Healthily in Love
By Sónia Gonçalves
Passionate Inspirations
# Feng Shui – Out with the Old and In with the New 27 September, 2017 Sónia Gonçalves
Does Feng Shui mean anything to you? It means a lot to me 🙂
When we moved into our current home, we decided to explore Feng Shui and had the pleasure of meeting Sofia Lobo Cera. Sofia is a Feng Shui consultant and she designed the project for our house 🙂She studied the energy in our house and our energy too, we talked her through our difficulties and our goals and through the house’s blueprint and layout, and she gave us a super complete project. In this project, she indicated, among many other things, how we should place our furniture, how to decorate our home according to the 5 elements (water, wood, fire, earth and metal ...) and the colours to use. All of this is designed with the aim of balancing the energy of both the home and its inhabitants (us 🙂)
Believe it or not, this works 🙂 We noticed loads of differences in our life ... everything became more balanced, especially in areas that were really imbalanced! I believe that everything is energy, even our home, and obviously the people who live there too!! As such, it makes complete sense for me (and also for Diogo) for our home to be as balanced as possible energy wise, and Feng Shui is a major ally 🙂
I spoke to Sofia to tell you about Feng Shui🙂 Read until the end, as Sofia will leave us some tips on how to get our homes ready for Autumn 🙂
“Hello, Sofia. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your professional path?”
“Hello, Sónia, first of all, thank you for inviting me to be here, it’s a pleasure to contribute to this healthy project. Now, talking about me… I’m someone who loves life, who loves joy, who loves a good mood, positive vibes, who loves helping others have a passionate life that can grant them everything they wish to achieve. My path along this field started quite early. When I was 18/19 years old, I went to university and started reading up on the subject, which fascinated me off the bat. Later on, when I joined the labour market, although I was an engineer, the corporate world wasn’t quite what I’d envisaged or even dreamed about. Instead, I found a dog eat dog world, where people would do what they could to achieve their goals. I tried to bypass this, although I suffered from such situations at times. Time moved on and I felt more and more that I didn’t belong there. I felt as though I was in the wrong place, at the wrong time, and with the wrong people. However, that very place, that very time, those very people, were the drivers that led me to study Feng Shui professionally and for that, I am incredibly grateful. And as the universe is wise, it turns out that place, that time and those people were the right ones. I was quickly asked to write articles, teach classes and I started taking my first steps with consultations. My friends were the guinea pigs at the time (laughter).
The project grew to the point where I had to make a decision to drop everything else and pursue it or drop it and continue in engineering. The decision wasn’t easy, nor was this stage in my life, but I was lucky that I could make the right decision and from then on, I’ve been focusing full time on Feng Shui consulting and help others live a better life.
“There’s a lot of talk nowadays about Feng Shui. Can you explain what this ancient art is about?”
“Feng Shui studies the way in which energy flows in a space. And I’m not talking about esoteric concepts here, rather the scientific concept of energy as we all know it. Unlike what many may believe, Feng Shui is not about decorating, closing toilet lids, or working and sleeping facing a certain direction. All the flow that circulates inside and outside a house influences and determines the type of life of its inhabitants. When that energy doesn’t flow well, problems of various types come up in people’s lives or in companies. When the energy flows well and properly, people and companies thrive on all levels and are able to achieve what they want and everyone feels good.
“How can Feng Shui help people in their day-to-day and in their lives as a whole?”
“For Feng Shui to be able to help people, they need to become aware of how much their homes and workplaces influence them. Once people become aware of this and apply Feng Shui, which can be placing furniture correctly, having a suitable decor, experiencing the space so that it offers great potential, and also having a more positive energy flow in the spaces, this will automatically have repercussions in our lives, as homes are, simply put, an extension of our bodies. To gain this awareness, you can simply pay attention to small changes made in your home, for instance moving some things around and feeling the results of this; or simply observe other places where you feel good and notice what it is they have, which makes everything around them be in harmony.”
“How can a home’s energy influence one’s life?”
“Here, to be a bit clearer, we can draw a parallel with the air we breathe. If we breathe fresh air, we’ll be healthier than if we breathe in highly polluted air. Well, this air, which is made up of particles, is energy. Everything in the universe contains energy, from a rock, to plants, the materials and objects that make up a house and the buildings, all the way up to the planets. And, according to the laws of physics, energy moves, and the particles interact with one another and as a result, influence one another. If what we have in our home contains energy and if we are made up of energy also, it’s natural that our home will influence us, as well as we influence the home and everything around us. For this reason, not only is it necessary for homes to have good energy, it’s also fundamental that people have it too, or else they will “pollute” the home they live in and this in turn will foster less positive energy.”
“Change your Home Enrich your Life” is the title of your book. What can we find when we read it?”
