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- A Sampling from Past
- "Feng Shui - Ask The Practitioner" Columns
- Dear Practitioner,
- I have been in a series of bad relationships, and I really want things to change. What can I do to create a better love life for myself?
- Nancy
- Howell, NJ
- Dear Nancy,
- While there are many factors that go into a good relationship, good feng shui can definitely help! Take the following steps:
- ¨ remove distractions (TV, exercise machines, etc.) from the bedroom
- ¨ remove all mirrors from your bedroom, especially if they reflect the bed
- ¨ replace pictures of single persons or animals with pictures of happy couples
- ¨ ensure that both sides of your bed are easily accessible
- ¨ place a pair of manderin ducks or lovebirds, made of rose quartz, porcelain, or clay, in the southwest corner of your bedroom
- ¨ place a pair of red or pink scented candles in the southwest corner of your bedroom
- ¨ place a large round earthenware pot or jar in the southwest sector of your home
- SLEEPING DIRECTIONS
- Dear Practitioner,
- I was born on July 10, 1963 and my husband, who is the primary breadwinner, was born on November 16, 1962. Which direction should our bed face?
- Meg
- Ellenville, NY
- Dear Meg,
- This is an excellent question since the direction in which a person sleeps can determine how restful a night they will have, and can have an effect on their overall health. Using an individual’s date of birth, their lucky and unlucky directions can be calculated. Traditionally, the direction that is best for the primary breadwinner took precedence. In modern feng shui, we try to determine the overall best direction for both individuals. The west is a good sleeping direction for both you and your husband. For your husband, west represents Tien Yi, the best health direction. For you, west is Nien Yen, the longevity direction. The head of your bed should point towards the west.
- FOUNTAIN IN THE HOUSE
- Dear Practitioner,
- What effect would a small fountain have in my house?
- Doug T.
- Danbury, CT
- Dear Doug,
- Flowing water can bring prosperity, as long as it is properly positioned. In general, a fountain would be best located in the north or southeast sectors of a home. However, a fountain should not be placed in a bedroom. In the north, it will help create career success. In the southeast, a fountain would help attract material wealth.
- A WELCOMING FRONT ENTRANCE
- Dear Practitioner,
My front door is white with a small covered porch, and faces south. There is a walkway from the porch to the driveway. Could I make the front entrance more welcoming by putting a walkway directly from the front porch to the street?
Barbara M.- Endicott, NY
- Dear Barbara,
A walkway from your main door to the street would be auspicious. The walkway should be curved rather than straight, and also of a comfortable width. A straight walkway would be a powerful "poison arrow", shooting harsh & negative energy right to your main door.
Your front door faces south. South is associated with the element fire and the color red. Also, red attracts positive energy and prosperity to a main entrance. Consider repainting your door a bright shade of red. Also, keep your main entrance brightly lit.
Since south is also the direction associated with the celestial
phoenix, a statue of a bird would be auspicious and could be placed alongside the new walkway. A bird about to take flight symbolizes the beginning of good times!
BASEMENT STUDIO APARTMENT - Dear Practitioner,
- How do I bring about prosperity in a basement studio, where the Southeast corner of the room is missing. There is an outside stairwell that leads to the apartment upstairs. Outside my basement window lie trash cans that
cannot be moved. Since the studio is my living and bedroom together, I cannot place a small water fountain in this area. Or can I? I need help desperately to bring in more money to live in New York City.
Starving Artists, Astoria, NY
Dear Starving Artists,
An oddly-shaped basement studio starts out with serious challenges to its feng shui, and these would certainly be a barrier to your wealth luck. However, there are effective "cures" that can be put in place.
The southeast is associated with wealth. With the SE corner of your studio missing, thereby forming an "L", it can be treated as 2 rooms - the main area being one & the alcove formed by the "L" being another. Try to demarcate the living and sleeping areas using a decorative screen. It can be as effective to energize the small (room-level) chi in the SE of each "room", as it would be to energize the large (apartment-level) chi.
Take the following steps:
A basement does not do a good job of attracting auspicious energy. This can be helped by a brightly lit entrance. Place a bright light or a small crystal chandelier over the inside of the entranceway.
Improve the view through that window! Consider attractive
sheer curtains. Hang a crystal in the center of the window. If the sun comes through, you will get little rainbows of good fortune all over the room.
Soften the jutting corner formed by the "L". A small round pedestal with a laughing Buddha or a Chinese wealth god would be ideal!
In the SE sector of your living area, place a healthy & thriving jade plant. Underneath the plant, place a large denomination dollar bill - the plant will symbolically grow the money!
A small water fountain in the north or southeast of your living area would be fine, away from the sleeping area. Turn it off at night!
Get a three-legged toad and place it on the floor under a piece of furniture near your front door, facing in.
Purchase some old Chinese coins. These have square holes in the center, and one side has 4 Chinese characters - this is the "yang" side. Tie 3 of these coins together using a red thread or ribbon. Make several sets! Place them in your wallet or purse. Glue a set, "yang" side up, on each of your sources of income (rubber cement works well). If opportunities may come to you
through the mail, glue a set to the mailbox. I have them on my phone and computer monitor, too!
And let's not forget the "inner feng shui". Practice gratitude! Avoid a complaining or resentful attitude. Appreciate that which you do have and you will attract even more!
DORM LIVING - Dear Practitioner,
What advice would you give about creating harmony in a dorm room? Many entry level students are nervous and uncomfortable during the first few months in the college setting. How can students create a comfortable, relaxing, homey environment in a not too comfortable and very small area? What familiar items would you tell a college student to bring from home? And, what items, arrangement, and decoration would you suggest to keep students from becoming lonely?
Rebecca S. - SUNY Plattsburgh, NY
- Dear Rebecca,
- When moving into a furnished dorm room, a first step should be a space clearing ceremony to clear out residual energy left behind by prior occupants. An excellent book on this is “Space Clearing: How to Purify and Create Harmony in Your Home”
by Denise Linn. - College students should sleep with their heads pointed towards their personal Fu Wei, or personal growth direction, and they should face that direction when studying. If you send me your birthdate, I can tell you which direction is your Fu Wei. The study desk should be located in the northeast sector of the room, since that sector is associated with education. Place a quartz crystal on the northeast corner of the desk.
- To minimize homesickness, I would encourage students away at school to maintain close ties with their family. The east sector of the room is associated with family and would be an auspicious location for happy photos of their family back home.
- The southwest is associated with relationships. The southwest sector can be energized with a bright standing lamp. This will give a boost to the student’s social life and help prevent loneliness.
- HELPFUL FRIENDS NEEDED
- Dear Practitioner,
- I really need helpful friends! Except for a closet, the northwest sector of my apartment is missing. Should I put something on one of the shelves? Maybe a wind chime on the closet ceiling? There is a bathroom on the other side of the closet wall, used by tenants in my rooming house. Should I do something there?
- Barbara K., Seaside Heights, NJ
Dear Barbara, - Energizing the northwest sector of your home will help ensure that you have the mentors and “helpful friends” that you need in your life.
- The tenant's bathroom is not the answer - when you energize a bathroom, you are basically asking for your luck to go down the drain.
- The thing to do in this case is to energize the "small chi" in the northwest sector of your own bedroom.
- In the northwest corner of your bedroom, hang a picture of the powerful CHIEN trigram. This is nothing more than 3 horizontal stripes.
- You can create the picture yourself using colored tape &/or paper &/or foil. Use any combination of white, silver, gold, or gray. Silver on gold or vice versa would be especially auspicious!
- In the same corner: Hang a wind chime of 6 hollow metal rods. Locate one or more crystals or stones there. If you own an electric fan, place it there. Do NOT have any type of lamp located in that corner. Do NOT have anything with the color red there.
- INTERIOR BRICK
- Dear Practitioner,
- I am moving into a newly renovated apartment where most of its layout is great in terms of Feng Shui. The one drawback is that our front door faces west. Also, the first thing you see when you walk in is a flat 2 foot wide brick column that sort of juts out but is not right in your face. We were thinking of hanging or displaying something inviting and pleasant there but don't know what. Any advice on making the entrance inviting and harmonious?
Also, at least half of our walls are exposed brick. We love the brick, but are wondering if we need to balance all the red (fire) or brick (earth) with another element?
John R. - Dear John,
Without having more information, I do not know why a west-facing door is a "drawback". It is true that in ancient China, south was considered the best direction for a main door to face. However, this is not a requirement for good Feng Shui.
With the information given, it is difficult to evaluate the impact of the brick column on your main door. However, the main door is so important that great effort should be taken to protect it from "poison arrows" and other negative energy sources. A good solution would be to cover the wall having a jutting column with a decorative screen or with several tall potted plants.
An excellent feature for an entry hall is a large Laughing Buddha facing the door. It is believed that the Laughing Buddha delights in carrying away people's troubles and replacing them with happiness and prosperity. I have one in my entry hall and it is wonderful to see the Buddha's smile as you walk in the door!
It is desirable to have a balance of elements in each room of your home. The five elements used in Feng Shui are fire, earth, metal, water, and wood. Specific elements should be emphasized in each directional sector of your home, but always with the other 4 elements present! In the south, emphasize the fire element. In the southwest, northeast, and center, emphasize earth. In the west and northwest, emphasize metal. In the north, emphasize water. And, in the east and southeast, the emphasis is on wood. The presence of the other elements is always needed to balance, feed, and control the predominant element.
Red brick walls represent the elements earth, fire, and wood. Earth is represented by a brick's earthern material. Fire is represented by its red color. Wood is symbolized by its rectangular shape. Each element relates to the other elements in specific ways. Wood nourishes and strengthens fire, and is kept under control by fire. Fire nourishes earth, and is controlled by earth. Earth is strongly dominated by wood. However, in red brick walls, the fire-weakened wood will not keep the fire-strengthend earth under control. The result is a balance of 3 elements, with only earth left strong enough to be a factor. In the northeast, southwest, and center sectors of your home, earth is energizing. Elsewhere, do not let the earth element dominate the room. The addition of wood in the form of plants will cure this.
INCREASING PROSPERITY- Dear Practitioner,
For financial reasons, I became interested in Feng Shui last summer when I lost my job. I bought a book about it, purchased a compass, tied a red ribbon around one of my plants, put some coins underneath it, and faced it southeast. Also, put crystals in the front windows of my house facing east. My front door is white with a small covered porch (with chimes) facing east. There is a straight wide walkway from the front porch to the sidewalk and a tree on the street side of the sidewalk. I cannot change the walkway from straight to curved.
How can I improve my chances of prosperity after being laid off from a job I liked a lot? What else could I do to improve the nature and flow of energy into my environment?
Barbara- Binghamton, NY
- Dear Barbara,
- It sounds like there are problems with the energy coming through your front door. Since the main door of your house impacts the flow of "chi" throughout the house, these problems need attention.
- Is the tree directly facing your front door? If it is a distance away, a metal wind chime between the door and the tree will deflect the "poison arrow". The wind chime should not be directly in front of the door, and its size and positioning should insure that nobody will walk or sit under it. However, if the tree is so close and imposing as to block the positive energy coming in, then it is advisable to place a small Pa Kua mirror over the door as a defensive measure. This is an octagon-shaped symbol with a small mirror in the center. It is available with flat, convex, or concave mirrors. In this case, a flat mirror should be used. Make sure, at the very least, that no branches are pointing right at your door. If so, those branches should be removed. Place a large black mat on the porch in front of the door.
- Although you cannot reroute your walkway, you can still slow down the rushing energy aimed directly at your front door. Use bushes, flower beds, or lights located along both sides of the walkway but not opposite each other. This will produce a slower meandering flow of energy.
- Ensure that your entryway is well lit, inside and out. The porch should have a bright light, and a crystal chandelier would be ideal for the entry hall. These can be purchased at most home centers and needn’t be expensive.
- I am very sorry that you lost a job that you liked, however I take the attitude that when one door in life closes there is a better door waiting to be opened. Rather than feeling bad about what was lost, be open to the possibility that far better opportunities are waiting for you to snatch them up! Decide what you really want to do next, prepare yourself adequately, and let the world get out of your way!
