Simply Feng Shui – Kathleen Tumpane ASID – sample articles from 460 + archive

Feng Shui Articles
Kathleen has published well over 300 articles in The Desert Sun, a Gannett newspaper serving the Palm Springs California area.

Here are some samples:
Daily Feng Shui Opportunities
Missing Squares
When gifts are clutter
Life Progress Report
Is your partner skeptical?
Does your refrigerator have good feng shui?
The 5 Elements Go Shopping
Plants as barometers

Contact Kathleen

Daily Feng Shui Opportunities
The Desert Sun 13 March 2004

Feng shui changes how your life feels. How much does it change? That depends on how many of the concepts you embrace and how frequently you factor feng shui into your thought processes and choices.

It is very unlikely that a normal person, like yourself, will go as far as I do. And I freely admit to going farther than woman was perhaps intended to go.

It all starts upon awakening. One day, I notice the art on the wall next to my bed. It’s a photograph of John Kennedy’s Friends and Lovers. My thoughts travel to evening plans … the joy of dinner and dancing with my sweetie. Yumm.

The second feng shui moment is the choice of mug for morning coffee. This sample day, it is a pumpkin glazed, elegant mug …which is earth energy due to color and material (ceramic) and metal energy due to its pristine and graceful shape.

This sample day is one to nurture clients (earth energy) and to plan a project installation (metal energy).

7 am: time for Bikram Yoga class. Where’s the feng shui? Good question. Forward bending postures relate to introverted energy. Backward bends relate to extroverted energy. I just notice which ones are easier that day. When the backward bends are more difficult than usual, it’s good that the day’s work activities can be done from the design studio.

Cooking breakfast, I try to remember which burner I used last on the cooktop… and use the next one on the clockwise rotation. Why? I want to activate all areas of my life.

The four burners represent: Wealth and Lifestyle (back left), Relationship and Commitment (back right), Helpful People and Travel (front right), and Knowledge and Self Knowledge (front left).

You’ll want to adopt this practice, too. And notice which burner you have (up to now) habitually used. Then notice how your life becomes more balanced as you deliberately use all of them.

Clothes and jewelry are carefully selected using feng shui principles. What is the most important activity planned?

This sample day, it is scheduling a project installation. For that I want metal energy. Also, as this will be done via phone and e mail…in my studio…I want to be supremely comfortable. A black and white knit Capri set honors both intentions: comfort and meticulous planning.

Days that include client visits, the feng shui choice of clothes and jewelry matches the client’s lead elements. Even if I’ve not yet met them in person. My intuition guides the choices. And frankly, sometimes it’s absolutely amazing.

Once the dress that captured my attention was bright, and I mean, bright red orange. This is a very, fiery color. One that I had never before chosen for a first client meeting. And when she opened the door---she was wearing the exact same outrageously bright red orange color!

When the day’s work is done, if I go out I’ll use my personal time keys. This is especially useful for people who work from their home. It helps define work and play time so one doesn’t poach on the other. You have a key chain you designate "work" and one for "play."

And, of course, play time clothes are much different than work clothes. Another feng shui opportunity.

These are just some of the feng shui choices available to you, each day !

My personal mission is to joyfully inspire you to savor your surroundings and savor your life. If this column motivates you to make some changes to your home or office, I’d love to know via quick e !

Missing Squares Return to top
The Desert Sun 20 January 2001

The "footprints" of many contemporary homes look more like a jigsaw puzzle piece rather than the simple rectangles of an Early American home, for example. A footprint is the shape made by the perimeter walls of your home. If it was a foot placed in wet sand and then carefully lifted, what would the print look like?

Make a quick sketch of your home’s footprint and that of your office. You need only indicate the location of the architectural front door. The wall with the architectural front door is the base of your "tic tac toe" board which will create the nine equal squares of the feng shui grid.

It is easy to lay the grid or bagua over structures that are simple rectangles and nothing is "missing." Jigsaw puzzle footprints do not necessarily have missing pieces, however, they usually do.

If the parts that stick out are relatively minor, less than half of one section of the grid, they are considered BONUSES to that area. For example, a bay window and sometimes an extended breakfast room can add power to their adjacent areas.

A "U" shaped building may be without the Fame/Reputation area AND the Nurturing area. If the architectural front door of a building with a reverse "U" shape is in one of the arms that reach toward the street, the Career area will be missing.

