Feng shui (traditional Chinese: 風水; simplified Chinese: 风水; pinyin: fēng shuǐ; pronounced /ˈfəŋˌʃueɪ/ foong-shoy in Chinese Mandarin, "fheng-schway" in American English) is an ancient Chinese system of aesthetics believed to utilize the Laws of both heaven (astronomy) and Earth (geography) to help one improve life by receiving positive Qi. The original designation for the discipline is Kan Yu (traditional Chinese: 堪輿; simplified Chinese: 堪舆; pinyin: kānyú; literally: Tao of heaven and earth).

The words feng shui literally translate as "wind-water" in English. This is a cultural shorthand taken from the following passage of the Zhangshu (Book of Burial) by Guo Pu of the Jin Dynasty:

Qi rides the wind and scatters, but is retained when encountering water.

Traditional Feng Shui practice always requires an extremely accurate Chinese compass, or Luo Pan, in order to determine the directions in finding any auspicious sector in a desired location.

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Easy Feng Shui - Relationship Areas - Helpful People and Travel

The Helpful People and Travel area of the bagua is also a relationship area. The Helpful People and Travel area of the bagua (HPT) is located in the front right corner of your home to the right of the main entry and career area. It has no element. The colors for this area are gray and silver. This color is logical because the HPT bagua is between Career area which is Black and the Creativity and Children area which is white. Gray items enhance this area.

Helpful people are the people you rely on for services; doctors, plumbers, mechanics, hair dressers, etc. They are people you need when you need them and people you have to trust. Put the business cards or names of people you rely on for help in a silver container in this area to remind you that you can attract the help you need. Help comes from family, friends and strangers as well so this area is also about letting yourself rely on people and creating the space to allow them to show up for you. You must be able to accept the help when it is offered. It is as important to receive gracefully as it is to give. Receiving is a gift to the giver and it is you valuing your self enough to simply receive and say thank you.

Other enhancements for this area include pictures, statues or symbols of helpful beings. They can be spiritual or practical any one you consider helpful in your life. I have a large poster of Albert Einstein in my Helpful people area as well as books by my favorite metaphysical authors and a deck of angel cards. I consider all of them helpful beings in my life. I also have a silver angel wind chime hanging in there. This represents a helpful being, the color silver and moves chi.

Symbols and pictures of favorite places or places you want to go are enhancements to this area. A vision board for travel is great in this area. Be sure to load it with affirmations of happy travel. See my previous article on vision boards for more information.

Keep your Helpful People Area free of clutter. You don't want to impede the help that is on its way. Keep it clean and dusted because that is simply respectful to your Helpful People as well as to your intention. Drains need attention anywhere in your home but pay special attention to them here. This area is directly opposite the Prosperity corner so the same things that are harmful there are harmful here. Drains drain away chi so keep your sink stoppers down and put red ribbon or tape around outgoing sink drains and you can put red enamel paint in tub or shower drains. Mirrors keep Chi "up" so use them in this situation. If toilets or trash cans are in this area keep them as clean and fresh as possible.

My next Feng Shui article will deal with the relationship aspect of the Happy Family Area

Namaste'



Autor: Kelly Whetstone

My name is Kelly Whetstone. I am an artist, a Feng Shui practitioner, a faux painter and a Mystic. I teach metaphysics and spirituality. I counsel through http://www.12listen.com. I believe that creating a supportive environment, a personal sanctuary in our homes has a major affect on our lives in the outside world. Home is where we go to rest, restore and revitalize. It is our sacred space, our refuge. By simply having things around us that we love, that make us feel good and that bring us into the present moment we are empowered. Please visit http://www.empoweringstyle.com for a large selection of products to help you create your sanctuary.


Added: December 31, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Easy Feng Shui - Relationship Areas - Happy Family Area

The Happy Family area is about people in your life that feel like family as well as your biological family. Standing in the middle front of your home it is located on the left in the middle between Self Cultivation and Knowledge and the Prosperity corner. The element is wood and the color is green. This area represents safety and security in life, a strong foundation. This is an area that can hold the energetic intention to forgive and be at peace with family and friends.

Family energy and agreements can be some of the most difficult to navigates. When we incarnate we choose our parents and the family we are born into for our soul's evolution. We pick the place where we can learn the most to fulfill our soul's purpose. Sometimes we have wonderful families and sometimes we don't.

The Happy Family area is where we can make an energetic intention to bless, forgive and release past family energy so that we can be empowered. When we forgive someone we do it for ourselves, for our freedom and happiness it has nothing to do with the other person. It is also a prosperity area for day to day money, money to pay the bills which contributes to feeling secure.

Healthy plants are great enhancements in this area. Place photos of family in wooden frames in this area. Use representations of water and the color black. Water feeds wood in the creative cycle.

My dining room is in the Happy Family area. I have an old dining room set with a large buffet. I have a green velvet scarf on the buffet with glass and crystal pieces on it and a mirror behind it. Glass and crystal that reflects light is wonderful for moving chi and is a symbol for water. The shape of water is undulating so light dancing through glass and crystal is perfect for the element of water. I also have a window seat that is full of pictures of family and plants. The whole feeling of this area is light.

Things to avoid in the Happy Family area are metal objects, round objects and the color white. Metal chops wood in the destructive cycle. So if you can't move out some of the above from your family area add the color red or candles or even better, red candles. This represents fire which melts metal.

All of life is the relationship that begins with us as individuals remembering that we are the embodiment of the Divine. When we know that we lack nothing and are worthy of everything we desire we start to value ourselves. Creating a supportive environment through the practice of Feng Shui further affirms that value. If we nurture the relationship we have with ourselves through self love, forgiveness and validation we bring peace to our lives. That peace then extends to those closest to us and radiates out from there to encompass our fellow man and our planet. We are all one and healing begins at home.

Namaste'



Autor: Kelly Whetstone

My name is Kelly Whetstone. I am an artist, a Feng Shui practitioner, a faux painter and a Mystic. I teach metaphysics and spirituality. I counsel through http://www.12listen.com. I believe that creating a supportive environment, a personal sanctuary in our homes has a major affect on our lives in the outside world. Home is where we go to rest, restore and revitalize. It is our sacred space, our refuge. By simply having things around us that we love, that make us feel good and that bring us into the present moment we are empowered. Please visit http://www.empoweringstyle.com for a large selection of products to help you create your sanctuary.


