|
The words wind and water conjure up thoughts of energy -the wind blows and the water flows. The words Feng Shui literally mean wind and water and signify energy or ‘chi’. For Nanda Gruss, the practice of Feng Shui seemed an obvious choice of a business when you read of her life’s journey.
Nanda has always been in tune to her environment and sensitive to ‘spaces’ and the energy within them. Blessed with the early childhood 'challenge' of rheumatism and its resulting limitations, she became a very observant child and learned to perceive the world in a somewhat unconventional way.
At the age of four she experienced a period of blindness which further contributed to her developing her understanding of the world through touch and her senses rather than through her eyes. These two ailments were defining periods of her life and the way she perceived everything, but also played a role in fostering an interest in meditation and a rich inner life.
While studying art and theatre design as a young adult, Nanda became aware that as a result of her sensitivity to the unseen elements or energies in any environment, she was doing more than regular design.
And while studying Feng Shui, Nanda discovered that she had in fact been practicing this centuries-old art intuitively all along. To her delight she came to realize that this was what expressed her deepest passions in life. Over time it became clear to her that she should pursue Feng Shui and Geomancy as a business.
Nanda began consulting and teaching the art of Feng Shui, and practicing energy work such as Reiki part time, and continued this for over 10 years. At her full time job she worked in childcare and with mentally handicapped adults. In 2004 she decided to start her own company in Germany however before attending a philosophic retreat in Edmonton she met her husband to be, and her life began to unfold much differently than she had imagined.
They originally settled in Montreal but found themselves on the move again in January of 2007, settling in Edmonton, with the aim of fully dedicating her energies to properly establishing her business.
One of the challenges that Nanda keeps encountering is the fact that many people don’t have a good understanding of Feng Shui, and therefore her focus is to educate them about the practical everyday applications of this practice, alleviating fear of the unknown.
“Feng Shui is one of the oldest practices on the planet practiced by dowsers, shamans, and builders of cities and sacred places, but its knowledge and daily practice has been forgotten because people have been losing their connection to nature and to their real needs to live in balance.”
She explains that people in former times were living with the rhythms of nature, but now things tend to be more based on style, prestige, costs and endless consumption – a result of our consumerist society. Part of her challenge is to “bring people to an awareness to see space as something that mirrors and affects your life.”
She further explains that it’s like reading a body to see if and where it’s sick. “Walking into someone’s space lets me identify if there’s something unhealthy in the environment. Once identified, they have the choice to make a positive change in their surroundings, their habits and themselves.”
In assessing a client’s home or workplace, Nanda takes into consideration nine key areas of life, including career, relationships, family, health, prosperity, and identifies their condition on a floor plan.
Nanda and the client focus on two life issues, and determine what areas of the home or work space need adjustments in order to help where the energy leaks and requires strengthening. Such adjustment might include things like repositioning furniture, changing the colors in the room, or incorporating certain images or artwork in a particular area of the space.
“Feng Shui deals with what you do see – furniture, colours, the physical space, etc. - and Space Clearing deals with what you don’t see,” she explains.
As part of creating healthy and harmonious environments, Nanda also offers a service called Space Clearing. In this intriguing service, she uses a dowsing rod called a ‘Lecher Antenna’ to detect if there are any negative energies from geopathic stress, caused by underground water, electromagnetic fields, emotional imprints or other sources that are ‘polluting’ the area that can lead to health issues, stress and conflicts.
If negative energies are found, Nanda then conducts a Space Clearing ceremony which includes sound, movement, and essential oils to clear these energies and create a healthier environment.
“In addition to my consulting work, I love most teaching Feng Shui classes at the University of Alberta, along with workshops on Space Clearing internationally so people can learn how to apply the basic principles to their own environment.”
Nanda has also incorporated her love of art into her business. “Every Feng Shui consultant has a specialty,” she tells me. “Mine is in art.” Trained as an artist, “I create artwork to energize individual spaces”. She cites an example of using a waterfall to nourish the flow of income in the area of the house or office that would represent career or abundance.
“In teaching “Mandala” painting courses at the University of Alberta, an art form based on the notion of ‘sacred geometry’ in which we integrate geometric forms inherent in nature, introduces people to what I call Feng Shui Art, the art of being in unison. By replicating these sacred shapes in artwork you reprogram your body and space with healing harmonious energies.”
Wind and water and energy are all reflected in harmony in Nanda herself. Her desire is to bring that calming energy into her work – and into the environment of the clients she serves so well. |
| |
|
