Feng Shui

Feng Shui

Nancilee Wyndra, 1993

Your environment has a big effect on your life. It gives off positive and negative vibes.  You should rearrange things—add and subtract things to balance energy.

Example: A House that sits at the T intersection of streets has negative energy.

Also don’t leave a stump in the middle of the yard. It is also negative.

Electromagnetic fields have a lot to do with Feng Shui and the Vibes of a Particular Place. Once: Twenty Hertz and Now: Sixty Hertz

Feng means Wind.  Shui means Water. Tao means The Way (A Balance of Yin/Yang) and Chi means Vitality.

As Above, So Below

Form School: Shapes, Objects of this World.  Pyramid is Biology, Psychology, City Planning

Add Ying by using less light, have seating with low backs, using burgundy and not red, placement of fountains, fabric patterns with curved lines for furniture. Use soft velvety fabrics. Turn off the TV, Fans and other things that make noise. Be alone.

Add Yang by using brighter light, having tall furniture, using bright colors, use a dehumidifier. Have vertical stripes on furniture. Add ticking clocks and toys on tables.  Use fans or open window. Display collections and invite company.

Energy in a house should move freely. Too much energy is chaos and too little energy is not enough life.  Space out furniture so you can move easily around it.

To Enhance Energy or Chi have pathways, windows, open space, thermal comfort, circles, light and windup objects.  Chi inhibiting things: walls, closed doors, clutter, darkness, too hot or too cold temp, use of triangles and corners and lack of movement in the space.

Typical problems in spaces are too much noise and activity, not able to transmit ideas. There is often an inability to relax and feel grounded.  In order to cure these problems it is important to add water or blue glass. Decorate with earth tones and fire tones.

Fire makes one feel inspired. Fire, Wood and Metal help one think.  Wood will make one feel happier. Metal helps us communicate and feel cultured.

Positive relationships are: fire to earth, earth to metal, metal to water, water to wood and wood to fire. Negative relationships are fire to wood, wood to water, water to metal, metal to earth and earth to fire.

Fire is red, tiles laid in a chevron pattern, triangles (like napkins folded in triangles) and call attention the direction south.

Earth is primary colors (Brown, Yellow and Terra Cotta), squares, clay, brick, mud cement, TV screens, computers, low coffee tables and double beds. Earth’s direction is center.

Metal is white, copper, gray, silver and gold, round surfaces, radios, clocks, TVs, computers, refrigerators, electrical wiring, nail frames and the direction south.

Water is blue, black, waves, glass, fish tanks, fountains, sinks, toilets, tubs, windows and the direction of North.

Wood is green, rectangles, wood, cardboard, paper, doors, roof tiles, chairs, cabinets, boxes, tables, lamps and headboards.

Ba-Gua is the Octagon shape. Right and Left sides represent different meanings.  The self-Octagon has fame, wealth, family, knowledge, career, helpful people, children and marriage. The Health-Octagon has future, power, community, wisdom, self, compassion, descendants and relationships. Furniture is usually placed more in the center and not against walls.

At the spot furthest from the door, place something from your past: a family picture or trophy maybe.  The Far Right side of the room place two chairs and a table.  It is a place for communication.  Also use mirrors, circles of light, fish tanks, and flowers.  And put up two of something as a symbol for two people. On the Right side place pictures of family, favored items, heirlooms and mementos.

The Self Space should have no crowded entrances and have controls for the lighting and temperature. You should have an unobstructed view of the room. The door should be able to open flat against the wall.

The Left Side of the room represents wisdom.  Have books and magazines Maybe a chair and a fountain or glass objects.  Community is on the Far Left. Place metal objects here.  Put accomplishments in the furthest left side corners from the door. Keep the area clean, bright and organized. Maybe keep a low coffee table or cabinet.  Shiny surfaces do well here too.