Added: December 30, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

5 Interior Decorating Tips For Feng Shui

Practicing feng shui when it comes to decorating a room has become a popular way to style a room. Feng shui is all about utilizing the space in your home effectively to maintain good chi (energy).

There are certain things that a homeowner must or must not do when it comes to decorating and having the right feng shui in the room. Here are some interior decorating tips if you want your home to maintain its chi.

Include Color in the Room

In feng shui decorating, there are certain colors that you should use if you want to promote good energy in the room. All of the colors stand for different things, such as the color red stands for good luck, which is why most people will include red in their decorating.

Decorate with green if you want a fresh and peaceful look. Use yellow as another good luck color. None of the colors that are used in decorating should be unappealing or distracting to the home owner. If should have nothing but a comfortable feeling to it.

Keep the Room Simple

Feng shui decorating does not involve overly crowded spaces full of stuff. Instead the room should be kept fairly simple with the basic furniture and few accessories. The room should not be cramped as that will only offer negative energy from the room.

Start out with the basics like a piece of furniture and maybe another added piece to begin with. Then add a few items as needed, making sure to not go overboard on the accessories or d�cor items.

Use Natural Materials

Whenever possible use natural materials for the room. Natural materials like bamboo, hemp, and organic fabrics help to keep the negative chi away that can be found with artificial products. If you want to practice feng shui, a great way would be to have a bamboo wood floor or have an organic cotton slipcover over your couch.

Decorate with Plants

If you want your room to have good chi, then you definitely want to decorate with plants. The fact that plants are a living object that helps the environment makes it a wonderful addition to any feng shui room. Use all types of different plants in your home to achieve a unique look in each room. In one room you may have a small potted plant, while in the other you may have a large standing tree in corner of the room. Both of these plants make a great addition to a room.

Decorate and Design According the Bagua

A bagua is an energy map for a room. If you are really serious about feng shui decorating, then you need to follow the bagua specifically according to the shape and size of the room.

A long dining room is not going to have the same energy map as a small kitchen. Use the bagua to determine the life areas so that you can start decorating the different rooms according to the decorating practices.

Feng shui decorating is becoming more and more popular and has since become known more as a decorating style rather than a philosophy. Embrace the feng shui life and read up more about it if you want to get some positive chi in your home.



Autor: Leon Tuberman

Leon Tuberman has been part of the home furnishings and interior decorating business for 4 decades. He is the owner and operator of popular furniture store in California. They have a large inventory of handcrafted American built solid wood furniture for your bedroom, home office and living room. Whether you're looking for a chest for your bedroom or any other type of Amish bedroom furniture then they have everything you need.


Added: December 29, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Sunday, December 27, 2009

A Feng Shui Fountain Means Wealth and Health at Home

Feng Shui is all about the main 5 types of energies and combining them harmoniously with everything that surrounds us. The 5 elements that Feng Shui is dealing with are water, fire, earth, metal and wood. Most people are happy when there is a strong harmony between these 5 elements and the proper placement of various objects in your home or office.

It is said that if you place a Feng Shui fountain in your home, you could be attracting success in your career and wealth into your life by inviting in the right types of energy.

The Bagua map guides the various areas of the room so depending on where the different objects, such as the bed, the water fountain, the table or the TV are placed, they can enhance the quality of your life at home, office or anywhere else that you spend most of your time. Some of the important life regions that are affected by the Chinese art are career, health, prosperity, family, etc.

If you really want to devote some of your time to this ancient art form, be prepared to learn about the elements, the Bagua map and its applications, as well as about combining the elements with the main aspects of life. For example you will learn how the water element integrates in the wealth and career aspects. To bring prosperity in your life you need to have a running source of water around in order to facilitate the flow of many opportunities and wealth into your destiny. This is why it is useful to have a water fountain or an aquarium in your home.

The waterfall also brings about relaxation and gives various health benefits, and it is a great facilitator for meditation. Having running water reduces the negative ions in your room and this is why the fountain is great to have at home when you are reading, relaxing, watching TV, playing a video game or simply chatting with your friends and family.



Autor: Zoltan Zongora

Visit my website at http://www.indoorwallfountain.org/ to learn more about the indoor wall fountain that works so well with the art of Feng Shui.


Added: December 27, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Friday, December 25, 2009

The Harmony Between Feng Shui and Your Water Fountain

Water fountains are very popular and if you know a bit about Feng Shui, you can easily see why. You can even find nowadays the so-called Feng Shui Fountains, which are available for indoors and outdoors. You can find them as freestanding, table top, wall mounted and in many other types of models.

The reason why fountains are so very popular in Feng Shui is because they use the water energy, and water is one of the most ancient symbols that it is working with. The waterfall diffuses negative ions in the air, which helps maintain your health. It also adds humidity to the room.

When you want to buy your Feng Shui fountain, you need to know the best locations to place it. For example putting the fountain in the south area is said to be a big no-no due to the fact that South is commonly connected with fame and reputation and its energy is fire, which strongly clashes with water. The best places for the indoor fountain is either East, Southeast or North. East is all about the family and health, Southeast is about abundance and wealth, and North is dealing with career and job opportunities in life.

Another location where is not advisable to place the water fountain is the bedroom. Water also deal with worry, and bringing worry to the bedroom should be avoided at all costs. You can add your crystals to the waterfall to give you additional beneficial energy.

When you are looking at the various fountains to buy, go for one that has a quiet motor and it is a good quality and brand. Also look for one where that has a design easy to clean. You might want to look for a fountain that diffuses essential natural oils into the air, as this cleanses the air even more. If you like to meditate, having such a fountain in your house is a real godsend.



Autor: Zoltan Zongora

To learn more about the indoor wall fountain visit my website at http://www.indoorwallfountain.org/.


Added: December 25, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Feng Shui Tips For Your Home For Health, Prosperity and Happiness

Ever since Feng Shui entered out lives it helped many of us growth healthier, happier and more spiritual. The art of Feng Shui is here to stay.

Here are some tips to enhance the balance of your home with the help of this ancient art form.

