Cathleen McCandless - Feng Shui that Makes Sense - Easy Ways to Create a Home that Feels as Good as it Looks

FENG SHUI THAT MAKES SENSE

Easy Ways to
Create a Home that FEELS as Good as it Looks

Copyright 2011 by Cathleen McCandless.

Two Harbors Press
212 3rd Avenue North, Suite 290
Minneapolis, MN 55401
612.455.2293
www.TwoHarborsPress.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

This book is designed to provide information to the reader. It is sold with the understanding that neither the author nor the publisher is providing any type of legal, psychological, medical, or professional service or advice. No guarantees are implied or expressed by the author or the publisher. Neither the author nor the publisher shall be liable in any way for any physical, personal, psychological, emotional, financial, or commercial damages, including, but not limited to, special, incidental, consequential, or other damages. The reader is solely responsible for his/her own actions, choices, and results.

For further information about the contents of this book and more, please visit
www.FengShuiThatMakesSense.com

Cover design by Cathleen McCandless

ISBN-13: 978-1-936401-57-4

Distributed by Itasca Books

Printed in the United States of America

This book is dedicated with the deepest love possible, to my mother, Mary, whose wisdom, love, and sense of humor fashioned me into the person I am today. As she looks down from Heaven, I owe her not only my life but also the way I have chosen to live it. She is part of me forever and always.

I have been blessed because of her.

Part I
Feng Shui Fundamentals

Part II
Practical Feng Shui for Your Home

Part III
Energetic Aspects of Feng Shui

This book was created from countless requests over many years from clients and students who said that my approach to feng shui worked so well and made so much sense that I had to write a book. Well, all that nagging finally paid off!

With loving thanks to my wonderful students and clients, your inspiration has guided me along my path. I have learned as much from you as you have from me. For those lessons and for your persistence, I humbly thank you. I would also like to thank Rebecca MacDonald for helping me get this book out of my head and onto paper, and to Julie Wheaton for her keen eye and superb editing skills; without you, this book would still be a pipe dream. A special thanks to Denise Linn, who lit a flame of inspiration in me many years ago that continues to shine just as brightly to this day.

Wishing you great joy and many blessings,
Cathleen McCandless

W ould you like to create a home that looks beautiful and feels inviting, comfortable and relaxing? Do you have an interest in feng shui but have become frustrated or discouraged by confusing, conflicting, and sometimes downright silly information and suggestions? Are you searching for an approach to feng shui thats easy to understand, easy to implement, and easy on your budget? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this book was written for you!

In my twenty years as a feng shui consultant, people have often told me that they were interested in feng shui but had become turned off to the subject by the complicated, contradictory, and occasionally ridiculous concepts sometimes associated with it. This is unfortunate because, when applied properly, the system of feng shui can transform an ordinary space into an environment that relaxes our bodies, inspires our minds, and lifts our spirits.

Through experience, Ive found that most of my clients and students are looking for a common-sense approach to feng shuione that can be easily and inexpensively applied to their environments. This book provides just that. As much as possible, I will present the rationale behind many feng shui suggestions and dispel several of the myths and misconceptions associated with this beautiful and often misunderstood system. I will then show you ways in which you can easily integrate these concepts into your home to create a nurturing, comfortable, and inspiring living space.

Feng shui concepts range from gracefully simple to dazzlingly complex. It would be impossible to cover all aspects of feng shui in one book. This book focuses on sharing practical, basic feng shui information that you can easily apply to your home. And speaking of home, you will find that I refer to the place where you live as home, even though you may reside in an apartment or a condo. No matter where you live, when youre returning to that place, you dont say, Im going apartment or Im going condo. No, you say, Im going home.

Whether you rent or own your home, live in a small apartment or a sprawling mansion, have a large budget or are living on a shoestring, feng shui has something to offer you. In these pages, you will discover an abundance of ways to apply feng shui principles to your home, no matter what your current circumstances may be. In order to get the most out of this book, I recommend that you read the chapters in order.

Part I introduces the fundamentals of feng shui and explains how human instinct has influenced the foundation of feng shui principles.

Part II is the first step on your feng shui journey and begins outdoors. The way you experience the area surrounding your home greatly influences how you feel when you step inside. This section offers a wealth of practical ideas and feng shui decorating tips to create comfort and beauty within each area of your home.

Part III addresses the more energetic and esoteric aspects of feng shui. This information may not be easily understood from a practical or logical point of view, but it can help improve the energy in your home.

And finally, the appendix provides a website that can help you in finding many of the items mentioned in this book.

Feng shui can lead to fascinating self-discoveries, as you begin to understand the powerful influence of your surroundings. It is an honor to help you on this segment of your feng shui journey. I sincerely hope that, once youve read this book, implemented its suggestions, and experienced the benefits, you will not only have created a more optimal home environment but also a more optimal life.