Currently browsing: Home Feng Shui
April 7, 2015 ·
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Do you want some restful sleep? Are you looking to start each day recharged and full of energy? Then take some steps to make that happen!
Bedroom arrangement is essential in Feng Shui. Much about your energy is determined by your bedroom and the position of your bed.
While you sleep, you recharge. The exact position of your bed can help charge you in positive, healing and loving ways or it can leave you feeling restless and drained. The choice is yours.
The points I make here are more than just Feng Shui cures, they are a blueprint for how you should arrange your bedroom.
Keep an Open Mind
The Feng Shui rules of the bed are simple. Being able to adhere to those rules, however, can sometimes get a little tricky. The location of your bedroom and layout of your room can sometimes put you in a bind.
The first step here is to have an open mind. Just because you have had your bed a certain way does not mean it should continue to be that way. Do you want excellent sleep and do you want to be recharged with positive energy every night? Then, you may need to make some serious and creative changes.
Bed Position
Next, we need to try to get your bed in the ideal Feng Shui position. Keep these points in mind:
The best position for a bed is one where you can see the door from the bed, but you are not in direct line with the door (any door, if possible — even closets or bathrooms). Energy enters through doors. Energy could be in the form of Chi, light, radio waves, etc. Redirecting and/or eliminating any of these types of energy can help you get better sleep.
Have the head of your bed against a solid wall (no windows or doors on the same wall).
As with doors, try not to place your bed in line with a window.
Keep energy balanced around your bed. If you have a nightstand on one side, have an identical one on the other side. Do not place a side of your bed against a wall, such as in a corner of the room.
Bedroom Items
Remove mirrors that may be pointing at your bed. Mirrors produce too much energy for restful sleep and are often the cause of many types of body aches or health issues.
Avoid poison arrows, like the corners of walls or furniture, from pointing at you while you sleep. If otherwise unavoidable, block them with decor or furniture.
Avoid ceiling fans, as they create a cutting energy. Do you notice that you also wake up with dry sinuses and a headache?
Minimize exciting imagery and objects in your room. This is not the place to add a motivational poster with people skydiving, for instance.
If possible, avoid all electronics in the bedroom, including TVs, cellphones, alarm clocks, etc. I can’t stress this point enough. If you must have something electronic in the room, try only using battery-powered devices and keep them as far as possible from the bed. Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) may be very unsafe and are known to prevent restful sleep. I would even go so far as to recommend cutting off electricity to outlet wiring in the bedroom.
Now, add some things to your bedroom that will help you relax. Items that help with aromatherapy or a white noise machine can be incredibly helpful. Your choice of calming colors also helps immensely.
Love Heals
Don’t forget that your bedroom also represents love.
Keep things in pairs and use symbolism to represent yourself being in a loving relationship, even if you are single. Make room for your partner or future partner.
When you get a chance, spend some time learning about the Feng Shui Love Corner, as taking some of the steps mentioned will help ground you, resulting in better sleep.
Next Steps
With some bedrooms, the above requirements will seem like they are next to impossible to achieve. Get creative when you Feng Shui.
For instance, if you have a closet door which is the only thing keeping you from your ideal bedroom setup, keep it closed when you sleep and cover it with a drape or a Japanese folding screen.
Still stuck? Sleep on it. Before bed, enhance your Creative Area and have a positive mindset that you will determine creative ways to make your sleeping arrangement more ideal.
This is one of those things that I think is essential in Feng Shui. Restful and recharging sleep can help you make the most of your life. Make it happen!
Remember to always think twice before you place an object in your home or office. Make sure it won’t conflict with your harmony and balance. Read up on the Feng Shui Bagua to make sure you have everything in order.
I am a 3rd generation Feng Shui expert and have helped thousands of people add harmony and balance to their homes and offices the Feng Shui way. As your consultant, you will be able to get one-on-one advice for how to arrange your room and the rest of your home. I offer in-home and virtual services. Contact me today!
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February 25, 2015 ·
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Ensure that you are using the appropriate element, color, pattern or material for every aspect of your home design.
The five elements of water, wood, fire, earth and metal in their creative cycle.
