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Consumer Reports: Feng Shui Tips for Every Room in Your Home
I was just sourced for an article in Consumer Reports about feng shui. Here it is:
Feng Shui Tips for Every Room in Your Home
How to channel positive energy throughout your home and reinvigorate your life
By Perry Santanachote
It’s springtime, finally! For many people, that also means it’s time for spring cleaning. But if you haven’t already, consider also applying feng shui principles to your home. You don’t need to buy anything—all it requires is an intentional approach to your surroundings.
Feng shui (pronounced fung shway) is an ancient Chinese discipline that literally translates to “wind water” and focuses on how to optimize the flow of positive energy—known as qi (pronounced chee)—in your home. “It’s basically considering how energy flows through your house as water or air naturally would,” says Jessie Kim, a feng shui consultant in California. “You want your home to be a space where you can relax and retreat, and feng shui is all about creating that space to make you feel recharged and rejuvenated so you can tackle the world the next day.”
The theory of feng shui is that the layout of a home and the placement of objects can maximize energy flow and improve your health, prosperity, and luck. But it’s also about balance. Master Pun-Yin, a feng shui consultant in New York, says that in order to increase the flow of qi, the five elements—water, earth, fire, wood, and metal—need to be in balance with each other. Think of it like a yin-yang quality, but five ways.
- Water is tied to intuition, sensitivity, fluctuation, and the flow of emotions.
- Earth represents practicality, stability, conservatism, and responsibility.
- Fire is associated with action, passion, ambition, and courage.
- Wood symbolizes organization, growth, persistence, and creativity.
- Metal assists with confidence, creativity, materialism, and making friends.
“You might realize something is off if you’re lacking clarity, motivation, serenity, or success in life,” says Pun-Yin. A feng shui consultation can offer more personalized insights, she says, incorporating Chinese astrology and an individual’s inherent five-element profile, but a good starting point is to follow some general rules.
Make Feng Shui Work for You
Talismans, such as dragons, tortoises, and laughing Buddhas, are associated with the commercialization of feng shui and are not necessary. “Unless you get to the root of the energy imbalance within your mind and your space, no crystals or tacky trinkets can alter your destiny,” says Pun-Yin.
“Just because you read somewhere that a golden toad is a great thing to have for prosperity, don’t have one in your home if you don’t like frogs,” says Kim. “Feng shui has to work for your personality and your décor. Creating a good feng shui space doesn’t mean it has to look like a Chinese restaurant exploded in your house.”
The things in your home should mean something to you (they should spark joy) and represent where you want to be in your life—kind of like dressing for the job you want. Some things from your past are fine to display, but don’t let them take over your space. “Be intentional about what you put inside your home and relentless with getting rid of junk,” says Kim. “Looking forward to the future will keep you growing as a person.”
Create Energy Pathways
Think of energy going through your home like a wind current or water stream. Look for potential blockages and leakages. One major leakage would be a front door that lines up with the back door. “You don’t want energy coming in the front door and immediately draining into the backyard,” says Kim. “You want that energy to meander through the house and refuel people living in it before making its exit.” Room dividers, bookcases, and tall plants are all great ways to divide up a room and create clear energy pathways.
Also, open the windows at least once a day to let in fresh air. “Make sure you get good circulation going,” says Kim. “Air conditioners, fans, and air purifiers are fine, but fresh air is better. And don’t let these appliances overrun your space or get in the way. Make sure they’re not blowing directly at you when you’re sitting or sleeping, too. It weakens your energy.”
Feng Shui Tips for the Entryway
Make an Entrance
Level up your front door, especially if you live in a condo or apartment building where yours is one of many. Kim says to make your door stand out so it attracts good energy by hanging a wreath or setting out a fun door mat. If your homeowners association doesn’t allow any fun, at least wash your door, making it cleaner and shinier than your neighbors, and make sure the numbers are clearly marked. “If people and qi can’t find you, it’s like good opportunities passing you by,” says Kim.
Declutter
The front door is the energy portal to your home, says Kim. Proper entranceway feng shui will make it feel welcoming. Make sure the area is clean and clutter-free, as in no pile of shoes or packages.
