After one interview… comes another ! Well done Leona de Ridder
When time is right, fame knocks at the door… Ask yourself if you activated something in your sector ‘9’!?
Surely it must have been the case for Leona de Ridder, Landscape Architect and Feng Shui consultant in New Zealand.
Follow this link to find Leona’s LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AOTEAROA interview and spread the word, book her for a garden, park, home or business development consultation and your live will never be the same again.
“OVER THE BONNET PODCAST” – Interviewing international Feng Shui Master Roseline Deleu, Australian journalist Mark Piepers shares with you her secrets and how Feng Shui evolved from a simple approach to encompassing her adventure discovering Aboriginal Culture, connexion with Country and Languages and some amazing concepts unknown by many non-Aboriginal people.
Sorry if the video where you see of Roseline is a little bit out of sync. Simply listen and admire the gorgeous painting behind her “Caterpillar Dreaming” by Maria Curley, Kaltjiti Arts APY Lands.
I had the honour to be invited to see the closing ceremony of the Argyle mine in the East Kimberley where Rio Tinto extracted diamonds for many decades.
Creating ceremony for small or important events in our lives or – in this case – Respecting Country and bring peace again after long time mining, local Land Custodians used smoke and water to clear space and people.
When did you smoke your place and aura last?
The best time is during full moon, but please don’t wait… When you are feeling stuck and feel ready to let go and move forward: smoke/smudge your place and body (in all safety) verbalising your intents aloud. Favour local herbs/tree sticks from your area for a more powerful result.
Roseline Deleu (Feng Shui Steps.com.au) interviews Leona de Ridder (Design by Leona.com)
Leona de Ridder – Landscape Architect New Zealand and Australia – studied with Feng Shui Master Roseline Deleu
1. Please Leona, tell our readers briefly WHEN, HOW, WHERE or in WHICH circumstances we met? I met Roseline in Canberra, Australia, 1998, where Roseline was teaching a night class in Feng Shui. I remember thinking, this is a fascinating woman of the world who has many stories to tell, and I am still enjoying hearing the stories of Roseline’s life of adventure!
2. Since then, could you share what is the most interesting Feng Shui result that you have experienced? I have seen life changing situations evolve, reactions that have affected health and wellbeing in a positive way. And a privileged experience being part of life in a terminal phase of illness, we created a peaceful place to rest and pass.
3. Let’s talk more about you now Leona… Tell us a little about yourself and your business. I can say studying Feng Shui with Roseline cemented my decision to attend University in 2000, to study a Bachelor Landscape Architecture. It soon became obvious the broader Landscape Planning discipline was a serious consideration, so returned back into the fold of University to study Masters Landscape Architecture (Landscape Planning) in 2004.
A short stint practicing in Australia 2007-2009 gave me a broader understanding of landscape scale and another approach to landscape assessment.
My current practice, Design by Leona, was born in the last decade, along with two children. I needed a family friendly practice, so returned to residential design and volunteer work with community groups.
In more recent times, I’ve delved back into the world of landscape planning, focusing on Integrated Farm Plans and indigenous cultural decision making process.
This is where Roseline and I have reconnected once again, always evolving. I have observed Roseline integrating what she has learned during her extensive work with Aboriginal people in 24 remote communities around Australia. Roseline has shared with me how she evolved to respect culture and a more connected practice integrating Oneness, Language Ancestors, Land and Nature Elements within our landscape and homes.
To me, Feng Shui is really creating harmony in our landscape and buildings; after all, the first impression you give to your visitors is the harmony of your garden, your landscape, your front entrance and only then your interior. Practising Feng Shui regularly has helped me strengthen my connection with the Land and clearly understand that we belong to nature.
4. What are the five words that people would use to describe you? 1. thoughtful
2. caring
3. interested
4. a wee bit controlling
5. fun
5. What was the purpose for starting your business? To find my purpose in life really, and that is healing of the land and the people. To leave something in a better state than before (preferably).
6. What are the most common reasons people contact you? Some are wanting elegance in their life, some are wanting to find more peace, some are just bored and want a change, it is all so varied. Usually it is a form of crisis or trauma that instigates change, and wanting to seek help towards change.
7. Tell us more about your services that you provide to your clients? Mostly my service is centred around landscape design at both the residential scale and the broader scale. Some clients don’t want to hear about Feng Shui principles, this is ok and I respect this. I can still incorporate Feng Shui principles into the design without the client necessarily knowing about it, or feeling the need to listen to the explanation, but they can feel it when the end product is built. Others that come into the space can feel it too.
8. Tell us about your process for working with clients? The initial meeting is so important, this when the essence of the vision or the desire is shared by the client. As the design process unfolds into budget discussions, it is important to hold onto that first conversation, to hold onto what is important, to retain the integrity.
