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.

Deck the Halls with Feng Shui

Did you ever wonder what element is missing in people?s homes the most? As I go from home to home and business to business, I almost never see the color red. Red is pure fire, it ignites us (and our passions), stimulates us and gives us energy yet is often left out when decorating.

Some people wonder why houses and offices look so festive at Holiday Time. It?s not just all those blinking lights though I love them as well, it?s that we finally add RED to our environments and it?s a lovely addition that is well needed. For many people this color is only used during holiday season and stored away for the rest of the year and often after giving a talk I remind people to go home and look around their homes and offices. They more often then not report back that sure enough, they are missing even touches of the element of Fire.

We have wonderful options during the holidays and use the color in lots of ways; Red poinsettias, big red bows, red lights and candles are everywhere. And unconsciously or not, we are more invigorated during this time. What about those after holiday ?blues? many of us go through? Nothing to look forward to now but a potentially very long winter, cold weather, rain (if we?re lucky), snow, sleet and ice. We feel let down, some people get sad or depressed and we go into our hibernation mode as much as possible.

This year when you are removing your decorations after the holidays, think of replacing them with other objects with the color of red to help keep that lively feeling in your home or office space. Pretty silk flowers, red candles, even tablecloths or doilies (yes, some people still use them!) can add nice touches. So can artwork with more vibrant colors as well as sun catchers.

As to the still raging controversy over Red in the bedroom, I have read everything from putting it Under your mattress (yes, it?s out of sight but are you really going to sleep well with the color directly under you?) to leaving it out completely (which I don?t understand either if you sleep with the lights off). Traditionally, pink is the color of love and used in the bedroom and I advise that as well but I don?t think we should leave the color red out; when you have a special person in your life, what better place to feel stimulated, enlivened and full of energy?

In the Bagua, we ask you to use the color red in the Fame area. Fame is how we are known to the world (mother, teacher, etc.) but also how we would LIKE to be known. Since getting your name out to the Universe is a big Feng Shui Principle, igniting your Fame could be as easy as putting up your name surrounded by the color Red. Don?t forget to include your Intentions of how you would like the world to see you as well; this is very important to our evolving to the person we want to become.

Where else would we typically add more fire? Mantles are a popular place, especially in Home Staging. In staging a home for sale, each room should have a distinct focal point that the eye goes to. It should be warm and inviting and give off energy, something that is oftentimes lacking in some home staging. Creating a balance on the mantle and putting up simple and inexpensive candle holders with Red Candles can increase the energy of the room as well as the focal point. We want a prospective buyer to feel good energy and imagine themselves living in it.

Also, take a look around the outside of your home. I walk around a home during a consultation to address each area from the outside and I recommend it to you as well. Homeowners become so used to certain things that they ?mean? to get to outside but it often never gets done. Red on the outside of a home is also something used in Feng Shui; instead of regular wind chimes, how about red ones? We also use mobiles in areas we want to get moving and they come in every color. Energy outside the home is every bit as important as energy inside.

So before you dismantle your holiday decorating, look around for other items in red that you can replace many of them with. For my clients on a budget, a trip to the dollar store can find you useful items. Bed, Bath and Beyond is also a good place to try. Your home will feel more invigorating and stimulating all year through.

Certified Feng Shui Practitioner and Founder of Feng Shui Long Island since 1997 providing caring and affordable consultations for all of Long Island and New York City as well as online for those at a distance for homes, offices and Real Estate Agents for Home Staging. Carole is also a published author and keynote speaker for large and small corporations and is available for workshops. Please visit http://www.FengShuiLI.com or email her directly at FengShuiLI@aol.com