Read Carole’s interview with MysticMag 2024:

1. Your Integrative Spaces™ strategy blends ancient Feng Shui with modern research. Can you explain how you developed this approach and what inspired you to merge these two elements?

I started Feng Shui consulting back when the concept was unfamiliar to most people. Those who I worked with at that time were open to an alternative approach and appreciated the spiritual aspects of Feng Shui. However, as the modality became more popular, I realized that although there was an interest in what it could offer, there was resistance to the spiritual aspects. Clients wanted the practical and obvious adjustments, not so much the esoteric side. This was even more obvious when I began focusing on the healthcare field. I needed to bridge the gap between the esoteric and the practical if a Feng Shui approach was going to be accepted. My approach had to become “integrative,” blending both sides of what Feng Shui had to offer in order to be acceptable in most situations.

2. How do you see Feng Shui’s relevance evolving in today’s modern world, particularly as people seek balance in increasingly chaotic environments.

Chaos and unrest in their lives will drive people to search for balance, support, and harmony. They may not know the specifics surrounding Feng Shui and they may have taken other actions (remodeling, buying new furniture, down-sizing) but it hasn’t brought about the end result they were hoping for. Sometimes there could be a hint of desperation when a client will “try anything” to bring about balance in their lives. Even then, the effects of Feng Shui can be dramatic and surprising for the client.

3. What type of services do you offer?

I offer private consultations either in-person or via Zoom. The consultation can be for an existing place when a client wants to make some kind of change in their life. I’ve helped clients who are looking to move to a new place. I advise them on the nature of this new  space before they even commit to moving in. I also confer with those who are designing and building a home from scratch to maximize the benefits that could be incorporated. All of the Feng Shui suggestions are based on the layout and the direction of the space, their own personal alignment with directions, and what they want to accomplish as a result of this change.

4. Many see Feng Shui as solely about space arrangement, but you speak of it more holistic, impacting one’s health and well-being. Can you share some examples where Feng Shui created a profound transformation in someone’s life beyond just their physical space?

A basic premise of Feng Shui is that your space reflects your life. If you change your space, you can change your life. For example, a client who had a young son with a severe case of asthma cleaned out a closet that was in the middle of their home. She cleaned out the closet and her son’s condition went away. The closet had been a storage area for cleaning products, chemicals, mops, buckets, etc. Because of its position in the home, it was a health issue. She moved the items to another place in the house and designated the closet as storage for her children’s toys. She painted it a fun bright color, put up a bulletin board on the inside of the door so they could put up their drawings, and hung a fun light fixture. Within a few weeks, the son’s asthma disappeared.

A couple called me who were talking about getting a divorce. Their bedroom was in the front of the home and had been painted a rather dull and unattractive color by the prior owners. I suggested they move to the bedroom at the back of the house which was a stronger spot for them to occupy. And I suggested they paint the walls a color they both loved. They got involved in the project, bought new bedroom furniture and curtains—-and are still married. They not only got excited about the project but they also discovered excitement about their relationship.

A female client wanted a new job. In Feng Shui there are specific areas that represent aspects of life. So, we concentrated on the career area of her home. She had placed a beautiful antique chest that she had inherited from her grandparents in that area. She was very close to them when they were alive.  Above the chest she had hung two antique framed pictures—one of a man and the other of a woman. I figured they were her grandparents which would have been appropriate. However, she had found the photos at an antique store and thought they were interesting. I encouraged her to remove the pictures of people she didn’t know and who were most likely dead and replace with something more life-like. Within a week of doing so she had a fantastic job offer in London.

5. When you’re consulting on a space, how do you incorporate modern scientific research into your Feng Shui recommendations, and how do you balance this with traditional principles?

There have been scientific studies done about the impact of the environment on individuals. A study was done in the 70’s called “CounterClockwise” led by Ellen Langer, a professor from Harvard. She placed elderly and compromised men into an environment that reflected the 1950’s when these men were 20 years younger. After one week a marked difference in both physical as well cognitive health had vastly improved in all the participants. Likewise, there have been numerous studies on patients in hospital rooms—those with a window improve faster and have less pain than those who have no window. Paint color studies have been done determining that people react differently depending on the color of the room, especially relevant for patients in mental hospitals.

All of this supports the Feng Shui concept that a space can impact a person positively or negatively. This is a basic premise that Feng Shui is built upon. It’s paramount that I understand the client’s issues and whether there is any resistance to making changes. Citing scientific proof of the enormous impact an environment can have on someone usually softens any resistance. I make suggestions the client can accept and get behind. Once a change is made in their space, whether a traditional Feng Shui adjustment or a more “acceptable” one based on the client’s preference, the change can enact a comparable change in the client.

6. What is the most common misconception about Feng Shui that you encounter, and how do you educate clients or the public on its true essence?

There has been a misperception that Feng Shui is based on superstition or is connected to a religion. Although Feng Shui is neither, I do believe there’s a strong synchronicity component that occurs when someone declares what they desire and they change their space to reflect that desire. Incorporating Feng Shui principles into a space and correspondingly into the hearts of the client can produce immediate results. A person’s health can improve; someone may get a financial windfall they badly need; a job comes into the picture from seemingly out of nowhere.

However, the more realistic approach to Feng Shui is to realize that there may be a timing factor. Not every intentional wish comes true within the first few days or even weeks. The point is to remember what the intention is and to stick by it. It’s also possible that what someone wants at the time of the appointment may not be in the best interests of the individual in the long term. The job that comes their way and seems like a dream come true may not work out as expected.  It doesn’t mean Feng Shui didn’t work. It means that an opportunity has been presented that provides clarity about what a great job would look like so the client can clarify their goals even more.

Sooner or later Feng Shui always works—but only  if the client commits to their intention and expresses it appropriately somewhere in their space. This is what integrative Feng Shui is all about.