Feng Shui Elements
In terms of Feng Shui, the element is the central theme to many of the areas of the Bagua.
Thus, make sure that you utilize wood or something representing wood in the Family Area and earth in the Health Area.
Feng Shui Colors
The choice of colors is quite important because they often represent the elements and therefore the various areas of the Bagua. For instance, red represents fire and is ideal in the Fame & Reputation Area. Purple is the color of royalty and is best found in the Wealth & Prosperity Corner.
Feng Shui Patterns
Patterns can also represent elemental objects. As an example, a pattern of wavy or undulating lines would best represent water and should be placed in the Career Area. Patterns with circular shapes represent metal and thus the Creativity & Children Area.
Feel free to take things quite literal when it comes to patterns. For instance, you could use a throw pillow with dollar signs in your Wealth & Prosperity Corner, a pattern with sailboats in your Travel Corner, hearts would go with your Love & Relationships Corner, etc.
Feng Shui Materials
Of course, many materials are exactly the same as the elements. A wooden hutch, for instance, would be best placed in the Family Area while metal furniture is best placed in the Children & Creativity Area.
Some materials can be a bit more tricky, but think of where they come from. Fabric from cotton or linen is made from the earth and would be ideal in the Health Area, for instance.
Next Steps
Research and use some creative thinking when doing interior design. The use of colors, patterns and materials can represent various elements that correlate directly with various areas of the Bagua.
Remember to always think twice before you place an object in your home or office. Make sure it won’t conflict with your harmony and balance.
Are you looking for a Feng Shui consultant you can trust? I am a 3rd generation Feng Shui expert and have helped thousands of people add harmony and balance to their homes and offices the Feng Shui way. Contact me today!
Want to help others achieve their goals? Share this post with them on Facebook!
Be sure to register for my email newsletter or like me on Facebook to stay up-to-date with my latest posts.
December 31, 2014 ·
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What will my year be like? What is my fortune for 2015? Will I find love, wealth and a better job in 2015?
2015 is the Year of the Wooden Sheep or Goat in the Chinese Zodiac, or Lunar Calendar. The sheep is seen as a symbol of peace, balance, harmony and calmness. 2015 is also an “8” year in Feng Shui, which means there’s a lot of wealth to be made this year for most in both their personal and professional lives.
The Chinese New Year doesn’t officially begin until February 19th this year, but that shouldn’t keep us from getting prepared right now!
2015, like any other year, will not be the same for everyone. Just look at your friends and family. Some had a great 2014, while it may have been awful for others. We need to break it down by when you were born – the more precise, the more descriptive the fortune.
Here is general snapshot of 2015 for each of the Chinese Zodiac signs. Please note that I can provide more detail if you give me your accurate birth date and time. If you are interested, please learn more about a Birth Date Numerology Analysis. You will get a month-by-month breakdown of your year specific to you.
These Chinese Zodiac forecasts are good little guidelines to see how you should be presenting yourself in 2015 and how you should arrange your home to make sure you are boosting the energy you need and protecting the areas that needs protecting, like the Health Area of your home.
Don’t know your zodiac sign? No problem. Just click here to find out your Chinese Zodiac Sign.
- Year of the Rat: You should watch out for anything you will regret or be blamed for. Ensure you are doing everything right in your Fame & Reputation Area.
- Year of the Ox: You should be cautious of any confrontations. The Year of the Sheep and Year of the Ox naturally have jealous energy towards each other, so this year may seem a little confrontational to you. Boost your Helpful People Corner.
- Year of the Tiger: You should really keep a close eye on your health and finances. Make sure you don’t have any plumbing leaks and check on your Health Area and Prosperity Corner.
- Year of the Rabbit: This is a great year for you! It is the perfect time to make job changes and begin business ventures you have always dreamed of. Just make sure you do what you need to do in your Career Area. Before making any significant moves, find out which months are best for you with a Birth Date Numerology Analysis.
- Year of the Dragon: You should take extra care in decisions you would like to make this year. Make sure that all the T’s are crossed and I’s are dotted. Use the appropriate areas of the Feng Shui Bagua to maximize your goals.
