Question: We are doing work in our dining room, which was/is a nightmare. Some idiot put one-inch tiles (of all the cold things you could think of!!!) on top of a nice hardwood floor in the dining room… the heart of the house. Yikes. Well, then, on top of that, there’s an icky drop ceiling with a busted up ceiling behind that. All that being shared… we are gutting the dining room to make that important room more warm and comfortable for hospitality, as well as to give a boost to family & health, etc. What do we do in the meantime? It feels as though my body and spirit are being ripped up with the floor and ceiling. Is there a “cure” for the few weeks or months (oh no!) while the work is being done? The entire room is a mess!

—CK from Baltimore, MD

Dear CK,

In Feng Shui, the house is akin to the body. It sounds like with the removal of all this stuff in the dining room, you are removing layers upon layers of old gunk. It’s kind of like removing different masks we humans wear to get to our true Spirit. It is also like any physical surgery. It’s going to feel uncomfortable while this is all happening until it heals. That is normal. It’s an adjustment and I’ve seen it happen over and over again, when people move things around or do major re-modeling (even removing clutter!) Just release into in it and let it pass. Now is a good time to go to (or create) an area in the space that you just love where you can be quiet and relaxed. This may be around an altar type space where you can re-affirm your commitment to just “being” and releasing it all.

Remember, this too shall pass. And when it does imagine the health and vitality the space will have and feel. Send me photos when you have them. I’m curious.