Feng Shui Core Consultation
Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese art of aligning people with place with the present moment. It is built on millenia of insights, observations and case history that get to the heart of how to live in union with our surroundings.
Working with Feng Shui is a wonderful opportunity to evolve your space, harmonising it with the surrounding nature and the nature of its occupants. It can help resolve struggles and open new opportunities, while making living use of our oldest and most precious ways of knowing ourselves and our world.
I have been studying and practicing Feng Shui since 2015. Over the years, people have consulted me for the following main reasons:
- They are looking for - or have found - a new house or office, or are planning to renovate or remodel their existing one. They are seeking a coherent vision for how to develop their space and optimise it's energetic qualities - as a gift to the place, but also to meaningfully align their life's intentions.
- They are struggling with a sense of inertia or unease in their home or workplace. They are likely to be in a place of transition; clarifying intentions and ready to progress, but may be experiencing frustration, disorientation or disconnection.
- Are on the path of self-cultivation such as Eastern Internal Arts or Meditation, and wish to align their inner lives, their living spaces and the development of their practice.
Over the years, I have been learning how to triangulate the best use of my skills, with both the needs of those who consult me, and the spaces themselves. The result is the Feng Shui Core Consultation.
Broadly speaking, this consists of
- a comprehensive site survey followed by a period of rigorous analysis and synthesis
- a number of conversations on life path, challenges and opportunities
- a rooted creative vision for how to evolve a space, distilled down into actionable recommendations.
- access to an interactive online pinboard, created by me, with notes, illustrations, ideas and ongoing comments.
This work can transform stagnant, limiting spaces into generative, meaningful and dynamic places. The biggest pleasure of this work is seeing the vitalising effect it has both on those who inhabit them and on the immediate environment.
A note on Feng Shui
If you are reading this I expect you have probably heard of Feng Shui and if you know me, you will know that I am pretty appalled with the way Feng Shui is practiced in the global West.
At its worst, Feng Shui has been reduced to furniture placement, a certain kind of fluffy aspirational thinking. At best it has been boiled down to standardised rules and formula that lead to a sort of mundane, reductionist approach - mostly geared towards wealth manifestation and personal gain.
As an advocate for authentic, classical methods and an Internal Arts practitioner, my ongoing aim is to meet Feng Shui at it's deepest, richest roots - a radical knowing of ourselves and our world through the powerful lens of ancient Daoist thought.
It is an embodied, soulful wisdom that mines the full depth of the human and more-than-human experience. What Ursula Le Guin calls the “pure apprehension of the mystery of which we are part”.
This mindset requires a blend of active scrutiny and insight, aiming somewhere between definition and divination - story-based, ancestral, emergent and relational - seeking out symbols and root images that sit behind the surface layers of our intentions and circumstances. As an ex theatre-maker and Jungian, this approach speaks very directly to me.
Whilst Feng Shui principles are useful - and I can guide you through these - you will find that Feng Shui is a holistic process that is tailored to an individual, a space, a set of circumstances. The outcomes are unique, and may or may not align with "good feng shui" practice.
Here’s how it works:
- We start with an initial meeting, free of charge, where we get to know each other and see if it feels right to work together. If so, I’ll gather the necessary information and send you a fee proposal.
- I conduct a detailed analysis of your space and surroundings, considering everything from landforms and architecture to internal layout and decor. I also factor in key directions, timings, your natal chart, historical context, and previous occupants. I take my time, preferring to hand-draft charts and drawings to fully engage with the spirit of the place.
- We meet online, and I present some initial findings. This will lead to a deeper conversation, where we delve into the current alignments between you, your space and your intentions. I have found that these conversations can be transformative in themselves, before anything is adjusted.
- After a period of reflection, we meet again where I present you with a vision for the evolution of your space, broken down into clear, embodied solutions to align your space with your nature and goals. The session is recorded/
- You'll have access to an interactive online pinboard with my sketches, notes, and ideas. This also provides a platform for ongoing conversation and ideas and we track adjustments, and make interventions.
- I remain available via email during the three-month implementation period, as changes may require fine-tuning as the Qi settles.
This particular consultation does NOT cover:
- Full written and illustrated reports. Some people love having these, and some can do without. For this reason I offer this as an extra.
- Fussy decor and placement plans covering every detail of every room. I’ll have the data available so any ongoing advice can be targeted and charged ad hoc.
