2JmJylZAvBYVaBK4jtnBj4tH1CyJng: 2012

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Water Fountains Keep Chi Flowing

The ancient Chinese practice of Feng Shui involves arranging the environment so that there is proper flow of Chi, vital life energy. Chi (pronounced chee) is the energy ascribed to the atmosphere, the earth, and human beings. It is the life force that pervades human existence. Chi is the positive energy that directs the growth of trees, plants, and humans. It sculpts the mountains, skies, and rivers. Chi is in turn created in nature by the gentle, meandering flow of water, by the contour of a mountain, or by the symmetry and balance of the elements in one's environment. Some believe that Chi is a separate force from the physical world, while others say that Chi is derived from physical matter. Still others purport that matter arises from Chi.

Chi, or Qi, is believed to circulate around the body in a progression. Traditional Chinese Medicine holds that balancing and unblocking Chi in the body is important for healing all diseases. The two fundamental forces of Chi are opposites, like black and white, active and passive, so they need balance to work. Represented visually by the Yin and the Yang, these two forces govern every situation in the universe. The imbalance of these two forces can negatively impact everything in life, from health to wealth. It is imperative that a person seek a congruous relationship with nature, people, the universe and oneself in order to have prosperity and longevity.

Chi can be enhanced in a number of ways: meditation, fostering positive human relationships, and developing a healthy environment (feng shui). One of the concepts of feng shui is that house Chi and human Chi should both flow smoothly. Good Chi flow in a home improves the Chi of the inhabitants.

You don't have to hire a feng shui expert to foster the proper flow of Chi in your home. There are some simple things you can do to begin creating positive Chi in your home. Keep energy flowing by avoiding sharp, straight edges in the design of rooms and the arrangement of furniture. Seek clean, smooth lines and open spaces, and keep your home free of clutter. Consider the relationship between light, color and mood; avoid harsh overhead lighting and dark monotone color schemes.

Proper use of fountains, lights, wind chimes and mirrors will symbolically open up the space. The sound of moving water balances and activates Chi. Moving water gets Chi moving just as stagnant ice melts into flowing water in Springtime. Since moving water both activates and balances Chi, a fountain will have both an energizing and a soothing effect. Balancing Chi with a fountain can increase prosperity in a home or business, as money is associated with flowing water. Many individuals and businesses utilize a fountain to activate the wealth sector of the office or home: the southeast or east corner. The flow of water in the fountain represents the continuous turnover of wealth-producing water. A fountain is also protective; the strength of the water disperses the negative Chi (killing Chi) of a busy road outside or a noisy neighbor. Placed in the southeast, a water fountain will favor communication, creativity and harmonious development. If situated in the east, the fountain will promote career enhancement, vitality, and fulfillment of dreams.

When deciding to purchase a water fountain, pay careful attention to the style, size and color of the fountain and make sure it fits in with your décor. Make sure it states what your goal is, for example, prosperity or longevity. Then you also can make a statement about the intention of the fountain, such as: 'We bring cascading water into this home to promote prosperity and longevity to me and my family.' After choosing where you will place the water fountain, sit near it awhile and concentrate on the smooth flow of chi that is happening to encourage the prosperity and longevity into and outside of your home.

Where Is The Light In My Life? Here's How To Have More Light All Year Round, Even In Wintertime Want To Enjoy A Great Outdoor Living Space? Learn How To Create Balance According To Feng Shui Lucky Feng Shui Gems, Crystals and Minerals for Snake Year 2013-14 Feng Shui and Intelligence

Water Fountains And Their Part In Feng Shui

Water fountains are incredibly popular in feng shui because they bring the energy of water, and water is an ancient feng shui sign of wealth and prosperity. Water has a very strong influence upon the feng shui of its environment and natural water has the strongest impacts of all. The other good reason to use a fountain indoors is that a working fountain will diffuse healthy negative ions in the air.

Water fountains carry the energy of water, one of the many ancient feng shui emblems. You can use feng shui fountains inside your home or out. There are lots of variations including tabletop, floor-standing, wall-mounted and outdoor fountains. When selecting your fountain, choose a high quality fountain that has a nice smooth design that's easy to clean and maintain. Many people choose ceramic or glass for the materials of their fountain but really, any material is okay so long as the water sounds and feeling of water is integrated.

Water is a Yin element. Water can be Yang at times and is one of the most damaging forces in nature under certain situations but its basic nature is more Yin or passive. Water moves naturally around obstacles so water yields and moves around and overcomes hurdles with ease. Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese art of placement. The practice requires the careful arrangement of things in a space to represent elements and create a proper balance and flow of energy. Fountains are a good way to employ the practice while providing visual benefit to any kind of space.

Water fountains are frequently seen both indoors and outdoors. People who have a garden generally like to have a water fountain as a centerpiece. Indoor fountains are also popular, especially since they are said to help balance the negative and positive ions. Different materials are used to make fountains, like ceramic, metal and bamboo. A feng shui water fountain will come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Selecting the right water fountain for your house will mainly depend on your personal preference. Round is said to be the better choice as per principles, however you should also choose one that will go well in your house. According to the feng shui element productive and destructive cycles however, the ideal water fountain should be made out of metal. Metal will help water trigger 'qi' since it's the element that produces water.

Water fountains should always have a continuous stream of moving water. The cascading of the water triggers both sound and movement, which makes it one of the most valuable feng shui remedies. Moving water is said to attract wealth and good fortune and is most often used by those people who are seeking to get more wealth. Feng shui effects cannot be accomplished by putting the water fountain any place in the house or office, but by choosing the best place using a Bagua map, the effect can be quickly achieved.

