Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Buying a House? Renovating a Room? Want to Bring in Extra Wealth Luck? Romantic Relationship Luck? Simple Feng Shui Tips & Tools to Create Harmony in your Home


I have been reading about feng shui on and off for several years. What I have discovered is that there is A LOT to know! I also believe everyone has an innate intuition that complies with the rules of feng shui.  For example, if one isn’t getting a good night sleep they instinctively change the position of their bed.  Here are some tips and tools I’ve learned to create balance, harmony, and a more peaceful flow of energy within my home and classrooms.  I’ve also included some of the great resources I use regularly.  If you have any questions or suggestions don’t hesitate to contact me, I love conversing about feng shui!
 
What is Feng Shui?
Feng shui (pronounced fang shway) means ‘wind and water’.  It is the art and science of placing items within your home to optimize the flow of ‘chi’ or energy within your home or office and create harmony.  Where chi is concentrated, plants, animals and people will flourish.  Feng shui can be traced to antiquity. The earliest recorded feng shui goes back at least 3500 years, only being accessible by the Imperial family and China’s ruling class. The basic idea behind feng shui is that there are three kinds of luck; mankind, earth, and heavenly. Placing things strategically within our home allows us to harness the auspicious/positive energy that surrounds us, optimizing our luck.
 
Bagua/Pa kua.
The first important tool in feng shui is the bagua/pa kua (bag-wah/pack-wah), an octagon compass with each side representing a different compass direction, life aspiration, and element. Think of it being similar to how it’s warmer in the south and colder in the north and bringing those elements in our home to create a natural balance.  Every time I move into a new place or want to redesign a room I use a compass and the bagua/pa kua.  It is best do a map for each floor and one for each room that you desire to change
 



Bagua/Pa kua
 
When using over a room and the whole house
 
                                                                                          S
                                                                                          N
                                                    
Positive cycle – water ->wood->fire->earth->metal->water (water produces wood, produces fire, then earth, metal, and back to water)
Destructive cycle – wood->earth->water->fire->metal->wood (wood breaks up earth, water puts fire out, fire melts metal can chop into wood)
 
Direction
Life Aspiration
Element
Activate Positive Chi
North
Career/
Prospects
Water
Aquarium with fish, especially guppies, water dispenser, water, pool, mirror, water fountain, blue, black, white, AVOID RED, BRIGHT LIGHTS, FIRE ELEMENTS
NE
Education/
Knowledge
Earth
Meditation room or library, sparse furniture, ocher furniture, mountain picture, crystals esp. quartz or amethyst, terracotta plant holders ceramic, porcelain jars, academic achievements, books, crystal lamp, yin/yang symbol, desk, lights,  yellow, red, beige, AVOID METAL ELEMENTS
East
Family/Health
Strong Wood
Living room, garden area, pictures of trees or plants, trees, plants, jade plant, peach tree, bookshelves, bench, wind chimes, dolphin sculpture, elephant, dragon, light green, brown, AVOID METAL ELEMENTS
SE
Wealth Prosperity
Wood
Plants, flowers, garden area, aquarium, indoor pond, bamboo plant, rocks, stone, golden fruit, good office area, jade plant, mirror, green, (AVOID METAL ELEMENTS)
South
Fame/
Recognition
Fire
Fire Places, bright lights, candles, crystal lamp, picture of a peach, wooden objects, diplomas or trophies, red, yellow, green, AVOID BLUE, WATER ELEMENTS
SW
Relationships/
Marriage
Strong Earth
Do not activate if area is in bathroom or kitchen, crystals, crystal lamp, red roses, Buddha statue, items in pairs, yellow, beige, NO GREEN
West
Children/
Creativity
Metal
Electrical appliances, stereos, TVs, metal wind chimes, crystals, wind chimes, flowering plants, picture of Albert Einstein in a study, shiny surfaces, stereos, TVs, clocks, picture frames, white, gold, silver, AVOID RED, FIRE ELEMENTS
NW
Mentors/
Networking
Strong Metal
TVs, electrical items, crystals, angel figurines, bells, ceramic or clay objects, 6 –rod wind chimes not wooden, white, silver, gold AVOID LIGTHTS, FIREPLACES, RED OR GREEN
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 KUA number/Personal best number
Determining your KUA (kwah) number requires a few easy steps.  Add the last 2 digits of your date of birth to a single digit. For males, you would subtract that number from 10. For females you add 5.  There is no kua number 5 and in its place you use the number 2.
 
