Happy Chi Solutions, a feng shui consultation firm founded by Harvard College and Harvard Law School graduate Julie Anna Alvarez, makes "house calls."

Alvarez practiced as a licensed New York State attorney for several years before becoming acquitted with feng shui through a birthday present given to her sister in 1996. The information on energy directing and spacial harmony presented in the book was revolutionary for Alvarez, who quickly began putting the information into practice.

"I was the first in my family to go away to college in the traditional sense, and the first to pursue an advanced degree. I've been the first or only Latina in places that I've worked," Alvarez told Latin Post. "Interestingly enough, I was among the first and few Latinas who started with the first wave of feng shui when the knowledge became available here in the states. I think that's a common thread, pursing things that may not be mainstream initially."

Alvarez experimented with tips and teachings, immediately seeing positive changes in her life. She explored alternative legal career fields while taking feng shui training courses. As she learned how to master the art of feng shui, she took on consultations for classmates or anyone who would be a willing guinea pig. According to her, she and her clients quickly saw the benefits of placing items with purpose. After completing the fifth certification course with her feng shui master, she quit her job and launched Happy Chi Solutions.

"If you want new experience in your life, you have to make some changes in your life," said Alvarez. "I think the quickest way of achieving that can be through feng shui, which at its core is about managing the energy of your surroundings. Whether it's at home or in your office make sure the energy of your surroundings are supporting you, helping you to live the best life you can. I really empower my clients to take on the things that I teach them, so they can do these things for themselves.

"The other part of my philosophy is don't only consider the energy of your exterior surroundings, but also your internal energy. I work with clients, helping them to put to work with the law of attraction, in terms of keeping focus on the positive goals they've set for themselves. As well as gaining energy flow in their living space. "

Alvarez starts with sketches of floor plans, and she uses that as much as a doctor would use an x-ray to begin a diagnostic process. Also, the client provides Alvarez with a "biographical sketch," defining where they are in their lives right now, sharing what's working, and what's not working. With that information she's able to hone in one parts of the floor plan that correlate with issues that clients say they're facing. That happens before she even sets eyes on a client's home or office. The initial on-site consultation portion takes place, normally taking about three hours. She arrives to her client's home with a written report already prepared, and it includes suggestions and feng shui cures that help her clients overcome challenges.

She then does a room by room walk through, making additional recommendations based on what she picks up doing that tour. The consultation also includes "energy space clearing," which involves give a space "an energetic refresh" through various techniques. Every consultation ends with a blessing ceremony, which allows the client to impress their own energy and intention on a space, sharing what they want to see in the major nine life areas identified on the bagua map. It divides every floor plan into nine sectors. Clients think about their intentions for those nine life areas.

The octagon-shaped bagua map includes health and well-being at its center, and the eight other areas around that are wealth and abundance, the fame and recognition, love and relationship, creativity or children, helpful people and travel, career, spirituality and knowledge, and family.

According to Alvarez, a misconception about feng shui is that it's a religion. Yes, the knowledge came primarily from the east, and the practice was kept alive for thousands of years by Buddhist monks, but it's really a set of divine principles. Regardless of anyone's belief, they could practice feng shui. Also, clients don't have to get rid of all of the stuff in their apartments.

In Alvarez's practice, there's never been a case where someone needs such dramatic changes. Normally, consultants will work with what a client already has. However, if they're moving into a new place and considering what things they might purchase, it might make sense to have a consultation before moving in.

"Typically, we'll recommend that you work with what you have or maybe improve upon it," said Alvarez. "Or, maybe recommend a different placement within the setting of the room, or different colors or textures, or add different things to redirect the energy in some way. People sometimes worry that they'll be overwhelmed with having to start from scratch with their homes, and that's really not the case."

Alvarez, who currently works in academic administration in a law school environment while heading her feng shui consulting practice, shared a few parting tips. Even with no prior feng shui knowledge anyone can try feng shui at home.

"Try to eliminate clutter as much as possible because clutter actually can stagnate the energy in a space, and it depends on where it's located," said Alvarez. "It'll affect whatever part of the floor plan coinciding with one of the nine life areas. Whether at home or at work, try to keep things organized, don't have an overabundance of things. Also, bring in some healthy plant life. A lot of times you go into a place and the only thing alive there is the client. Bringing in healthy plant life is a great way to start."

In the past, Alvarez has hosted vision board and feng shui workshops for the New York Times, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Aveda - The Shops at Columbus Circle, Oasis Day Spa, Natural Balance Spa & Wellness Center, and other organizations. Alvarez lists upcoming public seminars and workshops on her website. Also, she can be reached for private seminars and speaking engagements.

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