiration. My name is Laura and I’m a certified Feng Shui Practitioner, Curator and Stylist for you and your Space. If this was a TV show it would be a cross between the Zen of Marie Kondo and the Chic of Rachel Zoe. This hybrid Podcast & Newsletter originates on Substack where you can follow and subscribe for all the visuals, text and Video. My stories about Feng Shui & Fashion are told in part through pictures and visuals in the body of my newsletters here on Substack. So if you’re listening on Spotify or ITunes, subscribe for free on Substack. For all my other content and services check out my Link-tree.

Timing is everything and August promises to be a month filled with all the Astrological signatures of Divine Timing & Intervention so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to introduce how Astrology & Feng Shui are complementary tools.

In Feng Shui we have 3 Kinds of Luck that we work with and each represents 33.3% of our cumulative luck. The good news is that 2 out of three or 66.6% of our good fortune we actually have agency over!

SPIRITUAL & DIVINE LUCK

The first kind of luck is referred to as Spiritual or Divine luck. Some refer to it as divine timing or destiny. This kind of luck we don’t have agency over but we do have a tool to gage it and that is (Astrology) which helps us determine when our most fortunate times to implement things might be. Listen folks, I’m an Astrology enthusiast and student but not an expert. I do however pay strong attention to the trends because they influence us and since this is such an astrologically pivotal month, I’m going to share this month’s highlights for you to consider. We have a plethora of astrological activity starting with a new moon in Leo on 8/4/24; what’s a new trend starting for you here? Mercury the planet of communication and technology goes Retrograde from 8/5/24 to 8/28/24; what old projects, friends, ideas and trends are returning to your consciousness? Then we have the Lions-gate Portal on 8/8/24, what new aspect of yourself and your life is completely transforming? And finally the full “blue” moon on 8/19/24 when something comes to a dramatic culmination, what’s that look like for you? The whole month we will be navigating the retrograde! This will color everything from our communication, to technology creating a need to double check, reassess, and refine everything. Sounds like fun right?! That’s my synopsis for August but believe me there’s way more, these are just the highlights. Now on to the other kinds of luck we work with in Feng Shui.

HUMAN LUCK

Human Luck is the next and second kind of luck we talk about in Feng Shui. It is essentially our Attitude or Energy and our Intention and Attention. This kind of luck we absolutely have agency over however, many of us struggle with maintaining and cultivating a positive attitude and directing our energy towards productive things. It helps to ponder on what our desired outcome is and how we want to feel as a result. Meditation, journaling, studying the law of attraction and folks like Esther Hicks, Dr. Joe Dispenza, and Developmental Biologist Bruce Lipton can really help with tools for upgrading our attitudes and what we give our attention to.

EARTHLY LUCK

The 3rd and final kind of luck we talk about in Feng Shui is Earthly Luck! My favorite because it is everything we can physically do that is actionable and specifically refers to Feng Shui. So everything from feng shui cures, adjustments and actions you take physically in the world towards your goals is Earthly Luck! Earthly Luck also includes all kinds of actions we take in the physical world towards our goals like classes, exercise, networking, meditation, Feng Shui etc. So the 3 kinds of luck are Spiritual, Human and Earthly! If you cultivate all three of these, then you have your best shot at living your best life.

ENERGETIC FARMING

I think of Feng Shui in terms of energetic farming. Creating a supportive setting at home is like tending to your garden. For example, if you want to invite love into your life, you have to make physical room for it. Perhaps you clear out some space in your closet for that special someone you haven’t met yet. That said, making room for love doesn’t guarantee that the love of your life will enter your life immediately upon these changes. What it does do is plant the seed for that love to enter and confirm your participation and collaboration with the universe. It’s your invitation for love to enter. Astrology helps us to know when to plant the seeds and when we might anticipate their blooms. While we can’t control exactly when things will bloom, we can definitely control whether or not we plant and cultivate our energetic garden! If you don’t plant the seeds and care and nurture them, then you can’t expect anything to bloom. But if you are planting and cultivating you can have confidence in that your dreams will one day come true in divine time. Some things take longer than others and require more care while others come to fruition right away.

In the words of Roman Philosopher Seneca, “Luck is where preparation meets opportunity.” I believe Feng Shui is both the preparation and the invitation for your good fortune. A Mercury Retrograde all month, is an invitation from the Universe to revisit old projects, refine and edit our work and even reconnect with people from our past. From a Feng Shui perspective, it’s a great time reorganize our space and see what could be improved. It’s a time to complete old house projects and fix things around the house. It’s a great opportunity to Feng Shui our homes and closets! If you want my help visit my Link-tree. Blessings Everyone & Ciao for now!

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Hello & Welcome back to “Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion”! Podcast Episode 6. A place for Home & Wardrobe Inspiration. My name is Laura and I’m a certified Feng Shui Practitioner, Curator and Stylist for you and your Space. If this was a TV show it would be a cross between the Zen of Marie Kondo and the Chic of Rachel Zoe. This hybrid Podcast & Newsletter originates on Substack where you can follow and subscribe for all the visuals, text and Video. My stories are told in part through pictures and visuals in the body of my newsletters here on Substack. So if you’re listening on Spotify or ITunes, subscribe for free on Substack. For all my other content and services check out my Link-tree.

Who are you?  The answers could be in your closet! Is Your Wardrobe Giving Main Character Energy? Today we are talking about Closet Feng Shui as a meditation on who we have been and who we are becoming.  Are you showing up as a leading lady or background player?  Clothes can help us be seen or they can help us hide and blend in.

From a Feng Shui perspective, Feng Shuing one’s closet is as important as any other room! One of the areas folks seem to struggle with most is decluttering their closets.  Part of this can stem from an energetic attachment to who they have been even when that part of themselves is no longer serving them.  Our clothes and closets depict how we present ourselves to the world.  All of our armor is there, like protective gear.  Also our personality and the “characters” we’re playing live inside our closets via our costumes and wardrobe.  I want to help people learn about themselves in a deeper way through their clothes and uncover new aspects of themselves that are ready to be revealed and experienced.  This can be a freeing and cathartic experience!  I can definitely attest to that through my own fashion journey. Let’s make dressing a therapeutic and empowering practice.  These sentiments are why I became fixated on the niche of Feng Shui that applies to dressing and embarked on my Fashion Feng Shui ®️ training & Apprenticeship. My Apprenticeship is now nearing its completion in August and I’m gearing up for a Fall Launch in September of my Closet Feng Shui Services! It’s the perfect timing for Closet Clearing and preparing for the new season.

I want to give as much importance to dressing as I do decorating and translate in energetic terms how it’s all connected!  I have this theory that you can take a woman who feels plain and transform her into a great beauty through impeccable style and grooming.  Some call it glamour magic.  By the same token you can take an objectively beautiful woman and minimize her looks with poor grooming and drab ill fitting clothes.  Think Hollywood…. They do this all the time! They take great beauties and have them play a character who is supposed to be unattractive and they dull hear beauty with drab unflattering costuming, hair and makeup for the role. We let the clothes inform us of a characters role. Is she a leading lady or an extra? It’s all done through the illusion of makeup and wardrobe.  What if you were the one inadvertently painting yourself into a plain Jane because you didn’t feel good inside?  You couldn’t see the best version of yourself. Sometimes we need a fresh set of eyes to help us see our potential. That’s the role I will be playing, where I see your highest potential through my Feng Shui eyes.

The analogy I just made about wardrobe can also be true of physical spaces!  You could be living in the most expensive zip-code and in a mansion filled with clutter, filth and chaos. Folks could enter such a home and feel disgust and discomfort. You might as well live on the streets in a tent if this is how you’re going to treat your sacred space. By the same token, you could have a modest home that is so beautifully arranged, maintained and nurtured, that people are instantly inspired and welcomed. Between these two options I would hands down choose the latter. In this case, it truly is what’s inside and how well it’s expressed that matters. When it comes to dressing, it’s about revealing what’s inside through our clothes. Using it as a means to communicate a visual story.

People can express how they feel about themselves through their wardrobe and even how they feel about you.  Did, your date go to the trouble of properly grooming? Or do they look like they just rolled out of bed? We are forever communicating with nonverbal cues.

CLOSET AUDITS

What’s in your closet? Could it use a pruning? For me personally closet auditing is a continuous process of editing and purging.  I’m in a rapid state of change so my wardrobe has been in a state of going from caterpillar to butterfly! I have a new rule that before I add anything new to my wardrobe, I must first subtract something.

Mari Kondo

I love recommending the Konmari Method originated by Mari Kondo and spelled out in her bestselling book called THE LIFE CHANGING MAGIC OF TIDYING UP. Her organizational shows on Netflix really captured people’s attention and popularized decluttering as a practice. She provided a system for home and wardrobe organization.

The Home Edit

Then came Clea Shearer & Joanna Teplin’s Netflix series THE HOME EDIT and their corresponding bestselling book of the same name.

Where all these organizational systems and tools leave off, is truly where I come in. Yes, of course I can help with the tedium of closet editing, but where I really shine due to my Feng Shui background styling Apprenticeship, is in the curation and reinvention of your current and evolving wardrobe from an Energetic and Archetypal perspective. Applying a system that accounts for your personality, goals, lifestyle, color and body type to create a fashion formula and portfolio for you.

As we enter new chapters and seasons in our lives and start playing new roles, our clothes have to change along with us. Our old costumes may no longer suit us and we need to make room for the new. We may have changed size or simply aged out of certain clothes.  Or our tastes have gone through a metamorphosis.  More often than not, it’s lifestyle and career pivots that create the necessity for a costume change!

The Purge

To make the most of your closet edits, you can donate, trade or sell your purged clothes! You can go to your local thrift stores or donate to a charity like Goodwill. One man’s garbage is another man’s gold. If you want to sell for profit, Poshmark is a great option along with Etsy, ThredUp, Mercari, Wish and TheRealReal to name a few. Whether it’s higher or lower end clothing, there’s a convenient option in the App Store for these transactions. You can take your profits and invest them back into your new wardrobe if you like. Buying and selling repurposed clothes is also a more “green” and budget friendly way for shopping and sourcing for wardrobe items. You might even find it more effective and convenient for finding very specific items. You could spend all day at a mall and never find the exact thing you’re looking for. Or you could spend a half hour online using specific color, style, size, and brand prompts to find exactly what you need from the comfort of your couch.

The Feng Shui Lady ®️

As I embrace channeling my inner artist and curator, I embark on a journey of helping others channel their favorite style archetypes. Styling is elevated with Feng Shui and takes on a therapeutic quality that empowers you. I’m excited to help guide my clients on how to apply the aforementioned tools like Poshmark to manage their clothing edits and find new additions. Even though these options simplify the process, a wardrobe audit, and wardrobe planning require a certain amount of detailed work and I can help you manage that. It’s truly a collaborative and therapeutic process. I love dressing people and helping them look and feel their best.