Example for a male 1976 = 7 + 6 = 13,  1 + 3 = 4          10 – 4 = 6 Kau number = 6
Example for a Female 1976 = 7 + 6 = 13,  1 + 3 = 4      4 + 5 = 9   Kau number = 9
 
You have your Kua number, now what?
Once you have your personal number you can determine your auspicious/lucky directions and your inauspicious/unlucky directions and optimize your personal lucky energy flow.  If your number is 1, 3, 4, or 9 you are a west group.  If your number is 2, 6, 7, or 8 you are an east group
 
Auspicious/Good Directions
 
1
2
3
4
6
7
8
9
Fu Wei
N
SW
E
SE
NW
W
NE
S
Tien Yi
E
W
N
S
NE
SW
NW
SE
Nien Yen
S
NW
SE
E
SW
NE
W
N
Sheng Chi
SE
NE
S
N
W
NW
SW
E
 
 
Inauspicious/Bad Directions
 
1
2
3
4
6
7
8
9
Ho Hai
W
E
SW
NW
SE
N
S
NE
Wu Kwei
NE
SE
NW
SW
E
S
N
W
Chueh Ming
NW
S
NE
W
N
SE
E
SW
Lui Sha
SW
N
W
NE
S
E
SE
NW
 


We should always try to sit facing one of our auspicious /good directions while eating, sleeping (top of our head facing that direction), or at work in order to optimize our luck. If we concentrate on those directions that are auspicious we don’t need to think about the ones that are inauspicious.


Good Directions:
Fu Wei/Personal Development – Means ‘overall harmony’. Location for achieving peace, promotes growth, general good fortune but not big in terms of abundant wealth, personal development, intelligence, and exam luck. Good for protecting against unfavourable luck. Element energy wood
Tien Yi/Health   Means ‘doctor from heaven’. Strengthens the body and mind so one is able to achieve goals, great for those suffering from prolonged illnesses, best to put mouth of stove facing this direction. Element energy earth
Nien Yen/Romance – Means ‘prolonged life’. Enhances quality of home and family and romantic relationships, great location for master bedroom if the husband and wife are growing apart. Element energy metal
Sheng Chi/Success – Means ‘generating breath’. Attracts prosperity, brings a good start to any task, overall smoothness in wealth, success in all aspects of life, career, creating positive attitudes towards life. Great location for office, bedroom, or front door to face this direction. Element energy wood.
 
Bad Directions:
Ho Hai - Means ‘accidents and mishaps’. Brings hardship to people, leads to financial loss, all kinds of intermittent difficulty and frustration, one will not attain success, everything will follow the path to failure. It is the least unlucky direction. Best to put a storage room here.  Element energy is earth.
Wu Kwei - Means ‘five ghosts’.  Brings fires, burglary, loss of income, quarrels and misunderstandings, mischief at home and at work, will bring one empty hopes, create good fortune and when one reaches the peak it will bring disastrous endings. Supress this energy by having a bathroom (flushes energy) in this location. Element energy fire.
Chueh Ming – Means ‘total loss’. Most harmful, Could end one’s destiny, causes jeopardy in one’s career, money loss, bankruptcy, long term illness, injury and disaster, loss of children, chronic illness. Avoid putting main door here. Can be supressed by putting a bathroom (flushes bad energy) or kitchen here (fire melts metal). Element energy metal.
Lui Sha - Means ‘six types of killings’. Great harm to you and family, missed opportunities, illness, accidents, possible death, causes havoc in relationship and love, hostility at work and makes one unpopular. To make this energy ineffective, put a storage room here. Element energy is water.  
 
 
There are a few essential elements that are important in any house.  Visit the website
 



Symbols
Symbols are the foundation of feng shui. They are considered helpful in keeping our awareness of the situations and areas of our life we need addressing active. The more mindful we become, the more effective bringing our desired outcome will be.  Learning where to place symbols optimizes positive chi. Placing items around our home in areas we want to activate or enhance should be done according to the five elements and the bagua/pa kua. We can energize one or all corners.  
 
