On Saturday morning, February 12th 2005, French artisan, Yasmine Ahmed hosted a spirit-filled workshop at her Mill Valley boutique led by Feng Shui expert, Terumi Leinow -- just in time for Valentine's Day.

Maison Reve was filled this morning with single and married Feng Shui-hungry students interested in learning how to use Feng Shui principles to bring more love and romance into their lives.

Terumi Leinow began the workshop with a sentence by Mahatma Gandhi.

She encouraged everyone to say together three times:

Then she encouraged everyone to say it again, but before each sentence take a deep breath.

Stating it this way had exactly the effect she was looking for: the soul and significance of the message sunk in with each breath.

Terumi then offered nine Feng Shui tips and a multitude of resources to her audience in preparation for Valentine's Day on Monday and every day.

A number of items came directly from Yasmine's shop including candles, a small mirror with two flowers on it, as well as two love bird ornaments.

Terumi's First Tip

1.) Be clear about, and write your intentions regarding love and romance.

"This is most important," said Terumi.

Terumi asked her audience:

What are you looking for?

Are you squelching your opportunity for romance by telling yourself "I'll look for love once I lose ten pounds?"

Terumi asked Yasmine's husband, David, who was in the crowd, "What first attracted you to your wife?"

David touted Yasmine's "creativity" as one of the reasons he was and continues to be attracted to her.

Shortly before meeting David, Yasmine worked with Terumi to define her intention for her self -- which ultimately helped lead Yasmine to meet her creative soulmate.

David and Yasmine are two of the most creative people in the Bay Area.

Yasmine left corporate America over two years ago before opening Maison Reve.

Maison Reve means "Dream Home" in French.

Yasmine's boutique is a destination spot for all Francophiles. It is filled with some of the most delectable French antiques, housewares and gift items.

David McGrane, who is originally from Australia, runs a successful advertising agency and design firm in the heart of North Beach San Francisco called Ozone.

Together, this handsome couple has many forms of creative expression in their lives ... from the most impactful form of high tech to the most sensuous, spirited form of high touch.

Terumi's Second Tip

2.) Identify the marriage area of your property, home and bedroom.

Review these areas from a Feng Shui perspective.

If there is clutter in these areas, there will be no room for romance.

Terumi suggested that each quadrant of one's house and property be considered.

She recommended going room-by-room, looking to the NE corner of the room. If a closet is in that corner, clean it out. Make room for a man or woman to share this space.

Outside, make sure a trash bin does not reside in the "relationship" corner of your property.

Terumi's Third Tip

3.) The bedroom is one of the three most important factors in Feng Shui. Assess the energetic quality of your bedroom.

Is it functional or romantic, active or calming, lonely or nurturing?

"Your bedroom should be treated like a sanctuary," Terumi said.

It is the place to climb into your cozy robe. It is a place for intimacy. It is a place to rejuvenate your "chi" -- i.e., your energy.

If you have a fireplace in your bedroom, as I do, Terumi recommended placing a mirror above it, or a picture of water.

A fireplace represents fire which can cause conflict in a relationship.

Heated conflicts can occur if there is not something in the room to balance the fire.

Terumi's Fourth Tip

4.) Consider eliminating the following energy drains: excessive clutter, oversized furniture, items that produce electromagnetic energies (cell phones, electric blankets, computers, a clock radio, television) and photos of past lovers.

Terumi said no phone should be in your bedroom.

If you are doctor and are on call, try to have the phone just outside your door where you can hear it.

Digital radios are o.k. because they do not have the electromagnetic energy that a clock plugged into an electrical outlet has.

Televisions, computers, and radios, if they need to be in the room, should be a minimum of six feet away from one's body.

Electric blankets should be used to warm a bed but then be turned off before climbing in. If you keep the electric blanket on, it can weaken your immune system.

Terumi's Fifth Tip

5.) Ensure your bed is situated in the command position, has a headboard and a new mattress.

Most Feng Shui books illustrate the location of the command position which is furthest from the entrance of the bedroom.