Set the Tone
The first thing you see when you open the door sets the tone for the entire home, so have pleasing objects on the major meridian positions to welcome you home with warmth and comfort, says Pun-Yin. These positions include the wall facing the entry, the corner diagonal to the entry, and the end of the hallway.
Feng Shui Tips for the Kitchen
Safeguard the Stove
Kitchens are seen as the prosperity and health hub of the house. “You fuel yourself and your family in the kitchen, so you want to make sure your flame—in this case, the stove—is protected,” says Kim. “An open window or doorway next to a gas stove weakens the flame, and that’s less energy going into your food.” For the same reasons, you also want to keep your stove clean and in good condition.
Feature Fruit
Place a bowl of fruit in the middle of your kitchen island or dining table to attract prosperity and health energy to that space, says Kim.
Coordinate Your Cookware
Having cookware and small kitchen appliances in coordinated colors or textures tie together and ground the kitchen’s energy field, says Pun-Yin.
Feng Shui Tips for the Living Room
Rethink Your Seating Arrangement
Each room has a commanding position, which is essentially an anchor point that allows you to control the energy in the room. It’s always farthest from the door but not in line with it, so you should be able to see who’s coming without being able to see directly out the door. Your sofa and main chairs should be in this commanding position, says Kim. You want to avoid configuring seating that forces people to have their backs to the door.
Soften the Edges
Remove anything with sharp edges or shiny surfaces that instantly get fingerprints and smudges on them. “The idea is to make this room soft, comfortable, and welcoming to your family and guests,” says Kim. “Make it conducive for people to gather, not like a sterile museum.”
Clear off the Coffee Table
A clutter-free coffee table is ideal, but if that’s unavoidable, Pun-Yin says to at least include something that soothes your mood. Fresh flowers or a plant, for instance, might induce good relationships in your life. (Take note: Dried flowers and dead flowers will do quite the opposite. Fake flowers are better, but they’re still not emitting the same kind of energy that fresh blooms would.)
Feng Shui Tips for the Bedroom
Reposition the Bed
Avoid having your headboard under a window or on the same wall as the door. “You want to be in the commanding position, so make sure you can see the door without being directly in line with it,” says Kim.
Only Calm Energy Allowed
Bedrooms should only be for sleeping, resting, and reconnecting with your partner. Electronics, books, bills or paperwork, and plants—anything that produces active energy—should not be in the bedroom. (Plants become active at night to produce oxygen, so they’re considered active energy.)
Even for kids, make sure to create a space for them to recharge and rest so they can grow healthy. Kim says active items, like toys, stuffed animals, and video games should be in the living room or another playroom. If it has to be in their bedroom, put it in a cubby or a cabinet that they can close up and put away at night.
Be mindful of where you place mirrors in your bedrooms, too. Kim says to make sure your body’s not being reflected in the mirror while you’re sleeping because mirrors are constantly reflecting and moving, just like water. “When your body is reflected in the mirror, you’re basically next to a wave that it is constantly crashing into you,” she says.
Propagate Parity
“If you share a bedroom with a partner, create an even ground,” says Kim. “Make sure both bedside tables are the same size, and use the same light fixture. You want to create a balanced relationship of both of you helping each other out.”
Feng Shui Tips for the Bathroom
One-Way Traffic Only
“When you dump things in a bathroom, you don’t want anything to come back out—literally or figuratively,” says Kim. Keep bathrooms clean and keep your toilet lid closed. If it’s a bathroom that is not in use regularly, keep the sink drains closed. Some people put river rocks in the sink and shower to cover up the drain, but it’s still usable.
Clear the Air
Pun-Yin says to avoid stagnant and humid energy in the bathroom by using a dehumidifier. Alternatively, keep the door partially open.
Have Fun With It
“People tend to view the bathroom as the last thing to decorate, or they shut the door and try to hide it,” says Kim. “But it is there, so why not make it fun and exciting? Meaning, energetically colorful, bright, and sparkly. Make it a space that you and your guests enjoy as well. Make it part of your home.” Plants, paint, towels, and decorations are all fair game.
Feng Shui Tips for the Office
Be a Boss
Again, prioritize the room’s commanding position and place your desk there. “Try to avoid having your back to a window,” says Pun-Yin. “If you can’t, counteract the energy imbalance by placing a plant behind your chair or hanging a piece of jade from the back of your chair.” Jade is a stone that is believed to improve the balance of energy.