Below is a list of some of the most popular symbols in Fend shui:

Turtle – Sign of protection, best if at the back of your house.

Dragon (dragon horse) – yang/male energy, good fortune, wealth and abundance, best if put in the east of home. Never put one in your bedroom as too yang of energy. Avoid dragons made out of gold or other metals. Crystals, ceramics, and wood are fine.  

White tiger – protection, best if put in the west of home. Good to have along with bright lights. Avoid having a tiger picture in home, better to have statues.

The money toad/three-legged toad – The toad is sitting on a pile of gold coins.  Best if made to look like gold with semi-precious eyes, do not buy ones made of wood, pewter or silver. Do not get one with a bagua on its back unless you are rich already and want to signify protection.  Do not place directly in front of the main door, but place diagonal to the door about waist high facing in to signify money coming into the house.

Goldfish – keep 9 in the NE or SE corner of living room, 1 being a black one. If keeping in the north, add a few fast swimmers like guppies to energize your career luck.

Chinese coins – They are round with a square hole, symbolizing the unity of heaven and earth. Tie three coins together with a red thread and stick them yang side (has 4 characters) up onto your files, cashboxes, doorknobs, and cash registers to enhance business luck. Keep 3 inside your purse or pocket book to ensure good money luck.

Sailing ship – The best kinds are the old galleons. Usually made of wood, fill decks with pretend gold, place in home or office, point inwards to signify money coming in. Best placed in the living room on the coffee table, away from and not pointing at the front door. Avoid warships as they symbolize death.

Peaches – symbolizes immortality, marriage.

Mandarin ducks – displaying a pair of them symbolizes young romantic love, love that has a happy ending.  Good to keep a pair in your Relationship corner or in the bedroom.

Peony – conjugal love, ensure of loving husbands, good marriage luck especially when placed in the relationship corner or SW corner of bedroom

General Feng Shui Tips
Ø  When you are buying a home or designing a space, it is optimal to have something tall such as higher hills, a larger building, or book shelves to the left (when facing out) as to signify the protective celestial dragon. On your right should be lower hills, a smaller house, tree, curves, or an armchair to signify the harmony of the celestial white tiger. Behind you should be something strong and supportive like mountains, large hills, or a larger set of buildings to signify the protective energy of the celestial black tortoise. The front of the house or sitting space ideally should be clear with wide open spaces and clutter free, to signify the peaceful, tranquil energy of the celestial red phoenix.
Ø  Chi should flow gently throughout your home. Pointed corners are like poison arrows directing too much chi too quickly. Round corners are much more auspicious.
Ø  Plants, flowers, crystals, lights, fish, wind chimes and mirrors are all great feng shui tools to attract positive chi and change negative chi into positive chi
Ø  The best plants to have are those with rounded edges. The hardy bamboo and jade/rubber plant are the most auspicious. The ficus is the top purifying (great for bathrooms).  Palms, dracaena, and ivy (especially in the relationship corner/SW) are also great plants. Lavender is great for peace and relaxation and lilies and cacti work well to absorb emfemmisions computer areas.
Ø  Be mindful of what is being reflected in mirrors.  Is it something positive that you are increasing highlighting?
Ø  Keep house as clutter free as possible.  If something is broken, fix it or throw it out. If you haven’t used something in a year, get rid of it.  Keep only positive memories and minimal keepsakes.
Ø  Should have a balance of yin (feminine) and yang (masculine) energy to create harmony.  Within the home a suggested good balance is 3 parts yang and 2 parts yin, the bathroom should be more yang and the bedroom should be more yin.
 
