It’s clearly no accident that Feng Shui (fung sway) became a natural progression for Suffolk resident Sandra Wood Parker.

Since the closure of the Louise Obici School of Nursing this past spring, a lot of things have happened for Parker – moving things into place very quickly for her. Parker, a registered nurse, has held myriad positions with Obici, including that as a staff nurse and charge nurse on the medical, surgical and oncology units for approximately 15 years. Parker originally started her medical education in 1970 at Obici’s School of Nursing.

Her career track with the Suffolk hospital would go on to entail work as an implementation coordinator in the Management Informations System Department, where she was responsible for designing and implementing educational programs on the &uot;then new&uot; Meditech computer system for all nursing and ancillary department employees over a 1-1/2 year period.

As a nursing educator/instructor for Obici’s professional diploma nursing program, her alma mater, Parker spent 13 years doing something she thoroughly enjoyed as well.

But lingering in the realm of her future was the pending marriage of the bevy of health care experience and Feng Shui, a Chinese art, which has gained notoriety for facilitating well being in personal and business settings.

Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese art of placement, with the goal of creating a sense of balance and harmony in an environment. Feng Shui has been practiced in China and elsewhere in Asia for centuries, having first gained popularity in Europe and North America during the late 1900s.

Parker states that Feng Shui came into her life at &uot;just the right time.&uot; In May, her job as a nursing educator ended with the conclusion of the Obici program. Just the year before, something very interesting had happened: She attended an hour-long presentation by a Norfolk-based Feng Shui practitioner Bonnie Primm, sponsored by Obici Hospital.

&uot;I was smitten! The wisdom of this ancient art spoke to me, rekindling what I had learned in nursing school about caring and treating the whole person in their own environment-the holistic approach,&uot; said Parker.

Her next step was to do some investigating, which led her to call Primm and get more details about Feng Shui. This led her to the Western School of Feng Shui, based on Solana Beach, Calif. Conveniently, the school was offering a course in Atlanta, Georgia in May and June.

With the support of her husband, Baker Parker, Sandra ventured off for the 10-week program, inclusive of field work entailing consultations for businesses, residential homes, landscapes, and one community service organization. Consultations include a &uot;walk-thru&uot; assessment with the owner accompanied by verbal and written recommendations, and noted results.

Now, Parker is one of just a handful of licensed Feng Shui practitioners in Virginia, joining a growing field of consultants in the United States.

Reflecting back on the Atlanta training and practical experience, &uot;This process was an enjoyable learning experience for me, as well as my clients. It was evident to me that through Feng Shui, I could help others achieve positive changes and results in their lives.

&uot;I was able to draw from my 28 years of nursing experience, using my strengths-humor, compassion, fairness, trustworthiness and dependability.

&uot;Not only does it allow me to help others, but Feng Shui continues to enhance and enrich my life as well. I look forward to offering my personal services as a professional Feng Shui practitioner/consultant to improve the quality of life for others.&uot;