Creating Luminous Spaces: Use the Five Elements for Balance and Harmony in Your Home and in Your Life (Feng Shui, Interior Design Book, Lighting Design Book)

Honestly I didn't really like this book. It was so in depth it just was a bit confusing to me. I feel like this book is not for beginners. It's for someone who already has some knowledge of Feng shui. The impression I got is that this book tells you more about the history of Feng shui and principles of Feng shui and what Feng shui is. I only read the first 2 chapters so I am not sure, but that is the impression I got. I like the book Feng Shui Your Life better because that book tells you how you can apply Feng shui in your life rather than focusing on the definition of what Feng shui is.

This is an excellent, well-researched but approachable introduction to the Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water) and the dynamic relationship that the Elements have in our own lives and with our space. The author goes into how our living spaces reflect us and how they can be either empowering or draining.I applied some of what she suggests in the book and have benefited from the changes that I made. As a writer who often suffers from writer's block, I need a space that is serene but that also encourages the flow of ideas. Some of what I did after reading the book was to incorporate a water element into my office space and to reposition my desk so that I am in a more commanding position - ready to take on new projects with confidence.Part of what the author offers in the book is an opportunity to explore what she calls our own natural element with a type of personality quiz. Depending on what element we most embody (for me, I am water), we can arrange our spaces to better reflect and empower us. The author uses excellent real life examples from her clients that highlight the impact of Feng Shui and the Elements on our daily lives.For me, this book was very illuminating and made me much more mindful of my own space, particularly my work space, and how I interact with it on a daily basis. I highly recommend it.

I expected there to be illustrations along with the information in this book but there were almost none.

I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend Creating Luminous Spaces. I have been interested in feng shui for many years and find Maureen’s book to be a valuable and unique resource. It has expanded my knowledge and practice of living in balance and harmony with nature, within my home, and within myself. It has helped me to bring more light into my life and surroundings, both physically and metaphorically. It’s an easy read that goes into the 5 elements (wood, fire, earth, metal and water) in great depth. It also includes quizzes to help you figure out which elements resonate with you and what is your true nature. It is chock full of helpful suggestions, tips, meditations, and exercises that are fun to do. The book has a spiritual underpinning that drew me in, yet at the same time it is practical and down to earth. Creating Luminous Spaces will help you connect body, mind, and spirit and help you create healthy, luminous places in your life.

Creating Luminous Spaces is a useful in-depth guide to one of the central concepts of Feng Shui: the five elements, which help us connect to the power of nature. The author offers lots of guidance on discovering how the elements (earth, wood, fire, metal, water) play out in your own personality, and solid advice on using the elements in your home to bring more energy and harmony to your life. Filled with exercises, suggestions for meditations, and anecdotes from the author's life, the book is warmly personal and accessible, and makes a passionate plea for the importance of recognizing the deep need (often buried) we all have to relate to nature on a regular basis.

This book has great information. I couldn’t figure out why my new home wasn’t feeling right to me until I read the book. Bringing all the elements into each room of my house makes it feel cozy, warm and welcoming.

What a wonderful, down to earth guide to some of the foundational concepts of Feng Shui! This book is a lot about the 5 elements and how they set the stage for just about everything! I have sometimes struggled to understand the 5 elements and how they apply to practical, everyday living...and especially how they can be applied in Feng Shui. My understanding increased 10 fold after listening to this book. I really appreciate understanding how the 5 elements manifest in personalities as well. The author has a wonderful way of illustrating all these concepts and I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

This is more of an esoteric, spiritual approach, rather than a practical how-to... Good for understanding principles, and background for creating areas, but not dealing with practical things such as fabrics, lighting, carpets, and all the decorating aspects... more of an explanation...