In traditional Chinese Feng Shui, Metal Element is the most commonly used remedy for the negative Earth energies.
Copper, silver, gold and bronze are a few variations of Metal Element. Metal Element can also be represented by color white, silver, grey or gold.
It is necessary to point out that wind chimes are rarely used in traditional Chinese Feng Shui. Wind chimes are very strong metal element. When they are misused, they can create health issues.
Holistic living means taking care of your entire self; mind, body, emotions and soul. It's having the awareness that each of these areas connect and influence one another.
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You are living holistically by practicing mindfulness, fueling your body with clean food, routinely mediating...but at the same time, are you aware of the connections between yourself and your space that you are living in? Are you aware of the effects it has on your well-being?
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A Feng Shui home connects your mind, your body, your emotions, your soul and your space all together. A Feng Shui home will nourish you and help you live whole.
By examining our home with Feng Shui, we can also find a new way of understanding ourselves. We then might start making changes.
Sometimes it can be large-scale renovations and sometimes it can be as subtle as just clearing clutter, adding plants or rearranging furniture.
No matter how little you do, it will help the energy shift and change of Qi flow.
Feng Shui is not disruptive. Rather, it is an art of living in harmony with our environment and nature.
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Removing natural features is not integral to the ethics of Feng Shui. If the natural features carry too much destructive energy, we would try to avoid or neutralize it instead of trying to compete with it.
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Based on all personal situations, we can work to find realistic solutions in order to create a personalized Feng Shui home that makes you thrive.
Learn to take cues from nature, especially when you are at low point in your life. After all, human beings and nature share similar universal forces and cycles.
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Opposites are constantly interacting with each other - this is the concept of Yin and Yang principle.
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An imbalance of energy can show up in our life in various ways - through stress, illness and recurring challenges etc. The more they show up, the more closely the flow of balance and harmony need to be examined throughout our home. Once the imbalance is remedied, you will thrive again.
In Five Element, Autumn corresponds to Metal. In the Reductive Cycle, Water drains Metal. In our body, Metal corresponds to our lungs, throat, nose and tongue. Our lungs dominate our skin and hair.
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in Autumn, nature reserves. Our body's Qi withholds inward. Our lungs are particularly prone to dryness. When our lungs lose moisture balance, it can result in coughing - Hemoptysis in some extreme cases.
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When our nose loses moisture balance, it can result in bleeding or itchiness. The itchiness can result in excessive fluid secretion. The excessive fluid secretion can result in allergies - symptoms including sneezing or running nose.
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Our lungs dominate our skin and hair. When our lungs lose moisture balance, we may experience excessive hair loss or excessively dry skin.
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What can YOU do? Drink water - the least you can do.
Flying Star provides the map of Qi of each home. It tells us about the kinds of energy that flow in each area. Once we have obtained the Flying Star chart, we can begin to evaluate the usage of space in a home.
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For frequently used rooms, we try to designate them to the areas that have auspicious stars. For example, the dining room, the most favorable stars are the stars of health and prosperity. The worst stars are the stars of illness.
We live in a world of constant change. These changes are eternal. Change is the essence of life. It is the immutable laws of the universe. It may seem complicated but fundamentally is the interaction and the relationship between the two polar energies - Yin and Yang.
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In a harmonious Feng Shui home, you could always find an almost even blend of Yin and Yang energy. It goes without saying that depending on the activities conducted in one specific room, it can be more Yin than Yang and vice versa but overall the Yin and Yang are in good balance.
As our children and teens spend more time on screens because of virtual school, not being able to spend time with friends in person and less physical activities as sports, on top of everything else, we as parents concern about their emotional well-being, especially during this critical time when they are feeling isolated, anxious and depressed.
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How can we help them?
Is our home designed for unity and communications? Is it providing calming energy? Are their rooms feeling balanced? Try to examine their living environment with a Feng Shui eye and make changes as needed. It could potentially help them to sleep better, eat better, communicate better and experience less moodiness issues.
Although the general Feng Shui principles for evaluating a house and an apartment are similar, there are many details that are specific to apartments, for example, the architectural layout of the main entrance of the building, the arrangement of the units, the position of elevators, stairways and landings, the location of parking area and so on.
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Apartments have more limitations to implement Feng Shui remedies than single family homes, therefore, getting a Feng Shui analysis prior to purchasing or renting would be ideal.
A Feng Shui dining room could not only enhance family unity Qi, but also promote success in social activities.
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While your personal tastes and needs are the priority, there is a lot more to consider:
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Shape and material of the table to encourage conversation
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Position of the chairs to assure comfort and ease
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Head of the household gets the Command Position for security and control
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Overhead lighting fixture to balance Yin and Yang
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If and what centerpiece to add to the serenity of the meal
Standing at house entrance looking inside, there are many Sha Qi that need to be avoided. There are so many of them that a lot of times when we managed to avoid one, another one comes up. The most effective solution is to add a foyer.
