BY MIREYA NOVO
Jami Lin awaits us at her very lush and very inviting home in Quayside in Northeast Miami-Dade. Dressed in a Chinese silk blouse and long skirt, with her straight black hair cut very short, she could easily be taken for someone of Asian descent. Maybe it's her karma.
This petite and intense Miami native studied interior design at the University of Florida and opened her own design firm in 1983 without having any inkling that her career would be deeply influenced by the ancient Chinese art of feng shui. That art is defined as ''the rules in Chinese philosophy that govern spatial arrangement and orientation in relation to patterns of yin and yang and the flow of energy,'' according to one dictionary.
As we sit down to talk, she first wants to clear up some misconceptions. ''Feng shui is not mystical, it is not intuitive. Real feng shui is scientific; it is based on mathematics, gravitational force; it's all rooted in science,'' she emphasizes.
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NURI VALLBONA/HERALD STAFF
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A garden fountain is positioned so that the water flows toward Lin's house, part of her feng shui design.
Jami's Feng Shui Tip:
Fountain was also positioned to enhance #8 Flying Star Energy.
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A friend introduced Lin to feng shui about 20 years ago and her life would never be the same. ''I became interested because as a designer I knew there must be another dimension to the juxtaposition of objects,'' she says excitedly. ''Did you know that in the Book of Exodus there are specifications of how to build the tabernacles? Every culture has studied the relationship between heaven and earth and how it affects man. The Chinese just happened to call it feng shui.''
In her youth, she was influenced by Joseph Campbell, a writer on mythology and religion, because, she says, ''He was able to see the universal nature of who we are as a people and the universal nature of our consciousness and that translates into our design.''
She calls her fusion of the various schools of feng shui ''Earth Design.'' ''It's all about the relationship between heaven and earth,'' Lin says.
As she became more intrigued by this Chinese discipline, Lin began researching feng shui compulsively, which resulted in the book Feng Shui Today, published in 1985.
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The purple bedspread is to enchance spirituality, while the crystal sculpture is illuminated to shed light on relationships. |
NURI VALLBONA/HERALD STAFF
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Fneg Shui Tip: Yellow was used here to reduce #2 sickness Flying Star Energy. Learn more in Home Study Mastery Certification!!
Because she was practically a neophyte at the time, Lin says she approached its writing with hesitation. 'I went to a teacher of mine, Master Ni. My question to him was 'Who am I to be writing a book about feng shui when I'm not masterful?' and he said, 'You know all you need to know.' ''
She has since published Contemporary Earth Design: A Feng Shui Anthology (Earth Design, 1996) and The Essence of Feng Shui (Hay House, 1998), as well as many articles and videos on the subject.
She designs interiors mostly for residential clients in South Florida although she occasionally does work for area businesses. Her approach to design is foremost about aesthetics, blending feng shui naturally into the decor.
What does she consider the most important aspect of Earth Design? ''Eating and sleeping in the right direction,'' she says without hesitating. ''We all have a best direction based on our natal birth chart and it has to do with the year that you were born.''
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NURI VALLBONA/HERALD STAFF
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An under-the-stairs space was transformed from a pantry to a cozy breakfast nook.
Jami's Feng Shui Tip:
Good Feng Shui is also good functional interior design. This is where Joel and I eat breakfast and lunch.
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''Sometimes I may suggest to a client that they move their bed, and it may not be logical in traditional design, but I'll do it so they can have more success, better health.''
And, you have to move your furniture around periodically, because, according to Lin, your feng shui changes every year.
Her advice? ''The moment you move into your house you need your natal house chart to find out your best direction and your life aspirations.''
JAMI LIN'S LEARN FENG SHUI TIPS
(published in Miami Herald too!)
GARDEN
Trim away foliage that may be blocking the path of Chi (energy).
Never use artificial flowers or plants.
LIVING ROOM
Use warm colors and feel-good fabrics.
Furniture should be in square or octagonal shapes.
Avoid sharp wall corners, furniture or accessories.
Use your living room.
BEDROOM
Position your bed so there's a clear view of the door.
Do not have a mirror reflect the bed.
DINING ROOM
A mirror facing your table will double your food, a sign of riches.
Use round, oval or octagonal tables.
KITCHEN
Make sure the stove isn't next to the sink or refrigerator (water and fire are incompatible elements).
Keep your countertops open and without clutter.
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