Correcting Wrong Feng Shui Advice

 

Feng Shui is an amazing science and the number of masters, disciples, practitioners are growing at an amazing rate. As it gets more commercialized, many of us encounter a lot of conflicting advice and the correct usage of items gets lost through marketing hype. We start seeing items being described as being able to increase wealth, health, prosperity, fame, and solving world hunger at the same time. There is NO item or remedy that will do this. Learn about the common "advice" given and how they are wrong. Many sources of Feng Shui will claim to be "authentic", but hopefully this article will allow you to see through them. You dedicate your resources to this beautiful art and you have every right to know when a source is pretending to be "traditional" for the sake of a sale.

WRONG: Southeast is your Wealth Corner to enhance
RIGHT: Find your Wealth/Success corner by getting your Kua number
Most people's personal Wealth/Success corner will differ, and don't allow broad generalizations to tell you what is right. We were all born unique, and real Feng Shui knows this. For those whose Kua number is 8 or females with a Kua of 5, Southeast is actually your Total Loss Direction (the most inauspicious direction). If we were to follow the numbers/ratio calculation, 1 out of 2 people will have Southeast as a bad direction (e.g. Mishaps, Five Ghosts, Six Killings, Total Loss) that should not be stimulated. Placing a windchime in the Southeast will actually do more harm than good for you. Yes, following the Later Heaven Sequence, Southeast can be considered to be a Wealth corner, but it's not meant for individuals or normal households.

WRONG: Enhance your way to wealth and happiness first
RIGHT: Identify and remedy the bad sources of Feng Shui first, then only enhance
Proper traditional Feng Shui Masters from Asia will agree on one thing: you work on defence and remedies for your life/home first, and then only think about enhancing. Though in this day age, it's perfectly fine to want to enhance, you should keep in mind the best way to start is by going for remedies that can play dual roles (protective and enhancing). Crystals are great enhancers and in small quantities will benefit the user. I've met a client who was a big fan of Feng Shui and crystals, through her passion she placed many crystals in her NorthWest sector of home and this triggered and amplified the Illness Star in her home bring about sickness to her whole family. Items like Kuan Kong, Chung Kwei, Fuk Luk Sau are great items for protection that will play a secondary role in bringing in benefits to your home.

WRONG: Red is the color of Wealth to always use
RIGHT: Red is to amplify and signifies the Fire element. Use in moderate amounts
Red is an amplifier and should be used in moderation as well as careful consideration. They are also great for enhancing or activating metallic items, but again, they are used in small quantities. I've had a client who was told red was wealth, and thus painted her entire home office red. Unfortunately, this was her Mishaps direction and for that year, the Conflict Star was in that section. By having too much red in one area, will upset the 5 Wu Xing Element cycle, and when there is no balance, there is bad Feng Shui. The only times a lot of red will do good is for the first few days of events that welcome a new beginning. This could come in the form of a store opening, Lunar New Year and marriages.

WRONG: No clutter and a super mess-free/clean home is good Feng Shui
RIGHT: Organized and well kept is good Feng Shui, but your home must have character.
While having a clean and clutter free home is good Feng Shui, don't overdo it. Yes, you want chi to be able to flow freely in your home. Yes, keeping things clean and in good order is good Feng Shui. But you SHOULD have some forms 'clutter' to make it your home. Many of us will have a dislike for many reasons, but part of it is because it's so sterile, clean and to a point 'faceless' that we cannot relate to it or see it as an inviting place. You want your home to be 'lived in' and yours. Many so called Feng Shui Masters will say to keep your home as clean as possible, but having your baby daughter's soft toys on the sofa and her bedroom lying about is actually very good Feng Shui. It's HER home and her place of comfort and happiness. Many will consider her toys as 'clutter', but it's actually nice to have them around. The house is happy and alive with good vibes from her and her items, and this will make the flowing chi around your house the same. Organized and well kept is good. Too clean is bad.

WRONG: Brand new and polished items are best
RIGHT: Earth buried items are more potent because they have more knowledge
In traditional Feng Shui in China, items that have 'matured' are considered to be much more potent compared to the 'shiny and new' items. This is why that many items have been purposely buried in earth/soil so that they are given time to mature and absorb the energies before serving the owner. This is why you will find many earth buried items (ranging from coins to brass figurines) to be a bit more pricier compared to newer versions. Many of us have seen the famous I Ching Coins or Imperial Coins which look new/nice and go for more affordable prices. But if you want them to have more effectiveness, go for earth buried versions of them.