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The most common internal Sha Qi at a house entrance are:
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The entrance is facing stairs
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The entrance is facing a room door
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The entrance aligns with the back door
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Seeing mirror as soon as the entrance door is opened
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Seeing kitchen at the entrance, especially the cooktop
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Seeing bathroom at the entrance or bathroom next to the entrance
It is not easy to find a house/lot that is "Good for People, Good for Money".
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Between house type "Good for People, Not Good for Money" and "Good for Money, Not Good for People", the former is preferred because when we have health, we could work for money. If we are ill, no money would come.
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There is no fortune-telling or superstition in traditional Chinese Feng Shui, only environmental influences that we could choose either to ignore or take advantage of.
Even in the same community, Feng Shui of each house varies depending on the compass reading of the sitting and facing direction, the relation between the site of building and the configurations of roads, the view and the construction date.
The bigger environment is usually out of our control, and sometimes there is no remedy. What we can do is when we select a house/lot, at least try to avoid road patterns that carry destructive Qi. For example, house inside a noose, house at sharp bend in road, house at dead end of road, house at T junction and so on.
As you are in the process of cleaning out your home, have you come across objects that lower your mood or maybe remind you of a painful experience?
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Objects that we surround ourselves with, unless we use or genuinely love, they would create stagnant Qi in our living environment. As the stagnant Qi is building up every day, it makes it harder to get the life transformations that our heart desires.
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How about starting to let go of whatever objects that do not serve your goal of creating a home that only supports, comforts, heals and inspires you?
The Yin and Yang balance of a room varies depending on the actual usage of the room.
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Lighting can be an inexpensive way to manage the Yin and Yang. Dimmer switches would be a great solution that allows us to determine how much lighting is needed for one particular space at a particular time.
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Exposed lamp cords carry an electrical charge which can be a hazard. They are also a visual Sha Qi that needs to be avoided.
In traditional Chinese Feng Shui, all the people who protect us, help us or make our life easier, are called "Helpful People". They can be friends, doctors, caregivers or even a stranger. We need "Helpful People" throughout our lifetime.
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For example, in a highly competitive workplace, except knowledge, skills and hard work, the "Helpful People" is also an important factor that would directly affect our performance and promotion.
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Through some Feng Shui work at home, we can strengthen, promote and increase the "Helpful People" Qi.
Vehicular traffic brings unpredictable energy and usually too rush of Qi.
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Ideally garages should be isolated from the main house.
The most destructive type of garage is the one that occupies the entire first floor and the entire house is perched on pillars. Such architecture is undesirable because it destabilizes our living environment. After some period of time, the draining energy could result in poor sleep quality or illness.
Has your home decor been updated since you moved in? If not, try to look deeper and find out if your underlying root issue is the fear of change, maybe?
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How about switching your furniture configurations around so you can start to feel the change of Qi flow in your home already? Try to move your bed or your desk first and see what happens.
"Qi" is the core concept in traditional Chinese Feng Shui. The most critical technique of Feng Shui practitioners is to manipulate Qi.
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Our home needs to absorb only the good Qi. It also needs to be able to collect and accumulate the good Qi throughout the house.
If the Qi is being directed in an appropriate way, our family will thrive. As a contrary, if a home is retaining Sha Qi (unfavored Qi), we could expect major issues including accidents, illness, divorce and so on.
Toilet, shower and bathtub in the bathroom are all draining energy, but on the other hand, they allow us to get rid of waste and unwanted Qi that we might have accumulated during the day.
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In traditional Chinese Feng Shui, bathrooms relate to Water Element. Water is a symbolism of money and wealth. It is important to always make sure that there are no consistent leak occurring because it is a metaphor of money loss.
Life Cycle 8 (that we are currently at) starts from Feb 4th, 2004 to Feb 3rd 2024. Below 6 directions are all “Good for People, Good for Money”.
Sitting between 22.5 ~ 37.5 NE Facing between 202.5 ~ 217.5 SW
Sitting between 202.5 ~217.5 SW Facing between 22.5 ~ 37.5 NE
Sitting between 127.5 ~ 142.5 SE Facing between 307.5 ~ 322.5 NW
Sitting between 307.5 ~ 322.5 NW Facing between 127.5 ~ 142.5 SE
Sitting between 142.5 ~ 157.5 SE Facing between 322.5 ~ 337.5 NW
Sitting between 322.5 ~ 337.5 NW Facing between 142.5 ~ 157.5 SE
Children are highly impressionable and susceptible to their environments. They are so sensitive that imbalances of their spaces could only be amplified much more.
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In general, regular or symmetrical shaped rooms make children feel more stable and safe. Square-shaped elements are recommended, especially when they have discipline problems or need a strong sense of order.
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Children are constantly growing and changing, so do their tastes and needs. The furniture and decorative elements should change accordingly.
