Monthly Archives: October 2009

October 30, 2009 · 10:56 am

FENG SHUI BY FISHGIRL TO GIVE TALK ON CREATIVITY AT PEARSON LEGACY GALLERY NOV 3RD

LUNCHTIME LECTURES AT THE LEGACY
Lessons for Professionalism

NOVEMBER 2009
Tuesday, November 3rd — 11:45 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Pearson Legacy Gallery, 13 Dow Road, Deer Isle — (207) 348-2535

“Stimulating Creativity Through Feng Shui”
with Katy Allgeyer

Have you ever jumped out of bed with a great idea for a new project, gulped down breakfast, fed the cats, and raced to your studio only to suddenly feel inhibited and not so enthusiastic anymore? Something to do with the environment. Or, (different scenario) maybe you’ve just moved and have the unusual opportunity to make a brand new studio but you want it to be “just right” so that you can do your work seamlessly – and yet, you are stymied about how to do that so that it indeed fits you perfectly.

In order to create freely, you need an environment that will support your full potential. Katy Allgeyer will give a presentation on helping artists create their studio spaces to enhance rather than dampen creativity. She will cover a general overview of the principles of Feng Shui and the Bagua Map, removing elements that block creativity, and personal ways to let creativity flow naturally and without stress.

Katy Allgeyer is a recognized Feng Shui master with over twenty years experience which she blends with her highly developed intuitive ability, metaphysical shamanic healing methods, and her formal art and design training that make her uniquely qualified to help people realign their environments to support their full potential. She became, after graduation from the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC, a leading fashion designer for Liz Claiborne and her travels for that company gave her a rather global outlook. She now has a studio and gallery in Stonington and continues her painting in High Point, NC during the winter months producing work that is exhibited nationally. She invites you to visit her Feng Shui by Fishgirl blog (http://fengshuibyfishgirl.com) and also her artist’s website, http://www.katyallgeyer.com for more insight into her background.

Lecture fee: $10 at the door. Bring a lunch – coffee, tea and cookies will be provided. For more information and/or to let Carolyn Hecker know if you are planning to attend (don’t want to run out of cookies), call 348-2535 or email cahecker@midmaine.com or leave a message at the Gallery at 348-6848.

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October 28, 2009 · 11:42 am

HALLOWEEN: GHOSTS, GOBLINS, & FENG SHUI

basket
This sacred basket with monkey skulls has a scary feel to it and could carry residual energies too powerful to handle outside of a museum setting.

A few years ago, I was called on to feng shui a building belonging to a Hollywood post-production company. I pulled up in front of a very sleek building with 60’s modern glass block façade in Burbank not too far from Disney Studios. The client’s business was editing film for features and commercials, so, naturally most of the space was filled with electronic equipment used for that purpose. The bold design of the building matched the high-tech business occupying the space perfectly. Or so I thought.

Within a few minutes, during my interview with the client in his office, I began to experience a strange sensation. I kept hearing the word “mortuary” in my mind and became distracted by the persistence of this thought. I struggled to keep my focus on the client and asked him what the building’s history was, who occupied the space before him, etc. He told me that the building had been his for more than twenty years and that prior to that it was also used for film editing for at least a dozen years.

“Mortuary” kept getting louder in my head and I began to feel uncomfortable in this office. I said to my client, “Okay. So this building has always housed your type of business then. Let’s move on to the next question.” He then said, rather casually, “Well, but originally it was built to hold a mortuary.” He eyed me nervously, noting my skin had just turned a shade whiter, and asked me, “Is that bad feng shui?”

Here’s the bottom line: it’s not good feng shui to have stagnant, dead, negative energy in any space, let alone your work space. Residual energy was lingering even decades after the mortuary had been closed and replaced by high tech businesses.

There could very possibly have been ghosts in that space, too, although I didn’t see or feel any at the time. We did a feng shui space clearing ceremony and blessing ritual and cleared out all negative vibes. Often, that is all that needs to be done to reset the energy to a clean and positively charged space.

