THE WEALTH CORNER. GARAGE.
This photo establishes, with more than a little drama, a strong message to those who like to collect stuff!
Seven years ago, “project” was probably not the word that one might have ascribed to our little house on Wheat Street unless preceded by the word “demolition.” (Which is likely what was in the minds of family and friends when they first cast their eyes on our “find.”)
Project is however the word Ray and I used while wearing our rose-colored glasses as we proceeded to make our offer for this old mill house in the spring of 2001. “Adventure” was the other word we used, after our offer was accepted and the mortgage papers signed, to justify the decision we made to live in our treasure while renovating it.
There is an amazing story behind our finding this house – visions included. Had we not been strongly led we might have balked at any number of points in the process of taking ownership … but the telling of that is for another time.
So, what does this photo have to do with wealth, clutter and Feng Shui?
Now, I gotta say, I will be sharing our little adventure through my Enlightened Interiors eyes because, as a case history, this house provides an abundance of stories and synchronicities that support why we all need to be mindful of what we do with our space.
When I found the house, it was vacant. The front and back doors were unlocked. And as you can tell by the garage photo it came furnished. (A joke.) My heart told me this little house had not been a home to anyone for a long time.
When Ray and I made our offer, we did not know that we were making it to a bankruptcy court. The house had just listed and our agent did not have that information until the next morning when he told us our offer was accepted. Not wanting to benefit from another’s misfortune, this news left us with a weird feeling and an awareness that we needed to spiritually treat the situation.
Certain Feng Shui schools would have advised that we step back at this point because the house held hardships that could be passed onto us. And we might have stepped back – especially after receiving the bankruptcy court’s terms of “as is” with no disclosure as to the history of anything that might affect the structural integrity of this (circa late 1800’s) house – but we were guided to proceed.
If I was worth my salt as a Feng Shui practitioner (space clearing pun intended) I would have to clear the house of any negative energy – preferably before we moved in. That the dining room window would not lock was a definite help. Each time Ray and I climbed through that window our feeling that the house wanted to be happy and would support us increased. (The neighbors were so grateful that the house might no longer be vacant that they forgave us our trespasses!) We decided to name the house Simple Grace.
Our house was one of several properties that the owner lost. She did not live in these properties but used them to stash the likes of what you see in the photo. Our garage had been boarded up since the 1970’s. Extra stuff was “stored” in the backyard, the house and the attic. (Told you the house came furnished.)
It is hard to believe that all this – and then some – was in that garage!
This cluttered, stagnant, mildewed, flea-infested mess in the garage was situated in the Wealth area of the property’s Bagua. (See definition below.) Were I not already convinced – as a practitioner – of Feng Shui’s eerie precision in predicting energy’s path, this garage and all that it represented would have erased any doubt.
IF WALLS COULD TALK? OH – BUT THEY DO!!
I am sharing before and after photos of our great adventure using my Enlightened Interiors eyes. Our homes have a story to tell – even those just acquired. How we “stash our stuff” reveals a lot – as this garage and the previous owner’s bankruptcy attests to. By paying attention and making mindful decisions, Ray and I were able to heal this house (it so wanted to be happy) and lay the foundation for a home that supports our creative drives and passions in a way that no place before it has.
So, put on your hardhat and gloves and join me for the tour!
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Definition: Bagua (bog-wa): The Bagua maps out nine areas of life that contribute to – or deplete from – wellness and joy. (Like career, health, love, creativity, etc.) Think of it as a blueprint for your home. But instead of showing you the location of a bedroom or closet, it reveals the area concerned with family, health, love, etc. In Feng Shui you adjust areas of the Bagua when you wish to encourage support of a specific intention or desire.
Tags: clutter, extreme makeover, feng shui
… And I had dreams about visiting the house before I even visited it! The finished, feng shui’d, “pretty” project looked almost exactly to what I saw in my dream. This house is a testament (on the largest scale possible) of how you give your all to your practice … the results are all there!
Bernadette and Ray! Having seen at least a part of the “real thing”, I know how hard you worked, and how much you prayed for the Guidance! The house was “project-minor” to the development of SO much else you have both accomplished since the house was first envisioned! Amazing!!!
How interesting perspectives are!
I looked at that “Pile” and thought Hmmmm!! I see a BUNCH of great ‘projects’ there! 
(Of course the mildewed/flea abundant stuff WOULD have to go first tho!) but the lovely woods! I see a lot of upcycled & restorative projects there!! 
Amazing how much one can accumulate huh?!! =:O (overall those pix ARE scary lol!)
We saw some of that potential too, Karla. But we let the previous owner take it all away when she expressed her wishes for it. I think she wound up renting multiple storage units! Took TWO trips with an 18′ truck! AND loaded our front curb with trash. Had to “TIP” the trash men to haul it off. (Lucky for us it was garbage day, huh?) Any thoughts we had of buried treasure were erased by the end of that day! We were “loaded up” with GRATITUDE that she wanted it all so we could get on with the business of the inside.
Ahhhhhhh!! I thought she was leaving it all behind…glad that fleabitten mildew stuff went tho!! Ackkkkkk! YUCK!
Now you make me wonder on the condition of the house if nobody was living inside. Was it the same way? Filled w/tons of junk??
It WAS, Karla! Though not as bad as the garage. (Except for the attic – that was packed, too. I’ll have to get those pics on here.) The back yard had a dishwasher. Hot water heater. A shower stall. A bathtub. Tons of tin (all with holes. NOTHING usable. All destroyed by the weather.) Petting zoo signs (we kept those … they were kinda cool.) Bricks from the original fireplace. (Used those, too.) Old doors … stacks of rotted wood. As I go on, I think we sound crazy, huh? But we did it. Still have work to do on the outside but we are waiting … this side of the street started going commercial (professional office) before the housing market tanked. All this gray hair … excuse me, platinum blond … I put on this house!
Bowing to your courage in stepping out of fear and listening to your guides. Sounds like you and Ray and “Simple Grace” were meant to be together. And I’ll bet you and Ray were in Simple Grace’s visions as well. (BTW – I’m rather partial to “Grace”…it was my grandmother’s name and is my middle name as well.)
Don’t know about the courage part, Sharron. More like denial … or heavily tinted rose-colored glasses!
And “Grace” is beautiful … as a name and state of being!
You have no idea how much I have resonated with this story. In my work with The City of Warren, I dealt with property owners, hoarders, Property maintenance issues and landlord/tenant problems. Abandoned homes, foreclosures, and some that would make your before picture look like the Taj Mahal. I understand fully the dedication, work and…luck that goes into such a project. What a journey….
Bet YOU have stories to tell, J.m.! Had you seen this place before us you might have knocked some sense into us, eh?