- Here are a couple of power tips to help you along:
- Place a water feature in the north sector of your home (but not in your bedroom). This will help to activate your career prospects. A small fountain would be great. Or, if you like fish and can give them the care and attention they need, a small aquarium would be extremely auspicious. Fill it with 9 goldfish – 8 gold in color and 1 black.
- Create a "wealth ship". Obtain a nice-sized wooden model of a merchant ship, such as a Chinese Junk. Place it on a table in your entry hall, facing in. Load up the deck with coins, jewelry, and imitation gold ingots. There are also large gold plastic ships imported from China which work very well. Your wealth ship will symbolize prosperity and career success coming into your life!
- FENG SHUI FOR CARS
- Dear Practitioner,
- I have incorporated feng shui throughout my house and life and have great success with it and absolutely love it!
I was wondering if any particular color is more auspicious than others when purchasing a new car? The car that we will be purchasing is primarily for my husband's every day use but of course I will be riding along with him on weekends.
My husband's birthday is December 24, 1958, and my birthday is November 13, 1959.
Also, would it be helpful for my husband to hang a crystal from his rearview mirror for protection. He has a daily, 180-mile round trip highway commute, and I would like him to have as much protection as possible!
Thanks so very, very much for your help!- Blessings to you,
Doris
Wall, NJ
Dear Doris,
There are no automobile colors that are better across the board. However, certain colors are better for you as an individual.
According to Feng Shui, everything in the universe is categorized under five
basic elements. Colors are associated with the elements as follows:
Earth - brown, yellow, beige, terra cotta, earth tones
Metal - white, gray, silver, gold
Water - blue, black
Wood - green
Fire - red, purple
Certain colors fall under more than one element, depending on the shade. For example, a vivid "hot" orange would be fire, while a duller "earthy" orange would represent earth.
The elements relate to each other in specific ways, and the most important of these is the "cycle of creation":
Earth creates Metal (metal is mined from the earth)
Metal creates Water (water condenses onto cool metal)
Water creates Wood (water nourishes trees)
Wood creates Fire (wood fuels fire)
Fire creates Earth (ashes return to the earth)
Each calendar year is also associated with one of the elements, and the element of your birth year is believed to influence your life. The most nourishing and supportive colors for you would be colors representing the element of the year of your birth, AND the colors associated with the
element that CREATES your birth year element.
For a person born, for example, in a wood year, green would be excellent since that is the color of wood. Blue or black, the colors of water, are also just as beneficial since water creates wood.
Since many of us spend a great deal of time in our vehicles, it is a good idea to drive a car in one of our most beneficial colors.
Based on your birthdates, earth is the element for both you and your husband.
The best car colors for you would be earth or metal colors, including brown, yellow, beige, terra cotta, earth tones, white, gray, silver, and gold.
Hanging a Mayan Music Ball by a red ribbon from the rear view mirror is believed to offer protection in a car. A Mayan Music Ball is a small silvery ball, hand made in Central America, about 3/4" in diameter, hollow and with a bell inside. These are popular in England but a bit tricky to find locally. I've noticed that several British companies on the internet will ship them over. Do a web search on "Mayan Music Balls". Of course, this must be used in conjunction with safe driving practices. Personally, I stick to a safe speed and try to make sure there is plenty of space all around my car at all times.
WIND CHIMES- Dear Practitioner,
- How are wind chimes used in Feng Shui? Are all wind chimes equally effective?
- Windy,
- Delhi, NY
- Dear Windy,
- In Feng Shui, windchimes are used both to cure certain types of problems, and to enhance positive energy. Generally, the windchimes used in traditional Feng Shui are made of hollow metal rods. If the windchime is the type that is topped by a metal pagoda, this is considered especially auspicious. Windchimes made of glass, ceramic, shells, solid metal rods or other materials are mainly decorative and are generally not effective for the practice of Feng Shui.
- Here are a few applications of windchimes in Feng Shui:
- When the chi, or life energy, rushes through a room, as in a long narrow hallway, windchimes can be used to slow the energy down.
- In a room where there is an excess of earth energy, or where the Flying Star Feng Shui formulas show detrimental energy caused by an earth element “star”, a 6-rod metal windchime can alleviate the problem.
- When a jutting corner of a wall or piece of furniture creates a “poison arrow”, the sharp shooting energy can be dispersed by a windchime.
- When a slanted ceiling or an exposed beam produces detrimental downward pressure, a windchime is one possible cure for this architectural feature.
- Two or more doors in a row produce chi that is excessively sharp. A windchime between the doors can improve this.
- Windchimes help to counter negative or stagnant energy that may be present in certain rooms.
- In the western sector of a home, a 6 or 7-rod windchime will enhance the luck and development of the children in the household.
- In the northwest sector of a home, a 6 or 7-rod windchime will help insure that the occupants have the needed support of mentors and helpful people in their lives.
- Windchimes are beautiful and their sound helps maintain a healthy flow of chi in the home. However, in most situations, windchimes are effective even if they never make a sound.
- Metal windchimes should not be hung in the southeast or east sectors of a home, as they will be destructive to the wood energy needed in those sectors.
- Windchimes should be hung out of the way, where nobody will walk or sit under them.
- HOUSE PLANTS
- Dear Practitioner,
- Are house plants beneficial to the feng shui of a home? What about cut flowers? Dried flowers? Artificial flowers?
- Jean D.
Syracuse, NY
Dear Jean,
House plants are excellent – they help circulate the good chi in your home, they help keep the air fresh, and can contribute to good luck and prosperity!- Some house plants are considered more desirable than others. Among the best are jade plants and philodendrons.
- Certain types of plants should not be kept in the house. For example:
- Avoid cacti or any other plants with thorns.
- Plants with pointed or spiky leaves, such as yucca and most palms, are best not kept in the house.
- Bonsai trees, with their stunted energy, are to be avoided.
- Cut or artificial flowers bring welcome color to the house. Dried flowers should not be used.
- BAD HABITS AND FENG SHUI
- Dear Practitioner,
- I am trying to implement Feng Shui in my home and life. I would absolutely LOVE to have a consultant, such as yourself, come to my home but money is a HUGE problem for us. Here's the question - Can bad personal habits (smoking, eating sugar and fat) affect the feng shui that one tries to implement?
- Thank you,
- DJ
- Endwell, NY
- Dear DJ,
- Feng Shui, properly applied, tends to make our environment more comfortable, less harsh, and generally healthier. When someone experiences an improvement in the Feng Shui of their home, they often become more sensitive to their surroundings and more aware of what is going on around them.
- Smoking, poor diet, and other habits that we know to be unhealthy, are often about pushing down feelings, emotions and needs that we may not be ready to deal with directly. These habits tend to make us less sensitive to our environment and our surroundings, and this in turn makes it more difficult to recognize where bad Feng Shui may be causing us problems.
- But don’t despair! It's true that unhealthy habits may make it more difficult to be sensitive to your surroundings. However, it works both ways! Improving your Feng Shui can improve overall health! Many people find that when they live and work in surroundings that support their health and their personal goals, it becomes easier and more natural to live in a healthier way, and easier to gradually put aside habits that are not helpful.
- I feel that, in order to get the very best results from Feng Shui, some "inner Feng Shui" work is often called for! By "inner Feng Shui", I mean learning to really love ourselves, and to become more sensitive to our own needs. This may sound selfish at first glance, but it really is not. When you learn to really love, accept, and care for yourself and your feelings, you'll find that you have so much more to offer to others! For the very best in "inner Feng Shui", I recommend the work of Louise Hay. Consider reading "You Can Heal Your Life" by Louise L. Hay. I was fortunate enough to discover this wonderful book when it first came out in the mid-1980's, and it really did change my life!
- FENG SHUI PACKAGE DESIGN
- Dear Practitioner,
- I work in package design for a major manufacturer of personal care products. In recent years, there has been a trend toward herbal products. I believe that a segment of that same market would like to see packaging designed with Feng Shui in mind. Do you have any suggestions?
- Dave
- New York, NY
- Dear Dave,
- Use of Feng Shui in packaging is a good idea. However, when properly applied, you would never know that Feng Shui was used. Here is how authentic Feng Shui would be applicable to packaging a personal care product:
1. Use a color combo that is extremely visible and clear, such as red lettering on a yellow background.
2. Having said that, due to the nature of the product, focus on the water element – represented by blues & blacks, and wavy lines or shapes - or on the wood element - represented by greens & rectangular designs.
3. Use a logo that does not point destructively nor otherwise cause harm to the company or product names.
4. Print the company and product names in large and prominent lettering.
5. Use auspicious measurements when designing the package size – certain measurements promote good luck while other measurements may hinder it.
Some market segments would probably like to see a Feng Shui design that is gimmicky but not authentic. For example, packaging based on the cycle of 5 elements, or featuring objects generally associated with Feng Shui such as windchimes, fountains, etc. While such a gimmick may appeal to certain individuals, correct use of authentic Feng Shui will greatly promote the success of a product in the consumer marketplace. - CANDLES
- Dear Practitioner,
- I like to burn candles and have some really wonderful ones. Where, in my house, can I burn these either auspiciously or at least where they'll do no harm?
- Thanks so much,
- Laurie B.
- Elmira, NY
Dear Laurie,- Candles are a great addition to a home as they tend to stimulate the flow of chi, or life energy. Of course, candles should be used with care and lit candles should not be left unattended.
- Candles primarily add stimulating yang energy. In the living room, where the stimulation of yang energy is desired, candles can be used to add uplifting color and scent, and to help keep the positive energy flowing.
- In the south sector of your home, candles enhance the fire energy that promotes a good reputation and getting your name or business known.
- On the dining table, candlelight creates a soft romantic mood.
- Do not overuse candles in a room used mainly for relaxation and sleep, in which the emphasis should be on quiet and calm yin energy. Having said that, a single pair of candles in the southwest sector of the bedroom is very positive for romantic relationships. Red or pink scented candles are best for this purpose.
- A HEALTHIER HOME
- Dear Practitioner,
- I recently had a bilateral lung transplant, and I am moving into a new home soon. I would like to know what I can do to my house to make it a healthy environment. I am also getting married, so I have a few things on my plate. What could you suggest that would create a healthy place to live?
- Also, My birthday is February 8th, 1977, what direction shall I sleep? My fiance's birthdate is June 11, 1977.
Heidi - Bakersfield, CA
- Dear Heidi,
- There are many steps you can take to make your home a healthier place. Here are some suggestions:
- · perform a thorough space clearing on your new home.
- · avoid clutter - have a yard sale before the move.
- · hardwood or linoleum floors are preferable to wall-to-wall carpeting; small area rugs that can be washed often are fine.
- · whenever you enter the house, leave your outdoor shoes at the door; ask your guests to do the same.
- · use natural cleaning and laundry products, such as citrus or tea tree oil-based products - avoid harsh chemicals or perfumes.
- · avoid "anti-bacterial" soaps and cleaning products.
- · do not use aerosol sprays indoors.
- · stay back from electronic equipment, including TVs and computers, and keep electronic alarm clocks at least 3 feet from your bed!
- · avoid microwave oven use, and stay away while it cooks.
- · avoid using hand-held cell phones.
- · invest in a HEPA air cleaner.
- · install an effective water filter.
- · use hypo-allergenic vacuum bags.
- · use bedding made of natural materials.
- · sleep with your head pointed in your "tien yi", or best health, direction - send me your birthdate & I'll tell you which direction this is.
- · protect yourself with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers.
- · keep your home well-ventilated year-round.
- · use full-spectrum lighting; avoid halogen or flourescent bulbs.
- · ensure that no sharp corners, or other "poison arrows", point at you when you sit or sleep.
- · ensure that no "poison arrows" are aimed at your main door - this includes tree branches pointed at the door.
- · display symbols of longevity, such as a healthy bamboo plant, a statue of a tortoise, and a small dried bottle gourd
- Your "lucky" directions are:
- S – growth, personal development, advancement luck
- SE – health & longevity luck
- N – love, marriage, & family luck
- E – wealth & success luck
- Your fiance's best directions are:
- SW – growth, personal development, advancement luck
- W – health & longevity luck
- NW – love, marriage, & family luck
- NE – wealth & success luck
- As you can see, your directions are in conflict with those of your fiance. The best "compromise" sleeping directions would be the east or northeast, as these will be the least negative for your fiance and for you respectively. In most bedrooms, only one of these two directions will allow the headboard to rest against the wall, and I would recommend that as your best overall sleeping direction.
