Creating Sacred Space with Feng Shui

by Karen Kingston, Denise Linn (Foreword)

Feng Shui is the ancient oriental art of enhancing and harmonising the flow of energy in our surroundings. For more than thirty years, Karen Kingston has pioneered the study of a specialised branch of Feng Shui which she called Space Clearing. In this fascinating and easy-to-follow guide she shows how you can use Space Clearing and Feng Shui to enhance the flow of energy in your home or workplace to create happiness and harmony in your life. You will * simple and effective Space Clearing techniques which you can use to clear stuck energy and create sacred space * how to consecrate your home * the benefits of living a clutter-free existence * how to safeguard yourself against electromagnetic and geopathic stress * how to use furniture placement, mirrors, windchimes and other Feng Shui enhancements to create abundance in every area of your life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Spirituality, Self Help, New Age, Design, Interior Design

264 pages, Paperback

First published April 25, 1996

About the author

I am the author of two international bestsellers with combined sales of over 3 million copies in 26 languages. My most popular title is 'Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui'.

In 2024, I co-authored and published two new books with my husband Richard:

Space Clearing, Volume 1: The art of clearing and revitalizing energies in buildings

Space Clearing, Volume 2: How space clearing works.

Our latest book, published in 2025 is: 7 Steps to Declutter Your Home.

My online courses about clutter clearing and conscious living have been taken by over 10,000 people from 70+ countries. If you've enjoyed my books and have not yet taken a course, do treat yourself sometime!

Reviews

[Melissa Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of two honestly 'life changing' books that I've read. Amazing. I'd been looking for a new house for some time and it wasn't happening. I read this book, did some signifcant clutter-clearing and rearranging at home and within two months had found a new place and moved in. One that ticked every box on my wish list, and then some. I wrote a letter of thanks to Karen who published it on her blog: How clutter clearing can speed up finding a new home

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good, but it was kind of a letdown after reading Kingston's follow-up book Clear your Clutter with Feng Shui. I know that book developed from a chapter in this book, but I felt that it was a lot more accessible. This book was a bit too technical for the novice and didn't have enough of the why and was frankly a bit didactic compared to the kindly, friendly, helpful tone of Clear Your Clutter. I read Clear Your Clutter in August and I am still quoting from it and using it in my daily life. This one I put down a few pages before the end a few months ago and I've already forgotten most of it.

[Chloe Kian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the chapters about electromagnetism and how it can affect our daily life. I wish the book focused more on Feng Shui rather than on the purification of space. The first part about Balinese ceremonies was nice and I would have enjoyed ready it while in Bali to learn more about the culture.

[Jae Alberi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't put this book into practice yet, so 4 ⭐ assuming her methods produce results. The methods do seem a bit dogmatic with complicated rituals including the use of holy water. However, she does point out that not everything has to be done perfectly in order to produce results, as well as the importance of intention - and I can get on board with that.

[Helynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a diverse and imformative, book on how to make our homes and offices more aesthetically pleasing as well as more environmentally friendly so that they will nurture and encourage our personal productivity and peace of mind. "Light candles, burn incense, sprinkle holy water, and offer flowers and prayers to the guardian spirit of the house and the spirits of earth, air fire, and water. Call in the angels and your own personal guides and helpers (whatever feels appropriate to you"(93). How could our imaginations not run wild with inspiration like that? Although reading this book did not really turn me into a feng shui expert--for example, I still do not diligently check on whether my furnishings and the placement thereof are in proper sync regarding their relation to the elements of air, water, metal, fire, and earth--I still learned a lot about how to make small, but positive, environmental changes at home and at work. For example, for years I had been guilty of placing a big mirror on top of a bedroom dresser and leaning it back against a wall (because I was too afraid to try to hang it up because of its girth). This book taught me that a mirror should never be leaned against a wall, and spurred me to stop being such a wimp and get out the hammer and strong screws to hang the thing up. Other advice is obvious, but so needful of repetition, such as the need to work on a clear, uncluttered desk. Kingston gives pointers on the placement and use of home applicances, televisions, computers, celluar phones, beepers and pagers, microwave ovens, etc., so they do not create negative magnetic fields in our daily lives. She also spurred me to move my digital clock-radio/CD player 10 feet away from my head when I sleep. (This might well have saved me a brain tumor!) On Kingston's advice, I bought several sets of "harmony balls" (but look for the term "meditation balls" if you wish to buy them on-line or in stores) with the sweet chiming sounds that help clear out "stale energies" in our homes and offices, and allow more positive energies in. (Can you imagine all the stale energies that had been hiding for years behind my big mirror?) This book is filled with so much more advice about letting more sacredness enter our homes that I cannot begin to describe it all, but it is such a fascinating point of departure for home and spiritual improvement!