  • The space in front of your main door should be clear and free, so do not have slippers or shoes outside of your door.
  • Avoid having a TV in your bedroom, as this generates negative energy in the room and you will have a restless night ahead.
  • Avoid placing a fridge, washing machine or sink in the kitchen against the stove. Stove is fire and the rest are water. The two elements are mortal enemies even in Feng Shui.
  • When children study, have them sit with their back to a wall. This way they will have the needed support that allows them to study for longer time rather than only 30 minutes at a time.
  • Also your bed should have the wall behind it to ensure good rest. Having a wall behind will give you a deeper sleep so the next morning you will feel refreshed, rested and ready to tackle the day ahead.
  • Each day open your bedroom window for at least 30 minutes for the chi to enter the room. If you don't, next night you will sleep with the stale chi air from the day before and that is not healthy for your sleep.
  • Marble tables in the dinning room are a big no-no. If you feel tired and have a lot of work pressure, try to replace that table with one made of wood.
  • To attract positive energy and anything you want in your life, place a water fountain in the home, avoiding placing it South. Some great directions to place are North, Southeast and East. Do not add the water fountain in the bedroom, as the worry energy will enter you thoughts while sleeping, causing you anxious sleep and possibly nightmares.

These are but some of the many tips that you can use to your benefit if you practice this Chinese ancient art form on a regular basis.



Autor: Zoltan Zongora

If you want to learn more about the indoor wall fountain and its uses with Feng Shui, visit my website at http://www.indoorwallfountain.org/


Added: December 24, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Why is Your Front Door Important in Feng Shui?

In Feng Shui, the front door is considered to be one of the most important areas in your home or place of business. The main entryway is the largest opening that allows the energy of the outer world into your inner sanctuaries. Sending out an invitation to the universe for positive energies to enter begins with applying these simple Feng Shui principles to your front door.

Shui Door Tip #1 - create a clear path into your home or office space. Take a look outside, just beyond your door. Is the path clear of obstacles? Are there any large objects directly in front of your door? Even a large tree can cause problems energetically.

Clear away any restricting influences--anything that would result in making it difficult for positive Chi flow to enter your domain. If energy has trouble coming in, this directly impacts the ability of your dwelling to usher in more wealth and career success. If you have problems with Chi moving in, other cures you perform in other areas of the Bagua will not be as strong.

Shui Door Tip #2 - make sure your front door is strong and sturdy. Solid wooden double doors are perhaps the best choice when it comes to your main entrance. Even though you may only enter and exit through one door, the fact that a double door is present allows more Chi flow in.

Shui Door Tip #3 - make sure no harmful influences are pointing at your front door. Sharp corners from nearby houses, or even sharp angles from a traffic intersection can be negative influences that throw poison arrows at your door.

One remedy is to install a Bagua mirror over your front door, which can act to reflect the negative energy away from your entrance. You may want to investigate the proper use of a Bagua mirror before installing one, as this is a powerful cure. Your front door truly is your 'door to greater opportunity' in Feng Shui. Be sure to keep this area healthy!



Autor: Ling Meng

Ling Meng is a Feng Shui enthusiast, researcher and author. Like to take the Feng Shui door quiz? Live your best Feng Shui life starting today and invest in her comprehensive four piece Feng Shui information package available only from this site! Thanks for reading.


Added: December 23, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Monday, December 21, 2009

The Three Most Important Areas of a Home Or Apartment

In Feng Shui, as in life, certain factors or areas must take priority over others. In Feng Shui, the three most important areas of a home or apartment are:

- the main door
- the kitchen
- the bedroom

If positive energy (chi) collects outside and flows into these spaces, you'll bring money and opportunities into your life. If these areas are affected by a lack of chi or negative chi, any other positive changes you make won't have as much of an impact.

This article explores basic ways you can use Feng Shui for these three areas.

Feng Shui your Front Door

The front door represents the way life comes to us -- our opportunities and possibilities. It represents the yang dimension of experience. It is important to have a good main door and entrance to allow money, wealth and opportunities to come into your space and life. If the chi or life energy is not able to get into your house to circulate freely, it won't matter much what's going on in other areas within the space.

The main door is the chi mouth of the house. Make sure nothing is repelling, expelling or blocking the chi from entering the house. Additionally, make sure no objects that exude Sha chi (killing chi) point to the front door. This may include a corner of a building from across the street, a t-intersection, an item blocking the door or directly in line with the front door. The question to ask yourself regarding these items is, how far is it from your property.

To evaluate your entrance:

- Stand at the front door and look out. Verify that no trees, lampposts, mailboxes, pillars, planters or other items sit in direct line of the door. These items can impact your ability to take advantage of incoming chi and may negatively impact the health of your household.

- Stand outside your front door and look in. This area directly in front of the property is the Bright Hall (Ming Tang). Chi settles here and collects before the residents receive it. Make sure the chi can collect and circulate. Avoid placing anything here that repels, squeezes or blocks the chi from entering the space. You can learn more about how to Feng Shui your entrance here.

Feng Shui your Kitchen

The kitchen - specifically, the stove - represents our source of food and our ability to gain food through our work and careers. The stove has a great deal to do with our public life, our career, the recognition we receive, and our ability to manifest our goals and dreams. As a result, make sure the top of your stove is clean and all of the burners are working correctly. Use your stove regularly, even if just to boil water for tea. And try to use all of the burners rather than just your favorite burner.

If there is poor chi in the kitchen, this could result in career issues, money difficulties and bad health. Take a moment to look at the distance between your stove and sink - if there is a gap of less than two feet between the two, this can create a clash of elements between fire and water.

Feng Shui your Bedroom

We spend one-third of our lives in the bedroom. It's a space to heal, rejuvenate and relax, improving our health and vitally. Our bed is energetically connected to each of us. Sleep is a yin condition -- that the bed shelters, comforts and enables us to truly rest illustrates its great importance.

When evaluating this space look not only at how the Chi is entering the room, but evaluate where your bed is located in relation to the incoming chi and place the bed in a command position.

Your bedroom should be square or rectangular; this represents stability and makes the room suitable for sleeping. Avoid rooms that are round, L-shaped, triangular, or other odd shapes, as they do not allow a balanced flow of chi. Learn more about how to turn your bedroom into a peaceful sanctuary.



