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Sometimes even a small adjustment can make a significant difference in the chi in your home. We have heard Feng Shui expert Angi Ma Wong advise people to make only one adjustment at a time and see how it affects their environment before making the next adjustment.
The following are suggestions for the Main Entrance of your home.
- It is important that the flow of chi from the front to the back of your home is not hindered. Ideally, the chi is able to flow in a meandering, unbroken path and not in a direct line. If the back door is in direct alignment with the front, arrange a large plant or decorative screen between the two doors. This will help to prevent the chi from passing straight thru your home without circulating.
- Entrance ways from the street or through your garden to your front door will determine the qualities of chi that enter your home. The pathways or garden beds leading up to your front entrance should be meandering or softly curving. A fountain, birdbath or small pond placed along the path will bring balance and improve the quality of chi.
- Placing wind chimes outside the front door will discourage sha chi or negative energy from entering the home. This is also a cure for a front door that is very large, and allows chi to escape from your home.
- If you have a very small doorway, not enough chi will enter your home. Place a mirror on the wall opposite the door to encourage positive energy to enter your home.
- A pair of male and female Foo dogs placed outside the entrance will serve as protectors of the home and will repel negativity.
- A money frog placed just inside the front door facing inward is a symbol for attracting luck and prosperity into the household.
- If your front door is below street level, it is important to place a bagua mirror over the front entrance. This helps to ward off the chaotic energy that is constantly moving around outside your door. Bagua mirrors are also useful if your doorway opens out onto a hallway, faces a busy street, the corner of a building, or even a neighbor's property.
- Chi will stagnate in enclosed entrance ways. Placement of mirrors, a small water fountain or a ceiling fan will help circulate the energy further into your home.
Here are some suggestions for your bathroom.
- Traditionally, the North side of the house is consideredthe best location for the toilet and bathroom as this direction is associated with water. The bathroom and toilet should not be placed in the Wealth, Fame, or Career sections of the house. The colors blue and green are also associated with water, and are therefore good color choices for the bathroom.
- Bathrooms have a draining effect on the healthy chi in the home. For this reason, toilet lids should always be kept down when not in use, and the doors to the bathrooms closed.
- If you have a window in the bathroom, open it daily. Allow sunlight to stream into the room as much as possible. Fresh air and sunlight are the best defenses against stale sha chi. Mirrors and crystals will also assist with the flow of chi.
- Avoid the use of excessive fabric. Surfaces should be easy to keep clean and dry, to avoid the accumulation of excess stagnant yin energy. Glazed ceramic tile, glass, and chrome fixtures are all yang, making them very effective chi movers.
- Place healthy, leafy plants in the bathroom to help absorb moisture and minimize the problem of stagnant chi. Lucky Bamboo is a good choice in bathrooms with limited light
The following suggestions may be applied to your Dining Room.
- The ideal shape for your dining room table is the octagon of the eight sided Bagwa. However, tables of this shape are difficult to find and not always practical. A round table is also good as it symbolizes earth and stability. If your table is square or rectangular, the placing of an octagonal center piece or place mats is good Feng Shui.
- The dining table should not be so large as to make the space feel cramped and difficult to maneuver around. Strive to create a balance between the furniture and the size of the room. Always avoid overcrowding.
- Be aware of poison arrows when arranging furniture in the dining area. These would consist of corners from other pieces of furniture in the room that will point directly at people sitting at the table. Soften unfavorable corners with beautiful, live, round edged plants.
- There should be an even number of chairs around the table and remember to seat the honored guest facing the doorway. The ideal chair style is high backed with armrests, as these are considered to provide protection and support.
- Placing a mirror in the dining room is considered very good Feng Shui. It will multiply the warm, happy times that are shared there with family and friends, and increase the blessings of healthy food and abundance.
- It is important to isolate the eating space. It should have a safe and fairly intimate atmosphere. If your living space doesn't have a separate dining room, consider using a screen or an arrangement of furniture to section off the area used for dining.
- A crystal chandelier or a circular hanging lamp make wonderful additions to the dining room. Not only do they contribute to creating a special atmosphere, but they also assists in a positive flow of chi.
The following are simple suggestions to apply to your child's bedroom.
- Children will enjoy the rewards of a bedroom facing East toward the morning sunshine. However, do not place your child's bed directly under a window. Chi energy is very unstable here, and can cause restless sleep patterns and even behavioral problems.
- When selecting artwork for your child's room, choose images depicting positive messages. Scenes that display characteristics such as sharing or kindness, or that encourage imaginative daydreaming are good choices.
- Natural lighting is a key feature for your child's room. Hang crystals in window to encourage the healthy movement of chi.
- Try not to position your child's study area so that their back is to the door. If no other placement is possible, install a mirror so that they can see the door behind them while working at their desk.