- Year of the Snake: You should be able to overcome all obstacles you confront and become very successful. Travel is in the forecast this year. You need to keep a close eye on your finances so they don’t get out of control. Make sure that your Helpful People & Travel Area of your house is in good order. Also make sure you quickly resolve any plumbing leaks.
- Year of the Horse: You can make your dreams come true this year, especially in love and in your career. You will get the recognition you deserve. Make sure that your Fame & Reputation Area is in good order. It wouldn’t hurt to look at your Love Corner and Career Area, while you’re at it.
- Year of the Sheep: This is your year, but you should keep a close watch on your health. Use your mind more than being physically active to solve problems. Boost that Health Area of your home.
- Year of the Monkey: You should have positive outcome in nearly all aspects in life: career promotions, love and stable finances. To really get the most out of your year, make sure everything is in order in your Career Area, Love Corner, and Money Area.
- Year of the Rooster: You need to keep singular focus on the goal you want to reach. You can get a bit distracted this year with a lot of changes coming your way. Just remember to keep focus on what you really want. Use the appropriate area of the Feng Shui Bagua to maximize your goal.
- Year of the Dog: You will be driven by your family’s and loved ones’ happiness more than your career. Take a look at your Family Area for some tips on how to maximize your efforts.
- Year of the Pig: You will have a happy and stable year. Go ahead with your business or life plans you have been planning, but make sure to double-check your health. Ground yourself by making improvements to your Career Area and Health Area first. Before making any significant moves, find out which months are best for you with a Birth Date Numerology Analysis.
Use these Chinese Zodiac forecasts as a guideline to make sure that your home has good Feng Shui to support the energy it needs to boost your energy or protect your energy.
Next Steps
Again, if you want a month-by-month detailed analysis of 2015 based on your birth date and time, please learn more about a Birth Date Numerology Analysis. This is especially important if you are looking to make big changes this year.
Contact me right now to inquire about a Feng Shui Consultation so I can help you add harmony and balance to your life. It will be the best investment you ever make. I am a 3rd generation Feng Shui expert that has helped thousands of people improve their lives through Feng Shui.
Do you know someone that could use a little Feng Shui advice? Share this analysis with them on Facebook!
Be sure to register for my email newsletter or like me on Facebook to stay up-to-date with my latest posts.
November 9, 2014 ·
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Increasing foreign investment into U.S. homes and shifting demographics has forced home builders to consider this untapped energy.
By Jessie Kim
Communities across the country are experiencing an influx of potential buyers that have a certain sixth-sense about an unseen energy. They’re not interested in square footage and upgrades. It’s about this energy. They will often walk in and immediately out of a model home – without saying a word – if this energy isn’t right. Basic model designs that had been popular for years are no longer top sellers. Large cul-de-sac or corner lots sometimes require a discount rather than fetching their normal premium. What is to blame for these recent trends? Foreign investments? Shifting demographics? Maybe Feng Shui is to blame.
Just what is Feng Shui, though? Literally translated, Feng Shui means wind-water. That says a lot about the 3,000 year old Asian practice of Feng Shui, even as it is used today in home layout and design in the United States.
Feng Shui is all about the flow of energy, much like how water flows and wind blows. When you open up the front door to a house, how would an incoming stream of water or a gust of wind flow around and blow through the house? Would it make its way through every room or would it stagnate and collect all in one area? We cannot survive without the energizing nature of water and air. As these are two of the main elements to the building blocks of our human existence, so too is a similar energy referred to inFeng Shui as Chi or Qi.
In Feng Shui, we see the front door of a home as the mouth of incoming energy. From there, an ideal flow of life-giving Chi would cycle through different areas of the home represented by important elements to our existence, starting with the front door: water, wood, fire, earth and metal.
Think of it this way: Chi that flows into your home starts by energizing water. Water, in turn, nourishes wood trees. Wood then fuels fire. Fire rejuvenates earth. Over time, earth and its processes create metal. To renew the cycle, metal gives water a path through which to flow.
This is what is called a creative cycle in Feng Shui and it should flow in a clockwise motion in a home’s layout, starting with the front door. A well-energized and free-flowing creative cycle will provide harmony and balance in the lives of its occupants. This is where the placement of doors, stairs and walls in the floor plan can be crucial for the energy flow.