Autor: Ken D Lauher

You can find great tips to Feng Shui your entrance here in this article. The author also explains how to place a bed in a command position. This article certainly helps to turn your bedroom into a peaceful sanctuary.


Added: December 21, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Feng Shui Elements - The Battle For Balance

The feng shui elements are one of the main foundations that feng shui is built upon. The five elements dictate how objects and furniture should be distributed and placed precisely around our home to attract the right type of energy we desire. Luck in wealth, love, family, careers, health, fame, children and education can all be achieved through correct use of the feng shui elements in your home, it's a core concept and should be fully understood to benefit from it's efforts. Each element has specific colors and location in your home associated with them and we'll get to those a little later but first, let's break down rights and wrongs of using the elements in your home.

The Productive and Destructive Cycle of Elements

Productive Cycle

The feng shui elements - water, wood, fire, earth and metal - can be arranged in a cycle where each element is used to create the next in the cycle. By using the correct locations, objects and directions, feng shui takes account of the elemental relationships and can use one element to assist or boost the another, bring greater energy for the life area they're placed in.

The productive cycle is as follows:

Water > produces > wood > makes > fire > produces > earth > creates > metal > makes > water and so on.

Example:

Out of all the feng shui elements, water is the strongest representative of your wealth energy, which is located in the southeast area of your home or space. Water related items should feature in your wealth area to energize it and attract more of it. In the productive cycle, metal is the elements that makes water and so metal objects can also be placed in the area to boost the wealth area. Water is the main element and so be sure it isn't overpowered too much by the metal.

Destructive Cycle

In the same way, if a destructive relationship of feng shui elements exists in the same location, this can bring about negative results which will harm your good intentions for the area. Most of the time, people unknowingly already have conflicting elements in the wrong locations which is why their wealth, career or any other area of life is suffering.

The destructive cycle is as follows:

Wood > devours > earth > destroys > water > extinguishes > fire > consumes > metal > demolishes > wood and so on.

Example:

As mentioned above your wealth corners main element is water. Earth destroys water in the destructive cycle shown above and so having any objects related to earth would devastate the positive effects of your water element, therefore your wealth. Things like ceramic pots, pictures of land or globes etc and will need to be removed before good wealth energy can flow freely into your life, unrestricted by the earth element.

Elemental Properties

For your reference, note the following relationships each element has with colors, locations (according to the bagua map) and objects in your home:

Wood - Green shades - East - Paper, Plants, Furniture, Pictures of Wood etc

Water - Blue or Black shades - North - Fountains, Aquariums, Pictures of Water etc

Fire - Red shades - South - Bright lights, Fireplaces, Candles, Pictures of Fire

Metal - Metallic colors, Gold, Silver, White - West - Coins, Jewelry, Wind chimes, Pictures of Metal etc

Earth - Brown shades - Center - Pots, Flowers, Ceramics, Globes, Pictures of Earth etc

Knowledge of the feng shui elements and their cycles help you too utilize the energy you need, and can balance out the destructive energy you don't. Balance is the always the key when using the elements, they can even be used to correct any existing elemental and location problem you have in your home.

Sometimes, structural things like fireplaces can't simply be moved. They'd naturally represent fire and if they're in the wrong location for that particular element, you can use water based objects to destroy the fires negative effects and again, balance out the energy. A firm understanding of the feng shui elements and how they work will be key to help you benefit from all the great things that feng shui can bring you and your family. Wealth, health and happiness can soon be all yours when you combine all of your feng shui knowledge to build a life-time of well being and good fortune!



Autor: Lin Mai

Lin Mai is a feng shui enthusiast and author. Visit Way to Feng Shui to start using feng shui elements to bring you all you desire!


Added: December 19, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Friday, December 18, 2009

Improving Your Relationships

Although fate, or Heaven luck as the Chinese put it, may govern your opportunities for meeting suitable life partners, Feng Shui certainly has a strong influence on how these relationship turn out. When moving in with someone, often the nature of a relationship will change in totally unexpected ways, and not just those associated with learning to live in close proximity with a new person. If you are the person doing the moving, ares of your life, such as career or patronage, might suddenly change for no apparent reason. The answer of course is that the movers Feng Shui environment has changed totally, whilst the partner whose flat or home it was originally will still have the same Feng Shui conditions. If both partners move into a totally new home, then both may be affected.

The practitioners claim that if the partnership Feng Shui is correctly positioned and stimulated then the chances of either partner wishing to embark on an outside relationship is fairly limited. One of the classic stimulators of ch'i is the fish tank or fountain. Some practitioners advise the setting up of such a tank near the main door of the house. However if this is placed on the right-hand side of the main door, looking out, it can increase the sort of ch'i which attracts other women to the husband, a development which will not be conducive to a happy marriage. It is for reasons like this that Feng Shui manipulation can not only solve, but can also create problems. A good Feng Shui adviser should however be able to avoid these pitfalls. The key features are not surprisingly:

-The location and layout of the bedroom
-The relative sleeping positions of the couple
-The Southwest sector of the bedroom-the sector of relationship and marriage
-Your personal Nien Yen direction

If there are children, then the West and East sectors of the house are also important because the behaviour of children often affects a relationship. The East is the sector of family relationship.



Autor: Chris Dimitrova

Find more decorating ideas for your bedroom and home in http://www.fengshuifurniture.net


Added: December 18, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Water in Macro Feng Shui

The emphasis when fengshui is mentioned is the use of objects and interior decoration to harmonize the internal fengshui. There are certainly benefits from the arrangement of the internal space to get the results we want. Simple common sense rules almost always do the job. And there are much published materials out there.

I would say stay away from the superstitious and those which do not fit into common sense and practicality.

Very often, tips are given. Use them but use your head too. Very often, the tips are based on superficial application of known fengshui theory and their uses are questionable. An example is not to have water (like building a swimming pool) near at the south end of your house as south is associated with fire and water therefore becomes a no-no. This is of course simplistic and silly as well.

Back to the subject of water, old texts do mention them. And there being no swimming pools back then, the water they mention are natural bodies of water like lakes, rivers, streams, marshes and sea.

The use of water is also a good study on the application of Greater Gua.

