by Stephanie Roberts
The kitchen is sometimes called "the heart of the home," and with good reason; in ancient cultures the hearth was a sacred place representing the life-giving sustenance of Earth's bounty. Feng shui recognizes the kitchen as one of the most important rooms in the house because it is where we connect with the energies that nourish us physically (food), financially (money), and emotionally (family). It reminds us to see the kitchen not just as where we put the groceries away and dish up dinner, but also as a place where we receive blessings and express gratitude for the gifts of life, health, and prosperity.
The kitchen should be bright and sunny in feeling, evoking the warmth of the sun and hearth. Reds and earth tones are good here, while green accents add wood energy to feed the stove's fire, and touches of purple help to support prosperity. Dark, cramped kitchens can be transformed with warm white or pale yellow paint, brighter light fixtures, and cheerful accessories that bring reds and yellows into the room. A kitchen with lots of black and chrome appliances and fixtures will benefit from touches of green, purple, and red to support health and prosperity.
When you come home from the store and put your groceries away, think about the health and vitality these foods will bring to you and your family. As you reach for a snack or prepare a meal, take a moment to focus on how fortunate you are to have this nourishment at your fingertips. Visualize your kitchen always filled with nature's bounty, and say a quiet "thank you" for the food that sustains you and your family. This moment of awareness and gratitude will help to keep the chi of your kitchen supportive and strong.
One easy way to improve the chi of the kitchen is to make sure that everything involved in food preparation and serving is attractive and pleasant to work with. If you are cooking with pots that you don't like, eating from dishes that you do not love, or using paper towels for napkins because the good ones are put away in the back of a closet, each seemingly minor incident is detracting from your ability to enjoy and benefit from your meals.
Get rid of the stuff you never use, start using the things you love, and fill your kitchen with accessories that you really enjoy. This is feng shui in action, and it's a wonderful way to transform the energy of your kitchen so you can receive the support and comfort that the heart of your home should provide.
Feng shui reminds us that in order to prosper, we need to be healthy. The feng shui of your kitchen - especially the stove - can have a big influence on your financial situation, even if you rarely or never cook.
In feng shui, the stove is your "wealth generator." It is the most important symbolic factor in your ability to prosper financially, so make sure it works the way it should. Any problems with the stove can indicate problems with money or limitations to your ability to bring home a good income. A burner that doesn't heat could be a sign of fruitless effort, and an oven that runs too hot could be burning up your money. Dirt and grime are also signs of negative energy, so be sure to keep your stovetop and oven clean.
One easy way to activate money chi is to use your stovetop at least once a day, rather than always relying on the microwave to boil water for tea or heat up a cup of soup. Vary which burner you use, so that all are used regularly. If you don’t use your stove, or use the same one burner all the time, symbolically you are limiting your ability to benefit from financial resources.
When the stovetop is not in use, put all pots and pans away. Unused pots stored on top of the stove can squash prosperity chi, especially when they cover the rear left burner; if you visualize the ba gua over the stovetop, with career in the center front, the rear left burner is in the Wealth position.
To support prosperity, place something that symbolizes wealth or abundance in the Wealth area of your kitchen [the back left corner of the room if you are standing in the doorway], such as a basket or bowl of fresh fruit. Purple and green grapes are especially good abundance symbols for the wealth area.
Another good feng shui tactic is to keep kitchen canisters and other containers more than half-full as much as possible. Every time you see these containers, your subconscious mind will register plenty rather than the implied lack created by an almost empty jar. Get in the habit of restocking your food supplies before you run low, and you will fill your kitchen with the energy of abundance.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Feng Shui and the Command Position
One of the most important feng shui guidelines is to place your bed and desk in what is called the "Command Position." In this position, you face the door from the far side of the room but are not directly in front of the door; usually the part of the room diagonally farthest from the entry offers the best Command Position.
In the Command Position, you are able to benefit from the chi that enters and flows through the space, while being far enough removed from the doorway that you are not exposed to chi that is too strong. A true Command Position also provides a solid wall behind you for support. Using this position puts you in visual command of the space, and allows you to face life directly, both literally and symbolically.