Moreover, it is important to have items representing these elements in corresponding areas of the home. For instance, a stove or fireplace in the fire area is ideal. When staging a model home, small trees could be placed in the wood area. Metal picture frames could be placed on walls in the metal area.
When one element is overpowering the home, however, it could have disastrous effects. Too many items representing fire, for instance, causes Feng Shui energy to “burn up.” In turn, residents feel burned out and get hot-tempered. Arguments can flare up. Too many items representing water in the home, on the other hand, will give residents the feeling of drowning, which can be overwhelming. That feeling will eventually translate into a lack of motivation. Rarely will projects get started, let alone be seen through completion by residents of such a home.
In Feng Shui, it is all about creating balance. Creating a balanced energy in homes is important so that future residents living in the space can live healthy, harmonious and fruitful lives.
When potential buyers walk into a model home, they need to feel like it is a home where they can be creative, can be active, can be good at what they do, can get the recognition they deserve and can have happy and healthy relationships with their friends and loved ones. From site design to staging with proper Feng Shui in mind, a model home will make prospective buyers feel a positive and relaxing energy that is crucial to health and prosperity. It will be like a refreshing drink of water or a rejuvenating breath of cool air. Whether they believe in it or not, Feng Shui energy will invite buyers in to experience more of their future home – without saying a word.
Ms. Feng Shui, Jessie Kim, is a 3rd generation Feng Shui consultant who primarily works with developers. She can be reached at Jessie@MsFengShui.com or visit https://www.MsFengShui.com.
Green Home Builder – Sept/Oct 2014
October 12, 2014 ·
8 Comments
Last week, I told you that within days of upgrading my desk, a reporter I didn’t previously know asked to highlight it in an upcoming article in Coast Magazine.
Why Feng Shui Your Desk?
Your desk is the domain of your career, which is the gateway to your life path.
Proper Feng Shui should help energy called Chi (or “Qi”) power up your desk as you would have it energize your home. This energy can amplify your business success, as well as improve various aspects of your life.
Desk Feng Shui
The secret to adding Feng Shui to your desk is all in the Bagua. The Bagua is the center of the Black Hat Feng Shui universe and understanding it is crucial to making sure your desk serves your career goals and life path.
Simply layout your desk as if a Bagua were drawn on top, with the Career Area against the side where your chair sits. If it helps, you can think of your desk broken up like a tic-tac-toe board.
This means that as you sit at your chair, your left hand will touch the Knowledge, Family, and Prosperity/Wealth areas as you reach across your desk.
Likewise, your right hand will touch the Helpful People/Travel, Creativity/Children, and Love areas as it reaches across your desk.
The middle of your desk will be your Health Area and across your desk directly in front of you should be the Reputation/Fame area.
The five elements of water, wood, fire, earth and metal in their creative cycle.
The colors and elements (water, wood, fire, earth, & metal) you use should be consistent with those of the respective areas of the Bagua that you would use in your home. Be sure to read up on the Feng Shui Bagua for more information on this.
Symbolism you might use, however, could be relatively unique to you and your profession.
The Bagua Sections of the Desk
Career: This area is right in front of you — the bottom center square of your tic-tac-toe board. The primary element is water and the color is black. Ensure this space is clear for new work to flow in. If you have a desk with a glass top, you can insert a picture of a stream of water flowing in. Without a glass top, you can simply tape that picture underneath your desk. You don’t need to see the item for it to help you.
Knowledge: The bottom-left box of your tic-tac-toe board is for knowledge. Blue is the primary color here. You could have books related to your profession in the drawers under or a small bookshelf on this corner of the table. Having something blue here will help you concentrate and make better decisions.
Family: This area can be found in the middle-left box of your tic-tac-toe board. The primary element here is wood and the ideal color is green. Portraits of your family, friends, or colleagues in a wooden frame would be ideal in this side of the desk. Adding green here will help you feel more at ease with your family and coworkers.
Prosperity & Wealth: The upper-left corner of your desk is for prosperity and wealth. Gold, purple, and green are prosperous colors. You should also have elements here that remind you of wealth. A money plant, a picture of a dream home, or some golden trinkets would do the job in this corner.
