Feng Shui

A Brief Introduction to Feng Shui

Five thousand years ago, Taoist masters living in the mountains of China studied the flow of wind (feng) and water (shui) on the land and how this impacted the health, wealth, and livelihood of people. For many years these observations were made without any direct conclusions being drawn. Over time, this immense body of observable natural phenomena, plus statistically validated outcomes of how such phenomena affected the success and vitality of the people living there, became known collectively as Feng Shui. For thousands of years, this valuable knowledge was kept secret, highly guarded by the ruling families of China, passed down only from master to initiate in a tightly-knit, all male hierarchy.

The main purpose of Feng Shui then, as now, is to read the subtle, natural energies of a given space and to apply statistically proven formulas to mitigate any negative energy and enhance any positive energy. Known as the Art of Placement, Feng Shui gives a blueprint for the harmonious placement of furnishings and decor and stresses the importance of living in harmony with nature. How we arrange ourselves and our surroundings determines the type of life-force energy, or Chi, we can harness. This guide lists many ways to incorporate life-enhancing Feng Shui principals into your space in order to ensure your overall design will make a positive impact on yourself and those living in it.

While there is no such thing as “perfect” Feng Shui, there are many, many ways to enhance the Feng Shui profile of every home. Through proper placement of furnishings and balanced use of color, pattern, and material one can achieve near perfection. Good Feng Shui, like good design, also takes into consideration a person’s life stage (young=more yang environment, older=more yin environment) and life goals (do you plan on having children soon, are you retiring soon, are you wanting more creativity, or are you looking for love). Feng Shui, like interior design, should be intentionally done in order to foster the type of environment that will nurture and support the people living there for years to come. Lastly, Feng Shui is the sum of all energies present in an environment, including the energy created or given off by the people, plants, and animals living there, with the ultimate goal being to live in harmony with nature.

Yin and Yang

The purpose of Feng Shui is to help you achieve a balanced and harmonious living space. One of the most important ways to achieve this is through the proper interplay of yin and yang energies, which creates Chi, or life-force energy. Yin is the passive, soft, dark, feminine force while yang is the active, hard, light, masculine energy, its compliment. The connection, relationship, and interaction of these opposing forces is what creates the nurturing force that is Chi. When selecting décor and furniture for a living space, you must be aware of the end yin yang balance that your space will evoke. For example, having too much light or white items in your space is not a proper balance; there is too much yang, or it is a “yang heavy” environment, leading to overstimulation and exhaustion. Conversely, if there is too much black, or dark colors, then you will be in a “yin heavy”, low energy space leading to depression.

To keep track of the yin and yang balance in a space, you also need to account for what the space is being used for. For example, bedrooms and meditation spaces should be more yin, the passive feminine force; and work spaces, public spaces, and the kitchen should be more yang, the active masculine force. The necessity of the balance of yin and yang cannot be overstated because these energies literally impact the health, emotions, and mental welfare of you and your family.

The brighter, lighter, more angular or more masculine the fabric, décor, or furniture the more yang it is. The darker, softer, rounder or more feminine the item the more yin it is. For example, having all square and rectangular shapes is very yang and needs to be balanced with softer, more forgiving curves and rounded corners. Having all hard, yang materials in a space (hardwoods, metals, stone) needs to be balanced with yin materials (soft rugs, fabric, throw blankets) that bring cushion and pamper and take off the hard edges. You must plan and create your overall design with the goal of achieving the proper yin yang balance, but you must also know that at the extremes of yin and yang, yin turns into yang and yang turns into yin: ice can burn and sun stroke sufferers shiver.

