Katerina, Your Chi sounds wonderful!  Some people don't realize the importance of letting the outside in or why the Mouth of Chi is considered so important.  I'm glad you do!

Gretchen, Hi, it's a good question.  From a Feng Shui perspective we don't like to see the back door in alignment with the front, our feeling being is that the chi will come in....and move out just as quickly.  You can put a lovely floor plant in an earthenware bowl to stop the flow of energy outside and keep it grounded inside.

Chris, It's always helpful to learn a little about it, you will benefit and so will your clients.

Gary, That comes up all the time with my clients.  It's your Front Door where the good energy enters and it's an important principle.  It needs to be used and opened so unless it's inclement weather or you have groceries, take the walk :)

Lynn, Thank you, I do try and share information and ideas and always love when someone sparks an interest from a post to learn more about Feng Shui.

Sally, I somehow knew you already "had it."  If we are affected so deeply by our surroundings, that includes the outside as well as the inside.  I'm glad your home feels wonderful.

Arina, I see all pets and animals as pure FIRE energy which is good.  I would say it means you are attracting good things and energy into your life.  (and yes, I see "signs" in almost everything)

Diana, I would open things up for a few minutes if possible when he's out.  It does allow from a Feng Shui Perspective, the good energy to truly flow through your space.

Kathleen, I didn't want them to cut down that tree, it is gorgeous but it's hiding the house, it does need to be cut back a bit.  And the bush in the front would be best moved, it is right in front of the "Mouth of Chi" and blocking it.  It's not that bad and there are valid reasons for it.

Jo, No, the tree is not blocking you, you have good aspects particularly because of the water element.  In the FORM school of Feng Shui (not widely practiced anymore) it was water in your front to draw in the energy and a mountain at your back to keep you strong.  That always made sense to me along with the other methods.

Susan, Open it every day, even if only for a few minutes....and read Katrina's comment, she is surely bringing in the good Chi :)!

Missy, I would be happy to see it, send it in a jpg form.  If they are blocking too much light or too much of your home you might want to cut them back...I know it's expensive but would be worth it.

Teri, The bells would help and possibly a mirror to intentionally draw energy inside.  Sometimes we use a crystal.  It's difficult to say without seeing it but think of a plant if you have a corner for "life force" as well....Without seeing how your staircase is, it's difficult to suggest something for you.

Kathy, I'd try to use it more then just getting the mail...ALL doors in Feng Shui are "voices" so they shouldn't stick, creak or be broken especially if you have children it is said---their may feel as if they cannot express their feelings.

Duane, I'm with you, I don't like blinds but I am too close to the street in the front and neighbors on the side.  I have to use blinds for when it gets dark and I don't want anyone seeing in.

Maureen, Good, it always puts a smile on my face when I read something like that!

Elaine, If you have great energy WITH the clutter, I can't imagine how you'd be without it!!  Try it although be prepared to hire help :)

Diane, I too like a lot of light and want as much natural light as possible.  And it is a big FS principle to let the outside IN.  I love this time of year when it is light longer!

Grace, When I opened my windows the other morning I smelled the new flowers that just bloomed--how nice it is!

Carol, Thank you so much!  You can create a beautiful oasis in the backyard, it's actually highly recommended.  But the front needs to allow the light and a clear pathway so the new Energy can come in.

Jeff, When I picked out my tiny front Japanese Garden for the front I never thought THAT far ahead :)  But they are not blocking my door or windows in any way and they can be trimmed.

Deborah, If you have no control over the front door and you have another door, you can use that.  Otherwise I would just open up as much as I could to let the outside in.  There are many New York City apartments that don't have much light, you can only work with what you have.

Teri, All I need are pictures, I do distance consultations all the time.  There is nothing in Feng Shui that you can't find  a way to work around, it is based more on Intention and how you live your life.

Arina, I love that and absolutely take it as a positive sign.  FIRE energy is postive, enlivening and enlightening energy....and you're getting a good dose  of it every day :)!

Fernando, So many people are in touch with it now, it will add to any business.  Personally, if I didn't truly believe in it I never would have been able to stick it out years ago when no one knew what it was!

Val, It's a little difficult to answer without photos and it usually is correct to hang a Bagua mirror over the front outside door IF you have negative street energy or impossible neighbors...otherwise it isn't needed IMO.  I would look to see if the mirror is hitting the tree in any way in which case you are doubling the energy of being "blocked."  I love solar lights that go UP to reflect and pave the way to the front door if you have some obstacles.  And WELCOME BACK!!

Irene, Feng Shui consultants are often called in when a house has been sitting on the market and sometimes as soon as it goes up.  We instill good energy into the home through different methods and it does work! 

Pam, We redesign from a different point of view which is to ensure a positive flow of energy.  Homes are filled with energy and imprints of former occupants which we want to "purify" the home to leave it open to another prospective buyer.  Since we all have different methods, I would have been curious to see the show.

Rich, If you just did all that work for your mother, I would expect some "unexpected" good things to come into her life, big or small.  It is very important to think ahead when planting but even I didn't realize how huge my "little" japanese garden would grow....but nothing is blocking my front door :)

Deb, It's hard to say without seeing it but it could be blocking some energy....if it's not a big chair and there's nothing else around it the energy is likely to just flow around it.  My Ebook should be coming out soon or there are books by William Spear or Karen Kingston that are pretty easy to understand.

Mara, I've had a few of those bad dates myself---but I hadn't thought of the octagon mirror on ME...then again, it will push EVERYONE away, not something we want to do :)

Susan, That is SO sweet, thank you.  It's funny when I open a door or window or ask Laura to do it I just say I need some new Chi (some people may think laugh) but it sure does help.

Jackie, Good, I'm glad to hear it :)  Now if I could stop my neighbors from parking in front of MY house...I am writing an Ebook and very excited about it as it comes together.

Pam, I have absolutely seen this before, we call it "intuitive" feng shui.  I have seen it in several clients homes and they knew nothing about it but had such good placements of things! 

Deb, Thanks, it will happen as soon as I feel it's good enough---I want it to be very understandable and comprehensive and I'm getting there slowly :)

Jan, It may not make sense now, from your perspective.  Looking at it another way, if you believe in Energy it needs a place to flow in and circulate....the Chinese (and many other cultures) believe strongly that it can enter only through the front door...I'm glad to hear you'll try it.

Cathy, Good for you, do the sellers want the potential buyers to come in through the garage doors as well?  How silly.  You can't get a good perspective of the home coming in any other way then the front door.  The "Mouth of Chi" is very powerful and leaving a clear path to it as well as addressing the front door is more important then many people realize.  I'm glad you're "got it."!

Kathleen, Please give it a try....give up the convenience of the garage door and use the front door...think of all that GOOD energy not being allowed to come in!  If it's raining or you've got groceries I think you can use the garage for convenience but otherwise, take a walk around....think of the wonderful exercise :)!  Having NO blinds if you don't need them for privacy is wonderful, from a Feng Shui Perspective it is "Letting the outdoors IN."  Creates a balance in the home....So it's great to leave the front door open but you need to USE it! 

Casey, Good question, all the books are so different because there are so many methods of Feng Shui---and you're likely to get confused.  I've explained a lot in my previous blogs and write often about it....you might pick up some useful advice right here.