WHAT IS FENG SHUI?

Have you heard the words “Feng Shui” while dealing with Real Estate? We once had a client who came to see a property and turned around from the entrance without even looking inside; we had another who loved that property passionately and the next day said no without hesitation after the Feng Shui Master’s inspection; we had yet a client who knocked off a gorgeous tree from the front yard and reconstructed house stairway right after the purchase…...

In Asian cultures, however, even if everything else is perfect - but not the Feng Shui - it customarily comes as no surprise if the clients do not buy.

Feng Shui is an evolved study of both the natural and built environments. Utilizing the elements of nature as well as practical environmental changes, people can improve upon their well-being, relationships, prosperity, and health.

Most of us are unaware that we are being affected daily by these energies (electromagnetic fields) that we do not see or feel, oblivious to the fact that we create everything that is manifesting in our lives. Through the principles of Feng Shui and the awareness of our actions, we can take control of our lives and achieve all of our goals. The science of Feng Shui manifests itself in everything we see and touch every day.

BASIC TIPS FOR FENG SHUI INSPECTION

When acquiring and/or doing interior design in your property, it is helpful to know few basic tips for Feng Shui inspection and improvement.

Main Entrance

• The ideal condition allows for energy or 'chi' to flow in a smooth, meandering, and unbroken path from the front of your home to the back. If the back door or a window is in direct alignment with the front door, place something such as a large plant or decorative screen in an appropriate place between the two. This will help to prevent the 'chi' from passing straight through your home without circulating.

• The area directly outside your front door determines the quality of the 'chi' that enters your home. This space must be kept very clean and orderly.

• Pathways or garden beds that lead up to your front entrance should be meandering or softly curving. A fountain, birdbath, or small pond placed to the left of the door as you exit will help to improve positive 'chi' in this area

• Any large trees that are directly in front of the main entrance should be removed if possible. Hedges that are higher than the door should be trimmed so that the door is not completely hidden from view.

• If the front door is very small, place a mirror opposite or in the vicinity of the doorway to invite more 'chi 'to come in.

• An entryway that is dark or narrow can be improved by the use of lighting, a mirror, a ceiling fan, or crystal.

• It is undesirable to have a set of stairs leading to another level in the proximity of the front door. If possible, a diverter should be installed in this area. If this is not possible, consider placing a decorative screen or large potted plant between the front door and the stairs.

Kitchen

The kitchen is an extremely important room as it is directly connected to the health and prosperity of the household.

• Natural light is vital in the kitchen. If yours tends to be dark and lacking in sunlight, a good solution would be to use balanced spectrum light bulbs. These will also allow you to keep a few plants in the kitchen, which will really improve healthy 'chi'.

• Avoid placing onions and garlic where they are visible, as these items are considered to be in a state of subtle decay. Instead, display fresh fruit in a bowl, as a symbol of health and abundance.

• Avoid placing your refrigerator in the wood area (east or southeast). The refrigerator is made of metal, which in Feng Shui is said to destroy the wood element.

• Use bright, warm accent colors in the kitchen. Yellow and orange, images of flowers and fruit, and light airy fabrics all help to radiate an air of abundant, good living.

• Keep your sink (water element) as far away from your stove (fire element) as possible. If you make any major change to your kitchen, this would be the most important one.

• Never leave your knives out on display. These create 'sha chi'.

Bathroom

• Bathrooms have a profoundly draining effect on healthy 'chi' in the home. For this reason it is important to always keep bathroom doors closed. Also keep toilet lids closed whenever they are not in use. If you have a window in the bathroom, open it daily. Allow sunlight to stream into the room as much as possible.

• Use mirrors in the bathroom to speed up the flow of 'chi', but never place mirrors where they reflect into each other. 'Chi' becomes trapped between them and cannot circulate.

Bedroom

• Use a minimum of red in the bedroom. An abundance of red is too yang and can disturb sound sleep.

• If your bedroom is connected to a bathroom, keep the bathroom door closed at all times. If possible, place a decorative screen between your bed and the bathroom door.

• Open bedroom windows for at least 30 minutes every day to allow fresh air and fresh 'chi' to enter.

• It is considered problematic for the head of the bed to share a wall with the doorway since this is thought to disturb sound sleep and cause disagreements in the relationship. If this is your case, consider placing a screen, or some other diversion, between the bed and the door.