In addition to working with individual clients to reveal their most authentic and empowered selves, I will be incorporating Group presentations and Workshops on Dressing With Feng Shui Eyes as your guide! If you have a Los Angeles based woman’s group that might be interested, feel free to message me! Oh and while I’m helping you reveal your main character energy, you might also decide to hire me to create a setting where your new leading character can thrive. Starting this September, Dressing & Decorating will be the 2 wings of the same bird and business I call Narrative Space Feng Shui. Cheers my friends and Ciao for now!

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Hello & Welcome back to “Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion”! Podcast Episode 5. A place for Home & Wardrobe Inspiration. My name is Laura and I’m a certified Feng Shui Practitioner, Curator and Stylist for you and your Space. If this was a TV show it would be a cross between the Zen of Marie Kondo and the Chic of Rachel Zoe. This hybrid Podcast & Newsletter originates on Substack where you can follow and subscribe for all the visuals, text and Video. My stories are told in part through pictures and visuals in the body of the stories here on Substack. So if you’re listening on Spotify or Apple subscribe for free on Substack. For all my other content and services check out my Link-tree.

This Episode is called Read The Room. Is It Repelling or Inviting? In my last episode I talked about Bedding and specifically curating outfits for your bed with intention. We have all heard the term “Dress For Success.” In the same vein, we can dress our beds for rest and romance.

I told you about and showed you all my Bed’s Outfits and how I was awaiting an entirely new Motif! Today I’m reporting back about my brand new Celestial themed Sun & Moon Duvet set. It’s Chic “AF”. I’m obsessed 🤩. It’s giving me high end Palm Springs Mid Century Modern hotel suite vibes. It feels sexy and luxurious to me. The Golden burnt orange and cream hues are both stimulating and grounding. The bold Sun and Moon print is a complete departure from my floral’s and it’s giving me life! My golden moon cycle feature over my bed along with my artwork depicting a sun and moon labyrinth beside the bed all tie in beautifully. I could not be more pleased. There’s a clear theme that speaks to partnership and a balance of masculine and feminine. It also feels rich! I should mention that my bedroom includes what’s known in Feng Shui as the Prosperity Gua and energetic center for abundance so I definitely want to nurture that energy. In my bedroom, I actually have 3 Guas or energetic centers represented in my bedroom. By the way Guas are Energetic Areas of your home that are included in what’s called The Bagua Map and there are nine of them. In my bedroom, I have the Family Gua which I mentioned in the last episode, the Prosperity Gua and my closet where all my clothes live is in the Skills & Knowledge gua. Talk about foreshadowing my Fashion Feng Shui®️ journey.

BAGUA MAP

NEW OUTFIT - DRESSING FOR THEM

I specifically wanted to find a duvet cover that would not be emasculating to a man who didn’t care for frilly girly bedding but would still reflect my aesthetic. I think I nailed it! Whatever your communicating with your bed is either an invitation to a potential partner or a red flag. Same intent applies for a current partner! You should both feel at home in the bed.

RED FLAGS & BEDS

I want to share an example of what I consider to be a red flag and quite honestly you should too. Some years back, I went on a date with a very handsome and talented musician. He was hot!!! I love artists of all kinds. People with an aesthetic world view very much appeal to me. He was charming and expressed great interest in me. On our very first date we met for drinks and then went to a music club where he played. We were getting along famously and I thought wow this is going great! At some point during the evening he wanted to stop by his apartment to grab his instrument and he insisted it was walking distance from the club we were at, so I agreed. Please note this man knew I was Feng Shui consultant and should have had some idea that I would be reading his space with a more keen eye than your average bird. As we approached his building, I noticed it was one of those 70’s stucco structures with little or no character. He was a struggling musician so no bigy. What matters is what’s inside right? Well inside was a twin mattress on the floor in the center of the apartment and almost nothing else. His first story apartment had a sad view of the parking lot. Everything was grey or beige. Zero charm not even a piece of art or a book or a plant to give the space some life, some hope. It looked like the kind of space a serial killer or assassin might live. It was dingy and gross and he should have never brought me there. At least not on the first date. I immediately lost all interest and knew it was time to leave. I found the twin mattress on the floor with no other seating options super creepy. By the way nothing screams single and not ready to mingle more than a twin mattress! These are for children not grown men. No place to sit or entertain? Seriously? Offensive and presumptuous. These things are not trivial. It spells out a very specific narrative. It starts with the bed being just for one and continues from there to get worse and worse. There was not one redeeming feature and believe me I looked. Yes it’s a cautionary tale but one we can all learn from. Had he had at least a futon to sit on and even the smallest bit of charm like a record player or something, perhaps I could have looked past the dingy stripped mattress and helped him up his game. The bar was just too low and he had set it. So I left and never saw him again.

We can’t just think about what we like if we are trying to attract a partner. We have to consider what our ideal partner might like. For this reason I have 2 matching night stands and on the one on “his” side, I have a glass that says monsieur and on my side one that says madame. God is in the details….

Speaking of night stands, my floating ones I mentioned in my last episode just arrived at the same time as the bedding! Upgrade! In Feng Shui, 2 matching night stands represent balanced relationships. Whether you are single or not, they reflect that you have made space for a partner and that you are generous in relationships romantic or otherwise. These are sleek with white shelving and gold hardware that works with the pallet of the room. They allow for more floor space and are wonderful options for people with space limitations. In my case, I really love the design and how you can adjust the height of them to your liking since they are floating so to speak. I have a 17 inch pillow top mattress so most night stands are too low. This was my solution and one that can potentially inspire some of you! I hope you take away from this story that just as we might dress for the job we desire, we decorate for the life and the partners we desire. Cheers Everyone.🥂 & Ciao for now!

HIS

& HERS

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

If you’re new here, my name is Laura and I’m a certified Feng Shui Practitioner, Curator and Stylist for you and your Space. Join me and my guests for conversations around lifestyle and wellness with a focus on living and curating our best lives. Subscribe for tips on mindful living! For all my other content and services check out my Link-tree.

I decided to create a Channel Intro video for my YouTube Channel and also share it here on Substack! Cheers 🥂

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Hello & Welcome back to Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion! Podcast Episode 4. A place for Home & Wardrobe Inspiration. My name is Laura and I’m a certified Feng Shui Practitioner, Curator and Stylist for you and your Space. If I was a TV show it would be a cross between the Zen of Marie Kondo and the Chic of Rachel Zoe. This hybrid Podcast & Newsletter originates on Substack where you can follow and subscribe for all the visuals, text and Video. This story in particular is told largely through the pictures and visuals in the body of the story on Substack. So if you’re listening on Spotify or Apple subscribe for free on Substack. For all my other content and services check out my Link-tree. Today I’m talking about How you can apply Fashion to Feng Shui and more specifically to Dressing Up your Bed. So far, I’ve mostly spoken about how to Feng Shui your Fashion. It goes both ways though because dressing and decorating go hand in hand energetically. I told you when I began this “Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion” Journey here on Substack that I would be sneaking Feng Shui in through the closet. Today I coming to you from the bedroom. I suppose I’m getting real personal with you and jumping right into bed for this story. From a Feng Shui perspective or really just good old common sense, your bed is the most important piece of furniture in your life! Not just your home, but your life. If you’re only going to Feng Shui 1 room in your home, make it the bedroom and if it’s only one thing, make it your bed! Sleep is one of the most important indicators of good health. Your bed has as much to say about your health and wellbeing as it does about your love life. If you’re going to invest in just one piece of furniture this year, make it your bed. Comfort is king! I know mattresses are expensive so for immediate gratification and enhancement to your quality of life, let’s talk bedding. Bedding is an accessible upgrade and easily interchangeable. It’s also a fantastic redecorating on a budget hack. It will change the entire look and feel of your bedroom. Let’s look at the energetics of your Bedding and how to enhance rest and romance. The 2 major themes of this room.

Think of your bedding sheets and duvet as your beds wardrobe. Most people only have one “outfit” for their beds. The duvet specifically is the part of the outfit everyone sees and the sheets are like undergarments. Would you only wear one outfit? Why should your bed? Color, texture, material, design and print all have a tremendous energetic impact. I have 5 outfits and counting for my beds duvet. They each invite and say something different.

FLORAL BOUQUET DUVET

Pictured first is my Floral Bouquet Duvet Cover. It’s been my favorite for years and I liked it so much I bought 2. It’s a good thing I did because my cats tore into the first one and over the years those tiny tears grew into large rips until I finally threw it out a couple weeks ago. I went on to order a totally new duvet to replace it. Meanwhile I was genuinely sad and mourned its loss until I remembered I had a back up! This is the back up! If you have pets, children, like to eat or drink in bed, then may I suggest a backup?

The energetic impetus for this duvet is 3 fold. I see everything with “Feng Shui Eyes” so there’s a strategy and a story behind every aesthetic choice I make. First of all, I immediately loved it and found it beautiful. I’m a fan of bold color. It is a floral which represents Wood Element with Red & Pink Flowers that represent Fire Element. My bed happens to be in what’s known in Feng Shui as the Family Gua. In Feng Shui this area of the home is supported by the Wood element. Wood represents growth and initiating energy. The Bed is also placed in the Fame & Reputation Gua/Area of my Bedroom which is supported by Fire Element. And let’s not forget wood feeds the fire. But fire burns the wood so I vascilate on which of these energies I’m feeding. The Fire element here helps enhance romance, passion and visibility. While it can be sexy, it is not my most restful option. This duvet has a stimulating energy, but sometimes I desire a more restful vibe and I can get “burnt out” and choose to switch things up. It’s okay to have different moods and ways to express them. Bedding is a good way to indicate what you are welcoming into your life and bed.

MANDALA DUVET

Pictured Here is my more Neutral gold and cream Indian Mandala Duvet Cover. When I want a more Zen experience, I choose this one. You’ll notice I also have interchangeable floor rugs that are washable. Pets and life’s little surprises make these a necessity. Did someone throw up on the rug? No problem! I just swap it out with a back up and do some laundry….

When sleep and meditation are on the menu, this is what the bed wears, but honestly this is now my least chosen option. It’s there when I need it, but I have since moved on to a Magic Mushroom Motif that is both Zen and green therefore represents wood element without all the fire of the bouquet motif.

MAGIC MUSHROOM DUVET

I chose this Magic Mushroom motif because I think sleep is a “Trip”. I have to admit that it didn’t take long for me to tire of this Duvet Cover and order yet another with a magical garden theme. Listen, I have been known to change outfits 4 or 5 times in one day just cause. I like to keep my options open!