Recently, I have come across more cases of corporate office buildings inhabited by ghosts and sane working people who are encountering strange energies. Maybe it’s just the onset of the Halloween season, but, there does seem to be a heightened awareness of spirit energy around this time of year. A technician at a computer chip company told me that he was sitting in his office and felt a strong tap on his shoulder. He turned around expecting to find a colleague only to discover there was nobody there. At a bank in Santa Monica, a Vice President told me she had felt a presence hugging her at her home and she was afraid to return to her apartment. Also, she was concerned the entity might follow her to work. I worked with these clients on strengthening their feng shui and clearing their space with a Native American smudgestick and reclamation ceremony. They’re now ghost-free.

However, some situations involve much darker forces. Heavy—maybe even “evil”—energy does exist. To clear a space of this type of energy takes an experienced healer or a spiritualist with ghostbusting knowledge. Deita Klaus and her partner Deirdre Devlin are two such people. Their company, Hollywood Ghostbusters, handles calls from individuals and corporations desperate to remove paranormal energies from their homes and office buildings. Although Deita said they have encountered poltergeists and demons, most cases they work on involve simply helping the spirit of a departed person move on.
Their fees depend on the size of the job and the type of entity to be ousted and each case is different.

I asked Deita if there were any notoriously famous haunted buildings in LA that she knows of. She told me that The Brewery Arts Complex, Paramount Studios, and the Comedy Store all have spirits residing there. She also claimed that the Hollywood Hills area has many haunted homes because they were built above sacred Native American burial grounds. “The Magic Castle has many spirits, too, yet they want them there. The magic you see there is really the ghosts!”, Deita said.

Deita and Deirdre have been practicing their gifts for a long time. I asked Deita if it is dangerous to deal with paranormal energies? She told me, “Oh yes, they can take over your spirit…you must know how to protect yourself and not be afraid. Fear is what they invoke and then they try to get into you.” Is it dangerous for someone to do their own ghostbusting? “Yes, we ask people, unless they have the experience, do not try and take the energy out.”

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October 27, 2009 · 5:51 pm

FLOWERS ADD FENG SHUI

flowers
Flowers add Feng Shui By Fishgirl energy to any setting. Feeling down? Plop a colorful bouquet on your desk and watch your mood rise! Want to add a festive touch to your dinner party? Flowers in the center of the table create instant party panache. Outside, a “deadzone” can instantly be activated by hanging plants or potted flowers. You don’t need to spend a lot of money. Wildflowers from your yard in a bud vase work just as well.

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October 25, 2009 · 11:06 am

URN YOUR GOOD CHI

2 urns

I was perusing a favorite site last night and saw a posting on “Ode to an Autumn Urn”. I was reminded that Feng Shui By Fishgirl also loves the idea of using urns for unexpected wimsy. On the farm in Maine, we have two heavy black iron antique urns filled with two vintage barn top wind catchers. The windcatchers are usually placed on a barn’s roof in a cupula where they catch wind and direct it downward into the barn for good air circulation. They spin quite rapidly here when the wind is gusty on our island and they emit a pleasant humming sound when they’re spinning. Great feng shui because of the equal balance to either side of our entry walkway, movement of chi (energy), the beautiful visual, and the pleasing sound.
1urn

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October 16, 2009 · 3:23 pm

FENG SHUI GIFTS FOR COWORKERS

Choosing holiday gifts to co-workers, vendors, clients, and employers shouldn’t become another burden to add to your stressful workload. Creating good chi (energy) through proper use of feng shui techniques is beneficial anytime and any place. During the holidays, when carolers incite us to “be of good cheer”, being of good chi is even better! Why not spread the good chi around? Here’s a list of holiday gifts that fill the niche of being cool things to receive, and, good for the recipient’s feng shui. (And because you are giving with good intentions, your own feng shui will also benefit.)

