The first rule of thermodynamics tells us that what isn’t growing is dying and if we stop evolving as human beings or entities, we are nearing our end. Taking this principle as a starting point, we can better understand the concept of Feng Shui, an “art” that can offer us a better life, without doubt.
Who better than Sofia Lobo Cera to tells us a bit more about the values of Feng Shui, the art of harmonizing spaces with the aim of enhancing the vital energy of beings and environments, whether private or corporate. We set off to get to know our interviewee, Sofia Lobo Cera, a professional Feng Shui consultant who embarked on her namesake project – Sofia Lobo Cera, Feng Shui Consultant, in 2009. This was, according to her “the best decision I ever made in my life”. Sofia is renowned internationally as a consultant accredited by the Feng Shui Society and she has vast experience in all types of Feng Shui projects.
It may seem odd, but our interviewee’s adventure began with engineering, specifically chemical engineering. And how do these two fields, which seem so far apart at first glance, cross over? “They really aren’t that different. Oftentimes, people associate Feng Shui with more esoteric or spiritual fields, but in fact, the study of Feng Shui looks at how energy flows and that same energy is what we learn in physics and chemistry,” she highlights, recalling that her journey through this art began when her mother bought an encyclopedia on it and she literally devoured it. This was the moment when the flame of passion was ignited in our interviewee. “I had a feeling that I’d already studied all of it and that it made complete sense”, she notes, remembering that this was when she concluded her degree in engineering and began her career “in which I felt I wasn’t fulfilled and I didn’t think this was my path”, she states with certainty. And so, our interviewee decided to hire a coach to understand what she wanted to do with her life “especially because life is too short to stick to what doesn’t bring us any value and it was in this process that I realized that one of the things I wanted was to have my own business, something that caused a few doubts. What? Where? Normal questions, but which led me to the conclusion of what I was looking for, i.e. this was the path I wanted to be on, with my own schedule, run by me. I already felt I was helping so many change their life through Feng Shui at a personal level, so why not do the same for myself?”. These were the questions Sofia Lobo Cera was asking herself at the time, when she kickstarted her business in 2009, with great results. “These 11 years have been filled with achievements and, naturally, I’m truly pleased to know I’m contributing by helping other people improve their lives through Feng Shui, and it’s important to note that I never stopped studying. We need to understand that Feng Shui is an immense world with abundant information and detail. People think this art is something that relates to decorating alone or that it’s general stuff. That is not the case at all. Feng Shui is much more than this, because when we study energy, we work with precision and that is what leads to a difference in results in a person’s life or a company”.
And is there still some stigma associated with the values of Feng Shui, or lack of knowledge of these? Sofia is adamant that the current panorama is quite positive when compared with the end of the 1990’s, for instance. And what is the level of acceptance today? “In Portugal, it is more developed and more readily accepted, but it’s far from the more developed countries. If we go to the UK, for instance, the major corporations, the people who hold any power, who are successful, well-off and highly regarded all have a Feng Shui consultant and always invest in learning more about the subject”, acknowledges Sofia Lobo Cera, recognizing that in Portugal there is still a long road ahead, “especially at corporate level”, a reality that can be changed faster with the new wave of entrepreneurs that is making its way in.
“I believe this reality may be a lever, namely because they are more aware of these practices, i.e. the importance of the workers’ well-being, a balanced working space, as they understand that well-being and harmony leads to greater productivity, with evident results in terms of turnover and consolidation of profits”, she states.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the world is currently experiencing a new “normal” that led to a series of changes in everybody’s lives. But how did this new reality change the panorama? According to our interviewee, “people have started to wake up and, while not talking about health issues, of course, I can see that this pandemic has helped people stop and think about where they want to go, what they want from life. People have become much more available and open to accepting alternatives to save their companies and also improve their personal lives. When someone works from home, they realize just how important their home is in influencing their mood, well-being and comfort. This has opened up a huge window, especially for corporate customers – I can claim to have had an increased workload because people and companies are starting to become aware of these factors, where Feng Shui plays an essential role”.
Our interviewee admits she likes to lead and enjoys addressing all the challenges she sets on herself or those that are set by others. “A woman of all trades” is a moniker that suits Sofia Lobo Cera well. She wrote the book “Change your Home Enrich your Life” and set up the online project “Organized Home Balanced Life”. “I love challenges and overcoming them. Striving towards excellence and helping more lives, corporate or personal. I want people to have a better life on all levels”, she states, certain of her words.