• Beware of placing the bed under overhead beams, bookcases, or shelves. All of these are oppressive and can aggravate problems such as headaches, restlessness, and insomnia

• Never place the head of your bed against a wall with a toilet on the other side. This is considered detrimental to health and must be avoided.

• Never position your bed under a sloping ceiling.

• Arrange bedroom furniture so that the corners of dressers or chairs are not aimed at you while you sleep.

• Never place a mirror opposite, over, or at the side of your bed. Mirrors have a profound effect on the movement of 'chi' and are way too powerful for healthy sleep. It is also said that a mirror near the bed will invite outside interference into the relationship. Strictly speaking, there should be no mirrors in the bedroom at all, but if this can not be avoided, place it in an area where you can't see your reflection in it while lying in bed.

Dining Room

• A round dining table is considered the most auspicious shape, since it allows chi to flow smoothly. A square shape would be the next best choice. When using a square or rectangular table, place a round or octagonally shaped bowl or dish in the center.

• There should be an even number of chairs around the table. The ideal chair style is high backed with armrests, as these are considered to provide protection and support.

• Placing a mirror in the dining room is considered very good Feng Shui.

• Seating positions where the back is to the doorway are the least favorable and should be avoided whenever possible.

Living Room

• Install a drop ceiling to cover ceiling beams if there are any exposed.

• Use healthy, round leafed plants to fill awkward corners. Cacti and other spiky plants are not recommended for indoor use.

FINDING SUCCESS USING FENG SHUI

Every day we go into the world to create and make our way, be it to a job or a business. We enter each day with the attitude of accomplishment and achievement. However, for most people, during the day we meet some sort of obstacles or roadblocks. It could be a customer who changes the scope of the project that we just completed the night before, the bank who needs just one more piece of information to complete the loan we needed the day before or the guy who cut us off in traffic, caused us to run off the road and miss the most important business meeting of our career. We rise to the occasion as each monster rears its ugly head. Each time, we expend just a little bit more of our energy that we had planned to use on another objective. By the end of the day we are usually one, two or even three steps behind where we wanted to be, worn out and ready to retreat to a place where we have peace and serenity.

If everyday was like the one described above and you were not able to rebuild your energy, you would begin to find yourself running on reserves, feeling exhausted like you can never get ahead of the game. Running on reserves can work for a while if you are still in your 20’s, and maybe even your 30’s, but eventually your reserves can be depleted, and you become, as the song goes, "running on empty." The stresses of each day are piled upon the stresses of the day before and the day before that, until you no longer have the patience and tolerance to deal with seemingly insignificant issues as they arise. These stresses also can make us feel less then capable, which makes dealing with situations even more difficult. This level of stress, when not dealt with, can start to impact your performance at work and your ability to nurture and grow interpersonal relationships, leaving you feeling like you are in a rut with no way out.

If your energy levels are at their peak, you have a greater chance of successfully creating new opportunities and dealing with the day-to-day experiences and pressures. You have the ability to clearly see and deal with each issue as it is and not through the filter of stress, frustration and feeling less than you should. This clarity, when added to peak performance, can assist you in achieving whatever you desire. We all have had those rare days when everything came together, when we were in the right place at the right time, when the answers to all of our bosses’ questions were just as clear as could be. But how did that happen? How can we create this on a daily basis?

To achieve this level of clarity and performance you must have an environment away from the demands and chaos of the everyday world, where you can go to rejuvenate, rebuild your energy and find clarity. Many people think that they can find this state of being on a vacation in Hawaii or some place similar. But, usually such a state of being is only temporary. This level of being that you seek must be nurtured on a daily basis in an environment without stress, tension and conflict. A successful environment for nurturing your level of clarity, and performance will be calming, uplifting and healing.

For most, this environment will be your HOME. The balance and harmony in your home comprise critical factors in dealing with these stresses and are important for your success and happiness. When a home feels calming and nurturing, with no distractions, you can quiet the mind and sort out what is important and what is not. You can create new ideas on how to proceed and how to handle obstacles. You can start to see clearly what actions need to be taken. When life is full of complications it is often hard to distinguish the forest from the trees. If you have clarity, you can sort out all of the issues and deal with them one at a time, making clear decisions on each issue instead of complicating each issue with other issues. This type of clarity will also give you the ability to see solutions that you could not see before.

By using Feng Shui when you arrange your home, you are able to create an environment which is not only comfortable physically, but also balanced mentally.