If you can't see the door from where you sleep or work, this implies that life can sneak up on you, that you tend not to face issues directly, and that you are easily startled and constantly dealing with unexpected events. Sleeping or working directly in line with the door also exposes you to excessive chi, which can contribute to stress, irritability, health problems, and feelings of overwhelm. Use of the Command Position removes you from these negative influences and puts you in control of your space and of your life.
The objective of using the Command Position for the bed and desk is a key factor as well in the feng shui guideline that says not to have your home office in the bedroom. While the main reason for this is that the energy of work (desk) and that of rest (bed) are incompatible and should not be housed in the same space, it is also highly unlikely that you will be able to place both the desk and the bed in the Command Position if you try to use both these important pieces of furniture in the same room.
These are fairly straightforward guidelines, but as so often happens, in any particular space there may be other factors involved that need to be taken into account. Although there are often several potential places to put a bed or desk that will meet the Command Position criteria (the larger the space, the more options you will have), usually one or more of these will be less than optimal for some reason. For example, placing your desk with a good view of the door may require sitting with your back to a large window. Not only does this imply lack of support in your career, but if you work at a computer (as most people with desk jobs do) glare from the window can also be a problem.
Other potential problems to be avoided include overhead beams, the low side of a slanted ceiling, sharp angles from interior corners, and an overhead fan in a room with a low ceiling - to name just a few. Any one of these factors may make a potential Command Position less than desirable. You should also keep in mind what is going on in the neighboring rooms as well as outside the building. For example, what may seem like the perfect Command Position location for your bed is not so perfect if your bedroom shares a wall with your kitchen or bathroom, and the toilet, shower, stove or refrigerator is right on the other side of the wall behind the bed. Another example would be a bedroom in the front of a house very close to the road. Here the Command Position might indicate placing the head of the bed against the exterior wall, where nighttime traffic may sound like it's driving right over your pillow and make it difficult to get a good night's sleep. In this case, you may find that placing your bed so it is in the Command Position relative to the road, rather than the doorway, is the better option. In many cases a review of the pros and cons of a space may indicate that the best location for your desk or bed may be one that is not in the Command Position, but that protects you from other influences.
The best possible furniture placement in any room in your home often involves a compromise between several different feng shui guidelines. The more you know about how the different features of your home affect your space, the better able you will be to make the placement choices that are best for you.
In the Command Position, you are able to benefit from the chi that enters and flows through the space, while being far enough removed from the doorway that you are not exposed to chi that is too strong. A true Command Position also provides a solid wall behind you for support. Using this position puts you in visual command of the space, and allows you to face life directly, both literally and symbolically.
If you can't see the door from where you sleep or work, this implies that life can sneak up on you, that you tend not to face issues directly, and that you are easily startled and constantly dealing with unexpected events. Sleeping or working directly in line with the door also exposes you to excessive chi, which can contribute to stress, irritability, health problems, and feelings of overwhelm. Use of the Command Position removes you from these negative influences and puts you in control of your space and of your life.
The objective of using the Command Position for the bed and desk is a key factor as well in the feng shui guideline that says not to have your home office in the bedroom. While the main reason for this is that the energy of work (desk) and that of rest (bed) are incompatible and should not be housed in the same space, it is also highly unlikely that you will be able to place both the desk and the bed in the Command Position if you try to use both these important pieces of furniture in the same room.
These are fairly straightforward guidelines, but as so often happens, in any particular space there may be other factors involved that need to be taken into account. Although there are often several potential places to put a bed or desk that will meet the Command Position criteria (the larger the space, the more options you will have), usually one or more of these will be less than optimal for some reason. For example, placing your desk with a good view of the door may require sitting with your back to a large window. Not only does this imply lack of support in your career, but if you work at a computer (as most people with desk jobs do) glare from the window can also be a problem.
