Mind States
Invigorate Your Life!
Feng Shui with Amanda Collins
by Sydney L. Murray
I wanted to start the New Year off right. I was in the process of getting my office ready for Feng Shui consultant Amanda Collins when I realized I was already in the process of creating better flow and organization in my space. I am somewhat aware of the basic principals of Feng Shui, yet I am always surprised when I do things naturally that have elements of Feng Shui in them. A water element sits by the front door. I have salt lamps in my area to enhance the earth element.
I have to admit, however, that I am a bit of a pile junkie. I receive copious amounts of mail, faxes, emails, books and product reviews on a daily basis. I also handle many of the business aspects of Vision Magazine so I am surrounded with paper from our accounting and business practices. All of this amounts to a lot of stuff around me! My goal is to keep it moving off of my desk and continue creating the flow and creativity that aid in a successful business.
Vision Magazine: Could you explain what Feng Shui is for our readers who are unclear?
Amanda Collins: It’s a way for people to connect with the natural environment [and] with the five elements of Feng Shui: water, wood, fire, earth and metal. A lot of people nowadays move from an office to a car to a home and they’re back in the car; they lose their connection with nature. Feng Shui is definitely about reconnecting.
VM: Can you give us an example of some successes you’ve had in your practice with Feng Shui?
AC: My best-case scenario was [with] one gentleman. He asked me to his home so that he could gain a [romantic] relationship. Feng Shui works on many different areas of your life. It can work on health, finances, your career, and relationships. He called me and said, ‘My health [and] finances are good, but I really need some help on love. It’s been six years.’ He’s a good-looking guy; he had a lot going for him. So we went up to view the love area of the home, which was the bedroom. You know, the home tells me the story. I’ve done a lot of study for many years, but I also depend on intuition. What’s the home saying to us? We walk into the bedroom, and it’s got a single bed. He’s got one nightstand. Everything’s a gray color and he’s got three pictures of himself in a row on the wall. I said, ‘Well, there’s a relationship going on, but it’s not with another person!’ So we set his home up for love. The first thing is—a single bed is not a good thing. You’re saying, ‘There’s not any room in my life for somebody else.’ The first thing we did was get a queen-sized bed. That’s really the best size, because the California king-sized bed [is] a little too big.
[Next] we got nightstands in pairs. We’re saying ‘I’m inviting someone into my life, and I want them to be comfortable too.’…I said to him. ‘Even though these three pictures of yourself are very nice, let’s get them down and put [up] something really loving and romantic.’ So we brought in a couple of the colors for love, and also from the year the house was built...From his date of birth, I worked out what elements we wanted to bring in.
I empower people with Feng Shui. I don’t do it [for them]; I give them the knowledge, and they implement it. I left that morning and he went out shopping…Within twenty-four hours, he had met somebody. They’re now married, and I would say that’s probably one of the best consultations I’ve done. But he was ready for it. It [was about] creating the love attraction in your own space.
VM: Why is it that one person can live well in a space while another might do worse?
AC: There are many different factors that come in. What are the surroundings? What are the streets like around it? Is there running water?…Then we go inside of the home. There are four different home and business types. One is going to be extremely supportive [with regards to] money…And then there’s the home that will probably be supportive for people in relationships, but not necessarily for finances. Or maybe there’s one [type] that is good for finances. You’ll see someone who’s really successful, but maybe they don’t have love. And then there are homes that aren’t supportive for relationships or money. They’re definitely not the ones we want. That’s where I come in. I look at the year the home was built, the direction it is facing. I use my compass but it’s not north, east, south or west [that I look for]. It’s the degree that I work out. And also from the year the house was built, which carries a certain energy, it comes up with certain combinations. From those combinations, I know what elements to implement. It blows me away with how well it works. Maybe I don’t know anything about the person. They’ve told me nothing. I go in, learn the Feng Shui, look at what the house is telling me, and I usually know what is going on.
VM: What is a good way to stay organized and reduce clutter?
AC: [One method] I really like is something called the three-box method. That’s when someone wants to clear out stuff…One box is for: ‘I really need to keep this stuff right now.’ The second box is: ‘I’m not too sure.’ Then this third box is for: ‘I’m going to let go of that.’…In the middle box, put the stuff you’re not too sure about. Throw it in there, close it up and put it up on the shelf. [Then] come back maybe a week or two later. You’re not going to open the box. Just keep a pen and paper handy, and write down everything that’s in [it]. If you don’t know what’s there, you don’t need it.
VM: How has Feng Shui affected you in your life?
AC: It absolutely changed my life. It’s my passion and my path. You can give the gift of it to so many people. [When] I finally decided that I was ready for a relationship, I Feng Shui’d my home for love and met my soul mate within three weeks. That was pretty amazing...It’s something that I truly believe in and I see how it enhances people’s lives.
Using some of Amanda’s suggestions, I have begun the process of enhancing our offices in Hillcrest. The space feels better and I am more efficient when I make time to clear the clutter. What a great way to start off a fabulous year!
For more information visit www.sdfengshui.com or call 858.736.7241 to set up an appointment with Amanda Collins.