Thats an interesting point dcarch. I think I actually have a book called feng shui in the garden. We junkers certainly use the four elements more than any kind of gardener I've ever seen. It would be fun to think about more ways to enliven our creations by how we place them. kathy ps Unfortunately I am not at home where this book is, but at work. One of the boilers apparently exploded leaking water everywhere. Fortunately the restaurant was open so the problem got noticed. The poor oil company repair guy has been out straight all weekend due to the problems because of the ice storm, including coming here earlier today, now this! I reading my garden web to try to sooth this headache!

very interesting points brought up again :) There are various forms of Feng Shui. Some that are more literal then others. Kate, I agree with you, coming in and knocking down homes as they have...I personally do not agree with that. Feng Shui is about respecting the land, not disturbing it, as it seems they have. Many of the changes that would be suggested to those who hire a "expert Feng Shui consultant" will come from that consultants perspective. So, if they see extreme changes need to happen, that is what they will suggest. If your consultant says we can work around this situation...then that is how they will approach the issue. The red envelope, that has a lot to do with your intention of why your addressing it. Traditionally it is to increase wealth. To help increase your finances means you have to act on your intention as well. Many times people think I just have to place this object over here and that will solve everything :) Remember, Feng Shui is 80% intention, why you are making changes and what it is your looking to achieve from those changes. 20% is taking action to make those changes happen. The red envelope cure says to place 3 like coins inside and put the envelope in your "wealth" section according to the Bagua Theory of Feng Shui. The location will be in the furthest back left hand corner of your entire home from your front entrance, looking inward into your home. As you place it there, think to yourself, why do I want to increase my wealth, is it to simply have enough money to pay my bills, maybe go on a trip...it can be anything. xc60, I like the way you think :) yes having a four is not recommended by the Chinese culture, but utilizing your numerology skills and seeing that everything adds up to 8, very lucky, as well as 9 :) Feng Shui is based on your own personal belief, if you feel it does not work for you, that is fine :) If it is not Feng Shui, perhaps you have another cultural belief system you choose to follow. It is recommended to find something that you belief in and that helps keep you grounded and happy :) Here is a link that might be useful: Feng Shui Manhattan New York

Oh my goodness! I never expected such thoughtful and varied replies! But thank you, thank you, thank you, all of you. You have all given me much food for thought. I am in the only remaining rural section of the Garden State -- Northwest New Jersey -- directly across from Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania. Yes, there ARE woods in New Jersey and NO, most of us aren't anything like what you've seen on "Jersey Shore" or "Jersey Housewives." LOL Sorry if I sound unnecessarily defensive, but OMG -- perceptions have NJ have gotten so bad that half the time I lie and say I live in PA!!! ; ) Just to clarify: I was using the term Feng Shui tongue-in-cheek as I had read somewhere that red and yellow were recommended in kitchens designed under that paradigm. Also bought a book about it when we were searching for a new home. I found many of the ideas made sense, as in common sense -- like de-cluttering and making conscious decisions about placement of our objects. I did, however, stop reading after about the fifth chapter because it got too darn complicated, even superstitious. A funny side note: just recently my husband and I moved our bedroom furniture because I wanted to wake up in the morning to see the view outside (windows on south facing wall). I told him I had read that the head of the bed should be on the north wall for marital harmony and feet should be facing south. So basically I convinced him to help me move the furniture by promising he'd get lucky more often if he only helped me change the direction of the bed. Well, that effect was indeed achieved and an additional unforeseen benefit is that we got a better traffic pattern bc we don't have to navigate around the bed to get to the closet anymore. So while apparently I had that "rule" backwards -- it worked for us! LOL I am reminded of a line from Hamlet (I think): "Nothing is neither here nor there, but thinking makes it so." ; ) That said, thanks again for all of your feedback. There was not one person whose posting didn't warm heart. This is a GREAT forum and I'll post pics just as soon as I get one of those round tuits. Warm Regards -- Mamiam

As no such 'Suggestions' forum exists in the Home Forums index, it might be nice to introduce that topic, and also introduce a Website comments and feedback forum as well!