Feng Shui In The Home - Is It The Right Style For You?

The use of feng shui in the home is the source of some debate for many would-be home decorators. Some people believe in its healing powers while others think it's nothing more than the lastest hyped up fad.

However, if you are like most people and don't have a strong opinion either way about this subject, then allow me to shed some light. Below is an explanation of what feng shui is and what it represents. But more importantly, you'll be able to determine if it right for you and whether you should you use feng shui in the home.

Feng shui in the home can be a source of relief for some people and disbelief for others. Some home decorators swear that balancing the five elements (wood, water, fire, metal and earth) creates warmth and harmony.

One key aspect of this balancing act consists of using colors and shapes that represent the elements and rearranging furnishings to complete the effect. Other decorators, however, are more skeptical and see feng shui in the home as just hogwash. They don't believe it is neccessarily to have all the blancing in place to create a beautiful room.

So, which side of the fence do you come down on? Does feng shui in the home have any appeal to you? If so, are you drawn to it because you feel that you need balance in your life? Or do you simply seek a new creative twist for decorating your home? Either way, feng shui may still be worth trying.

Feng shui stresses creating an enivironment of harmony in the home. By melding the five elements together in a productive and harmonious cycle, you just might enjoy their pleasing characteristics. Feng shui advocates say that, if your home is dominated by only one or two of the elements instead of having them all represented, the home's level of "Chi" will be weakened. This, in turn, could result in problems for those living there.

So what do you think? Does this have any appeal to you? If not, no problem, but you could be missing out on something that could also be a lot of fun.

Whether you're looking for spiritual counsel and view feng shui as a possible answer, or if you're simply tired of the way your home looks now and desire a more flowing design, feng shui could help. Of course, some feng shui advocates believe that, if you are not seeking balance in your life, you should bypass feng shui decorating all together.

There's certainly no reason to take that advice. While feng shui may not serve its original intent, it can still result in absolutely beautiful rooms. The rooms in your home can flow seamlessly and seem more uniformed, instead of looking like a messy garage with items and accessories all jumbled. The great thing about feng shui is that it can help bring a finished and polished look to rooms that seemed disorganized.

So, is feng shui the right style for you? It your choice, but I think it's more than worthy of a try.

Michael Holland is the creator of Home Decorating Made Easy.com. His web sites offers lots of FREE decorating tips and ideas for decorating your home.

Feng Shui, the Mountain Dragon

Importance of Mountain Dragon

In Feng Shui, there is a saying ? Mountain govern Man, Water govern Wealth

Wealth obviously refers to money and assets. Man refers to you; the health, wisdom, emotions, and human relationship of one?s. In simple, mountain refers to people luck while water, wealth luck.

Now, what is so important about mountain? To start off, we have to first understand the very relationship between mountain and water.

We have always mentioned that true Feng Shui is about the influences of ?Qi? (metaphysical forces of nature), how the ?Qi? in your residing environment actually affect you.

Surely the question to be asking, where does ?Qi? come from? And to answer you, mountain is the source of all these ?Qi?.

It has always been misunderstood by many and even some Feng Shui practitioner that ?Qi? is produced by water. Or perhaps this is human nature. Everyone greed after wealth, choosing to just incorrectly believe so. Afterall, water brings about wealth (wealth luck)

We have seen many cases, especially with self-taught practitioner. Some are in fact very good with locating wealth corner (water location). But it is a pity that when it comes to mountain location, they hardly have the knowledge.

You have to understand this. All around us, the planet is constantly changing and growing. Mighty mountains are formed by the magnetic pull of these planetary changes, generating ?Qi? that affect our lives. And these ?Qi? are carried and dispersed by the wind and preserved in the water into our environment. This is the law of Nature.

To take note, water is just a medium to help gather and distribute these ?Qi?. When there is no mountain, there is no presence of any ?Qi?. So what?s the point of having water when there is no ?Qi? present to be gathered? Nice to look at but of no use to be having. No point cheating yourself or worse, being misled by some inexpert. Without the presence of ?Qi?, the Feng Shui formation is just not going to work.

Think about it. Now, isn?t mountain a more important factor to consider?

We have seen also cases of many going just directly into the interior of the house, neglecting details of the external environment, the very external influences. Remember, true Feng Shui is never an interior decoration.

To get the best out of Feng Shui, both mountain and water locations are equally important.