General Tips for Activating Chi in the Bedroom
Ø  Should be mostly yin (feminine) energy
Ø  Always try to face head of the bed (the direction the top of your head faces when you are laying down) in one an auspicious directions.  If you and partner’s directions don’t match up, and you sleep in the same bed, always go with the person who makes the most money. Try to do the same with children’s beds.
Ø  Don’t place the head of the bed under a  window, not stable enough. It's also good to avoid placing the head of the bed along the wall of toilet plumbing
Ø  Do try to place the bed where you can see the door, but never so the end of your bed is lined up to the door as your positive energy will go right out the door
Ø  Placing things in pairs, especially in your relationship corner of your bedroom, will activate loving, couple energy.
Ø  Avoid any electronics in your bedroom as it diminishes sleep quality.  If you must, place in your metal corner and/or find a way to cover the activating energy when not in use. 
Ø  Avoid water, living plants, flowers or fish in the bedroom as it is activating energy.
Ø  Soft music, candles, artificial flowers add great yin energy
 
General Tips for Activating Chi in the Kitchen
Ø  Should be mostly yang (masculine) energy, ex. Wood, dark colors
Ø  The mouth of your stove should face one of your auspicious directions, especially Tian Yi.
Ø  Never activate your relationship corner in the kitchen
Ø  Use multiple burners, signifies receiving money from multiple sources
Ø  Your stove should be used in precedence to a microwave
Ø  Great environmentally friendly  way to clean the pipes is to add 1 cup baking soda/1cup vinegar every month or so
Ø  Keep stove clean
Ø  Fresh herbs great to keep indoor
Ø  Flowers, especially chrysanthemums, are great to keep in the kitchen to absorb toxins, last 1-2 weeks
 
General Tips for Auspicious Chi in the Bathroom
Ø  Should be mostly yang (masculine) energy
Ø  Keep the toilet seats down, not only do germs come up from there, having a toilet lid up signifies flushing your money down the toilet
Ø  Ficus plants are 1 of the top 10 purifying plants and great to have in your bathroom
Ø  Gold towels signify abundance
Ø  Try to place toilet away from bathroom door, best if hidden completely

Ø  Avoid having a bathroom in your entrance, best if in middle of house
General Tips for Auspicious Chi in the Living Room
Ø  Plants are great to add life and fresh air.
Ø  Buy comfortable furniture
Ø  Choose high-backed furniture for support
Ø  Use wall coverings in subtle pastel colors to make the room feel bigger, soft yellow stimulates conversation
Ø Design room so the chi flows uninterrupted in a snake-like motion through the room
 
Things to Consider When Buying a House
Ø  The best time to look at the surrounding environment of the property is just after sunrise, or noon in the winter or daybreak in the summer
Ø  Square and rectangle-shaped houses promote optimal chi
Ø  U and L-shaped layouts will be lacking the correlated areas on the bagua, but can be remedied by increasing that space with mirrors, or activate on the outside of house with lights, garden etc.
Ø  Make sure some part of your interior gets sunlight, preferably the living room
Ø  Avoid poison arrows directed to your home, i.e. a street directed right to your home
Ø  Are the plants and trees healthy?
Ø  Smell the air, does it smell sweet or does it smell sour?
Ø  Stove shouldn’t face the front or back door as positive chi will disappear
Ø  The stove (fire element) shouldn’t be directly across from the fridge or dishwasher (water elements), but can be corrected by placing a crystal directly between them
 
What Does Your House Number Mean?
Every house number represents something. In order to find your house number you have to add your house number to a single digit.
 
Example: #107-303 Sutherland Road = 1 + 0 +7 + 3 + 0 + 3 =14.  14 = 1 + 4 = 5, House Number 5
 
Number 1
This house inspires drive and independence, new experiences, self-sufficiency, physical fitness, self-improvement. It is unique and likely to be the type of house which catches the attention of others as they pass. These distinguishing features could be good or bad. This house often belongs to a person with a high position in work, and to one who has a definite ambition. It can be the home of someone notorious or famous. A person who has not been well for some time will improve. People who are not ‘snobs’ or members of the ‘upper crust’ may be brought in contact with these people, but number 1 house people themselves can be ‘snobs’.
 
Number 1 in the East –loneliness, bad luck, spiritual number that represents the highest, most superior the tai chi from which the two principles of yin and yang came into being.
Number 1 in the West – undivided singularity, the source and root of all numbers, creation, progress, individuality, oneness and self-development.
 
Suggestions for a 1 House: Under no circumstances clutter this house. Keep furniture to a minimum and decorate in white or strong bright colours. Keep windows clean and clear. People living in this house often use white, gold and orange in and around their homes. You will often see guilded mirrors and crystal chandeliers, if money allows.
 