In a case study, a house was built during the 3rd yuan (or cycle of 3) with an orientation of roughly northeast-southwest ( in Chinese the Gen-Wei orientation). Towards its south-west direction sits a body of water, a lake.

During the 8th and 2nd yuan (or cycles of 8 and 2), the bodies of water being favorable saw progress and wealth as well as much other good things. This was despite the fact that the orientation of the property was not so auspicious. Decay then started on the approach of the 3rd cycle and this decadence is attributed to the positioning of the lake in relation to the homes.

The above is an example of the application of the Zhen, Cui and Zhao theory of water fengshui. (meaning True, Stimulate and Draw respectively).

This knowledge can be used when we are selecting properties to buy, to rent or to live in. Instead of just only zooming in to the peculiar orientation of the property we are interested in, it is wise to take a look at the whole picture. Check out the surroundings for their impact on your home is huge certainly much more than the placement of a picture or good luck symbol ever will.

As often mentioned, if there is no sunshine, even the most fertile seed will not grow. Even if you have the best "to mountain to water" or 'DaoSan DaoShui' orientation it means little if the overall fengshui is no good. The picture has to be complete.



Autor: Marcus Lai

Marcus is a keen student of feng shui and blogs regularly on http://www.fengshui-insights.com.


Added: December 15, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Feng Shui Interior Design - Bring on the Relaxation!

There was a time, not many years ago when you would walk into a home and be greeted to a living room whose plain, boring brown couches were straight up against the wall along with a brown chair and boring accessories. The room, though nice and clean, did not invite a warm feeling and you did not feel welcome as you walked into the room. Enter Feng Shui. These two little words were literally a foreign language not long ago, but since it made its debut on the design runway, it has become a household name. Feng Shui interior design is all about the placement of furniture and using the right types of fabrics and colors to make a room flow effortlessly while obtaining the most welcoming and comfortable room that it can be. This is not a type of designer, it is more of a feeling that one gets.

The first order of business when using Feng Shui is to clear the clutter. Having a messy room that is too full of knick knacks, paperwork or unnecessary accessories sets off bad energy and does not make a person feel at ease, which is ultimately what you want to do when you are inviting guests into your home. Once you have cleared the clutter, it is time to rearrange your furniture to produce a more open and inviting floor plan. Positioning your couches at an angle and away from the wall will subconsciously make you and your guests feel welcome and not "up against the proverbial all". Adding different textiles and colors to your couches will also help. Using natural fibers will relax your guests. Adding pops and splashes of color such as bright orange or red will stimulate your mind.

As with all Feng Shui interior design, you must always have a living plant or floral bloom inside of a room. The theory behind that rule is that even when you are not using the room, it is still being "kept alive" by the plant of flower setting off its living energy. That way, when you invite guests into a room you have not used in a while, it will not feel like a "dead room", but rather one that is alive and inviting.



Autor: Matt Murren

Matt writes more about feng shui interior design at http://www.instant-interior-design-ideas.com/


Added: December 13, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Saturday, December 12, 2009

How to Increase Productivity by Rearranging Your Bedroom

There are many things you need to consider when you are planning to use Feng Shui in your bedroom. According to this belief, the bedroom is a very productive place, but its productivity can be hampered in various ways. Here we see some things that you must do and some that you mustn't when you are planning to implement Feng Shui in your bedroom.

The colors on the walls are the first important thing. By all means use warm earth tones. This will create a positive energy and a sense of vibrancy in the bedroom. If you are looking for a partner or love, go for passionate colors like red. Or, use a color that reminds you of human skin. These colors are great to build a very positive human vibe in your bedroom.

The lighting is important too, because the kind of lighting you use will directly influence the energy flowing into the room. Bright lights are definitely recommended, but if you think these are unsuitable for a bedroom then you can go for dimmer adjustments for the lights in your bedroom. Or, you could have some candles in your bedroom. When you need to dim the light, just light those candles up. There is an added advantage here. Perfumes and scents are highly praised in Feng Shui. So, see if you can lay your hands on some perfumed or scented candles of your choice.

The next important thing (though we aren't saying all these in any particular order) is air. The amount of air that flows into your bedroom is directly proportional to the amount of energy that's flowing inside as well. Hence, you have to make sure that there is ample amount of air flowing inside. Keep the bedroom window open as much as you can afford to keep. However, if you keep your windows closed all the time, there will be a musty non-aerated smell in your room, which is highly detrimental to progress.

You have to also look into the placement of the bed. How should you place the bed? Two things are important. Firstly is that your bed should not be in a proper alignment with the door. The second thing is that you must make sure your feet do not point toward the door because in local Chinese culture, this is a harbinger of death. Also, don't keep the bed touching a wall. It should be free to access from both the sides. There must be enough area on both sides of the bed. Place a bed table at either sides of the bed and always approach the bed on the side that you will be sleeping.

If you are looking for love, your bed should have a single mattress that covers it entirely and not two parts for either side of the bed. The positive energy that Feng Shui creates will make loving your partner a delight.

Besides these, there is one other much vital point. You must make sure that you don't keep anything related with work or even anything that's not needed in the bedroom. So, keep your laptops, your mobile phones your iPods, your television sets out of the bedroom and enjoy what these places are really meant for.



Autor: Fiona Slesinger

Fiona Slesinger is the person behind http://www.fengshuibedroomlayout.com and writes extensively about Feng Shui Bedroom Layout.


Added: December 12, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Feng Shui House - Basics Every House Owner Should Know

Making a Feng Shui House is a several thousand year old practice that combines the art and science of living clean. Ancient Chinese cultures believed that everything has energies, positive and negative, bad and good energy, and Chinese Feng Shui was the practice of achieving a balance of those energies. If good Feng-Shui has been around for such a long time, what has brought about the rise in popularity?

One reason it has become so popular is seen each day on the news channels. All the overseas wars, warring against violence and drugs in our country and all the stress that comes from other parts of our lives. People want to find answers to make life easier to deal with. Since their home decor is able to be easily changed, more and more people are trying out Feng Shui design.

How to Feng Shui is not just about changing things in the home for the balance of good and bad energy; it is also a way of life. It is not a myth or a religious fad. Good Feng-Shui keeping a balance and things in harmony. It's actually a science that is well researched that actually shapes your entire being and world so that you can enjoy prosperity and health in each area of your life. Basically, a Feng-Shui guide gives you powerful tools to accomplish those changes.