Other potential problems to be avoided include overhead beams, the low side of a slanted ceiling, sharp angles from interior corners, and an overhead fan in a room with a low ceiling - to name just a few. Any one of these factors may make a potential Command Position less than desirable. You should also keep in mind what is going on in the neighboring rooms as well as outside the building. For example, what may seem like the perfect Command Position location for your bed is not so perfect if your bedroom shares a wall with your kitchen or bathroom, and the toilet, shower, stove or refrigerator is right on the other side of the wall behind the bed. Another example would be a bedroom in the front of a house very close to the road. Here the Command Position might indicate placing the head of the bed against the exterior wall, where nighttime traffic may sound like it's driving right over your pillow and make it difficult to get a good night's sleep. In this case, you may find that placing your bed so it is in the Command Position relative to the road, rather than the doorway, is the better option. In many cases a review of the pros and cons of a space may indicate that the best location for your desk or bed may be one that is not in the Command Position, but that protects you from other influences.
The best possible furniture placement in any room in your home often involves a compromise between several different feng shui guidelines. The more you know about how the different features of your home affect your space, the better able you will be to make the placement choices that are best for you.
Monday, May 04, 2009
Feng Shui and Fertility
It is common knowledge that infertility affects thousands of couples every year and the toll it takes on a relationship can be damaging. The desire to have a baby is normal when a couple is involved in a deep, meaningful relationship and if that dream doesn’t appear to be possible, the results can be catastrophic.
While medical advances in the treatment of both male and female infertility have come a long way in the last several years, many couple want to take a more proactive stance and do something to help themselves start a family. For those with the inclination, Feng Shui can help with the fertility process. This ancient practice that focuses on balance and harmony in every aspect of a person’s life and the relationship between conceiving a child and living a harmonious life are clear. The positive energies that influence the good life forces can aid in the conception of a baby if you use the Feng Shui practice to enhance your conception attempts. Feng Shui and fertility are closely related when the practice is focused on both parents.
The first place you should focus on in your home to enhance your Feng Shui and fertility practice is in the bedroom. Clear all of the clutter from the tops of the dressers, closets, and any debris on the floor. Clutter is destructive to the positive Feng Shui energies and therefore damaging to the conception attempts you and your partner are trying. Make sure your bedroom is a haven of comfort and relaxation for both of you. Cleaning up is a small price to pay for a baby of your own.
Some of the other things you can do in the bedroom include certain decorating décor and specific Feng Shui symbolism. Red paper lanterns are incredibly beneficial hanging on either side of the bed. They symbolize positive yang influence in the bedroom and will greatly aid in the conception process. Another good item to include in your bedroom décor is one hollow piece of bamboo. A dragon place strategically on the man’s side of the bed can increase the passion and potency of the union and help the couple with infertility issues. When you hang pictures or other decorations remember to always display pictures or statues that display 2 things. Two birds, two people, two fish, you get the idea. The display of two fish is the symbol of marital union and can greatly aid in the Feng Shui and fertility. Continue with the animal theme and include elephants in your decorations. In Feng Shui elephants are closely related to pregnancy and placed prominently in the room, are connected to male children. Good Feng Shui practice is a great way to aid yourself and your partner in the family starting attempts.
Unlike many other fertility practices, Feng Shui and fertility tends to focus on the man rather than the woman. In Feng Shui, the term “Descendant’s Luck” is what determines the good fortune a man will experience while trying to start a family with his partner. Trying the various ways to positively influence descendants luck is a good start to combat infertility using Feng Shui.
The rest of the house is important in providing the balance you need to conceive a child. One of the most damaging effects on Feng Shui and fertility is the occurrence of a blockage in front of the front door. In one case, a tree was blocking a childless couple’s front door. When a Feng Shui consultant recommended removing the tree, the couple followed the advice and removed the tree. As a result, the couple had a baby nine to ten months later. A blockage in front of the door prevents positive chi or energy from entering the home. Not only is this not helpful in the conception process, it also is detrimental to all other aspects of a harmonious life.
Relying on the natural, productive aspects of Feng Shui and fertility can help you achieve the dream of becoming parents. It is no secret that being at peace and harmonious within your life and yourself is one of the best ways to encourage the positive chi needed to conceive your baby. Even medical science focuses on the importance of a healthy state of mind for both parents during the conception process. When using Feng Shui to encourage fertility, the whole idea is to achieve a deep sense of harmony and balance in your life. After all, it is unlikely that the body will allow such an important event if the mind and soul aren’t prepared for the pregnancy and subsequent birth.
