All posts by Mark Ainley

  • Giving your teens a room to grow

    Aging isn’t easy – the term ‘growing pains’ describes an actual physical and emotional reality. Moving into different phases of our lives requires shifts in perception and habit. Teenage years are particularly challenging, as the identity and...

    • Posted October 31, 2012
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  • Living large

    One of the challenges of modern living can be the small size of apartments. I first encountered this when I moved to Tokyo, where square footage is most definitely at a premium. In Vancouver, where I currently...

    • Posted September 28, 2012
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  • Going with the creative flow

    Back-to-school time might bring up memories of strict or boring instruction and being told to colour within the lines. Unfortunately, this kind of education works against the natural order, as there are very few straight lines in...

    • Posted August 30, 2012
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  • Behind closet doors

    Living as we do in a materialistic society, we accumulate things. Fortunately for aesthetic purposes, we do not need to have everything we own be visible 24/7. The genius who invented closets deserves a lot of gratitude....

    • Posted July 31, 2012
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  • Click into place

    Everyone seems to be walking around with an iPhone, Blackberry, or other smartphone these days, and while Angry Birds, Facebook, and other diversions are a big draw to these devices (looking cool is another), there is also...

    • Posted July 1, 2012
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  • Are your possessions possessing you?

    My recent trip to Japan highlighted an aspect of living in man-made environments that is becoming more of an issue here and internationally: clutter. As humans who live more sedentary than nomadic lifestyles, we have gotten into...

    • Posted May 31, 2012
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  • Scents of space

    Feng Shui creates a sense of spaciousness in interior settings which should appeal to all of your senses. One of the most powerful of these is your sense of smell. While it is obvious that the smell...

    • Posted May 1, 2012
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  • Money mojo

    For something that most people believe brings a lot of pleasure, money can be one of the major causes of stress in our society, and there are lots of beliefs about it in the collective group mind....

    • Posted April 2, 2012
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  • It’s a wired world!

    One of the challenges of living in a confined space is arranging things so that they are functional. With all of the different demands of modern life, it can be particularly problematic to align a space with...

    • Posted March 1, 2012
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  • Feng Shui: Seeing the light

    Among many people’s life goals is to be recognized for one’s abilities and achievements. The core issue is really about being respected for who one is as a person – being validated. In Feng Shui, the theme...

    • Posted January 31, 2012
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  • Starting the year right

    New YearAs we cross the threshold from one year to the next, there is a unique opportunity to examine the past and make intentions for the future. While significant change can be made at any time, the...

    • Posted December 30, 2011
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  • Home for the Holy Days

    Photo © Elena Derevtsova   As winter deepens into her darkest days, families gather to celebrate the end of a year with gratitude. Supposedly. Sometimes the celebrations are less than joyous because of old dynamics, stressful schedules,...

    • Posted December 1, 2011
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  • Thanksgiving – the feng shui way

    Thanksgiving is certainly about more than turkey and getting together with your family. The Thanksgiving season is traditionally a time to express gratitude for the harvest and plenty in your life. One needn’t wait until the holiday...

    • Posted November 2, 2011
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  • Windows of opportunity

    Photo © Elena Derevtsova   If the eyes are the windows to the soul, what are the windows of your home? Windows bridge your inner sanctum and the outer world, and therefore serve as your home’s eyes....

    • Posted September 29, 2011
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  • Safety first

    Photo © Elena Derevtsova   Feng Shui is all about creating harmony in a living environment. Obviously, safety is inherent in a harmonious space. Our nervous systems are keenly aware of potential threats to our wellbeing, even...

    • Posted September 1, 2011
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  • Travel luck

    One of the great joys of life is traveling and exploring foreign settings. We all have the desire for movement and adventure in our genes – we did use to be nomads,  after all – and the...

    • Posted June 8, 2011
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  • Coping with stress

    The disaster of March 11th shook Japan and the world to its core – nothing of this magnitude has transpired in our lifetime, and it is understandable that people in Japan are under a great deal of...

    • Posted May 15, 2011
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  • Home away from home

    Photo © Elena Derevtsova   The recent tragedy in Japan has shaken not only this country, quite literally, but the world. Everyone with access to the media has stared in awe and horror at the powerful forces...

    • Posted April 1, 2011
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  • Energy enhancers

    Photo © Elena Derevtsova   Everything in your home impacts your energy. Feng Shui aims to help individuals improve the energy in their home, and therefore their experience, by using objects and images that create a desired impact....

    • Posted February 1, 2011
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  • A fresh new year

    Photo © Elena Derevtsova   With a fresh new year comes a fresh opportunity to practice the art of living and expressing oneself with greater authenticity. New Year‘s provides the chance to reflect on the past and...

    • Posted December 27, 2010
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  • Holidays with Feng Shui

    Photo © Elena Derevtsova   Tis the season Holidays are times when we gather together to share and to luxuriate in gratitude, giving, and wellness. The end of the calendar year is a time in several cultures...

    • Posted November 29, 2010
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  • Full house

    That your home is a reflection of your life is clear to readers of this column and those interested in Feng Shui. It is therefore imperative that you select what truly appeals to you with which to...

    • Posted August 30, 2010
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  • Tuning In

    Energy travels in waves: light and sound are two forms of energy where this is clear. Feng Shui seeks to improve the flow of energy in a space, and harnessing the power of light and sound can...

    • Posted July 27, 2010
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  • Job security

    Feng Shui can help you better understand how you currently express yourself in all areas of your life and how to do so more authentically. Of prime importance is the arena in which you express yourself professionally....

    • Posted May 27, 2010
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  • Face facts

    Photos © Elena Derevstova   Feng Shui explores how the structure of your home affects those living in it. The structure of your body affects who is living in it, too. Your corporal home itself is designed...

    • Posted April 29, 2010
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  • Looking in all the right places

    Photo © Elena Derevstova   Feng Shui, like business, operates on the principle of “location, location, location”. While most modern approaches to Feng Shui stress the importance of placing objects inside your home in the right location,...

    • Posted March 29, 2010
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  • Beauty and the bath

    Washroom, toilet, bathroom, water closet … it goes by many different names depending on the country, and yet the ‘powder room’ has a few functions that are quite essential to good health. Keeping this room attractive, functional,...

    • Posted February 27, 2010
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  • Out with the old, in with the new

    Photo © Elena Derevstova   Every New Year is an excellent opportunity to take stock of your life – where you are and where you are going. Taking stock can be quite literal. What is it that...

    • Posted December 29, 2009
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  • What to do if your partner is a slob at home

    Relationships require agreement in many life areas, and living together accentuates this need. The details of how to manage a household can create stress when that agreement is not present. What to do, then, if you discover...

    • Posted November 28, 2009
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  • Serenity and stability of spirit

    Photo © Elena Derevstova   One of the qualities of traditional Asian art and culture is serenity. The practice of Feng Shui has a reputation of creating tranquil living environments that bring a breath of fresh air...

    • Posted October 31, 2009
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