It’s not just the color and elements that shift the energy and narrative of a room, but the symbolism of what is being depicted! The Magical Garden motif has wood and fire elements but is much more serene than the bouquet so it soon became my new favorite. My cats loved it so much they started pulling on all the embroidery and unraveling it. I quickly realized my brand new expensive and very favorite duvet was going to be short lived. Instead of getting upset, I used this opportunity to find new inspiration and move on from Floral and Garden themes. A brand new theme and duvet is on its way as I write this!

MAGIC GARDEN DUVET

I don’t have to say goodbye to the Magic Garden entirely, I just know like most things in life, it’s not going to last. It’s like a hot and heavy but brief affair. That said, I’m pretty excited about the new motif and theme I will soon lay my head on! It’s called a Celestial Woodblock Duvet. Urban outfitters describes it as follows “Features abstract sun and moon motifs printed allover the softest cotton-polyester weave.” I love that I bought it on sale from Urban Outfitters Home for half what I paid for my other duvet’s! That’s a win… I love the golden burnt orange and cream color contrast. It’s earthy fire, stimulating but grounding. The Sun and Moon have the Yin & Yang theme of masculine and feminine energy that invites the kind of partnership energy I desire. Let’s call it kismet!

Pictured here is the new Duvet cover along with 2 new floating nightstands that are also on their way. The 2 nightstands are a story for another day, so stay tuned. What’s interesting about the new duvet cover and the celestial theme is that it ties in perfectly with a piece of art I love that’s hung by the bed. Coincidence? With a New Newsletter, Podcast, Certification, & Services; a new setting was in order! Once everything is installed, and I’ve fully experienced my new Celestial theme, I’ll be sure to report back!

SHEETS - Your Bed’s Underwear!

A universal Feng Shui tip that everyone can apply no matter what energetic area of the home your bed and bedroom reside in is to keep your sheets limited to flesh tones. This is a surprisingly broad range of colors including the palest cream or pink to beige, taupe, subtle or burnt orange, brown, dark brown, burgundy etc. These will support rest and romance. The reason for a flesh tone palette is that we feel most SAFE and able to be vulnerable in these tones which lends itself to both intimacy and sleep.

Stark white sheets while crisp and bright can be too clinical like a doctor’s office and represent metal element in Feng Shui. You can be a little more expressive with the duvet or bedspread but keep in mind that very dark tones like navy and black represent water element and will put out the fire so to speak. On the other hand too much fire as in bright red sheets or bedspread, can be too passionate. Too much of this energy disrupts sleep and can even ignite drama and arguments. For these reasons, you want to test out different pallets and find the right balance for rest and romance. Be a little like Goldilocks, I am.

Ask yourself what bedtime story is your bedroom telling? Is there a theme? Let me know what’s happening in your bed! Ciao for now!

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

I had a Fashion Trip on the 4th of July! I attended a Pool Party at a fancy hotel rooftop with a group of girlfriends. In case you’re wondering, no I did not wear Red, White, And Blue…. That would have been too obvious. I chose a lane and committed to all White! For those of you reading this, the pictures will tell the story better than I can describe. And if you’re currently just listening on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube You can find the Visuals on my Substack where this Podcast originates as a hybrid Newsletter with picture’s, text, audio and sometimes video! My handle is @thefengshuilady. I encourage you to follow and subscribe!

I’ll be the first to admit, I struggled with my wardrobe choice on the 4th because quite frankly, I did not feel Bikini Ready. I’m sure most women can relate. I also live in Los Angeles a city where the bar for body standards is exceptionally high. I almost wore a 1 piece but my style vision won over my insecurities. I have this amazing long white Crochet Style Beach Dress in my closet I had purchased for a pool or beach day just like this. It was screaming to be worn and it wanted to be paired with my white bikini. No other choice would have had the same impact. So I channeled my inner Lena Dunham circa her HBO Girls days where she was constantly naked or running around in a bikini. Her body confidence was off the charts and I really needed some of that energy. I have the body I deserve meaning I have been eating whatever I want as much as I want and perhaps more than I need. I’m objectively slim but not as slim as I have been. I vacillate and I was on the upswing. This year I was simply not very strategic in preparing for Independence Day. The tummy wants what the tummy wants, you know what I mean? Pictured are my two bathing-suit options that I tried on the night before. My white Bikini and my Leopard print 1piece. When I went to bed I was convinced I’d be wearing the one piece covering my tummy.

In the morning however, I had a fashion over insecurity moment and I’m really glad I did. White energetically is a reflective color. In fact it’s the recommended color to wear during a Shamanic experience. I feel protected in white even if I am highly visible. It’s what I wear when I clear a space and it’s a color I only really started wearing from head to toe in the last few years. I also love pairing it with black. Very Yin & Yang vibes.

All that said I know I made the right choice! I wore white on white with a hint of blue found in a pair of long dangly turquoise earrings. My hair was strategically tied in a top bun so I wouldn’t get it wet and didn’t have to think about it. This worked out perfectly because of course I forgot my brush that day.

A crochet cover up is a great way to play peekaboo without revealing everything. Eventually though, I did take it off and run around in my white bikini. It’s amazing the kind of confidence one can muster after a little wine… I don’t however recommend magic mushrooms 🍄 for such a public outing. I debated whether or not to share this part of the story but I feel it’s pertinent. In my Lyft and on my way to the festivities, I did happen to eat 2 mushroom gummies with active psilocybin properties. They are legal by the way and I got them from therapist friend. They are designed to be therapeutic in nature. I have only ever taken magic mushrooms aka psilocybin as a sacrament and or with a Shaman as a Spiritual experience. These gummies were different. On this occasion in a micro dose, I thought perhaps they would give me that Lena Dunham confidence, instead they made me incredibly nauseous and for the first hour I was at the pool rooftop, I was basically catatonic. This was poor judgment on my part! For that first hour, I did manage to take some pictures while I kept my dress on in the blazing hot sun. Then just like that, I snapped out of it. Like after you purge during an Ayahuasca ceremony and feel so relieved as the spiritual insights begin to wash over you. The brutal nausea finally subsided and I perked right up. I then switched to wine which had a much more desirable effect. I took off my dress and got in the pool with my friends. Everything shifted and I was so happy to be swimming, just so happy...

When I emerged from the water with my girlfriends, a woman in a red bikini approached me and said she’d been watching and admiring me since I had arrived! I’m thinking did she notice how sick I was? Apparently not! She said I was the chicest girl there and she was so impressed with my style. “No one dresses in LA” she insisted, “But you showed up in a dress and heals at a pool party!” I’m thinking in my head how I was just trying to camouflage my body for that first hour and not throw up. She however, saw me as glamorous and lounging…. She mentioned she had just moved back to La from The East Coast and was utterly unimpressed with the way women were dressing here. My friend Candace thanked her for her basically making my day and said “You two should be friends!” We are now…. Looking back on that day, I feel as if the white dress and bikini did protect me and reflect me. It was kind of like a spiritual experience. It was the perfect storm with a beautiful rainbow at the end. Cheers. 🥂

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

For my first “Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion” video Podcast I’m sharing an audio and video version of a recent post on Substack called “My Fashion Trifecta”. It’s a little different than the original post only because when you verbalize something it evolves and so does the language and narrative around it. Feel free to read the original written post but also know with this verbalized and visual version, the story has evolved and this is the more current incarnation.

My Venn Diagram of my Fashion Trifecta

Have you given much thought to who your fashion influences are? I’ve been working on my Fashion Feng Shui ®️ Apprenticeship as I prepare to launch  styling offerings for my clients and I was inspired to create a visual that looks like a Venn diagram capturing my style icons. A Venn diagram’s typically highlight 3 points of focus that sort of merge to show the logical relationship between them. Honestly, It wasn’t even part of my homework. While it wasn’t part of my required course work, it felt like a natural progression. I couldn’t help but think about where my ideas about aspirational style originated. I thought about the women whose personal style was actually influential in my ever evolving style glow up. 

My influences are Frida Kahlo, Dita Von Teese and Stevie Nicks who are all equally known for their artistic talents and their iconic styles. I like to inject aspects of each of their aesthetics into mine like a chameleon taking on a role and making it her own.

Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo was a Mexican Artist who died in 1954 but left her mark on Art and Fashion! Frida was known for everything from her statement jewelry to wearing flowers in her elaborate updos. She wore long flowing skirts and dresses with lace details and colorful layered prints. She dressed in her finest even when she was laid up in bed recovering from a horrific traffic accident. Frida was an artist and her body was as much a canvas for her wardrobe as her physical canvases were for her paintings. I love to channel her style as a staple in my day to day wear because I find flowing skirts and dresses to be the most comfortable attire for feeling creative and feminine. I also freaking love a floral print.  I’m Spanish so Frida’s style truly speaks to me. What I found most inspiring was Frida’s penchant for dressing up to be at home!

Dita Von Teese

My next inspiration is Dita Von Teese! The Siren! If you haven’t heard of her,  Dita is a Burlesque Sensation and she is stunning.  For me she is the epitome of old Hollywood Glamour. Known for her fashion as much as her dancing, she has a line of vintage inspired clothing. While her style is enticing, dramatic and body conscious, it is still tasteful and leaves something to the imagination. Everything she wears is impeccably made and designed to accentuate the female form. She has helped inspire my evening and dating attire.  Even though my dating life is on pause right now, I have a wardrobe lined up and ready to go when I get back out there! So gentlemen that may take an interest in wooing me please take me somewhere where I can channel my Dita wardrobe without feeling overdressed!  Let’s not jump into Netflix and chill until you’ve had the opportunity to truly experience the Dita effect!  Don’t worry I love Netflix just not in the first week or 2 of dating.

Stevie Nicks

So Next up is Stevie Nicks The Singer! If you don’t know who she is, look her up because she’s the quintessential boho queen!  Stevie’s gypsy chic is equal parts rock and roll, witch, mystic and goddess. She’s what those boho girls at the music festivals are trying to channel! Leather & Lace with layers of long flowing skirts and dresses worn with shawls and suede platform boots, accentuated with dramatic layered jewelry. She looks like she has wings when she’s on stage either due to her dramatic shawls or full bell sleeves. There’s something ethereal and bohemian about her style that I find intoxicating. I channel her through my accessories, my sheer lace pieces and long dramatic skirts. So that’s my Trifecta!

What’s yours? 

Feel free to share in the comments! When I start working with my styling clients, I plan to include this exercise to help them better understand their fashion ideals and help them channel those Archetypes into their wardrobe. I want to challenge you all to create your own fashion icon trifecta. I designed mine on Pinterest and recommend you try it.  

I believe Fashion should be fun and there’s something for everyone. Find your muses and go play dress up! To learn more about my work and access all my resources visit my Linktree. For more inspiration, subscribe! Ciao for now!

My First Podcast is an audio version of my first Post here on Substack! I wanted to make my content more accessible and I will be creating audio versions of all my posts for your listening pleasure! Cheers 🥂 Laura

Hi I’m Laura! I’ve been The Feng Shui Lady ®️ for more than a decade and just recently added Styling Services with a Feng Shui twist. Come join me on my Fashion Feng Shui ®️ Apprenticeship journey!

