Review of the Feng Shui of Abundance by Suzan Hilton

The Feng Shui of Abundance grabbed my eye as I walked by the shelf. I am at a place in my life where attracting wealth sounds like a great idea! (Aren't we all?) I've heard the term feng shui thrown around before, but never really knew the extent of its meaning. So I grabbed the book and decided to see what it had to say, no judgments; no reservations. I was going to listen with an open mind and I encourage you to do the same. You never know when something will reach out and speak to you, like The Feng Shui of Abundance did to me.

At 10:00 o'clock I started my night time read. At 3 in the morning I had finished the book, cover to cover! I did every exercise, and kept jumping up and running around the house, grabbing the things I needed to complete the practical applications throughout the book (called "action steps.") Every time I popped into the living room (my fiancé was playing late night internet poker) I would jabber on and on about the new point I had just "discovered," then go dashing back into the bedroom to implement my new learned plans. I had an energy and excitement that wouldn't allow me to stop until I had devoured every secret!

The next day I couldn't wait to start implementing the ideas that I had taken away from The Feng Shui of Abundance. I was so excited about the changes I was about to make to my home, my attitude, and my life. If you are stuck in a rut, personally or financially, I highly recommend taking the time to read The Feng Shui of Abundance. Go at it with an open mind and enjoy the journey!

Here are a few of the things that I took away from this story:

The definition of feng shui is free-flowing wind and water. The premise is using the placement of objects to create harmony for yourself within your own environment. The Feng Shui of Abundance is about how changing your environment directly correlates to changing your thoughts and actions, thereby promoting more abundance in your life. So what is abundance? The Feng Shui of Abundance author Suzan Hilton's definition is having more than enough for you and your heart's desires.

How can feng shui help you accomplish that? Hilton believes that your home or work space represents your life and mirrors what you think and experience. By changing your physical environment you can change your life. Think about that for a second. Is your home cluttered or disorganized? How about stressful? How does that compare with the state of your life? Hilton talks about looking at the things in your life and seeing if they make you happy or upset, and using that information to make positive changes in your life. For example, when my mom and now step dad where dating, my step dad wanted to buy new living room furniture. He had narrowed it down to two choices, and asked for my mom's opinion. She took this responsibility seriously and put a lot of effort into her choice. However, my step dad decided to go against her opinion and buy the one he liked. Now they live together and share the living room furniture. My mom hates it because it is bright green, old fashioned, and uncomfortable. It is the first thing she sees when she walks into the house every day. She is constantly reminded of the frustration of her husband who asked for her help then ignored her advice. See where this is going? Imagine all the external stress and frustration that she personifies into her life (and at her husband) because of something as simple as a living room set.

How do you overcome this? Hilton suggests starting with something that you love that represents wealth to you. It doesn't have to be expensive; it just needs to be significant for you. I struggled with this for a while. Most of the things in my house are hodge podge that we have collected or inherited over the years. Even the nice things in my life are hand me downs gifts (I have a nice set of diamond earrings that my dad gave me after his ex-girlfriend gave them back). As I continued reading, I saw that flowers in a vase are considered one "cure" to classic feng shui challenges (the color of the flowers depends on the specific area in your life you are trying to fix). A light bulb went off in my head. I have a beautiful crystal vase that was a wedding present that I have always loved. I jumped out of bed to go find it, buried on a shelf covered in dust. I took it down, cleaned it up and added flowers. Now it sits proudly in my bathroom and really adds a beautiful touch to an area that I always wished had more style and grace. I smile every time I walk in the bath room and see it all spruced up. I am now proud of, a space that I used to despise, because I changed it with something that was significant to me.

Hilton also goes behind the physical aspect of feng shui. Moving objects around is great, but there is also an emotional aspect to her teachings. Hilton believes strongly in blessings, and that idea is prominent in The Feng Shui of Abundance. You are trying to receive more abundance, or more blessings, and to receive more, you have to be happy with what you already have. Why not start by blessing the money that you spend? Hilton suggests even writing thank you in the memo line of your checks. While this may seem a little extreme (who is thankful to pay their bills?) think about the implications for a moment. Why shouldn't we be thankful to pay for the services that we take for granted, like hot water for our showers? I've taken straight cold showers before and they are NOT fun! Aren't you thankful for the convenience of your Tivo and the cell phones that help keep your family connected? How about your house and car payments? A running reliable vehicle is something we can all be grateful for (especially if you've ever experienced a non-running or non-reliable vehicle!).

Hilton also talks about blessing the people that enter into your home. She suggests hanging something symbolic inside your front door. That way, every time you look up at the door you are reminded to be thankful for the people in your life, and bless them for their visit and safekeeping on their trip. Remember, the item needs to be symbolic to you, not necessarily religious or spiritual.

I took this advice and hung an angel on our door. The angel, while a standard symbol of Christianity, was symbolic to me for other reasons. When I lost a baby girl, my mother gave the angel to me as a gift. It is beautiful, pink, and girly and it reminds me of my mother's love for me, especially in my most intimate time of need. I want to share that kind of caring love and compassion with everyone who walks in my door.

Throughout The Feng Shui of Abundance, Hilton describes your quest for abundance as a journey. I hope that you will take the time to attempt that journey and I look forward to hearing all about the great rewards headed your way!