What is there left to reach? Quite honestly, Sofia Lobo Cera admits she would like the setting to change with regard to construction and architecture, especially the first. “People should be more aware of Feng Shui and of building or designing homes with good Feng Shui. We need to assimilate and understand that when we design a space with good energy, this will make an outstanding difference in society and we will be able to shift the paradigm”, she assures us. Sofia began her professional studies at the National School of Feng Shui in Portugal and obtained her first professional certificate in 2010; she reminds us she plays this role on a daily basis: “I try to bring people over to this subject and fortunately, I’ve seen a few changes, I see houses being designed with these concerns in mind, but we need to keep going, especially when it comes to companies from the ground up, where I don’t see many with this type of awareness or concern”.
Your business’s health and balance, your workers’ and clients’ well-being and, with all of this, a greater potential for consolidation, both in terms of growth and financially, while also gaining renown from those outside and inside the company
in Publico Newspaper - Pontos de Vista Magazine published on October 2020
Summer is over. The days are shorter, the mornings and nights cooler and the first rain can be felt. No more outdoor strolls, going to the beach, dining out on the terrace with the sun on our skin. Come Autumn, we begin our indoor routines and this year, even more so. With a pandemic that insists on not leaving us alone and the COVID-19 numbers consistently on the rise, not just in Portugal but worldwide too, our social life will continue to be indoors. And that being the case, what can we do to feel more comfortable, safer and happier and protected inside our four walls?
Did you know that this centuries-old Chinese art can help save your life? That a home with Feng Shui is much more protected against the threats the world is facing? At a time when Autumn is here and the pandemic, which insists on rearing its ugly head, call us into our home, make note of a few tips that will bring a positive energy to your home. So that you may feel safer, more comfortable and… happier!
NOVA GENTE magazine asked Sofia Lobo Cera for help, a professional Feng Shui consultant who starts by explaining that this is “a centuries-old Chinese art that studies the form and effects of how energy flows through a given space”. “All the air that circulates between walls, the wind knocking at the window, the light that seeps in, the materials that make up a space, the way people move around in the house/office, how they lay it out and decorate it, the outside… all of that is studied in Feng Shui, for the occupants’ well-being and more.”
What can Feng Shui do for our homes/lives? “I dare say that it can “save” our lives. For instance, a house with good Feng Shui will be much better protected from the threats the world is facing, whether in terms of health, finances, career or expectations, than a home that isn’t as positive,” says the expert, adding that with the arrival of a new season, it’s essential that we make adjustments and amendments to our home: “Energy is cyclical and we should go along with it to reap the best results for our lives. If we observe the sun, we note that it rises and sets at different times and in different places all the time. In the same way, the wind doesn’t always blow in the same direction and with the same intensity. We need to adapt to the energy of the seasons and the years. Oftentimes, these are minor adjustments for us to feel well and happier. If we sow a plant out of season, we won’t reap what we’re supposed to.”
And don’t be fooled into thinking this art is just about moving items around and redecorating. “It’s much more than that. The great knowledge of Feng Shui is identifying how energy flows in a space so we can either stimulate it or else correct it when there are issues. Whenever I hear my clients telling me about their pathologies, it’s always represented by the flow of energy in the space in question. Recently, I consulted on a family whose biggest problem was that one of the members of the household was anorexic. I knew straight away what the problem was and probably where it stemmed from. I analyzed the space and indeed, that was the problem. In many such cases, or of other types, when the space allows it, we can solve or significantly improve the problem”, Sofia Lobo Cera assures us. She recalls another episode: “I remember a case, many years ago, when a four-storey house “supposedly” represented a substantially favourable energy flow. However, that family, in addition to the huge relationship issues between the various members, was on the verge of financial ruin.
When I went to see them, besides terrible disorder, the house was so jam-packed that I couldn’t take a step without bumping into something. One of the first recommendations I made was to reestablish order and organization. In less than a year, the fighting had stopped, both had been promoted and the financial problems came to a halt.”