“Using the words of many readers who reached out to me, this book changed their lives. They state they read it in one day, that they applied the suggestions and experienced good results at once. In addition to an explanation of what Feng Shui is and how everything relates, in this book you’ll find practical tips on how to organize your home room by room, starting at the front door and ending in the garden, for those who have one. There’s also another part, divided into seasons of the year with tips on how to organize and tidy the home depending on the season, so you can be in tune with the energy in force at the time. After, there are some practical cases for anyone who wants to dig a bit deeper, and it ends with a part dedicated to anyone house hunting, that is, with very precise and clear indications on what to look out for when picking a new home.”
“Can you explain how someone can use your services and what you can offer?”
“To use my services, all you need to do is send an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or go into the contacts tab on my website www.sofialobocera.com. There are various types of services available, from professional Feng Shui consultations, to the various modes available, Date Selections, Property consultations applicable when buying or selling a property, Direction consultations, applied to any travel done, whether for business or pleasure, I Ching consultations and also workshops. You can find a description of all these services on my website. You can also follow my Facebook page where I post some tips and what’s new: www.facebook.com/SofiaLoboCera.FengShui.”
“Lastly, I’d like you to offer us some tips on what to do in the changing seasons. And since we’re at the start of Autumn, how should we prepare our homes for the new season?”
We’re now starting Autumn, a time when the Metal energy in prominent, bringing with it the need to withdraw, organize our affairs and start planning and setting goals. The days become shorter and the light in our homes is also less bright. This time of year, it’s important to keep our homes energized, letting the sunlight find its way in. At the same time, as it’s the time to withdraw, we should now make our home cosier and this can be done easily by making the living room area closer, using warmer colours, and using softer lighting, such as candles.
At this time we are also more eager to organize our home and our life, and for this, it’s fundamental that we start to “eliminate” what we don’t need so that new things can come in. Although this concept of out with the old and in with the new is stronger in the Spring time, it can also be applied this time of year, in the objects we have at home, clothing, food that has gone off or that is not good for us, as well as thoughts, attitudes and ways of being we may have. Together with this (re)organizing, we feel the need to define or plan out what we want for our life, which can entail being more positive, changing our diet and lifestyle, or finding a relationship or going up the career ladder. And since gratitude belongs in any time of the year, I’ll take the opportunity to thank you, Sónia, once again for sharing my knowledge and my book “Change your Home Enrich your Life”, as well as wish you great success in this new project.
We hope you enjoyed this 🙂
As Sofia usually says, “we wish you good energy”!! Be inspired and fall in love for yourselves, with your life and your home" 🙂
Saudavelmente
Sónia Gonçalves
In http://saudavelmenteapaixonada.com/2017/09/27/feng-shui-deitar-velho-entrar-novo/ published on September 2017
Sofia Lobo Cera has been a classic Feng Shui consultant for over 12 years now. She has been studying the subject for more than 20 years and has been teaching this centuries-old art for more than 10 years. Sofia has a degree in Chemical Engineering – Quality and Environment, and makes it a point of noting Feng Shui is not esoteric and draws our attention to the improvements that can be seen at a personal and professional level when using these techniques.
What is the importance of Feng Shui for workplaces and their resilience?
I would begin by asking our readers the following: how do you feel when you enter your workplace? When you feel good, what differences can you tell in your productivity? The truth is that most people don’t feel good in their workplaces, although they can’t really pinpoint why. It’s a feeling. This can be explained by the energy flowing through spaces, whether the company or (now) our home not being great. And that’s where Feng Shui can help. Feng Shui fosters a feeling of well-being, obtained through the space’s energy, whereby this energy is the same one we refer to in science, that is, the particles, atoms, and molecules that make up a space. Feng Shui includes both what is physical matter and decoration, in the sense of how objects are laid out, their shape, texture, and colour... The materials that furniture is made of can give out a certain sensation, the places where the workers are in the company, the reception and how it’s laid out are also important in terms of Feng Shui... In fact, everything matters, from the outside area around the building, which influences the energy inside in about 60 to 70%, even the parking area and the way the director and customers circulate inside the company, everything contributes to the people’s well-being and the organization’s results. For this reason, the ideal scenario would be to incorporate Feng Shui when building the premises, seeing that this centuries-old art works on everything, from the building’s floorplan to the amount of concrete used for the walls, where the front door is located, the offices, the reception area... Even so, it is fundamental for companies that have already occupied their premises to consider applying Feng Shui. It’s never too late. It helps with financial revenue and makes people happier, thereby more resilient.
In this case, should architects and project designers work together with a Feng Shui expert to design a space according to the techniques of this art?
Yes, of course. Oftentimes, architects and project designers don’t know that they are including their energy when they draw a space’s floorplan. Plus, there are some who believe a Feng Shui consultant will block his or her creativity, as we will make demands as to where certain architectural elements should be positioned. That is not true. We offer the guidelines, in the sense of indicating the best place in which to place the doors, the main one and the ones inside, to access the living room, the bedroom and others, in that future space. But it’s up to the architect to set up the puzzle of possibilities, deciding where he or she will design the space, letting their creativity take flight. In Portugal, the dwellings from the 1990’s onwards almost all follow the same inner layout, which isn’t according to Feng Shui and the fact is that the population has been experiencing self-esteem issues and greater trouble with the problems that arise. It is fundamental for there to be synergies between these two occupations, but each one should fulfil their duty alone, as this means the architect will complete a good architectural project and a Feng Shui consultant will complete a good Feng Shui project. It’s important for there to be flexibility and adaptability on both parts so they can work together. The goal is to build a beautiful space that fosters health, good relationships, namely at family level, wealth, and personal power. Feng Shui is about balance.