Colors: Red should not be used in mental institutions, bedrooms, lobbies, offices or restrooms. It is okay in kitchens, living rooms and dining rooms as well as libraries or dens. Yellow should not be used in nightclubs, bathrooms or places people meditate and inside drawers.  It can cheer up a work area or kitchen.  Blue should not be used in cold places or dining areas.  Blue is good for living rooms, bedrooms, etc.  It assists in meditations.  Orange should not be used in restful areas like bedrooms or places for meditation.  Orange is good at fusing a person to a place.  It can also repel loneliness. Green should not be used in cars or around Cancer patients. However, it can be used in most any room that you want connected to nature and want to feel rejuvenated in.   White should not be used in cold climates, kid’s rooms, student lounges, places people don’t know, theaters, funeral homes, etc.  Don’t use black in children’s spaces, healing areas, reading areas, service areas or anywhere communication is needed.

Sound can be used to initiate relaxation, ceremony, concentration and emotion. You can use sound to reverse nervousness, anger and sadness.  Appropriate indoor sounds are: Fans, bubbling water, chimes, curtains, leaves and music.

Smells can help. Spiced Apple Scent lowers blood pressure. Basil cheers people up and is good for migraines. Cedar dispels fear. Eucalyptus clears sinus and reduces emotional overload. Frankincense is conductive to prayer or meditation. Geranium relieves premenstrual tension and is good for combating depression. Jasmine migrates emotional suffering. Lemon and Lime elevate mood and fight exhaustion.  Mint helps clear thinking and eliminate mental fatigue.  Orange helps us feel warm and less self-conscious.  Pine strengthens and cleanses.  Rose strengthens inner being.  Sandalwood helps raise our spirits. Thyme purifies. Verbena is cooling and sedating. Ylang-yang sedates and helps with high blood pressure.

Spaces: In Children’s Bedrooms put basil, cedar, orange and pine. In a Couple’s Bedroom put ylang-yang and Jasmine. In Gathering Rooms put Thyme, Sandalwood and Orange. For Study Rooms put Eucalyptus, Thyme, Lemon and Mint.  For Offices use Thyme, Verbena and Jasmine. For Lobbies (Hotel) use Thyme, Lavender and Geraniums. In Airplanes use Verbena, Lavender and Sage.  In Physicians Waiting Rooms use Sage, Lavender and Cedar.

For Building and Buying Homes: Try NOT live at the bottom of a hill or at the T of an intersection of roads.  When you got out doors, go out a door facing South or East. Shield yourself from the setting sun when building or work space or office area. Don’t build on harmful mineral deposits. Build where there is lots of vegetation. Don’t build near dying vegetation.  Don’t pick a plain place or a place where you know there is lots of pollution. Don’t buy a place with cracked windows or painted over window. Don’t buy or build a place near stagnant water.  Hill or Vegetation should face North.  Homes should be built facing South East. Keep things organized and weed your lawn once you move in!

For Gardens: Bamboo promotes longevity. Evergreen Yew will give protection. Cornflower encourages balance in family, love, love, work, etc.  Ferns confers wealth. Geraniums enhance durability in overcoming obstacles. Mint keeps flying insects from home. Hollyhock promotes fertility. Yellow Roses create lively discussions. Tulips inspire love and devotion. You need more than one type of vegetation in Gardens. Having house plants is great as well.  Put natural, comfortable seating in your yard.

Entrances. Going through garages to go inside can be negative. Either decorate garage to make it a pleasant pathway or going through another door.  Make curved paths, not straight ones.  You should be able to see the door from the beginning of the path though.  If not, then place flowers, mirrors or something to indicate a door is nearby.  Entrance way should not be in line with a door to the outside or a window looking out.  When you walk into a house, you should be in a place where you can share experiences.  To be able to see the bedroom or bathroom from the front door is negative.  The kitchen shouldn’t be visible unless cooking is relaxing to you.  Split walls give splitting headaches.  Mirrors should not cut out anyone’s view.  If you have a tiny foyer make it look larger with a mirror. Stairs should not face entrance. Place or plant or other distraction so you don’t feel compelled to go upstairs to private rooms.  Split stairs need distractions as well.