- COLORS FOR BUSINESS
- Dear Practitioner,
I am a fitness and bodybuilding instructor. Can you please advise me what color (or dominant color) I should use for my office, and on my business cards and stationery. And, should I wear predominantly black clothing?
My date of birth is June 5, 1954.
Thank you very much,
Calvin
Singapore- Dear Calvin,
One of the underlying principles of Feng Shui is wu-xing, or the five elements. Everything in our world can be seen in terms of these five elements. Here are the elements and their basic associated colors: - EARTH METAL WATER WOOD FIRE
- brown white blue green red
- beige gray black aqua purple
- yellow silver
- gold
- The elements relate to each other in specific ways, one of which is the "cycle of creation":
- EARTH creates METAL creates WATER creates WOOD creates FIRE creates EARTH
- Each year is associated with an element. You were born in 1954, a year of the wood element. Wood, as you can see above, is represented by shades of green. Water, represented by blues and black, is the element that creates wood. Therefore, speaking in very general terms, a shade of blue or green may be an energizing color for your office walls.
Now, let me explain why the above information is only a generality. Buildings have unseen energies, also called "flying stars", flowing through them. This energy is unique to each structure, and changes over time. To know the office colors that will really bring you the greatest success, it is important to detemine how the unseen energies actually lay out. This can be determined using the ancient formalae of traditional Feng Shui. These consider the building's construction date, its exact positioning on the earth, and other factors. Wood (green) or water (blue) energy in your office, which appears beneficial to you in general terms, may or may not actually help you. A professional consultation, using the methodologies of traditional Feng Shui, could determine this for you.
Now, to your question about black clothing. Black represents water and water creates wood, which is the element of your birth year. Therefore, black clothing would be fine for you. But, in choosing clothing, other factors in addition to your personal element should be considered. Does black feel good to you? Does it go well with your personal coloring? Is it compatible with the climate? Dark colors attract heat while light colors reflect it. Therefore, wearing black during the daytime in tropical Singapore, could prove very uncomfortable!
Like everything else, each type of business is related to one or more of the five elements. For your business cards and stationary, consider the element associated with the business you are in, OR the element that creates that element (see the "cycle of creation" above). - Metal is the element of the computer and electronics industries, jewelry, machinery, automobiles, government and the law. Wood relates to gardening, lumber, furniture, carpentry, publishing, crafts, art and design, hospitals, and manufacturing. Water is associated with energy, media, communication, travel and transportation, cleaning services, employment services, drinking establishments, banking and investments. Fire deals with department stores, hair styling and beauty, marketing, fashion, chemicals, restaurants and food. Earth represents agribusiness, antiques, real estate, construction, and warehousing.
- LIGHTNING STRIKES REPEATEDLY
- Dear Practitioner,
- I am writing on behalf of 2 friends who live in your area. They do a lot of energy work in their veterinary practice, and have become interested in Feng Shui. They have added just a few crystals, a fountain, a Pa Kua mirror, and made a few other general changes to improve energy in their home and office.
- For some reason, their buildings keep being hit hard by lightning. In the past 5 years, lightning has 4 times completely destroyed their phone system and computers – even computers that were not on! Does this mean anything in terms of Feng Shui?
- Can you suggest any way of moderating whatever energy in causing these serious and destructive lightning hits?
- I don’t know if this could make any difference, but they do have electric fences for their horses – though so do other people who don’t get hit by lightning.
- Thank you for any help you can give!
- Olga
- Richmond, ME
- Dear Olga,
- It is not very unusual for a building to attract lightning. The Empire State Building, an extreme example, is hit about 25 times a year.
- Judging from the property map included with your letter, certain characteristics of your friend’s property may contribute to the lightning strikes. These include the fact that the house juts out of the hillside, the scarcity of trees nearby, and the close proximity of the pond.
- Several Feng Shui principles may help to improve this situation.
- Ideally, a home or business site should be surrounded by four symbolic celestial animals which serve a protective function. These are the tortoise, which can be represented by a hill, tall trees, or a high fence behind the building. The dragon is usually a mound or tall plantings to the left of the structure (looking from the outside). The tiger is a mound or plantings to the right or the structure. The dragon should always be taller than the tiger. The 4th animal, the phoenix, can be in the form of a small mound in front of the building.
- On the property map, it appears that the hill behind and to the left of the house form the tortoise and dragon, but the celestial tiger to the right seems to be missing. The tiger can be created by a row of small trees planted along the east bank of the pond. This may make the house less prominent on the landscape, hopefully reducing its attractiveness to lightning. Also, since a body of water may attract lightning, the trees may inhibit arcing between the pond and the house.
- An excess of metal energy may attract lightning. Are there any large amounts of metal on the exterior of the house, or nearby? Try relocating metal objects that are movable to at least 70 feet from the house. This includes metal rowboats or swing sets. Lightning often travels 50 feet or more along the ground after it hits.
- An electric fence will probably not attract lightning, but any metal fence could transmit lightning dangerously close to the house.
- Turn off computers and other major electronics during lightning storms.
- Have each building’s lightning protection system inspected and upgraded if necessary.
- Install effective surge protectors for all electronics and major appliances.
- And one final point. You mention that your friends have hung a Pa Kua mirror, but you do not say where. I assume and hope that it is outdoors. Most Pa Kua mirrors on the market are made incorrectly and do nothing. However, an authentic Pa Kua mirror, placed indoors, can create energetic havoc. Even outdoors, it is a cure that should be used with caution, and only when really necessary.
- CLUTTER AND ROMANCE
- Dear Practitioner,
I am a 23 year old man of Asian decent. I am having problems talking to women. Tell me what can I do in my house to increase my luck. Girls used to come up to me and talk to me, now I can't get any contact with them. I sleep in a room where my bed is facing the window (east side). Parallel to my bed is my desk. I have a lot of things (baseball cards in boxes, books) stacked near the end of my bed. I never really believed in Feng Shui, but I am willing to give it a try if you would help. Thank you for your attention.
- Sincerely,
Lee - New York, NY
- Dear Lee,
- Feng Shui can help with your situation. I understand that you are skeptical, but that does not matter. Feng Shui works whether you believe in it or not – it is just a matter of making the right adjustments in your environment.
- A two-pronged approach is needed here – we need to energize your social life and enhance your romance luck.
- Let’s start by clearing the clutter from your bedroom. Clutter can bog your life down and block your progress. The things that you own should benefit you or enhance your life in some way. Take a look at everything in your bedroom and keep only that which is currently useful or relevant to you. Books that are no longer important or significant should go. If you have a collection that you enjoy, find a way to display it so that it makes you feel happy and proud. Clothing that you haven’t worn for at least two years should go as well.
- In general terms, the southwest is the sector of a room where your romance and relationship luck can be energized. Let’s focus on the southwest of your bedroom & living room.
- Purchase a pair of mandarin ducks. This very specific type of duck can sometimes be found in Chinatown in large cities, or contact me and I can get them for you. If you can obtain a pair made of rose quartz, these are especially auspicious. Mandarin ducks are among the most powerful symbols for attracting love and romantic relationships. Tie a red thread or ribbon around each of the ducks, and place them in the southwest corner of your bedroom. Position the ducks as if they are coming from your nien yen direction. Your nien yen is the direction from which your greatest romance luck will come. If you send me your birthdate, I will send you your nien yen.
- In the southwest corner of your living room, place a pair of red candles on stone or stone-like candle holders (do not use smooth marble). There is no need to actually light the candles! Also, near the southwest corner of your living room, place a bright standing lamp.
- Now, to really get things moving, take the following additional steps:
- Remove any distractions, such as a TV or exercise machine from your bedroom.
- If any mirrors reflect the bed, remove them.
- Locate your bed so it is comfortably accessible from both sides.
- Do you have any pictures of single persons or animals in your home? If so, replace them with pictures of happy couples.
- Make sure that your home is comfortable to members of both sexes. It should not feel either too “masculine” or too “feminine”.
- Do some “inner Feng Shui” work! Use positive affirmations! Fill your mind with positive affirmative thoughts about relationships. A few examples:
- “I am a wonderful person who deserves love.”
- “My ideal relationship is now being created for me.”
- “I have so much love to give and I am so open to receiving love.”
- Repeat the affirmations frequently! Say them silently, say them out loud, write them down, or all of the above! If the positive thoughts feel odd or unnatural, that just means that they are working on your subconscious – keep the positivity going and before long your consciousness will change.
- Powerful forces are being put to work on your behalf. Help them along! Be open and receptive, put yourself in situations where you may meet new people, relax, be friendly, and just have fun!
- FEELING SAFE AT HOME
- Dear Practitioner,
- Following the recent horrible events in our country, I have not felt safe, even in my own home. I know that it is irrational, but I have trouble sleeping and concentrating because I feel so frightened, insecure and unsafe. Can Feng Shui help me to feel safer in my own home?
- Millie G.
- Long Beach, NY
- Dear Millie,
- There are a number of things you can do.
- Place a pair of Fu Dogs either outside, on either side of your front door, or inside, looking out towards your front door.
- Obtain a wu lou, or bottle gourd, and display it near the center of your home. This natural gourd, available in Chinese emporiums or Feng Shui stores, is an effective symbol of protection.
- Sit where your back is against a solid wall, not with your back to a window or door, nor with any shelves facing your back.
- Use aromatherapy in your home. In an aroma diffuser, use a blend of 4 parts lavender oil to 1 part rose oil. Until you feel better, take a warm bath nightly and use the same aroma blend in the bath water.
- Crystal energy can also be of help. Wear a necklace with a pendant made of bloodstone or amber.
- Understandably, many of us feel vulnerable and stressed after the recent horrors. A good way to remember your own personal power is to find a way to help. While we do not all have to be heroes at “ground zero”, there are things everyone can do. Many have expressed solidarity and support by hanging out a flag or making a contribution. Others have helped by talking to children or to adults who are very distressed – a little kindness goes a long way, and sometimes just being there to listen makes a real difference. Last time I was in Manhattan, I went to an area where photos of the missing were posted along the street. The sidewalks were lined with flowers and candles, many of which had gone out prematurely. I spent some time relighting candles in honor of the people whose faces were before me. I was struck by the cross-section – every race, religion, physical description, sexual orientation, age, economic status – any of us could have been there. Knowing that, we can see how precious our gift of life is and use it, each in our own way, to make this world a better place from now on.
- PREVENTING THEFT
- Dear Practitioner,
- Recently, 3 houses on my street have been robbed. Other than the obvious, like installing an alarm system, how can I protect myself?
- Sitting Duck
- Albany, NY
- Dear Duck,
- Place a broom resting on its handle end (upside-down) next to your front door. I’m not sure why, but this seems help keep burglers away.
- I would recommend adopting a dog also, but you’ll have to find one that gets along well with ducks!
- OPENING A NEW SHOP
- Dear Practitioner,
- We are opening a computer parts shop in a new four story building. We are located on the ground floor, in two shops which were combined by removing a partition. Our shop will be the first in this new complex. The interior passageway (mall) between two rows of shops is very narrow. Opposite our shop is an elevator and a staircase to the second floor, and between these is a concrete wall facing our entrance.
- The cash counter is on the west side facing east, in the northwest corner of the shop. The sales counter is in the south opposite the entrance. In the southwest corner of our shop is a staircase to the mezzanine floor. The entrance faces north, exactly opposite the concrete wall outside. Please suggest where we should locate our entrance.
- Since our shop is well stocked, how can we insure security? Is everything located correctly to create needed health and wealth? Please suggest the best location for a small water fountain.
- Suresh
- India
- Dear Suresh,
- I will attempt to help you as best as I can with the information you have provided.
- Ideally, the shop entrance should face the main source of energy, which in this case would be the side with the heaviest pedestrian traffic. If that is the mall side, then the entrance is already well-positioned. It is excellent that the entrance is near but not directly facing the elevator and stairs, since these provide multiple directions from which customers can approach. The shop entrance should be wide, welcoming in lots of positive energy, lots of customers, and lots of money! Make sure that no pointed or threatening objects face the entrance.