The Feng Shui "Money Bags" Chain Letter

Almost every year I receive a bulk email with a Feng Shui superstition attached to it. Some clients send it to me directly to get my opinion on it and if it is for real. Well, it's not.

It is also annoying and disheartening for me, as a serious practitioner, to see these mindless number games being passed off as Feng Shui edicts, when they are not, and they only perpetuate the tarnished image this natural science has had to endure.

In 2011, there was a calendar being sent through cyber space, showing how a certain month had 5 Saturdays and Sundays in it and how this only happens every 823 years and that people should pass the email around in order to receive a surprise financial wind fall. Back in the 1970's we called this a "chain letter" and if you didn't pass it along, something awful would happen to you. Well, apparently 2011 wasn't so special because there is another recurrence of 5 Saturdays and Sundays this year in 2012 also! Completely lost on the unknowing public is why the Chinese might even have a fascination with things that total the number 5.

The reason some people are intrigued with number games is because there are actually some pretty interesting number combinations which we take note of in legitimate Feng Shui calculations. Originally, various number calculations were codifications for actual energy patterns and cosmological realities. Don't take the number just at face value, in other words. The number might actually represent a moment in time, or space, or sound or light. For example, some calculations resolve to numbers that are significant in astronomy, such as distances between planets. Not only is the math involved impressive, but stunning actually when we realize that these equations were computed thousands of years ago with no telescopes or space technology like what we have today.

If you do a web search just on the term "magic squares" you will find that mathematicians and astronomers from every ancient civilization have been trying to unlock the keys to the Universe since Time began, by observing number patterns and their possible connection and relevance to laws of physics. There was also a time in history when astronomers and astrologers could sit down at the same table and share notes. Just the Fibonacci or Solfeggio sequences alone are enough to ponder the perfection and hidden secrets of our world. Ying-Yang Theory as it is presented in the Yi Jing (I Ching) is a sophisticated binary system which can explain continuous patterns in the natural and man-made world as well.

Even the compass is filled with meaning through numbers, such as each of the 360 degrees, each representing 72 years. When we multiply 72 x 360, we arrive at 25,920. In astronomy, a Great Year is roughly 25,920 years. Numbers can often represent either time or space. One needs to be fluid in this understanding, like a person who speaks several languages.

Early Feng Shui masters were scholars. They included men who were well versed in astronomy, mathematics, engineering, geology, geography, map making, and calendar making. Many worked under the scrutiny of the Chinese emperors, with the same weight and responsibility as a cabinet member in our government's administration. Some even advised on military strategy. From some 3,000 years ago and on, the information available in classical Feng Shui was understood to be so powerful, that the emperors often juggled around the teachings and formulas (and numbers) in order to consciously disseminate misinformation.

The goal was two-fold: keep your political or territorial enemies at a disadvantage by dispensing erroneous calculations to them and also keep your own people oppressed and powerless, by tinkering with the accuracy of the information they could receive also.

Side bar: Does anyone, even in current times, trust their government to be really looking out for the individual citizen's best interests and health?

Amongst all Chinese metaphysicians and Taoists, there is a code of ethics which would prevent one from saying that if you don't pass along an email, for God's sake, that something bad or unfortunate will happen to you. This goes against the grain of all authentic spiritual practices. It perpetuates the misconception that Feng Shui is part of the occult, some kind of witch craft.

I'm reminded of one of my favorite lines from the song "I Heard It through the Grapevine." And it goes like this: "People say believe half of what you see/ Son, and none of what you hear." So if you read or hear anything that is supposed to affect all of the people, all of the time, it is probably not true.

The Annual 5-Yellow, World Disasters and the Importance of the Metal Remedy

Metals are very important to humans and their ability to create civilization. It was metals and the ability to make bronze tools and weapons that brought mankind out of the Stone Age. Gold and silver with their beauty and flexibility have always been a valuable medium of exchange and are invaluable for thousands of purposes in industry, technology and manufacturing.

Metal is used a great deal as a Feng Shui remedy in the current time period. It is used primarily to diffuse the strong negative earth energy of the Xuan Kong flying stars 2 and 5 energies, strong for illness and accidents. Neutralizing the 5-Yellow star is one of the main reasons we do annual updates for Feng Shui clients. Each year it is in a different direction.

The essence of the 5-Yellow star is somewhat mysterious. It is the center number representing the earth in the Lo shu or magic square, (the primary mathematic layout we use in Feng Shui consultation). It is considered a magic square because it is an arrangement of 9 numbers in a pattern that shows perfect balance, as all directions add up to the same number of 15. (Einstein proved that everything in the universe is some form of energy--and math is the language of universal energy.) The 5 in the center could relate to the ancient cipher of Saturn, the symbols are almost the same, and Saturn in astrology does rule the things we are concerned about in Feng Shui; the limitations of the earth, foundations, architecture, houses, doors and walls, time, karma, career, reality, harvest, responsibility, work and ambition. Feng Shui encompasses many schools of thought, and there is some astrology in a classic Feng Shui analysis of the potential energy of your home.