Small-scale renovations can be used as countermeasures and turn destructive areas favorable.
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Although it does not generate a new Flying Star analysis as the large scale renovations, we are able to incorporate auspicious areas into the living space, avoid destructive areas and move problem-causing elements to more desirable areas.
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Small-scale renovations include changing locations of entrances, moving fireplaces, closing up windows, or repositioning walls.
Do you know that large-scale renovations can be used as countermeasures and alter the permanent house type of your home?
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If the renovations are finished in a different Life Cycle than the home was built initially, it will generate a new Flying Star analysis which can be more favorable.
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We are currently under Life Cycle 8, which is from 2004 to 2023. If you are wanting a change in life and are ready for transformations, there is no better time than now to start working on your home renovation plan.
Gorgeous fireplaces can create fantastic focal points, and they also create a cozy atmosphere. In some cases, we should avoid adding a fireplace to our new home.
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In Feng Shui, Fire element promotes aggression, production and proliferation, therefore we do not recommend for occupants who have been diagnosed with cancer because Fire element supports the cancer cells to grow and mutate much faster.
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Except the actual fire (such as fireplaces and candles), Fire element is also represented by the color red and triangular shapes.
The general appearance of a house can affect its Feng Shui, and consequently the well-being of the occupant(s).
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Houses surrounded by pillars or columns have a tendency to generate financial problems, legal issues or obstacles in business. Houses that appear to be weighed down by a large object have a tendency to have the occupant(s) dominated by other people. Houses that appear to be chopped up have a tendency to promote separations and split-up.
Qi enters and exists through our home entrance.
Good Feng Shui entrance can circulate benevolent Qi and block destructive Qi. As a result, it enhances our well-being.
On the other hand, bad Feng Shui entrance can block the circulation of benevolent Qi, turn it into negative, and let it escape. As a result, we can suffer from illness, bankruptcy or breakup of relationships.
The orientation of the house affects the Qi dispersion with the house.
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With Luopan compass reading, we could determine which of the 24 Directions the house sits. From this, we could accurately determine the "Feng Shui Blueprint" of the house. By overlaying this "Map of Qi" on the floor plan, we can see what remedies might be necessary to bring a space into balance.
In traditional Chinese Feng Shui, we try to avoid a straight path through the house from the front door to the back door.
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Such design does not allow the Qi to accumulate. It almost has a "shotgun effect" of Qi which can be too strong and too destructive.
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A good Feng Shui home has Qi that meanders, not rushes.
In a home, if the main floor is broken into varying levels, the Qi tends to get stagnant at the lower levels. On the other hand, such architectural design also tends to drain the energy from the occupant(s).
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Psychologically, it can be confusing too. In some cases, split levels are deceiving and subconsciously uncomfortable.
Nowadays we are so used to high-paced life. We are running fast to where we want to be. We have no time for our loved ones, our friends, or even ourselves.
The process of implementing Feng Shui into our homes should not be stressful. It actually reminds us to slow down with our life. We would think about our life goals, examine our surroundings, alter the Qi flow and embrace the benevolent energy.
Sunlight, air and water are essential to life. In Feng Shui, they are important to the entire evaluation too.
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In a home, sunlight reveals the "Helpful People" Qi. Do you have people or friends who always generously help you, especially when it is much needed?
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Air reveals the health condition of the occupant(s). Is the Qi stagnant? Is there odor of cigarettes or pets? Are there too many windows that Qi just disperses?
Water reveals the money flow. Is the water circulating? Are the pool and fountain always clean? Is there any pipes clogging or leaking?
Over these years, through learning Feng Shui, I learn to live a conscious life.
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The more I know about Feng Shui, the less mysterious or "magical" Feng Shui appears to me. There is no doubt that the precious accumulated and developed formulas and calculations are the scientific basis of Feng Shui, but at the same time, it also has a lot to do with intuition and common sense.
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It is about being aware our living environment can directly affect us. It is a process of thinking about our decisions rather than making them without thought.
If you were told that you need to position your front door to a certain direction for good Feng Shui, even if it is different than the front of the house, it is not true.
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In traditional Chinese Feng Shui, we try to avoid having the main entrance door constructed at an angle to the rest of the house. The angle creates Sha Qi (unfavoured energy).
A good Feng Shui home complements the architectural design, not breaks it.
Xuan Kong is known as the time and space theories of Feng Shui.
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Through the completed Xuan Kong chart, we could build a house that is "Good for People, Good for Money".
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Since the analysis is based on an exact compass orientation and the planned time of construction, the Qi layout for the house can be one of the 216 possible patterns. We determine and use the pattern of energy based on the lot / land and the primary occupant(s).
A master bedroom with many odd angles may lead to marital and/or health issues. It is the Angle Sha that we always try to avoid.
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Square room is ideal because the four corners allows the Qi to rest. If the room has odd angles, the Qi is directed towards the center or even at you. If you try to imagine the Qi flows as water, how an sharp inward pointing wall could change the flow?
