The energy in a bathroom is generally a more stagant type of yin chi from the drains and toilet. It is important to bring in a more yang energy to create a better balance and flow.
Make your bathroom light, clean and well ventilated with a window to the outside.
It is never a good idea to have a bathroom facing the front door or very close to it such as leading off the front hallway. It can take away the good chi entering the house. If yours is too close make sure the bathroom door is kept closed. Place two heavy earthen objects, such as two statues or two pots at the base of the toilet. Hang a poster on the outside door of the bathroom to create a barrier.
A bathroom opposite a kitchen is bad for hygiene and a clash of two different types of energies.
If you have an ensuite make sure that the door is not directly overlooking the bed. It can lead to ill health. Keep the door closed at all times.
Fix all dripping taps. The toilet lid is best kept down unless a consultant advises against it for your specific circumstances.
The best place for the toilet is in a separate room. However if it is in the bathroom try not to have it in full view. Behind the door or a screen is a good idea.
April 2006
Curves and Flow
The chi life force energy travels in gentle curves. It moves at the perfect pace, neither too rushed or too slow and nourishes your building along the way. Our aim is to encourage it to keep moving like this and to prevent it becoming stuck anywhere. So to encourage a healthy chi flow, here's what you can do!
-
Have a gentle curving pathway leading to your front door and around your garden.
-
Aim for furniture with curved edges, round tables that are round, bevilled edges on furniture or shelving and round or oval mirrors.
-
If an area feels too dark, improve the lighting. That encourages chi to flow.
-
Create more space in any area that feels cramped. This might involve getting rid of some furniture or rearranging it to go into another room.
-
If a doorway of a room, lines up with a window opposite it, the chi often rushes straight through the door and out the window. It does not circulate into the room. Place a crystal in the window to reflect it back into and around the room.
-
If your front door lines up with our back door, chi can rush through the house and take your wealth with it. Have curved objects or furniture between the front and back doors/windows. Place a heavy object, such as a large earthen pot near the back door to anchor the chi and put pictures on the walls to slow down the flow. If people look around them as they walk the distance between the front and the back, chi flow will operate in the same way,
-
If an area such as a corner is 'dead space' it can often mean that chi gets stuck there. Place a plant, a light, sound or a moving object there to encourage chi to keep moving in the room.
May 2006
Too Much Yin
When you begin to change your environment to improve your Feng Shui, the overarching aim is to ensure that the chi flowing through your building has an equal balance of Yin and Yang energies. Sometimes environments can be either too Yin or too Yang. If your home or office is too yin, this means that the chi doesn't move easily through the rooms. It often creates a heavy, sleepy feeling which means that those who live and work there can be tired, lack motivation and be resistant to change. Characteristics of buildings that are too yin.
-
Dark rooms with insufficient light.
-
Dark paint on the walls
-
Many trees around a property preventing the light from entering.
-
Not enough open spaces within the building, just rooms and long narrow hallways.
-
An overabundance of small decorative objects.
-
Too many spaces that are cramped and cluttered.
What can you do?
-
Reduce the number of trees outside.
-
Open up blinds or change curtains to let in light.
-
Add skylights or enlarge windows.
-
Repaint walls lighter colours.
-
Clear away clutter and reduce the amount of furniture.
June 2006
A Building that is Too Yang
Last month we looked at the effects of environments that are too yin in nature. However it is also possible for an environment to be too yang.
This happens when there is too much light entering a building because there a lots of large windows and not many trees outside to soften the glare. Yang environments often have lots of hard edges to furniture and large areas of space between pieces of furniture. If they are painted in light colours and if shiny surfaces on floors and benches predominate, this adds to an energy that is too yang.
People who live in these environments can be irritable and unfocussed because the environment makes them too active. Often they can be restless or aggressive and unable to settle easily in one place.
To Balance the Building
What do we do? We add more yin into the mix.
-
Add curtains and blinds and move the furniture closer together.
-
Outside, plant trees to create shade
-
Use deeper tones of paint on the inside walls
-
Bring in indoor plants to offset any hard edges.
-
Place rugs on the floor
-
Group smaller objects together in each room to create a sense of continuity.
These measures make the occupants feel more settled and ''together' because the environment is more balanced and healthy.