- A globe should be displayed in your child's room. Globes are believed to promote educational and academic pursuits.
- Do hang a mobile in your child's room. A shiny, painted mobile will stimulate activity, while a fabric mobile will be relaxing for your child. Both promote the circulation of chi around the room.
The following are suggestions that you may apply to your Living Room area.
- The living room should be reserved for relaxation, conversation and interaction. In Feng Shui terms it is considered to be the heart of the home.
- The essence of Feng Shui is based on simplicity. In regards to your living room, it is important to strike a balance between clutter and sparseness. The living room should be a place with an inviting, yet calming atmosphere.
- Ultimately your living room should be in the South side of your home or should face South. Facing the West side also has a good outlook. If the view from your living room has harsh lines or angles, try breaking up the view with large plants.
- Your living room should be square or rectangular in shape. When arranging your furniture, a circular formation will encourage a healthy flow of chi. It will also create a sense of unity and comfort. Be careful not to crowd furniture or use pieces that are too large for the space.
- Flat ceilings are best for promoting the flow of chi. Exposed ceiling beams are considered oppressive as their edges create poison arrows which direct harsh energy towards the people below. If you have a sloped ceiling or exposed beams, you may counteract the negative effects of the beams by hanging crystals or bamboo wind chimes from several of the beams.
- If your living room is directly connected to your dining area or kitchen, it is best to have a visual barrier placed between the two areas. Consider using a screen or large plants to separate the spaces.
- Carefully consider the color for your living room. This is not the place for harsh colors. Where possible, choose a room color that is complementary to your furniture or artwork to create a sense of harmony within the room.
- The living room is an appropriate place to display a Feng Shui deity. A beautiful sculpture of the wise and smiling Buddha will inspire lighthearted good will in everyone who sees him. The Buddha also brings good fortune to the family.
Here are a few simple suggestions that may be applied to your kitchen.
- The most basic rule is to keep the kitchen neat and very clean at all times. Do not let dirty dishes pile up in the sink and keep counters clean and clear. Clean out cupboards and the refrigerator on a regular basis.
- Feng Shui dictates that ultimately your kitchen should not face North as it may increase the chance of mishaps within the home. Hanging crystals or wind chimes from the doorways or windows that face North is an effective cure.
- The stove should be positioned so that the cook is not standing with their back to the doorway. A mirror or highly reflective surface placed above the stove will allow the cook to be aware of what is taking place behind them, and therefore avert the problem. Good lighting and ventilation is also necessary to reduce negative energy.
- The kitchen sink represents the water element and the stove represents the fire element. Ideally these two elements should be beside one another. If you make any major changes to your kitchen, this would be the most important one to consider. If this change is impossible, place a plant or something made of wood between them for balancing the earth element.
- Never leave your knives out on display. These create sha chi, or poison arrows and negative energy.
- Avoid storing onions and garlic in visible locations as they are considered to be in a state of subtle decay. Instead, display a bowl fresh fruit as a symbol of health and abundance.
Here are some suggestions that you may apply to your Bedroom.
- Adults benefit from a bedroom that faces West into the gentle rays of the setting sun. Choosing soft, nurturing colors to decorate also helps to create a soothing, restful atmosphere in the bedroom.
- Use red accents sparingly in the bedroom. A few red items will increase romance and passion, but an abundance of red will excite chi and make it difficult to rest.
- The foot of the bed should not face a doorway as this is the way the deceased are carried from a room. The bed should also not directly face a window as the glare attracts sha chi energy. Use wind chimes or bagua mirrors to remedy the solution if the bed cannot be arranged in an alternative way.
- Do not place more than two mirrors in a bedroom, and avoid placing a mirror at the foot of the bed or opposite a window. All of these placements will excite chi which is not a desired goal in a room of rest.
- Beware of placing the bed under overhead beams, bookcases, or shelves. These arrangements are oppressive and can aggravate problems such as headaches, restlessness, and insomnia. If it is impossible to relocate the bed, crystals and small wind chimes are simple cures for these conditions.
- Arrange bedroom furniture so that the corners of dressers or chairs are not aimed at you while you sleep, as these create poison arrows which may create restlessness and insomnia.
- Hang a string of jade turtles on the wall to give the gift of long life to your whole family.
- Try to avoid placing electronic equipment in the bedroom. If this is unavoidable, these devices should be enclosed in a cabinet, or at least covered with cloths when not in use, especially at night while sleeping. The energy produced by these machines is thought to destroy good chi and is considered unhealthy.
- A plant in the bedroom is helpful for introducing the wood element into the room. Plants also improve air quality. However, keep the number of plants to a minimum and to a relatively small size. Choose varieties with soft rounded leaves.
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