RED CANDLES The color red activates and stimulates. Red candles are available in abundance during the holiday season and can be found at Target or even Trader Joe’s at prices that won’t break your bank. Accompany a large red candle with a beautiful candle holder and a hand written note advising your recipient to light it in their Wealth, Fame, or Relationship areas of their bagua for good feng shui results. Those areas can be found at the upper left, middle, and right hand sides of any space you’re facing toward.

INCENSE Readily available at retailers everywhere, you might find a more sophisticated selection at yoga center gift shops. Look for classic scents such as jasmine, ginger, green tea, and patchouli. This gift will lift your hipness quotient quite a bit, too.

MOBILES Lightweight paper mobiles can be found in museum gift shops. A butterfly mobile is a good example that works for kids and grownups rooms. In Chinatown, one can find cocktail parasol mobiles at just about any shop. Mobiles function as art and as feng shui tools to add movement, stimulating good chi and opportunity, and creativity.

MONEY Wherever it’s appropriate, money is a definite chi booster. If it’s placed in a Red Pocket (a Chinese feng shui red envelope that you can find at any shop in Chinatown), it doubles the good fortune of both giver and receiver. The bright red envelopes with golden characters and artwork embossed on them make receiving that end-of-year bonus all the more fun.

FENG SHUI CONSULTATION Feng Shui By Fishgirl is available to analyze your feng shui no matter what your location. Ask for the “Office Special” if you’d like to have your office done (or gift someone else).

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October 16, 2009 · 10:22 am

HEMP RUGS ARE HOT

HempRug

I love this beautiful Tibetan rug hand made in Nepal from Hemp and Wool. The coral and neutral tones are gorgeous and the brickwork pattern lends a rustic touch. Looks great on wood floors. Since it is custom made, we can offer it in any size. Please contact me if you’re considering updating your home with a new floor covering for good feng shui!

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October 13, 2009 · 2:02 pm

FULL HOUSE…the opposite of minimal but still good feng shui.

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Here’s an example of “organized clutter”. The room is filled to the brim but the feng shui is still very good. There is great natural light, room to breathe, a good mix of elements, the room holds the owner’s textile collection, the colors used are vibrant and warm, the view to the park brings the outdoors in…all in all, a successful eclecticism that works. Message? You don’t have to be a “neat freak” to have good feng shui. Nor do you have to “follow rules” set down by home furnishings magazines. What you do need to bring on is your own personality and sense of adventure applied with some common sense. Let your room tell you what it wants!

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October 13, 2009 · 10:16 am

FENG SHUI YOUR CAT’S LITTERBOX

Picture 61

A classic feng shui problem is where to put your cat’s litterbox. You certainly don’t want an open poop tray in your Wealth area or your Relationship area. Here are some attractive, sealed and concealed litterboxes that can help solve the problem. The first photo is a pink and white designer litterbox (perfect colors if you have to put it in your Love area).

Here’s one disquised as a planter. It could be used in a Wealth area if the entry hole is turned so it’s easy for your cat but hidden from view so that the planter looks believable. Be sure to use litter that doesn’t stink, too.
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Here’s a solution to keeping your cat’s litterbox in the bathroom but not taking up all the floorspace. In fact, this one is disquised as a storage cabinet and actually does double duty as a towel rack and surface to place other items.
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Google “litterbox disguises” to find more good feng shui solutions for you and your pet!

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October 13, 2009 · 9:01 am

IS YOUR EX BLOCKING YOU FROM FINDING A NEW LOVE?

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Tired of being solo when the whole world seems coupled up? Many of the people I work with want to improve their wealth area but I’d say finding a new relationship (or strengthening an existing one) is also the number one priority of most people. When I do an analysis of your home and interview you about your habits, will I find any of these feng shui blockers to a new love?

Problem: Photos of your ex. In your home, in your wallet, on your computer, in photo albums, tucked away in boxes. These reminders of your past serve as placeholders signaling the universe that you are either not over your ex or already taken. In any case, any new love interest you might meet will wonder if you truly have room in your life or your heart for a new relationship to bloom.
SOLUTION:Dump the photos. You heard me. Go cold turkey if you really want to bring a happy healthy new relationship into your life. Exception? If there are children involved you should put photos away in a storage bin so they will always have their family history and give it to some other family member to keep safe for them until they are old enough to receive the photos.