Angles: Angles and Corners are like an invisible arrow pointing energy in a particular direction. For this reason, it is bad to be in the shadow of larger buildings and billboards.  Corner walls point at you so move so that the corner isn’t aimed at your couch or bed.  Don’t have desks or chairs or tables pointing at sleeping or sitting areas. Where there are no sidewalks or pathways outside/inside house make them.  Hallways are pathways between apartments.  Try to find an apartment with an window that looks out onto a street. If there is a singular room protruding from the house it will be a lonely place and a feel left out.  Have a U-shaped room for living in warmer climates so you have a patio on the U.  Evenly spaced rooms are good. Don’t have too many levels or angles your living space or you might feel fragmented.

Doors: The size of all your doors should match the spirit of the place. Your home should not have straight path from one door to another.  Too many doors can be uncomfortable. Doors should open flat. Place light over too big of a door and paint it a dark color.  Place sculptures around the door the same color as the door to make it look bigger if it is too small.

Stairs: Stairs shouldn’t be steep. If it feels too steep add pictures along the wall.  Nervousness comes from no railing, so add one if there isn’t one.  Spiral stairs may look neat, but they can be unnerving.  Spiral stairs need a railing and merging colors.

Ceilings: Lower in living room. Put pictures at eye height and the lower half of the wall should be lighter than the upper half to make room appear cozier.  Higher ceilings are good for churches and state houses, etc.  Slanted ceilings give a festive feel and a secure feeling.  Beams shouldn’t be exposed in living room.

Windows: There shouldn’t be too many, but there should be some. Windows shouldn’t open across from doors. Windows should be able to open. If they don’t open then get some fans, fountains and natural sounds in the space.  Windows shouldn’t expose you to severe weather. Windows should face rising sun. Do not face windows toward the setting sun.  There shouldn’t be any windows in front of or behind toilet.  There shouldn’t be too many windows in dining area.  A house with no front window doesn’t look friendly to people on the outside.

Living Rooms: You need a well-lit pathway to the couch or seating area. Don’t put couch too far from door.  The living room should be connected to all other rooms.  Putting your TV in a cabinet is a good idea. You should also be able to see the door from the couching.

Dining Rooms: Dining Rooms should be well lit. Colored lights will make it more festival. There should be walls around it to make it feel protected.  There should be chimes or something in the doorway so that people with their back to the doorway can hear people coming.  There should be few distractions in the room. Keep extra chairs out of the way.  There should be no more than two sitting out.  Don’t have too many people over at a time.  You need to be able to communicate with people effectively.

Kitchens: The Fridge should be away from the stove.  If the kitchen is by an entrance, put things there to distract from cooking, etc.  Stove and sink should be apart as well.  But they shouldn’t be across the room. They should only be a few steps away from each other.  The fridge shouldn’t be in front of the kitchen’s entrance.  Try to keep the kitchen organized and try to make sure it is connected to the outside with windows, doors or even house plants and fish tanks.

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Bathrooms: Bathrooms should be separate and buffered from the rest of the rooms.  They should be private.  The sink and toilet should have some separation with a curtain or something.  The toilet shouldn’t be in view of the doorway. The toilet should be behind another door or cabinet.  The door to the bathroom should swing inward.

Bedrooms: The door shouldn’t open to a view of the bed first.  You should be able to see the door from your bed though.  Mirrors should not be the first thing you see.  There shouldn’t be a window directly behind or in front of bed.  Keep the door to the bedroom closed if you can see the bedroom from the main room.  Position objects to point direction elsewhere if your bedroom is right off the main room.

Work Space:  Your work space shouldn’t be in a corner. Nor should it be in a windowless basement.  You need windows and to be able to see the door.  Work Spaces should also be private. They shouldn’t be close to the kitchen. Also shouldn’t be directly under or beside cooling and heating duct.  You should be able to see the door while you are on the phone. Work Space shouldn’t be by a door.

Overall, you should have a balance of furniture. Don’t leave dark areas in your house. Make sure lighting can light it all up if needed.  However, the light should never be shining down in your eyes.

Celebrate your life with Rituals.  Celebrate the day you move into a place as well as celebrating graduating, marriage and having children.  Moving is one life’s passages. It is important.