Feng Shui tips

The first step in applying Feng Shui to your home is orientation, using the Ba-Gua scheme as a template. To make the Ba-Gua template, cut a piece of cardboard 3x3 inches square, divide it into 9 equal parts, and label it thus:

4 Prosperity 9 Fame 2 Relationships
3 Family 5 health 7 Children
8 Knowledge 1 Career 6 Patrons

Note 1 Career, should point north. These 9 areas relate to specific aspects of your life. By applying the diagram to your home or workplace, you can establish which rooms correspond to which areas of your life. Make changes in the designated area and it will change the corresponding area of your life.
Number 1, Career, tells you about yourself, your life path and how you value yourself.
Number 2, Relationships, includes those you have with your partner, business partner, and neighbours. If there is clutter here, or if plants placed there refuse to thrive, you must work on your relationships to effect corresponding changes.
Number 3, Family, relates to your roots, ancestors, family, and the relationship you have with your parents.
Number 4, Prosperity, indicates how easy or otherwise it is for you to create, and retain wealth, both tangible, and intangible or spiritual.
Number 5, T?ai Ji, is the centre of health, and well-being. Essentially, this is the most crucial area in which to control the flow, and circulation of Qi.
Number 6, Patrons, designated as the domain of spirits, and gods, this area represents all those who offer protection, support, and help in needful times.
Number 7, Children, denotes creativity, and activity. If you?re feeling stagnant in this zone, change something to encourage the flow.
Number 8, Knowledge, refers to education, and intuition, and shows how readily you cope with change.
Number 9, Fame, represents your public standing, the way others perceive you. This depends on inner maturity, and strength of character.

Place appropriate mementos in each designated area. Remember, the overriding principle is to encourage the flow, and circulation of Qi. Avoid clutter, and mess, which prevents the flow. More importantly, it will encourage the opposite of Qi, Sha Qi, or negative energy to accumulate, bringing depression, and tiredness. Qi flows out of windows, long straight passages, and especially through doors opposite windows, so site plants, lamps, and other items of furniture to encourage Qi to circulate in your home, and delay its swift passage.

Place plants in front of all sharp edges to block them, and use mirrors to strengthen Qi or diminish Sha Qi energy. Use crack-free mirrors to maximise the flow, and reflection. Watch the flow of smoking joss or incense sticks to determine what you need to change to channel, meander or circularise the flow.

Water must be flowing, not stagnant. Place natural objects such as pieces of wood, crystals or quartz stones in openly visible parts of the room, at different levels. Plants also represent a natural source of the peaceful, relaxing effect produced by the colour green.

Simple Feng Shui Bedroom Tips

A bedroom is supposed to be a sanctuary, a place where we can go to recharge tired batteries and rest. Unfortunately, for many people, the bedroom has bad Feng Shui and does not provide the rest, relaxation, and recharging that it should. The bedroom is also supposed to be a place of romance and connection with a special someone. Good Feng Shui can help to light the fires of romance, and make the bedroom more than just a place to hang your clothes.

The good news is, it's easy to map your bedroom according to good Feng Shui principles. You can create peace, tranquility, harmony, and romance in your bedroom. Here are some good Feng Shui tips to help in your bedroom.

The first step is to draw an outline of your bedroom on a piece of paper. Make the room roughly square, it doesn't have to be perfect. The main entrance to the room should be on the lower line of the square that you have drawn.

Next, draw three rows of three squares each, dividing the square into nine equal pieces.

Starting with the lowest row, you have the area of Knowledge in the left corner, the area of Career in the center, and the area of Help People and Travel on the right side. These three squares describe the area when you first walk into the bedroom.

The middle row of square describe the center of your bedroom. The left side is Family and Health, the center is considered the Tao, or Center, and the right hand square is the Creativity and Children section.

The top row of squares are, from left to right, the Wealth sector, Fame and Reputation in the center, and Relationships and Romance on the right.

So now, looking at your layout on the paper, it should be divided like this:

Wealth | Fame/Reputation | Relationships/Romance

Family/Health | Tao | Creativity/Children

Knowledge | Career | Helpful People/Travel

So now that you have your room organized, let's look at some objects that could be placed in those sectors to create the desired effect.

In the Knowledge sector, place some bookshelves or a bookcase. Fill it with books and other tools of self-improvement such as DVDs or audio books.

In the Career Sector, mirrors will help to reflect positive Chi, or energy and keep it flowing through your career. Water related items also help good Chi to pool in that area, increasing the opportunities in your career. If you have any pictures or objects that help to define your career goals, place them in this sector as well.

In the Helpful People and Travel sector put pictures of people who can or have helped you. Also place pictures of places you would like to visit, or places you have been and enjoyed.

The Family and Health sector is the best place to keep family heirlooms and photos. Keep plants in this area as well and make sure they thrive. Anything dead or dried is considered very bad Feng Shui, so make sure Flowers are fresh and do not display dried floral arrangements.

The Creativity and Children sector is the best place for your art supplies, any artwork you have done or are working on, and your computer, if you have one in your bedroom. Generally it is considered bad Feng Shui to have working materials in your bedroom, but if you must, this is the place.

In the Wealth sector is the place to keep your money, jewelry, or other things valuable. If you have fish, you should keep them here as they are thought to bring prosperity in this sector. The colors red, purple, and gold are also used to increase prosperity in the wealth sector.

Keep any Awards you might have in the Fame and Reputation sector. Candles are also good here along with plants, and the colors red, orange, or purple.

Finally, in the Relationships and Romance sector, place round or oval mirrors to keep the good Chi flowing. Pictures of loved ones are good here, along with the color pink. Feng Shui believes that pairs of ducks are good because ducks mate for life. If you don't like ducks, any paired objects like candlesticks or small statues will help create good Feng Shui in this area of your life.

Since our bedroom is such a reflection of who we are and what we value, it is important to start your journey to good Feng Shui here. In time, with some of these Feng Shui bedroom tips in place, you will see improvements in the areas where you are looking for help.

Charles Chang is a Feng Shui enthusiast and author. He enjoys helping others with feng shui through his articles and website.