Feng Shui and fertility are closely linked as are all aspects of a person’s life. Using the symbolism and harmony of this ancient practice are one of the most effective, grace filling practices that can help you and your partner fulfill the dream of starting a family. Infertility isn’t something that you just have to live with.
While medical advances in the treatment of both male and female infertility have come a long way in the last several years, many couple want to take a more proactive stance and do something to help themselves start a family. For those with the inclination, Feng Shui can help with the fertility process. This ancient practice that focuses on balance and harmony in every aspect of a person’s life and the relationship between conceiving a child and living a harmonious life are clear. The positive energies that influence the good life forces can aid in the conception of a baby if you use the Feng Shui practice to enhance your conception attempts. Feng Shui and fertility are closely related when the practice is focused on both parents.
The first place you should focus on in your home to enhance your Feng Shui and fertility practice is in the bedroom. Clear all of the clutter from the tops of the dressers, closets, and any debris on the floor. Clutter is destructive to the positive Feng Shui energies and therefore damaging to the conception attempts you and your partner are trying. Make sure your bedroom is a haven of comfort and relaxation for both of you. Cleaning up is a small price to pay for a baby of your own.
Some of the other things you can do in the bedroom include certain decorating décor and specific Feng Shui symbolism. Red paper lanterns are incredibly beneficial hanging on either side of the bed. They symbolize positive yang influence in the bedroom and will greatly aid in the conception process. Another good item to include in your bedroom décor is one hollow piece of bamboo. A dragon place strategically on the man’s side of the bed can increase the passion and potency of the union and help the couple with infertility issues. When you hang pictures or other decorations remember to always display pictures or statues that display 2 things. Two birds, two people, two fish, you get the idea. The display of two fish is the symbol of marital union and can greatly aid in the Feng Shui and fertility. Continue with the animal theme and include elephants in your decorations. In Feng Shui elephants are closely related to pregnancy and placed prominently in the room, are connected to male children. Good Feng Shui practice is a great way to aid yourself and your partner in the family starting attempts.
Unlike many other fertility practices, Feng Shui and fertility tends to focus on the man rather than the woman. In Feng Shui, the term “Descendant’s Luck” is what determines the good fortune a man will experience while trying to start a family with his partner. Trying the various ways to positively influence descendants luck is a good start to combat infertility using Feng Shui.
The rest of the house is important in providing the balance you need to conceive a child. One of the most damaging effects on Feng Shui and fertility is the occurrence of a blockage in front of the front door. In one case, a tree was blocking a childless couple’s front door. When a Feng Shui consultant recommended removing the tree, the couple followed the advice and removed the tree. As a result, the couple had a baby nine to ten months later. A blockage in front of the door prevents positive chi or energy from entering the home. Not only is this not helpful in the conception process, it also is detrimental to all other aspects of a harmonious life.
Relying on the natural, productive aspects of Feng Shui and fertility can help you achieve the dream of becoming parents. It is no secret that being at peace and harmonious within your life and yourself is one of the best ways to encourage the positive chi needed to conceive your baby. Even medical science focuses on the importance of a healthy state of mind for both parents during the conception process. When using Feng Shui to encourage fertility, the whole idea is to achieve a deep sense of harmony and balance in your life. After all, it is unlikely that the body will allow such an important event if the mind and soul aren’t prepared for the pregnancy and subsequent birth.
Feng Shui and fertility are closely linked as are all aspects of a person’s life. Using the symbolism and harmony of this ancient practice are one of the most effective, grace filling practices that can help you and your partner fulfill the dream of starting a family. Infertility isn’t something that you just have to live with.
" Your Birth Date may be the Culprit"
Why Date of Birth is important in Feng Shui.
Feng Shui is about the physical energies in your environment that are external from you. These external energies can be changed and manipulated to improve your physical environment and the effects it has on you. Your date of birth or your natal chart in astrology is about physical energies internal to you. These external energies of Feng Shui can influence your environment but they cannot change your astrology and the effects of your astrology. The challenges you are experiencing may not be due to Feng Shui they may be due to your astrology.
Astrology is what creates who you are. Initially in your life it determines how: you view life, you respond to life and others react to you. As you grow and mature you can gain control of these. There are certain times in life that everyone will encounter windows of opportunity/challenge to gain control of their life. The best Feng Shui in the world cannot overcome these windows. One must work thru them to master these windows. Often people see these times as crisis, but they are truly gifts (if you choose to master them). The major windows are listed below, however, if you are experiencing challenges at times other than those listed below there could be other astrological influences affecting you.