9. What advice can you offer to people who are just discovering “Design by Leona”? There is no time like the present to make change, life is too short to procrastinate, to hold onto fears and old patterns. Let’s create those changes together in a safe and supportive way.
10. Do you have a book/s that you would like to recommend? “The Gardeners Garden” by Cox and Musgrave
The study spans seven centuries to spotlight more than 250 of the globe’s finest permanent gardens by leading garden designers, horticulturalists, and landscape architects, brought to life via more than 1,000 sumptuous photographs and in descriptive texts by leading garden writers.
“Your first easy steps to Feng Shui” by Roseline Deleu
Simple, easy to understand for all, this little red book has gone everywhere with me.
It is never to late to learn new skills! It is good for the brain, it is great for the moods 🙂
In November, we look into new interests and envisage to enrol in new courses early 2020 for a new beginning.
The next upcoming weeks are perfect timing to do some research in a new field but don’t enrol yet – wait till January.
Indeed… Now is only time to do your research of what you wish to learn!
Enjoy those dreams of change!
With joy and enthusiasm in your heart, write a wish list and the Universe will align all this in a couple of months time for you.
Can’t wait to start writing my list and place it next to my front door with a lovely crystal on top.
When I answered my new hairdresser question :“What do you do, Roseline?” she probably expected a simple answer! 🙂
Telling her only a couple of stories of my life in remote Aboriginal communities in the Central Desert of Australia, sharing my time with the First Nations people, certainly started to broaden her horizons!
Many decades ago I intrinsically knew that there was more to Feng Shui than the Chinese approach. Having lived in Europe and in Australia, I could feel that the energies of the Land are different and I wanted to know more about my new country that today is called Australia. I started my researches on how housing affects Aboriginal people’s health and here is where my journey started.
Many many years later, I lived and worked in close to 20 Aboriginal remote places from Wanarn (Western Australia) to Ramingining (East Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory) and what I learned most is this:
LISTEN, LEARN, READ about the place you live in, the landscape, the plants, the people, the animals, the sound of the wind in the trees, the language.
Stay away from judgement.
Become part of your new home country with all that is included. REACH OUT!
When my new hairdresser heard about a couple of stories that I related, she immediately said: “This is fascinating, you should write a book about it!” She was ready to know more.
That’s when I asked her… “How many books have you read on Aboriginal or Torres Strait Culture and life since you moved to Australia 38 years ago?”
Her spluttered answer was – “none” !
Sadly many people are in the same situation, even those who were born here.
Please, don’t expect the Government to tell you all what you need to know, it is impossible!
WAKE UP and REACH OUT and see and feel how much happier you become.
May your Journey be as fascinating and enjoyable as mine ❤
With Love and Compassion,
Roseline Deleu
International Feng Shui Master, Author and Professional Speaker www.fengshuisteps.com.au
Some recent events in my life pushed me to feel like a big tree growing another strong branch !
Indeed, new interests have developed in the last few years and are now part of who I am today. These changes made my Feng Shui approach much stronger and my personal links with Nature and the Universe more loving.
I let go of the old website to launch (currently a simple one page) the updated version of myself to discover on www.fengshuisteps.com.au
The best email address to contact me these days is
fengshuisteps {at} hotmail {dot} com
Looking forward to reading from you!
After being away for a few months from the place I usually live, I sat in our local shopping center and watched people walked past.
Interestingly, I realised that the population had changed: much more Asians are now running the shops, many more African immigrants were now part of the current population. I wondered to what extent this newer changes impacted on consumerism! (By the way, these are happening all around the world.)
Where would they stop and purchase what they liked? Is this why there are so many shops changing since last year or is it simply because of the exhorbitant rent and change of habits of people buying online?
Buying online is fine for a few items. Luckily, for many people it will never replace the human contact and the fun people have going shopping and browsing.
When you go shopping next, sit down and think how much people are buy stuff they don’t really need and how much that impact on the garbage and on cluttering of their homes.
When you wish to buy something next… take it in your hands, look at it, then ask yourself “Do I REALLY need this?”.
When you buy online, think twice before tapping that ‘add to cart’ button.
I am often caused to think of you through the feng shui principles you shared with me. In my own place I am experimenting selecting and placing things in places that amplify these principles.
Some of them jump out at you and you know and feel that they are right! e.g. I have a central sky light in the main lounge kitchen area. Is it any wonder that it is my favourite area to sit and work, eat or play.
My kitchen is in the abundance area, needless to say I enjoy preparing and cooking wholesome foods and drinks.
I am constantly challenged to reduce my storage of building materials as I am nearing completion of renovation.
When things are removed a burden is lifted and you have more space to be and you feel “cleaner” and much lighter.
At the right time new things and experiences can be incorporated.
Thank you for the many posts you have been sharing on your blog in the past years, I’m sure it inspired many others.
The best email address to contact me these days is
Thank you.
Reader’s feed-back, an inspiration for others!
Feng Shui Steps 