Feng Shui is an ancient art and science developed over 3,000 years ago in China. It is a complex body of knowledge that reveals how to balance the energies of any given space to assure the health and good fortune for people inhabiting it.
Karen Feldman is a certified Feng Shui consultant and interior designer at URBAN EDEN based in Providence, RI. Less than ten years ago, Feldman was the first interior designer in the area who became certified in the arts of Feng Shui. She works with the physical and non-physical or energetic environment to create functional and harmonious spaces. "I work on a deeper level with my clients and tap into their core essence. I can infuse what I learn from them into the built environment to manifest empowering residential and commercial spaces," states Feldman.
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Earth is one of Feng Shui's five elements
Feldman assisted in the interior design of the Breast Cancer Screening Unit at the Dana Farber Hospital in Boston, MA. While working on the project, she learned that the existing hospital and treatment environments available to the breast cancer patients in 2000 were not addressing their deeper issues as individuals searching for support, validation, and encouragement. Feldman points out, "One must truly understand that there is a profound relationship between our first 'home' - our body- and our second 'home' - the spaces we inhabit. The two are intrinsically bound and it has been my life's work to encourage others to see the holistic template that is created by this relationship."
Feldman shared with us how she incorporates the five elements (water, wood, fire, earth and metal) of Feng Shui into an environment. "I begin by listening to my clients and understanding what are their needs, tastes, and lifestyle requirements. I then make a Feng Shui assessment as to what elements and energies need to be encouraged and brought into greater harmony or emphasized. My reliance upon internal quiet allows the spaces to come forth and, if you will, 'tell' me what is needed as opposed to forcing a palette or design criteria upon the environment. In this way I work from the inside out and let personal/ego considerations go to the background in terms of what is best from a design perspective." She reminds us that this process is not the norm in the design mainstream industry which is often seen on television makeover shows. However, when she is centered and quiet, healing and inspiring solutions to a design challenge will always follow.
For more info: Visit www.karenfeldmanurbaneden.com
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