Is it easy to find houses in Portugal with good Feng Shui?
Not really. As I explained, we need a better connection between Feng Shui consultants and architects and project designers, for instance. However, there is some interest by a few architects, which is great, but it’s simply not enough. When I was house hunting about 10 years ago, I saw loads of houses until I found one that met the requirements. It is important to note that life is too important for us to be miserable at home or our workplace. That is why when we invest in a property, or lease it, ideally, we should be accompanied by a Feng Shui consultant so they can conduct a study of the space.
Is it still necessary to inform the population that Feng Shui is not esoterism?
Yes, no doubt. Sometimes, people tell me they don’t “believe this” and I reply that it’s not about believing. Classic Feng Shui is based on mathematical calculations using a compass, which measures the Earth’s magnetic field. Nothing more, nothing less than energy. As such, Feng Shui is in fact something we can’t see, but we can all feel it, as it’s related to how energy flows. This has nothing to do with religion or personal belief, as I explain in my book “Change your Home Enrich your Life”. This paradigm is still so rooted in society that some people have Feng Shui consultations and don’t let their clients, workers or friends know about it, as they are scared of how others will interpret it. This shouldn’t be happening. Doing a Feng Shui consultation and study shows you are concerned about your well-being and the well-being of those around you.
What projects do you have currently under way?
There’s always something under way with me, but I never talk about a project until it is launched. Now, during the pandemic, I needed to adapt, seeing that my occupation means I visit people’s homes and companies. I had to reinvent myself in order to continue working. I created weekly lives on social media with tips for lockdown so that people could feel stronger in both health and finances. I will have news, soon, especially with regard to the digital world. For now, I can remind you that you can follow some of the projects that have been launched, via my Youtube (Sofia Lobo Cera Consultora Profissional de Feng Shui). These are still up-to-date, such as Organized Home, Balanced Life, a series of 25 videos with Feng Shui tips to apply in tour home and workplace over the year.
in Sol Newspaper - Valor Magazine published on December 2020
A product’s life cycle is something akin to the four stages that are studied in Chinese metaphysics: birth, growth, prime and decline. The product’s life cycle is the timeline since an item is designed until it reaches the end of its life.
Nowadays, products have shorter life cycles, not just because generally people don’t invest as much in the quality of materials compared to how quick they need to circulate the items, but also because people have adopted behaviours where objects are almost disposable. In the past, when you bought living room furniture, it was for life. Nowadays, that is unthinkable. However, more and more individuals are concerned with the planet’s sustainability and durability of products, and tend to favour pieces and materials that last longer and are environmentally friendly. But where does a product’s life cycle tie with Feng Shui?
Although products have a more less defined “use date”, it is possible to make a product longer, based on Feng Shui. What lies behind this is the Cycle of the Five Elements. So, if the materials, the colours and the shapes that make up an object are in harmony, that object will last longer than if the materials, colours and shapes that make it up were not in harmony. A round, plastic white colour tends to last less than a square, plastic, white table. In the first case, we have a material that represents the Fire element, and a shape and colour that represent Metal. In the second case, we have a material that represents the Fire element, a shape that represents Earth and a colour from the Metal element, where Fire fuels Earth and this feeds Metal, instead of having a situation where Fire is fusing Metal.
In my book Change your Home Enrich your Life you will find the features of each element with regard to colours, materials, shapes, and other, to select better pieces, as well as creating harmony in them and, as a result, your home and your life!
November, November, the month of so many things we can think about, act and do!
At this time of the year, when days continue along their path, relentlessly, becoming shorter, a lot of us feel more morose, homey, less active. Others, the anonymous blessed, feel more exuberant, energetic and enthusiastic.
November is marked by the end of the Metal energy, in transition with Earth and the start of Water, i.e. Winter. The oriental people have a different way of approaching the laws of nature as they consider a cycle of transformations, that varies over time. Everything has a cycle: first there’s birth, then the prime and then there’s decline and lastly, death. Next comes birth again and it starts over. This cycle can be applied to human beings, animals, plant life and energy.
When we are still in the western Autumn, at the start of November, the days grow colder and the nights are longer. For the oriental people, this is where the birth of Winter takes place.
On December 23, Winter is at its prime, which is when we say in the west that Winter is starting. For us, westerners, Summer starts on 21 June and have you noticed that once Summer starts, the days start getting shorter? Well, supposedly, once Summer starts, the days should be getting longer rather than shorter! That is the oriental thought process.
People can feel so different at this time of the year because three types of energy are present – it’s why some feel more withdrawn and others more vibrant.
Yet regardless of the mood, use this time of year to be in synch with the season. You can do this in three simple steps:
