Driving up to the home, I noticed the house was on a corner lot which sometimes brings excess energy from cars coming and going at all hours. Square raised gardens took up much of the outdoor Knowledge section (left side of the outdoor space facing the front entry). These brick structures were meant to hold plants and flowers. Dead stems stuck out at all angles, providing little beauty to the career section of the home. "Someone must be having a problem at work," I noted. One sharp corner of the brick barrier protruded. I walked to the side of this garden to avoid a bruised knee. Glancing over my left shoulder, a big red stop sign caught my attention. This large symbol sat near the driveway sending a subconscious message near the career zone of the home, suggesting stopping a job might be a good idea.

The door opened wide and the husband stood there, smiling with a nervous grin. "The house is too full of water, I know that much already," he confessed. His wife welcomed me inside as she switched off all phones and put the dog in the garage. "I want no interruptions," she said.

Sitting down at the cozy kitchen table, we began the conversations which help me determine how to assist my clients. The woman laid her arms gently on the table in a careful manner, which indicated she was in pain. "Tell me about your surgery," I queried.

"I have been unable to work for two years. The elbows and wrists have become inflexible. I had one side operated on a few months ago and now they will perform the corrections on the other limb this week."

The missing son was mentioned quickly, following the conversation about her arms. She sobbed as her story unfolded. Did he run away, I wondered aloud? A unanimous "No" came from the couple. "Do you know where he is?" I asked. Another "No" was voiced. After several questions leading nowhere, I asked, "how old is he?" "Twenty," she replied.

Surprised, I'm sure it showed on my face. Thinking this son was 16, I had related this event to my knowledge of raising my son around this tricky age of puberty! Realizing keeping the "children" home as long as possible can be a cultural custom I treaded lightly, not wanting to "rock the boat."

Living in Hawaii for a short time, introduced my husband and I to the island's close family ties, encouraging the oldest son to never leave home. This couple had been raised in a similar culture so "losing" this boy was a crushing blow.

"What room did your son occupy?" I asked. Pointing to the floor plan of the house, my eyes followed her finger, already knowing which section of the grid her hand won stop.

The room was located in the partnership gua or the far back right corner of the home from the front door of the dwelling. "How long was he in this area?" I inquired. "Two years," was her reply. "We moved to this house two years ago and everything has gone wrong since then. It's a bad luck house. Now our second son is 'mouthing off'."

"Where is his bedroom?" I asked. "He took over his lost brother's room. He has always been so sweet and loving; what¼s wrong with us?" she pleaded.

"I can give you advice along with Feng Shui suggestions. I understand your dilemma. Some women suffer with the empty nest syndrome more than others, but it is no coincidence your arms ache. You are symbolically holding onto your sons too tight. It will only cause heartache. He is twenty and needs to find his place in the world."

Giving the couple Feng Shui advice with balancing the five elements, restoring the partnership section to a place of discipline, the children need pictures of the parents. A strong suggestion of giving another of the bedrooms to the younger son, we began to look at the center of the home to detect any problems with the section of the 'gua' known as Health.

Two large aquariums filled the entire wall. Fish happily swam by as we watched them and they focused on us. Water pictures filled the center halls, a bathroom decorated with blue towels and rugs hugged the inner walls of this house. The color yellow is assigned to this earth section. Excess "water" washed away and flooded this precious earth zone of the home.

Houses reflect our beliefs and energies. Businesses hold our beliefs and energies. Our bodies and automobiles tell who are are. As a house therapist, I can read the home and help you improve the current situations.

The color of blue should be used near the front of the home to bring in the blue-black color associated with the career section. With all of the "water" in the middle of the house it has eroded the health of this family.

I turned to the husband, "tell me about yourself." He told me his job had abruptly ended, and he was having to reinvent himself. "I also have asthma, which has gotten worse the last two years. "

Suggesting several ideas which can pull the family back together without crushing the younger generation's ideas, goals and destiny, we talked about improving the wealth and career grids of the house.

Many years ago a very wise woman told me, "start teaching your children to leave home the minute they are born." Being a young mother of two babies, I judged her as cruel. Now I see the wisdom of her advice, but it is not always easy to let go and let them find their way in life.