Of course there are many more misconceptions, but this is a good start by identifying the biggest offenders. Though almost everyone is guilty to a certain extent of adding a marketing spin to their products and services, remember to always take it with a grain of salt. Behind each rule and application in Feng Shui, there is always a solid explanation behind it. Learn the logic behind it and empower yourself with this knowledge. Next time you read or hear a source saying they are offering "traditional" or "authentic" Feng Shui, you'll know better.

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

Learn some feng shui guidelines for your children's room

 

Feng shui indicates some specific guidelines regarding children's spaces and bedrooms. The way we decorate them and the way we distribute the furniture should be done by following those principles in order to achieve harmony and help your children feel comfortable in that space.

One first important aspect to have into account about a child's room is the colors within it. You should pay special attention to the colors you choose for this space, not only for the walls but for the decoration in general. According to feng shui, a child's room should be in earth colors such as light oranges, terracotta or warm yellows. These colors would make them feel safe.

Colors that are cold, such as blue or gray shades should never predominate in a child's room, since they could bring them insecurity feelings. Besides, the wall and furniture colors should be in balance as well. It is also important to remark that too bright colors are not recommended for a child's bedroom.

If your child is very active, you should balance this through the colors you choose for his bedroom; they should be light and relaxing colors such as beiges or very light oranges. On the other hand, if your child is quiet, you should choose warm orange or yellow colors which would be in balance his personality.

As with all bedrooms, the bed position is very important. First of all, your child's bed should not be right across the door. Besides, it should ideally have a wall at one side and be in such a position that allows him to easily see the door. If possible, the bed should be in a corner since that would make the child feel secure and sleep better.

Also, the position in which the child sleeps can influence the time he wakes up and how deep he sleeps. If your child has problems waking up, you should place his bed in a position which allows him to sleep with his head towards east or south. On the other hand, if he has light sleep, his head should be towards north or west.

One first important aspect to have into account about a child's room is the colors within it. You should pay special attention to the colors you choose for this space, not only for the walls but for the decoration in general. According to feng shui, a child's room should be in earth colors such as light oranges, terracotta or warm yellows. These colors would make them feel safe.

Colors that are cold, such as blue or gray shades should never predominate in a child's room, since they could bring them insecurity feelings. Besides, the wall and furniture colors should be in balance as well. It is also important to remark that too bright colors are not recommended for a child's bedroom.

If your child is very active, you should balance this through the colors you choose for his bedroom; they should be light and relaxing colors such as beiges or very light oranges. On the other hand, if your child is quiet, you should choose warm orange or yellow colors which would be in balance his personality.

As with all bedrooms, the bed position is very important. First of all, your child's bed should not be right across the door. Besides, it should ideally have a wall at one side and be in such a position that allows him to easily see the door. If possible, the bed should be in a corner since that would make the child feel secure and sleep better.

Also, the position in which the child sleeps can influence the time he wakes up and how deep he sleeps. If your child has problems waking up, you should place his bed in a position which allows him to sleep with his head towards east or south. On the other hand, if he has light sleep, his head should be towards north or west.

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.fengshuicrazy.com. Please visit his website and learn all the feng shui tips you'll ever need!

 

Feng Shui - Positioning your Office for Success

 

Would you believe that you can position your office and office furniture in a way that positively affects your success and efficiency? Check out these Feng Shui tips for positioning your office for success!

The best position for your home office is facing south - this governs your fame area. Or, you could position your home study facing northeast - this governs your education and knowledge area. If these positions arent possible, try placing your desk in a south or northeast corner.

The best position for your desk is in the corner that is diagonally opposite the office door. You want to be able to see the doorway and who is coming into the room. If you sit with your back to the door youll always feel threatened. Of course, in my home office my desk is diagonally opposite the office door, but my back is to the door. The way I solved this problem was to position a mirror at my desk so I can see the doorway behind me -- now my husband cant sneak up on me anymore ;-)

Have a wall behind your chair, rather than a window, for symbolic support. If you have no choice, keep the blind down. Dont sit too close to the door, because it will make you feel unprotected and as if youre losing control.