[Devika Koppikar · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading this book, you’ll want to clean out your entire house, car, and office...as you realize how "stuff" can create negative energy.

The funniest part of the book was when the author said that if you get a gift you don't like, the best thing to do is to get rid of it. Sometimes, the best place for a gift like this is the garbage! (Okay, I haven’t done that…what I do is give it to charity or a yard sale).

Further, you don’t feel guilty about throwing away old papers and knick-knacks you never look at.

Some things in the book were impractical like the rituals she recommends performing wherever you go. For example, she said she does the clapping/cleansing ritual in a conference room before a speaking engagement. This is not practical for everyone….not everyone has a say in the space they are in.

Also, I can see some people becoming superstitious and fearful after reading her book.

In sum, as long as you keep this book in perspective, it is a great read...and gets you moving.

Third

[Abigail Sarah Brody · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that altered my life since 1997 when I bought it in a spiritual bookstore on Melrose in LA. I always sense that everything is connected and that our homes are our sanctuaries, so are our cars and any place—especially the clutter clearing part has been working wonders for me; I attest, whenever I feel stuck in life, I begin to clean out my drawers if not my entire space: currently I am moving so the book is even more useful. I give only four stars because aspects if the book can make you feel never pure, perfect and ready enough to do the clearing ceremony's yourself, in addition to simply distilling, organizing and pairing down.
Also the book design, typography, illustrations, is not very enticing, if not dull—almost the visual opposite of the beautiful message the book has to share.

[Marco · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book that left me flabbergasted! It actually doesn´t go very deep into what could be defined as 'traditional Feng Shui' but rather focuses on the art of Space Clearing and spiritual purification of both people and spaces. Karen Kingston also gives some very valuable pieces of advice on how to identify and protect oneself against all sorts of 'subtle' pollution (electromagnectic, electric and so forth).

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore this book. One part make your house nice, one part introduction to sacred healing and ritual. The author draws on experience from Bali and world travel to give a very intelligent view on what houses can be, and how to sanctify your space, and thereby, your life. What I learned in this book has stuck with me for years. It's a treasure.

[Ann Kucera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karen Kingston provides a way for you to use clapping to clear energy from your space in Creating Sacred Space with Feng Shui. In addition, chapter 6 gives an extremely detailed list of items to complete to prepare for an energy clearing. It's a book that will expand your understanding of what is possible with energy.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Also read on the floor of said Anchorage bookstore. Some pretty weird and intriguing information in here. But this is nice: "The process of naming is the art of being able to match frequencies of sounds with frequencies of things."

[Del · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating. I've tried to read a number of books on feng shui and never found one I get could get through. While this probably wouldn't be considered an all-encompassing book on feng shui, it was very thought provoking and one I will seriously consider buying for future reference.

[Sherron Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am half way through this book and I am really enjoying the information. I have always been an organized person and reading the book has helped me to understand why I feel so much better when things are organized, in their place and clean. It definitely creates a special energy in our home.

[Lisadecorates · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing little find. The information in this book is accurate and the author is right when she cautions the reader about clearing space themselves in a careful and respectful way.
This is serious space clearing with serious results.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This really helped me to clear clutter and get organized. I love ceremonies and it helped me to create a home blessing ceremony for our home and clear the stuck energy. It really helps!

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, love, love this book. This book single-handely changed the way I think.

[Kathryn Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karen Kingston's Creating Sacred Space with Feng Shui became a baseline book in my spiritual practice. Anyone can benefit from reading it.

[Yo La · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is innately metaphysical. approach with an open heart. some conclusions may be far-reaching, some suggestions repetitive. others are imaginative and empowering. interesting notes on Balinese culture (albeit through the lens of a British author).... overall a fun read, would recommend to anyone feeling stuck in a funk.

"Understanding Feng Shui and Space Clearing begins with the awareness that each particle of creation is alive and filled with life force energy, filled with spirit and intelligence. Our homes are alive. The chairs we sit on are alive. The rings we wear on our fingers are alive. Their consciousness is different from ours, but they are conscious, and if you know how to listen, all things can speak to us and reveal their secrets."