- Now, facing a wall across a narrow passageway does not provide space for positive “chi” to gather so that it can enter your shop. You can counter this with clear, brilliant signage and a brightly lit entranceway. If possible, leave the shop entrance brightly lit 24 hours a day, attracting plenty of good energy that will be waiting for you to open up each morning, while also helping to ensure security. The lighting can be outside the entrance, just inside, or both.
- Consider covering one or more walls with full-length mirror. The mirror should reflect and increase the merchandise, the customers, and the cash counter. Do not use small mirror tiles, which break up an image, and place the mirrors so that they do not reflect the shop entrance, staircases, or the bathroom.
- Purchase some old Chinese coins. These have square holes in the center, and one side has 4 Chinese characters - this is the "yang" side. Tie 3 of these coins together using a red thread or ribbon. Glue a set, "yang" side up, on each of your sources of income or business, such as the cash registers, telephones, computers, fax machines, etc. These are excellent wealth energizers!
- Near the southeast corner of the store, place a large, thriving, healthy jade plant. Under the plant, place a large denomination bank note. The plant will symbolically “grow the money.”
- Set up your front door with a bell that rings each time a customer enters. This can be a small bell hung on the door, or an electronic bell, and it should have a melodious and resonant sound.
- The north is influenced by the water element. Since your entrance faces north, the door should be black, blue or clear glass, all of which symbolize water. The best location for a fountain would be just inside the entrance, to the left of the door (looking from the inside out). The flow of water should be towards the interior of the shop, symbolizing and stimulating the flow of wealth into your business.
- If you let me know the week during which you plan your grand opening, I will provide you with the very best dates and times to open for business. This will get your shop off to an extremely auspicious beginning! Good luck!
- PICTURE FRAME FOUNTAINS
- Dear Practitioner,
- About six months ago, I gave my girlfriend a small fountain and picture frame combo in which I placed a photo of the two of us. Since then, we have had major car trouble, job problems, and a robbery. A friend saw the fountain and said it was bad Feng Shui. Is this for real and can a fountain cause a spate of bad luck?
- Skeptic
- Hoboken, NJ
- Dear Skeptic,
- I have seen the picture frame fountains and your friend is right – they represent very bad Feng Shui. Let me explain why. Water symbolizes wealth, and therefore should always be flowing towards you. The fountains I have seen have a picture frame atop a small waterfall, with the water flowing away from the picture. Whoever appears in the picture has their prosperity flowing away!
- Now, there is no way to be certain that the fountain caused your run of bad luck – life is not always that simple. However, the fountain may well have played a part in what has happened. It would be best to get rid of it, and don’t even think about giving it to anyone as a gift!
- DOG IN THE HOUSE
- Dear Practitioner,
- Is it OK to let a dog live inside the house? How will this affect the Feng Shui in the home?
- Sarabeth
- Penn Yan, NY
- Dear Sarabeth,
- Pets are excellent for a home’s Feng Shui – they help to stimulate and circulate positive energy. A dog is an intelligent, sensitive, and social being. Dogs love to live with people and they make wonderful companions and friends. To keep a dog confined to a pen, or tied up outdoors, condemns him to a miserable existence. He deserves better and so do you! Only by living with your dog, and by taking the time to educate him and to love him, will you understand how much he can give you in return.
- SUCCESS IN A HOME OFFICE
- Dear Practitioner,
- I was born September 8, 1969 and my husband was born October 10, 1966. We live in a log cabin with high ceilings, lots of beams and a huge fireplace. I want to start a home-based graphic design business and am wondering if there is any Feng Shui that I can do to increase my chances of success. The room that will be my office is directly next to a bathroom and is a very odd shape, sort of long and narrow. It has been hard to arrange the furniture to make it all fit. Please share any advice you have for me. Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Katrina C.- Middle Grove, NY
- Dear Katrina,
- Graphic design is associated with the element wood. Using the very general Eight Mansions formula, the east and southeast sectors of your home are also associated with wood and would be good locations for this type of business. The southeast is additionally associated with prosperity and would be an excellent location for a home office.
- Based on your description, I suggest you try to locate your home office in a different room. Oddly shaped rooms tend to have unbalanced energy. Long narrow rooms, depending on the locations of doors and windows, produce energy that rushes in and out or that just stagnates, neither of which will promote a thriving business. A room cramped with furniture makes things even worse. Your office should allow for a path through which energy may comfortably flow in, meander through the room, and then flow out.
- Based on your birthdates, the best directions for both you and your husband are west, northwest, southwest, and northeast. Your very best success direction is northeast. Therefore, your desk should be positioned so that you are seated with a solid wall behind you and facing one of your best directions, preferably the northeast.
- Attach sets of 3 old Chinese coins, activated by red or gold ribbon, to each of your sources of income or business, such as your telephone, computer, and fax machine. The “yang” side of the coins, the side with 4 Chinese characters, should face up. These really help draw money and business!
- FOUNTAIN IN THE BEDROOM
- Dear Practitioner:
What are the correct ways to use a small indoor fountain? I had one in my bed room because I found it relaxing. But have just read that it is a bad idea. I keep reading different meanings. I thought fountains symbolized prosperity and money. Help!
Dorothy - New York, NY
- Dear Dorothy,
- It is true that water represents prosperity. However, water in a bedroom represents loss of wealth. In general terms, the best locations for an indoor fountain would be in the north sector of a home, where it energizes good career luck, and in the southeast sector, where it helps produce material wealth.
- Water is a very powerful element and its impact should be watched carefully. Not knowing how the unseen energies lay out specifically in your home, there is no way to be sure that a fountain will help you instead of hurting you, other than by trial and error. Therefore, after you place your fountain, watch what happens for a few weeks. If your finances start to improve, you have done a good thing. If you see a pattern of anything negative, and this could be financial loss or physical symptoms or a spate of bad luck, remove the fountain immediately and consider a professional Feng Shui consultation to determine exactly where a fountain may best be located. If you see no impact at all, it could be that the placement is incorrect or it just may need more time.
- TIGER STATUE
- Dear Practitioner,
- I recently fell in love with a large porcelain tiger statue which looks great in my living room, but I am confused. It seems to me that I read that Tigers are symbols of protection, but that they may be too ferocious and bad Feng Shui for your home. Which is true? Do I have to return my pretty statue, or is he good to have around? Thanks.
- Danielle
- Binghamton, NY
- Dear Danielle,
- The strong energy represented by a tiger is not considered beneficial inside a home. It could, over time, be responsible for anxiety, insecurity, difficulty sleeping, or negative interactions between people. Do you have to return your statue? Well, you be the judge – how does it make YOU feel? I’m not asking if it looks good or if you like it. Everything that you are surrounded by in your home produces an emotional reaction, sometimes very subtle and sometimes not so subtle. How do you really feel each time you pass by your tiger? If the feeling is a good one, then keep the statue and enjoy! If you have a negative reaction, no matter how insignificant the reaction may seem, maybe it would be better to not have the object in your home.
- TOO MUCH FURNITURE
- Dear Practitioner,
- My house is very small and I definitely have too much furniture. There is even furniture in front of windows and in front of unused doors. I really feel that I need all the furniture, mainly to store my things, and I want to keep everything I have. Is neat clutter a problem?
- Marcy
- Honesdale, PA
- Dear Marcy,
- The situation that you’ve described is a problem in several ways.
- The “chi”, or life energy, that flows through your home directly affects the way your life will flow. That, in a nutshell, is what Feng Shui is all about. In each room of your house, the chi should flow abundantly yet softly and gently. In each room, look for a comfortable entrance way, a wide pathway through the room in other than a straight line, and a comfortable way to exit the room. When this exists, then it is probable that the chi can circulate in a healthy and beneficial way. Rooms cluttered with furniture tend to have dead end areas where energy accumulates and stagnates, and narrow passageways where energy rushes and becomes harsh and potentially harmful. Over time, the negative impact on your life and on your physical and emotional health can be very great. You may find it hard to move forward and get things done, you may experience aches and pains and/or emotional depression, and you may find that you seem to be constantly down on your luck.
- I understand that you want to keep everything that you own. However, I suggest that you consider why you feel that way. In the case of things that you actually use, that are relevant to your life currently, or that really make you happy, then it is probably best to keep them. If, however, you are keeping things that you may someday “get around to” – a book you plan to read, a craft project you plan to work on, etc. – realize that these things weigh heavily on your mind, whether you consciously think about them or not, and they are weighing you down. I used to keep decades of checks and credit card bills so I could determine every purchase I ever made - until I asked myself why on earth I would ever need that information. Consider freeing yourself from the excess baggage of your own making! A donation box, a yard sale, or even a trash bin can be very liberating! Knowing that your possessions may be hurting you, is keeping everything really worth it?
- STRESSFUL VACATION HOME
- Dear Practitioner:
Our weekend house (photos enclosed) is bright, sunny, and uniquely beautiful, and our friends find it very impressive. Unfortunately, I just can’t seem to relax there. I actually find our Manhattan apartment more soothing. Is it just me or could it actually be the house? The house has a large family room with a cathedral ceiling and lots of windows. Next to the family room is a kitchen and dining area over which there is a loft with two small bedrooms. The house is built on a concrete slab and is natural wood inside and out. - Pete R.
- Windham, NY
- Dear Pete,
- Yes, Pete, you have a beautiful house, but I feel stressed just looking at the pictures! Your sun-drenched family room has an extreme excess of yang energy. Let me explain. Everything in the universe consists of yin and yang energy working together in harmony. Yin energy tends to be quiet, dark and still, while yang energy tends to be lively, boisterous and bright. A house should have the right balance, and yours is out of balance. An easy first step in solving this is to install window treatments over the windows surrounding the upper part of your great room. Yes, let the sunshine in, but in moderation!
- FLYING STAR FENG SHUI
- Dear Practitioner,
- I recently had a Feng Shui consultation on my home. My sister, who lives in Binghamton, saw you on television discussing a flying star analysis of a house. She told me that the flying stars are important because they determine how the unseen energies flow through a house. Yet, when I asked my consultant about flying stars, she dismissed the idea and called it an “ancient Chinese practice”. What is the truth?
- Ursula B.
- Livingston, NJ
- Dear Ursula,
- The truth is that flying star analysis is indeed an ancient Chinese practice. It is also considered, in Asia today, the most sophisticated aspect of authentic traditional Feng Shui. And, most importantly, it works!
- ATTRACTING LOVE
- Dear Practitioner,
- I live in a studio apartment. The relationship corner is cut off due to the layout. What can I do to attract love (a man) into my life? I can't seem to get anything going at all.
- Thank you for your help.
- Sincerely,
Anjusu - New York, NY
- Dear Anjusu,
- The sector that carries the strongest relationship luck is generally the southwest sector of your home. In your case, the southwest is missing from your apartment, and that may very well contribute to a romantic life that is not getting off the ground. This is a tricky situation at first glance but the solution is not difficult.
- Now it’s true that you cannot energize the relationship sector of your apartment since that sector is missing. However, did you know that each sector can be energized at the individual room level as well? In other words, if you can divide your apartment into two distinct rooms, you can locate and energize the southwest sector of the individual rooms.
- Since a section of your apartment is cut off, then your studio is probably L-shaped and probably has a sleeping alcove. If this is the case, you can effectively make a bedroom out of the alcove by separating it from the larger living area. This can be done by actually erecting a wall, or by simulating a wall using bookcases, a folding screen, or another type of room divider. Do as good a job as you can of separating the sleeping area. To have the best Feng Shui, a bedroom should be an enclosed and quiet area.
- Once your apartment is divided into a bedroom and living room, we have something to work with. To powerfully energize your romantic life, take the following steps:
- 1. Remove any pictures of single people from your home. Replace them with pictures of happy couples that you like or admire. These can include friends, family, famous people, or total strangers who just give you a good feeling about relationships.
- 2. Make sure your bed is comfortably accessible from both sides, representing symbolic openness to a relationship.
- 3. Remove any mirrors from the bedroom, especially if they reflect the bed.