July 2006
Business Feng Shui
Over the last few years there has been a steady growth in the number of businesses who acknowledge the value of using Feng Shui in their buildings. Good Feng Shui principles increase the chances of better productivity, effective daily transactions and improved relationships between staff and clients. Unlike a home environment, a business needs more yang energy or a more active nature to encourage motivation and success.
Principles for improving your business prospects.
-
Choose a site that feels good to start with. Ask your self if it has an uplifting feel or does it have a heavy and tired feel. Obviously avoid the latter.
-
Choose a location that will enhance the nature of your work. If your business deals with people, choose a building on a busy street so as to encourage interaction with the public. Quieter streets on the the hand are better for concentration and productivity in the office.
-
Make sure the building is approximately the same height as the surrounding buildings.
-
Design an entrance that creates a sense of success and activity. Use colours, images and space and well chosen objects to do this.
-
If you have plants in the entrance make sure they are healthy and vibrant.
-
Keep garbage bins away from the front area because they create a bad first impression.
-
Have an open space in front of the entrance to encourage chi to collect.
-
Do not have the company logo on the floor where it can be constantly walked on. Have it in a prominent position where it can be seen and instil confidence.
-
Toilets that are visible from the reception desk need to be concealed behind screens or plants.
-
If escalators, lifts or stairs face the front entrance they can prevent chi from circulating well.
-
The reception area is best placed on an angle to the front door and not directly opposite. This is the best place from which to observe and welcome people into the building.
August 2006
Spiky Things
Recently scientists have come to discover what the Chinese have known for centuries, that spiky, pointed or sharp looking objects have the potential to enter the human energy field and body.
Good life force energy is created by flowing lines, gentle colours and rounded objects.
On the other hand, sharp spiky and pointed objects produce ‘poison arrows' or sha chi. It sends a cutting energy which interferes with good life force energy, particularly if it points at the front door or at our bodies. It is especially bad in the bedroom. Rows of sharp edges like venetian blinds or bookshelves are known as 'cutting blades' because they can produce an energy that can cut into us, like knives.
Some objects which can cut are;
· 90 degree angled corners pointing into a room
· Corners of buildings pointing towards our house
· Spiky ornaments or plants
· Sharp Venetian blinds
· Vertical blinds
· Book shelves
· Beams
· Sharp, pointed designs on floor tiles or rugs.
Remedies
It is often easy to remove the sharp object to a position less threatening or to surround it with softer looking objects to reduce its impact.
Remove all spiky plants from near the front door or gate.
Angled corners of buildings or in rooms can be tricky. You can sometimes place an object such as a tree or a plant between you and the angled corner. A bagua mirror, placed on the outside of your building and aimed at an offending building, is another solution.
For internal corners, place a wall hanging so it that it slightly overlaps the corner, softening it.
Venetian blinds are cutting blades. Choose less sharp blinds such as wooden ones or avoid them altogether.
Bookshelves also fall into this category. Line books up right to the edge of the shelves so that the edges seem to disappear.
September 2006
Where is the Best Place to Live?
If you are out and about looking for a house or apartment to buy or rent, the following advice about different geographical positions could come in handy.
At the top of a hill. It might seem great if it has a spectacular view but think again. You are unprotected both to the forces of nature and psychologically. You could feel vulnerable and insecure, prone to insomnia and nervousness.
A steep incline. This is seemingly great position with a view of the surrounding area. But steep inclines are prone to landslides and can never feel totally stable. Good chi does not accumulate on steep inclines and wealth slips away.
A gentle sloping hill. This is ideal. You are more likely to be supported at the back by the slope of the hill and have a good vantage point overlooking the surrounding area. This position gives you a sense of protection.
A downward slope. People who live in houses that are in dips can suffer from a sense of being stuck or unmotivated. Chi stagnates there, affecting the occupants.
Flat terrain. This type of land offers stability and and security.
October 2006
The Startled Chef
Traditionally the kitchen is regarded as the centre of the house and is often a relaxed gathering place. There are some important considerations to think about here to ensure both the health of the family and the contentment of the cook.