Personally, I recommend both the Duxiana bed made in Sweden and the McRoskey Air Mattress Company based in San Francisco.

In our home, we owned three Dux beds and three McRoskey beds.

Terumi's Sixth Tip

6.) Use colors in the bedroom that are more yin than yang: skin tones, pink, peach or apricot.

Terumi recommended against using an extensive amount of white in the bedroom as it is a "stimulating" color rather than relaxing.

The best color for your bedroom: Terumi suggested pulling back your bottom lip and looking at your unique skintone color to determine the best color for your bedroom walls and linens.

For color-matching, Rugged Elegance recommends Carla Mathis of Carla Mathis Designs. Ms. Mathis is one of the most world-renowned wardrobe and home color consultants.

She puts a dollup of each spouse's skin tone in every bucket of paint. More symbolic than anything, the intention is to represent the soul of that couple, in each room -- and not just in their bedroom.

Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Carla is now based in Southern California. However, she travels the world to serve her clients and to speak on her areas of expertise which include: color, style and children's play areas.

Ms. Mathis can be reached at: 650.321.5997.

Terumi's Seventh Tip

7.) Use quality essential oils that help you attain relaxation.

Quality essential oils open the heart to love.

These include: basil, ginger, jasmine, rose, sandalwood and ylang ylang.

Use these in a diffuser. Add drops to your bath or pillow. Then, play romantic, soothing music.

Sweet Basil is one of the most sacred plants in India.

Sandalwood creates peacefulness and openness.

Jasmine is called "the oil of angels." Terumi explained that it links "the crown heart and sexual scent."

Ylang ylang is often spread on a newly married couple's bed.

Terumi said that within ten seconds essential oils can change your attitude.

High quality essential oils can be found through Peter Holmes at SnowLotus.org or Whole Foods.

Through Snow Lotus Aromatherapy, a 10 ml. bottle of Rose oil from Turkey costs $23. Rose Damask from Bulgaria is $46 for a 10 ml. bottle.

Ylang Ylang from Commores is $18 a bottle.

All can be ordered online.

Terumi's Eighth Tip

8.) Add images that evoke intimacy and love in your bedroom.

Use symbols that reflect partnership of two: two candles, two turtle doves, two roses, sensual artwork or sculptures.

"The image of Mandarin ducks will enhance love and luck," said Terumi. However, they do not have to be Mandarin ducks.

Yasmine carries a beautiful assortment of love bird ornaments.

You can also find candles, pictures, mirror frames and other artwork at Maison Reve that are very appropriate for the "marriage corner" of the bedroom.

Yasmine also carries the softest, coziest robes and blankets.

Where I had my eye on a CozyChic pink robe by Barefoot Dreams, I instead ended up buying my daughter a pink blanket of the same deliciously soft material.

One single woman in the workshop kidded about putting an empty picture frame in her bedroom with the words "Coming soon!" or "Your picture here" above it.

All kidding aside, Terumi said that one client of hers had a photograph of her parents at the foot of their bed.

Terumi encouraged her client and her audience today to not only removing photos of parents but also of children and siblings.

She said that when one client finally removed all the photos of her deceased husband from their bedroom, she was able to move on and welcome falling in love again.

Terumi's Ninth Tip

9.) Monitor your self talk.

"Whatever you are giving your attention to causes you to emit a vibration, and the vibrations that you offer equal your asking, which equals your point of attraction." ~from the book "Ask & It Is Given"

Cultivate love and appreciation.

Make sure what you are saying to yourself is positive.

Terumi used the most powerful hidden images of water to illustrate how important "monitoring your self talk is."

The images were the result of work done by Dr. Masaru Emoto, parts of which can be seen in the movie, "What The Bleep Do We Know!?."

They are also the subject of a recent book written by Dr. Emoto called, The Hidden Messages of Water.

Water makes up 70% of our body.

While it is a neutral compound, it is able to transmit energy -- both positive and negative.