I am rebranding and starting a whole new Newsletter here on Substack. I will soon be adding a certification in Fashion Feng Shui®️to my list of credentials which include: a certification in Essential Feng Shui®️, and Space Clearing, along with a Red Ribbon Professional credential through The International Feng Shui Guild. I could not be more excited about this Trifecta of Feng Shui, Space Clearing & Styling offerings.

1. New Services, New Chapter!

For those of you who have known me as a Feng Shui consultant for a decade plus, don’t worry, I’m still The Feng Shui Lady ®️ and I will still be practicing and talking about Feng Shui! Some of you were subscribed to my Narrative Space Feng Shui Newsletter on Mailchimp. I have switched platforms making Substack my new home. This is Where Feng Shui meets Fashion. A whole new chapter for me with Fashion in the mix. I suspect my focus will be largely directed towards fashion in the coming months and I will sneak the Feng Shui in through the closet so to speak. For many Feng Shui feels like a luxury, while fashion feels like identity.

Women will move mountains for the right outfit! Many will go without, in the pursuit of style. I can definitely relate. This is a passion project as much as it is a business decision. So here I am pivoting and rebranding. I live in LA, so I’m in La La Land the perfect place to reinvent oneself.

2. I’m looking for my tribe of fashion enthusiasts with a spiritual sensibility who want to elevate their style…

Fashion Feng Shui ®️ is a mindful system of dressing that incorporates modern styling principles with ancient holistic wisdom.  It marries my 2 favorite things Fashion and Feng Shui! It harnesses the “energy” of your clothes to align with your personal energies. Everything from your personality, goals, elements, coloring, body type, style and lifestyle are addressed to create a Fashion Portfolio for you.

3. Uncover Your Most Authentic & Empowered Self Through Fashion! I did…

With Fashion Feng Shui ®️protocols you discover your Elemental Essence, Influence, Intention and Appearance and learn how to harness the energy of your clothes to reveal your most authentic empowered self. You get a Fashion Feng Shui Portfolio that details your best colors, fabrics, prints, silhouettes, styles and elements! Not only will your most empowering styles be revealed, but aspects of your personality and Archetypes will also be uncovered! Your new Portfolio serves as a blueprint from which to curate and build your wardrobe.

4. My Journey…

Part of my training was to have my own personal Fashion Feng Shui ®️ experience. I learned so much about myself through the process. In Feng Shui we work with the 5 elements to balance an environment. They include Water, Fire, Metal, Wood and Earth. The same principles and elements apply to Fashion Feng Shui ®️ and are connected with Archetypes. We each have a dominant element and Archetype that informs how we relate to all the other elements and how we tick. I realized that my true essence is Water. Yes folks I’m a thirsty b***h! I also discovered the energy and element that was at a deficit for me along with how it could serve me to introduce more of it into my wardrobe. I am in need of more Fire Element which is known as the Captivator Archetype. My life goals and “Intention” calls for me to draw more attention to myself and my work, however since my essence is Water, I tend to swim in it from a fashion and energetic perspective. Water is the Contemplator Archetype. Contemplators are creatives who dance to the beat of their own drum and need their fair share of me time to “contemplate.” They are drawn to offbeat styles and love black or dark colors in sheer and flowy silhouettes with unusual or eclectic patterns. Yep, that’s me! It’s not the whole story but a big part of it. Without going into every detail of my fashion profile, I can say that the Water Essence and Contemplator Archetype is an overarching theme. Even when I wear Fire Element (think red, sexy eye catching clothes, animal prints, and triangular shapes) I wear it in a watery way… I want it to flow. This system allows for you to Alchemize your wardrobe and partner different elements to work for you because they each represent an energy and intention that influences how you feel and how you are received and perceived. It’s really powerful! You always want to be in your “element” and the idea is to learn how to drape yourself in all the elements in a way that is compatible with your essence.

Here I am marrying my Essence with my Intention…. If you are new here or to me, I encourage you to subscribe for Home & Wardrobe related inspiration! I am very excited and hope you can feel that and join me for this next leg of the journey. You can learn more about my work and access all my resources via my Link-tree. Cheers 🥂

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

If you’re new to the Pod, my name is Laura and I’m a certified Feng Shui Practitioner, Curator and Stylist for you and your Space. Join me and my guests for conversations around lifestyle and wellness with a focus on living and curating our best lives. Subscribe for tips on mindful living! This hybrid Podcast & Newsletter originates on Substack where you can follow me for all the visuals, text and video. The Show is now on video with interview guests along with solo episodes so I encourage you to subscribe and watch on Substack and YouTube. For all my other content and services check out my Link-tree.

Hello and welcome back to “Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion”. If you have been following me for a while, you have been witness to my recent personal Feng Shui makeover. As a Feng Shui practitioner, I too have to refresh and reimagine my space periodically. As we evolve, so too should our environments.

In this year of the Snake, we are universally undergoing a shedding and letting go of some aspect of our lives clearing the path for a whole new trajectory. It’s also a 9 year representing death and rebirth. For me personally, this has manifested rather dramatically and literally. I have been undergoing a very yin behind the curtain shift from the inside out. Every single aspect of my physical life has experienced a complete makeover. In some cases as in the death of my mother, I had no control of the situation. In others, I embraced the energy of change and reinvention by embarking on a deeply mystical Feng Shui Mastermind to up level my practice and shift my personal energy. In spite of being a certified 15 year Feng Shui veteran, I wanted to deepen my work. The Mastermind introduced me to a host of Sacred Transcendental practices and rituals that are handed down verbally through the Black Hat tradition.

Since taking part in the Mastermind, my whole life has up leveled. I manifested the resources to totally redecorate my home and curate an entirely new energetic narrative. I was gifted a brand new car and made dramatic shifts towards my health and wellbeing. I don’t think any of this would have been possible without a mental and spiritual shift which was a significant focus of the Mastermind.

I am ready to spread the love and teach what I preach in my new BEDROOM FENG SHUI class! The class will be held over Zoom on 7/12/25 at 2pm. Enrollment is available now. It’s at the top of my Link-tree under BEDROOM FENG SHUI https://linktr.ee/TheFengShuiLady where you can also find all my other offerings.

I recognize that not everyone can afford a “one on one” Feng Shui consultation but I believe everyone should have access to and be able to apply Feng Shui! This is my most accessible and immediately applicable offering for just $55!

I decided to focus on the Bedroom first because:

YOUR BEDROOM IS A MICROCOSM OF YOUR WHOLE LIFE!

Are you ready to Discover the Manifesting potential of your Bedroom? Then it’s time to Design your dream life. We will begin by Arranging a Sanctuary for Rest & Romance!

At a time when so many can’t afford a one on one Feng Shui consultation, I have created my most accessible offering just $55! And starting with the most influential room in your life. Your bedroom.

In this 1 hour interactive Zoom class, I’ll be sharing powerful Placement Recommendations, Adjustments & Cures to help you turn your bedroom into a manifesting portal. Join me and friends in a sacred online space on Saturday, July 12th at 2pm. You can also visit https://TheFengShuiLady.as.me/BedroomClass to directly sign up for Bedroom Feng Shui.

Invite a friend to join you so that you can manifest together! There’s power in numbers. I look forward to seeing on Saturday July 12th at 2pm. Cheers everyone and Ciao for now!

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

My Mona Lisa Smile 😉. Pre-procedure

If you’re new to the Pod, my name is Laura and I’m a certified Feng Shui Practitioner, Curator and Stylist for you and your Space. Join me and my guests for conversations around lifestyle and wellness with a focus on living and curating our best lives. Subscribe for tips on mindful living! This hybrid Podcast & Newsletter originates on Substack where you can follow me for all the visuals, text and video. The Show is now on video with interview guests along with solo episodes so I encourage you to subscribe and watch on Substack and YouTube. For all my other content and services check out my Link-tree.

Welcome back to Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion! This Episode is about my Menopause, journey. I’m diving into laser therapy, HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) and lifestyle options. This may not sound very Feng Shui or Fashion related but stay with me because it is. Trust me, I can make anything about Feng Shui. It’s our relationship with our environment and the divine after all. Our bodies are our most intimate environment… Menopause is the great Equalizer! If you were born a woman, it’s coming for you too. Let me help illuminate a more empowering path.

Recently, I have Feng Shui’d everything in my life from my wardrobe to my home and vehicle. Now it’s my bodies turn…. Listen folks, the reality is that I’m 55 and I have been educating myself about Menopause for the last few years. Preparing for what I understand is the inevitable. I am aware I appear younger than my years but I own all 55 of them. I’ve read books, gone to Gynecological seminars, listened to podcasts on the topic and spoken with other women at different stages of Menopause.

In my teens and 20’s, I struggled with Endometriosis and other painful conditions associated with being a woman. I ultimately had to educate myself in order to advocate for myself. Those years were very challenging until I was able to self diagnose and convince doctors to properly treat me for Endometriosis. I learned to be my own council.

So a few decades later, I feel much more confident in my ability to advocate for myself as I enter this next chapter. From an Archetypal perspective; I am transitioning from maiden to chrone. I did not experience the motherhood archetype so it’s a bigger jump and I’m not quite fulfilled and done being a “maiden” so to speak. I’m feel like I’m in “no man’s” land. The in-between.

As far as my menopause journey, I’m in the process of figuring out where I land. Perimenopause is like menopausal limbo and it can last for years and years with varying degrees of symptoms. No one can tell you exactly how long it will last but your body. The final notice is when you stop menstruating for a solid 12 months.

I HAVE NOT personally experienced the typical mainstream symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, brain fog, migraines, irregular periods, uncontrollable weight gain, loss of libido, night sweats or sleep disturbances. So I figured I was good and had more time on the clock. Yay! Meanwhile, many of my friends and contemporaries have experienced some or most of these symptoms and it doesn’t sound like fun.

What I have learned through my research, is that there are strategic ways to minimize, mitigate and even avoid a lot if not all of these symptoms. You have to get ahead of it though. I’m sharing my personal experience and options that were suited for me with the help of my doctor. We are all different and you should strategize with your doctor to explore the best options for you and your unique circumstances.

My actual symptoms turned out to be rather covert. I developed joint issues that began in my mid forties but I did not attribute them perimenopause. Neither did the medical professionals I sought out to help me. The more obvious culprit seemed to be years of wear and tear from figure skating, soccer and running. Running was my drug, my therapist and my friend until I was 47! When I was forced to give it up and I’m still not over it. I miss the high, the endorphins. No other form of exercise delivers that exact dose.