In traditional Chinese Feng Shui, we try to avoid beams. Beams create downward Qi and can be difficult on health and relationships, especially when we place our bed or main seating beneath them.
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If they are unable to be avoided, using a false ceiling or even draped fabric can slow down the Qi. If it does not work, at least try to place yourself between beams or leave a gap beneath them.
If your dream master suite includes a stunning walk-in closet, be aware that the walk-in closet greatly affects the Qi of the entire master bedroom, and consequently affects your sleep as well.
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As a general rule, try to avoid having the opening of the walk-in closet facing the bed, especially the facing side(s) has mirrors on it. Designs like this tend to make you feel uneasy.
The ancient Chinese people humanized the residence, which indicates that if the home is in good balance, it benefits the people.
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"The house takes the topography as its body, water as its blood, land as its skin and flesh, grass and trees as its hair, huts as its clothing, and door as its crown. If it is like this, it is graceful. It is good luck and good fortune."
If our home has stagnant Qi, we could expect little personal growth in life. We could easily either live in the past feeling depressed and sad or live in the future feeling anxious and terrified.
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What creates stagnant Qi in our home?
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Expired food, artificial flowers, leaves-turning-yellow plants, gifts from last Christmas that are still hanging around somewhere...and STUFF.
Having issues with your relationship? Concerned about your health? Or simply need a better night's sleep?
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Our bedroom is our sanctuary. It's our protection from the world, a place for privacy and a place for rejuvenation. It plays a significant role to our love life, health and well-being.
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As a general rule, the bed should be placed in the Command Position to provide the occupant(s) protection and support while they sleep. It needs to be against a solid wall with no openings, have a sturdy headboard and have a view of the door.
We commonly hear clients saying " I am not having enough energy".
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Look around your home. Does it feel alive to you? A bad Feng Shui home can suck your own life force. A good Feng Shui home, on the other hand, is bursting with good Qi, which can be contributed by scent, music, plants, flowers and pets.
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Or, if you prefer, just take an aromatherapy bath!
Corridors with bad Feng Shui can turn positive Qi into negative Qi (Sha Qi). It can also trap destructive Qi inside the house.
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As a general rule, we try to avoid corridors that are long, narrow, dim, with dead ends.
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A long corridor with a door to a room at the end should not be designated as a master suite or a room for the primary occupant(s).
The traditional Chinese Feng Shui is more than furniture positioning, design elements, green living, decluttering and organizing.
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It is a process that needs to be personalized for the individual.
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If a Feng Shui consultation concentrates on only paint colors or tips for organizations, the result would be immediate but superficial. Once the focus is shifted deeper into all areas of individual's life, a real Feng Shui home is being created - a home that inspires, feels balanced and healthy, supports your goals and make you thrive.
According to Flying Star, a eight-eight combination forebodes fame and wealth under life cycle 8 (from 2004 to 2023).
If we situate our study or home office in this eight-eight palace, students will excel in school and any business venture planned and conducted in this room will thrive.
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In general, when it comes to creativity, productivity and career advancement, we need to look at Flying Star chart looking for auspicious combination of the stars in order to designate a room that encourages prosperity and success.
A built structure is influenced by the Qi from the Heaven and the Qi from the Earth.
Before a structure is built, the Qi flows freely over the land. Once a foundation is placed, directional orientation is created, walls and roof are put on, the Qi inside the structure is captured. This captured Qi remains where it is until the structure is torn down.
During the life of this structure, there are influences from Qi that visits each year, however, the nature of the Qi remains fixed.
At all time, a human being is subject to the influence of time, space and climate of the universe.
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High altitude has less air or pressure. Air pressure decreases with altitude. This is a scientific fact. Inside a building structure where we live, the movement of the air is precisely the "air", "current" or "energy" that Chinese geomancy refers to. It is called "Qi". When Qi is directed in a knowledgeable way, it can promote harmony, prosperity, good health and long life.
Good architecture does not equal good Feng Shui. A well-positioned garage is extremely critical when we design a new home.
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Energy brought to the house by cars can affect the health and fortunes of the occupants.
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Cars driving into the garage destabilize energy in the rooms above. Cars driving towards living space in the house create flow of Qi that might be too strong.
Sha Qi is any negative influence. It can be any of the sensory forms of sight, sound, smell, touch or feelings. It is anything that is uncomfortable to our senses. Sha comes in six types. Five related to the senses:
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Sight Sha
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Sound Sha
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Smell Sha
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Touch Sha
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Feeling Sha
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The sixth is the internal feelings we get.
When we examine the internal Feng Shui (of a home), one of the most important work is to reduce the Sha Qi and improve the occupant's comfort.
Sitting and Facing is the easiest concept to explain but the most difficult concept to use. The theory behind it is simple but its application is difficult because there are so many varying architectural styles and designs.