Windows of Opportunity/Challenge:
Saturn Return: Late twenties
Uranus Opposition: Late thirties to early forties
Chiron Return: Fifty-ish
2nd Saturn Return: Late fifties
2nd Uranus Opposition: Mid eighties
If you find yourself in one of these windows do not blame your Feng Shui. It is time for you to address certain areas in your life. To start this process, acknowledge what it is you need to work on, choose to take responsibility for change and take action. Often it is difficult to identify the area(s) that need work. An Astrologer can assist you with this process. By Candace Czarny Copyright © 2001
Feng Shui is about the physical energies in your environment that are external from you. These external energies can be changed and manipulated to improve your physical environment and the effects it has on you. Your date of birth or your natal chart in astrology is about physical energies internal to you. These external energies of Feng Shui can influence your environment but they cannot change your astrology and the effects of your astrology. The challenges you are experiencing may not be due to Feng Shui they may be due to your astrology.
Astrology is what creates who you are. Initially in your life it determines how: you view life, you respond to life and others react to you. As you grow and mature you can gain control of these. There are certain times in life that everyone will encounter windows of opportunity/challenge to gain control of their life. The best Feng Shui in the world cannot overcome these windows. One must work thru them to master these windows. Often people see these times as crisis, but they are truly gifts (if you choose to master them). The major windows are listed below, however, if you are experiencing challenges at times other than those listed below there could be other astrological influences affecting you.
Windows of Opportunity/Challenge:
Saturn Return: Late twenties
Uranus Opposition: Late thirties to early forties
Chiron Return: Fifty-ish
2nd Saturn Return: Late fifties
2nd Uranus Opposition: Mid eighties
If you find yourself in one of these windows do not blame your Feng Shui. It is time for you to address certain areas in your life. To start this process, acknowledge what it is you need to work on, choose to take responsibility for change and take action. Often it is difficult to identify the area(s) that need work. An Astrologer can assist you with this process. By Candace Czarny Copyright © 2001
Feng Shui and Family
If there was ever a phrased coined that adequately expressed the connection between Feng Shui and family it’s this one. “The home is where the heart is.” The ancient practice of Feng Shui is all about joining the various aspects of a good and successful life into one’s environment. When it comes to family and the dynamics of a family, Feng Shui can help you create the environment you need to have a warm, harmonious relationship between all members of your family.
As with all areas of a home, the family areas of the house should be free of distracting clutter and debris. Good chi flows most effectively in places where there is nothing in its way. This is the primary reason why it is recommended that every room be as comfortable and clean as possible. Physical clutter reflects an obstacle in a person’s mind or spirit. When you want Feng Shui and family to work together eliminating unnecessary items laying around is one of the best things you can do.
Now that the whole house is clutter-free, it’s time to focus on the traditional family areas of a house. The living or family rooms and dining room are the most influential areas for family in your home. Feng Shui and family harmony starts with how these rooms are decorated and making excellent use of color and the elements to harmonize these spaces for the best effect and positive flow of chi.
Let’s start with color. It is best to avoid high energy colors like red and orange in the family spaces of a home. They may not be in sync with all members of the group. In Feng Shui and family rooms, green is the best color. It symbolizes living things and we all want our family’s to be in constant growth and to feel and be alive in all aspects of their lives. For this reason, green is the way to go. Maybe it isn’t possible to redecorate your family space or you are happy with the color you already have on your walls. In that case, indoor house plants are a wonderful way to incorporate green into your family’s décor. You can even use green throw pillows or other accents to encourage the living vitality of the color green. As second choices in the color scheme, blue and black are good for generating happy, beneficial energy and chi.
