Dynamic Lady, Maria Green

Andrew Kay meets Maria Green of Dynamic Spaces to get a real life picture of what Feng Shui really is

Feng Shui. What do you think it is? If, like me, you thought it was a whacky oriental trend then you could easily be forgiven. Feng Shui was picked up and embraced by the west in a flurry of commercial opportunism. The book shops were rapidly filled with “How to…” books telling us that we could improve our lives, our homes and our fortunes by moving a bit of furniture, buying a money plant and sitting back and waiting for change. I suppose it was enticing enough, but it was rapidly debased and exploited by people who saw a chance to make a fast buck.

When Maria Green called to talk about her work using Feng Shui I listened for a while and then realised that this was something I needed to hear about face to face. To be honest, much of what I do is better conducted face to face, there is something far better about a personal interview than one conducted by telephone or email – especially when I want to get to the real heart of a subject.

I wouldn’t normally invite a client to my home, but as I had recently moved and was living in and amongst my gathered goods and chattels I thought it might be a good opportunity for Maria to show me what she does. She agreed and we arranged a time for her to visit.

On the appointed hour she arrived and my first impression was good. I suppose I was expecting the clichéd, a slightly ‘alternative’ look, but Maria is smart and business like. I offered coffee and expected a request for a herbal tea, but no, coffee was good and I warmed to her immediately. There was a frank openness to her that I liked and an almost alarming honesty about the fact that for many Feng Shui is simply “woo woo” – her words.

Not for Maria though, for her it is a serious science. She trained under a famous international grand master and has worked with him now for 18 years, these days looking after some of his interests. In recent years he has become more teacher than practitioner, doing fewer consultations but is still very much a part of the real world of this art or science.

After a chat and a coffee Maria got to work.

I had expected her to wander about and make suggestions but in fact she took out the most exquisite compass covered in symbols and, using a plan of the flat that I had made, started to take measurements and readings. It was not a hurried process and she took her time going for room to room and from corner to corner, scribbling notes as she went that I could never hope to decipher. I made more coffee and waited.

Finally she sat back down and explained what she had done, a brief analysis that was not her normal full report but one that I would find interesting. I certainly did.

Each room had things that I should change, some minor, some major. Some I found completely logical, common sense should have told me that hanging heavy paintings above the head of my bed was perhaps not the best idea. Others I found fascinating, the placing of mirrors, plants, where I leave my shoes or position my sofa. Some were extraordinary, the flat was a caring space, not one destined to generate money (perhaps a relief and certainly not a shock) and even a point of mischief by my lovely Victorian marble fireplace. “Avoid lighting candles here!” she said, looking at the scented one that I was burning. I blew it out.

“There was a frank openness to her that I liked and an almost alarming honesty about the fact that for many Feng Shui is simply “woo woo” – her words”

Maria conducts this work for both domestic and business clients. People are fascinated by her advice in their homes but even more so when it comes to business. She has many clients in the retail world who will ask her advice before even buying a new retail space, and on her word will reject commercial properties.

I asked her if people take her work seriously. “Many of the commercial clients will seek my advice and many take it very seriously. Some like to put down the results of changes made from my readings simply to coincidence but really that does not matter. After 18 years of doing this and so many successes surely coincidence is not the right word.

Clients need to have an open mind about what I do, or at least follow the recommendations. Some clients really do not like to be out of control, but in seeking my advice they have already taken a step towards that open attitude.”

Consultations start with Maria doing advance preparation based on a plan of the property, followed by a consultation on site and then a final written report. Even after my short (not that short in truth) experience, I was impressed and I have certainly taken her advice as I have arranged my new home and this form of traditional Imperial Feng Shui, a secret used by Emperors and kept alive by Chinese gypsies, has helped me find comfort in my new home. I’m certainly convinced that the self help publications are on the whole “woo woo”, and I love the concept that what she does is acupuncture for the home – I started trusting acupuncture some years ago – now I have a fascination with Maria’s science and the open way in which she applies it.

07974 350 459
email: maria@dynamicspaces.co.uk
www.dynamicspaces.co.uk