"C" shaped structures will lack the Creativity/Children Area. A backwards "C" will be without the Family/Physical Health area. A "b" shaped structure lacks the Fame/Reputation AND Relationship/Commitment areas. The reverse plan, a "d" shape, will be without the Wealth/Lifestyle and Fame/Reputation areas.

A "P" shape will be without Career and Helpful People/ Travel. "q" shaped buildings will lack Knowledge/ Self-Knowledge/Spirituality and Career areas. In both these cases, the architectural front door is in the base of the "descender." In a condominium or office space, your "missing" area may be in a neighbor’s. You can imagine the feng shui concern if your Relationship/Commitment area is part of your neighbor’s home and THEY constantly bicker. You can hear them through the walls.

Areas missing from single residence structures will still be on your property, at least. Frequently, this feng shui concern has already been alleviated by lush landscaping, fountains, patio furnishings and flowering plants.

If your Relationship/Commitment area is outside, you may want to put a sculpture of a couple out there. Plants that draw hummingbirds are ideal feng shui solutions to this situation. Spiky cactus is NOT a good idea. Ever. But particularly in missing areas. One of the more esoteric yet amazingly powerful solutions is to use double faced mirrors to "fill in" the missing area. This "transcendental" feng shui solution is powered by your intention. The small, 3" diameter, double faced mirrors are available from.

The best part about this solution is you can place the mirrors BEHIND a painting or a piece of furniture. You place them on the walls you want to extend. You might call it "virtual" remodeling. No need to buy that part of the neighbor’s property! And YOUR more congenial relationship can create more harmony for the couple next door, as well!

When gifts are clutter Return to top
The Desert Sun 3 May 2003

No real names are used to protect the privacy of those mentioned.Diane, a friend of a client, gave her a large print of the September 11 event. Diane fully expected that Jennifer would frame it and hang it in a place of honor in her new home. Dr. Paul’s home is clogged with gifts of framed and hung art from grateful patients.

In a drawer of the Kid’s Bath/Powder Room of yet another client, a plastic wrapped selection of bath soaps and bubbles resided. It had been there for three years. This was a double whammy as it used up valuable drawer space. Miriam’s son-in-law gave her an expensive toaster which didn’t work as well as the one she’s had for decades. Out of obligation to the son-in-law, Miriam kept both on her kitchen counter, hiding the one that works when a visit was imminent.

These are all examples of well intentioned, warm hearted but unfortunate gift choices from a feng shui perspective. Which makes them well disguised clutter, but clutter nonetheless.
There is an easy feng shui fix for the gift wrapped bath set. The giver had to imagine it had long been used up. Carol could (a) give it to someone else as a gift or (b) simply put it in a grocery bag with FREE written on it and leave it curbside. Someone would happily take it.

Miriam put the toaster in her garage along with other items soon to be picked up by Goodwill. If her son-in-law wanted it, he was welcome to have it back. He was due for a visit the same day as our consultation.

Here’s what I suggested she say to him if he was so crass as to ask where it was: It is a beautiful toaster, David, but it doesn’t work as well as this one. And Kathleen, my feng shui consultant, said it wasn’t good feng shui to keep it. I gave her permission to make me the bad guy. You, too, have my permission to let go of anything as if I personally recommended you do so.

The toughest one is the art print of the demise of the World Trade Center. I advised Jennifer to let Diane how much she enjoys several other gifts Diane has given her over the years. And that the print of 9/11 is beautiful but she found it too disturbing to be reminded of it on a daily basis. And offer to return it.

In Dr. Paul’s case, some of the gift art has considerable market value. You also need to know none of his patients ever visit his home. While these gifts are good feng shui as they are physical manifestations of his patient’s regard, they are bad feng shui as Dr. Paul doesn’t LIKE them.

The ideal solution is to sell these items on EBAY and use the money to purchase something Dr. Paul will value as much as his patients value him. Like a new leather chair and ottoman to relax in after a long day’s work.

Gifts that the recipient doesn’t like are like a low grade infection, they irritate at a subconscious level. Far better to let them go and surround yourself only with items that you enjoy. Mostly, you will never have to explain what happened to them. Most people won’t remember what they gave you. You can receive the well intentioned love of the gift without keeping the gift itself.