Since Feng-Shui brings together art and science, these principles are carried through every area of the two subjects from studying the stars to architecture to decorating and design. You'll actually find, the same principles that define science itself also could be applied to the ancient practice of Feng Shui cures as well.

When it comes to science you learn to identify, describe, and take time to observe a problem, and do an experiment to come up with a hypothesis. In Feng-Shui, you must look to find any problems that could disrupt chi using certain tools, like a Ba-Gua and a compass designed for Feng-Shui. After that, make changes like the wall colors, how furniture is arranged and other options that help you to redirect your home's energies for a better balance of energy, or chi.

In the end, Feng Shui House is a way that people can be helped through art and science. Those who have used it, even with reservations, have changed their minds and started promoting Feng Shui House. This happens because Feng Shui design has totally changed their entire life.



Autor: Clark Meyer

Clark Meyer is a Feng Shui enthusiast and is devoted to teaching the best Feng Shui practices to his readers. You can see more of his practical, to-the-point Feng Shui writing on his blog Feng Shui House. To use Feng Shui in your life and benefit your life's 4 major areas - money, health, relationships; sign up for his acclaimed and popular free Feng Shui House newsletter today.


Added: December 10, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Feng Shui and the Color Purple

There is no doubt about it. When it comes to colors of the rainbow and the powers practices of the eastern arts of Feng Shui the color purple itself holds great and greater power and sway than most of the other colors of the full spectrum of light and intrinsic lights. Why is this so?

First and foremost the color purple seem to have great power and powers in serving to help both you, your family as well as the rest of your household to gain recognition overall Thus purple is an excellent color choice to add in the south sector of your home or specifically your living room areas as well as office sectors. Specifically if you are in a "power position", such as the principal of a school, chef in a restaurant or catering operation or manager of a hotel or food services eatery then purple is a most wise color choice and selection.

No doubt about it, purple's strategic importance and power throughout history no doubt has been a factor in this. Leonardo da Vinci insisted that the color purple would enhance and focus the medical effects of pills and medications; purple was a favorite color of Cleopatra Thus add purple as a basic high choice decorating color as well as preferred personal choice when it comes to furniture, wall coverings and paint as well as furniture and decorating accessories. Make it a wise choice for south walls to add extra powers and prestige and as well work to enhance your further chances and ambitions for fame and greatness.

It seems to be no coincidence of good fortune that purple seem to be an excellent enhancement to any children's or even adolescent's "room" or "rooms". Painted on any wall or used in furnishings and accessories, purple thus serves as an "enhancer", enhancing skills, aptitudes and focusing good moral energy and energies even regardless of that person, person's or group's personal Feng Shui, powers, traits, likings and preferences.

The color purple also serves to enhance the "imagination" as well as the appreciation and effect of others in the group or family unit. Purple is a "family "color a wonderful effect. In addition the color seems to any wall or floor covering that it is painted on or chosen for regardless of where and how that wall points to or focuses its energy and energies towards.

In terms of the beneficial effects of the color purple towards health and mental effect benefits - be it on personal self image, self confidence, and ego or just too overall good health and wellness this portion of the rainbow can well be of great help and assistance when painted on an east or eastern wall. Do this and you will certainly notice its full effects on the improvement of overall health and wellness.

Lastly if you wish to inspire creativity and get the creative juices flowing - then paint your west wall with this coloration of the full spectrum of the chroma. Especially if a member of your family, or specifically your children are burgeoning actors or artists in the bud you can count on the vibrancy of the spectrum to fulfill their internal searching's and cravings for solid recognition. You can even finish and polish off the final effects by painting your south facing enclosures and dividers with this specific and most wonderful pigment.

Feng Shui!



Autor: Morris E. Brown

Morris E. Brown Folklorama - Encounter cultures, different people's worlds world without leaving North America - Winnipeg's Folklorama, -Manitoba Canada's cultural celebration, invites you to visit 40-plus pavilions to enjoy dynamic performances, tasty traditional home-cooked meals and vibrant display Quality Inn & Suites Winnipeg extended long stay hotel with theme rooms Located conveniently and centrally on Wpg's & Maniotba main highway arteries - Pembina Highway , nearby Bishop Grandin Blvd St. Vital , by Grant Ave easy access to Winnipeg's route 90 Portage Ave Polo Park St. Boniface StVital Hotel


Added: December 9, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Monday, December 7, 2009

Are Trees Bad Luck?

Feng Shui theories are complex yet the principles behind them are quite simple. The full face of feng shui requires years of learning but there are some basic rules which all can use. As often said if we can make things work in our favor without harm to others, why not? Even if it appears to be something mysterious which we cannot fully comprehend.

I love nature. I love trees. In feng shui, trees often are mentioned. Briefly, trees are a manifestation of nature and like other living things can be said to contain the qualities of yin yang and the five elements (of metal, wood, water, fire and earth). In other words, they contain Qi or life force.

So, are trees bad luck?

Have you heard from some feng shui pundits that trees growing in front of a house carry with it yin energy and thus, is not good for you?

If you do, you are not the first. You see them talking about it on videos and read about them in books, magazines and ezines. How far can they be believed?

I hope those who talk about them know what they are talking about. Some may have just borrowed them from somewhere. Others may have learnt it somewhere. The point is have they put some of their own thoughts into them and figured it out for themselves. Have they put what they hear or learn under the microscope? Some just ad-lipped it from somewhere.

To say whether a tree growing in front of your house is good or bad depends on so many factors like how big, how old, how near, in which direction, how it is orientated, what kind of tree, who are living there, where is the road coming from, when was the house built and some more. Often, "experts" make it look so neat and easy by outright declaring trees lining your front porch as bad luck.

But then there are a few rules we can use. As always, I prefer to look at and apply those 'no-no's as this is very practical and does not need too much study. Often, it is what we do not do rather than do that helps. This is particularly true when so many experts are recommending some form of feng shui remedy or other.

