Here I go...but I just had to share my experience from last weekend. 

Saturday I met a client and his Interior Designer at the office he had asked me to feng shui.  After I had gone through the building the designer arrived.  She was loaded for bear.  I explained to her that I do not decorate.  I have no talent for it and I have no training in it.  I leave decorating for the experts.  I even declined to take classes in interior design because I believe you need talent to start with.  So, I'm absolutely no threat to an Interior Designer.

I only had a few comments to make as far as decorating went.  One was very important...to use one certain color in the entryway.  This color could be in a painting size amount...didn't have to be spectacular...just use the color on that wall.  And, some golden metallic items in the waiting room would have been good...but not absolutely necessary.  I also told her where I did not want any red or dark greens....and where not to put bamboo if she decided to use it.

That's not so hard, is it?  Mostly my advice to the client was concerning how to use the building...and what not to do so as to avoid problems.

Every step of the way she complained and seemed to be competing.  I had hoped she would "get it" and realize that we were in no way in competition.  But, I don't know.  I did find out that she has had numerous horrible experiences with "feng shui people" and would rather have teeth pulled than have to deal with them again. (or so it seemed to me) 

One of those experiences was when a "feng shui" consultant announced that a woman could not have hardwood floors in one area of her home.  Now I've been studying this stuff (with a master) for over 10 years.  I've never heard of such drivel.  Absolutely appalling.  No wonder this profession has such a bad reputation.  This same person also apparently told a client to move because they had water pipes behind their headboard.  Good grief.  If the pipes bother you, and you can't move the bed, put in a thicker headboard.  Don't give people more to worry about!  Feng Shui should make our lives easier, not harder!

This is the kind of thing that that makes  the job of a real Feng Shui Professional so much more difficult.  We're constantly cleaning up someone's mess.  I hope this designer will keep up with this client.  Because he will make more money, and he will be happier in his office once he follows my advice.  And, it won't take much...just using it in a different way, and adding a very few finishing touches.

Monica Hess,  Feng Shui Consultant, Instructor and Lecturer, Lexington, KY

www.monicahess.com

member of the Feng Shui Research Center  and  The Feng Shui Network