The affects of the 5-Yellow star are not just seen in individual homes, but also in the larger global community. Having the 5-Yellow in a critical area in your home doesn't necessarily mean you are going to have an accident, but it does increase the odds. If I could describe its effects, I would say it scrambles the brain somehow making you less alert. In 2011, the 5-Yellow was in the East and we saw more weather catastrophes in the East section of many continents including the following events:

1): Giant Tsunami and Nuclear crisis in Fukushima in East Japan (8.9 earthquake) (20,000 deaths)

2): Severe African drought in East Africa, Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya (30,000+ deaths)

3): FEMA emergency funds run low in 2011 with the following weather disasters:

a): Hurricane Irene (5.9 earthquake) in East US, the Atlantic coast (a record $7 billion in damages)

b): Record tornadoes in East/ Southeast US in the Ohio valley, Tennessee, Virginia, Alabama, Mississippi and N. Carolina (over $10 billion in damages)

4): Rare October snowstorm in East/ Northeast US ($3 billion in damage)

5): Record rain and floods hit Australia's East/ Northeast coast and Queensland in 2011 ($30 billion in damages)

6): Deadliest natural disaster, torrential rains in Rio De Janeiro, East/Southeast Brazil (1.2 billion in damages, 13,000 homeless)

7): Typhoon Muifa batters China's East coast (600,000 people evacuated).

This is not to say that there are not problems in other areas of the world, but it seems like the most destructive influences coincide with the location of the annual 5-Yellow star.

In our homes, the 5-Yellow direction can be diffused of its intensity by applying heavy metal remedies (generally over 50 lbs. of metal). I could theorize that the 5-Yellow phenomenon is magnetic in nature--something we have yet to completely understand--and metal can diffuse its action much like having metal in your body diffusing an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Image). The energy represented by the 5 is not always bad, and can be quite good in some circumstances, as all energy potentials have a positive and negative aspect that needs to be balanced.

Metal remedies can include bronze, gold, silver, iron and steel. They are good heat and electrical conductors. They actually make up over 80% of all the elements in existence--we are virtually surrounded by the stuff, inside and out. Metals are dense, structurally strong and usually shiny as they reflect light waves. They are the only substance sensitive to magnetic fields. A magnetized piece of steel will lift about 12 times its own weight and if you de-magnetize the same piece of steel, it will not even lift a feather. There are many theories that the Earth's core is metal and this is why we have a dipolar magnetic field that we can use in Feng Shui and navigation. Birds are said to be able to migrate because of the iron in their brains helping them to navigate in the right season to the right location. There is iron in every red blood cell nourishing our bodies with oxygen. The metal in our bodies (in addition to water) is the main reason we are sensitive to electrical energy fields. Even the calcium in our bones is technically a metal. It is essential to our way of life. Without metals, we would have no electricity or batteries (which need 2 metals or electricity). We would have no hemoglobin, or oxygen photosynthesis in plants (needs manganese metal from the soil) that create our food supply. Life would be very different indeed!

In Feng Shui practice, metals are very protective and help keep us safe (especially in this time period). They are a strong, versatile and beautiful material. Make sure you have the proper metal required in the Southeast of your home this year as the 5-Yellow has shifted to the Southeast in 2012. A classically trained Feng Shui consultant can advise you of other areas in your home that can also benefit from placing metal to promote your home's natural healing energy. The skillful use of metal is very important in traditional Feng Shui and can boost your life in many positive ways

Attract And Keep Wealth With An Auspiciously Positioned Water Feature - Find Out How

A water feature can be a wonderful focal point in a stylish, peaceful and inspirational outdoor space. Not only can it look wonderful, contribute a sense of calm and well being, but in fact in Feng Shui it is known to attract abundance.

Although Feng Shui on a practitioner level can be complex, the core principles of creating balance in your environment and between the five elements*, can be achieved by following some practical, easy steps.

Two Practical Steps In Attracting Abundance And Creating Balance With A Water Feature - In the case of choosing and placing a water feature outdoors, two of these practical, important steps are:

(1) Finding the optimal location for the water feature. (2) Having an understanding of the difference between yin and yang water, and applying this.

We'll look firstly at this difference.

The Difference Between Yin And Yang Water Yin water is normally dark and deep, and represents the gentle feminine, and it has no movement. It doesn't have plants or animal life residing in it and in feng shui is considered to be a very effective cure for some types of afflictions. An example of yin water would be an urn that contains water but doesn't contain plant or animal life.

Yin water like this can be used to offset what is known as the unlucky #7 star, which is a nasty star which brings loss and burglary. The reason yin water works to offset this is because the #7 star is of the metal element, and water exhausts metal. The reason not to use yang water is because it is too active and lively, which makes it capable of triggering the negative effects of the unlucky #7 star.

However yang water is much more effective in attracting wealth and abundance. Yang water is active and lively, it represents the male aspect. So in creating or choosing a beautiful water feature, known in Feng Shui as a Water Dragon, in order to be confident that it will attract wealth, the water needs to be yang water.

Examples of yang water are swimming pools and features where the water is bubbling and moving. Also once there are plants in the water it is yang. Fish will also make the water yang and are very much used by Feng Shui practitioners.

Finding The Optimal Position For The Water Feature There are a few different spots where a water feature will bring prosperity and subdue certain types of misfortune. The most beneficial spot however, is called the facing palace which is where the front door is located.

The flow of water needs to be flowing towards the door or nearby window when located outside the house, but not in a direct line as such. Also it is important to be aware that a body of water accumulates wealth, whereas a flow of water enhances wealth.

In general the water element is most beneficial in the north, east and south east. This is because of how the water element interacts with the other elements. The south east is most idyllic for wealth, however the facing palace is the most fortuitous spot, in many Feng Shui practitioners' opinions.

Does this mean that you couldn't put the Water Dragon in the south or the west? It doesn't, but it does mean that you would need to be far more careful in planning the positioning, as well as the other elements, items and shapes in the surrounding area.

A quick note so that you are aware is that in the art of feng shui there are a number of schools of thought, and therefore you will find differences of opinions.