-
If you have your back to the door when you are preparing food at the stove or bench, you are said to be in the startled chef position. This is because we need support from behind in the form of a solid wall. If you do not know what is happening behind you, you can be subconsciously uneasy because you can be startled at any time by someone entering the room unexpectedly. Your concentration could be affected as well as your skill and creativity as a cook. Therefore a good kitchen layout allows the cook to be aware of comings and goings, and to engage in conversation as they work. A happier cook means better food.
-
If the stovetop is in the startled chef position, place a small mirror, a shiny pot or a steel splashback to reflect a view of the door behind you.
-
The stove and sink or stove and fridge should not be opposite one another as this is a conflict of the fire and water elements. If your kitchen is arranged like this, you need to separate them with the wood element. A green mat on the floor between the stove and sink or fridge and stove will do this.
-
The sink should be sparkling clean and unblocked.
-
Keep the burners and other parts of the stove in good working condition. Repair any parts that are not working.
-
The kitchen is a yang room so use bright colours. Good colours are white, silver, black, blue, green and natural wood. Avoid reds, maroon, mauve and pink.
-
Empty rubbish bins a soon as they are full.
-
If you are buying a new stove, the more burners the better and make sure it has an even number of burners.
-
Clutter can easily build up in the kitchen so keep and eye on it.
-
Knives should not be on display.
November 2006
East group/West group
Feng Shui divides people into two groups: East group and West Group. Each group has four favourable and four unfavourable directions associated with them.
To determine which group you belong to you need to first calculate what is called your kua number and this is based on the year you were born according to the Chinese calendar. If you were born between January the first and February the second, use the previous year as your birth year.
If you are male you add the last two digits of your birth year. If the number is 9 or less, subtract it from 10 to get your kua number. If it is more than 9 add its two digits, then subtract the resulting digit from 10 to get your kua number. If your kua number is 5, use the number 2 instead.
If you are female, add the last two digits of your birth year and then add 5. If necessary add the resulting two digits to get your kua number. If your kua number is 5, use 8 instead.
Your kua number is used to work out which are your favourable directions.
If your number is 1,3,4 or 9 you are an East group person. Your favourable directions are North, South, East and Southeast. Your unfavourable directions are West, Southwest, Northwest and Northeast.
If your numbers are 2,6,7 or 8 you are a West group person. Your favourable directions are West, Southwest, Northwest and Northeast. Your unfavourable directions are North, South East and Southeast.
Once you know your favourable directions you will work, sleep and play much better if you are facing one of them. When you lie in bed you need to have your head pointing in one of your best directions. When sitting at your desk, have our body looking towards one of your favourable directions. You may have already noticed that you naturally tend to sit or lie facing in these directions anyway. Avoid your unfavourable directions. The chinese believe that couples from the same group are also more likely to be compatible than those from opposite groups but that is open to conjecture.
December/January 2007
Free Up for 2007
The best possible move you can make as we step into another new year is to stand and face your clutter. Yes! All that stuff in drawers, cupboards, under the bed, under the sink, in the back shed and even in your computer files. Clutter is like a chain around your neck dragging you down and affecting your health. Get rid of it now when you are motivated by a new beginning! Start with one drawer, then two, one cupboard, then two. Watch how much better you feel each time you throw away or give away all that stale energy. After doing this I promise you, you will feel more focussed, more motivated, lighter and more in control. You will have a greater spring in your step and a more positive attitude.
That can only mean better health and more harmony in your world as you step into 2007.
A note of warning. Clearing too much accumulated clutter very quickly can be an emotional experience. Take your time to work through it at a steady pace and in your own way. Happy New Year!
March 2007
Garden Harmony
The Chinese have long believed that living in harmony with nature ensures a life of
contentment, happiness and abundance. Gardens for them are living things
talk to people.
Here a few of the principles that are derived from the Chinese and that are now commonly used in garden design.
Curves. Generally speaking it is best if pathways and the
edges of garden beds follow gentle curves. The exception is when you want
chi to move faster, directing it towards an area that is stagnant. In that case
you use straight edges. If you already have predominantly straight edges you
can soften them with plants that spill over the edges.
Contrasts are extremely important. Where contrasts occur, chi is at its strongest. A large rock placed beside a tranquil pool creates
contrast and balance. A contrast of sunny and shady areas encourages the
movement of chi as well. If a part is too sunny, planting trees will create
shade. If some areas are too shady, white, variegated or lime green foliage
will help lighten the mood. Contrasts of texture or of light and dark colours, helps to move the eye around the garden.