Essentially, it is the Yin and Yang sides of a building. In traditional Chinese Feng Shui, it is described as the Open or Closed side of a building.
It is the entry point for the Qi in the building that determines the nature of the building, not the door or the view.
You might quite often experience your family members' behavior changes after moving to a new residence. Change exists in all walks of life and always will, but at the same time, the magnetic compass direction of your front door entrance can also create an influence on those behaviors.
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If the front door entrance is facing Southwest, there is a tendency that the wife often goes out and shops. If the front door entrance is facing Northwest, there is a tendency that the husband often goes clubbing or travels North. If the front door entrance is facing East or Southeast, there is a tendency that the children often go out spending money.
Instead of installing in a shared environment such as living room, more and more of us tend to have an entire room dedicated to a beautiful home theater.
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There are many considerations involved when it comes to Home Theater Feng Shui. Except room placement, another essential is to avoid "room door behind seating" position.
Depending on the space, budget and styling preferences, we can choose the room layout that works best for us with Feng Shui integrated.
Depending on the orientation and date of construction, every house has a permanent nature: It can be Wang Shan, Wang Shui (Good for People, Good for Money), Double Sitting (Good for People, Not Good for Money), Double Facing (Good for Money, Not Good for People) or Reversed (Not Good for Money, Not Good for People).
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When it is Good for People, it means relationships, health and well-being are good. If it is bad, things can be a struggle. Relationships can be difficult and health can be a problem. When it is Good for Money, it means there will be prosperous income. If it is bad, it can be difficult to hold money and to make money.
Good Qi flow in a home is important. In traditional Chinese Feng Shui, manipulating Qi is one of the most important concept.
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The movement of Qi in a room is affected by the shape of the room, the constructional features (for example, the columns and posts) of the room, the shapes of the objects in the room and the room's openings (for example, the windows and doors).
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Ideally the Qi in a home should flow freely and naturally like a gentle and meandering river.
Plants can increase the vitality of a home. Some varieties can also filter indoor pollutants and remove toxic chemicals from the air.
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Every home can benefit from adding house plants.
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In traditional Chinese Feng Shui, we try to avoid plants with pointed or sharp leaves. Piercing arrows creates Sha Qi, which we try to minimize in any cases. Plants like cactus, is only recommended under certain circumstances. Positioning cactus in a wrong room can cause life events such as "friends stabbing in the back".
Qi can be considered “life energy” or “life force”. It is the energy, current or magnetic fields in nature. It is what makes life possible.
Qi plays an important role in the traditional Chinese Feng Shui. Balancing and manipulating Qi is probably the most important Feng Shui concept.
If Qi flows freely and naturally through your home, you will feel balanced, peaceful and healthy.
One question we have been asked a lot is "When shall I hire a Feng Shui consultant?"
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To me, Feng Shui is a way of life, so my answer is "Anytime".
Below are some examples, just to help you understand better:
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When you constantly feel conflicted.
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When you feel your energy level is low.
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When you feel money is difficult and scarce.
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When your career has stalled.
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When you want to find a girlfriend but it's not happening.
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When you are diagnosed with illness.
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When you want to improve your overall wellbeing.
The Reductive Cycle is the most significant cycle, however, it is seldom mentioned. In Traditional Chinese Feng Shui, it is the cycle we use to restore balance:
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Wood draws from Water.
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Water corrodes Metal.
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Metal is taken from Earth.
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Earth extinguishes Fire.
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Fire burns Wood.
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The Reductive Cycle is a gentle and harmonious way of reducing the preceding element.
The Destructive Cycle is one of the Feng Shui problems that we encounter which needs to be remedied:
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Water extinguishes Fire.
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Fire melts Metal.
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Metal pierces Wood.
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Wood draws from Earth.
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Earth blocks Water.
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The "new age" practices often misuse the Destructive Cycle by using the Water to remedy the Fire. This could easily create eye or heart problems.
The Productive Cycle creates a natural flow that is in balance. This is the ideal cycle:
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Burning Wood produces Fire.
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Fire leaves behind Earth.
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Earth is the source of Metal.
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Metal liquefies into a substance flowing like Water.
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Water helps Wood to thrive.
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This does not mean all the five elements need to be present in a room. Ideally the two or three of the main elements in a particular room should be in Productive Cycle.
The five elements are physical manifestations of the Qi. Not only they represent Qi, they are also used to affect the Qi. In Feng Shui, we use the five elements to create the balance of Qi within a home. The five elements consist of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.
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The relationships of the five elements are predictable and systematic. There are three cycles: The Productive Cycle, The Destructive Cycle and The Reductive Cycle. These cycles are the key to understanding the interaction of Qi.
Feng Shui uses the theories of Yin and Yang, the balancing of the five primary elements (wood, fire, earth, metal and water) combined with the theories of "mutual creation", "mutual destruction" and "mutual reduction" to create a more supportive living environment to increase our overall well-being and to achieve specific life goals.