An Important Recommendation However going back to the main principle, water accumulates qi (energy), whereas wind will disperse it. So the water feature in the outdoor area will ideally be located in the facing palace position, it will have elements of a body of water as well as a flow of water, contain life and always be kept very clean.

An important recommendation to strengthen this good fortune is to also have an indoor water feature. The basic concept here is that the outdoor Water Dragon is bringing the wealth energy towards the house, which is being captured via the front door or open windows, but in order to keep it in the house, enhance your wealth luck by having an indoor feature. This should never be dug inside, this would be very, very unlucky.

Remember that you will feel the ongoing benefits of this all year round. However you can strengthen your connection and appreciation of the water feature and the outdoor space by being able to spend more time in it, during the winter months.

*Five elements in Feng Shui and also in traditional Chinese medicine are fire, earth, metal, water and wood.

Feng Shui Interprets Qi Flow Between Doors and Windows

Feng Shui theory has some basic qi flow principles regarding the air currents which pass between doors and windows, but many consumers and novices misinterpret these principles. The shortest distance between two points may or may not be a straight line, but when there is an exterior door aligned directly with another exterior door, this can end up being a house where it is harder to save money. The concept is that the qi flow is unimpeded and will pick speed, escaping the structure before sufficiently nurturing it.

Why is that? Mysterious as it may seem, qi (pronounced "chee") can affect our health and our ability to save our monetary gains. A house with two doors directly aligned can be seen as an easy leak of the qi. If it escapes the house too quickly, the occupants can't hang onto it long enough to dwell in the incoming qi and prosper.

Where this principle gets distorted or misinterpreted includes the following: Firstly, we are referring to exterior doors and not the direct alignment of interior doors. If you have two bedroom doors that are aligned directly across the hallway, this is not the same leaking of qi. As well, if one of the exterior doors is not used much, then its direct alignment with another door or window is nearly a moot point. A common example of this is the house where the front door is aligned directly with a set of French doors leading to the backyard. But when the occupants enter through their garage 90% of the time, then this design flaw is not such a big deal.

It is the door-to-door alignment which is the worst case scenario; however, an exterior door aligned directly with a window can be a secondary problem. Even if it is a window which does not open, a window is more porous than a solid wall. The energy goes through walls, so the thicker the wall or the sealed window, the less of a problem this is. The situation with closed doors is that qi can escape through the space around the door frame as it travels along walls.

If a bed is aligned with the bedroom door and a bedroom window, this is not ideal and could contribute to sleep problems, but it is in a different category entirely from the exterior door to window alignment.

Direct door to door or window alignments are not reasons to panic or move out of the house. This is a fairly easy fix and any number of objects can be used to buffer or re-direct the flow of air currents. Live plants and water features can re-direct the qi and they do not even have to be positioned exactly in line with the doors. Hanging lighting fixtures can slow down the path of qi on the upper level of a room and most other furniture, such as couches or chairs can slow down the path of qi on the lower level.

Window treatments, such as shutters and drapes can also help halt the qi (air currents) from escaping through the windows. This is all common sense and it goes without saying that you don't want to install one solution which will cause a different problem. For example, having a standing screen between two exterior doors can be effective, as a faux wall, but should not be used if it is going to make a room look and feel awkward, make the room feel congestive or dark. It is also essential to open windows on a regular basis to bring in fresh air.

Feng Shui - Does the Color of Soil Matter?

Besides the types of mountain and hills, what can you look for when selecting a property in a locality with prosperity and posterity in mind?

You should make close observation on the quality of soil that make up the land in the vicinity of the neighborhood.

In Feng Shui, the natural environment we lived in provides us with life giving energy known as qi. It is the life force that sustains all living things on earth. From the highest peak of the mountain, qi flows along the natural contours of the land and makes it way down the valleys where water is located. It is carried by the wind and gathers at the boundary of water.

When you are looking for a suitable property to make your home, you should observe whether there is any mountain or hill around the area. If there is and it is lush with vegetation, you can tap into the qi that is strong and vitalizing.

But if you would like to know what types of qi is available in the area, you can start by looking at what is below the ground. Qi flows on top and below the ground. Earth is a natural conductor of qi and naturally you can determine the types of qi it carries from observing the soil. The secret is in the color of the soil. To do this, you need to dig about 2 feet into the ground. First, pay attention to the texture of the soil. If it is soft and loamy (with a mixture of clay, sand and some decayed vegetable matter), it indicates positive qi and therefore good quality. Whereas if the soil tends to be rocky and pebbly (with mostly stones), it is not conducive for positive qi to take root.

Secondly, by examining the soil's natural color, we can determine the types of qi it contains. Based on Feng Shui concept, there are five elemental phases of qi namely, wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Each element takes on a color.

The following is a general guide as to what each color means in relation to the soil:-

Green colored soil denotes wood qi and is associated with nobility, benevolence and growth

Red or purple colored soil denotes fire qi and is associated with passion and spirituality

Yellowish colored soil denotes earth qi and is associated with wealth and stability

Pale white colored soil denotes metal qi and is associated with power and authority

Black colored soil denotes water qi and is associated with intelligence and traveling.

For more of such articles, you can visit www.proactive-qi.com which offers free reading of your birth chart based on Chinese Four Pillars of Destiny (Ba Zi).

Self-Seduction Tips to Feng Shui Your Home Office

Feng shui teaches that creating a personal paradise is your goal when you arrange a space.

No room needs that approach more than a home office. As one of the most neglected and most dumped on rooms in the house, it really needs some thoughtful attention and positive energy to make it an appealing place to work.