[Susan Abbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up from a second-hand shop, primarily because I love Feng Shui and honestly believe harmony of mind, body and spirit is enhanced with Feng Shui principles. As I was in the final process of renovating a 1955 home which had only really had the original owners/builders post-war period, I wanted to banish any 'negativity' or poor vibrations, hence I followed the Space Clearing and Purification by sound, earth, water, air, fire, intention, light and love. Once completed - I felt my house was now truly my home and a sense of lightness within myself and the house. I followed up with the recommended further Feng Shui elements of placement of furniture and objects.

It is a bit of a process to focus on gathering all the requirements (I did not have any special bell) the flowers, pure water and offerings, but I would highly recommend anyone to preserve with the process in all rooms and even the garage, deck and outside if dark feelings are abounding in your life /home, car.

I now keep this book handy to remind myself to follow the purification process - especially if things seem to have become out of kilter. As the Covid-19 winds down - I will be gathering the sacred items and doing my claps and chants. Thank you Karen Kingston for a well written and easy to understand processes. Over the years my copy may become dog eared, but the words will still resonate the same.

[Anna-Karin Björklund · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite feng shui books!

[Nels · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 out of 5 stars.

[Amira Salah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life changing

[Gebanuzo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Siendo sinceros creo que el libro puede ser resumido a la mitad sin ningún problema, demasiado blah blah blah jejeje.

[Hakimeh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good

[Hannel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book to those starting in the wonderful Feng Shui world.

[Leah]

Didn't finish. Too theoretical and over my head in terms of vibrations and magnetic fields and the like. Need something more practical on how to declutter and organize.

[Terra Kosako · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiration. Is the simplest word I have for this book.

I bought this book a lifetime or two ago as a young mother (kids have now flown from the nest) and another marriage ago. This book was one of the books that has traveled the different stages of my journey.

When I am overwhelmed by my home, and everything, this book always has some blessing to help me re-focus

[Elfie · Rating 4 out of 5]

At a time when I went through a great upheaval in my life and had to separate from many things that had been very dear to me, my eye fell onto "Creating Sacred Space..." and I subsequently attended three of Karen Kingston's workshops in London, UK. Both this book and to some extent the subsequent 'Clear your Clutter' helped me a lot in dealing with my own separation problems, which happened to be followed by years of having to clear clutter for my mother-in-law who was a notorious hoarder and extremely possessive about every single item. It would have been easy to lose one's sanity. I have used the ceremony several times and I always found it emotional, positive, and uplifting.
However, I can't get myself to join Karen Kingston in her glorification of Bali. My husband and I went there in 2001 for a month and we had good advice from friends living on the island for decades. We did not stay in tourist haunts and toured the whole island by ourselves in a rented little Suzuki jeep, which was quite a venture. Naturally there is much that is beautiful, positive, and even special about Bali, but the same could also be said about other places.

[Giovaennchen Lozano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este es el primer libro que leí sobre Feng Shui, creyendo que se trataba solo de eso. En realidad trata más de cómo tener el espacio vital, y la casa sanos, limpios y agradables para que fluya la energía. Más que tratar sobre las orientaciones, los puntos cardinales, las fechas de nacimientos y otras cosas que tratan los demás libros, éste explica de una forma más "sensata", para mi punto de vista, los temas de lo que es y puede ser un hogar "sano". También da consejos sobre cómo hacer para que el espacio que se habita (una habitación de hotel, por ejemplo) esté en armonía con lo que esperamos de él (limpieza, comodidad, buen ambiente, buena vibra). Y bueno, como también habla de Feng Shui, trata únicamente los consejos básicos que mucha gente ya conoce, sobre las entradas a los hogares, los espejos, el acomodo de las camas, etc. Lo recomiendo para quienes se interesen sobre buenos ambientes, aunque no sobre todo el rollo del feng shui.

[Hopey Levrey · Rating 1 out of 5]

From my primitive understanding, feng shui is the way of arranging your house and funiture to let the energy flow and live a better life. This, however, was only talked about briefly in the last part. The first part basically proposed the message: 'Clean your room sometimes' and the two middle parts were tutorials for costly, very spiritual ceremonies, what I am not only sceptical about from a logic point of view but also considering the enoviremental aspect (wasting foodstuff for offerings, buying new funiture, when you change things in your life, buying a lot of tool and things for the ceremonies.
I will get another book to learn feng shui.