There are a few other things that will help to position your home office for success. Clear the effects of electromagnetic stress from your computer by taking frequent breaks. Plus you can place a clear quartz or rose quartz crystal next to it to absorb negative emissions. Peace lilies and a cactus called Cirrus peruvianus will also absorb emissions.

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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. 
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.

10 Feng Shui Tips for Selling Your Home Easily & For More

 

10 Tips for Selling your Home Easily and For More by Vicky White

During the last 6 weeks, I have completed four Feng Shui consultations for people who wanted to sell their homes. Three sold their homes quickly and for good money, and with the 4th , they fell in love with their home all over again, and decided the timing wasnt right to move.

What each had in common was that they waited until they were selling to make improvements to their homes. Some of the changes were removing moss from the deck, removing last years dead flowers from hanging pots, replacing a broken doorbell, painting a laundry they had disliked for 7 years. For one, clearing a large amount of clutter inside the house was all it took to create a shift in energy and a sale. She didnt get around to completing my other suggestions.

In Feng Shui we work with the energy flow in the home, look at missing areas and balance elements, but many simple Feng Shui enhancements are common sense and make a huge difference to the feeling of a home. Just as potential buyers pick up on the feeling of a home, this energy will be affecting you continuously. Why wait until you are moving to make your home and your life really work for you?

If you decided to put your home on the market today, what changes would you make? (If you are renting imagine you own it.) What would you do to get the best price, without spending a lot of money? What would you suddenly find the time to do? What are you tolerating? Why not do it for yourself arent you worth it?

FENG SHUI ACTION STEPS

These simple steps will enable the energy to flow more smoothly in your home, which will have a powerful impact on your life and prosperity. They will also help if you are selling!

1.Repair anything around your home that is broken or not working well.

2.Fix all leaks immediately inside and out. These will be draining your finances.

3.Remove dead flowers and leaves on pot plants.

4.How does your home feel as you approach it? Do you feel welcomed home? What is something small you could do that would make a big difference?

5.Make sure the pathway to your front door is clear of obstacles such as overgrown plants, boxes or newspapers.

6.Walk around the outside of your home. Is there an area of clutter anywhere? This will be blocking your energy.

7.Begin clearing clutter from one room and continue around your house. Clutter is anything unfinished, unused, unresolved, tolerated, or disorganized.

8.Check all doorways to make sure nothing is blocking them from opening fully. Doors that stick or dont open fully, stop the good energy entering.

9.Make sure the street number of your home is clearly visible from the street. This will help money and opportunities find you.

10.Clean your house regularly. This will keep the energy fresh.

Pay attention to how you feel as you complete these items. Feng Shui will create powerful energy shifts in your environment, which will result in the changes you want in your life.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/

Feng shui dont's

 

There are some things which you should always try to avoid doing when looking for a feng shui balanced environment since they could be disastrous to such purpose. We intend to help you achieving a proper feng shui balance by detailing some of the most important feng shui donts through the next lines.

First of all, you should avoid living or working in an environment containing too much yin energy. Among the places which contain more yin energy we can find cemeteries, hospitals and churches. Also, you should avoid attracting to much yin into your space by opening the windows and doors regularly and allowing sun light enter.

You should also avoid living in a house that is much bigger or smaller than the neighboring ones. This could bring you misunderstandings and problems with your neighbors. Your house should never be placed facing the end of a road, or hallway in case of an office. Your house or offices entrance door should be clear and free of obstacles; there shouldnt be trees or any structure right in front of it.

You should never place furniture in such a way that there is not much space between them; there should always be space for chi to flow within any space. Besides, you should always avoid placing beds, chairs, sofas or desks right across main doors or with the back towards them. You and your guests should never be with your back right across the entrance door.

It is also important that you don't place too much of an element in the wrong area. If, according to the bagua map, a house area should contain water or metal to be in balance, you should avoid placing to much fire, earth or wood in them. It is also important to avoid dark corners; if you find a dark corner within your house or office, you should make it clearer by illuminating it or by placing a plant at it. Dark places and spots always attract yin energy and obstruct chi from flowing freely and properly, therefore you should always attract light and yang energy to every corner of your house and office.

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.fengshuicrazy.comPlease visit his website and learn all the feng shui tips you'll ever need!