But, where to start? How exciting are filing cabinets, bookcases, desks and computer equipment?

TIP #1: Start with the wall color. It will set the tone and serve as the foundation for all other enhancements you make. Painting the walls a color is imperative. White walls very quickly become dingy, scarred and dirty. It is also easy to feel anxious and depressed in rooms with white walls because the colors of prints, photographs and paintings on the walls just won't show up. We need color to feel good. It nurtures us with its energy. So paint your home office walls a color. Colors I recommend for home offices are a buttery yellow, sage green, and my new favorite, an earthy turquoise blue. Blues and greens are associated with the wood element. The wood element is associated with growth and expansion and a positive, upward energy. Yellow is an optimistic earth element.

TIP #2: Eliminate any furniture that is broken, ugly or doesn't work well. You want all your furnishings to have good energy. It's likely that you'll be using odds and ends in this room--furniture that isn't needed elsewhere. Just make sure you actually like each piece and that all pieces look good together.

TIP #3: Eliminate fluorescent lighting and be sure you have multiple incandescent light sources. It's a good idea to have some uplighting as well, light that is directed up toward the ceiling. Light is energy. You'll need plenty of energy to face the types of tasks typically done in a home office.

TIP #4: Place the desk in the power position with a solid wall behind it and a full view of the door. From that position your nervous system will relax and you will feel empowered and ready to tackle whatever awaits you on the desk.

TIP #5: Place other furniture around the desk both to accommodate the convenient completion of the tasks to be done at the desk, and to look attractive.

TIP #6: Add plants to bring the outdoors inside. Green is an optimistic color, and live or silk plants can immediately change the feel of a room that has lots of hard edges and electrical equipment. They provide a soft, soothing energy. Make sure they are healthy and have round shapes. Avoid dried plants and those with thorns and pointed shapes. Dried plants have a dead energy, especially when their color fades, and thorns and pointed leaves have negative energies because of their potential to do physical harm.

TIP #7: Add art, photographs, and special mementoes you love, anything that makes your heart sing and that empowers you. For example, I have a photograph of me that was taken with Jack Canfield at a conference years ago. Jack is one of my mentors. He doesn't know it, but I want to do the kind of work he's been so successful doing, and I want to be to share my message with the world like he has. I framed a print of the Chinese letters for "feng shui" since feng shui is a focus of all the work I do. And, when I recently re-decorated my office, I deliberately chose to limit almost all other art on the walls to original art by artists I know.

Invest in making your home office a personal paradise and you'll want to spend more time there.

You'll also be more motivated to treat it with the respect it deserves! Wouldn't it be nice to LOVE your home office. You can! Make it so!

Feng Shui Tips To Spring Clean Your Life

Depending on whether you view the seasons with a western or eastern mindset today signifies either the first day of spring or the mid point of spring. Personally for me it is the middle of spring when the cycle of the seasons start to move towards summer and the first buds appear on the trees showing the promise of the fruit to come. I love all the seasons but if I was to choose one over all the others it would probably be this one, the season when the daylight hours start to get longer, the weather gets gradually warmer and the world as a whole gets greener.

Whether you consider today the first day of spring or the middle of spring no doubt the thoughts of many have turned towards giving the home a thorough spring clean. There is something about spring that makes us want to open our home, letting as much of the new light and warmth enter through our doors and windows as we possibly can. The act of spring cleaning is thought to have originated in Persia when on the first day of spring people "shook the house" to bring good luck for the season ahead. Our reasons for spring cleaning today are more mundane, it is the first opportunity we have after the cold and wet winter to give the house a "good fettle" as my grandma would have said. But like the Persians we can also use this as an opportunity to bring luck and abundance in to our home.

One of the principles of Feng Shui, and one of the easiest ways in which we can attract harmony, balance and good luck to our lives, is to have a home which is clean, well maintained and free of clutter. Which is exactly what we aim to achieve when we give our home a spring clean. By giving our home a spring clean we are automatically helping to refresh and revitalise the positive energy in our home, helping it to flow and circulate more easily. Think about how you feel after you have had a relaxing bath,or spent a few days giving your body a detox. This is how your home feels once you have swept away the cobwebs, polished the floors, repainted the front door and mended the leaky tap that has been driving you mad all winter. It feels better, refreshed and the energy inside is more positive.

If you want to attract more good luck and abundance to your life, and in the process give your home a good spring clean, following the principles below will give you and your home a head start. And you and your home are sure to feel better as a result.

Make sure the entrance way to your home is well maintained and free of clutter. The front door is where positive energy enters and you want nothing to get in the way. Give the door a fresh coat of paint or varnish, strip away any dead plants that are at the front of your property and inside make sure all those winter coats in the hallway are put in a wardrobe.

Walk around your home making a note of anything that does not work as it should. Winter always tends to bring some household problems such as leaking pipes or damaged fences or tiles. Ensure that anything that is not in good repair is mended or replaced as soon as possible.

Clear away the clutter. Move any boxes, papers or anything that you do not use regularly to somewhere safe and out of way. If you have anything that you don't need give it away or sell it. When you are moving items do not store them in a corner of the room, in a little used room or under the bed. Energy needs to circulate throughout the whole of your home and if you block it you may end up having difficulties in the area of your life where the blockage is.

Give everything a polish to make it shine, paying particular attention to any glass or crystals that you have in your home as the surfaces of these can get cloudy. Cleaning and polishing your belongings has the effect of recharging the energy in your home.

Finally once you have spring cleaned your house walk around it with an incense or smudging stick giving thanks for the security and happiness that your home provides. Focus on your hopes and desires for the coming few months and ask your home for it's help and support as you work towards your dreams.