Trees
Some trees are better than others Feng Shui wise. The best kind of trees are rounded. Oak,maples, magnolias are classic Feng Shui trees whereas tall straight conifers are too dense and can create areas of stagnation underneath.
Statues and Ornaments
Large heavy items create stillness in areas where chi is moving too fast. Painted pots, ornaments or sculptures can bring colour to an area
and glass and mirrors can bring light and the illusion of spaciousness.
April 2007
Garden Harmony and The Bagua
Let's continue some Feng Shui advice for the garden. Colour is important because it helps to move the eye around the garden. But colour also affects us on us on an emotional level. We can enhance any part of our garden and our own well being by planting flowers and foliage of the correct colour for that location.
According to the Feng Shui method known as the Bagua, each of 8 different directions also correspond to an aspect of your life. By enlivening the garden with the correct colours in the flowers and foliage, you can enliven the matching aspects of your life that may need some help. This Bagua is also known as the Life Map.
Firstly clean up areas that are overgrown or that have dead vegetation.
Then work out where each direction is and follow the guidelines here. Do not limit yourself to just these colours but make them the predominant ones for that part of the garden.
East- Brown and green colours. This part of the garden relates to health.
South East- green, blue. This part of the garden relates to money and prosperity.
South -red and orange. This section of the garden relates to your personal power and standing in the community.
South West-Pink, red and white, brown and yellow. This part of the garden relates to love and marriage.
West-white and silver. This part of the garden relates to children, pets and creativity.
North West-white, silver and gold. This section relates to travel, mentors and other people who can help you.
North-Blue, black and grey. This part of the garden relates to career.
North East- yellow, brown and red. This part of the garden relates to knowledge and learning.
May 2007
The Bagua or Life Map
Last month I talked about the Life Map or Bagua and how it can be enhanced with colors in the garden.
Inside your home there are things you can do as well to activate flagging aspects of your life. Draw a floorplan of our house that is to scale and divide it into 9 equal squares. The centre square is not used but each of the other squares corresponds to a direction. Work out each direction and give it a label based on the list below eg East is health. This is your life map. Ask yourself questions about each sector with the corresponding aspect of your life in mind. Is the area in need of freshening up? Is it cluttered or does it have appliances in need of repair? Is the paint peeling off the walls? Are taps dripping? Work out what you can do to make the area look and feel better then add a little more from the list below.
East- Health. Place images of healthy people here, healthy fresh flowers, bowls of fresh fruit and plants. Store books on health here and allow a free flow of chi around furniture and under beds.
South East- Money and prosperity. Make the area look prosperous with a touch of class here and there. Have images of the kinds of things you want to come into your life such as a new house, car, clothes or furniture. Place the images somewhere where you will see them frequently. Fresh flowers are also good here.
South -Personal power and standing in the community. Remove objects or documents from this area that you do not want to be associated with eg unpaid bills. Have an image that represents the kind of activity that you want to be known for eg as a successful artist or a good teacher or simply a person who is a generous volunteer. Its up to you. Place the trophies and awards you have won here and anything that you are proud of having achieved, such as a degree.
South West-Love and marriage. If you want to enhance and existing relationship or bring in a new one, place images here of you with others in happy relationships together. Have pairs of decorative objects displayed and remove images or statues of single people. Try to find an image or statue that represents the type of relationship you want to have eg companionable, fun, passionate.
West-Children, pets and creativity. First of all give away any unfinished projects or the results of past phases of creativity that you are no longer interested in. Display art work of your own or your children and have lots of images of children here and sources of creative inspiration. Creativity covers anything that makes you feel like you are playing and totally absorbed in the work.
North West-Travel, mentors and other people who can help you. This is a very important area. We need helpful people to help us fulfil our other goals. Make a list of the kind of people you want to help you achieve your gaols or tasks. Keep the list in this section. If travel is a dream, have postcards, travel brochures, computer and the television and telephone here. They can all help us find information which is useful.
North-Career. This really means your life journey as well as your career. Have books here of personal growth or of the area of your special interest. A compass can represent the direction you want to go in and good images or objects can express the way you want to feel in your life.
North East- Knowledge and learning Images or statues and books. Have a lamp here to represent lighting the path of knowledge.