For this, and for so many other reasons, the Feng Shui consultant cautions: “It is essential, not to mention urgent, that people become aware of how their homes and workplaces (and their cars, too) influence their lives. Fortunately, the pandemic and the fact that we were in lockdown means that a lot of people gained this awareness. All of a sudden, everyone needs to fell good in their homes, protected, healthy – from a physical and emotional standpoint – and with their jobs guaranteed.
- Reorganize your kitchen, check for any broken china and recycle it. In Feng Shui, broken items don’t carry good energy.
- “Organize you closets, commodes (…). Check for any shoes, belts, purses and knickknacks that make no sense hanging on to”
Organize your paperwork at home, keep what you really need and recycle the rest. You’ll be amazed by the amount of bills, papers and documents you’ve kept over the years and which have taken up space that could be used for useful things that end up “hidden” in the oddest places.
- “Organize you closets, commodes, cabinets and be delighted by the memories so many old items bring you, invading your memory… and even the surprise when you realize that they now fit you so much better.
- Declutter the cabinet in the hallway that oftentimes serves as a depository for ATM tickets, supermarket receipts, advertising leaflets, storage for necklaces, batteries, bags and what not. Remember that the hallway and your front door are where almost everything begins.
- Since you’ve got your hands on your computer, tablet and/or phone, delete any messages, files and folders that occupy virtual space. Store on your computer all the necessary folders and files. Know that these technologies are associated with our day-to-day communication and the businesses that you intend to flow well.
- Organize your holiday pictures and print out one or two to frame and place somewhere where it can be seen. Believe me, it will feel incredibly good to remember good times.
- And speaking of good times, scan your children’s drawings, keep only a few that you can even frame, making them part of the contemporary art collection around the house. After all, it’s not imaginable to store ten school years of all our children at home!
- Decide which books you won’t be reading again. You can donate them to a library or institution, instead of having them take up useful space on your shelves.
- And what about that faucet that is constantly leaking? Or the blinds that won’t shut properly, the door that insists on squeaking or the drain that is clogged? It’s time to make the most of this time the universe has given us to fix all this. And do you know why? Leaking faucets represent loss of money and lack of vitality. Broken blinds mess with our (in)definition of goals and aims. Doors that don’t work properly affect any incoming opportunities, as they won’t come if we don’t have the capacity to welcome them. Clogged drains and pipes mean that life isn’t flowing and there are blockages. If you want your life to move forward, get your house running effectively.
- Go through your toolbox. When was the last time you did it? Are there items that need replacing and others missing, that you need to replace? Take care of it.
- Do you have any obsolete chargers roaming around? Small devices that are no longer in use, wires and pieces that are worthless? Get everyone in the house on the hunt for this type of “useless items” and send them along to their final destination.
- Lastly, we deal with the women’s belongings. Check for shoes, belts, purses and knickknacks there is not point holding on to, or fixing, and gain space in your drawers and closets.
in Nova Gente Magazine published on October 2020
The tale of how I bought my current home and sold my old one is public knowledge. For those who don’t know it yet, in summary, before buying this home I visited many others. Yes, many. For some, this may seem over-the-top, and perhaps it is, but this happened because I’m fully aware of how much a home influences us and the huge power it can have on our lives.
And now you ask me: “But why so many, Sofia?”
Well, first of all, I need to explain that just as the saying goes, “there’s a nut for every bolt” - this rings true for homes. In fact, the home I bought was the first one I visited, but for other reasons that aren’t called for here, I felt I should look for another. But there you have it – that would be my home. And now I can see why, and I love it.
In addition to representing our life in full, our home speaks for us and as mentioned above, it has the capacity to influence us, and we influence it too. It’s as though its energy echoes ours, we find each other and when we do, our energies (waves) are propagated with the same vibration. It’s as though the timeline were the same and therefore homes always turn up at the right time, whether through need or other circumstances. That is why we need to keep looking until we find the one that will become our home. And this is one of the points where Feng Shui can help, so we can make a quicker selection, after having defined the type of home we want, where we want it and the characteristics we’d like.