When I was 47, I woke up one day with both my knees on fire. I could barely walk. It was alarming. I went on to have an MRI and was referred to an Orthopedic surgeon and specialist who told me I had a torn meniscus in one knee and Osteoarthritis in both knees. Looking back, I suppose the Osteoarthritis should have been a clue that I was entering perimenopause. Loss of Bone density is a major symptom of menopause. It can be treated and even stopped in its tracks with the right solutions. Studies have shown that HRT, Supplements and resistance or weight bearing exercise can do wonders.

When I worked with the orthopedic surgeon, I got fluid removed from one of my knees along with a shot of cortisone to relieve the pain and inflammation. He didn’t suggest anything to do with my hormones though. He said if I wanted to be able to walk, I needed to stop running and no longer work on my feet for hours on end. He said my knees needed time to recover and I would never be the same again as far as running and jumping go.

Pictured here getting that MRI in 2017.

I was working in the furniture space at the time and it required me to be running around on my feet all day. I asked my employer if we could make concessions and they pressured me to quit. That same week my car was stolen and my apartment went up in flames. Don’t worry the fire department put it out and my car was found abandoned on the side of the road a few days later. That said, I ended that week unemployed and a little traumatized, but hey I was no longer employed or anybody’s b***h!

Pictured here cleaning up after the fire 🔥 in 2017.

My knees had been showing signs of discomfort and decline prior to this but it was intermittent and I didn’t take it seriously until I couldn’t walk. The universe has different ways to get our attention! My job wasn’t getting me anywhere as far as my Feng Shui practice was concerned and that was the whole point of the job! What do you do with furniture? You place and curate it. I had ambitions of meeting with corporate to be the Companies Feng Shui Lady ®️. It was a well known national Furniture brand. I’m not interested in naming them here but my ideas were not embraced and I was strung along by management until I was no longer useful. I had been promised the opportunity to meet with corporate and pitch my ideas but these were empty promises. The universe was simply nudging me to cut my losses and move on.

Sometimes spirit has to Nancy Kerrigan you, steal your car and blow up your life. How else would it get me to quit my job and take a different path? Cars and knees are both symbols of where you’re going and I was going the wrong way! I have been working for myself ever since but it hasn’t been easy. I’m still figuring out how to reach people with Feng Shui and I feel like the best way is to live and breathe it.

Ok back to the topic at hand, Perimenopause and Menopause. I needed to give you some context for my slow moving hormonal coup! My first signs became evident at 47 and now at 55, I recently went in for my annual exam with my OBGYN Regina. I asked her for bloodwork and whether I should explore HRT. If you are experiencing menopausal symptoms or in your late 40’s, you can start with bloodwork to learn what your hormonal levels are. Regina was puzzled as to why I was still on birth control at 55. She had been trying to ween me off for a few years but I’m stubborn and felt if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. It took me years to find the perfect hormonal cocktail of birth control that suited me. I was in no hurry to give it up. It also serves as a form of HRT that helps with perimenopause so I didn’t want to mess with it because I felt pretty great overall. I take the Nuva ring and I absolutely love it. Zero side effects compared to oral contraceptives which were a nightmare for me. They killed my libido, messed with my ph and dampened my mood. The Nuva Ring was a miracle drug for me that resolved all the aforementioned issues and even enhanced my sexual response. Because of my Endometriosis, I have to be on birth control whether or not I’m sexually active. That said, I have no idea if my periods are real or the product of being on birth control. The only way to find out is going off birth control which can be a hormonal rollercoaster.

I asked Regina if she could guarantee that I can’t get pregnant and she could not but she said the likelihood was extremely low. Like 5 percent or something. I want to emphasize that the idea of being a 55 year old with a love child is not on my vision board. I reminded her that I also need it for my Endometriosis. She reminded me if my periods are done then it’s a mute point. Because Menopause actually solves the issue of Endometriosis. No more periods, no more Endometriosis. So I am embarking on a hormonal roller coaster to find out where I land on the Perimenopause or Menopause spectrum. My doctor is taking me off the ring! Adios Nuvaring! We had a great run.

Regina had me fill out a questionnaire regarding my menopausal symptoms and I barely had any. But when she was giving me my Pap-smear she noticed that my vaginal tissue was thin and would easily tear and bleed which is a red flag for perimenopause. As you lose estrogen, you lose collagen and elastin and elasticity in your vagina and elsewhere. Your vaginal tissue can thin making sex painful and leading to other issues like atrophy and infections. I was confused because my libido is still going strong but this was a clear sign of the tides changing. She suggested a non-hormonal minimally invasive laser treatment called The Mona Lisa Touch. It’s this big laser wand they apply to the Vagina and vulva for about 5 or 10 minutes to stimulate tissue renewal with dramatic and lasting results! It addresses the core issue by stimulating and rebuilding your collagen and elastin and elasticity for lasting results. Following the treatment, you will be pretty sensitive for a few days and you need 3 sessions 6 weeks apart with about 3 days of recovery after each treatment. I said sign me up! I’d heard about all the inconvenient hormonal estrogen creams and I wasn’t interested in them because you run the risk of exposing your partner to female hormones, they aren’t conducive to impromptu sex, and they are a surface treatment that only address the symptoms and not the root cause. Based on my research, I’m not against hormone therapy but this application seems inefficient, messy and has risks.

The only issue I had with moving forward with the Mona Lisa Laser solution is that insurance doesn’t cover it and it’s like $3000. It’s considered a cosmetic procedure which is total b******t. Meanwhile they prescribe and cover Viagra for men like it’s a life saving candy and for women these messy less effective more dangerous hormonal creams.

Regina said “We have a May special for just $2400.” I knew my father would help me if I could find a way to explain it to him as medically necessary without being too graphic. I had to make a case for it that was not sexual. Regina said “It will prevent you from ending up in diapers one day “. That and I can have sex well into my twilight years! I had her supply me with a medical document and price quote to send to my father that wasn’t too graphic and emphasized the health benefits. I mean how do you ask your dad for help treating your vagina so you can have a better sex? I’m not having that conversation! I scanned the document and sent it to him and he was cool with it. If you don’t ask, you don’t get. I was so relieved. To me this is a life saving procedure for my love life. It gives me the will to live a long romantic life. I’m single and I am doing this with the intention of sharing my life and bed with someone. Fortunately, I didn’t have to explain any of this to my dad. He didn’t ask too many questions about my gynecological issues other than “Are you sure insurance won’t cover it?”.

Today I went in for my bloodwork results and to have the Mona Lisa Touch procedure that my father had agreed to pay for. Before the procedure, Regina sat with me to discuss my blood work. The results were shocking considering how good I feel. Turns out, I have pretty much zero testosterone and yes women produce and need testosterone. My estrogen levels were also exceptionally low. Worst of all, I had alarming cardiovascular results reflecting that I am at high risk for a heart attack. Ok. My Mother just died of heart issues and my father had a quadruple heart bypass surgery some years back that saved his life. Let’s just say my family has “heart “ issues. How apropos. I do recall having a heart screening in my thirties and doctors detecting a heart murmur but I never pursued it because you know I felt fine. I may need to make adjustments to my diet and I definitely need to go see a cardiologist. Awesome news! It’s amazing how great I feel meanwhile, my blood work tells a different story! The moral here is that it’s good to have a full diagnostic check up, especially if you’re over 50.

So now that I know my hormones are a little wacky I can proceed accordingly. Regina suggested that since I basically don’t have any, I should start on Testosterone therapy right away as in today right after my laser therapy. And when I return for my second Mona Lisa treatment we could check my bloodwork again to see how I am responding to the testosterone and what my levels look like when I’m not on Birth Control. She said the Testosterone would enhance mental clarity, muscle tone, bone density, weight management and libido. This should help with my joints and my mental acuity and motivation. Coupled with the laser treatment I will be operating at a whole new upgraded frequency. She said I may or may not even need Estrogen and we would know in a couple months. So I had both procedures done in one day.

I was nervous, but if you are considering having either of these treatments, I don’t want you to be. Let me first explain how it went with the Laser treatment aka The Mona Lisa Touch. I read a lot about it to prepare myself and I suggest you do too. It’s recommended that you wear lose comfortable clothes the day of the procedure. I wore a comfy oversized army green onesie jumpsuit. Green and pantsuits are Wood element in Feng Shui. A great element for growth and getting things done. I get a lot of compliments when I rock this look. It’s funny because it’s not figure conscious or sexy but it’s “cool” and people respond favorably to me in this look. I feel like a badass.

Besides the outfit, I ate a hearty meal before the procedure because I didn’t want to feel hungry or anymore vulnerable than necessary. I’m pictured at the top of this story in a pretty pink hospital gown that my Obgyn Regina gave me to wear before my “procedure”. I’m also wearing my chakra crystal mala beads for the occasion! I call this hospital chic!

The actual procedure is similar in nature to when you get a Pap-Smear, you’re naked in a gown with your legs spread in stir ups. They do however numb all the external tissue of your vulva and the immediate entrance of your vagina to offset any discomfort from the laser. I didn’t love the initial feeling of the numbing cream because it felt prickly but quickly went from prickly to numb. They give it a few minutes to kick in. Then comes the magic wand which is connected to this large intimidating machine. The laser wand itself is not huge or crazy though.

At the beginning of the MonaLisa Touch Laser procedure, I was holding a small dixie cup of water in my hand. So when Regina inserted the laser, it was vibrating and tingling in a startling way that caused me to splash some of that water in a spastic motion. It made me and the 2 nurse practitioners in the room laugh. This lightened the mood and I relaxed into the procedure once I realized the level of pain was minimal. It wasn’t particularly painful just weird and prickly. You feel these little Zaps that make a crackling sound. It’s mildly uncomfortable but quick! 5-10 minutes. After it’s over you will feel a little itchy and irritated but not like you need anything more than a martini to take the edge off. They put some medicinal gel on the area and give you a tiny ice pack to put in your underwear. I was fine until I put that ice pack in my panties! This was the most uncomfortable thing I experienced that day. I don’t recommend wearing the ice pack in your underwear! It’s only if you really need it and I would wait until you get home because it’s hard to walk around like that.

Next up; Testosterone! You can get a shot in the ass every month or a tiny rice size slow release testosterone pellet injected into your hip which lasts up to 6 months. I went with the pellet. Regina numbed my hip area with a numbing injection and that hurt but it wasn’t terrible or long lasting. She then shot the pellet into my hip as I layed on my side with my ass facing the medical staff and my face staring into the wall. It’s awkward and funny and quick. I felt a little shaky, emotional and nauseous after completing both procedures but that feeling mellowed out once I was home in my cozies with my kitties. My vagina feels slightly sunburned and I plan to take it easy for a few days.

Pictured here: I am recovering with my Kitty Cinnamon and a Greyhound…

My hip is also pretty sore from the pellet and I was informed you can’t take a bath or exercise for about 3 days. You also can’t remove the bulky bandage that keeps the pellet in place for 3 days while it absorbs into your system. I can shower, I just can’t submerge in water. Obviously, I am not supposed to have intercourse for at least 3 days. Not a problem since I am currently single, however I did just match with a gentleman on Tinder and who knows what the future holds! All right everyone, I’ll keep you posted on my journey and I encourage you to subscribe and share this with anyone who might benefit. Many Blessings & Ciao for now!

Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion! is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

If you’re new to the Pod, my name is Laura and I’m a certified Feng Shui Practitioner, Curator and Stylist for you and your Space. Join me and my guests for conversations around lifestyle and wellness with a focus on living and curating our best lives. Subscribe for tips on mindful living! This hybrid Podcast & Newsletter originates on Substack where you can follow me for all the visuals, text and video. The Show is now on video with interview guests along with solo episodes so I encourage you to subscribe and watch on Substack and YouTube. For all my other content and services check out my Link-tree.

Hello & Welcome back to Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion. The theme of the Pod today is Feng Shui On Steroids! It’s all about my ongoing Feng Shui Mastermind. I embarked on a 3 Month Feng Shui Mastermind on March 29th during the New Moon Solar Eclipse. It has been a game changer! The Mastermind is a deep dive into Black Sect Tantric Buddhist Feng Shui transmissions, traditions, teachings and practices. That’s right, it’s Super Woo. My original training and certification was in Form School Feng Shui some 15 years ago. The difference between my original training and Black Hat Feng Shui also known as B to B Feng Shui is that Black Hat is a Buddhist interpretation of Feng Shui introduced to the US by a Buddhist Monk named Grand Master Lin Yun. It’s steeped in mysticism and transcendental cures. That’s not to say that Form School doesn’t have transcendental cures because it absolutely does. The menu for these is just not as broad and you can easily practice Form School without seeming too Woo. I’m at a place in my life where I am prepared to lean into the unseen forces that I have come to recognize as more real than the seen. I’m sure my mother’s recent passing in February also inspired a desire for deeper connection with otherworldly aspects of life.

Since my original Feng Shui training, I have continually added to my toolbox by reading extensively on the subject, studying Space Clearing with Denise Lynn, and testing for and attaining a Red Ribbon Professional credential through the International Feng Shui Guild. Last year I even got licensed in Fashion Feng Shui®️. In this field, your education is continual and mentorship with masters is ideal because the breadth and depth of knowledge is seemingly endless.

As mentioned, I felt I was ready to dive deeper into the more spiritual and mystical aspects of Feng Shui. The more I connect with my own divinity, the more I realize I need to incorporate spirituality into my work. In recent years I explored plant medicine and Shamanic journeys which recalibrated my world view and opened me up to embracing spirituality in a more transparent way. I used to feel like I had to gloss over the spiritual aspects of life and my work because when I started out in this field, I often came across both skeptical and miss-informed people. Listen I still do. I just don’t care anymore. That’s not my customer or my audience. Those aren’t my people. I get it. However, there’s a whole big beautiful world out there full of people for whom it is for! I want to talk to them fearlessly and without hesitation. I’m coming out of the spiritual closet so to speak.

Feng Shui is an energetic practice and if the exchange is not reciprocal, there is no exchange to be had. I want to work with clients who appreciate and embrace that.

The wisdom of Feng Shui is sacred and it should be treated as such. So I definitely feel blessed that I have the luxury of working for myself rather than a corporate entity or employer. I no longer have to answer to anyone or pretend to just be helping you decorate. Feng Shui is a manifesting practice. Your home is a living breathing 3D Vision Board. I’m curator of your ideal personal narrative.

I as a practitioner of a sacred energetic practice, I risk an energy leak if I share the wisdom without proper reciprocity. It took me years to fully understand this. It’s probably the most important thing I have learned from the Mastermind I’m in. All those years that I wanted to be generous and helpful, I was selling myself short and paying the price. I was often left physically and emotionally depleted. Now it all makes sense. In treating this practice as sacred, I can have clear boundaries that protect me and provide much greater impact and efficacy for my clients. In the past, I have suffered from what I now affectionately refer to as Feng Shui Tourette’s! Just like it’s inappropriate for a psychic to walk up to a perfect stranger and tell them they have a message from the other side. It’s not my place to tell someone about their Feng Shui who has not expressly asked or hired me.

One of my favorite things we practiced during the Mastermind is the RED ENVELOPE TRADITION. It’s an ancient tradition in which payment for Feng Shui services particularly cures and adjustments is given by the client and received by the practitioner in pretty red envelopes. The number of envelopes is exchanged in multiples of 9. So 9, 18, 27, and 36 etc. The more in depth and sacred the knowledge you share is, the more red envelopes filled with money are exchanged for that wisdom. The Mastermind was pretty advanced so we each paid with 36 individual envelopes! The ornate Chinese Red envelopes also create a level of ceremony around the exchange.

Participating in this Mastermind was an “investment” in myself that was a long time coming and the right opportunity presented itself in divine timing so I went for it.

The first day of the Mastermind coincided with a new moon Eclipse which happened to be in my 12 house of seclusion and self inquiry. I was extremely sick with a persistent flu that had lingered since my mom’s death in February so I entered the mastermind a hot vulnerable mess. We were a group of 6 woman from various backgrounds and parts of the country. Our teacher and mentor was Kristina Hollinger, a colleague in my field I have been friendly with and following on social for over a decade. I have watched her evolve her business in aspirational ways. In following her trajectory I learned that she herself had invested in multiple Masterminds and coaching and her content and reach reflected this. I wanted to participate in a mastermind and coaching experience that was specific to my very niche field. I made the leap with Kristina because I knew she walked her talk and was speaking my language.

With Kristina at the helm, we were a group of 7 women. The lessons, meditations, mantras, videos and practices of the Mastermind were housed in a portal called Kajabi. Our interactions as a group were held over Zoom and a very active Telegraph thread.

I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect from the Mastermind. What I got was a deep dive into the Spiritual side of Feng Shui. It was full on Feng Shui on steroids with a combination of information I already knew along with Sacred mantras, meditations and rituals that were new to me. The schedule was aggressive and comprehensive. There wasn’t an inch of my home left unactivated! What I realized in the process was that when I combined what I already knew with all the Woo, it actually magnified the effects.

Every cure and adjustment is treated as a sacred act! I loved it. It was the perfect spiritual retreat and staycation for me as I recovered from illness and navigated grief. Daily Mantras, Meditations and Chanting. Lots of cleaning and Space Clearing. Tuning in to every inch of my home and narrative with intention was just what the doctor ordered. I took the opportunity to redecorate my entire home from a Feng Shui perspective. During the Mastermind, I manifested $6500. I invested that sum into reimagining and transforming my Space into my ideal personal narrative! It’s a whole new magical Set & Setting.

The biggest upgrades included my bed and bedroom furniture, a Sofa, rug, coffee table sideboard/buffet, Art, desk chair and office rug etc. The bed alone was a huge shift! It is the most important and impactful piece of furniture you own! It represents and holds the energy of your health and love life. Two areas of life where a reset was needed! My new vibrant orange velvet art deco inspired Sofa and floral Art are the set and setting for my Podcast! This area of my home happen to reside in my Love & Fame Gua! The new art contains the mantra “Love Is All”! It’s the message you are greeted with when you enter my space! I wake up every day now thinking OMG, this is paradise!

All these changes culminated with my father gifting me with a beautiful brand new car! From a Feng Shui perspective, your car is an extension of your energy body. It represents a clear new path and vessel. When I meditated on my brand new pearly white hybrid Honda Civic, she asked me to call her Crystal 😉. She was Crystal clear!

I can’t wait to incorporate everything I have learned into my practice. In the words of Developmental Biologist Bruce Lipton, “You change the container, you change the contents.” Cheers everybody and Ciao for now!

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

If you’re new to the Pod, my name is Laura and I’m a certified Feng Shui Practitioner, Curator and Stylist for you and your Space. Join me and my guests for conversations around lifestyle and wellness with a focus on living and curating our best lives. Subscribe for tips on mindful living! This hybrid Podcast & Newsletter originates on Substack where you can follow me for all the visuals, text and video. The Show is now on video with interview guests along with solo episodes so I encourage you to subscribe and watch on Substack and YouTube. For all my other content and services check out my Link-tree.

Hello and welcome back to Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion! If you’re new here my name is Laura aka The Feng Shui Lady ®️. I have been mia for a few weeks but I’m back! Since my mother died in February, I have basically been ill. In my mind inexplicably so because I haven’t been sick in so many years that I can’t remember the last time I was sick. It’s been more than 5 years, maybe ten. I can’t say for sure, but suffice it to say that I have a hardy immune system. Being as sick as I have been in recent days has been both humbling and healing.

I first fell ill after my mom’s death and service in mid February. It seemed like a common place cold that lasted a couple weeks. Symbolically, I felt like it was my body forcing me to cry, to grieve which on some level I was resisting. I eventually got better and I was finally being social and out in the world when I got sick again on March 24th after a brief but productive social period. For the most part, I have been sick since February and it’s forced me to look within and do some shadow work.

With round 2 of my illness, I lost my voice for the first couple days then it turned into a full blown flu that took me out and would not let me go. I would pass out on the couch with a box of Kleenex for no reason. I slept for days and days and started to wonder if I would ever get better. It was also in my chest this time with a painful relentless cough that left me gasping for air in the middle of the night. I had all these plans and I couldn’t show up for any of them. It’s like the universe gave me a non negotiable time out. It got so bad I finally went to Urgent Care to see if I had Covid but the line was so long and I got there close to closing so they couldn’t see me. By The next morning, I finally woke up feeling human again! Of course Mercury just went direct so I guess my time out is over! The cough is still hanging out but I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. I no longer feel like I’m at death’s door begging for mercy.

I have basically been self quarantined because I didn’t want to spread whatever I had and quite honestly I would get dizzy just trying to do little things like feed myself. Thank God for Grubhub.

I’m one of those people who attributes everything medical to something emotional or spiritual. Think Louise Hay… She would say my initial cold represented “ Too much going on at once. Mental confusion, disorder. Small hurts…” As for the persistent cough, Louise would say it represents “A desire to bark at the world! See me! Listen to me!” Yep, all that rings true.

Following my mother’s passing, I was navigating my father and brother’s grief, and spending time in my childhood home with them. I slept in my childhood bedroom which my mother had long since taken over. My parents have slept in separate bedrooms for the last decade. My brother has been living with them for over a decade as well. We are Latin so it’s not as weird as it sounds.

While I was staying at my family home, my father, brother and I were navigating all the details and legalities of death. Death certificates, changing banking and billing information, updating our family trust, life insurance policies blah, blah, blah. The loose ends seem endless.

I was mostly pretty numb. I was present to cook for the men in my family and be the new matriarch. I was there to show them how to do laundry. I cooked and made it known we would be eating in the dining room…. I was the new matriarch.