Life Progress Report Return to top
The Desert Sun

There are no perfect feng shui houses or offices. At least, I’ve never seen one. This is even true of homes designed by architects versed in feng shui. Some homes and offices have just a few feng shui challenges. Others are filled with them. The thing to remember is nearly all feng shui challenges are fixable. Usually very easily.

Before you even assess the feng shui of your home or office, it is a good idea to just get of sense of your life. Consider the questions that follow as a Life Progress Report.

The purpose is to notice where your life is on track with your goals and where you would like a boost. Notice where you might have been on a plateau for a while. And where your life is flowing with ease. As the grader, be kind to yourself. Be as kind as you would to your dearest friend.

Is the amount of creative expression you have in your life right now in harmony with your desires?
How about family? Do you desire more children? How are you getting along with your parents, grandparents, siblings, offspring?

Where are you in relation to your financial goals? On track, not on track?
Your relationship ideal? Do you have the depth of intimacy you want?
Your physical health? If you have health challenges, what are they specifically?
Where are you in relation to your fitness goals?
Your lifestyle? Is the balance of social interactions and serene solitude comfortable?
Where are you in your personal growth? Education goals? Spiritual development?
Are you on track with your career goals?
Do you travel as much as you want? Or would you like to travel more?If so, where do you want to go?

Your Life Progress Report will help you focus your feng shui assessment of your home or office.
Sure most everyone would like to have more money, have a stronger relationship. However, if overall you have a satisfying, happy relationship there is no need to add relationship symbols or to freak out if your Relationship area is outside your home, your bed has a window behind it, or your headboard is an Arts and Crafts style with lots of vertical rails. And even if your relationship is the area of your life you would most like to improve, there are simple solutions to all of those feng shui challenges.

If your family is normal, you’re close to some family members and distant with others. However if you have no real angst with your family, it’s a non-issue feng shui-wise. So if there is a bathroom in the Family area, sure you’d keep the drains closed but little else need be done. Of course, if you have real health issues, you will want to make very specific changes to the Family/Physical Health area.

Once you have identified the areas of your life you would most like a boost, then you can look at your home and office with the intention to clear away blockages and breathe new life into those goals.

Is your partner skeptical about feng shui? Return to top
The Desert Sun 15 May 2004

While you, faithful reader of this column, may be an ardent student of feng shui, you may live with a feng shui skeptic. That is, your partner/significant other does not see the value of the ideas and perspective feng shui offers. So while the parts of your home that you consider primarily YOUR domain follow the principles of feng shui, those of your partner…don’t.

Frankly, this issue was completely outside my awareness until my friend, "Georgia," called. Mind you, I knew there was often a difference in the level of acceptance of feng shui between the wife and husband. It manifests in one or two ways.

1. The husband (usually the skeptical one) would support the process to a minimal extent: feng shui fell into the category of "whatever makes you happy, dear." And he’d be elsewhere while we talked. OR

2. The skeptical one would be curious enough to be present at the consultation and be won over by the logical basis of feng shui principles.

So, my contact with complete skeptics is minimal. That said, once my awareness of this feng shui dilemma was awakened, I’ve been cogitating how best to counsel those of you who live with a complete skeptic. That is, a person who not only is not interested in considering the principles, but will not make any effort to incorporate them in THEIR domains. Since spaces where feng shui principles are followed are supremely comfortable, it is easy to incorporate them in the shared areas with impunity.

However, since clutter is such a big thing feng shui wise, and Georgia’s mate is a pack rat, her concern was "What affect is his clutter having on my life? And what can I do about it?"
The answers to both those questions depend on where in the feng shui grid "his" areas are.

Let’s say "his" areas are the den, his workshop/office, and the garage. And as the grid isplaced over the entire home, they are in the Career, Helpful People, and Knowledge/Self Knowledge Areas, respectively.

What can you do to keep your goals in those parts of your life on track? You’ll want to take special care to have appropriate symbols to strengthen those goals in the parts of the home that are YOUR domain. Remember, the grid is laid over the entire structure AND over each individual room.

Of course, his spaces are his and he’s allowed to have as much clutter as he can stand. One does hope, though, if "his domain" is shared space, he will make a effort to please you by keeping it at least a bit more tidy than he’d do if he lived alone.