Keep an Eye on the Prize
Place objects that represent your past achievements behind you, preferably on a bookcase, and place something that motivates you in front of you, so you’re always looking toward the future.
If you need more specific and custom guidance to improve your space and your life, I’m available to help. Learn more on my website today and book a virtual consultation. Better feng shui can help you in profound ways on life’s journey.
I am a 3rd generation feng shui expert and have helped thousands of people add harmony and balance to their homes and offices without making it look like a Chinese restaurant exploded.
I can help you attract the life that you deserve with feng shui. Contact me today!
The Power of Positive Relationships: How Friends and Family Impact Our Lives through Feng Shui
Do you feel like those around you are supportive to your well-being? Feng shui can help you attract and maintain positive relationships with your friends and family.
Feng shui is an ancient Chinese practice of creating harmony and balance in your surroundings, and we can use it to maximize your relationships with friends and family.
When you enter your home from the front door, there are three areas we need to look at: The Love & Relationship Corner, the Family Area, and the Helpful People Corner.
The Love & Relationships Corner is the back-right of your home. This area is believed to have an impact on your romantic and social connections. To enhance the energy in this area, be sure to place objects like throw pillows, bedside tables and towels in pairs – even if you are currently single. Try to use symbols that represent love to you in order to attract positive energy and good relationships.
The Family Area is the left side of your home. This area represents the support and guidance that you receive from your loved ones. To enhance the energy in this area, be sure to add your family photos and family trees (except on top of a fireplace). Whatever you add here should promote a sense of togetherness and support in your home.
The Helpful People Corner is the front-right of your home. This area represents the energy that attracts and nourishes new friends and work associates. Add objects and pictures that remind you of the types of people you want to attract into your life.
Focus your energy on attracting and cultivating people around you that help you feel good about your life. I’ve recommended in a previous blog post that you occasionally declutter your friends. Unfriend and block, if you will, the contacts in your life that emotionally and physically drain you.
Friends and family play a vital role in your life. They’re important to your emotional well-being. Incorporate feng shui principles into your home so you can attract positive energy in your relationships. Remember that a strong support system is key to living a happy and fulfilled life.
If you need more specific and custom guidance to improve your space and your life, I’m available to help. Learn more on my website today and book a virtual consultation. Better feng shui can help you in profound ways on life’s journey.
I am a 3rd generation feng shui expert and have helped thousands of people add harmony and balance to their homes and offices without making it look like a Chinese restaurant exploded.
I can help you attract the life that you deserve with feng shui. Contact me today!
Feng Shui Your Holiday Gathering
You may cringe when you think of the arguments that often arise during family gatherings like Christmas. But, know that such holiday events can actually be harmonious.
Here are my simple tips on adding Feng Shui to your home and table for balance and happiness this holiday season.
Power Positions
When family and friends visit you for several days over the holidays, remember not to give up your “power positions.” Your power positions include the master bedroom and any rooms in the back part of the house. By maintaining your power position, you can keep guests from overstaying their welcome or getting overly involved in your life.
You may have to deal with this creatively if your typical guest room is in the back of the house. In this situation, try to swap out the guest room for the home office. Or set up an inviting area that can be used as a temporary guest room toward the front of the home, making sure guests feel welcome.
Table Setting
When setting the table, don’t let guests sit at the head of the table, Rather, always the head of the household should sit there.
Pull out your fancy china since you are gathering with family and friends who are your most prized “possessions.” This is not the time to use paper plates.
Furniture and Decorations
When arranging furniture and decorations, make sure that no sharp corners (poison arrows) point where people sit. Round or oval tables are best to avoid bad energy.
Keep heavy decorative items below the level of people’s heads. Having them high up can create nervous energy and encourage heavy conversations. With all of the recent news, it would probably be best to avoid heavy conversations!
Put all these tips to use and watch your holiday become a lot more harmonious!
Next Steps
Learn more about Feng Shui on my website.
If you are interested in improving your life through Feng Shui, I can help.
I am a 3rd generation Feng Shui expert and have helped thousands of people add harmony and balance to their homes and offices without making it look like a Chinese restaurant exploded.
I can help you attract the life that you deserve with Feng Shui. Contact me today!