Feng Shui Bedroom Tips - How to Achieve Balance in the Bedroom

Out of all the rooms in the house the one that I get asked the most questions about, the one that seems to cause people the most Feng Shui problems is the bedroom. It is pretty ironic really that this is the room that causes people the most concern because it is the room where we should be at our most relaxed, our most restful and our most secure. The last thing we need when we go to bed at night is to be sitting in bed worrying about the energy in our bedroom, after all it's hardly conducive to a good night's sleep.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised though that the bedroom causes so many problems. One of the fundamental principles of Feng Shui is balance but when you have a room that is used for two activities at either end of the yin yang scale, sleep and sex, then where exactly do you start with the interior decor? Decorating the room in very pale colours is great for sleep but not so good for your love life if you both fall asleep every night before your head hits the pillow and red silk sheets and mirrored wardrobes may do your sex life a world of good but do you both want to be wide awake at 2am every morning?

The truth is that when decorating your bedroom you need to keep the word balance in mind. Above all the bedroom is a place for sleeping, our bodies need sleep to sustain us for the rigours of the day ahead and so the bedroom should primarily be decorated in pale colours and soft fabrics. Pale pinks, creams and light browns are excellent colours for the bedroom as they are not only yin colours but colours that represent love. Use these colours for most of the wall colouring, bedroom furniture, bed linens and floor coverings. They will form a soft backdrop to your bedroom creating a restful sanctuary to which you can retire at the end of the day.

Of course the bedroom is used for more than sleeping and a healthy and happy life is one in which you have an active love life with your partner. To add sparkle to your bedroom add high energy colours as accent colours. Paint a feature wall in red or bright pink, add red, gold or bright pink cushions and throws to the bed, place lamps at either side of the bed with dark red or gold shades. These bright additions are sure to create a special place that you and your partner can both love and enjoy.

Once you have the colour scheme balanced there are some basic principles that you can follow to ensure the energy flows naturally around the bedroom. Make sure the bed is pulled away from the wall as this allows energy to circulate around the whole bed. It also means that both you and your partner feel equal in the bedroom as you can both get in and out of the bed easily. Metal bed frames can disrupt the flow of energy so if your bed frame is made out of metal cover this in fabric and ensure head boards are made out of wood or covered in fabric as this means your head, the most vulnerable part of your body, is protected while you sleep.

Finally we come to the question of mirrors. These are often a necessity in the bedroom, especially if you want to make sure that your appearance is just right before you leave the room. However they do have the effect of speeding the flow of energy around a space and in a bedroom can cause problems with sleeping patterns. The best advice that I can give with mirrors is to have a mirror in the bedroom if you need one, but cover it with voile before you go to sleep at night. This will ensure that energy will flow around your room calmly and peacefully while you sleep, helping you to get the rest that you need to face the world another day.

How To Create A Bagua Map Of Your Home

Creating a Feng Shui Bagua Map of your home can be a little time consuming but is well worth the effort as it enables you to create a guide which you can refer to and follow each time you want to assess, change or support the energy in your home. The Bagua is an important guide that you can use when realigning the energy in your home to bring positive benefit to your life and a little time spent now will provide you with a reference guide that you can use time and time again. In this article I am going to show you the steps you can take to complete a Feng Shui Bagua Map.

There are certain things you will need to complete a Feng Shui Bagua Map of your home. It is useful if you have two different coloured pens, a pencil, a piece of paper a ruler, a protractor and a directional compass. It would also be helpful if your paper was divided in to grids but this is not essential.

Below are the steps you will need to follow to create a Feng Shui Bagua Map of your home:

Step 1. Draw the outline of your house on the piece of paper, making the outline as large as possible so that it almost fills the sheet.

Step 2. In the centre of the piece of paper (outline of your house) draw, using a pencil, a small circle with a radius of about 5cm (2.5 inches).

Step 3. Stand facing the front of your house and use your directional compass to identify north and south. Using a ruler to aid you make small pencil marks on the circumference of your circle to correspond with north and south. Draw a pencil line across the circle to connect these two points.

Step 4. This step is the tricky part. You are going to divide the outline of your home in to the 8 areas of the Bagua. To do this you will need your protractor. Place the protractor so that the base of the protractor is on the north - south line that you have drawn across your circle. Align point north with 0 degree on the protractor. Now taking a pen make marks on the circumference of your circle at 22.5 degrees, 67.5 degrees, 112.5 degrees and 157.5 degrees. Turn the protractor round so that the base line is still on the north - south line but this time 0 degrees is showing at point south. Repeat the steps as above by making marks at 22.5 degrees, 67.5 degrees, 112.5 degrees and 157.5 degrees. You should now have 8 pen marks on the circumference of your circle. Find the centre point of the circle. Placing your ruler on the paper so that it connects one of the marks on the circle with the centre point draw a line in pen. Repeat this for each of the marks. The circle should now be divided in to 8 equal segments (ignore the pencil line). Now in pen again and using your ruler continue each line until it meets the outline of your house. The outline of your house should now be divided in to 8 areas.

Step 5. Label each of the areas with the 8 directions. Using North as the starting point (this is the area which has the north - south line crossing it in the north) work clockwise labelling each area North, North East, East, South East, South, South West, West and North West. Once this is done you can now erase the north - south line as it is no longer needed.

Step 6. Add the five elements on to the Bagua Map. Starting this time in the area in the East and moving clockwise the elements appear in the following order; Wood, Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Metal, Water, Earth.