A good Feng Shui master should have the expertise in both, capable of identifying good mountain in the environment; able to cleverly combine both to bring about a well-balanced Feng Shui formation for you. In Feng Shui, a balance is always sought (Yin & Yang)

What make a good mountain anyway?

In general, mountain can be of 5 types (Earth, Wood, Metal, Fire and Water) bringing about different influences. E.g. Earth mountain aid wealth and prosperity, fruitfulness offspring. Wood mountain aid fame and academic.

In general, a timely and good mountain looks green. This resembles a healthy and happy dragon, which will bring you good health and fortunes. A brown and dry one resembles a sick and angry dragon that would bring bad health and misfortunes.

Now, there is definitely nothing wrong with wanting wealth, who doesn?t want it? But just ask yourself this simple question, who is the one who want it? Surely it is you, the very man?

Without good health, wisdom and the correct attitude, how are you possibly going to achieve wealth? What is the use of having lots of wealth when you don?t have the health to enjoy it?

Picture it this way. Water is always flowing (Yin). Yes, it may bring you wealth with plentiful of riches flowing in. But without a mighty mountain (Yang) to cleverly stop and control the water, your wealth is just going to keep flowing away.

In life, a balance is always to be sought (Yin & Yang) remember, when you can earn a lot, you can also spend a lot. When you can be in good health, you can also be in ill health. Without a balance, you can be earning $10k and spending $20K. Now isn?t that instead going to bring more problem & difficulty to your life in the long run? Worst, without a good health?

Understand the true of Feng Shui, seek the correct way of life.

Jon Sim Geomancer & Feng Shui Master of http://www.art-of-fengshui.com, http://www.redappletree.com Art of Asia Classical Feng Shui.

NOTE: You're free to republish this article on your website, in your newsletter, in your e-book or in other publications provided that the article is reproduced in its entirety, including the author information and all live website link as above.

Using Feng Shui to Create a Vibration of Abundance

Your prosperity is directly related to the flow of energy in your environment. Clutter creates stagnant energy flow and prevents abundance from flowing to you.

Clutter is anything unfinished, unused, unresolved, tolerated or disorganized. Clutter is emotional constipation!

Letting go of something that no longer makes your heart sing, can mean letting go of a person, or something no longer relevant in your life. It can be part of a process of grieving, enabling you to move into your present and future.

Everyone has their own patterns of attracting abundance and blocking it. Do you recognize any of these?

1. Physical Clutter - Clutter is dead, stagnant energy and will block the flow of energy in your life. The energy that flows around your home and office is like a river, bringing abundance and fortunate blessings in all areas of your life. When it comes across a pile or something you are tolerating it will get bogged down.

Ask yourself: Do I love it? Do I use it? Does it make my heart sing?

2. Purchasing clutter - If you make purchases when feeling angry, sad, stressed, fearful etc. youre spending money to to suppress those feelings rather than feeling them and letting them go. This means emotional energy will attach itself to the item and you will experience its vibration, even on an unconscious level whenever you look at, wear or use the item.

These items will not make your heart sing and will not support your prosperity.

Are you ready to let them go? Are you ready to become a conscious shopper?

3. Growth creates clutter - As you make changes within yourself, more of your belongings will fit the definition of clutter. Having the urge to discard things in your home or office is a sign of you stepping more fully into yourself and your abundance.

If you don't address the clutter, it will hold you where you were. If you are growing and changing you are continually creating clutter!

4. Unconscious clutter - Do you have beliefs that create conflict? Do you think you can't be wealthy AND care about people? Do you think you can't be successful working 4 days a week? These beliefs will be affecting your prosperity. Take time to re-examine them.

5. Clutter Vibration - everything has a vibration. If you have a feeling of not enough time, money or love in your life, it sets up a vibration that will block abundance. And, focusing on the fear of not having enough time or money draws more of that to you. On the other hand, the vibration of gratitude is the same as the vibration of abundance.

Create an attitude of gratitude. Keep a gratitude journal and each night before you go to sleep write down 5 things you are grateful for today. Focusing on gratitude rather than lack is one of the most powerful things you can do to attract the abundance vibration.

6. Language Clutter - The word 'want' means to desire without having! When you say you want something you are resonating with the vibration of lack, rather than flowing with the vibration of abundance. You are also complaining, at a subtle level. The Universe responds to requests, not complaints. Try using the words 'choose' or 'desire' - they may sound strange at first, but it's worth it to create a flow of energy.

