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Magical Harmony at Work and Home:
Functional Feng Shui for Century 21
Look over your shoulder right now. What do you see? Does
the color of the walls please your eye? Are you staring at a blank
wall at work or a cluttered desk? Where are the windows in your
office space? Which direction are you facing? What is the first thing you
see when walking in your front door at home? To consolidate power in
your chain of command, place your desk or bed with a solid wall at your
back rather than a window. Make sure you can easily see the door. If
you can't manage this maneuver, place shiny a silver
canister filled with red and black pencils or silver picture frame in
the upper right-hand section of your desk. To enhance your
professional image, place red flowers in the center of the wall
opposite your office or bedroom door. Art Van voodoo? Well, suspend your skepticism
for a bit and let's continue our journey into
placement power for Century 21. Feng Shui (pronounced
"FUNG SCH-Way") is the ancient Chinese discipline
concerned with how we are affected by spaces and
the places where we live and work. My goal is to translate and
de-mystify these ancient codas into practical know-how. Over two
thousand years ago, China's population- one of the
world's most mystical, spiritual, largest as well
as oldest cultures- depended on the whims and cycles
of the seasons and knew their fate to be inextricably entwined with
nature. The landscape and locale of home or business could either empower
its residents or weaken them. Working with nature rather than inviting
massive retaliation is the core of Feng Shui; going contrary to nature
damages everyone and everything involved. For many Westerners, it is important
to suspend belief and keep open hearts and mind. An associate of mine has
a client who was riddled with what is called
"cancer." His recovery-response was not good. Every wall of
his home was painted green- not the color for
anyone to surround one when dealing with cells that multiply. After
re-painting his home and shuttling his furniture, this fellow has
survived his oncological death sentence. Recently, a Chicago client had a son
who was up for a series on television. Mom placed his photograph in the
"career and fame" section of the
house atop the Sony. The very next week, he was booked for a national TV commercial, a soap opera
and a film. Another young couple with a small party store tripled their
grosses after a Feng Shui renovation. The placement of mirrors around
the store's perimeter deflected "bad vibes" and
invited prosperity. Store-owners can strengthen their traffic by sprinkling
yellow grains of millet from the main door of their office building to
the parking lot and sidewalk. Insomniacs can enjoy a
night's good sleep after submitting their bedrooms
to perestroika (Russian for "reconstructing").
According to Feng Shui, multiple influences affect our lives: good acts create
positive karma, study and self-cultivation, diligence and developing
good ch'i (pronounced "CHEE"). Ch'i
translates as "breath" or "energy." Concepts of positive
yang (pronounced "YONG") and negative yin also
involve Feng Shui. Bipeds and buildings both possess
ch'i that can be either expansive yin or contracting yang. There are a
number of methods that you can incorporate into your surroundings that
enhance ch'i either indoors or outdoors. Feng Shui
embraces the philosophy of Five Elements as a way of analyzing and
harmonizing a person or environment: metal, water, wood, fire and earth and each
is associated with colors, compass directions, astrological placements
as well as body organs. Basic symptomatic
"remedies" for un-good vibes in your space are:
1) objects that reflect light: mirrors, crystals, lights
2) sounds: wind chimes, bells
3) fish or growing plants
4) moving objects: mobiles, windmills and chimes
5) colors: ribbons, stained glass, pictures, rugs
6) natural formations: stones, statues
7) electrical appliances: television, CD players, air conditioners, microwaves
8) water: glass vases, fountains
Tao (pronounced "DOW")- which means "path"- is the life
principle that links us to the universe according to Feng Shui.
"Everything in accordance with the Tao (or nature)"
is our motto. Feng Shui believers seek balance, harmony and equilibrium
in the home and office in order to improve their fortune and destiny. Each
"cure" has a strength unto itself and will be
discussed in a future column. Until we meet again, assess your bedroom
(where you spend over 1/4 of your life), your kitchen and dining area, the
office space as well as the route you take to work. What colors surround
you? What do you see when you look out your bedroom window? Your office? Where
in your home do you keep your bank book? Are your windows and closets clean? To
invite opportunity to knock, fix your front door-
no squeaking, sticking or wobbly door knobs, please!
About the author:
Dennis Fairchild is the Birmingham-based author of several books, including
Healing Homes:
Feng Shui - Here & Now,
the US correspondent for Europe's Feng Shui For Modern Living
magazine and spoke at the 3rd annual International Feng Shui Conference.
Also of Interest:
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