- 4. Remove distractions from the bedroom such as computers, exercise machines, or work-related materials.
- 5. Do not use bright shades of red in the bedroom.
- 6. Do not use a fountain or other water feature, or even pictures of water, in the bedroom.
- 7. Place a pair of rose quartz crystals near the southwest corner of your bedroom.
- 8. In the southwest sector of the bedroom, also place a pair of mandarin duck figures. Mandarin ducks are native to East Asia. They mate for life and have always been a symbol for marital happiness. Lovebirds or geese work well also. Do not use mallards or other American ducks!
- 9. Place a large earthenware pot or vase in the southwest sector of the living room.
- 10. Place a pair of red candles in the southwest corner of the living room. It is not necessary to light these.
- 11. Place a picture or statue of a dragon anywhere in the living room. (Single women should do this. Single men should use a rooster, peacock or phoenix image.)
- 12. Create a clear mental image of the kind of person you’d like to meet. Write a detailed description specifying physical appearance, character qualities, personality qualities, etc. Be as specific as you can.
- Powerful forces will now be put to work on your behalf. Help them along! Be open and receptive, put yourself in situations where you may meet new people, relax, be friendly, and just have fun!
- ROAD AIMED AT HOUSE
- Dear Practitioner,
- My house is situated at a bend in the road. Cars travel west towards my house, until the road bends to the south. Is the effect similar to being on a "T" intersection? What can I do to avoid disaster and have positive chi, without it costing me a lot of money?
- Thank you,
Patricia - Bellport, NY
- Dear Patricia,
- A road aimed directly at the front of your house is very inauspicious, regardless of the type of intersection that lies in front of your property. In any case, this situation can be cured and the correction needn’t be very costly. The goal is to soften and dissipate the harsh rushing energy that is directed at the house. A high evergreen hedge between the oncoming road and the house, further from the house being better than closer, can be very effective. Alternatively a high wall or solid fence can serve this same purpose. A third option is to place a Pa Kua mirror over the front door, aimed directly at the road. A Pa Kua mirror is a small mirror surrounded by a series of symbols. Correctly manufactured (most are not!), it powerfully deflects negative energy.
- NOISY ELEVATOR
- Dear Practitioner,
- My apartment is on the first floor and the bedroom is right above the elevator mechanism in the basement. It is an old elevator and makes a terrible mechanical clunking noise, both when the door closes and whenever the elevator starts and stops which is often. It is unbearable! Between the noise and the vibration I cannot use the bedroom for sleeping so you can see my dilemma. Is there anything I can do to neutralize the effects the noise and vibration have on my state of mind. Please help!
- Debrah P.
- New York, NY
- Dear Debrah,
- There are steps you can take to reduce the noise pollution in your bedroom, but they will only result in a moderate improvement in the situation. The steps include installation of heavy carpeting over a heavy vinyl underlay, and covering the walls and ceiling with “soundboard” or Homasote, or another heavy sound-absorbing material. Unfortunately, the noise and vibration you are describing will be only partly reduced by these measures. It is unlikely that you will ever be comfortable sleeping in that bedroom. If you cannot use a different room as your bedroom, consider moving. Your home should be a safe and tranquil place, free from external disturbances. If high rents stand in your way, consider a smaller apartment or one that is located further out. It is better to live in a more modest environment than in a home where sleeping is “unbearable”.
- OFFICE IN THE BEDROOM
- Dear Practitioner,
- I feel very bad energy in my bedroom, which is also the location of my home office. I know the room is set up badly, and I feel that I am struggling more than I should have to. How can I improve the energy in my bedroom, and make my life and my career flow more easily?
- Troubled
- Huntington Station, NY
- Dear Bernice,
- Having your home office in your bedroom is a common, but serious, problem. The type of energy that is best for a bedroom is called “mountain” energy. The “mountain” energy supports human health and harmony. The type of energy that is best for a home office is called “water” energy. The “water” energy supports success and prosperity. These energies are basically incompatible and actually interfere with each other. When office equipment and business activities are located in a bedroom, both energies are activated and work together, but the combination of energies is rarely beneficial and may be a major reason for the difficulties you are experiencing.
- Is there any way to separate your office from your bedroom? An office in the living room or dining room would be preferable to an office in the bedroom. If you do not have another office space, can you distinctly separate the two activities within your bedroom? A folding screen can be used for this, or even a roll top desk that is closed at night!
- In addition to the room energies, there are directional energies that can support you or make things harder for you. Everyone has 4 good and 4 bad directions. You should face one of your good directions when you conduct business, and have your head pointed in a good direction when you sleep. In your case, I recommend that you sleep and sit in your “sheng chi”, which, of the 4 good directions, is the best for business success. If you e-mail your birthday to me at FengShui@AmeriChi.com, I will be happy to send you your 4 “lucky” and 4 “unlucky” directions.
- Now, a few ways to improve the energy in your bedroom:
- Your bed should have a headboard – a plain, basic headboard is best. No bookshelves, mirrors, or ornate designs in the headboard, either. The headboard should be against a solid wall, not under a window or angled in a corner. If sleeping in one of your good directions means you must place the bed under a window, then install interior shutters on that window, curtain it and do not use it.
- Remove, from your bedroom, any mirrors that reflect the bed. Lay on your bed. Can you see any mirrors? If so, move them or remove them!
- What kind of artwork or decorative items do you have in your bedroom? If anything is at all disturbing, upsetting, threatening or bizarre, remove it. Surround yourself with objects that make you feel relaxed, safe and happy!
- It’s best to not have an air conditioner or fan in the bedroom. I’m not suggesting that you suffer through the hot Long Island summer. An air conditioner can be located in a nearby room or, better yet, have a window fan set to “exhaust” in another room and sleep with an open window – you’ll get a cool gentle breeze all night.
- And, a few ways to improve your home office energy:
- Make sure that no pointed objects, corners of furniture, or open shelves are aimed in your direction. These are called “poison arrows” and can produce sharp harmful energy.
- Keep your desk very neat and orderly (yes, you can!)
- Position your desk so that you are seated with your back to a solid wall. On the wall behind you, hang a picture of a hill or small mountain. Not the Matterhorn or anything that looks like it may tumble down on you, but a nice gently supportive hill.
- Place a figurine of a carp on waves (you can find these in Chinatown in all sizes and colors), at the north corner of your desk. The north brings powerful career luck and so does the carp. The carp swims against the currents and still reaches its goals. This ability to overcome obstacles will help you attain great success in your own career!
- Purchase some old Chinese coin reproductions. These have square holes in the center, and one side has 4 Chinese characters - this is the "yang" side. Tie 3 of these coins together using a red thread or ribbon. Make several sets! Place them anywhere that money flows through – or that you want it too! Put a set in your wallet or purse, as well as your checkbook. Glue or tape a set, "yang" side up, on each of your sources of business. If business comes through the phone, attach a set to each phone, same for the fax machine and computer monitor (if business comes through e-mail). If opportunities or checks come through the mail, attach a set inside the mailbox. You can purchase the coins in Chinatown. Pre-tied sets of three coins are available from AmeriChi Feng Shui, Box 983, Vestal, NY 13851-0983. Enclose a check or money order for $4.88 per set (NY residents, please add sales tax).
- UNEVEN CEILINGS
- Dear Practitioner,
- Our bed is directly below a very large wooden beam on a slanted ceiling. How can I correct this? We cannot move the bed due to the size of the room and the length of the beam.
- The same beam continues into the den where the family watches television. Is this a problem?
- What should be done about a toilet near our front door?
- I hope you can suggest some solutions. Both my wife and I have health problems.
- Thanks in advance,
- Nasser
- Dear Nasser,
- A slanted ceiling can create a very uneven, off-balance feeling and can cause the chi, or life energy, in a room to stagnate. Energy can get stuck at the low end of the ceiling and trapped at the high end. This situation can have a negative impact on the energy of the occupant’s crown chakra. The results can include stagnant thinking, limited spiritual development, or spiritual confusion. In a bedroom, there could potentially be health ramifications as well. It is important to note that Feng Shui affects each individual differently – some people are more sensitive to the energy in their environment than others. A slanted ceiling can be corrected in a number of ways, one of which is through lighting. Hanging downward-aimed fixtures near the high end of the slant, and placing upward-aimed lighting (such as upward torch lamps or electric wall sconces) near the low end, can help even out the flow of energy.
- Ceiling beams can cause the chi to be directed downward in a harsh and negative way. In a bedroom, if a beam cuts across your body, there can be health implications. If the beam runs lengthwise down the middle of the bed, it can be detrimental to relationships. One way to mitigate a ceiling beam problem is to paint the beam so that it visually blends in with the rest of the ceiling, preferably in a light color.
- In your situation, the combination of a slanted ceiling and a beam over the bed should be corrected. A good solution, if possible, is to install a dropped ceiling. A canopy bed, or a light colored cloth canopy hung over the bed, may be of some help.
- A slanted ceiling or beams are features that can make a house appear architecturally interesting. When buying or building a new home, keep in mind that interesting architectural features may or may not represent good Feng Shui – it pays to invest in a consultation before finalizing your plans.
- A bathroom near your main door can cause some of the good chi entering your home to go right down the drain. Keep the toilet seat down and the bathroom door closed (this goes for all bathrooms, wherever they are located). Hang a full length mirror on the outside of the bathroom door, BUT ONLY IF THE MIRROR WILL NOT REFLECT YOUR MAIN DOOR! The mirror will cause the bathroom to symbolically “disappear”, but if it reflects the main door it may deflect some of the good energy coming into the house. As an extra precaution, you can place two large stones on either side of the toilet. This will decrease the power of the water to drain away your luck.
- BATHROOMS WITHOUT WINDOWS
- Dear Practitioner,
- Our new house has 3 bathrooms. The children's bathroom, surrounded by a hallway, the living room, our master bedroom, and a closet, does not have any outside walls. The guest bathroom does not share an outside wall either as my husband's workshop separates it from the outside. I have read that you should never have a bathroom surrounded by rooms.
- Our fireplace is designed to be in, almost, the center of the house. Upon entering the house and walking straight ahead you enter the foyer, then into the dining room which is only distinguished by arches (no walls) the fireplace then separates the dining area from the living area at the back of the house (2-way fireplace). I don't want the chi to flow into the house and directly up the fireplace.
- Can you offer any advice?
- Laura
- Dear Laura,
- It is preferable for a bathroom to have outside walls and windows. In the case of your interior bathrooms, there are several things that you can do to minimize any negativity. Make sure that the bathrooms have an efficient ventilating fan that turns on automatically (i.e. when the light is switched on), and that vents to the outdoors. In some older homes, the vent terminates in the attic, which is not a good thing. Hang a large mirror in each bathroom – this will assist the flow of energy. Where the bedroom shares a wall with the bathroom, do not locate your headboard against that wall. And, of course, keep the toilet seat down and the bathroom door closed.
- A fireplace in the exact center of the house would not be desirable, but that does not seem to be the case here. A mirror over the mantle will help keep the chi from escaping up the chimney. Locate the mirror on the side of the fireplace that is toward the main door. However, the mirror should not reflect the door. If the mirror does reflect the door, obstruct the view with a folding screen, tall plants, or in some other way.
- WHY NO MIRRORS IN THE BEDROOM?
- Dear Practitioner,
- In a recent column, you said that there should be no mirrors in a bedroom. Why? I have been studying Feng Shui for the past year and a half with some masters and they never mentioned it.
- Thank You,
- Cathy
- Dear Cathy,
- A mirror in the bedroom is undesirable for a number of reasons.
- If the first thing you see in the morning is your sleepy face reflected in the mirror, that image can get your day off to a very bad start.
- If you awaken during the night, seeing yourself as a ghost-like reflection in a mirror can be frightening and can make your bedroom a scary and uncomfortable place.
- A mirror symbolically brings an additional person into a room, and can be detrimental to relationships.
- Mirrors produce a stimulating yang energy that is not conducive to restfulness.
- It is believed that the soul travels during the night and needs to do so. A mirror in the room can confuse the soul and can interrupt its normal healthy travels. This can contribute to a general feeling of disorientation and can promote anxiety.
