Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese practice that uses energy forces to harmonize individuals with their surrounding environment.

Imagine walking into a room that instantly makes you feel at ease, where every element is perfectly placed to promote positive energy flow. That’s the power of Feng Shui.
But it doesn’t stop at your front door. By aligning your environment with the principles of Feng Shui, you can create a ripple effect that enhances your personal well-being, your relationships, and even your love life.

That’s why we have international Feng Shui Master, Inessa Freya, joining us on the Dates & Mates podcast this week. She will share how simple home changes can attract new romantic possibilities, enhance current relationships, and bring harmony and balance. Plus, Damona will tell you why she credits Inessa for being a part of bring Mr. Hoffman into her life.

Plus, we have a surprising Dating Dish – could dating apps be the new healthcare benefit? And our Dear Damona question: how do you stay positive when struggling to find your match?

It’s a little yin, a little yang, and all Dates & Mates!

DATING DISH (2:34)

Are dating apps the new employee benefit? A Forbes article suggests they could boost satisfaction and engagement, citing a study showing singles often face isolation and financial strain. Some companies already offer relationship-related perks, but extending this to other industries is a fresh idea.

Meanwhile, Tokyo’s government is stepping up with its own dating app to address declining birth rates. 

These updates signal that something is definitely broken in the system. We put so much emphasis on the dating apps being the source of the issue, when really the source of the issue is just this disconnect that we have around the idea of human connection. Making the apps a benefit and getting the government involved may not be the solution, but we are glad that people are taking action to remedy the problem.

8:23 Inessa Freya

Inessa Freya, author of “Feng Shui: Change Your Room, Change Your Life,” is an international Feng Shui master and a therapist.

Inessa is the founder of Feng Shui From the Heart and has been the Feng Shui authority at renowned hotels like Canyon Ranch, Mandarin Oriental, and The One Hotel. 

More importantly, she’s a personal friend and Damona’s go-to Feng Shui guru.

10:36 Feng Shui: Magical & Life Transforming

While some might think Feng Shui is a bit woo-woo, in the Eastern world, it’s a way of life.

Feng Shui is all about arranging your space mindfully to align with your goals and intentions. Think of it as turning your room into a 3D vision board that talks to your subconscious, helping you attract what you want in life.

Inessa shares how this practice isn’t just magical—it’s backed by psychological principles. She’s seen firsthand how making thoughtful changes in your home can evoke powerful emotional responses and transform your life, proving that our environment and mental state are deeply connected.

16:10 Inessa’s Nontraditional Love Story

Inessa shared her personal Feng Shui love story. She revealed that before meeting her husband, she made intentional changes to her space, like tossing an old mattress and activating the relationship corners of her home. 

“I set my intention, visualized how I’d feel with my person, and made sure my home reflected that,” she said. This mindful approach, combined with a dating hiatus to clear her energy, led her to meet her husband on a dating app, proving the power of Feng Shui in attracting love.

33:13 It Has to be Intentional

Setting intentions is a crucial part of Feng Shui. It’s about creating a mindful connection between your space and your subconscious. By setting clear intentions, you guide the energy in your environment to support your goals and desires. 

Inessa emphasizes that this process not only aligns your surroundings with your aspirations but also helps clear out old energy, making way for new, positive experiences and relationships.

Catch up with Inessa on Instagram @inessa_freya and learn more about her work by visiting www.fengshuifromtheheart.com.

DEAR DAMONA (41:19)

Submit your questions for our Dear Damona segment on Instagram, X, TikTok, or Facebook, and hear Damona’s answers live in a future episode!

Email from Anonymous:

I really don’t like how bullish you are about dating apps, but I’m trying to keep a positive mindset. 

Looking at recent trends, the standard guy everyone in NYC wants to date is white. They seem to do the best in person on the dating apps. It’s a sad thought, and I’m not trying to sound incel at all, but my life experiences haven’t shown any evidence against this case. 

For context, I’m a 30-year-old Caribbean-American man living in New York City. I’ve never been in a relationship, and getting someone to go on a date with me is like pulling teeth, as next to no one is interested in me in that way. 

For the bulk of my life, I had to work full time as I had a poor upbringing and paid my way through college. But that didn’t mean I placed dating on the back burner. I tried going out in my younger years, dating, etc. and it just doesn’t work for me. I’ve taken breaks to focus on myself and try again later, only to hit the same wall. 

My friends say I’m a wonderful person, my profile is strong, and I have many qualities that would make me a great partner. They often come to me for advice, yet no one is interested, ultimately leaving me feeling so undateable.

I try in person events and people love my personality but only want to remain friends. I don’t struggle to be myself. I have so many hobbies that I enjoy, but I’m frustrated as I want to date. I crave a partner, but I can’t even get a chance. How can I be positive in this modern dating world as I feel so old?