 
Number 2
This house is sure to be a cozy, comfortable and attractive family home, with unpretentious people who are willing to share their hospitality with others.  Often children living here may not be your own, but other people who are drawn to your place. Kids come back to visit, seldom any sign of ostentation, supportive of others, and home improvements are done here and there. This house has simple, nurturing foods in the cupboards and share with others freely. Sympathetic influence gives an affinity and feeling for the mass of average people, and there is often a real sense of community spirit.
 
Number 2 in the East – positive number, stands for unity, and reciprocal trust,
Number 2 in the West – duality and dichotomy, reciprocal attraction, recognition and knowledge are created by balancing opposites.
 
Suggestions for a 2 House: This house inspires sensitivity, so complement its energy with pinks, whites and creams. It is often decorated with comfortable, tasteful furnishings, and has a loving and warm atmosphere.
 
Number 3
This house has a desire for expansion and to stand out with the result that one feels it gives a great need for freedom and unrestricted living. It is a happy dwelling with positive attitudes and great communication that attracts lots of visitors. It balances its positives and negative, so there will be honesty and dishonesty, gains and losses, controlled expansion and reckless gamble. This house symbolizes encouragement. It is a fun house that inspires creativity, which is reflected in the home.
 
Number 3 in the East – positive and meaningful number, attributes of growth and the promise of  many descendants.
Number 3 in the West – wholeness and completeness, symbol of God, body mind and spirit, stands for the family, represents love of life, optimism and openness, very lucky number.
 
Suggestions for a 3 House: Use wicker and cane furniture and keep colours fun with yellow and purple tones.
 
Number 4
This House isn’t everyone’s cup of tea because the influence can be very overpowering. Need for order, routine, groundedness, patience, and tolerance. Because of the diametrically opposing forces inherent in this number, it is likely to have some odd feature which should, but cannot, easily be resolved. There is often an effort made to transform the old-style appearance into a contemporary design, but this can be very difficult to achieve or can cause great disruptions to those living there. It often produces a strong sense of frustration because it pulls in two directions. This influence can bring bigger upheavals and more disruptions than any other number, and more often happen through circumstances beyond one’s control. More than one person living in this house can be found to have completely different points of view and neither will give way to the other. Only people with a strong positive character will be able to find the qualities of peace of mind and tranquillity..
 
Number 4 in the East – most negative number because sounds like the word death. As a protective measure put a circle around it to contain its negativity
Number 4 in the West – traditional number of the earthy universe, the elements, the seasons, an directions on a compass.  Associated with solidarity, stability, drive, and endurance.
 
Suggestions for a 4 House: To avoid financial and relationship problems, add an attractive garden and a brightly-coloured front door and letterbox. Decorate with earthly colours such as brown, with touches of green, caramel and white.
 
Number 5
This house is a very busy place, and one can feel a restless air of activity as soon as you walk in the door. This is a home where people get together and talk about all sorts of things. There are always people popping in and out, coming and going. This number also tends to produce a highly-strung, rather nervous type of disposition and it does seem to be difficult to sit and do nothing. There is lots of travel and freedom.  It can be an exciting address to live at, especially for singles. There is romantic exploration, but not so much marriage. People who are connected with communication, news, information and transport, are curious and have lots of books are drawn to 5 houses. The car and telephone are essential and much needed items. Children in this house often have a great interest in bikes or motorbikes.
Number 5 in the East – positive and neutral number, feng shui traditions ignore this number
Number 5 in the West – according to the Pythagoras, it is the most complex number, ie. 5 senses. It is considered active, impulsive, adventurous, curious, and inventive.
 
Suggestions for a 5 House: Use bright colours on the walls, and camouflaging areas that are not to your taste.
 
Number 6
This is certain to be an attractive and/or artistically decorated house. It may express, in some way, something of beauty, sophistication, symmetry, and refinement. It is a lovely address for families and for artists and teachers. One feels safe, warm, and understood. One will make wonderful friends and have many enjoyable moments because it is the most favourable number for harmonious co-operation. The closeness of family, pets and loved ones are felt. Disharmony cannot survive for long in the kind of atmosphere. As 6 is the number of equality and justice, consequently, to live in this house means that you will be repaid for past action. Don’t forget, however, that the harvest will depend on the type of seeds that have been sown.
 
