【マダム・ホーのアメリカでの活躍】アメリカの地元紙に取材記事が第１面に載りました。

 ロサンゼルスの地元紙「Daily Breeze」２０１１年３月２４日号にアメリカ人を対象にした「心の風水学」の紹介記事が第１面に取り上げられました。

Feng Shui-ing the American mindsetBy Robert Doss, Special to the NewsMonday, March 28, 2011 11:28 AM PDT

PV author delves into finding fulfillment through ancient philosophies applied to the U.S.Having a mind and a life that is free of negativity and stress are keys to obtaining prosperity and happiness.It might sound as if achieving such a lifestyle and mindset is easier said than done, but Palos Verdes resident and author Grace Ho provides a guideline in her book “One Minute Feng Shui for Prosperity.”

“I wrote the book to provide a brief overview of feng shui and gaining mental control to the American audience,” she said. “Feng Shui is not only about moving your furniture around or shifting your living space; it’s also about shifting your mindset.”In her book, Ho addresses the three major schools of Feng Shui as more than rearranging one’s office or home. She delves into the philosophy’s regenerative powers on the mind and how people can enjoy fulfilling lives through its principles.“During the era of Chinese emperors and Japanese Shoguns, they hired Feng Shui masters to teach the people how to develop the mindset of an emperor or a king,” she said.Ho said that she never thought about writing books until the sudden death of her mother in 2003. Writing provided her a therapeutic way of dealing with such a tragic event, and it also opened up a new direction in life.“I was going through a grieving period, so I started writing a blog to relieve the emotions of missing my mother,” she said. “For me, writing was healing for my soul.”In that moment of crisis, Ho sought out an opportunity to create something positive out of a negative situation, which is one of the principles of Feng Shui.“Crisis is the principle of yin and yang,” she said. “The word crisis in the Chinese and Japanese languages is made up of two characters; one represents danger and the other represents opportunity.”Ho added that in the midst of danger, an opportunity presents itself for people to change the way they think and react to certain situations that happen in their lives.“Things happen for a reason, and when they do, it’s usually God’s or the universe’s wake-up call,” she said. “Whatever you’ve been doing and it’s not working, you need to find a new way of doing things.”Ho said she believes that emotional attachment to material things prevents people from making the most out of their lives.“In Japan, there is an old proverb saying ‘let it go,’” she said. “Take the financial crisis of 2008. People tried to cling onto their material things, but attachment can create additional suffering.”Feng shui is not about worshipping any image as in religion. Rather, it is about keeping the inner self healthy and utilizing one’s mindset to his or her advantage.“You should have a nice flow of chi energy, which serves as a person’s life force,” Ho said. “You shouldn’t have a clutter of your environment or your mind because clutter can stop the flow of your chi energy: By moving furniture, one is decluttering his or her environment, and as far as the mental aspects are concerned, while an individual is engaging in a purposeful activity, the mind gets focused and becomes clutter-free.”Balance and harmony are also key elements to feng shui. Having a good balance of love, health and prosperity will create a more joyful and satisfying environment.“Throughout my consulting career, people have come to me for three primary reasons: money, relationships or health,” Ho said. “People have so much trouble in these areas because their life has been centered on a particular area: When you have the proper balance of these three factors, then you have achieved true happiness in life.”In addition, Ho writes that Feng Shui teaches an individual to be self-reflective, and not to dwell on past failures, but to concentrate on future successes.“You can change yourself and your future, but you cannot change other people and your past,” she writes. “Your past is done and it is history: Although you cannot change what has happened to your life, you can redefine your past by what you are and who you are now.”Ho is the author of seven nonfiction economy, business and self-help books in Japan. “One Minute Feng Shui for Prosperity” is the first book she has written in English. It is currently ranked No. 1 on the best-seller list in Japan and No. 2 in the global market on U.S. Kindle/Amazon.“I am so happy and honored that my book is helping and healing people,” Ho said. “My message to people is to just have an open mind.”“One Minute Feng Shui for Prosperity” is available at amazon.com andbarnesandnoble.com. For more information about the author and her books, visit her website at www.graceho.net..