Archive for Feng Shui
How to Arrange Your Furniture in Feng Shui
Posted by: | CommentsWhen arranging sofas and chairs you have the opportunity to place yourself and your family in positions that can help you relax, feel more inspired, or be more active.
The directions below refer to the direction you face when sitting in your chair. However the direction is not the only consideration. If several people use this room, the chairs need to be arranged to bring out a good social atmosphere. Generally, having the chairs facing the centre of the room will help achieve this.
It is good practice to sit so your back is protected by a wall, screen or big plant and to have as much of the room as possible open in front of you.
The easiest way to work out which direction you are facing is to sit holding your compass. Decide which of the following directions suit your needs and arrange your furniture so you can face that direction. If this is not possible choose another direction with similar properties and face that direction.
Facing south
Good for greater passion, being more expressive and feeling social. If you are entertaining friends it will help you to be noticed more. It is also good for new ideas.
Facing south-west
Associated with adding quality to your life, being realistic and practical. It is helpful if you need to come down to earth and is also beneficial for family harmony and deepening relationships.
Facing west
Ideal for romance, pleasure and feeling more content. This is a good direction to sit in at the end of the day if you wish to settle down and is good if you want to be close to someone.
Facing north-west
This is the direction to face if you have responsibilities, and to help you take care of your family’s needs. It is beneficial if you want to make decisions with greater wisdom, be more organized and feel more in control of your life.
Facing north
The most peaceful direction to face. Sitting in this position is helpful if you wish to feel tranquil, quiet and more meditative.
Facing north-east
Beneficial for motivation, a clearer sense of direction, and to become more competitive. Try this if you feel you need a new direction in life.
Facing east
Advantageous if you want to become more active, ambitious and busy. It is the ideal direction to sit if you have good ideas but are having trouble putting them into practice.
Facing south-east
This can help lead to harmonious progress in life. It is favourable for creativity and communication – a good direction if you want to have a long talk with someone.
How to Position Artworks in Your Living Room in Feng Shui
Posted by: | CommentsYou can adjust the atmosphere of your living room by using artworks drawings, paintings, prints and photographs. The imagery of the artwork will help you feel different each time you see it. This in itself can change your chi energy field.
The form or shape of the features in an artwork or the item itself will create a different effect. The list below shows which energy each will accentuate. The colors in the artworks will also help to change the atmosphere. Bright, more yang colors will make the room feel livelier, while artworks with soft colors will help create a calm, more yin mood.
The way artworks affect you is very personal and it is helpful if you keep looking for examples that make you feel good. If you know what sort of atmosphere you want to create in your living room, it will be easier to look in the right direction and find appropriate artworks. The boxed information below gives you some hints on what sort of artworks to use.
Positioning artworks
Using the lists write down the kind of artwork you think would help you most. Visualize in your mind what this could look like and where the artwork will be placed. Determine which direction this is within your room by using a compass. Measure up the available space. Look at which style and form work best in that part of your room.
Make an effort to visit different places to view artworks. Try to find something that will suit your room and match the image of what will make you feel good.
How to Feng Shui Your Eating Rooms
Posted by: | CommentsPlace a compass in the middle of the dining table. If it has metal parts you may need to hold the compass above the table to get an accurate reading. Write each direction on a piece of card and place them on the corresponding parts of your table. Remember it is the direction the person faces that counts, so if you want them to face north you should sit them facing the same direction as the needle of the compass.
FACING SOUTH
Someone facing south will feel more social and expressive. It will often be easier for them to attract attention and be noticed. This is helpful for anyone who is too reserved or cautious socially, but not helpful for someone prone to stress.
FACING SOUTH-WEST
A helpful direction to face when you want to focus on improving the quality of relationships. It helps a person to be practical and down-to-earth during the meal and is considered an ideal position for mothers.
FACING WEST
Absorbing more western energy makes it easier to feel playful and content, so it is a helpful direction for someone who is too serious or dominating during a meal. This direction is particularly harmonious for children.
FACING NORTH-WEST
Someone facing north-west will absorb the energy associated with being organized and behaving with dignity. It can also help a person be more of an authority figure. It is considered ideal for fathers but not good for anyone who tends to be controlling.
FACING NORTH
Sitting facing north is helpful for eating peacefully and feeling relaxed. This is ideal for someone who tends to rush their meals or has a tendency to get irritable or too talkative during dinner.
FACING NORTH-EAST
Facing north-east can help a person become more outgoing. It is useful for someone who is shy or finds it hard to get into the conversations. This would not be helpful for a child that is prone to tantrums.
FACING EAST
An east-facing position brings in more enthusiasm and energy, making it ideal for someone who needs confidence and to feel positive. It is considered ideal for children, unless they become too boisterous.
FACING SOUTH-EAST
Eating facing south-east is helpful if you want to get new ideas and communicate with people. Absorbing more of this energy can make it easier to get on with people and avoid confrontations.
How to Choose Colors for Your Kitchen in Feng Shui
Posted by: | CommentsThe brighter the shade of each color the more yang and dynamic the atmosphere will be. Choose pale or pastel hues when you want to feel more yin and relaxed in your kitchen.
When choosing colors for your kitchen you will need to be clear about the atmosphere you want to create. In most situations it is helpful to use warm, relaxing colors so that you can enjoy your meals.