An excess of wood creates an energy of stubbornness and feeling overwhelmed. An excess of fire creates an energy of aggression and feeling restless. An excess of earth creates an energy of heaviness and feeling serious. An excess of metal creates an energy of self-righteousness and feeling isolated. An excess of water creates an energy of spaciness and feeling overemotional.
When we walk into a good Feng Shui home, it feels like a warm hug. It does not have to be fully decorated by a designer. It just inexplicably feels right.
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When was the last time when you walk through the door and say to yourself "Home! Sweet Home!"? Do you feel happy, relaxed and at ease when you enter? If not, are you ready for a change? Are you ready to make it a place where you love being?
Whether a male or a female, we have both Yin and Yang forces reside in each one of us. This two forces continuously evolving and cycling throughout our life. Although we operate in either force under different life situations at different times, we are able to find out our general personality propensity by looking into the predominant force.
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If your predominant force is Yang (for example, active and energetic), when you feel out of balance, try to bring the opposing energy, which is Yin (for example, soft seating and dim lighting), to your space, and vice versa.
Yin and Yang are the Chinese perspective of balance and continual change. Yin and Yang complement each other. When there is a dominance of one force over another, an imbalance will occur.
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Are you feeling ready for a serious relationship or maybe hoping to get married? Have you been trying very hard in dating but feeling frustrated with the results?
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Examine your home. If you are a male living in a predominantly Yang energy environment, add Yin to complement it, and vice versa. Once a Yin and Yang balance has been created, the transformation will follow.
When, or if, our world of work might return to normal? We do not know yet. One thing is certain though - The pandemic has normalized remote work.
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More and more of us have made the shift to working from home. Have you set up a supportive environment for productivity and prosperity?
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The location, placement of furniture, light, hanging arts and etc, each of these factors contributes to your success. In any case, any home office can benefit from Feng Shui.
Children are highly impressionable and susceptible to their environments. They are so sensitive that imbalances of their spaces could only be amplified much more.
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If you find your children are experiencing restlessness or illnesses, examine the Feng Shui of their rooms.
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Whether we realize it or not, every object we surround our children with carries energy, which sometimes can be destructive.
In Feng Shui, adding certain elements into our surroundings can assist us in creating a supportive environment to achieve our life goals. On the other hand, some elements could slow down our growth or discourage our creativity, intuition and expansion.
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For example, if we surround ourselves with "dead energy" such as dried flowers or artificial plants, not only it creates stagnant Qi, it also enhances superficiality - superficial friendship, superficial love and etc.
When we evaluate the interior Feng Shui of a house, we first look at the floor plan. If the arrangement of rooms and high-traffic areas have good Feng Shui, we could proceed further. Some principles to keep in mind:
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The arrangement of rooms should not be irregular.
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Levels of the house should not overlap.
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There should be no long and narrow corridor.
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Interior doors should not be taller than exterior doors.
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Living room and kitchen should have good natural lighting.
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The front and back door should not be lined up.
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The stairway should not be aligned with the front door.
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The staircase should not be located in the center of the house.
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According to our physical and emotional needs, all Five elements (Wood, Fire, Metal, Water, Earth) should be more or less equally present throughout our home. If you are feeling imbalanced, try to look into your environment for clues.
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For example, if you are surrounded by a large body of water and you already have a tendency to be overemotional, the Water element could potentially enhance the tendency even more.
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The color red represents Fire and Fire can promote production and aggression, therefore red should be avoided for those who have cancer. The Fire element could potentially enhance the production of cancer cells that are already mutating and growing.
Based on the activities that occur there, every room of the house can be divided into a Yin room or a Yang room. Foyer, living room, family room, kitchen, home office, laundry room and garage are Yang rooms. Bedroom, bathroom and basement are Yin rooms.
In traditional Chinese Feng Shui, large, busy, grand and bright are ideal features for Yang rooms. Small, quiet, soft and dim are ideal features for Yin rooms.
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There is no right or wrong in Yin and Yang, rather, there is interaction. As they evolve and cycle, they mutually create a balance. Find the balance. Live healthy.
Sometimes an entire house can be considered too Yin or too Yang.
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If a house is too close or faces a graveyard, built on an old cemetery or burial ground, faces a funeral parlor, or someone died there before, it naturally has a Yin quality. Living in a house that has too much extreme Yin is not healthy.
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If you happen to discover that you are living in a naturally Yin house, add a row of tall bushes or trees to create some sort of separation between the house and the Yin quality building.
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Since the ancient Chinese emperors have always oriented themselves facing south, the direction south is always located at the top of the Chinese geomantic compass. The four protectors - the Green Dragon, White Tiger, Red Raven and Black Tortoise - are associated with the four cardinal directions of the compass. Each direction is associated with a specific element (Wood, Fire, Metal, Water and Earth).