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Fall Into Autumn with Feng Shui
Ah, the fall, how I love thee. With the change of the season comes a definite shift in energy. It’s a shift we can feel, see, smell, and touch, and it’s amazing. In Autumn, our yang energy quiets down and our chi is now yin in nature. This makes it a perfect time to reflect, gather our energy, and slow it down.
Surprisingly, the element of metal governs the season of Autumn. Fall’s energy, which is cold and contracting, is associated with communication, creativity, inspiration, and symbols. Since the goal in Feng Shui is to bring our interior space into balance with the natural world around us, it’s important to balance the metal element in people this season. Metal is powerful. When balanced projects get completed in time, we are filled with a sense of ethics and justice, and we are surrounded by benefactors. Sound good?
Read on to find out how to harness the power of the metal element, release what no longer serves, and be open to new experiences this fall season.
A Cornucopia of Color
When thinking about fall, most people associate it with the vibrant colors seen in the falling leaves. The beauty of this season is unlike any other, so bringing those colors into your home decor can inspire you.
- Red: This color is seen as abundant and healthy in Feng Shui. It attracts attention, as well as new opportunities, making it a great choice for front-door-decor.
- Orange: This is a social color, and can help vamp up the conversations at your fall family gatherings.
- Yellow and Brown: These are considered earthy colors which bring a grounding and comforting energy to your abode.
- Silver, Gray and Black: These colors represent the element of the season, metal, which stimulates mental strength and intelligence.
Which colors speak to you? Tie in touches of the colors that you love to help with your fall Feng Shui.
Celebrate the Harvest
The metal element, which stimulates mental strength, can be translated into the home by adding oval decorations. You guys, this is good news! You know what fruit is widely used in the fall season? Pumpkins!! Pumpkins are oval in shape! They not only add a fall ambience to our decor, but they’re regarded as lucky charms in Feng Shui. These orange, oval gems attract material goods and wealth. But, that’s not all, folks! Pumpkins are also seen as protection against negative energy, so putting a few outside your front door is a refreshingly crisp idea!
Apples are another great fall fruit that symbolize peace. Adding a bowl of red apples to your table this season also symbolizes your table never being empty, meaning you’ll have an abundance of energizing food all season long. Whether it’s pumpkins or apples, gourds, pine cones or acorns, they all represent good health and a long life. So, incorporate what you love into your home decor.
The Eyes of Your Home
Your windows are considered the eyes of your home in Feng Shui, and they warrant their own section in this week’s blog. Windows help regulate incoming and outgoing energy in our homes. Since the weather is going to start cooling down, keeping this energy flow balanced is important. We want the keep the warm and happy energy in while also keeping the chi of the cool breeze flowing throughout the home. To avoid having your home be closed up and stuffy this season, open a window or two a couple of times a day to freshen the air with a cool breeze. On cold nights, keeping the windows closed will help guarantee keeping that cozy, warm air in.
Another important job of windows in Feng Shui is helping to bring in natural light. Light in Feng Shui represents the fire element which provides us with the strongest manifestation of energy. It has a dominant influence on the quality of chi in any home. You can read more about it in my blog titled, “Bright Light in Feng Shui.” Make sure you let the bright natural light into your home during the day. Since it’s getting dark early, make adjustments to bring more light into the interior of your home for dark, early nights. This can be achieved by switching to full spectrum light bulbs that mimic natural daylight, especially with winter coming.
Next Steps
Welcome Autumn! Bring on the changing of the leaves, the brisk days and cold nights, the cozy clothes, the wonderful taste of warm stews, soups, and of course hot chocolate on a cold evening. Bring on the seasonal gatherings with family and friends to celebrate and give thanks for the health and abundance in our life. Wishing you all a wonderful Feng Shui’d fall!!
If you need guidance on how to improve your space and your life, I’m always available to help. Learn more on my website today and book a consultation. Better Feng Shui can help you in profound ways on life’s journey.
I am a 3rd generation Feng Shui expert and have helped thousands of people add harmony and balance to their homes and offices without making it look like a Chinese restaurant exploded.
I can help you attract the life that you deserve with Feng Shui. Contact me today!