Every aspect of life has a corresponding element or elements. With Feng Shui and family, the elements are wood and water. Including these aspects in your family area décor is simple enough to do. Most families already display photos of special occasions. A simple way to bring wood into your living space is to frame those photos in wooden frames. A pretty wreath that works with the original look of the room is another easy change that can be made to bring some of the outdoors in. The wood element ties into the green color suggestion. A small tree designed to be left inside is another option for bringing both wood and green into your home. As previously mentioned, water is the other element hat is most beneficial to the family dynamic. In a perfect world, a clean, fresh water fountain would be ideal in this location. Putting a water fountain in the center of your home may not be possible. In this case, the addition of a mirror mimics water in the Feng Shui practice and is a great way to include the water element. It doesn’t hurt that both wood and water are easy to include in even the most formal of family area design themes.
Each and every family is unique and different from every other one. In the practice of Feng Shui and family, it is important to use those differences in creating a space full of positive energies for the entire family. Place objects that symbolize the family’s unity. They could be religious objects or keepsakes from a favorite trip. This is also the perfect place to display items relating to the family’s ancestry. The whole idea is to encourage unity and a deep connection. That is the goal of any family and properly used Feng Shui can help you achieve it.
There is nothing more important in our lives than family. With the use of Feng Shui and family dynamic, you can help create a more balanced, calm, creative environment that will only enhance the wonderful connection your family has. Careful consideration of color, and elements, along with the inclusion of family memorabilia can have your family spaces alive and full of positive chi. Nothing comes from that but a good, stable family relationship. Take the time to arrange your home to reflect the deep importance you place on family and watch all the good things come.
As with all areas of a home, the family areas of the house should be free of distracting clutter and debris. Good chi flows most effectively in places where there is nothing in its way. This is the primary reason why it is recommended that every room be as comfortable and clean as possible. Physical clutter reflects an obstacle in a person’s mind or spirit. When you want Feng Shui and family to work together eliminating unnecessary items laying around is one of the best things you can do.
Now that the whole house is clutter-free, it’s time to focus on the traditional family areas of a house. The living or family rooms and dining room are the most influential areas for family in your home. Feng Shui and family harmony starts with how these rooms are decorated and making excellent use of color and the elements to harmonize these spaces for the best effect and positive flow of chi.
Let’s start with color. It is best to avoid high energy colors like red and orange in the family spaces of a home. They may not be in sync with all members of the group. In Feng Shui and family rooms, green is the best color. It symbolizes living things and we all want our family’s to be in constant growth and to feel and be alive in all aspects of their lives. For this reason, green is the way to go. Maybe it isn’t possible to redecorate your family space or you are happy with the color you already have on your walls. In that case, indoor house plants are a wonderful way to incorporate green into your family’s décor. You can even use green throw pillows or other accents to encourage the living vitality of the color green. As second choices in the color scheme, blue and black are good for generating happy, beneficial energy and chi.
Every aspect of life has a corresponding element or elements. With Feng Shui and family, the elements are wood and water. Including these aspects in your family area décor is simple enough to do. Most families already display photos of special occasions. A simple way to bring wood into your living space is to frame those photos in wooden frames. A pretty wreath that works with the original look of the room is another easy change that can be made to bring some of the outdoors in. The wood element ties into the green color suggestion. A small tree designed to be left inside is another option for bringing both wood and green into your home. As previously mentioned, water is the other element hat is most beneficial to the family dynamic. In a perfect world, a clean, fresh water fountain would be ideal in this location. Putting a water fountain in the center of your home may not be possible. In this case, the addition of a mirror mimics water in the Feng Shui practice and is a great way to include the water element. It doesn’t hurt that both wood and water are easy to include in even the most formal of family area design themes.
Each and every family is unique and different from every other one. In the practice of Feng Shui and family, it is important to use those differences in creating a space full of positive energies for the entire family. Place objects that symbolize the family’s unity. They could be religious objects or keepsakes from a favorite trip. This is also the perfect place to display items relating to the family’s ancestry. The whole idea is to encourage unity and a deep connection. That is the goal of any family and properly used Feng Shui can help you achieve it.
There is nothing more important in our lives than family. With the use of Feng Shui and family dynamic, you can help create a more balanced, calm, creative environment that will only enhance the wonderful connection your family has. Careful consideration of color, and elements, along with the inclusion of family memorabilia can have your family spaces alive and full of positive chi. Nothing comes from that but a good, stable family relationship. Take the time to arrange your home to reflect the deep importance you place on family and watch all the good things come.
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