- If you have a large bedroom and have a mirror that cannot be seen from the bed, then the mirror is probably not a serious problem. However, I generally take a cautious approach and suggest that there be no mirrors anywhere in the bedroom.
- I do not know why your teachers never mentioned this issue. A number of non-traditional forms of Feng Shui are taught in the United States, so it is possible that your teachers take a different approach. Ask them! The Feng Shui that I practice, and that I teach through The American School of Classical Feng Shui, is the “classical” or “traditional” form of “compass school” Feng Shui. The techniques and principles that I use, many of which date back thousands of years, are the same practices followed by countless successful people in Asia. Here in America, most of my clients report real improvement in their lives and, as we all know, the proof is in the bottom line!
- WHAT IS FENG SHUI, ANYWAY?
- Dear Practitioner,
- I have been reading your column for quite a while now, and I enjoy it a lot. I have even followed some of your recommendations and my life has changed in incredible ways! However, with all this, I feel I am missing the “big picture.” Can you explain, in simple terms, what Feng Shui is, how it originated, and how it works?
- Thanks so much!
- An Amazed Novice
- Chenango Bridge, NY
- Dear Amazed,
- Feng Shui, which literally means "wind and water", is the ancient Chinese science and art of living in harmony with the environment. Feng Shui has roots in Taoism and other ancient philosophies, but the exact origins of its complex formulas are a mystery. There is even a theory that this ancient wisdom was imparted by an extraterrestrial source. The principles of Feng Shui have been used for thousands of years, as a method of selecting the best site for a home, business or gravesite. The main goal of Feng Shui is to create buildings that are aligned with earth energies such that the occupants will be most comfortable and will experience good “luck” in every area of their lives.
- There are powerful flows of energy around and through our physical environment. This energy, or chi, can be hostile and destructive, or it can be channeled in a positive and helpful way. When properly harnessed, the flow of chi can bring harmony and tangible benefits. Improvements in the Feng Shui of a space will often result in improved circumstances in the lives of the occupants. Similar to the use of acupuncture to correct imbalances in the flow of chi through the human body, Feng Shui can optimize the flow of chi through the home or workplace. In recent years, Feng Shui has gained popularity outside of Asia and various "schools" or methodologies have developed. The traditional, or classical, form of Feng Shui uses the same techniques and formulas as practiced in Asia. This approach makes it possible for a skilled practitioner to analyze the energies flowing through a building at two different levels. There are principles related to the aspects of a building and its interior that are visible to the naked eye. There are also complex formulas that determine the flow of the “unseen” energies that a strong influence on the lives of those who live or work in the building.
- A thorough Feng shui analysis considers landscape features, the positioning of a structure, the usage of each room, the placement of furniture, the directions in which each individual sleeps or works, usage of color, shapes, materials, the nature and flow of the “unseen” energies, and much more. Feng Shui changes must be applied with precision to get the best results. Careless or incorrect Feng Shui can cause as much harm as good.
- WHERE ARE ALL THE MEN?
- Dear Practitioner,
- Where can I find a husband?
- Eve
- New York, NY
- Dear Eve,
- You are a person who gets right to the point, and I like that! Finding a husband (or wife, or same-sex partner) can seem daunting, but it really doesn’t have to be. The desire to love and be loved is a wonderful gift that we’ve been given. Real closeness to another human being can help us move along the road of personal spiritual growth, which is the reason we are on this earth.
- The short answer to your question is “anywhere” – you could meet your husband absolutely anywhere at all. I do have a few suggestions to help you meet the kind of person that will be right for you:
- 1. Focus on feeling good about yourself. Instead of concentrating on the search for a partner, direct your energies to feeling terrific about yourself and knowing that you have so much to offer some lucky person. If you do not happen to feel all that great about yourself, then work on your own self-esteem. Learn to really love yourself! An excellent starting point is Louise Hay’s book “You Can Heal Your Life.”
- 2. Let people know who you really are. Be open about what you need and want. Do you let people know you for who you are, or do you act like the person you think they would prefer? You will never be everyone’s cup of tea so stop trying. You are looking for just one person, and it should be someone who appreciates you for who you really are. You are the only person like you that has ever existed – you are special and unique, and that is wonderful! Be yourself!
- 3. Have a crystal clear picture of the kind of spouse you want. Write a detailed description of the person you would like to meet. Be very specific! Include physical attributes, personality qualities, and anything and everything else that matters to you!
- 4. Think positively! There are many people out there who would love to meet someone like you, no matter who you are! And, because you feel great about yourself (see step 1), you know that you deserve to attract someone wonderful, and very loving, into your life! Tell yourself, silently or out loud, how wonderful you are – remind yourself all day long! If your mind brings up doubts, redouble your efforts until your consciousness starts to change!
- 5. Find places where there are plenty of people you’d like to meet. Put yourself in situations where there are good possibilities of meeting compatible people. While many relationships have had their start in bars, those are not usually the best meeting places for relationship-ready singles. Many cities have dining and activities clubs for singles. If you belong to a house of worship, does it have a singles group? Might you consider starting one? Consider placing a personal ad in a local paper or on the internet. Make sure that you take precautions when meeting someone this way – be careful when giving out personal information and meet at first in busy public places, such as at a diner or coffee shop.
- 6. Have fun while being sociable. Take a relaxed attitude to meeting people. Take time to get to know people even if they are not exactly what you pictured. You may be very surprised (in a good way!)
- 7. Be prepared to meet many people before you find Mr. Right (or Ms. Right). Don’t try to change someone who is clearly wrong for you into what you want. Move on and know that your wonderful partner is out there looking for you!
- AUSPICIOUS BAMBOO
- Dear Practitioner,
- I read all Feng Shui books and I am very interested in learning about Feng Shui. I have the lucky bamboo in my home. Can you tell me what the lucky bamboo does?
- Thank you for your help.
- Babita,
- South Ozone Park, NY
- Dear Babita,
- Bamboo has always had great positive significance to the Chinese!
- The hardiness of the bamboo, green in winter and summer, has made it a symbol of longevity.
- Bamboo stands upright in all seasons and in all weather, therefore it represents trust and stability.
- The bamboo is viewed as a symbol of youthfulness, and, because of its drooping leaves, it is considered a symbol of modesty, an important virtue to the Chinese.
- The Chinese words for “bamboo” and for “prayer” are similar, and a bamboo plant is believed to strengthen the effectiveness of prayer.
- The ancient Chinese would burn bamboo, especially at New Year’s, and the crackling sound it produced was believed to scare off evil spirits. Bamboo is still thought of as a repellant to demons.
- THE LAUGHING BUDDHA
- Dear Practitioner,
- You often recommend a laughing Buddha. Why is the Buddha laughing? What does the laughing Buddha mean? Why is the Buddha sometimes depicted as slender and serious and other times as fat and jolly? Since I am not a Buddhist, is it disloyal to my own faith to have a Buddha in my home?
- Celia
- Vestal, NY
- Dear Celia,
- The Buddha, which means “enlightened one”, and the “Laughing Buddha” or “Fat-Belly Buddha”, are quite different from each other. The non-laughing variety is a depiction of Siddhartha Gautama, founder of Buddhism, or of one of several other humans believed to have attained “nirvana” (enlightenment), or of other beings in various stages of enlightenment. A traditional statue of a Buddha is a symbol of the Buddhist faith and of self-awareness and enlightenment.
- The Laughing Buddha is not an actual Buddha, but rather a representation of the Chinese Zen Buddhist Master, Poe-Tai Ho-Shang. Master Ho-Shang lived sometime during China’s “golden age” of zen. He would wander around China, perfectly happy, often surrounded by children, spreading joy and happiness wherever he went. Although he did not attain “nirvana”, he was said to have carried the spirit of Buddha within himself. After his death, he was worshipped as a folk-god of good fortune and a symbol of the happiness that comes from self-knowledge. The Laughing Buddha is not so much a religious symbol as a symbol of a positive attitude and of the joy that life offers.
- I personally do not feel that any symbols of spirituality or religion conflict with any others. I see every type of faith and spirituality as different paths to the same goals of increased self knowledge and greater alignment with spirit. Having said this, I would encourage you to display only those symbols that make you happy and comfortable, and that you find inspiring.
- FENG SHUI AT THE CASINO
- Dear Practitioner,
- What can we do to increase our chances of winning at the slot machines? Do some casinos have better Feng Shui than others?
- Stella and Joe D.
- Bath, NY
- Dear Stella and Joe,
- Slot machines are designed so that, over a period of time, the casino always comes out ahead. Therefore, the engineering of the machines dictates that, over time, gamblers will lose more than they win. Nevertheless, during a particular session of play, there is an element of randomness and it is here that we can attempt to influence the direction of things.
- Here are a few suggestions that may help increase your chances of winning at the slots.
- Choose slots where you can sit facing your best wealth luck direction. Each of us has four “lucky” and four “unlucky” directions. You should face one of your good directions when you gamble, particularly your “sheng chi” direction, which carries your strongest wealth luck energy. If you e-mail your birthday and gender to me at FengShui@AmeriChi.com, I will be happy to send you your 4 “lucky” and 4 “unlucky” directions.
- Avoid seats or slot machines that are afflicted by “poison arrows”. A “poison arrow” is a jutting corner, a corner of a square column, or any other pointed surface or object that is aimed at your play area.
- Bring along a wealth god or other symbol of spiritual support. A small laughing Buddha is fine for this purpose. Simply place the figure on the slot machine, so it is looking right at you, with your “sheng chi” direction to its back. Take a glance at your wealth god every few minutes and feel its support. It may be smiling right back at you! Chai Shen Poh, an odd female wealth god that wears stereo headphones and is called the “Queen of Gamblers”, is particularly excellent for gambling luck! This colorful 3” resin figurine is available from AmeriChi Feng Shui, Box 983, Vestal, NY 13851-0983. Enclose a check or money order for $29.88 each including packing and shipping (NY residents, please add sales tax).
- Purchase some old Chinese coin reproductions. These have square holes in the center, and one side has 4 characters - this is the "yang" side. Tie 3 of the coins together using a red or metallic thread or ribbon. Carry a set in your wallet or purse and even in your coin cup – wherever you carry your gambling money or put your winnings. You can purchase the coins in Chinatown. Pre-tied sets of three coins are available from AmeriChi Feng Shui for $4.88 per set including packing and shipping (NY residents, add sales tax).
- Many of the larger casinos in Atlantic City and Las Vegas were designed with Feng Shui principles in mind. However, while that may make a casino more profitable for its owners, it probably will not help you.
- In a casino, the odds are stacked against you. The longer you play, the greater the likelihood that you will lose, and we cannot change that! The best we can do is to take steps that may provide a slight edge. Know your limit before you start! When gambling stops being fun, cut your losses and exit the casino!
- KITCHEN REMODELING
- Dear Practitioner,
- I am having my kitchen completely redesigned. Are there specific principles I should keep in mind?
- Malka H.
- Brooklyn, NY
- Dear Malka,
- The kitchen is extremely important because it is the source of our own life force energy, which enters our body in the form of nutritious food. Therefore, there are many general Feng Shui principles that apply to a kitchen. Here are some key points to keep in mind when redesigning your kitchen.
- A kitchen should not be located under a toilet.
- A kitchen door should not directly face a bathroom door.
- The kitchen should be well lighted and well ventilated.
- Kitchen cabinets in a natural wood grain finish are generally preferable to white or metallic cabinets.
- Fire energy features in the kitchen (range, oven, microwave) should be separated from water energy features (sink, dishwasher, refrigerator) by 2 feet, at the very least.
- Fire energy features should not be directly opposite water energy features.
- The energy (electric cord or gas line) entering the back of a stove should come from one of your good directions. If you e-mail your birthday and gender to me at FengShui@AmeriChi.com, I will send you your good and bad directions.
- The stove should be positioned so that a person doing the cooking can see the kitchen door. If necessary, a small mirror can be located on the range hood to make this possible. A mirror should never reflect the stove’s burners.
- The stove should not directly face the kitchen door.
- A stove backed by a solid wall behind is preferable to a stove on a kitchen island.
- The stove should face towards the interior of the house rather than towards an exterior wall.
- A window should be located behind the sink but not behind the stove.