To encourage the skeptic in your life to become more open to feng shui ideas: Select a photo frame with water energy (any blue, a frame with an ethnic feeling, and/or with a flowing curved shape). Find a current photo of the two of you. Print this column and place it behind the photo inside the frame to set this intention. Place the framed photo with intention in the Relationship Area of your bedroom. And let go of your concern.

Often, skeptics are more willing to hear the information directly from a feng shui expert.Perhaps your skeptic will surprise you with the gift of a curious mind during your professional feng shui consultation!

Does your refrigerator have good feng shui? Return to top
The Desert Sun 10 July 2004

Out of sight is not out of mind in feng shui, more’s the pity. Which means, the INSIDES of cabinets, drawers, closets, and even…refrigerators are ideally as pleasant to view as your counter tops.

Most of us clean out at least the spoiled stuff when we are putting away fresh groceries in our refrigerators. If this is not true for you, perhaps the first stage of good refrigerator feng shui is to start this practice.

And when was the last time you really cleaned out your refrigerator and freezer?

The good news about this process is that it is a relatively small job. Even if you have a very large refrigerator or even two of them, this is not an all day thing. More like a half hour to an hour. And the benefits? You can feel healthier and slimmer just opening the door!

Step One. Toss all the moldy or way past their sell by date stuff.

Step Two. Toss any salad dressing purchase mistakes … no matter how large the container. If you didn’t like it the first time, you’re never going to like it.

And any other stuff you and no one else in your home now eats. This may be low calorie or low carb stuff that sounded like a good idea but tastes so bland or awful, the food is tastier without it.

Or it could be seven kinds of pancake syrup, when you only allow yourself pancake indulgences once in a blue moon when you’re out for a special breakfast.

Step Three. Take everything out and clean every shelf and compartment.

Before you start to replace anything, entertain some reorganizing options. This is especially important if one of your current goals is to achieve or maintain health or slimness goals. You want the organization of your refrigerator to encourage you to stay on your program.

For me, that means the veggies and protein options are visible on the open shelves. And the special treats are sequestered in the vegetable drawers. Frankly, if the veggies are kept there, they often go bad before they see the light of day again.

Water bottles and interesting prepared sauces are on the top shelf. Protein is on the second shelf. Veggies on the third, and Fruit on the bottom shelf. The Tsing Tao beer and Starbucks Frappuccino live in the drawers. The priority of the food/drink in my program is matched by the location within the refrigerator.

Grains are not my friends, much as I love them. A limited supply is kept in the freezer for those days when a grain treat is due. When I realized I hadn’t had oatmeal in about six months, the container went into the freezer, too. Due to fat content, nut treats live there as well.

Of course, if you live with people without your program constraints, this is more than a bit difficult. And even if they do, they may not replace the items where you’ve decided they belong.

Which means, your family and loved ones need to know and understand they can help you with your fitness/health desires by just taking a bit of care as they use the refrigerator. And labels may be a good idea as well, just to help them (and you) remember.

Good refrigerator feng shui affirms your health and fitness desires every time you open the door. Live long and be healthy with feng shui!

Each element has its own way of being in the world. Of course, we are all a combination of all five elements – Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal. However, your lead element is your prime decision-maker. How you shop and ultimately purchase items has more to do with your lead element than the depth of your pocketbook.

In fact, you will probably recognize your lead element from the buying patterns described below. If you’d like some verification, you can do the 5 Element Personality Profile elsewhere on this website.

A Water person is not fond of shopping. They prefer catalog and online shopping because they can do it while they sip coffee in the serenity of their own homes. The chaos of actual shopping exhausts them.

Water people make their decisions strictly intuitively. They don’t actually need to see or touch what they purchase. They don’t need to check Consumer Reports, or ask their friends, or consult…anyone. They don’t need to see ALL the possibilities. They just get a sense that their choice is what they want. They may only look at one catalog or one website and immediately find the item. Their intuition guides them there, too. And they are SURE they need look no farther.

If a Water person does actually visit stores, they will gravitate to those that "feel" good to them. Not too crowded with items on display, music that appeals to them, sales people that leave them be until they ask for help.

Wood people aren’t that fond of shopping, either. They are acquisitive but their shopping is ideally quick, deft, and efficient. They get a bit annoyed when it isn’t.

