I’m excited about what this month is going to bring! I’ll be taking almost the whole month off to learn some new techniques, so I can be more efficient in my consultations. It is never too late to learn, and I’m always seeking new tips that can help improve the lives of my clients faster and more profoundly. So if you have a consultation with me in the future, be ready for warp speed! (You students that have signed up for my training in August better be ready - it’s going to be a wild ride for sure!) And if you haven’t yet registered, the 30th of this month is the last day to sign up. There is only one spot left!

Wish me luck! Look for the new and improved me in the August newsletter!

Question #1: I’m female and my hair is literally falling out for no apparent reason. Can I use feng shui to help me with a physical problem such as this?

Answer #1: Well, of course you could do some things in your home to support you a bit better, but I’m not sure it would make sense to you. Hair falling out is a kidney yin deficiency.

Let’s talk about yin first. The theory of yin-yang is a conceptual framework used for observing and analyzing the material world. It serves to explain the organic structure, physiological functions and pathological changes of the human body, and in addition guides clinical diagnosis and treatment and prevention. This is the modality that practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine are operating from.

Now for the kidney part. Each element is represented in the body by a major organ. Wood is the liver, Fire is the heart, Earth is the stomach, Metal is the lungs, and the kidney is associated with Water element.

Now that we know that, one might consider using feng shui cures in the area of career and life path – the front center part of the home or a room, and make sure it has something considered “yin” in it, as it appears to be deficient from your description. Things showing more yin characteristics include darker colors, moisture, cool, feminine shapes and symbols and so on. Just enhancing this area with a flowing, healthy water feature could be a benefit to you with this condition if I were guessing about your home environment.

Of course, balancing items in the home is the name of the game, too. So if you have an overabundance of earth here, or even an overabundance of wood (wood reduces water,) you may want to consider moving some of this stuff out as a remedy.

But at a minimum, I would also definitely consider using a combination of "house feng shui" and "feng shui for the body" --- Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for this situation. You see, "what is closest to you is most powerful." Therefore, an internal body tonic or body work such as acupuncture would be a "more powerful" solution than an exterior-to-the body adjustment, as this concerns the internal body. Does that make sense?

Now, getting back to yin and yang for a bit, when the theory of yin and yang is used to explain the organic structure of the human body; the physical form pertains to yin, while activities or functions pertain to yang. The physical forms are the material basis for functions, while functions are the motivating power for physical forms. They are mutually complementary. TCM views the kidneys as the center of the body's yin and yang, the "congenital foundation," or the origin of life. In other words, the kidneys store the primordial yin and primordial yang (also called kidney yin and yang), which is the place where nutrients are stored and physiological functions take place.

Kidney yin, also called primordial yin, true yin or true water, is the foundation of the yin fluid of the whole body; it moistens and nourishes the organs and tissues. (Yin fluid refers to the components of body fluids such as essence, blood, thin and thick fluids.

Presentations of kidney yin deficiency include: soreness and weakness of the lumbar regions and knees, dizziness, ringing in the ears, hearing problems, a dry mouth and throat, a hot sensation in the palms, soles and chest, spontaneous sweating, constipation, and seminal emission. The pulse is weak or fine and rapid; the tongue is red and covered with a light coating of fur.

Now, for the yang part. Kidney yang, also called primordial yang, true yang or true fire, is the foundation of the yang qi of the whole body; it warms and promotes the functions of the organs and tissues.

Presentations of kidney yang deficiency include: soreness or cold sensation in the knees and lumbar regions, aversion to cold, cold limbs, spiritual fatigue, difficulty in urination, enuresis, incontinence, declining libido, or impotence in severe cases; female sterility, and general edema may also appear. The pulse is fine or fine and deep; the tongue is bulky, moist, and covered with white fur.

There are many herbal tonics out there that help tonify kidney yin deficiency. I would recommend seeing a good acupuncturist to make sure you’ve diagnosed yourself correctly, and to receive their professional recommendations.

There are also foods that can help and foods that can work against you with regard to this deficiency. (See food energy tips below.) But in the meantime, go ahead and see if you can find a lack of yin or any imbalances in the home. Start with simple fixes like those described in my book and track your results. (And be sure to get out your "helpful people box" and use it if you need to find a TCM practitioner near you.)

Question #2: There has been a ton of layoffs in my line of work. I’m wondering if there is anything you can tell me to do for job security?

Answer #2: Sounds to me like you’re still hanging in there, so I’d concentrate on being grateful for that and keep the good vibes flowing! But if you’d like to just be on the lookout for items in your environment that might work against you, here’s what I’d check into. I’d go back to the basics, and then work my way into the things that might connect with actual job security. (Remember, I don’t fix what isn’t broken!)1. Make sure that the front door, and the walk to it is in peak condition. We don’t want ANYTHING to impede the chi flow toward you.

2. Of course, once you get the energy in, it has to have a place to go. So get that foyer de-cluttered and clean, as well as any other stuck spots in the house. (See my newsletter archive for de-cluttering tips if you need them Feng Shui Palace Newsletters .)

3. Get your bed, office chair, and any other main piece of furniture (couch in the living room, exercise bike in your home gym, or whatever) in "the armchair position." That means your back should have a solid wall behind it, and you should be able to see who’s coming into the room from the main door without being in line with the door. You want to have your back covered and protected. This directly relates to the word "security" in job security. Think of how the king, judge, and pope position themselves in order to command respect. That tall chair back is a symbol of respect. So get yourself looking like that! (Copying is not against the rules here!)

