Quick Authentic Feng Shui Advice For Your Home

During a site consultation for a department of the United Nations in Malaysia, one of its employees asked me a question that seems to be asked often: can you give me some quick guidelines for my home without having to go too much into it? And of course, still using classical Feng Shui. House consultations are usually very detailed affairs with many layers of disciplines used and time consuming as each home is unique BUT there still is general advice that can be used without accidentally creating negative effects.

It helps to know which directions should be enhanced and those that are not to be stimulated. If you are not sure of your Kua number, you can use our Kua Number Calculator to find out your Auspicious and Inauspicious directions. Inauspicious directions need remedies and more protection while Auspicious directions should be primarily enhanced. Remember, different people have different Kua numbers and directions, meaning a good direction for you to stimulate may be a bad direction for a loved one. In cases where there are multiple occupants whose good/bad directions overlap: use items that are primarily protective items with a secondary role of enhancing. That way, if an item for some reason is placed in the wrong direction, you're still protected.

The Entrance
Asides from the entrances being entry points for your home, it is also very important in Feng Shui as that's where a very large amount of chi comes in and sets the overall tone of your home. Wouldn't you rather allow good flowing chi into your home instead of negative chi entering and pulling everything down? Here, you would want to set up a filter point choosing for auspicious chi coming in or good chi. A protective item would make sure only good chi (sheng chi) comes in, whereas a wealth enhancer would transform the chi coming in to be auspicious chi. Recommendations: All Protectors (Protective), Authentic Wealth Bowl (Auspicious), Kuan Kung on Horse of Progress (Both).

The Backdoor
The backdoor or exit of your house is frequently overlooked because there is usually more importance stressed on the entrance. The importance of this part of the house increases when depending on how often you use it. For some, it is an entrance to their garden or a more convenient form of exit. If you do not use the backdoor often, focusing on protection takes priority. If it is used very often, then you can also treat it similar to an additional entrance. Recommendations: Kuan Kung God of War (Protective), Lucky Wealth Bars (Auspicious), Inscribed Dragon Tortoise (Both).

The Living/Dining Room
This is usually the place where members of the house would spend a large amount of time together. Be it entertaining guests, watching a favorite show together or just winding down after a tough day at work. This is also a place to maximise the usage of Feng Shui for you to reap the benefits it can bring. Recommendations: Fu Lu Shou Set (Protective), Prosperity Buddha (Auspicious), Lord Chung Kwei Guardian of Harmony (Both).

The Bedroom
This is a place where we rest and recuperate and thus open ourselves to negative or positive influences in our immediate surroundings. Most of the times, health related items are recommended in this section and refrain from putting enhancers that are constantly moving like windchimes. This is one of the best places to promote harmony and soak up auspicious chi. Recommendations: 8 Immortals Wu Lou (Protective), Health Wealth Pendant (Auspicious), Kuan Yin on Arowana(Both).

Well, hopefully this list has provided you with some basic knowledge of how you can use classical Feng Shui in your home properly. I'd also like to take the time to wish you and your an prosperous Lunar New Year! For more information on remedies, don't forget to visit our website at: www.smilingbamboo.com! :)

Ken Toh is the co-founder of Smiling Bamboo (www.smilingbamboo.com) and strives to preserve the true traditions of Feng Shui amidst all the marketing hype of today. Having spent his life surrounded by Feng Shui and living in both Eastern/Western cultures has given him a firm understanding of bridging the gap of this beautiful science. His clients include: government officials, United Nations (MY), corporations, business men

7 Feng Shui Tips for Creating Environments That Propel You Into Your Best Year Yet!

Now is a great time to be setting the stage for 2003. Its time to be making space for more of what you want and stretching those possibility muscles. Are you ready to propel yourself to the next level?

By creating environments that pull you forward, you are supported in living your best life. This could mean setting a deadline that pulls you forward in the action you need to take, or creating a physical environment that changes your energy.

1. What you would regret not having done if you knew you had one week to live? What is one step you could take this week towards reaching this goal? Can you find a picture or object you can place in your home to symbolize your goal? In Feng Shui this is known as an enhancement, and will Serve as a powerful anchor to your intention.

2. Clear your clutter - this is the biggest thing you can do to create space for the new. You can never do it too often! Anything that is draining your energy needs to be addressed. You need all your energy to live a full life. Surround yourself with things that make your heart sing!

3. What do you have on your walls? Your artwork is supporting you or working against you. Make sure you consciously choose your artwork for what it says to you rather than whether it matches the color scheme in your home! And, make sure its saying what you want it to be saying.

4. Find pictures in magazines that appeal to you and make a collage or 'treasure map' by arranging them on poster board. This can be on a specific goal, such as travel or prosperity, or it could be on all the different aspects you would like to have in your life.