Those who follow this subject know that houses must possess certain traits, for instance, the outside should be pretty and balanced, the layout should be square or rectangular shaped, the locations of the bathrooms and so many other “rules” we’ve heard of. Yet we shouldn’t overlook a home that has a hospital nearby, for instance, has an irregular shape or even a bathroom at the centre. It seems controversial, doesn’t it? I believe it does, but it’s really not. When we get into professional Feng Shui, namely at an advanced level, where I am now, we know that the most important feature in a space is the way in which energy flows inside it and its surroundings. And there are numerous homes with hospitals, cemeteries or junctions nearby, sometimes with irregular layouts, and yet which have excellent Feng Shui, while there are others in graceful areas, where everything seems to be in harmony, yet inside people are experiencing times of great chaos and sadness. Do you know any such cases? I do! And what is going on that these homes offer such happy lives when the so-called rules we know about are broken? This is because not everything around a home will influence it and not everything missing stops showing its effects. We need knowledge to analyze this and recommend a given space or not to certain inhabitants. That is why it is fundamental to analyze a property before deciding whether to buy it or not. I’ve had so many people reach out to me after buying a beautiful house in a stunning location and whose lives started to fall apart after they moved without them knowing why, as they took care to select a house with a rectangular layout, without any bathrooms at the centre, pretty and balanced on the outside. The problem here is they did take care with that, but they didn’t take care with the most important part of all – hiring a good professional before buying to know if the house did indeed have good Feng Shui and, if not, how it could be improved. And even to know whether the area they were planning on moving to was favourable at the time or if it would be preferable to wait “another week” (here I’m referring to calculating Directions, Date Selection and BaZi).
When moving home, there are a series of details you must take into account and it’s perfectly natural that someone who isn’t a qualified professional, specializing in this field, wouldn’t know about them.
Many people have a vague idea of Feng Shui’s potential and how it can help them. Plenty do not know, however, that to sell their current home quickly, the place where to hang the “For Sale” sign and when the house goes on the market make a huge difference. Some also think that Feng Shui is about decorating. A space’s decor will obviously affect its energy and so it should be decorated bearing in mind the energy characteristics and the taste of those who will live inside it, as it’s fundamental for those who live in a place feel comfortable and have their identity present. Yet these are different areas that can work together.
In practice, houses are built using lots, with simple designs that cut back on infrastructure costs and not sun exposure, winds, framing within the surroundings, among others.
So, next time you move home, remember to start the process “with the project and not the roof” so that you avoid any unpleasant surprises later on. It’s up to Feng Shui to overcome the “squareness” and add balance, good energy, well-being, comfort, that welcome feeling and cosiness.
Although homes are already “meant to be ours”, the path we take to get to them depends on us and our choices alone.
I wish you good vibes
in Vento e Água Magazine published on March 2020
Those who know me have often heard me say that Feng Shui studies the way in which energy flows in a space. And when this energy is in balance and harmony, people feel better, are happier and more stable on all levels.
One of the bases of Feng Shui, much like Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is the Five Phases of Transformation, where the elements – water, wood, fire, earth and metal feed each other in a harmonious and continuous cycle.
According to this approach, each element has several associations ranging from colours, shapes, materials, textures, representations, numbers, life areas, emotions and our organs.
As such, if you want to work on a certain emotion, you need to determine where the energy that represents it is located and balance it there, just as is done in TCM, when needles are placed in specific points.
One of the emotions that people ask for a lot when re-establishing their balance or to foster it when it does not exist, is self-esteem and self-confidence, so that they love each other more and are more confident in their daily lives, as well as to be able to define what they want out of life and the path to follow.
These types of emotion are associated to the energy of water and can be fixed by balancing out this energy, that is, Star 1 according to the Xuan Kong Fei Sin method. Depending on the case, it may be necessary to place in your home objects that represent this element, where this Star 1 energy is unbalanced or even weakened. Glasses and transparent surfaces, as well as undulating shapes are contained in this element. The colours that represent Water are blues and blacks. However, black is associated with the ocean depths and thereby deep emotions, so if you feel low self-esteem and lack of confidence, choose blues over blacks, or else you will be fostering greater isolation and turning inwards, making it more difficult to develop your self-esteem and self-confidence.
Images with positive representations, that convey safety and determination can also help if placed in the right spot.
To increase your knowledge of Feng Shui and all these details and tips you can implement in your home, follow the project "Home Organized Life Balanced", a series of free videos on the official YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/c/SofiaLoboCeraConsultoraProfissionaldeFengShui).
We wish you good vibes,
in Reiki & Yoga Magazine published on February 2019