Step 7. Now taking a different coloured pen, draw the rooms of your house in the outline so that you have a plan of the first floor of your house.

Step 8. Repeat Steps 1 - 7 for any additional floors that you have in your home. Congratulations, you now have a Feng Shui Bagua Map of your home. Now you have the Feng Shui Bagua Map you can use it to assess your home to ensure that the energy flows in harmony in each of the different areas.

Feng Shui: Water-Snake Year 2013-14 Correspondences

People's unique Birth Year Energies can be adjusted to changing Qi energy-patterns via 5 Elements Feng Shui. Improved, health, fortune and prospects may ensue for those complying with Heaven's Law whilst here on Earth, of their own free-will.

In China and the Far East the Snake is considered a 'lucky' Birth Sign. There, family planning frequently takes Year Animals and Elements into account when choices are made.

Water: Snake Year 2013-14 Year Element

Water Correspondences

Water's Wealth connexions are many (e.g. current accounts, currency, floatation, cash-flow and income-streams). Communications (see above) physical and verbal are linked similarly (e.g. stream-of-consciousness accounts, word-flow, gushing compliments etc). Use the South East 'Wealth' Sector of rooms and dwellings for placements, rather than the North (Helpful People) Sector, for maximum effectiveness during this period.

Crystals and Minerals:

River-bed pebbles are useful for display during this period. Agate, Opal (particularly Fire Opals) and Topaz have auspicious links to the Snake Sign. Crystal/mineral boats, water-features, bowls, fish and figurines can activate appropriate sectors of locations.

Backgrounds:

Metal backgrounds (colours, materials etc) will also encourage healthy Qi-flows within dwellings during this period as Metal supports Water in Feng Shui (tanks, taps, pipes and pans confirm this, Metal even melts and flows when heated). As Water supports Wood, materials of this nature can be highlighted in foregrounds similarly.

Colours

Black (Big, Sea/Salt Water); Blue (Small, Fresh/Drinking Water).

Materials:

Mirrors, plastics, glass (plain and coloured), natural crystals, silk.

Motifs, Images and Motifs:

Snakes, Taiji Symbols, water-features, Aquaria, the 'Chan Chu' (3-Legged Toad or Money-Frog) crystal-boats and ships, Fish, Lakes, Rivers, Landscapes (especially Water-Colours).

Designs

Serpentine, waves and wavy patterns (especially in pastel colours) Willow-patterns and coiling, undulating meandering designs are particularly appropriate.

Scenes and Tableux:

Particularly appealing at this time should be Bodhisattva Kuan Shi Yin, Daoist Immortal and Shaolin Temple Patron Deity's images and statues (particularly Aquarian water-bearing ones). Traffic-flow, communication and travel use, Roads, Streets, and Street scenes also represent Water in Feng Shui terms. Photos, replicas and even drawings can be part of these via 5 Elements Feng Shui's 'resemblance' principle.

Overall

Chinese Astrology and Feng Shui consider the influence of Year Animals and Elements in their forecasts and cures. Both play life-long roles (although Elemental influences are still relatively unknown in the West) affecting people and events.

Regarding infants born and nurtured during this period, 5 Elements Feng Shui may help balance and harmonise their initial and later environments. Older Snakes (and others) sharing Water as their Year Element can also benefit from 5 Elements Feng Shui, like individuals of all Birth Year Animals and Elements.

Safety Benefits of Using Wickless Candles

Candles have long been a way to increase the ambiance within a home. Before the invention of electricity, people used candles as primary lighting. Today, candles are more of an aesthetic item, providing scent throughout the house. However, their flame makes them unsafe for households with pets and children. Wickless candles are a safer alternative that many consumers are now using.

A candle that is wickless is really just wax without a wick. It is used with a special warming container that features a light bulb powered by electricity. When power is supplied to the container, the light bulb turns on, heating the wax held in the container tray. Since there is no flame, this product is safer to use than a traditional candle. The electric cord features an on-off switch so users can turn off the light bulb without unplugging the unit. Some warmers plug directly into an outlet and these also feature a power switch.

Wax cubes are sold in bars that last at least 50 to 80 hours. Only one or two wax cubes are added to the warming tray on the container at one time. When the wax is heated by the light bulb, it gets to just above body temperature. Therefore, even if the wax spills while the product is in use, it will not harm or burn the skin. However, to prevent a spill, users should take care not to move warmers containing melted wax. The wax will never evaporate, so there is no chance of it burning or scorching.

When it loses its scent, melted wax can be poured into a disposable container and discarded. If the wax is solid, turning on the warmer for a few minutes softens it so it can be peeled from the warming tray and disposed. After melted wax is removed, the tray can be safely wiped with a rag or paper towel. A new supply of wax can then be added.

The light bulbs used are low wattage, ranging from 15 to 25 watts depending on the size of the warming unit. This means that they will not get as hot as a standard light bulb used in a lamp. Bulbs are either partially or fully contained in the warming units, making burns less likely than with an open flame of a traditional candle.

Since the wax does not have a flame, burning it also does not release lead, soot, or smoke. This is a benefit for users with respiratory issues like asthma and emphysema. People who cannot tolerate smoke should not experience issues with wickless wax. Those with the strongest allergies may want to select lighter scents.

Wickless candles are suitable for indoor use throughout the home. Many styles of warming containers are decorative enough to be displayed on a table or shelf. Prices vary depending on the size of the warmer but in general, are quite reasonable. Wax bars come in a wide variety of scents so consumers are not limited in their fragrance choices.

