Wedding Crashers: How to Feng Shui for Uninvited Guests  

Look out Princess Kate and Prince William, here comes Kirsten and Eric! But, unlike Kate and William, Kirsten has parents who are well versed in Feng Shui. (Eric was prescreened as a viable partner who would accept the wisdom of Feng Shui!)

Feng Shui influences were everywhere in the planning for the wedding; the date for the wedding, the choice of colors, the gifts that were chosen.  The location proved to be a surprise to everyone!  

The wedding and reception were held in Salem, Massachusetts. I was very familiar with the city of Salem, as I grew up there. Salem, Massachusetts is well known for the Witchcraft Trials of 1692.  The reception would take place at the Hawthorne Hotel, located in the heart of historic Salem. According to hotel website, “the Hawthorne Hotel has a rich history which began in 1925 and has welcomed numerous leisure travelers as well as dignitaries and celebrities. Episodes of iconic shows and a public television movie about the Salem witch trials took place at the hotel.” Hawthorne Hotel was also named by Travelocity as #4 on their list of top 10 haunted hotels in the United States!!  

Since 1925, the hotel has had many guests with their vibrations of joy and sorrow left behind. We, parents of the bride, knew we had work to do to prevent any “predecessor chi” or uninvited guests from invading the wedding. Predecessor chi is lingering energy from people who were previously in the space. According to David Kennedy, well known Feng Shui expert, predecessor influences go back through the residents…all the way to the original occupants.”  

We focused on the space for reception where many, many events were held over the years. We needed a space clearing ceremony to remove any negative energy left behind and a blessing ceremony to surround the the new couple with our love and affection. So, early the morning, before the hotel staff was awake, we gathered items for our own private clearing and blessing ceremony and quietly entered the room, closed the door and went to work. This was a very personal affair. We were doing our job as parents for the last time-protecting our daughter from harm.

Our blessing and clearing ceremony was our “gift” to Kirsten and Eric. Our intention was to ensure a festive congenial affair full of only joy and happiness. Kirsten and Eric gave us personal intentions in a red envelope which were included in the blessing ceremony. They will share their private intentions with each other on their first anniversary as part of a celebration ceremony.  

Like Kate and William's wedding, the event was EPIC! Invited guests danced, sang, and partied while the uninvited remained silent! There were no haunted happenings that evening!

A note to the Hawthorne Hotel, they should check the plants in the corner of the room which still may contain the orange peels we placed there one year ago!  

Namaste!    

Julie Pelletier-Rutkowski, MS, RN

Certified Feng Shui Practitioner

Feng Shui Services of New England

Office-781-729-0905

[email protected]  

Children are being bombarded and pressured from all directions.  Media, sports, school, electronic devices, video games are striving for children's attention. In Feng Shui this is called energy, or chi. Chi can be helpful or harmful.  

However, parents can change one place in the home that will make a difference and minimize outside pressure. Growing up we played games with “ghouls” (sometimes spelled gools or goules), usually a pole or tree identified as a safe place where you could not be tagged and/or eliminated from the game.  Parents can create a ghouls in the bedroom; a protected cherished place. This works with the intentions of Feng Shui that a bedroom for children should be place to rest and sleep and restore for the next day. 

Feng Shui is a powerful tool. Honey Lim, a certified Feng Shui consultant says that “Feng Shui is about creating harmonious energy in one’s surroundings in a way that benefit’s one’s life.” A child who has a safe place to sleep and rest is rejuvenated and relaxed for the next day and will perform better in school and life. You can help your child succeed with by using Feng Shui to create a bedroom that will support and nurture.  

Six year old  Robert would not sleep in his bed. He loved his room but would wake and join his parents in their bed. After a simple Feng Shui adjustment Robert slept through the night for the first time to the shock and disbelief of his parents. What was the problem? Roberts’s bed was located “outside” of the home. His room was located on the second floor of their raised ranch. His bed was against the outside wall with no support beneath him due to the overhanging second floor. His bed was moved to an inside wall closer to his parents. He was comfortable and comforted with this new bed location.  His Parents were amazed that a simple adjustment could make such an impact on Robert and the family.

Here are nine Feng Shui tips for the bedroom to create ghouls for a child:  

1. Supportive Bed and Bed Placement

Place an older child’s bed where they can see the door, but not in the way of the swing of the door. It should be in the middle of the wall. This placement put the child as ease as they are aware of everyone who enters the room. A young child should in a corner for support from the walls. Children who share a bedroom should have clearly defined sleeping areas, separate with screens or rugs. Beds with strong headboards and no foot boards (for older children) provide the most energetic support and allow for full growth and potential. Bunk beds and day beds are not good bed choices.        

2. Photos and Artwork

Every child should have a photo of the parents next to the bed.  If parents are divorced, then separate photos are appropriate. If the parents are not the primary caretakers, then the primary caretakers take prominence in this situation. It reminds the child who is heads of the household!   Artwork should be positive and reassuring. Create a “wall of fame” with drawings, crafts, awards, trophies and ribbons. Letters from friends, teachers and family can also be displayed.  

3. Pets Pets are Positive Energy.

Dogs and cats that are clean and healthy bring a sense of security to a child and should be allowed in the room. But pets such as snakes, birds, gerbils, lizards may create unwanted noise during the night or “slither” around the room.  

4. Colors

Colors for a young child should be bright stimulating. Once a child begins school, consider colors that are soothing and encourage sleep. Good picks are green that also promotes growth and blue that encourages a positive attitude and clear communication. White is always a good choice for purity, peace, and open possibilities, but must accent with a color. For a child with focusing problems consider grounding “earth” colors such as beige, brown, or tan.

5. Electromagnetic Fields (EMF)

There are many conflicting thoughts EMF and the link to childhood illness. However, to be safe, minimize the EMF in a child’s room. EMF is present when current flows to powered clocks, lights, electric blankets, electronic equipment, TV, waterbeds, baby monitors, and electric panels. Anywhere the electricity comes into the house. Be sure that all electric sources should be 30 inches from the child.

6. Mirrors/Plants The bedroom should be free of mirrors and plants. If the room is large, a full length mirrors can be placed so the child cannot see it from the bed. All mirrors should be full length, not cutting off any parts of the child. They should see themselves fully as they grow and change.  

7. Clutter/Toys/Books

Clutter produces stress and anxiety. Help your child do remove clutter  from the bedroom. Limit books and have a place for toys and items to be “put to sleep” at night. Clear old, tattered, unused items. Fix or discard broken items. Remove ANYTHING that feels negative. Clear and clean closets, bureau tops and draws. Place nothing behind bedroom door allowing it to open freely letting good energy to enter.      

8. Study Area

If the bedroom is also used as a study space, separate the space with a screen. Be sure lighting is adequate in both areas; have strong lighting in study area and subdued lighting in sleeping area. Place the desk so child can see the door, not against the wall.  

9. Consider a Feng Shui Consult!

Consider a Feng Shui evaluation of your child’s bedroom. Feng Shui Services of New England will be happy to assist you create ghouls, virtual or in-person. Contact [email protected]  for more information.  

Make your child’s bedroom a place for them to feel safe and secure. Rested happy children will make parenting a bit easier.   

Namaste!