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Fertility Feng Shui
Have you been trying to conceive for a while but still have no bun in the oven? It may surprise you that it could have something to do with the Feng Shui energy in your home. Feng Shui can help you create a more balanced and relaxed environment for conception. When trying to conceive, two things should always be addressed: the couple and the home. Read on to find out how you can harness and direct the chi in your home to help you create your new bundle of joy.
Improving Fertility Feng Shui in the Home
The first place you can look to improve your fertility Feng Shui is right outside your front door! In Feng Shui, the door is considered the “mouth of chi,” so it’s where all of the energy enters the home. This is why it’s important to make sure there is open space here, meaning there’s nothing in the direct line with your front door such as a tree, car, or other object. It’s also important to avoid plant overgrowth in this area. Think about allowing fresh, healthy energy to enter and flow throughout your home.
The next place to focus on is the Children & Creativity Area of the home. Using elements to activate this part of your home, which is located at the center/right portion of your home’s floor plan, can help. These elements include: The shape of a circle, a metal element, white and/or metallic colors, as well as accessories representing mothers, babies & children, and families. An example of this might be to get a circle-shaped metal frame, paint it in a metallic color and use it to display a picture of a happy family.
Bump That Bed
We have great news! There’s a lot you can do in your marital bedroom to help with your fertility Feng Shui. Before doing anything else, though, we recommend cleaning and clearing the clutter first. Want to know the Feng Shui gold standard for improving your conception chances in the bedroom? Shifting the bed a bit to the left or right. That’s simple enough right? While you’re working on the bed, it’s also a good idea to flip the mattress over.
Cleaning
Get that vacuuming under the bed out of the way now… and then hold off during the time you’re trying to conceive, throughout the pregnancy and even a few weeks after the baby is born. While cleaning now, it’s a good idea to remove any items unrelated to rest and romance from the room. This includes exercise equipment, televisions, and work objects such as computers. Doing this will create a more fertility-friendly space where romance can be nurtured.
Don’t forget to address the problem areas such as overcrowded closets or cluttered rooms. Cleaning will help allow new fertile, creative energy to enter your life. Once everything is clean, give yourself a pat on the back! You’ve just helped increase your chances of conception. Yay!
The Relationship Corner
Oooo La La! It’s time to talk about pointers for creating a healthy and romantic Relationship Corner in the bedroom. From the doorway, take a closer look at the far right corner of the room, as this is the Relationship Corner. Focus on this area is suggested for optimal fertility Feng Shui chi. You can help to activate this area with several things that might help. These include items that represent romance to the couple, the color red, the shape of a square and an Earth element (such as a vase). Whenever possible, try to use items in pairs, such as two of the same lamps, pillows, etc.
Colors
In Feng Shui, colors are important, and it’s no different in the bedroom. For instance, sleeping on green sheets will help remove any energy blockages and heal any disease or ailment that may be preventing conception from occurring. It’s also believed that green sheets will allow for a healthy pregnancy to implant.
Painting the wall behind the marital bed yellow can also help in conception efforts. The colors yellow and orange are most associated with fertility in Feng Shui since these are the colors of children’s energy. Only a bit of yellow and orange will do since they are is also stimulating colors that can prevent rest if overused.
If this seems like too many colors, just focus on one or two. Another way to approach it might be to use touches of these colors, like green sheets with corresponding pillows that have some yellow and orange in them, or green sheets with a piece of framed artwork (in a square frame) of a happy family that has orange and yellow tied in somehow. Perhaps use a metal frame with baby chicks. There are so many ways to make Feng Shui doable for you.
Symbols
The use of symbols is another important element of Feng Shui. There are lots of different symbols you can represent in the bedroom. It’s important to choose just one or two that you might have in your home already or that stand out for you, and focus on those. In other words, you don’t need to feel overwhelmed and get one of every symbol related to fertility. It’s all about creating the perfect energy and surrounding yourself with things that relate best to you or that you love.
Next Steps
There are so many ways to make your bedroom a romantic, fertility-friendly space. I have given you a lot of ideas to add to your fertility Feng Shui tool box. Take the ideas that are both doable and meaningful for you, and put them to work in your home. The ultimate goal is to use Feng Shui to create a positive environment in which miracles can occur. Happy baby-making!
If you need guidance on how to improve your space and your life, I’m always available to help. Learn more on my website today and book a consultation. Better Feng Shui can help you in profound ways on life’s journey.