- CHANGES FOR 2003
- Dear Practitioner,
- Are there specific Feng Shui changes that should be put in place in preparation for the year 2003?
- Kathy G.
- Dewitt, NY
- Dear Kathy,
- The unseen “chi” or vital life energy that surrounds us in our living and working environments is, like every living thing, in constant flux. The energy flows through our homes and workplaces, and the ways in which the energy impacts us is different at different times. Ancient Chinese Feng Shui masters used complex formulas to determine precisely how the unseen energies flow through a particular building and exactly how those energies would affect the occupants. We are very fortunate to be living in a time when those ancient formulas have been revealed to people around the world. This is so important because the unseen flow of “chi” that surrounds us day and night has a direct relationship with the flow of events in all areas of our lives. In other words it is, to a great extent, the energy that we live with that makes our life appear “lucky” or “unlucky”.
- The energy around us changes constantly, and knowing the actual impact of that process requires a thorough analysis of a building. Nevertheless, there are a few general steps we can take that will be beneficial to most homes and businesses in the year 2003.
- When looking at the annual energy changes for 2003, we will go by the Chinese year rather than the western year. The Chinese have two calendars – the lunar calendar, for which the new year is celebrated in Chinese communities worldwide, and the Hsia, or farmer’s, calendar which is based on growing seasons throughout the year. For annual Feng Shui enhancements, we go by the Hsia calendar, which tells us that 2003 begins on February 4, 2003 and ends on February 3, 2004.
- In 2003, negative areas of the annual energy flow will fall in the southeast, north and southwest. Depending on the building itself, the impact of annual energy can be minimal or can be significant. Here are some ways to use “five element theory” to help keep any negative impact under control.
- In the room located in your home’s southeast sector, or in the southeast corner of your office, hang a windchime of six hollow metal rods. Position the wind chime so that no one will walk or sit under it. It is not necessary to have a breeze – the windchime will do its job even if it never makes a sound.
- In the room located in your home’s north sector, or in the north portion of your office, hang a string of six old Chinese coin reproductions tied together with red or gold ribbon. Make sure the “yang” side (4 character side) of the coins is to the outside. If you wish, another wind chime of six hollow metal rods can be used in place of the coins, but the coins are preferable. (Old Chinese coin reproductions are available from AmeriChi Feng Shui, Box 983, Vestal, NY 13851 for $1.00 per coin including postage. New York residents please add sales tax.)
- In the room located in your home’s southwest sector, or in the southwest corner of your office, place a red candle surrounded by nine natural crystals. Try to use a nice chunky candle – it does not ever have to be lit. Instead of crystals, you can use nine small rocks from your backyard.
- And one more thing – recent political and economic news has left many of us feeling apprehensive and even discouraged. Current turmoil notwithstanding, the world is not coming to an end. Furthermore, the stock market will not stay in the dumps! It’s important that we go into this new year with a positive and optimistic attitude. Much of what happens in our own personal world is up to us! Let’s make 2003 an awesome year!
- ALMOST DONE WITH SCHOOL
- Dear Practitioner,
- I have one semester to go before graduating college, and I feel like I may not make it. I am very homesick for Long Island and I have had relationship problems at school. This has all made it really hard to concentrate on my studies. Should I drop out now or is there another solution? I need an answer ASAP!
- Desperate in Binghamton
- Dear Desperate,
- Having made it this far, it would be unfortunate for you to drop out. Sometimes the darkest clouds are just before dawn. I suggest that you try to stick out the last semester, if you feel you can, and here are some suggestions that may help.
- Plan a few weekend trips back home. Fortunately, you are not all that far away. Take the bus, rather than drive - it’s safer, less stressful, and you can get some studying done on the way. Feel free to use the telephone to keep in touch with family and friends - a lot! Invite a couple of your close friends or siblings to come up and visit you. They may want to wait until spring but better to have them up in the winter – it will help you feel less isolated during the colder months.
- As for individuals with whom you’ve had problems at school, in a few months you will be rid of them. Give yourself a head start! Forget about those people and steer clear of them. Stick with people who have been true friends, who understand you, and who are supportive of you.
- As much as possible, try to study at your desk, rather than in bed or lying down. Get a statue of a turtle and place it behind your desk chair – he will support you in your efforts to do well in school and to deal with the remaining months. Place three crystals, a green calcite, a gold calcite, and a rhodonite, near the northeast corner of your desk. These will be a real help for concentration.
- Plan an exciting reward for yourself once you graduate. A celebratory dinner or party with your favorite people, and something else that is really special - is there a trip you’ve wanted to take, perhaps? Think about how good it is going to feel to have succeeded! You can! And I know that you will!
- DREAMING OF BIRDS
- Dear Practitioner,
- I had the same strange dream on two separate occasions recently. Each time, I noticed a pair of large white birds high up in a tree, a good distance away from me. The birds looked right at me and slowly flew directly toward me. Both times, just before they reached me, I woke up. This has me spooked out and wondering what it means. Could it possibly mean that my death is imminent? I’m only 24 and my health is fine.
- Tom R.
- Glen Cove, NY
- Dear Tom,
- The ancient Taoist Feng Shui masters taught that there are signs everywhere in our world. It is just a matter of being receptive and learning to understand what you are seeing. I often see meaning in the shapes of clouds, the songs played on my car radio, and the way that “coincidental” events occur. I put “coincidental” in quotes because I don’t believe in coincidence. I believe that everything happens for a reason. Every event reflects where our consciousness is now, and, if we are open to it, each event can be a guidepost along our path in life.
- The ancient Taoists saw birds as important messengers – their movements around us reveal a great deal of information! A white bird has traditionally represented healing. A pair of birds flying toward you means that love is about to come into your life. I believe that your dreams foretell a wonderful loving and healing relationship that is coming into your life … and soon! Not in any way a bad thing!
- FEMALE HOUSEHOLD
- Dear Practitioner,
- I am a single mother living with my two teenage daughters, so we are an all-female household. It happens that our décor is extremely “feminine”. I understand that for good Feng Shui, there should usually be a balance between “feminine” and “masculine”. But, would that apply to our family?
- Linda
- Astoria, NY
- Dear Linda,
- An important aspect of good Feng Shui is a balance of yin and yang. A few yin characteristics are darkness, coolness, receptivity, and female energy. Yang characteristics include light, warmth, activity, and male energy. These essential forces work together in harmony, and should be balanced in any environment, regardless of the gender of the occupants. Masculine and feminine energy exists within each of us whether we are male or female. A balanced décor is always the ideal.
- The homes of single woman often lack masculine energy and those of single men often lack feminine energy, sometimes to the point where a visitor of the opposite sex would be uncomfortable there. Always aim for a decor that is comfortable for members of both sexes. This will produce the best environmental energy for the occupants and will also facilitate attracting an appropriate romantic partner. This applies to everyone regardless of gender or of sexual orientation.
- PART-TIME BUSINESS
- Dear Practitioner,
- I have been trying to develop a part-time business for two years and I seem to be getting nowhere. My party sales business has taken so much time but the profits are minimal. Do you have any suggestions for a woman trying to make it in her own business?
- C.L.M.
- Trenton, NJ
- Dear C.L.M.,
- I have several suggestions for you.
- Do you have a dedicated location for managing your business? This can be a home office or just a desk. But it should not be the dining table or any other spot that also serves some other purpose.
- When seated at your work location, face one of your good directions, preferably your “sheng chi” direction. Your “sheng chi” direction brings energy that strongly supports your success luck. If you e-mail your birthday and gender to me at FengShui@AmeriChi.com, I will be happy to send you your 4 “lucky” and 4 “unlucky” directions.
- Have a symbol of spiritual support at your desk. This can be a small laughing Buddha or any symbol that is meaningful to you. Locate the figure so it is looking at you, with your “sheng chi” direction to its back. Chai Shen Poh, an odd female wealth god that wears stereo headphones, is particularly excellent for women having a side business, and she’s also especially good for casino gamblers! This colorful 3” resin figurine is available from AmeriChi Feng Shui, Box 983, Vestal, NY 13851-0983, for $28.88 each including shipping (NY residents, please add sales tax).
- Purchase some old Chinese coin reproductions. These have square holes in the center, and one side has 4 Chinese characters - this is the "yang" side. Tie a set of 3 of these coins together using a red or gold ribbon. Place a set anywhere that money flows through – or that you want it too! Put a set in your wallet or purse, and in your checkbook. Glue or tape a set, "yang" side up, on each of your sources of business. If business comes through the phone, attach a set to the phone, same for the fax machine and computer monitor (if business comes through e-mail). You can purchase the coins in Chinatown, or pre-tied sets of three coins are available from AmeriChi Feng Shui, Box 983, Vestal, NY 13851-0983. Enclose a check or money order for $4.88 per set (NY residents, please add sales tax).
- Position your telephone and fax machine so that the wire enters the device from your “sheng chi” direction.
- A NEW APARTMENT
- Dear Practitioner,
- We are moving to a new flat this month. Do you have any advice for house-warming?
- Thanks in advance,
- Priya V.
- Dear Priya,
- Prior to moving into your new home, do a thorough space clearing. Space clearing is a procedure that will dissipate old stale energy in the apartment. This old energy has been left behind by the prior tenants and it may be quite negative. Space clearing can be done by smudging with sage, by the sound of a bell or singing bowl, by making an offering, or by a combination of these steps. E-mail me at FengShui@AmeriChi.com or send a stamped self-addressed envelope, for a free copy of my article on space clearing, which gives full do-it-yourself instructions.
- When you actually move in, announce your intentions out loud. For example, “today on March 15th, 2003 at 11 AM, I officially make this apartment my home!”
- As soon as you move in, do three things – boil water, open a package of chocolate, and make a cup of tea.
- Relax a bit, and know that you are where you belong!
- DIFFICULT EXAM
- Dear Practitioner,
- I am having a lot of problems passing an exam that’s required in order to continue my teaching career next September. Please help me.
Thank you very much,
Chan - Dear Chan,
- In order to help you, I will first send you on a shopping trip. You do not say from where you are writing, but go to the Chinatown in any large city and look for the following two symbolic objects: a statue of a carp on waves and a statue of a tortoise with the head of a dragon. If you go into a few Chinese curio shops, you will find many versions of these objects. Choose a carp on waves that is ceramic, and a dragon-tortoise that is white (regardless of the material).
- Place the carp on waves in the northeast corner of the room in which you study. If you study in your bedroom, do not place the fish there. In fact, find a location than the bedroom to prepare for the exam! Also, if possible, take the statue into the exam room with you, or look for a small one to keep in your pocket.
- A carp swims upstream and fights many obstacles during its swim. It is an old Chinese belief that the carp acquires dragon-like powers once it reaches its destination. Keep the carp close to you so it can impart to you its success in overcoming obstacles! Energy from the northeast supports success in education, so placing the carp there will specifically draw its power into enhancing your success in your educational pursuits and in your exam.
- Next to the carp, place a large clear quartz crystal. This will help to optimize your concentration as you study.
- Place the dragon-tortoise in the north area of the room. An ordinary tortoise that has acquired a dragon’s appearance and powers is a symbol of extreme success. In the north, this will energize your career luck!
- POISON ARROW
- Dear Practitioner,
- I have two walls that meet and the corner they form point right at me when I sit or lay in my bed. Right now I have a large plastic tree up against it and I have felt better since I put it there. However, the tree does not look very good there. I have a small apartment and it is in the way. What else besides a windchime can I put there to deflect this negativity?
- Thank you so much,
- Deborah
- Washington, DC
- Dear Deborah,
- When two wall surfaces, or two sides of a piece of furniture, meet and form a jutting corner, it is referred to as a “poison arrow”. The “chi”, or vital life energy, in an environment, flows everywhere. However, it tends to flow more strongly along floors, ceilings, and walls. When two walls form a jutting corner the energy streams flowing along the two walls combine to form a harsh “arrow” of energy shooting out at a 45 degree angle from the corner.
- Poison arrows occur frequently in a home and are generally not a problem. However, when they are aimed at a bed or a regularly used seating area, they can be very harmful over time. More precisely, aimed at your bed, the harsh shooting energy may result in health and/or relationship problems.
