Kartar Diamond, founder of Feng Shui Solutions™, has been a beacon of authentic Feng Shui practice since the 1990s. Growing up in the holistic and metaphysical-rich environment of Southern California during the 1970s, Kartar’s journey into the ancient art of Feng Shui was both natural and profound. Her transformative encounter with Master Sang in 1992 marked the beginning of a lifelong dedication to this sophisticated practice. Kartar’s deep understanding and commitment have led her to become one of the senior graduate instructors from the American Feng Shui Institute. Through her company, Feng Shui Solutions™, she has advised thousands of clients, ranging from homeowners to architects, interior designers, and real estate agents. Her down-to-earth approach and fearless stance against both historical and modern “false” schools of Feng Shui have set her apart as a trusted authority in the field. In this Mystic Mag‘s interview, we delve into Kartar’s early influences, her pivotal meeting with Master Sang, and her mission to demystify Feng Shui.
Can you share the story of how you first became interested in metaphysics and holistic lifestyle choices during your upbringing in Southern California in the 1970s?
From my earliest years, even as a pre-teen, I was interested in metaphysical topics, including subjects like astrology and numerology. I even had a very serious yoga and meditation practice by the time I was fourteen years old. I really did not have any noteworthy people as outside influences at that time; my parents were not very curious about esoteric things. I was also interested in science fiction and that may have opened up my mind in relation to what may be possible, but not “verifiable” by traditional standards.
Meeting Master Sang in 1992 was a pivotal moment in your career. How did his teachings influence your approach to Feng Shui, and what were some of the most profound lessons you learned from him?
Master Sang was my first formal Feng Shui teacher, after having spent time initially reading what I could, back when there were very few quality books published in English. Fortunately, with him I got a very good foundational understanding of Feng Shui, so that I could then easily recognize other schools that I knew not to pursue. I went on to study with others, but valued Master Sang’s practical approach. For example, there are very intriguing and precise Feng Shui formulas and styles, but some of those schools are not practical for the average person to use. For instance, very few people can afford to build a stream in their front yard, winding around in specific directional entrance and exit points, in the hopes of garnering immense wealth. In fact, the “water dragon” formulas would be impossible for apartment dwellers or renters to take advantage of.
What type of services do you offer?
I offer a wide array of Feng Shui services which includes helping people house hunt, choose land to build on, design phase and remodeling projects, and even end of life considerations, such as with “Yin House” feng shui, which is the selection of gravesites. The vast majority of my clients have me review existing residential and commercial properties where they are NOT going to be making any structural changes. They just want to know how to make the most of what they have already.
People want to know how to adjust their personal or professional environment for better health, relationships, and income potential. I have clients local to where I live in Southern California, but I do travel for business as well. And I can work remotely with many people, once they send me floor plan sketches, video or photos of their property. I have online tools for getting a very precise compass reading when I am not there in person.
Just as a little side story: Years before I had ever heard of Feng Shui, an astrologer told me that she saw me “working at a computer.” This was before people even had personal computers. That sounded awful to me. Little did I know then that I would be writing my feng shui books on a computer and working with people all over the world via the Internet!
What are some of the common myths and superstitions in Feng Shui that you have encountered, and how do you address and debunk them in your teachings?
Yes, there are many superstitions still being perpetuated, which is one of the reasons my first book was titled Feng Shui for Skeptics: Real Solutions Without Superstition. I felt I had to address those issues without delay. Common myths and superstitions include rigid notions about where to place a stove, a toilet, or numbers to avoid in an address. Many people have fixated on the New Age version of Feng Shui, which misleads people into thinking that every house has the same template of energies and influences. When I can explain where the cultural myths come from, or expose how generic they are, most people realize that they deserve a more sophisticated and personal analysis. They readily dismiss the “one-size-fits-all” approach.
Context is also very important to point out because something which might be a minor feng shui flaw in one capacity should not be blown out of proportion or become a deal breaker, since hardly any homes have perfect feng shui. For example, it is generally not recommended to sleep directly under large, exposed beams as they can put pressure on whoever sleeps under them. However, if someone has exposed beams in a part of their home which they do not use much, the exposed beams should not be a big concern.
Your online school offers private mentoring and certification. How do you structure your courses to ensure students receive a comprehensive and authentic education in Feng Shui?
My online school requires that students read a couple thousand pages of my published materials, with the opportunity to have Question and Answer sessions for each module. I also provide testing for each course, to ensure that students have understood the information before they move on to the next level. In the Advanced module, students need to demonstrate that they can think independently and give examples of the theories and applications discussed in each case study. And ultimately, a student has the opportunity to go through an internship process where I guide them through the analysis and recommendations for both real audits and mock audits. I share with students everything I have learned over the decades. The school allows people to study at their own pace so that no one feels rushed.
In your opinion, what are the most important aspects of a home or workspace that people should focus on to benefit from Feng Shui, and why?
Most traditional feng shui practitioners agree on which parts of the home should have a higher priority, perhaps only in a slightly different order. Where we sleep a third of our lives is the most important spot in the house and that is also the first room I zero in on when I am helping people in the house hunting phase. If a person did nothing but address their bedroom to enhance the feng shui in that one room, they would be handling a critical part of the house which affects their life.
Where one has a home office also ranks very high and the entrance that a person uses the most frequently can have a big impact. This is why the garage entrance may be more influential than a formal front door for some.
In a commercial work environment, I like to help people be in the best part of a building if they have that choice. Then, we get into the details of micro-managing a singular suite or office room (or retail space). The focus can be on having the individual sit in the best part of the room based on several factors. This can include dwelling in the most positive “unseen” influences, based on when the structure was built and its compass alignment. Key staff members in a business (or even inanimate inventory) may sometimes need to be prioritized over the owner.
Another layer is catering to the qi flow (air currents) based on the lay-out of the space, location of doors and windows. And finally, it is the frosting on the cake when a person can also sit in a direction (based on their birth data) which empowers them to be more energized, creative, communicative and respected.
Read more at https://fengshuisolutions.net/