Number 6 in the East – good luck, symbol for property, wealth, and abundance, provides good conditions for moving towards wealth
Number 6 in the West – Number of days it took God to create the world, which gives super human power to this number, balance, health and peace empathy, love, and duty to the community, symbolizes partnership
 
Suggestions for a 6 House: There is usually a predominance of pastel shades in the basic colour scheme, and often a preference for pink or aqua - the overall effect being one of harmony and calmness. Be cautious as this house tends to overdo the decorative effects, often combining too many colours and spoiling the effect.   It is best if the kitchen is connected with the living room because of how busy it can get with family and friends.

Number 7
This house inspires spirituality, a calm quiet, contemplative atmosphere.  It is great for research, studying or deep thinking. A single person could feel lonely here. There is an air of mystery. It can appear at first glance to be one thing, when in actual fact, it is the opposite. There may be a part of the structure that is not instantly visible to the onlooker and in some cases the structure is defective, though it may not be apparent. The common problem is dampness, or trouble with drainage.
 
Number 7 in the East – holy number
Number 7 in the West – holy number, mystical change birth and rebirth, seven sacred vows, seven deadly sins
 
Suggestions for a 7 House: Furniture should be minimal and you should decorate with touches of purple, orange and/or yellow. Try to create a 'quiet room' with a bookcase, or have regular 'no TV' times.
 
Number 8
It is a great address for everyone, particularly the self-employed and self-motivated. There is a look of solidity and status, sometimes it is all business.  It attracts opportunity, achievement, and there is a promise of security. This house will normally skyrocket in value or help those living there to accrue wealth.
 
Number 8 in the East – ultimate good luck number, horizontal 8 is symbol for infinity, fav phone , house or license plate number.
Number 8 in the West – flow of life’s energy in an endless spiral motion, infinity, strength, power, and authority.
 
Suggestions for an 8 House: Try not to have anything shabby showing, and keep furniture as modern as you can. Natural earthy shades with touches of red are ideal.
 
Number 9
This house is usually quiet and comfortable, a great place for rest, deep healing, regeneration and exploring creativity. There is a sense of timelessness. This house enhances study and all students will do well living here.  People are usually attracted here because of a healing energy ie. massage, counselling. It inspires ‘humanitarianism’ and will be open to bringing people in. For example, if a friend or family member is in need, room will always be made for them.  This house is prone to have electrical problems and burnt toast is a common occurrence.
 
Number 9 in the East – long life, lucky number, represents south, the most important and beneficial direction
Number 9 in the West – the number of perfection, (any number from 1 to 8 when multiplied by 9 equals a number whose numerals total 9), the number of eternity, generosity, tolerance, empathy, and freedom
 
Suggestion for a 9 House: Decorate in pale, calm colours and keep lots of houseplants. Display trophies around the room to enhance success, and put out fresh flowers as often as you can.
 
Whether you are buying a house, renovating part of a house, redecorating a room, or wanting to increase the flow of positive chi in a certain area of your life, feng shui is a great way to begin. With a few thoughtful changes you can optimize the energy flow to create a space that is more harmonious, balanced, peaceful, and increase your luck in various areas of your life.  Happy feng shui’in everyone!
 
 
Great feng shui resources I use on a regular basis and got the above information from:
Beattie,Antonia. Feng Shui Dictionary. Thunder Bay Press. San Diego, California. 2003.
Bradler, Christine. Feng Shui Symbols. Llondon, New York. 1999.
Kua number information from Lillian Too’s books & http://www.fengshuibestbuy.com/kuanumber.html

Lambert, Mary. Instant Feng Shui For the Home. London, New York. 2006.
Too, Lillian. The Complete Illustrated Guide to Feng Shui; How to Apply the Secrets of Chinese Wisdom for
Health, Wealth, and Happiness. Element Books LTD. Rockport, MA, USA. 1996.
Too, Lillian. Feng Shui; The Complete Guide to the Art and Practice of Feng Shui. Element Books. Boston,
MA, USA. 1999.