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The Green Dragon is the wood element on the east. The White Tiger is the metal element on the west. The Red Raven is the fire element on the south. The Black Tortoise is the water element on the north. The center of the compass is associated with the element earth.
When the early Chinese emperors built their palaces four thousand years ago, they oriented the seat of government toward the south. It was believed that benevolent energy came from the south.
The emperors sat with their backs to the north (Black Tortoise) and received their ministers facing south (Red Raven). The east (Green Dragon) would be to their left, and the west (White Tiger) would be to their right.
Their shaman advisers planned the layout of the palaces so that the four protectors surrounded the seat of government.
The external environment is an important factor in determining the Feng Shui of a house. To evaluate the external environment, we first check the four protectors: the Green Dragon, White Tiger, Red Raven and Black Tortoise. This four protective features are named after four guardian animals from Chinese mythology.
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The Red Raven is the feature in front of the house. The Black Tortoise is the feature at the back. When we stand having our back facing the front of the house, to our left is the Green Dragon and to our right is the White Tiger.
Clutter creates stagnant Qi. It is a visual Sha Qi that many times smell Sha Qi also tags along. A cluttered environment can easily lead to a sense of feeling overwhelmed, frustrated and unstable. It is hard to concentrate and stay focused when we have clutter around us.
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Benevolent Qi circulates in a clean flow in a home. It moves naturally in a circular, spiral and flowing direction. It is like a gentle, meandering flowing river.
When the benevolent Qi flows freely and naturally through your home, you feel balanced, peaceful and healthy.
We can create a harmonious and balanced home by positioning arts, lighting and furniture as well as by using color in accordance with Feng Shui principles.
The traditional Chinese Feng Shui can enhance any interior design style. It does not have a particular design like Asian, Zen or Organic.
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While Feng Shui can point out the obvious, it could also help understand the invisible energies and make sense of the illogical, such as deep depression, irrational behavior and mysterious illness.
Colors are often a merge of cultural meanings, subject to personal interpretation and taste.
In China, red is the most auspicious color. Chinese brides wear red. Western brides wear white to symbolize purity and virginity. To the Chinese culture, white is the color for funerals.
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In Feng Shui, colors have many associations, for example the Five Elements: We use black and dark blue to represent Water. We use white and silver to represent Metal. We use brown and beige to represent Earth. We use green to represent Wood. We use red to represent Fire. By applying the color, we could work on a specific space and achieve balance.
“The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness.” - Lao Tzu
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Do you feel alone even in a room full of people? Do you feel your energy level is low? Do you feel your career is stalled and money is difficult? Do you want to find a girlfriend/boyfriend but it’s not happening?
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Observing our environment with a Feng Shui eye can help us to achieve balance and harmony. When our awareness is heightened, we will be able to see how the internal and external environments have an enormous impact on our life.
Trees carry beneficial energy.
A house situated near or in the midst of a grove of trees receive positive energy from the plant life. When the trees are on the sitting side of the house, it provides great protection and is considered to have “Mountain” effect.
Make sure there is an appropriate clearing between the trees and the house, otherwise it accumulates too much Yin, and also the trees will compete with the house for energy from the earth.
Feng Shui of the Family Room affects all the members of the family who use this room. Placing family pictures in this room greatly enhances harmonious family Qi.
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In traditional Chinese Feng Shui, we believe “Where there is a figure, there is a spirit”, therefore we try to avoid placing family pictures in bedrooms or behind our back while sitting.
In Feng Shui, there are eight trigrams and five elements. Each direction corresponds to a trigram. Each trigram corresponds to an element. Each element affects certain parts of our body.
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North: trigram Kan, element Water, affects our kidney, intestine, bladder & ears.
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Northeast: trigram Gen, element Earth, affects our spleen & stomach.
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East: trigram Zhen, element Wood, affects our liver, gallbladder, arms, legs, hands & feet.
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Southeast: trigram Xun, element Wood, affects our liver, gallbladder, arms, legs, hands & feet.
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South: trigram Li, element Fire, affects our head, heart and blood.
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Southwest: trigram Kun, element Earth, affects our spleen & stomach.
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West: trigram Dui, element Metal, affects our lung, throat, nose & tongue.
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Northwest: trigram Qian, element Metal, affects our lung, throat, nose & tongue.
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When our family member is experiencing health issues, except getting professional treatment from a doctor, we could also check the Feng Shui of our home, especially the corresponding directions. Feng Shui is not the cure, but it will play a supporting role.
Feng Shui uses the Eight Trigram (Bagua) to signify eight kinds of family members.
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North (Kan) signifies the middle son(s).
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Northeast (Gen) signifies the youngest son.
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East (Zhen) signifies the eldest son.
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Southeast (Xun) signifies the eldest daughter.
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South (Li) signifies the middle daughter(s).
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Southwest (Kun) signifies the mother.
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West (Dui) signifies the youngest daughter.