Wood people do their homework. Identify the location most likely to have what they want, look at ONLY what is on their list, and quickly decide whether it serves the purpose they intend effectively. If it falls short, they keep shopping. If it satisfies them 95% or better, they buy. They are willing to give up 5% to be done with the shopping experience.

In countries where bargaining is normal behavior, Wood people are in heaven. They love to haggle. Then shopping becomes sport. And as you may remember, any sport to a Wood person is competitive.

Fire people LOVE to shop. Love to buy, often buy stuff they later decide wasn’t a good idea, and happily return their rejects and shop some more. The fun they have in the shopping experience is key. They delight in the attention of chatty sales people. They can easily be induced to purchasing far more than they intended. They buy gifts … for themselves and their loved ones with joy.

Earth people shop with someone else – friend, family, mate. They prefer to share the decision making process; they consult whomever they’re with. They look and look and look at as many options as possible, afraid if they don’t, something even better is out there. They’ll also keep the tags on their purchases in case they later decide to return them.

Earth people like to browse in antique stores. They also love to buy gifts for all their loved ones but seldom for themselves. They collect … however, most of the collections grow from gifts received.

An Earth person often forms a relationship with the shopkeeper – learns their life history, how they came to own this store, why they love it, details of their family life, or wherever else their conversation takes them.

Metal people are the most discerning buyers. They buy the highest quality they can afford and are willing to wait until they’ve amassed sufficient funds for a special item rather than make do with a less expensive one. They research, prefer name brands (proven quality), listen to the opinions of people they respect, negotiate the best deal possible (when appropriate), evaluate quickly, and are happy with their choices …for decades.

A Metal person values expert advice so their time can be spent doing something else. They enjoy working with interior designers and may have a personal shopper to guide their wardrobe choices. The research is done by others, but the decisions are theirs.

What kind of shopper are you?

Plants as Barometers Return to top
The Desert Sun 5 May 2001

Live plants can be helpful barometers of vitality or the lack thereof in various areas of your life.
If you have an ailing or dead plant in any part of your home, it affects that part of the feng shui grid, and the corresponding aspect of your life. That is the worse case scenario.

When you tend to forget your plants until they are very, very thirsty, you could interpret that to mean you tend to ignore that part of your life, as well. For example, a neglected plant in the Family area of your home could indicate a widening gulf between you and your siblings, parents, or children. Since the Family Area also holds sway over your Physical Health, it could affect your willingness to eat healthily or exercise regularly.

This area is also associated with Wood energy. Wood energy is the protector energy. When it is low, your ability to assert yourself is lessened. Your ability to focus on a project and complete it in a timely manner, other Wood qualities, may be affected as well.

Even if you have hearty plants that easily survive your occasional extended neglect, if your plants’ leaves have a thick coating of dust on them, it indicates a part of your life you just don’t want to deal with right now. Rather than take that as a feng shui stick to beat yourself with, take it as simply useful information.

Perhaps it tells you, right now, your issues with your siblings are not the highest priority. So every time you’re reminded of your discord with them, you just say to yourself, "My priority right now is...my relationship with my mate or...growing my financial security or...my physical health." And if the reminders become frequent, perhaps it is time for these issues to become a priority.

Orchids demand a lot of attention. Or they die. If you enjoy lavishing your orchids with attention and they thrive, that can indicate your willingness to give the part of your life connected to the location of your orchids generous and loving attention. It can also signify an area of your life that requires a lot of attention. Which you may rather it didn’t.

If your orchids thrive in the Wealth and Lifestyle area of your home, you may be fabulously successful and you may also be a workaholic. If are happy working as much as you do, that location is serving you. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. However, if you wish your work took less time and energy to provide the level of success you enjoy, you might want to place your orchids another area of the grid where you would choose to spend that additional time and energy.

Perhaps you wish you meditated more frequently. Orchids in the Knowledge, Self-Knowledge, and Spirituality area of the grid (to your far left as you stand at your front door facing in) would encourage time going within.

Or perhaps you wish you had the time to travel strictly for enjoyment, plants demanding attention placed in the Travel Area of the feng shui grid will shift your attention from work to vacation travel.

Let your awareness of your plants help guide your priorities.

My personal mission is to joyfully inspire you to savor your surroundings and savor your life. If this column motivates you to make some changes to your home or office, I’d love to know via quick e !