- Anything that “softens” the jutting angle can be a good solution to this problem. A tall plant in front of the angle or a windchime hung in front of the angle usually works fine. Another solution is to place a small round pedestal with a tall statue in front of the angle. Another easy solution is to simply hang some bunched fabric or artificial vine over the corner. Ideally, the material that you use should be determined by an analysis of the nature of the unseen energies in the room. This can only be done by a skilled practitioner of Flying Star Feng Shui.
- BAMBOO NOT DOING WELL
- Dear Practitioner,
- I have a lucky bamboo and I just noticed that most of the stem has turned yellow and soft. I cut off the yellow part and put the remaining stem with leaves in water hoping that it will regrow. Can you tell me how to correctly dispose of the dead part? Some of the ends of the leaves are turning brown - should I cut them?
- Also, I was told by one person that the bamboo is supposed to be purchased by somebody else. Another person told me that you are supposed to purchase your own. Can you clear this up for me?
- We are placing this in our business, can you tell me the best place to put it?
- I thank you in advance for your response.
- Elena
- Dear Elena,
- I do hope that the bamboo stem regrows into a healthy, thriving plant.
- As for the dead part, it really makes no difference how you dispose of it. The ideal solution is to bury it so that it adds nutrients back into the earth. Other than that, do not be concerned – throw it away!
- It’s perfectly OK to cut off dead parts of the leaves.
- It is fine to receive bamboo or any other auspicious object as a gift, or for someone else to purchase it for you. If you do give a symbolic item as a gift, it is best to explain the object’s significance to the recipient and to make sure that they would like to own it and will treat it with respect.
- In a business, a bamboo plant, or even a picture of bamboo, is a powerful prosperity symbol. Place the bamboo in the southeast area of your office or store. There, it will help “grow” your prosperity in both good times and bad!
- ANOTHER OFFICE IN THE BEDROOM
- Dear Practitioner,
- I have a loft bed, and my computer desk is directly below where I sleep. I followed your advice as to hanging a picture of a strong supportive hill directly behind me (call me crazy, but it already feels a little different in here). I plan on getting a carp statue for my desk this weekend. I also plan on hanging a nice sheet across the bottom of my loft-bed, that I can draw closed when I'm not working. It is a small room, so it is a bit hard to keep it clutter free. Is it a good idea to have a painting or picture of water somewhere around my bed? What else would you suggest to help me? Is there any way to neutralize "poison arrows" such as corners of tables that can’t be moved?
- Your column is great. It inspired me. I plan on checking out your website as well. Thanks a lot.
- Justin L.
- Brooklyn, NY
- Dear Justin,
- It sounds like you are definitely on the right track! Having an office in your bedroom creates real challenges to good Feng Shui, but you have already begun to make this negative situation a bit better.
- Since you have your office under your loft bed, it is an excellent idea to further delineate the two areas with the sheet that will close like a curtain when the office area is not used.
- I do have a few suggestions to further enhance the Feng Shui in your office/bedroom, and these additional changes should improve your life in a number of ways.
- It would be best to have some empty space underneath your bed rather than having your office directly below. This empty space can be created by hanging another sheet, in white or a very light color, directly under the bottom of the loft bed. Use spacers made of wood or any other material, so that the sheet is taut and is at a distance of about one half inch to one inch below the bed.
- Working under a loft bed can subconsciously (or consciously) be a bit oppressive. More importantly, it can hinder the healthy flow of vital life energy, or chi, above your head, and this in turn can suppress your success luck. An effective way to counter the downward pressure of the loft and to stimulate the flow of overhead energy is by using bright uplighting. An upward aimed torchiere would work well here.
- Do not have pictures of water near your bed. A water feature (fountain, aquarium, etc.) or a water picture, in the sleeping area, can produce financial losses. By the way, a small glass of water near your bedside would not be a problem.
- “Poison arrows” created by furniture corners, are only a problem if they are aimed at sleeping or seating areas, or at doors or windows. In this case, they can be corrected by simply hanging some soft fabric over the piece of furniture.
- And Justin, you didn’t really expect me, of all people, to call you crazy, did you?
- JUTTING PILLAR
- Dear Practitioner,
- I had the pleasure of taking a class with you at the Oracle Bookstore in Liberty, NY. My question is about poison arrows. In my bedroom is what might have been a chimney that has been closed over. This pillar projects through my bed and on the other side of the door into the little foyer outside the bedroom and small office.
- What can I do to offset the energy that this is sending out? I have no companionship as it is - I don't need more negativity.
- Komaris
- Dear Komaris,
- I’m very glad you enjoyed the workshop in Liberty!
- You are correct that a jutting pillar in your bedroom is a potential problem. Jutting corners or posts tend to direct energy across a room in a harsh and possibly damaging way. This “poison arrow” of shooting energy may, over time, have a negative impact on those who sleep in its path. If the harsh flow of energy is directed across the width of your bed, it may impact your health. If the harsh energy flows through your bed lengthwise, the impact may be detrimental to a relationship.
- The ideal layout of energy is found in rooms that are evenly shaped – rooms that are perfectly square or perfectly rectangular. Therefore, if a room can be squared off, that is the ideal solution. When such a change is not possible or practical, there are alternative solutions. Hang a length of plain green artificial vine over each corner of the jutting chimney. In the traditional Chinese cycle of elements, wood controls earth. The vines (wood) will weaken the energy of the brick chimney (earth). The vines will also “soften” the “poison arrows” produced by the corners of the offending feature.
- NEEDS BETTER ROMANCE LUCK
- Dear Practitioner,
- I am a single male, 24 years of age and of Asian decent. Born on the 4th of July 1978. I have read through some of your website’s Q & A archives. I am concerned about improving my luck with romance. I do have some questions. I live with my family (parents & siblings), so most of my belongings are in my room. I’m specifically concerned about my 2 personal computers. Do I really have to move them out of my room? And what is my nien yen? And, my room doesn't really have a south west corner, just a southwest wall, meaning if I place a compass in the middle of the room, SW points right into the middle of that wall. So where should I place the mandarin ducks?
- Thanks and best regards,
- John
- Dear John,
- It would be best to have a separate room to use as an office, other than your bedroom. If you must keep the computers in your bedroom, cover them at night. Before bedtime, remove from sight anything that is reminiscent of work. And, of course, totally remove work from your mind.
- A powerful aspect of Feng Shui is the use of symbolic objects to energize areas of life that may be out of balance, and you are very wise to use a pair of mandarin ducks to enhance your relationship luck – they are an outstanding romance energizer! Since the strongest relationship luck comes from the southwest, just locate your mandarin ducks on a piece of furniture near the center of your bedroom’s southwest wall. They should be placed as if coming from your nien yen direction, which carries your personal romance luck. In your case, the nien yen direction is the east. Activate the ducks by tying a red ribbon around each one or attaching a red bow to each one.
- The mandarin duck, “yuan-yang” in Chinese, is native to East Asia. These unique and beautiful ducks mate for life and have always been considered a symbol for marital happiness. Many of my clients and students have used them with excellent results! I caution you to not use other types of ducks – they may produce other than the desired results. If you are unable to find authentic mandarin ducks, you may order a pair of 2.5” resin mandarin ducks from AmeriChi Feng Shui, Box 983, Vestal, NY 13851-0983, for $30.88 including shipping (NY residents, please add sales tax).
- If you are using the mandarin ducks to attract a wonderful new relationship, I suggest that you also do some “inner Feng Shui” work to super-energize your relationship luck! Use positive affirmations! Fill your mind with positive affirmative thoughts about relationships. A few possible examples:
- “I see beauty and goodness in every person I meet.”
- “I am a wonderful person who deserves love.”
- “My ideal relationship is now being created for me.”
- “I have so much love to give and I am so open to receiving love.”
- Repeat the affirmations frequently! Say them silently, say them out loud, write them down, or all of the above! If the positive thoughts feel odd or unnatural, that just means that they are working on your subconscious – keep the positivity going and before long your consciousness will change.
- Powerful forces will now be at work on your behalf, so help them along! Be open and receptive, put yourself in situations where you may meet new people, relax, be friendly, and just have fun!
- BAD VIBES FROM A NEIGHBOR
- Dear Practitioner,
- I'm asking this question for a friend. She believes that negative energy and/or feelings from her neighbor across the street are influencing the financial condition of herself and her family. How can she block this negative energy from entering her home?
- Lucille
- Dear Lucille,
- I do not know why your friend feels that her neighbors are having such a great influence over her and her family’s lives and financial circumstances. I say this because it is extremely difficult for an outsider to exercise control over your household unless you are, on some level, allowing it.
- If there really is a negative outside influence, a device called a pa kua (pronounced “bagua”) mirror may be able to repel the undesirable external energy.
- A pa kua mirror is a small mirror surrounded by an octagon frame on which there are symbols (“trigrams”) in a specific arrangement.
- Pa kua mirrors are available in many Chinese shops. However, be very careful. In order to be effective, the pa kua mirror must be made to precise standards and, unfortunately, most of those found in stores are not. I do not know why but those which are manufactured with yellow frames are usually correct, and those which have red and green frames are usually not.
- The reflective center (the mirror itself) of the pa kua mirror comes in three different types – flat, convex and concave. The flat variety reflects back negative energy and the convex variety does this even more forcefully. The concave variety absorbs the negativity rather than reflecting it back. This is preferable on a karmic level because it harms no one. The downside of the concave mirror is that it must periodically have its own energy cleared or it loses its effectiveness.
- The pa kua mirror should only be used outdoors as a last resort, and it must NEVER EVER be displayed indoors. It can totally throw off the energy of an indoor space.
- Having said the above, there are other steps your friend can take to eliminate the influence of her neighbors.
- If she has any objects of theirs or gifts given by them, have her totally remove them from the house.
- She should place a nice piece of lapis lazuli at the approximate center of her home. This blue stone is available in most crystal or metaphysical stores and has long been known for its protective qualities on the psychic level. She should then, several times a day, envision a bright blue light emanating from the stone and surrounding her home with a protective blue aura.
- A GHOSTLY VISITOR
- Dear Practitioner,
- I have a question which may sound silly to you, but we appear to have an unwanted visitor in our home!
- We have had a "ghost" since we bought our home, the only trouble we have is the occasional sounds of walking up the stairs late at night (we have hardwood floors). We now have a dog and he totally avoids the laundry room in the basement or the west side of our yard and he will bark during those "visits" at night. We had intended on selling our home this year, but it seems we prefer to wait & build our own which may take a few more years. So, in the meantime, what can I do to get rid of this visitor? I have a 6 rod metal windchime in the SE (inside the home), and one outside placed in the center of the yard.
- Cynthia
- Toronto, Canada
- Dear Cynthia,
- Let me assure you that your question does not sound “silly” – the existence of non-physical entities is a very real occurrence in our world. I have encountered “haunted” buildings on a number of occasions.
- Entities such as your “ghost” are sometimes “stuck” in the building or on the land under it. Other times they are attached to an individual and follow the person from place to place. They may be humans who have passed on, and they may even be unaware that they are dead.
- The first step that I recommend is a thorough “space clearing” in your home. This is a method of clearing out old lingering energy from your space. Part of the space clearing is an offering during which you can speak to the presence in your home, tell it of your concerns, and request that it move on. Occasionally, this is enough to end the phenomenon. For my space clearing instructions, send a stamped self-addressed envelope to AmeriChi Feng Shui, PO Box 983, Vestal, NY 13851-0983. Mark the outside envelope “Space Clearing Article”.
- If the entity persists, you must decide whether or not you can live with it. Rarely are such entities malevolent or harmful in any way. Most often, they are “lost souls” who cannot find their way to their next phase of existence, or are afraid to move on. The type of entities that repeatedly go through the same patterns (i.e. walking on the stairs) are usually totally unaware of the presence of others in the space.
- If you cannot, or choose not, to coexist with your uninvited guest, you must involve the services of people who specialize in dealing with such entities. I do not mean an exorcist, but rather an organization specializing in “hauntings”. They are sometimes able to intervene and persuade the entity to move on. Search the internet for “ghost hunters”, “ghost Investigators” and “ghost researchers” in your area. You will find a variety of different organizations, some of which may be willing to try to help you out at no charge.