5. Write a descriptive piece as if you have already reached your goal. Where are you living, what are people saying to you, how do you feel when you get up in the morning, what do you do with your day etc? Write it in the present tense as if its happening now, and put as many emotions into it as possible. Write it out on your favorite colored paper. For additional power, you can use this as a Feng Shui enhancement. For information on where different aspects of your life, such as prosperity, are represented in your home or room see: http://www.LifeDesignStrategies.com/BaguaMap.html

6. After you've cleared your clutter, using the Bagua Map, decide which area you would like to enhance. Do you want to increase your prosperity, improve your relationships, maybe travel? Place something that symbolizes this for you, in that particular area of your home or office.

7. Surround yourself with people who support you and inspire you to be your best. Friends who remind you of who you are when you forget, and friends who will lovingly be honest with you, will support you in your dreams.

The Universe has many more resources and ideas than you do! Its your job to stay focused on the outcomes youre choosing, create environments that pull you forward, and watch for synchronicity and surprises.

2002, Vicky White. All rights reserved. May be duplicated with attribution and copyright notice intact. http://www.LifeDesignStrategies.com/

Get your FREE 7-part e-course Your Secret Weapon: Powerful Feng Shui Tips To Give Your Business The Competitive Edge at http://www.LifeDesignStrategies.com/ Vicky White is a Certified Feng Shui Consultant and Life Coach who works with clients both locally and internationally.

Feng Shui Weight Loss Tips

Weight gain is something that many people battle with, especially during the holidays. Beginning with Thanksgiving, and continuing through Christmas and the New Year, you may find yourself experiencing weight problems. What most people haven't considered is that Feng Shui and weight loss can often go hand in hand, and the practice of the philosophy of Feng Shui may actually help you combat the urge to overeat during the holidays and throughout the entire year. Learning how to use Feng Shui to your advantage to fight weight gain will lead to a healthier lifestyle. You no longer have to live with the regret of over indulgence during the holidays if you incorporate the benefits of Feng Shui and weight loss into your every day life.

The first area to look at with Feng Shui and weight loss are the dishes you use in your kitchen. The characteristics of the dishes that you use for meals, including color, size, and shape, are connected to Feng Shui and weight loss. Although round plates are the most common, circles should be avoided in the kitchen when trying to lose weight with the help of Feng Shui. According to the philosophy of Feng Shui, circles are connected with mental activity. For those seeking weight loss, you do not want to encourage mental activity that is related to eating. The best type of kitchenware to shop for when optimizing your kitchen's Feng Shui are square dishes and plates. When it comes to color, orange is a great pick, including any shade of orange. In Feng Shui, orange is associated with the concept of union. Using orange dishes will bring a union of your goals and desired actions when it comes to eating and losing weight. Another tip for Feng Shui and weight loss in the kitchen is to use dishes without a shiny or glossy finish. Such surfaces will draw attention to the dish, which is something you want to avoid when working towards weight loss. A dull finish, like you find with earthenware, is desired for optimal Feng Shui.

There are other elements that you can manipulate within the kitchen to help with Feng Shui and weight loss. One important idea to keep in mind is that it is beneficial to shield the view of the kitchen from the line of sight originating at the front door. One easy way to do this is to hang curtains over the door of the kitchen, including beaded curtains. When it comes to colors that you incorporate in your kitchen design, there are a few colors that are believed to curb appetites and discourage eating. Black, blue, and burgundy are some nice dark colors to utilize in your kitchen for encouraging Feng Shui and weight loss. A good place to use these colors are with place mats and tablecloths. You will especially want to place these colors near the refrigerator. A final physical aspect that you can manipulate in your kitchen to improve Feng Shui is clutter. Be sure to remove any clutter in the room in order to eliminate bad chi and encourage a clean area with positive chi.

One process that may improve Feng Shui and weight loss is the practice of prayer before meals. This type of prayer does not have to be religious, it is simply used to quiet your mind before a meal and recall your hopes for losing weight. During this short prayer, or mantra, you should also remind yourself of the portion sizes you wish to eat. Reminding yourself of the control you intend to exercise during the meal will help you when it comes to following through on your intentions.

The kitchen isn't the only area of the house that you should concentrate on when it comes to Feng Shui and weight loss. Improving positive chi throughout your entire house will bring about the best chances for weight loss success. One way to bring Feng Shui to the entire house is to place mirrors in different rooms and hallways. This way you will be able to frequently catch a glimpse of yourself which should encourage you to continue with your weight loss goals. It is also beneficial to use a mirror when exercising or participating in another active. The feeling of movement will bring positive chi. Another way to encourage a presence of positive chi throughout the house is to use the color red. Red is a color of energy, and will help you to become active and stay active as you move about your house.

Remember, use red throughout the house to encourage Feng Shui and weight loss with an energetic and active lifestyle. Use dark colors such as blues and blacks in the kitchen to minimize food cravings and impulses to eat more than is necessary. Decorate your home with mirrors and carefully select the best kind of dishes. These simple tips will bring Feng Shui into your home along with an ability to achieve weight loss goals.

Candace Czarny,ASID,CFM,LEED AP, "Award Winning" Interior Designer, Feng Shui Expert & author. www.artofplacement.com is continually ranked "Top 10" in Google and Yahoo. Clients testify of dramatic results!