We chat with a long-term expat, Lucy Richardson, who has feng shui as her focus.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your journey here. What brought you to Singapore?
My husband and I had been living and working in London for more than 10 years. We both had good jobs and very much enjoyed our time there. Once we had our three boys, though, memories of my own childhood in a very rural part of southern Germany became increasingly stronger and I couldn’t help feeling a bit reluctant about bringing up our children in such a big city like London. Of course, we had no choice at the time, as this is where our lives were and I knew there wouldn’t be any job opportunities for my husband near my home in Germany.
So when my husband’s company offered him a move to the Philippines, it felt like a ticket to paradise! We lived just outside Manila for two years and loved it. I would say that was the most adventurous time of our lives (apart from backpacking in Africa where I met my husband), and it’s a pity our boys don’t remember much of that time because they were so young.
Then, in 2007, my husband’s company transferred us to Singapore and we’ve been here ever since. We still love it, but sometimes it does feel a bit far from Europe; the guilt of not being able to be there for your elderly parents when they need help is very real.
What has changed in your life since moving here?
We had only been in Singapore for a few months when my friend asked me one day if I would like to join her and her husband at a feng shui event, and I said “Yes, please!” I had actually discovered feng shui when we lived in London and so I was very excited about going to this event. It turned out to be Lillian Too’s annual “Feng Shui Extravaganza”.
This was in January 2008, and I will never forget it. I was in awe seeing such a famous feng shui celebrity and I just loved everything I saw and heard from Lillian. After the event, I managed to talk to her assistant and found out that she also teaches feng shui at her Institute of Feng Shui in Kuala Lumpur. My decision was made: I wanted to learn more about feng shui.
How did that lead you to start your business?
The same year, in September 2008, I travelled to KL for Lillian Too’s “Master Practitioner Course” in feng shui, and in July 2010 I went back to complete the “Master Consultants Course”. This was my qualification to become a feng shui consultant.
When I started learning feng shui with Lillian, it wasn’t really my plan to set up my own consultancy business; I just wanted to learn more about the practice because I found it so fascinating. However, once I passed my course, it was the obvious choice to set up my own business – Feng Shui Focus.
When I was a teenager, I had the typical dreams of getting married and having children, and I always thought that after the children were born and they were a bit older, I would change my career, do something different from before, perhaps set up a business – although I had no idea at that time what kind of business this would be. So, discovering feng shui again at exactly that time in my life must have been fate!
What do you love about what you do?
I love the fact that I can help people. I’ve always been interested in architecture and interior design but I wasn’t confident that I was creative enough to choose this as my profession. Now, with feng shui, there are formulas to follow, which are the basis for every consultation; I analyse the client’s floor plan and make design suggestions where necessary or appropriate. It really brings together my interest in architecture, living in harmony with your surroundings, and making it (your surroundings and home) supportive of your dreams and aspirations.
I also love the fact that each “case” is unique because no floor plan or no home is ever the same, so my job never gets boring.
The best feeling, however, is when I hear back from a client about how my feng shui advice has helped them in their life or improved their situation.
What are your hopes for the year of the Tiger?
The Tiger is a very strong and powerful animal. I hope we can all draw strength and courage from the Tiger to help build our lives as we learn to overcome and live with COVID. Get in touch with Feng Shui Focus if you have any questions for Lucy about feng shui in your home and would like a consultation.
Email lucy@fengshuifocus.com.sg, call 9877 2844 or visit fengshuifocus.com.sg.
This article first appeared in the May 2022 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe, so you never miss a copy!