These ideas can be translated to your office as well.
June 2007
Searching for Home Sweet Home
‘Your home is the connecting point between heaven and earth. It is the place of your centre your axis. It connects you to the land.’ Denise Lim.
Are you looking for a new home? Choosing the right house is not easy. It must be a place where we will be happy and secure; a haven from the outside world.
What should you look for if you were considering buying so that it will feel like home?
Here is a useful guide.
What to Avoid
A dead end street
A T intersection
A steep incline
A sharp bend
A much taller building next door.
A very ugly building next door
A cemetery, police station, hospital, funeral parlour, airport, train line, high tension power lines nearby. A straight path to the front door.
The front door aligned to the back door with a narrow hallway in between.
The bathroom facing the front door.
A bedroom over the garage
A wall facing the front door.
Stairs close to and opposite the front door.
What to look for
How you feel as you walk around the house?
A good open space at the main entrance.
A curved pathway to the front door
An open centre of the house
A good backing for the house ( a solid fence or house behind)
An amount of natural sunlight
An easy movement of energy around
July
2007
Beam Me Up
Overhanging beams in buildings create a downard pressure on occupants and can have a few different kind of effects. The lower the beam the greater the effect.
In the bedroom if a beam is over the bed it pushes down on the person or persons lying in it. Depending on what part of the body it is pushing down on, for example the abdomen, sickness can develop there. If it runs the length of the bed it can cause a separation between the couple leading to relationship problems. If a beam is above an area where you work, say your desk, it can cause pressure on the head, interfering with the crown chakra which can lead to headaches.
A beam also cause problems if it runs the length or breadth of a dining table. It separates the diners into two groups and can affect the way the group interact with each other. Similarly a workspace or activity area with a beam down the middle can separate the group into two when the desired outcome may be for a single group to work well together.
The Remedy
The most effective remedy is to fill in the ceiling. If that cannot be done, paint the beam a very light light pink colour so it takes on the quality of the fire element which can then symbolically burn the wood. If the beam is a dark colour, even painting it a much lighter colour so that it appears to recede is a good idea. Another solution is to place lighting on the beam facing up so that it 'lifts' the beam.
August 2007
The Relationship Thing
This year the South West is favourable for both wealth and relationships. At the same time the SW is traditionally associated every year with relationships of all kinds, including romantic ones. So in 2007 this location is doubly strong. You can tap into these energies if your relationships need some help. Have a look at what is going on in the SW sector of your home. Is it cluttered or in need of a good clean up; perhaps needing a fresh coat of paint.? Tidy it up, throw out stale unwanted things. Renew its feel. Make it look as attractive as you can. Place water outside. It can be a fountain or bird bath or just a bowl of water. On the inside have pictures that represent the kind of relationship you want; passionate, comfortable, friendly, loving or harmonious.
If you are single and hoping for love, use the SW corner of the bedroom to place a symbol of relationships, either a photo, painting, objects in pairs or a fresh vase of flowers. Remove any images of singleness. Buy new sheets and make sure one side of the bed is not up against the wall. This symbolically sends a message that a new love is not welcome.
September 2007
The Family Room
Many homes now have a family room where the family members come together for all sorts of activities. To encourage a sense of warmth and welcome, the room must reflect two main qualities in its decor: firstly, a yang nature to encourage activity and, secondly, well placed decor to encourage a sense of gathering.
To achieve these, the room should be well lit, with natural light, fresh air, bright colours and eye- catching art work that has a significance for the family. Aim for a relaxed warm look and feel. Soft materials and rounded shapes create warmth. Keep all shelves neat and well arranged. Group decorative objects together in a meaningful way to symbolise togetherness and make sure that they are in proportion to the room. Very large objects in a small room can clutter it and create stagnant energy. Lots of very small objects will make the room too yin which means it won't encourage activity and good communication. Make sure the couch and chairs are positioned in front of solid walls with a full view of the doors. This will give the occupants a sense of security and provide the relaxed feel the family room needs.
October 2007
The Office
The way an office looks sends a message about you and your attitude to your work. The layout and design of an office matters more than you may think as well. It plays a significant role in how successful you are in your work.
Here's a few hints to help you encourage as much success and satisfaction as possible into your working environment.