7. Does your prosperity area feel abundant? Ask yourself, what do I currently own that represents abundance to me now? Once you have cleaned and cleared the clutter from your prosperity area, place this object there to create the vibration you choose to attract.

To discover where the prosperity area of your home or a room is, See http://www.LifeDesignStrategies.com/BaguaMap.html

8. Try this game. Place a bowl or container you love in the prosperity area of your home or a room. Each day, take a coin, give thanks for the abundance you already have, and the abundance coming to you and place the coin in the bowl. The increasing coins represent your increasing abundance.

At some point when it feels right and the bowl is nearing full, make a decision about what to do with that money and start over. This will work best once you have cleared the clutter and cleaned the area. And remember, what you focus on expands.

Clearing clutter is an important part of Feng Shui. Before you can create something new you need to make space for it. The changes you make in your environment are mirrored in your life and support you in making emotional shifts. Feng Shui can provide a welcome boost in living the life you want.

2003, Vicky White. All rights reserved. May be duplicated with attribution and copyright notice intact. http://www.LifeDesignStrategies.com/

Vicky White is a Certified Feng Shui Consultant and Life Coach who works with clients both locally and internationally. 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/

Do Feng Shui Remedies Really Work?

THE PREMISE

Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese art that has been practised for thousands of years. It is based on the idea that there should be a "balance" or harmony in the world. Everything around us has its proper place. If something is out of place and the balance is disturbed, this disruption can materialize as a feeling of uneasiness in the people around it, or as violence or lack of prosperity in the area.

Feng Shui, in all its various forms, acts to restore that balance and harmony. This balance can be in difference ways, such as health, prosperity, wealth and love. And a lot of it really works. The cities of Hong Kong and Singapore are prosperous capitals compared to their neighbors because they are located in places where the Feng Shui is perfect for a bustling metropolis. Even the house of Bill Gates, richest man in the world, is said to be located in the perfect location in the hills to bring its owner great wealth.

But why does Feng Shui not work for some people? In order to answer that, we need to look at its history.

THE HISTORY

Feng Shui originated from ancient China, a land that developed other skills and arts such as medicine, martial arts and the origins of chemical warfare. The knowledge of these skills were highly priced, and the masters of these skills understandably did not want their secrets to be known to others, for fear that the knowledge could be used for wrong purposes, or that the masters would lose their status and prestige once the knowledge became commonplace.

It is therefore expected that the masters might not have handed down all of their knowledge to their students. These students might have compiled whatever knowledge they had, and guessed the remainder that they did not learn from the masters. Some of these students were geniuses, able to replicate the miracles their masters had performed. Others were not so skilled, but used whatever knowledge they had to make a living for themselves. This scenario, when applied to Feng Shui, explains the various schools of Feng Shui that exist today. Some schools do work wonders, but there are also those that produce very little tangible effect.

There are many people who call themselves Feng Shui masters these days, more so now with the growth of the internet. So how do we tell which ones can really help you? Unfortunately, there isn't much we can do. After all, someone can say they are a master of a reputable school of Feng Shui even though they are merely charlatans. The best thing we can do is to find someone who has had their lives improved via Feng Shui, and get the name of the Feng Shui practitioner who helped them.

THE FAITH

However, another important aspect of getting Feng Shui to work is your belief in it. Just like the idols of the ancient Aztecs and the Cross of the Christians, Feng Shui figurines and artefacts act as "focuses". It will work if you believe in it.

For example, in modern pharmaceutical tests, the researchers always say that a drug is successful because it worked on a large percentage (say 75%) of their test subjects. But what about the other 25%? If the drug really works, why didn't it work for them? It could be that their body's physiology was different. But in most of the cases, the reason is psychological. If you truly believe that the medicine will not cure you, it won't, no matter how good it is. "It's all in your mind", as the psychologists like to say.

The same goes for Feng Shui. If you buy a Feng Shui figurine but think it's just some voodoo magic that probably won't work anyway, I can assure you that it won't work for you. You need to have faith in it. If you believe that Feng Shui can help you improve your life, it will.

For more information on Feng Shui, you can visit this Feng Shui page:
http://www.mandarin-ducks.com/fengshui.html

Steven maintains the Mandarin Duck Feng Shui website at http://www.mandarin-ducks.com. It provides information on how mandarin ducks are able to help improve relationships using Feng Shui principles.

webmaster@mandarin-ducks.com