Mr. Emoto's pictures demonstrate what the vibrations of different ideas, thoughts, emotions, statements and music do to water.

"Love & Gratitude" Crystal of Water

Combine simple frozen distilled water with the message "love and gratitude" or the vibration of beautiful music and the water forms a beautifully shaped crystal.

"You Make Me Sick" Crystal of Water

Combine the same water with the message "you make me sick" or the vibration of acid rock and the water forms a distorted wart-like covered, colored crystal.

The clear message: What we say to ourselves, inside our heads, can metaphysically alter our internal body of water and thus our physical health.

About Maison Reve

Maison Reve's tagline is "because some people dream in French".

This charming shop strives to bring a bit of Europe and France and the outdoors into your home. Within the walls is evidence of all sorts of inspiration. From books, to messages on rocks, to little wooden signs, to the spirit of its owner, inspiration abounds.

Yasmine Ahmed is the keeper of the key at Maison Reve. Her flagship dream home and garden store is located in charming downtown Mill Valley, California.

However, don't let your physical proximity limit you from being influenced by Yasmine and the magic that goes on in her store.

Maison Reve now also offers interior decorating services, garden design, container parties, wish list shopping, inspiring workshops, bridal registry, and Maison Reve weddings.

Yasmine's next workshop, a focus on Interior Design, will take place on April 9th.

Each workshop sells out quickly, so call Maison Reve now at 415.383.9700, and tell them you are part of the Rugged Elegance community.

About Terumi Leinow

Terumi Leinow has been on a lifelong quest for beauty and simplicity.

Learning to be right here, right now, with an open heart, is her daily spiritual practice.

The more she feels how it is to come back to balance moment to moment, the more she can slow down, stop worrying about the future, and savor the miracle in each breath.

It is from this grounded, core essence that she works with a wide variety of both personal and business clients.

As a certified Feng Shui and Space Clearing Consultant, Terumi draws on multiple traditions to restore harmony and balance on both inner and outer levels.

Terumi's years of training in various energy disciplines, including martial arts, shamanism, and Tantric Buddhism, make it easy for her to tune into the energy of a space.

She completed a three-year master's training program inspired by Grand Master Lin Yun, the world's leading authority on Black Sect Tantric Buddhism Feng Shui, and is also certified as an Environmental and Personal Clearing Practitioner by Eric Dowsett, a pioneer in this field.

Her decades of work with various multi-national organizations, including the Canadian Foreign Service, Canadian Medical Association, British Columbia Teachers Federation, and international mining conglomerate, TECK Corporation, allows her to feel comfortable in the business arena.

She and Nancy Binzen are the co-authors of Tuning In: Simple Rituals for Everyday Living.

More than an author and a results-oriented consultant, Terumi considers her relationship with her clients to be that of teacher and partner.

It is her responsibility to involve her clients each step of the way in understanding what may be happening in their environment to cause stress and imbalance.

Terumi charges $475 - $575 per consultation depending upon the size of your home.

To go through a "space clearing" exercise in a 2,000 sq. ft home costs $475.

To learn more about Terumi Leinow and The Spirit of Feng Shui, go to:

If you live in San Francisco or the North Bay, Terumi will be speaking at the upcoming Marin Women in Business Conference on Wednesday, March 2nd.

The conference will be held at The Embassy Suites Hotel in San Rafael from 8:30am - 6pm.

The title of Terumi's session (2:45 pm - 3:45 pm):

In this session, she will offer three things you can do immediately to enhance the quality of your workspace.

For registration information, call (415) 454.4163 or register online at:

In addition to her own book, Terumi recommends the following resources:

The Power of Intention by Wayne Dyer

Feng Shi Design: From History and Landscape to Modern Gardens & Interiors by Mast Lin Yun and Sarah Rossbach

Ask & It Is Given: Learning to Manifest Your Desires by Esther & Jerry Hicks

The Power of Intention by Wayne Dyer

Inspire & Be Inspired.

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful, "love and romance-filled" living!

~ Jennifer Carolyn King