I cried at the service because seeing your mother’s dead body is jarring and macabre. That said, overall I did not feel grief stricken. My biggest concern has been my dad and how sad and fragile he is. He’s sort of lost without her (like a Stockholm Syndrome survivor). I can tell he doesn’t want to hang around much longer. He really misses her even the yelling and the insults. They were pretty toxic. My mom had a sharp tongue and a short fuse. I never understood their dynamic. I think it’s why I have not married. I remember as a child thinking if this is love, I’ll take a pass.

My dad and I are close now. It’s a relationship that was built over time and largely in my adult years because my dad traveled a lot for business during my childhood. He was lovely but busy and far away. My mother and I fought it out during the times when my father was not around. When he was around, I served as a point of contention. I can look back and see it all now…. He was traveling and working to support our family. I did not become close to my dad until I was an adult. Meanwhile, I was subject to my mother’s disdain for most of my life. As mentioned, I hadn’t really cried much or grieved my mother’s death the way one would expect and believe me I have grieved before and I am very expressive! I know what that feels and looks like and this was different.

It wasn’t until I got sick and had nothing but memories and feverish dreams for company that I really felt the weight of my mom’s death. I had to get mad before I could allow myself to feel sad. I remembered episodes from my childhood that I had blocked out because they were so painful. It was like the universe needed me to feel and remember everything and it wasn’t fun.

Evelyn and I had a complicated relationship and I am conflicted about how much of it I want to reveal here. I will let you in on a little secret though, Evelyn aka Mamita did not “like” me. She did however adore my older brother so it wasn’t like oh she’s just not maternal. It was me. I was the problem. She felt I wasn’t very bright. It’s true that I wasn’t the best student and I did have an attendance problem, but I wasn’t dumb. I was just checked out in my own way. A mental escape artist. One of her favorite things to call me was “Estupida!” That’s Spanish for stupid. She would constantly remind that there were volumes and volumes of things that I did not know. Encyclopedias full she would insist! In reality you could say that about anybody, but whatever.

I apparently was not planned and she would emphasize the point by telling me “I wish you were never born!” She begrudgingly raised me. She kept me alive but she killed my spirit in the process. If she loved me, it was out of obligation not adoration.

Over the years, I did some therapy around this and read some books and eventually just went numb to her as a form of self preservation. She was blatantly hostile towards me even in my adult years. Actually, she got meaner as I got older because there was less pretense. One time I was visiting my parents for my father’s birthday I think and without provocation my mom blurted out that I looked heavy! “Laura that dress makes you look fat. You don’t have the right body for that!” My heart sank and I never wore that dress again. It’s not like I had anything I could change into either. I just had to suck it up and feel chubby for the rest of the day. Meanwhile, compared to her, I looked like a freaking super model. She was the one who was actually overweight. Listen in spite of all her put downs, I really made an effort to connect with her for many years. She just had no interest and one can only take so much rejection. So yes, I went numb.

In my adult years my father has consistently called every year to wish me a happy birthday. My birthday is the day after Christmas so growing up I never actually had birthday parties. As a result, I am a little sensitive about my birthday. People are preoccupied that time of year. So I am delighted when he calls! My dad always asks my mother if she wants to talk to me. Usually she declined, but once in a blue moon she did talk to me and we would have an empty perfunctory conversation. It was performative for my dad I suppose. She just wasn’t curious about me or what I was up to.

A couple weeks before she died my mom joined Substack. She was on here where I host a podcast and a newsletter. If you’re wondering, no she did not subscribe. For those of you listening to this or who aren’t familiar with Substack, when you join, it alerts you of all your contacts on the platform. She would have seen me and consciously chosen not to follow or subscribe. Same with Facebook, I sent her friend request years ago. It’s still pending. Even on her death bed when my father asked Evelyn if she wanted to talk to her daughter, she declined one last time. That’s how she left things. That final rejection was the nail in the coffin for me. This cough is me screaming why don’t you love me…

I suppose I have been going through something and I am embarrassed to admit it. I have mommy issues. I really wanted her to like me. I chased that validation my whole life and eventually gave up. When I looked for validation elsewhere like for instance in my dating life, I found myself dating men who made me feel the same way my mother did. Invisible, unlovable, and like I was taking up too much space. Now that my mom’s gone, I want to focus finding my voice and being there for my dad. Perhaps one day I will meet someone more like him. Carlos is present, reliable, always interested in what I’m up to. He is protective and generous and always so excited to see me. I don’t have to initiate every interaction. He’s got me on his radar and anticipates my needs in ways that make me feel seen and safe. He’s the best man I know…

Listen, I believe in death all is forgiven and whatever messed up karmic bond my mother and I had; that dynamic is over now. The slate is clean. In death, my mother has left me her jewels, her car, her husband and a strange feeling that she’s now rooting for me. She’s finally paying attention and hooking me up with blessings from the other side. And yes, I am finally finding my voice.

I feel like this illness was a spiritual cleansing. Just like how in a Shamanic Ayahuasca journey it begins with you getting violently ill. It’s part of the process and price you pay to reach some level of enlightenment. A purging happens and then there is room for the blessings to enter. That’s how this year has felt for me and I know I’m not alone in this. We are in a 9 universal year which is also the year of the Snake and it’s affecting all of us collectively. It’s a death and rebirth for each of us in some way. The universe does not make us suffer in vain, there is always a reward like flowers after it rains.

In the midst of my recent dark nights, I was inspired to deepen my Feng Shui practice with Black Sect Tantric Buddhist Feng Shui transmissions, traditions and teachings. On the March 29th New Moon Lunar Eclipse, I dove into a 3 month long Feng Shui Mastermind. I feel like I’m on a magical mystery tour.

Today, my self quarantine finally ended and I mustered the energy to visit a dear friend with a beautiful garden. It was a gorgeous day and I felt like I was seeing the world through a whole new lens. With my Feng Shui eyes and Rose Colored glasses so to speak! I wore white because that’s the color you wear during a Shamanic experience. Something has shifted. I feel grateful for every little thing! Blessings everyone and Ciao for now.

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

If you’re new to the Pod, my name is Laura and I’m a certified Feng Shui Practitioner, Curator and Stylist for you and your Space. Join me and my guests for conversations around wellness with a focus on living and curating our best lives. New Episodes drop on Feng Shui Fridays. Subscribe for weekly tips on mindful living! This hybrid Podcast & Newsletter originates on Substack where you can follow me for all the visuals, text and video. The Show is now on video with interview guests along with solo episodes so I encourage you to subscribe and watch on Substack and YouTube. For all my other content and services check out my Link-tree.

Hello and welcome back to Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion! Last night I got all dolled up and attended an Artist Reception that a friend and colleague from my days selling furniture and art invited me to. It was at BoConcept in West Hollywood which is a modern furniture retailer so of course I wore a flirty mod dress! It was so much fun and I truly felt in my element. I was there to support Jen’s event which featured the work of abstract Artist Bill Sherwood shown here in the picture in front of his work.

Jen who you can reach out to here at Jennifer Aos and I haven’t seen each other in a few years and it was such heartwarming and inspiring evening. I got to chat and connect with Architects, Designers, Artists and other colorful creatives. I felt like I could really be myself around these folks and maybe just a little extra! Their eyes lit up when I spoke about Feng Shui. Trust me in some circles that’s not the case. I made some really great professional and personal contacts and got to reconnect with Jennifer, an Artist herself who I genuinely adore.

I realized last night that I miss traveling in these circles and I need to get back out in the world of the arts. It reminded me how important it is to experience and participate in the arts and how impactful it is to our collective experience from both a macro and micro perspective.

In that vein, I resurrected an interview and story I wrote for Thrive Global/Medium back in 2017 on the topic of Art. It’s Mercury and Venus Retrograde right now so it’s the perfect time to revisit our work and ideas and around aesthetics and communication. Tell you what in going back and reading my piece, I found it holds up and I think now is the perfect time to resurrect it! I feel Art is both therapeutic and enlightening. It’s actually foundational to my perspective on Feng Shui. The writing and drawings are always on the wall so to speak… So with that I share my piece “Art As An Agent For Personal & Global Transformation” “Art As An Agent For Personal & Global Transformation” In the words of Carl Jung “Art intuitively apprehends coming changes in the collective unconscious.”

Science and Psychology speak to Art’s influence and impact on our lives going far beyond its aesthetic merits. Carl Jung, the father of analytical psychology, spoke of Art’s influence on the collective unconscious and our big picture story as a society in The Red Book as well as it’s more individual impact through symbols on our personal narratives in his groundbreaking book Man And His Symbols.

I see art as an agent for personal healing and transformation. In my Feng Shui practice, I look first to the narrative being expressed in my clients art. Feng Shui is one of the 5 Branches of Chinese medicine and I take a laser focus on my clients art to inform my “diagnosis.” My work is strongly influenced by Jung particularly where it comes to Symbolism and Metaphor in art.

“Art accesses some of the most advanced processes of human intuitive analysis and expressivity and a key form of aesthetic appreciation is through embodied cognition, the ability to project oneself as an agent in the depicted scene,” said Christopher Tyler, director of the Smith-Kettlewell Brain Imaging Center at the Neuroscience and Society speaker series sponsored by the AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program and the Dana Foundation on Oct. 24, 2013.

In my personal estimation, I would go so far as to say that Art is Alchemy… I see a direct correlation with my clients personal narratives reflected in the art and imagery they surround themselves with. I even based my Feng Shui practice, Narrative Space, on the premise that your home, business, or any physical space has an energetic narrative that can be interpreted and edited through Feng Shui. A significant portion of that narrative is communicated through the art in your home or business and more specifically in how that artistic narrative is curated.

I am so passionate about this subject that I interviewed Joan Norton, a Jungian Therapist M.A., M.F.T. and author of The Mary Magdalene Within and and 14 Steps to Awaken the Divine Feminine: Women in the Circle of Mary Magdalene to better understand arts psychological influence. I chose Joan, not only for her more than 40 years of expertise in Jungian Psychotherapy, but also for her unique perspective on art having been married to the now deceased artist Robert Barrere.

Laura — How does the mind respond to the visual cues and symbols in art and how do those messages to the unconscious mind affect us?

Joan — Our minds respond to images enthusiastically, as if they were food, because imagery is our first and most potent source of information about life. It can either do damage or do good, just like food. It’s wise to watch what kind of images we feed our minds on the walls of our house. Emotion is generated by artwork and it might not be the kind of emotion that will support you or move your life along in a positive direction.

Laura — Could negative imagery be damaging?

Joan — The negative influence of constantly looking at a degenerate image can be subtle in the moment but profound in the long-term. It can undermine our moral strength and turn our personal philosophy very dark.