In addition, certain colors will complement the direction of the kitchen and will help you to create the most harmonious atmosphere. The kitchen contains fire and water chi energy from the cooker and sink respectively and the colors associated with the directional chi energy can be used to balance these elements.
The boxed information on this page provides a list of colors appropriate for use in certain directions in order to create the best balance. You do not need to use any of these colors exclusively but should use them in a way that stands out.
Decorating
In an older home you may need to strip away old wallpaper first. If you need to replace wallpaper use a lining paper and try to avoid vinyl as it can partially block the natural flow of chi energy.
How to Paint the Outer Surfaces on Your Home
Posted by: | CommentsSome outer surfaces on your home, such as rendering, can be painted. This gives you the opportunity to express yourself and influence the chi energy around the house.
Most chi energy enters and leaves your home through the doors and windows; however, a small amount of chi energy can seep in and out through the walls.
The color of the outside of your home will influence other people’s perception of you and can make you feel a little different each time you see your home. A village or town where the houses are painted in bright colors has an uplifting effect and tends to attract attention and visitors.
It is best to choose a color according to which direction your home faces, or a color that will improve the way you feel, or nine ki astrology. You may find that one particular color keeps coming up in the exercises below. If this happens, it would be worthwhile trying that color first. If several different colors come up, you can try painting a small patch of each color on the wall of your home and see which appeals to you most.
Remember, the brighter the shade the more yang and dynamic the atmosphere around it, and the paler the color the more peaceful you will feel.
First impressions count
Stand outside with your back to the front of your home and, using a compass, make a note of the direction it faces.
Walk around the area surrounding your home, making a note of the color of other houses and the general colors that are predominant. Look at your home from a distance and think about the different colors in your mind.
How to Improve the Exterior of Your Home in Feng Shui
Posted by: | CommentsIt is good practice in feng shui to feel good about your home, take pride in its appearance and enjoy coming home.
Improvements to the exterior
Spend some time away from your home and try to empty your mind so that when you return it is as though you are seeing it for the first time. Look at your home with a critical eye and make notes about things you could improve. First look at your home from a distance, pay attention to its color and the condition of the paintwork. Next observe your gate, make a note of its material, general condition and color. Walk through the gate and look at the path to your front door. Check the material of the path and the line it takes. If you have plants, look at their condition and see if they enhance the outward appearance of your home. Inspect your front door, noting its color, the type of fittings and its general condition.
Once you have made your initial survey make a list of things you would like to improve. Include projects you cannot do immediately but keep this list so that you can slowly work through it when you have the time and finances.
This first project should be to tidy up the outside of your home. Make sure the garden looks well kept. Prune back any plants that look overgrown. Renew any peeling or damaged paintwork and wash walls where appropriate.
How to Feng Shui Your Home with Window Treatment
Posted by: | CommentsOne way that energy enters and leaves your home is through your windows. This will affect the way you relate to the outside world. If you want to feel more secluded you will need a heavier window treatment – to be more outgoing use a lighter window dressing.
Metal blinds are too hard for most residential situations. Only consider using them in a north-eastern, south-western, western or north-western bathroom as here they will encourage a more harmonious flow of energy.
Change of window treatment
Choose a room which would benefit from a change of window treatment. Clean the windows and remove any clutter from the window-sill. Focus on the atmosphere in that room over a few days. Pay particular attention to the way light enters the room. Think about what you do in that room and whether the atmosphere is helpful.
First consider whether it would help to make the room more yang and active, or more yin and calm. To make it more active, fit wooden blinds. To make it more comfortable, add curtains. To create a balance, use fabric roller blinds.
The Basics of Increasing Your Wealth with Feng Shui
Posted by: | CommentsThink through ways in which you can increase your income. It is unlikely that feng shui will make money come from nowhere. Do you need to earn more, save more or spend less? If you need to earn more you will need to consider ways of making this happen. For instance, could you get a promotion, ask for an increase in salary or do you need to change your job?
How do you see yourself increasing your long-term wealth? Are you working on something that could bring in a large one-off payment?
When you have a clear idea of how you can become wealthier, build up your self-motivation in order to take advantage of any opportunities that arise with regard to making money. If you have tried before and failed, you will have more experience to draw on next time.
Make a list of characteristics that you could change so as to make it easier to be wealthy. For example, do you need to be more assertive, work harder, have a more ruthless streak, concentrate on profits more, be better at completing projects, save more money or value yourself more.
The Basics of Improving Your Health with Feng Shui
Posted by: | CommentsGood health is made up of many factors including diet, lifestyle, attitude to life and exercise. In addition, your home will have a direct effect, for instance, it is more difficult to remain healthy in a home that is dark, damp or dusty. Generally, a bright, sunny home with plenty of plantsand natural materials will be one in which it is easier to maintain good health.
There are other factors in your home that could adversely affect your health. Mildew, electromagnetic fields (EMF), synthetic materials that release toxic fumes, and materials that carry a charge of static electricity can all compromise your health, according to feng shui theory.
Indirectly, an uplifting atmosphere in your home will encourage you to eat well, remain positive in the face of adversity and be motivated to exercise. A home with a depressing energy will make this harder to achieve.
Make a list of how you feel at home. For example, do you sleep well, feel relaxed and feel generally happy at home? Try to identify aspects of your home that could be contributing to poor health and then look through the projects to see which ones could help.