Reputation & Fame: The top-middle square of your tic-tac-toe board is here. Fire is its dominant element, which is also represented by the color red. Candles and lights are ideal here. Company awards or even your nameplate would also be well-placed here. You should place your business cards in this area.
Love & Relationships: This area can be found in the upper-right corner of your tic-tac-toe board. Pink and love symbols represent this area well. Items in pairs represent love, as well. A photo of your spouse or a hidden description of your ideal mate fits well in this corner. I added a pair of small turtles to signify me and my husband.
Creativity & Children: The middle-right area is where creativity flows. It is represented by metal and black & white items. This is another great spot for pictures of your kids. If you are looking for an infusion of creative energy, add a metal pendulum or a picture of something creative that inspires you, such as the Sydney Opera House for an architect.
Helpful People & Travel: The lower-right corner of your desk is where you call upon the help of others, which we can always use. This is best represented by silver or grey objects. Recent business cards that you have collected or your Rolodex can work well here. Create a handwritten note detailing how someone will help you achieve your goals and hide it in your desk drawer in this corner. Swap it out periodically. You could also place a small globe or pictures of your vacation goal here.
Health: This area falls in the center square in the tic-tac-toe board. Earth is the element here and it is represented by earth tones, especially yellow. You could tape a big round yellow circle under your desk here or have objects signifying the earth, such as a jar of decorative stones. Otherwise, ensure that the center of your desk is clutter-free.
Feng Shui Desk Shapes
- Rectangle: This shape is ideal for most offices where you want to accomplish individual work. A rectangular desk helps you concentrate.
- Circle: Circular desks are good for brainstorming and creativity. Thus, they are ideal for group meetings.
- Curved: If you have trouble concentrating because people are frequently disturbing you, it may be wise to change to a curved desk. If you are inside of the curve, in the concave area, you will concentrate better. The convex area where it curves out will keep others from approaching too often.
Feng Shui Desk Material
- Wood: Desks made of wood are sturdy, solid, supportive, reliable, and long-lasting. This is my first recommendation for most job functions.
- Metal: Desks made of metal are sharp and penetrating. They provide lots of mental energy and concentration, but they can be draining to the body.
- Glass: A desk made of glass can be very revealing, meaning that you have nothing to hide. However, energy passes through a glass desk very quickly. Be sure to slow the energy with wooden accessories or plants. Glass desks may be ideal for those in sales who want to show customers that they can be open with them.
- Laminate: Desks made of laminate materials are the vanilla of desks. They do not provide much positive or negative energy.
Feng Shui Desk Colors
- Black: A black desk will attract energy inward, which encourages introspection and creates opportunity.
- Brown: A brown desk stabilizes and strengthens the body, but does not energize the mind.
- White: A white desk activates the mind, but drains the body of energy.
- Gray or Metallic: A gray desk gives you more focus, but drains your physical body.
- Green: A green desk is a good balance of body and mind. It is especially good if you have drawn-out projects.
- Earth Tones: Lighter earth tones will increase your mental focus, and will drain your physical body of energy less than gray.
- Bright Colors: Bright colors such as yellow, orange and pink will draw a lot of attention but make the body and mind restless. I suggest bright desks in rare circumstances, such as for reception areas.
- Wooden Colors: Medium-toned wood colors provide stability and strength to the body. Using lighter tones will help energize the mind. Pine, ash, oak and birch colors should be a good balance while providing just the right amount of contrast with white paper to alleviate visual strain.
Additional Feng Shui Desk Tips
Proportions: Ensure that the size of your desk is proportional to the amount of and space of work you need to do. For instance, if the extent of your work is data entry, you likely wouldn’t need as big of a desk as someone who is an architect with drawings that need to be spread across the desk. Ensure that you can reach everything without allowing your desk to look cluttered.
Strong Foundation: Desks should have strong legs that are built of strong materials. The legs are the foundation of your desk, and thus the foundation of your career and life path.
Modesty Panel: I usually recommend a modesty panel that prevents someone from seeing your legs from in front of the desk. This provides greater security and establishes boundaries. A desk with an open front might feel more intimate, however, and will allow others to feel more comfortable approaching you. Unless you are in human resources or a pure leadership role, I recommend a modesty panel.