Problem: Love notes, ticket stubs from special events you went to with your ex, stuffed toys and mementos from the happy times in the relationship. One of my clients even had a framed wedding invitation hanging over the entrance to her bedroom—and she’d been the one to decide to divorce her husband two years prior because she didn’t love him. Another client used the date he asked his exwife to marry him as his computer password…4 years after their divorce his password remained unchanged and his lovelife stagnant.
SOLUTION: For the same reasons mentioned above: rid yourself of all this Ex-Love Clutter and you’ll be well on your way to attracting someone new.

Problem: Divorce papers, settlement papers, reminders of the breakup.
SOLUTION: Why are you holding on to these items? Buy yourself a shredder and move on (the universe is watching!).

Problem: You still have your engagement and wedding rings. If you’re saving them for a child, DON’T. Do you want your child to inherit divorce chi energy on their wedding day?
SOLUTION: If it’s a valuable stone, sell it and put the money in a trust fund for your child. If there are no children involved, splurge on a new wardrobe and vacation where you might meet someone interesting.

Problem: You want to maintain a friendship with your ex but one or both of you doesn’t know how to do that without overstepping boundaries. For example, when emailing each other you still use your ex’s pet name when addressing them or your own pet name when signing off. Or, when you have a “big moment” in your life, you find you must share it with your ex before anyone else (that includes a big problem where you ask for advice, good news or bad news, etc). Maybe you find out your ex is in the hospital and instead of a simple “Get Well Soon” message, you inappropriately run to their bedside and use the opportunity to work through your own intense feelings on them while they are trying to recover.
SOLUTION: Make a clean break. No need to keep the lines of communication open (unless there are children involved—in which case, you will communicate about issues concerning only your child’s welfare). You still want to be friends with your ex? Save it for a later date. Maybe one of you has moved on but the other hasn’t. Give each other the gift of time to heal old wounds. Time to clear out the Ex Love Clutter so they can make room for a new love. By not engaging when your ex has a moment of weakness and reaches out to you, you’ll be doing him or her a huge favor and you’ll be doing yourself one, too. The universe will take notice and send someone new your way.

Problem: You have a new relationship but it feels like something is keeping you from ‘going to the next level’.
SOLUTION: You may think you’ve moved on–and even moved in together–but you’re still blocking yourself from experiencing a deeper relationship with a new love. You may be afraid to get hurt again. That would be natural. You can use feng shui to help you remove that fear and all the other obstacles to love. Take inventory of your life. If you recognize any of the scenarios I’ve described, take steps toward the solutions.

It may take some time. It may bring up some emotions you thought you were done with long ago. It may be unthinkable to toss out your past as if it never existed. You may want to get some professional help. Be gentle with yourself. See what happens with your new love once you’ve cleared out the remnants of your past relationships.

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October 12, 2009 · 9:28 am

NETWORKING WITH INTENTION

Good morning, world! Sometimes opportunity can come when you least expect it and from sources you never dreamed would help you. How can you be ready for such opportunities?

It doesn’t help to be needy or desperate. Instead, you have to be in a happy –or at least tranquil– state of mind. Reach out to everyone you know. That’s right, call up old friends and contacts and reconnect. Simply to say hello and how are you. Do NOT lament about your troubles or explain that you are looking for a job or how bad business is. Instead, simply reach out and be positive. Without expecting anything in return other than to reconnect to someone in your life. If they ask what you are doing, tell them. But concentrate on all the positives and say you are open to new possibilities.

This puts you back on their radar. It builds your networking circle back up and casts the net wider and wider. So, at some point one of those contacts may think of you when an opportunity comes up. This is a good thing to do whether you are looking for a new job, a new relationship, or a new home. And remember, keep it positive and focus on asking how the other person is. They will remember YOU in a positive light.

Try it!

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