Making the decision to balance your energy with your environment in alignment is the first step in ensuring that you have the support you need in actualizing your goals for your future. Choosing the “right” feng shui practitioner is the next critical step to your success.
1. Clarify the difference between practitioner and consultant.
A consultant is one who gives advice from an outside/expert perspective, and a practitioner is one who affects change through the application of specific principles and knowledge. While subtle, and sometimes combined, this distinction will likely explain how the potential practitioner works.
2. Feng shui practitioners are like doctors – what is their specialty?
Much like physicians have specialized training (M.D., D.O., D.C., DDS, etc.) and specialized practice focus (pediatricians, ophthalmology, oncology, etc.), often is the case as well with feng shui practitioners (Black Hat, Compass School, Flying Stars, Eight Mansions, etc.). There are philosophies and guidelines specific to each school of thought that practitioners will draw from, as well as areas of focus (space clearing, relationships, business, etc.). Remember that, just like a family practice doctor, feng shui practitioners can be professional generalists, drawing their resources from all sources.
3. Ask around.
Does anyone in your circle have an experience / resource to share? Personal knowledge with a practitioner is helpful, although you should bear in mind that everyone’s energy is different and requires different support. Two people utilizing the resources of the same practitioner will get different results, based on what’s going on in their life, their environment and their goals.
4. Scan the healthy living local publications and yellow pages to determine what practitioners are in your area, or visit the International Feng Shui Guild website at www.fengshuiguild.com.
5. Interview selected practitioners until it feels right to you.
Place phone calls to briefly chat with the practitioner in person – a phone call can often be the first discerning moment of discovery in terms of rapport and communication style. Feel free to request client testimonials as well (remember that confidentiality will prevent specific names from being released without the client’s permission).
6. Learn how the practitioner approaches the consultation before, during and after your time together.
Know what to expect – remember that the practitioner has been in study, may do pre- and post-meditation work, and offers you the benefit of their energy and ability to work as a conduit of universal energy on your behalf. The fee for services is a representation of the equal exchange of energy, and doesn’t reflect merely the face-time together.
7. Discover what pre-consultation work is required of you, if any.
Sometimes there may be a pre-consultation assessment or informational literature to support and maximize the results of your time together. Other times, there may not. This depends upon the style of the individual practitioner – there is no right or wrong on this.
8. Ask questions.
The practitioner you choose to invite into your space will be working with the energy of your environment, and will leave some of theirs behind with you. Whatever comes to mind that will help you understand the process, the intention, the style, the reasonable expectations, etc. should be asked upfront (and in an on-going manner). You want to clearly understand to avoid potential pitfalls.
9. Develop rapport.
General conversation, information gathering and preparing for a consultation all serve to increase the mutual rapport. This element cannot be overlooked, as, again, this person is working in your space with your energy on your behalf. If it doesn’t feel right, figure out where it’s coming from for you. If it seems to be resistance coming from not wanting to do the resulting recommendations from the session, perhaps you want to wait until you’re really ready to take action. Or perhaps you just need a jumpstart!
10. Be prepared to get real.
It is helpful to be absolutely candid in working with specific issues, as the universe if very literal and will deliver on what you put out. If the session is working with superficiality and/or flawed information, that will be the result. The degree of investment is the degree of result.
And, lastly, congratulate yourself on taking action to enhance your life and your future! By using these steps in finding the “right” practitioner for you, you ensure your ability to have maximum results.
