In the practice of Feng Shui and Geopathic Stress Dowsing, there are overlapping topics of interest. In Bon Tantric Buddhism Feng Shui, we investigate ‘Predecessor History’ and in Geopathic Stress Dowsing, we refer to that as ‘Place Memory’. I love this aspect of the profession because it allows you to become intimately connected with the history of a location, while at the same time understanding where specific energy frequencies could benefit from healing and realignments, while still acknowledging and honoring the rich history of that given space.

With either description, it’s believed we’re entangled in the history of a location that could influence current moments if gone unchecked. Acknowledgment of the past is very important to co-exist with the energies that reside on the property and within the soul and spirit of a building. Everywhere you go, energetic imprints (some very obvious while others are more subtle) have been projected into the spaces we occupy today.

Think of it this way, have you ever walked into a building, or onto land that is barren of any construction, yet received a sense or feeling within your body or mind that began offering subtle cues of information? Perhaps the space felt good and you felt energized, or maybe you suddenly felt emotionally heavy, tired, or uncomfortable. Essentially, that is your body and intuition gathering information from past energetic imprints. These energetic imprints could be from a previous tenant or from centuries ago.

Some people are more sensitive to these interactions than others. How come? Perhaps they are naturally open to these subtle energies or have trained themselves to be more connected due to the nature of their profession (reiki healers, feng shui consultants, dowsers, historical restoration contractors, etc).

A building I had the pleasure of visiting to conduct a Feng Shui consultation and would love to highlight in this article includes ‘One of Harlem’s Most Fashionable Addresses’ in the Sugar Hill historic district of Harlem, NY.

Here a Some Fascinating Historical Facts:

• Architects, Simon Schwartz and Arthur Gross designed the building, constructed in 1917.

• Formerly called, the Colonial Parkway Apartments.

• The building was home to writers, musicians, intellectuals, and activists during the Harlem Renaissance. According to The New York Library archives, this building was an important site of Black political organizing—in addition to housing NAACP leaders Walter White and Roy Wilkins.

• Notable past residents also included W.E.B. and Shirley Du Bois, painter Aaron Douglas, literary critic William Stanley Braithwaite, sculptor Elizabeth Catlett, and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.

• Besides acknowledging the building’s rich history, it’s important to note it has also gone through remedial repairs and restorations in 2006 to maintain its classic Neo-Georgian style. This is important to acknowledge because when able to, it is greatly encouraged to take inventory of the materials used to construct a building. This particular location has a history of progressive change for the better, so honoring the fabric of the building (original building materials) where possible is another way to maintain that embodied spirit. It also shows great respect for the soul and spirit of the building.

• After those repairs were completed, strangely, the building was struck by lightning, and additional repairs were required. Due to that, the scaffolding has remained for just about 17 years, which gives this building the longest record of the oldest shed in the five boroughs. That is not the best record to have, but hopefully, that will change so the facade of the building can open up and remove visual obstructions by the front entrance.

Have you figured out the building yet?

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The building is 409 Edgecombe Ave

I have to admit, I was buzzing with excitement and awe when entering the building, knowing the rich history of the location. The building has a personality for sure, and the current residents within the building express that. The two words that come to mind are respect and poise. By the way, most of the residents who reside here today continue to foster creative pursuits.

Regarding the lightning strike, it could be signifying it’s a good idea for the overall building to have an energy clearing. However, that might not be feasible, so to keep things simple, residents who wish to reset the energy of their dwellings could conduct their own energy healing or hire help. The base intention is to release lower-frequency imprints of the past while still retaining the positive frequencies as a plug-in for creative inspiration.

What’s fascinating about this approach to healing is you are allowing yourself to acknowledge the history of a location and offer a moment of deep listening. Just reading this article, provides healing vibrations to the building, to those who once occupied it, and to the surrounding neighborhood. It’s a door opener to shift perspectives and become more aware of your surroundings. This empowers you to become a better advocate and steward of your home and land. Feng Shui and Geopathic Stress Dowsing acknowledges there is a constant ebb and flow to what influences the energy of buildings, the land, people, and animals. This means, sometimes you need to revisit the past to offer healing in the current moment.

If you found this article interesting, you may also want to read, ‘Become Familiar with the Predecessor History of Your Land and Home’. This complimentary article offers additional insights into investigating the history of buildings and the land, paired with a case study.