1 Trees too old should not encroach into the space of the house. Like humans, houses have a 'comfort zone' too. The branches and leaves should not overhang the eaves. Roots of most trees grow as far as the spread of the branches so it is a safe bet that if the branches do not overhang, then the roots would not have grown in under the floor. Roots can cause damage and harbor ants which is not what we want.

2 The leaves of the tree or trees should be constantly swept away and dispose of. Superficially, dead leaves are symbolic of decay. From the aspect of energy, they represent the quality of old mother. Before you misunderstand, this is just a label. The essence of feng shui is very much about energy and in application, the old mother is neither good or bad. It is just an aspect in the interplay of forces.
Experienced practitioners with a keen eye can see this interplay but for us, it is better to keep those leaves swept.

3 The tree should not be in the direct line of sight looking out from the front door. This one has some supernatural explanation to it but will not be dealt here. The feng shui label for this is 'sha' which loosely means something that can cause harm.

If you have a tree right smack at your front door, remove it. If the local council does not permit you to do so, consider relocating the front door.

On a related point, what about trees outside your window? The same rule applies. If it is a bedroom window, I have reason to say that a huge solitary tree in a direct line of sight is even more potent.

4 The roots of the tree should not be exposed in that they appear to be creeping and crawling above the surface.

5 Hanging creepers and roots are to be avoided. As was said earlier on, much depends on the nature of the tree but for the benefit of reaping more yang energy, it is better not to have a tree with creepers and hanging roots. Humans thrive on yang for the added boost in perseverance and expression. Having said this, on balance, yang is missing in most of our contemporary environment.

These are just some quick pointers. I only hope that this does not start an anti-tree crusade. I love trees and my house is surrounded by trees.



Autor: Marcus Lai

Marcus blogs on http://www.fengshui-insights.com, http://www.mixedjar.com

A curiosity nut. Spent decades, maybe too much, studying feng shui and related metaphysics. Believes the oriental sciences has lots to offer for good health and well-being. Studied wing chun kungfu and others and reckons them to be great for discipline and confidence. Reiki teacher before it became fashionable. Co-founded Inner Journey magazine covering healing and metaphysics. Published a book on feng shui. Sees travel not as visit of places but soaking in of people and cultures. A Chartered QS by profession. Hopes to make this life purposeful.


Added: December 7, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Is the Wealth in Your Family Literally Going Down the Toilet?

Feng Shui is a popular belief system which concerns the layout of your home. Based on a combination of spiritual and scientific beliefs, it has been around for a very long time and it concerns the way that the layout of your home can affect the way the energy moves into and out of your life. The study of Feng Shui can be absolutely fascinating, and even life changing. For instance, it is believed by practitioners of Feng Shui that one part of your home where your wealth may be literally going down the drain could be your bathroom. I'm going to show you new ways to improve your prosperity and deepen your understanding of this system.

You may or may not have heard of the Feng Shui bagua, which is otherwise known as the map of the space where you live. For instance, and perhaps not surprisingly, the bedroom relates to the marriage and should therefore be positioned in the marriage area of the Feng Shui house. The office belongs in the knowledge, wealth or career area. However, did you know that there is a good place and a bad place for your bathroom to be located if you are hoping to be prosperous? Your bathroom relates to wealth, prosperity, career and cash flow, which is the water element. However, it also is associated with waste and elimination. So therefore, the position of your bathroom is vital to avoid draining Chi away from you before it has a chance to circulate through your home and thus into your life.

In fact, the bathroom has no particular place on the Feng Shui map, so wherever you put it, it will be slightly out of place. Nevertheless, it's probably worth telling you where your bathroom should not be located. Time-tested Feng Shui wisdom advises that you must never put your bathroom next to or above the front door. Bathrooms on the first floor, directly above the kitchen or the front door are also inadvisable. You must not put your bathroom in the centre of your office area, nor under the stairs.

Organize Your Bathroom, the Feng Shui Way

Of course, you don't always have any choice about where your bathroom is located. If this is the case, and you feel that it is in the "wrong" place, there are precautions you can take to keep the wealth in your home. It is worth knowing that faulty plumbing, wherever your bathroom is located, is related to the draining out of energy. Putting a mirror on the back of the bathroom door will help to keep the energy from draining out of the bathroom. Also, keeping the toilet seat down helps and putting a bowl of pebbles on the cistern will enable the earth energy to counteract the draining element of the water and keep the energy in your home.

If you use these principles, you will have taken every precaution to keep wealth in your life - it has to be worth a try.



Autor: Pam Stinson

Pam has been writing articles for blogs and article directories for several years now and specializes in diet, health and fitness, travel, home decorating, frugal living, cooking and pet care. Visit her latest site Cheap Bamboo Flooring, where she also has a recent Bamboo Flooring Review.


Added: December 5, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Friday, December 4, 2009

Feng Shui 101 - Marriage of Art and Science

Many times people hear the phrase "Feng Shui House" and they've never heard it before they think it's some type of Chinese food! They have part of it right. No, it's not a food dish, but it has roots in China. Feng-Shui design is a combination of art and science that comes from China and has been used for years. It is a delicate combination of knowledge from art and science working to balance energy within things around you, so you have good things like fortune and health in life.

When you take apart the word Feng-Shui, wind is the meaning of Feng and water is the meaning of the word Shui. Water and wind are two of nature's elements out of the five elements that are often used in Feng Shui House. The ancient Chinese have always seen water and winds as a sign of good health and a good harvest.

The Taoist environmental view is that energy is in each living thing. Feng Shui House is based on this particular visionary concept. You'll find as you delve deeper into this ancient Chinese concept that yin and yang (passive and active energy forces) are derived from this particular view as well as the elements in nature, and are all used within Feng-Shui home.

The elements in nature used in Feng-Shui involve water, metal, fire, wood, and earth. In nature, they all interact with the others and this includes work areas and your home.

Those who practice Feng Shui House have some tools that they use in order to take a closer look at information about a work space or home. The first tool is called the Feng-Shui Ba-Gua and is a map with an octagonal grid with various symbols from an ancient prophecy. The Ba-Gua or map is one of the best ways to figure out a home's Feng Shui.

Although for some time it wasn't popular, Feng-Shui design is quite popular today in architecture and interior design. In fact, there are different schools of Feng-Shui that sometimes can take many years before you really know everything about Feng Shui House. Of course, you do not have to be an expert in order to make a few positive changes in your life by using the principles of Feng Shui House.