- Personal shopping support. If you need on the spot advice on items of furniture or decor, l would need to charge extra for this.
This survey is for you if
- You resonated with the situations listed above i.e you are stuck / curious about spaces old and new.
- You have an appetite for depth, transformation and inner work.
- Have had Feng Shui advice previously, either from a consultant or book/website and are feeling lost or confused (I don’t blame you) and in need of clarification
This WON’T be for you if:
- You are a nomad, short-term renter or planning to move out soon. I do work with plenty of rented spaces, but you really need to plan to be there for another year for this to be worth your investment. It would be better to work on your life path instead.
- You aren't willing to make some changes. Feng Shui is a dynamic process not a static list of principles and recommendations. If it is budget that is holding you back, I will always make sure to give you low to no cost options that you can implement straight away.
- Others in your house or space are completely unsupportive of the work. All occupants need to consent to the survey, have an open mind and be willing to be make some changes. (Ideally they will also provide their birth details).
- You are looking for quick fix, magical sofa manoeuvring strategies for instant wealth. I only wish this was possible.
As a designer, I would highly recommend Ryan's services. He has fantastic communication skills and is able to simplify the complex depths of Feng Shui in to real and understandable concepts. I found the experience of working with him both educational and inspirational.
John Teall, Designer
"One of the worlds leading style makers" Taschen
Many thanks for doing the Feng shui assessment. i very much enjoyed the consultation, and the report is proving very helpful - especially as I work with the architects to bring the plans together
Romy Fraser, Founder, Neal's Yard and Trill On The Hill
Ryan gave a thorough Feng Shui consultation on our retail/restaurant project in Mayfair, London. He gave some extremely interesting insights and it was especially useful to see how the business and project could be enhanced by balancing different materials, colours, activities and objects relating to the varying elements present. The report he produced was both extremely detailed and highly digestible at the same time.
Andrea Fenner, Flux Interiors
"Ryan’s background in both BaZi and Feng Shui is both deep and incredibly broad. His analytical work felt fully embodied and considered, and totally trustworthy. Even poetic. Ryan is generous and friendly and funny, and it made the time working together feel more like a collaboration, and always very comfortable. In the end he sent me a beautiful 36-page document to refer to and reflect upon, much of it hand drawn, as well as many meaningful suggestions for things I can do to continue to improve the energetics here and in my life. I totally recommend Ryan, whether for BaZi or Feng Shui. But if you can swing it, do both!"
Judith Hooper, Connecticut
My recent Feng Shui consultation with Ryan was a thoroughly enjoyable and thought-provoking experience. He wears his knowledge lightly; never trying to impress you with technicalities, explaining everything in a clear and simple way. You are however, left in no doubt about his mastery of his subject.
Fiona Roberston, Cornwall
I cannot express how much I enjoy working with and being guided by Ryan. His knowledge and expertise is second to none. His passion and energy is amazing. Many thanks Ryan.
Alan May, Dorset
A note on online surveys
These consultations are generally done remotely and I have been very impressed by how effective they can be despite not being there in person. The available technology and online resources give me more than enough information.
Additionally, I have found a number of creative ways to get a felt energetic sense of the spaces from where I am. One fun, simple way to do this is to make a hand sketch of your house, like this one.
The main benefit of this way of working means I can make consultations worldwide, from Canada to China and everywhere in between, and at an affordable rate.
I am of course more than happy to make site visits in person, as long as my travel and accommodation are covered. If you are in the UK, this is going to be a lot easier, although I have made trips abroad. The in-person work can be a little more time consuming, so I do ask for this to be covered. In my view, site visits are definitely worth the extra investment. If this might be a viable option for you, let’s speak first - (either online or by email)
Costs and Booking
The costs of the Core Feng Shui Consultation will depend on the size of your space, the number of occupants and the level of my involvement.
To give you an idea - for a one bedroom apartment with one occupant expect to pay £650. For a five bedroom house with a garden and four occupants, it will be more like £1450.
The first step is to have an initial meeting. There is absolutely no pressure on these calls, and no charge; just an opportunity to connect, chat through your space and find out if it feels right for us to work together. If so, will then be able to advise on the best use of my skills in the circumstances, and offer a fee proposal.
PS If things don't line up, you are of course also welcome to follow my work from a distance, or join some of my classes.