If, for some reason you cannot get into that position, place a mirror somewhere in front of you so that the door or doorway is reflected in it "so the door is now in front of you." There’s a feng shui rule that an object and its reflection are energetically the same in feng shui, so use it to get that door "in front of you."

4. Now that you’ve covered the basics, then I would possibly add your company’s name in your helpful people box if it is not there already. You could be specific with people’s names inside the company too if you want.

5. As for something specific for the "job" part of "job security," you might want to see if the career guas of your lot, home and rooms are in good order. That’s the center-front part of the home, or room from where you walk into the space.

6. I’d check to make sure that there is NOT an overabundance of earth element (earth controls water) or wood element (wood reduces water) in the "career", or front, center part of the home/room. Water element includes glass, mirror, black and dark colors, free-form shapes and actual water features like aquariums and water features. Earth items include pottery, square tiles, brick, earth tone colors and dirt in planter pots. Wood element stuff includes, plants, wooden floors and furnishings, tall columnar shapes and green colors. If you are totally confused by how to look at the elements, just work on all the other things and perhaps place a small object of water near this center front-hand area with intentions of adding a boost to your career.

And finally, if you do get laid off in spite of all your efforts, then I want you to expect something better to come along. Do not label the lay off as "something bad." If your feng shui is good and you get laid off, it is a good thing...trust me. I see it all the time. Your attitude should be like that of a small child with a stack of presents in front of them - a highly excited and anticipatory feeling that you don’t know what is coming up, but you know it is most likely going to be good, OK? :)

If you are interested in becoming an inspired professional feng shui consultant, capable of transforming your life and your client’s lives for the better and all the while making a good living, I invite you to sign up for the next training session coming up August 3 through 7th, in Naples Florida. There is 1 spot left. The sooner you sign up, the more time you have to study the pre-training assignments!

Here are the links to give you more information on and registration for this wonderful course!:

Feng Shui Palace Certification Course

Feng Shui Palace Certification Course Registration

Success Story # 1:

I have to share a link that takes you to one of my favorite "success stories" writers. I consulted on her home years ago in Texas. One thing that became apparent in the consult was the fact that "her stuff" seemed way older than she was. It was all heirloom things from ancestors. After spotting a picture of her wedding day (think daisies, ‘69, and Haight and Ashbury) I said "Where’d the hippies go?" That one question started the avalanche that we now can see as the new, younger-than-10-years-ago Cait. She has written in and has been featured in my newsletters on several occasions. She epitomizes the word successful. Here, 24 Hour Fitness has chosen to put her story in their success stories as well. Enjoy. Cait's Success Story

All mirrors (for help getting into the armchair position) and blue crystals (for the wisdom and career areas) are on 25% off this month!

Click here:

Feng Shui Palace Product Specials

Got kidney Yin deficiency? Here are some foods that can tonify or deplete kidney yin deficiency:

Foods to eat:

Pork Millet, barley, tofu, string beans, black beans, black soy, kidney beans, black sesame seeds, blueberries, blackberries, seaweeds, black fungus (Notice the color of most of these foods and how they relate to the water element?)

Foods to avoid:

Warming, drying, bitter, pungent items including chilies, curry and spices, cinnamon, garlic, ginger, onion, shallots, leeks, basil, clove, wasabi, coffee, tea, cigarettes, alcohol, corticosteroids, recreational stimulants, NASAIDS.

You don’t want to be water deficient or weak in your home if you are kidney yin deficient!

Here are a few water-saving/maintaining tips:

Fix leaky faucets and toilets. (This as well as many others on this list also does wonders for adding personal wealth as a side benefit!)

Don’t flush drugs down the toilet. This is contaminating the municipal water supply. Take them back to a pharmacy for disposal or place in the trash. (Some say to "soil" them in such a way where no one would consider using them prior to trashing.)

Install irrigation if you are hose watering and in an acceptable environment to do so.

Watch irrigation throughout its cycles. If water is running down the street, reset the timers or create water dams around planting areas to capture all water. Also, check for broken heads and pipes.

Use a bucket, not a hose....and when using both when washing the car, crimp or turn off the hose when you’re not spraying the car.

Capture rain water for garden and potted plant watering.

Minimize wet washes by sweeping outdoor patio spaces between wetted-down washes. (The act of sweeping is a great chi-activator and uplifter!)

Take shorter showers.

Catch the warming up water in the shower with a bucket and water plants around the house with it, or start a load of laundry with it.

Wash only full loads of laundry and dishes and use low phosphate detergents.

Buy and install a water heater blanket if yours is not insulated. Or better yet, consider installing a tank-less water heater. This eliminates the large amount of sitting water in one area of your bagua.)

Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth.

Consider a mineral salt pool rather than a chlorinated one if you have or need a pool.

If you have any interest in me coming to your city for a consultation or a lecture/speaking engagement, please reply to Jennifer

July 23-24, 2008

I will be available for approximately 4 on-site local consultations in Austin, Texas over the course of these two days. Each consultation usually takes between two and three hours where you will end up with a priority list of changes to be made that are specific to the results you are requesting. The consultation fee is $699.00. Please contact my office at 714-508-9935 or email Jennifer to set up a consultation time.

July 25-26, 2008