Autor: Clark Meyer

Clark Meyer is a Feng Shui enthusiast and is devoted to teaching the best Feng Shui practices to his readers. You can see more of his practical, to-the-point Feng Shui writing on his blog Feng Shui House. To use Feng Shui in your life and benefit your life's 4 major areas - money, health, relationships; sign up for his acclaimed and popular free Feng Shui House newsletter today.


Added: December 4, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Two Powerful and Practical Outdoor Feng Shui Strategies For Attracting More Wealth and Happiness

Below are two powerful outdoor Feng Shui strategies you can do over the next few days or over the coming weeks and months to attract the flow of wealth and happiness to you and your family. Feng Shui for your surrounding yard and outdoor spaces plays an important role in helping you attract more of what you want in life!

1. Energize your yard and home with solar lighting. Solar lighting, considered to be an important aspect of "the power of green" is a fantastic way to illuminate the pathway to your home, surround your garden or light up any other special outdoor areas. Solar lights are a proven energy saver.

They store up the sun's energy during the day, and then use this power to cast beautiful illuminations at dusk and night time.

When you make a smart and considerate environmental choice such as using solar lights, your actions are rewarded under the law of reciprocity (universal law) that those who practice Feng Shui understand.

In other words, when you treat the world you live in with consideration and kindness, kindness is returned to you in the form of more opportunities and wealth, better self-esteem and a stronger resilience to life's challenges which directly relates to living a healthier and happier life.

Lights that attractively line the way to your front door are beneficial to the flow of healthy Chi into your home or office. If you haven't built a pathway to your door yet, consider installing a gently meandering path highlighted with solar lights, rather than a straight path leading directly to the entrance.

Although solar lights may not shine as brightly as incandescent or fluorescent lights, the savings benefits and the fact that you are attempting to reduce negative impacts to the environment make good reasons to use them. Try to place them in areas where they will receive more sun, rather than under trees or in the shade.

2. Notice how you feel, when it comes to objects or plants in your immediate outdoor surroundings. We are all affected by the influences around us. For example, let's say you "inherited" a few unwanted shrubs in the yard when you purchased your home, and you dread having to trim these back every year, plus they are a pain to mow around and are a haven for mosquitoes.

For whatever reason, these shrubs just don't appeal to you.

Every time you see these shrubs or have to deal with their maintenance, because you don't like them you are experiencing a depletion of energy. The sight of them is affecting you in a negative way, and it is affecting you whether you are consciously aware of it or not!

The Feng Shui answer for your distasteful shrubs is to remove them and plant something that you love...something that makes you feel good every time you see it, smell it or touch it.

Walk outside and take a look around. Are there eyesores that need to be addressed on your property? Is there a cement walk that is old and broken up by tree roots? Having a "broken walk" is not what you want on your property, especially if it is leading to your front door.

A good Feng Shui rule of thumb is to fix anything broken on your property, whether inside or outside.

Take some time to make your energetic assessment. Write down a list of things that you either want to replace, hide from view or fix. Then prioritize your list, and write down a feasible date for completion. Doing this will start the flow of positive energy toward you.

When it comes to Feng Shui outdoors, keep in mind that the objects you encounter in your yard, whether you are completely aware or not, impact your moods and sense of well being for better or worse.

Take these strategies and put them to work for you today!



Autor: Ling Meng

Ling Meng is a Feng Shui enthusiast, practicer and author. For more Outdoor Feng Shui strategies and tips to help you get the most from Feng Shui, sign up for her free 10 part Feng Shui ecourse designed to help you easily live your best life in a beautiful environment of your own creation. Home page for ecourse: http://www.fengshuipearls.com Thank you for reading and taking action in your life by applying the principles in this article!


Added: December 3, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Using Feng Shui to Improve Family Life

One of the most appealing aspects of Feng Shui's potency is the way it can be harnessed to vastly improve family life. By this one refers not only to overall harmony within the family, but also it can be used to correct potentially tragic situations.

Thus, there are special Feng Shui orientations that can be activated:

  • to produce children to childless couples;
  • to increase affections between husband and wife;
  • to reduce areas of friction between members of a family;
  • to entice home a way-ward son or daughter;
  • to entice home a way-ward husband or wife;
  • to bring about a marriage or a birth in the family;
  • to improve the health of any sickly member of the family;
  • to effect reconciliation between quarrelling members of the family;

There are formulas for activating all and each of the "family happiness" situations mentioned. These involve the use of the Lo-Shu numbers and the compass direction orientations. The Lo-Shu numbers that correspond to the Yen Nien (relationship) position and directions are the most effective creating family type "happiness" situations. Thus depending on which member of the family is affected and depending on what aspect of the situation is to be activated, the practitioner can make changes to the sleeping position or to the direction of the stove-mouth. Or changes can be made to room locations of the children who appear to be creating "problems" for the family.

If there are problems relating to the health of any member of the family, then it is the Tien Yi (health) number(s) that should be activated. Tien Yi is conducive to bringing about the return to health of ailing family member. Once again it is the sleeping position or the direction of the stove-mouth that could be altered.

One very difficult problem that afflicts modern day families is the appearance sometimes of a third party from outside who threatens to break up the family. Usually a situation like this would never arise if the Feng Shui of the house had been oriented correctly in the first place, particularly the location of the bedroom and/or the sleeping direction of the husband and wife.

Another common problem facing families pertains to way-ward or disobedient children; or to juveniles who have a hard time taking their schoolwork seriously. Such children often mix with unsuitable peer groups or indulge in other anti-establishment type behaviour. Once again Feng Shui can often "cure" the situation. The recommendation given is such cases are to activate the child's Yen Nien direction (which will bring him/her closer to the family); or to activate his Sheng Qi (success) direction (which will make him mores serious in his work). Often, if the Sheng Qi can be effectively tapped by changing the sleeping and sitting directions, a change can be seen and felt quite speedily.



Autor: Alyn Ooi

Alyn Ooi is a Metaphysic enthusiastic. She has spent more than 10 years in research on how to apply Metaphysics science in self development and has created this website http://www.101selfdevelopment.com to share her research.


Added: December 1, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/