Face Toward the Door: If your desk faces a wall, window, or partition, you need to try to move it. Though employers love to be able to look over your shoulder, it adds stress if your back is to the door. If possible, turn your desk to face the doorway, but do not have it in line with the doorway. In other words, if someone were shining a light straight into your doorway, it would not line up with your desk, but you would be able to see the light coming in.
Windows: Try not to have your back toward windows, as you can be overwhelmed with energy. This may be unavoidable in some circumstances. There are cures to help minimize the effect of windows.
Power Position: Your desk should be in an area of your office where you can see as much of the room as possible.
Keep It Positive: On your desk and in your office should be objects that are uplifting and empowering.
Add harmony and balance to your desk with this handy Bagua mouse pad. Complete with a description, element and color for each Gua, this mouse pad will help you achieve more health, wealth and luck.
Feng Shui Mouse Pad: For a boost of positive Chi and a reminder of how the Bagua should be laid out on your desk, look into getting a Feng Shui mouse pad.
Clutter: There is simply no room in Feng Shui for clutter, especially on or in your desk.
Home Office or Workplace: Be sure to Feng Shui the desk in your home office, as well as the one at your workplace. They both represent your career and your life path in general.
Next Steps
Looking for a Feng Shui consultant you can trust? Learn a little more about me and how I can help you add harmony and balance to your home or office the Feng Shui way. Contact me today!
Do you know someone that could use a little Feng Shui advice? Share this post with them on Facebook!
Be sure to register for my email newsletter or like me on Facebook to stay up-to-date with my latest posts.
Photo Credits
Jade plant photo courtesy of Steven Severinghaus via Creative Commons license. Swans photo courtesy of Fredrik Alpstedt via Creative Commons license.
October 6, 2014 ·
1 Comment
Feng Shui even amazes me sometimes.
If you follow me on social media, you may remember that I recently upgraded my desk. So get this…
The Old Desk
I had a 20-year-old IKEA table with legs (“Gerton,” as they call it). It came complete with nothing… not even a modesty panel to prevent someone from seeing my legs. Gertie, as it came to be known, was the very first piece of furniture that I got on my own. It had served me very well for 20 years.
Emotions aside, it was time to follow the advice that I give my clients and get myself a solid and stable executive desk that will support my growing career.
On the hunt, I saw such a desk at a big office supply retailer. I ordered the desk on Thursday morning and immediately posted my old desk to Facebook saying that it needed a new loving home.
Within five minutes, a friend offered me $40 for the old desk for her son. She had just been looking for one on IKEA’s web site.
The New Desk
My new desk arrived Friday afternoon. My boys stayed up until midnight putting it together for me. I gave it a good wipe down with citrus essential oil and started to Feng Shui my desk top.
Come Tuesday morning, my phone rings. It’s a writer for a local magazine who wants to interview me for their issue that focuses of health and green living. Guess what her column is called. Seriously… just guess!
“ON THE DESK!!!”
Literally, she writes articles on what is on people’s desks! From CEOs to designers to actors, this writer wants to understand what is on someone’s desk and why. Within a week of getting my new desk, my desk is already getting the spotlight!
I just wanted to share because I grew up with Feng Shui and it still never fails to amaze me. Sometimes, you might not see immediate results, but just know that it’s working…
It’s true, though… even a Feng Shui consultant needs validation every now and then!
Next Steps
Keep your eyes open for an upcoming blog post on how to Feng Shui your own desk. I will also make sure to let you know when the article hits Coast Magazine in January.
Looking for a Feng Shui consultant you can trust? Learn a little more about me and how I can help you add harmony and balance to your life the Feng Shui way. Contact me today!
Do you know someone that could use a little Feng Shui advice? Share this post with them on Facebook!
Be sure to register for my email newsletter or like me on Facebook to stay up-to-date with my latest posts.
Notes: Some essential oils should not be used around small children, certain pets, and anyone with allergies. I’m careful to link to products that I use myself and recommend to my clients, when those products are necessary. I earn a small commission if you purchase through these links, which enables me to produce and publish free content for you to learn from.