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Northwest (Qian) signifies the father.
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If a house has one section missing, East for example, it is ominous to the occupant's eldest son. If a young couple move into a house that has both East and Southeast missing, they might find it difficult to have newborn or even get pregnant.
Our home is a reflection of us.
Feng Shui makes us aware of how our environment affects us and provides tools to change our surroundings to achieve specific goals and to increase our overall well-being.
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By using the theories of Yin and Yang, the balancing of the five primary elements (wood, fire, earth, metal and water) combined with the theories of "mutual creation", "mutual destruction" and "mutual reduction", the traditional Chinese Feng Shui redefined geomancy as a scientific art. It is not specific to the Chinese. It is not a religion. Anyone from any religious belief can benefit from Feng Shui.
Kitchens are probably the most challenging room because modern design maybe completely opposite from a Feng Shui approach.
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Modern Kitchens use excessive chrome, aluminum and sheet metal. Feng Shui, however, seeks to create a balance of the Five Elements.
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If the space allows, try not to have the stove (Fire) and the sink (Water) next to each other (it is a metaphor of couple's quarreling and fighting).
A staircase should not face the main entrance.
This creates a rush of Qi and drains the money from the house. It is also a visual Sha Qi when we enter the house.
Adding a large and bushy green plant at the bottom of the stairs can help to slow down the Qi and minimize the money loss Qi.
Qi can be considered “life energy” or “life force”. It is what makes life possible. Qi plays an important role in Feng Shui. It is the energy, current or magnetic fields in nature. Balancing and manipulating Qi is an important Feng Shui concept.
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In our body, Qi serves as the air we breathe. Health practices such as yoga and martial arts are all based on the concept of Qi flow through the body. When the body’s Qi flow is good, blood and oxygen circulate freely, we look and feel healthy.
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Similarly, when Qi is directed in an appropriate way in our living environment, we feel balanced, peaceful and healthy.
Xuan Kong is known as the time and space theories of Feng Shui. Through the completed Xuan Kong chart, we could determine which house type it belongs to and then implement remedies based on the current twenty-year cycle at the time of reading.
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There are five house types.
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House Type A: Wang Shan, Wang Shui (Good for People, Good for Money)
House Type B: Double Sitting (Good for People, Not Good for Money)
House Type C: Double Facing (Good for Money, Not Good for People)
House Type D: Reversed (Not Good for Money, Not Good for People)
House Type E: Locked (People and Money Qi is restricted for a certain time period)
Living in House Type A, it is an ideal house.
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House Type B, C and D, these are the permanent nature of the house and remedies can be implemented accordingly.
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House Type E, this is a house type that can change with twenty-year cycle. All houses have the potential of being locked depending on the twenty-year cycle it was built and the orientation of the house. Living in a locked house, the occupant(s) typically find it difficult for relations to prosper, people to become pregnant and money to be retained.
Prevention is better than cure. If we could find out the house type before purchasing, it could save us from moving into a house that might affect our health, drain our wealth or block our prosperity.
There are always exceptions but as a general rule, the best location of the home office is in the front part of the house and closer to the front door that provides more Yang and vibrant energy. As a result, it enhances the Qi of productivity.
A bed should not be positioned in front of a doorway or a window.
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Use a wall that is off of the door and window but still allows you to see the doorway from your bed.
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To enhance the harmonious husband and wife Qi, avoid photos or arts that has human figures in it.
Destructive energy can be conveyed by certain configurations of roads. When you are looking to buy a new lot or a new house, try to avoid:
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* House/Lot on outside loop of road
* House/Lot at T junction
* House/Lot at Y junction
* House/Lot at dead end of road
* House/Lot inside a noose
* House/Lot at two junctions
* House/Lot at corner & T junction
* House/Lot squeezed by roads on three (or more) sides
* House/Lot at the neck of road entering a cul-de-sac
* House/Lot opposite the entrance to the cul-de-sac
​​There is no 100% good Feng Shui home. Ideal Feng Shui conditions are rare.
Most of the time we have to live with what we have or what we can get. In Feng Shui, we use countermeasures to work with the internal and external environments and turn destructive Qi into benevolent Qi.
When the “New Age” Feng Shui puts focus on the color of the curtains, rugs and pillows, the traditional Chinese Feng Shui, on the other hand, is relatively flexible on the colors. It looks more at the structure, the layout and the flow of Qi.
Feng Shui project for an empty lot has more flexibility than an existing house, but on the other hand, it is more complicated.
First, we evaluate and choose a plot of land that has good Feng Shui given the external environments. Based on the geographic features of the land we find out the best general orientation of the house. Then we use Flying Star (Xuan Kong Method) to generate geomatic charts and find out the best specific orientation of the house. After that we allocate the usage of the space and location of windows and doors. We then choose workable exterior and room colors that match occupants' personal tastes as well. At last, plan the placement of furniture.