I am a 3rd generation Feng Shui expert and have helped thousands of people add harmony and balance to their homes and offices without making it look like a Chinese restaurant exploded.
I can help you attract the life that you deserve with Feng Shui. Contact me today!
Know someone trying to conceive? Share this post with them on Facebook!
A Recipe for Fridge Feng Shui
That giant appliance in your kitchen isn’t just a food storage container that takes up a lot of space. It actually represents two important Earth elements that rule our food and health; water and metal. Think of it as a health altar of sorts that helps you to care for your family.
Just like when learning to cook, having the right ingredients, tools, and following the correct steps will be a recipe for Feng Shui success. This will not only promote your family’s health and well-being, it but will also reward you with a positive life force which will create more abundance and generosity in your life. Read on for our recipe for fridge Feng Shui.
Ingredients
According to Feng Shui beliefs, a healthy person has a healthy refrigerator, so start by taking everything out of your fridge. Get rid of any food that is expired, leftover, or filled with unhealthy preservatives, additives, sugars, and chemicals. You don’t want a fridge that represents an unhealthy lifestyle. Keep only nutritious, healthy food that will help create a positive life force for your, and your family’s, well-being.
Wait! Before putting anything back into the fridge, follow the steps below.
Tools
In order to Feng Shui your fridge, you will need the right tools: Warm, soapy water with vinegar for a sterilized, holistic approach; Color-coded and pretty containers to help you stay organized and honor your food; Storage for any clutter that may be on the front or on top of your fridge.
Steps
Step 1: Now that everything is removed from your fridge and you’ve gotten rid of all the unhealthy food that will slow you down, it’s time for a deep cleaning. Take out the shelves and any/all attachments that can be removed, and deep clean them with warm, soapy water and vinegar. Don’t forget the inside of the fridge too. Containers leak, crumbs build up and it can leave behind a sticky, icky mess.
Step 2: Now, place everything back into the fridge, starting with the shelves and attachments, in an organized way, keeping in mind which areas would be a good choice for which groups of food. Now, use those color coded containers and get to work. Why not green containers for veggies and red ones for meats? Place all the meats together along with all the fruits, and veggies. You get the idea.
Step 3: Clean and organize the outside of the fridge. Don’t let the source of your family’s health and well being be weighed down by clutter! The top of your fridge was not made for storage. Take it all off and find other places to store it or consider getting rid of or donating anything that hasn’t been used for awhile.
Is the front of the fridge filled from end to end with magnets, coupons, photos, recipes, you name it? The front of your fridge is not your junk drawer! This is clutter, and remember what we said in a previous Feng Shui article on clutter? It’s a huge Feng Shui no-no. We suggest cleaning it off, and keep only a few things that help positively energize and inspire you. Just like the inside, if your fridge is cluttered and disheveled, it will take its toll on your health.
Step 4: Repeat, repeat, repeat! Now that you’ve worked so hard to Feng Shui your fridge, be consistent! Put things back in the correct groups. Each week, preferably before going grocery shopping, clean the fridge. Throw away junk food and leftovers. Deep clean your fridge with warm, soapy water and vinegar once every few months.
Reap the Benefits
Not only will these tips bring positive chi to your space, but check out all these added benefits:
- A healthy fridge makes you feel good and is good for you. It motivates you to make better decisions about the food you put into your body.
- When you’re consuming more nutritious food, your energy level will be elevated which can create more abundance and generosity.
- An organized fridge produces less waste which can save you money because it prevents you from buying more than you need.
- When things are organized in groups you’ll know where to find the food you need, when you need it, which will save you time.
Since the fridge is associated with wealth luck in Feng Shui, decluttering yours can help promote good family fortune, and who wouldn’t want that?!
Next Steps
Starting fresh with your refrigerator can be the first of many beneficial steps to allow positive Feng Shui energy called Chi to flow through your home. Make sure you are attracting it into your home and that the flow is optimal by following some steps on my website.
If you are interested in improving your life through Feng Shui, I can help.
I am a 3rd generation Feng Shui expert and have helped thousands of people add harmony and balance to their homes and offices without making it look like a Chinese restaurant exploded.
I can help you attract the life that you deserve with Feng Shui. Contact me today!
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