One person’s negative image can be another person’s source of deep support. I have a painting that my sister did of jagged swirls of lines and color with a vague animal figure in the middle. I like it because I appreciate the clean-up effect of chaos, and I know that if there’s an animal in the middle there’s an instinct at work which may be creating a new, healthier pattern of consciousness. But another person might find that swirl of paint disturbing. That’s fine, it feeds me right now.

Paintings that I once found comforting can seem banal to me now, and will produce listlessness in me if I look at them. Your art should reflect you at this moment in time. In your public living room space you won’t want to put the chaos-and-animal painting, that’s probably private. Living room art images of inspiring landscapes or animals or beautiful portraits will uplift and support everyone who looks at them.

Laura — Is it possible that positive imagery in art could have benefits beyond it’s aesthetic?

Joan — Images have physical benefits beyond their aesthetic value. It’s common knowledge that relaxation imagery lowers blood pressure and releases hormones that increase the feelings of well-being. If we apply that knowledge to our wall art, you can imagine how it would improve life.

Laura — In my work as a Feng Shui practitioner, I help people both narrate and curate their art to support a positive and empowering narrative for their hopes and dreams. As a therapist, what are your thoughts on this sort of Space Therapy?

Joan — A sensitive Feng Shui practitioner is very much like a therapist who works on consciousness, observing where there is consciousness/energy “leakage” and where consciousness can be uplifted. Of course Feng Shui is not a “one size fits all” formula, and neither either is psychotherapy. Both are a “care of the soul” enterprise, and that will always and evermore be individualistic.

Joan’s insights and perspective inspire me to continue to explore the impact of art on not only my clients lives and my own, but as a universal theme. We can all take a closer look at our art and see if the symbols, metaphors and messages reflected align with a narrative that supports your hopes and dreams. Look to your own intuition about how your art makes you feel. In a broader sense, it serves us to look at art and artists of our past and present times to help inform more universal themes and dreams as a collective. Art is impacting us on a number of different levels psychologically, emotionally, energetically, aesthetically, thematically, symbolically, metaphorically and even physically.

From a Feng Shui perspective, art is telling your story in a narrative that can be energetically curated to enhance and activate the 9 different life themes reflected in the energetic Feng Shui map called the Bagua. These include: Prosperity, Fame & Reputation, Love, Family, Health, Children & Creativity, Skills & Knowledge, Career, and Travel. A Feng Shui consultation can help you curate your art to make the most of these themes while Jungian Therapy can help you better understand the themes and symbols in your art and how they are impacting you. Consider using Art in a therapeutic way to enhance your life by consciously curating it! For more insight into Feng Shui you can check out my Link-tree and you can contact Joan Norton for more on Jungian Therapy.

I hope you enjoyed and gleaned something from this piece. Many Blessings my friends and Ciao for Now!

Thanks for reading Laura’s Substack ~ Where Feng Shui Meets Fashion!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Happy Holidays Folks & Welcome to The Feng Shui Money Couch. I have a Feng Shui Story for you today that I hope will shed some light on the true nature of Feng Shui.

I’m recording this on Christmas Eve and it’ll be live on my Birthday which is the day after Christmas! Yes, that’s Feng Shui Friday or December 26! Turns out I was born on a Friday and on a full moon. I was actually 3 months premature and entered the world in a dramatic and dangerous manner with my parents waking up in a pool of blood because the placenta had broken. An emergency caesarian was performed and I entered the world ahead of my time.

I share this birthday with 2 influential male authors; not the exact year but the date. Henry Miller and David Sedaris where both born December 26th, both men whose work was autobiographical and unconventional in nature. That’s a vibe I relate to. I can’t imagine that being born on one of the most anticlimactic days of the year didn’t color their personalities in some way. It’s definitely colored mine.

Nobody wants to compete with Jesus for attention on their birthday. You end sucking it up: never getting to shine on your special day so to speak. It engenders underdog vibes. I think this is the foundation for a particular set of sensibilities and an unconventional nature.

Henry Miller was hyper masculine, Unfiltered, rebellious, erotic, and philosophically and spiritually searching.

While David Sedaris is openly homosexual, humorous, self deprecating and focused on observational humor. I actually met David in San Francisco at a book signing and I mentioned we shared a birthday. At the end of the evening, he gave me the bouquet of flowers that was on the table where he was signing….

Both Miller & Sedaris’s work is Unconventional and autobiographical. They live through their stories.

I also live and breathe my rather unconventional work. Before I became The Feng Shui Lady, I majored in Journalism so I do see life through narrative and it’s why I connect with the lens of a writer and also why The Art of Feng Shui speaks to me. Once I began my studies in Feng Shui, it’s really the only thing I write about. I think on my grave there should the following quote. “I can make anything about Feng Shui.” And the reason that’s true is because it’s a physical language between ourselves and the world that begins at birth and never really ends. We are always in communication with our environment even if we don’t understand the language. Feng Shui is the language. If you liken Feng Shui to Story Boarding like I do, you will recognize that the Sexy piece of art with lovers in an embrace hung in your home is communicating something. Ideally it’s hung in the area of your home that represents your love life where it will do you the most good. We use what’s called a Bagua Map in Feng Shui which serves as a treasure map for all 9 of our life themes including Love. Once you discover where to find and activate the love or the money areas or any area of your home, you’ll never take it for granted again. You’ll be in a relationship with what is happening; where it’s happening and why. You’ll have agency to change what is happening to be more to your liking. That’s Feng Shui. Creating a Set & Setting for the life you desire. That communication can be conscious or unconscious. Feng Shui makes it conscious and empowering. With that in mind, you should know that Art is alchemy, it’s powerful. It’s the symbolic writing on the wall.

We just had the Solstice and we are currently in a very Yin period. A quiet, behind the scenes period of preparation. A perfect closing out period for the year of the snake. The year of death and rebirth! It’s a good time to take stock what you actually achieved this year and how that is setting the stage for next year. A beautiful time to Feng Shui. If you look at your home from a Feng Shui perspective, you could look at how it has evolved and shifted over the last year. What new stories unfolded. What parts of your physical narrative changed and how. I personally replaced and upgraded almost every piece of furniture I owned. Then I physically moved to a whole new town. If this were a literary analogy. I didn’t just start a whole new chapter, I’m writing an entirety different book!

How about you what’s changed? How do you want your life to look and feel next year? I spent the Solstice an energy we are still in contemplating and formulating my action plan for next year. If you want help creating both an energetic and visual narrative through Feng Shui, reach out for a consultation or just dip your toes with my free Feng Shui Basics course. I’ll include links to reach me Scheduling Link and the mini course FREE FENG SHUI BASICS COURSE in the show notes. I invite you to subscribe, like and share. Every little bit helps to support the Show!

Many Blessings & Merry Christmas my friends.

Cheers & CIAO for now.

Laura’s Substack ~ THE FENG SHUI MONEY COUCH is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Hello & Welcome to The Feng Shui Money Couch! I’m recording this Feng Shui Quickie on New Year’s Day!

The inspiration for this episode is to help us balance our energy and set the stage for a prosperous 2026! I talk a lot about set and setting. And after the holidays and my birthday, I found myself wanting to be in a calmer more Zen state so I made some simple yet impactful changes to my overall decor.

It’s important to note that while New Year’s Eve was a universal portal for change, it was just a precursor for the lunar new year on February 17th. You still have time to make shifts to your environment that will support you as we enter the year of the Fire Horse in February.

Your homes decor is not just creating an aesthetic for you, it’s impacting your nervous system and ability to relax and or motivate. It’s also a canvas for you to paint and communicate your personal vision for your life! Think of your home as a Living Breathing 3 D Vision Board!

I recommend creating a setting that is flexible and adaptable to your needs which inevitably will shift depending on the seasons, the energy of the current year, and what’s personally happening in your life.

In Feng Shui we work with the elements and color is a powerful way to activate certain elements that impact our nervous systems.

Research shows that colors in the red spectrum tend to be more stimulating and can increase arousal and energy levels. Red can boost heart rate, increase adrenaline, and even heighten focus and attention.

On the flip side, green is generally associated with calmness, relaxation, and even lower stress levels. It tends to have a soothing effect and can promote a sense of balance and tranquility.

So, in essence, red spectrum activates and energizes, while green calms and soothes. The Red & Green Holiday theme is an exercise in elemental balance.

In Feng Shui Red spectrum colors represent fire element which is beneficial for certain areas of your home and detrimental to others. It’s important to balance the elements to create a harmonious environment and understand where to emphasize and or deemphasize certain elements. A Feng Shui consultation can help determine the state of your home’s elemental balance and how to manage it.

Around the holidays we tend to emphasize red and green in different measures. In Feng Shui Green represents Wood element which is about growth and it feeds the fire element while the fire depletes the wood. These 2 elements present us with a delicate equilibrium.

I was feeling a little overstimulated after Christmas and my birthday so I chose to turn the volume down on the red spectrum in my living room and bedroom while turning the volume up on the green or wood element. The emphasis went from a raging fire fed by the wood to a soothing woodsy forest with a splash of fire and embers.

To accomplish this in the living room, I simply swapped out my burnt orange accent pillows with these blush ones. In my bedroom I swapped my faux fur bedspread which represents fire element with a beautiful floral forest inspired one! Then I got so inspired that I ordered a whole new set of throw pillows for the Money Couch and the year of the Fire Horse! I can’t wait to debut them when they arrive. They have a sexy Moroccan Vibe.

Listen folks, these are simple hacks you can use to make energetic and aesthetic changes on a budget. You don’t have to buy all new furniture to achieve a refresh! Color options for your Bedding and accent pillows are my seasonal redecorating tip for an elemental shift. I love to swap out my throw pillows and blankets in the living room periodically with a new color palette. Then alternate my duvet cover or bedspread in the bedroom to change the whole vibe! It’s like having different outfits for your sofa and bed depending on your mood. You can try this redecorating and energy shifting hack when you need to raise or lower the volume on any of the elements. Try it and let me know how you feel!

The great thing is you can always switch it back or try something entirely different without breaking the bank or going to too much trouble!

I have been talking about fire and wood elements in this episode, but there’s actually 5 elements we work with in Feng Shui; Fire, wood, water, metal and earth. I dive deep into how to work with all 5 in my FREE FENG SHUI BASICS COURSE available for download now! I’ll share a link in the show notes.

When you see the difference, you will feel the difference!

2025 was the year of the Wood Snake and 2026 will be the year of the Fire Horse so I am sure I will be raising the volume on fire element once again once we reach the lunar new year and as soon as I get those new pillows! The year of the Fire Horse officially begins on February 4, 2026. The difference between elements will definitely be felt once we enter this time!

I invite you to start 2026 on the right foot with some FREE FENG SHUI BASICS COURSE ! Many Blessings my friends. Remember to subscribe, like and share. It means more than you know to spread the love.

I want to wish everyone happy and magical new year! Cheers & Ciao for Now!

Laura’s Substack ~ THE FENG SHUI MONEY COUCH is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.