Reduced Stress The Feng Shui Way

Reduce Stress With Feng Shui

For more than 3 millenia, Chinese people have used the ancient wisdom of Feng Shui to bring greater prosperity to themselves and to their environment. In the modern era, we are constantly being bombarded by stress.

Whether you're blowing your horn in a traffic jam, trying to wade through the spam emails clogging your inbox, taking unsolicited calls from salespeople on your home phone and that's not even counting the everyday demands put upon you by your work, family, household chores and if you have a second to spare - then try to cram in some "leisure time".

Is it any wonder your nerves are feeling jangled and frayed!

We are all guilty of trying to do too much throughout the day, constantly piling on the pressure with unfulfilled personal expectations just adding to stress of just getting through the day.

There is some good news...

You can restore your energy, recharge yourself and release tension by utilizing Feng Shui to create a home that is a sanctuary.

The principles of Feng Shui can help you create an environment to attract and direct positive energy. You may not be aware of how many different ways your physical space is affecting your well-being. Feng Shui provides help to identify the issues in your environment. If learning about Feng Shui sounds like one more project in an already busy life, consider this is one project which will lighten your load, provide relief and enhance your energy, rather than drain your internal resources or tire you out.

Making the pursuit of Feng Shui knowledge a worthwhile use of your time.

If your energy and your efforts are hindered, if your environment is increasing to your sense of restriction because the Feng Shui is out of balance, your stress only gets worse. Too much stress on the body has been demonstrated time and again as negative for your well being. The overproduction of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline put extra strain on all the systems in your body. These hormones contribute to chronic conditions, like heart disease for example which plague society.

Excess stress wears down the immune system and leads to increased susceptibility colds and other illnesses.

One of the keys to restoring energy and relieving stress is getting enough rest. Using Feng Shui to arrange your bedroom will help you get the fitfull sleep you need. Feng Shui will guide you in selecting the right room to sleep in, the right placement of your bed and the elimination of unwanted items - like mirrors in the bedroom.

All of which will contribute to the quality of your rest and your waking energy.

Anxiety and stress trap and deplete energy. Correct use of Feng Shui optimizes energy. An environment which employs proper Feng Shui principles contributes to harmony, balance and well-being. The Chinese believe Feng Shui helps create the conditions whereby you can excel in your life and your relationships.

Feng Shui restores your energy because the objective of Feng Shui is to allow you to reach balance with your surroundings. You will learn how to place items and arrange space so as to assist the flow of positive Chi energy. You will learn to leave negative energy at the door and fill your living space with good energy. With Feng Shui you can give yourself the positive pleasure of a harmonious, planned home environment designed to increase your well-being.

Tracy O'Brien is a long time student and practitioner of the ancient art of Feng Shui. She is also the founder of FengShuiAstrology.com For more Feng Shui Tips and a FREE Feng Shui Astrology Personality Profile, visit: http://www.fengshuiastrology.com

Decorate Your Bathroom Using Feng Shui

For some people their bathroom is just the room where they get ready for the day, eliminate waste, and store their hygiene products. Still others like to transform their bathroom into a personal spa. While no one likes to talk about it, the bathroom is a vital, necessary part of all homes. For those who practice, or want to practice, Feng Shui in their homes, this room absolutely can?t be ignored. Certain decorating strategies are necessary to ensure that this room is in accord with the ancient Chinese philosophy. While bathrooms weren?t part of the original Feng Shui tradition, since it was created before indoor plumbing, you can still arrange your bathroom to complete the benefits involved in Feng Shui. Feng Shui and bathroom design will further provide a calm, soothing home for all of the occupants.

The good news is that in Feng Shui and bathroom usage, the bathroom is closely related to the element of water. Let?s face it; the majority of purposes in the bath are connected to water in one way or another. Water represents cash flow and prosperity in addition to the career aspect of life and prosperity. Ensuring that this room is designed in the Feng Shui tradition can help improve those areas of your life tremendously.

On the other hand, it can?t be ignored that the bathroom is also used for elimination. Whether it is through the toilet or down the shower drain, this room is used for getting rid of toxins. Luckily when the proper Feng Shui and bathroom practices are followed, you can reduce the effects of negative chi, while increasing the helpful water element.

The first thing that needs to be done to Feng Shui friendly your bathroom is to give the room a thorough cleaning. Products sitting on the sink or the back of the toilet need to find a proper home if they are essential to your hygiene. If not, it?s time to get rid of the unnecessary items. Clutter is counterproductive to a good chi flow, and especially in the bathroom it is vital to keep this space debris free. Don?t forget to include under the sink and any linen closets in this process. They count too, and leaving them unorganized is not going to help you in combining good Feng Shui and bathroom d?cor.

Now that you have the bathroom clean and ready for its Feng Shui makeover, let?s talk colors. There is no need to go overboard on elaborate color schemes. Bright colors are distracting and not beneficial to the Feng Shui and bathroom design. Your best bets are neutral colors like cream and light blue. If that isn?t going to work for you, at least use a color that is relaxing and muted.

As far as the fixtures in the bathroom go, it is very important that they are all in excellent working order. Leaking facets represent your money and prosperity flowing down the drain. Be sure the sink and bath tub facets shut off effectively. Noisy drains are an issue as well. If you have a problem with any of these plumbing issues, and can?t fix them yourself, don?t hesitate to call in a professional to get you started on your way. Feng Shui and bathroom maintenance work best when all of the fixtures are working properly.

The non water element fixtures serve a purpose as well. For example the mirror should be as large as the space above the sink allows. Since you prepare for your day in the bathroom, it is important for you to have a clear, bright vision of yourself every day. The recent trend of placing a mirror split in two in the bathroom isn?t in touch with good Feng Shui and bathroom design.

It is essential to make sure your bathroom is as pleasant as possible. This is one of the most effective ways to ensure that the negative aspects of the bathroom are controlled and don?t cause any problems with the flow of positive chi. The use of crystals is helpful in creating and activating good energy.

Another thing to watch out for is if your bathroom is opposite your kitchen. It doesn?t take a genius to determine why this is not good for the flow of chi. If you do find yourself in this type of situation, the easiest solution is to always keep the bathroom door closed. It is also beneficial to leave the toilet lid down when not in use. Anything you can do to keep the negative chi from escaping into the kitchen and the rest of the house is a step in the right direction.

Feng Shui and bathroom design and placement are an important part of providing your family with a harmonious environment. Color choices and fixture maintenance are essential in allowing a positive energy flow.

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!