Feng Shui Tips for Home Interiors in Dragon Year 2012-13

Introduction

Organise your environment according to basic Feng Shui principles and soon positive results appear. High expertise isn't required-just get the basics right, implement some 'tips' and you are underway. Extensively used in both homes and offices world-wide, particularly in China and South East Asia, Feng Shui is increasingly popular in the West because of its inbuilt benefits.

Entrance Halls

Ideal 'Ming Tang' (Bright Hall) appearance means these should be well lit by day and by night and uncluttered to facilitate Qi-flow. Mechanical door-bells have the same energising effect as wind-chimes but before you install these be sure you like their sound!

Water (Year Element 2012-14) supports Wood so wooden wind-chimes with any number of tubes (except four) are ideal to deploy.

Stairways

Doors ideally, should be at right-angles to descending staircases. Otherwise a sudden fall in status or position is likely.

Windows

The 'eyes' of the building, these should be clear and free from cracked glass which has negative connotations in Feng Shui. Should sharp-edged 'poison arrows' face windows, keep these shut and use drawn curtains as a screen.

Ceilings

High well lit ceilings are ideal as low poorly lit ones cause headaches and depressions. Exposed beams and uneven ceilings can have similar effects and one should avoid eating sleeping and sitting beneath these. Suspended ceilings can overcome some of these problems.

Shelves

Avoid sharp-edged shelving with pointed corners (and especially sitting with your back to these) as they can correspond to interior poison arrows. Position shelving as low as possible.

Tables

Avoid sharp-edged square and rectangular dining-tables in favour of round or oval designs. Do not position the dining table directly underneath the upstairs toilet to avoid unfortunate and unhealthy leaks from above.

Mirrors

Be aware of what these reflect into the space concerned (e.g. the toilet pedestal or trash-cans outside). Ideal views (e.g. of water or garden flowers) can come from outside or pictures hung strategically in internal locations. Avoid having mirrors directly facing the bed in the bedroom. Mirrors in the dining room, reflecting food on the table, however, may convey notions of abundance.

Beds

Beds should not be at right-angles next to or face the bed-room door (the Mortuary Position). Ideally there should be a wall at one side for protection. Avoid sleeping with your head underneath a window.

The Kitchen

Neither Washing Machine, Refrigerator nor sink should be immediately adjacent to your cooker (as Fire and Water would be in conflict). Position your cooker separately elsewhere. Store kitchen knives out of sight when these are not in use.

Flowers and Plants in the Home

Whilst fresh flowers on display energise internal environments, dried flowers are dead and desiccated-artificial plastic varieties are preferable as these simulate life. Spiky Cacti are considered sources of Shar Qi in Feng Shui and should be avoided also Japanese Bonsai plants, as the latter represent stunted and retarded growth.

Overall

The above basic recommendations 'Cures' and tips represent basic principles of Feng Shui which are easily applied. Those interested in exploring this field in more depth should go on to consider the 5 Elements or 'Wuxing' implications of internal decor, design and the placement of objects.

How to Feng Shui a Warehouse

There are many types of businesses and any structure with four walls and a ceiling can be assessed with a flying star chart. The Flying Star chart gives us an impression of what kind of magnetic field was established inside the structure, based on when it was built and what direction it is aligned. That magnetic field will have a powerful influence on all those who dwell inside. There is even speculation that inanimate objects, like the inventory, can be affected as well. This holds true for all warehouse spaces.

When evaluating a business which is attached to warehouse space, usually much less emphasis is placed on the warehouse space (aka storage space), compared to the attached offices or sales or retail area. Where human beings work, make sales, conduct business (over the phone, internet or in person) is much more important than where different items are stored in the warehouse. And yet, if there are employees working in a warehouse space, it is also possible and good judgment to have a look at their work space.

In any given built environment, there may be areas which can cause or contribute to accidents and warehouse spaces might be even riskier places to work than a normal office space. Tall shelves, sharp objects and an industrial type of setting could easily aggravate a hazardous potential. As well, if someone is in fact working in a warehouse space, all the more reason to employ as many Feng Shui applications as possible since by definition, the warehouse space is not an ideal area to work in. For example, those working in a warehouse may not be around much natural light or ventilation, unless the business keeps the large roller door open during the day.

A person working in a warehouse may also be exposed to more chemicals, depending on what is stored in the warehouse and what kind of production may also be taking place in the area. For example, I have one client with an organic lotion company. The warehouse used to also be the same location where the lotions were formulated and bottled, as well as stored. His work space included a row of offices with exterior windows. However, another client has a tile company where the tiles are cut and stored in the warehouse section and there is a lot of machinery stationed there.

To the best of our ability, a classically trained practitioner needs to figure out how the business can incorporate some of the natural elements into the built space, but also not allow for any adjustment to get in the way of storage or production. One client of mine has an auto collision repair shop where the very nature of the warehouse must remain rather raw and there were a limited number of sensible areas where the paint room could be placed. Often times, with a warehouse space, the walls need to be used as locations for elemental adjustments and more than one audit required that the business paint a wall red (for fire) or blue (for water). Areas of a warehouse that might need the metal element often have the real element (such as steel) already present in the machinery or steel shelves.

After we have done whatever is possible and practical with the warehouse, the connected offices are still the priority. The entrance into any business can attract or repel business. The location of where key people (sales, marketing) are sitting can also help determine the success of the business. Some staff sit in areas that could undermine good work performance and all this can be addressed within the scope of a traditional Feng Shui evaluation. Data that is gathered includes the age of the building, compass alignment, outside influences, architectural lay-out for best qi flow, current cycles the building is in, birth dates of important personnel and the details of micro-managing each individual office or cubicle space.

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Sponsor Links