My Feng Shui Journey: Finding Balance in a Challenging Home

South Bay, Los Angeles Homes

My feng shui story began in 2011 after our family moved back to the South Bay from Alexandria, Virginia. We were in a rental while still owning property elsewhere, and honestly, everything felt off from day one. Issues kept popping up one after another. I tried all the usual fixes – rearranging furniture countless times, having the walls painted, moving the girls in different bedrooms – but nothing clicked. The space didn’t work.

Then fate stepped in. I discovered a UCLA course and companion book on Feng Shui for Architects and Interior Designers right when I needed it most. Conventional design approaches couldn't address what we were experiencing.

The book was like turning a light on: suddenly, everything made sense.

The house – a typical South Bay two-on-a-lot squeezed into an urban neighborhood – was being energetically compressed by a massive multi-unit complex looming behind us. The tightly packed houses around us and the absence of natural grass only intensified the imbalance. Worst of all, I realized the home's orientation was particularly unfavorable for me and my youngest daughter, and we were home the most.

Flying Star map courtesy of Chinesemetasoft.com. The home’s fixed energy pattern is double sitting with 2:3 center energy.

As I dove deeper into feng shui principles, practical solutions to our specific challenges emerged. The stagnant energy, the unexplained health issues, the strange disconnection we felt as a family – all of it started making sense. This ancient wisdom explained why I never felt quite right at that home.

I've learned that some people (like me) are more sensitive to their environment's energy, and sometimes the homes we inhabit can amplify what's already present in our bazi.

For me, feng shui has grown beyond a one-time fix into a living practice that helps us navigate life's constant changes. Adding bazi brings a personal timing element that beautifully complements traditional feng shui – something many people don't realize.

This journey has given me a framework that goes far beyond paint colors and furniture placement. It's about creating something truly sustainable and nurturing for my family – a home that supports us rather than works against us. - Kimberly Pittman, Allied ASID