 

YIN	YANG
Carpet, soft wool, cotton rugs	Hardwoods, marble flooring, stone floors
Feminine patterned curtains	Metal accessories, metal furniture
Soft, plush linens, soft throw blankets	Bright or firey colors, people or animals
Upholstered items, cushy sofas	Angular, hard glass furniture
Suede or velvet pillows	Hardwood furniture, framed pictures
Wall hangings	Large mirrors, large statues, sculptures
Silk, swirly monogramming Objects that take your eye down “Interior”	All electronics, bright lights, overly large light fixtures (but heavy ones are yin) Objects that take your eye up “Exterior”

The Elements

 There are five elements in classical Feng Shui. They are wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. They each represent different attributes of existence and each element can be either yin or yang, “positive” or “negative”. The elements correspond to many things: seasons, shapes, colors, materials, objects, and even human qualities. Here is a chart of the basic tenants of each:

 

Wood	Spring, growth and plant life Yin- supple and pliable plants Yang- sturdy trees Positive – walking stick Negative – spear Expansive Nurturing Versatile	Public-spirited and energetic Idea people Visualizing Positive – artistic and enthusiastic Negative – impatient and angry and fail to finish tasks	Trees and plants Wood furniture Paper Green and brown Columns and anything vertical (like stripes) Decking Landscape art
Fire	Summer, fire, heat Can bring light, warmth and happiness or it can explode and destroy Positive – honor and fairness Negative – aggression and war	Leaders who crave action. Inspirational people who can lead people into trouble as they don’t like rules Positive – innovative, humorous and passionate Negative – impatient, exploitative and have little regard for other’s feelings	Sun symbols Candles Light Lamps Triangles Red and orange Man-made materials Sun or fire pictures Electronics Stars Neons Rainbows Chevron patterns
Earth	Nurturing environment that encourages seeds to grow. Supportive. Positive – fairness, wisdom and instinct Negative – smothering, represent the nervous anticipation of non-existent problems	Loyal, practical and preserving, strong in a crisis, doesn’t rush anything, enduring support. Patient, steady Inner strength Positive – dependable and patient Negative – obsessive and prone to criticism	Clay Brick Terracotta Cement Stone Squares Yellow Beige Horizontal stripes Earth tones Low buildings
Metal	Autumn and strength, solidity and the ability to contain objects, conductor Positive– communication, good ideas and justice Negative – destruction, danger and sadness Can be a beautiful and precious commodity or the blade of a weapon	Dogmatic and resolute, endless, single-minded pursuit of ambitious aims. Organized, independent and happy alone. Faith in their own abilities inclines them towards inflexibility although they thrive on change. Serious and do not like to accept help. Positive – strong, intuitive, interesting Negative – inflexible, melancholic and serious	All metals Round shapes Domes Metal objects Doors and doorsteps Kitchenware White, grey, silver and gold Coins Clocks Pastels
Water	Winter, inner self, art and beauty. The power of emotion. Positive – nurtures and supports with deep understanding Negative – negative emotions, fear, nervousness, stress	Communicative, diplomatic, and persuasive. Sensitive and sympathetic, good listeners. Intuitive, flexible, adaptable. Positive – artistic, sociable Negative – fickle and intrusive	Rivers and lakes Blue and black Mirrors and glass Meandering patterns Fountains and ponds Fish tanks Water pictures

 

 Here’s how to determine an object’s element:

First look at color, then pattern, then shape, then material. Color trumps because it is literally a frequency, a vibration, and it changes the feel of a room and impacts the way a person relates to it. Pattern comes after color. All animal prints are fire; all florals and vertical stripes are wood element; horizontal stripes, squares, rectangles, and checks are all earth element; wavy patterns and bubbles (but not just circles because circles are metal) are water.

However, you must consider the expression of the pattern: pointy red flowers are not wood they are fire. Another example is paisley: it is traditionally wood but can be water if it is really flowy. What the pattern expresses energetically ultimately determines the element. Pointy shapes are fire, flowing shapes are water, vertical up and down are wood, big circles and polka dots are metal unless they look like bubbles, then its water. A pattern can even express all five elements.

Next is shape. Checkerboard, squares, rectangles, and horizontal stripes are earth; circular and domed are metal; wavy, sinuous shapes are water; triangles, anything sharp, stars, pinecones, and anything cone shaped are fire; and wood is vertical stripes, columns, and beams.

Material and texture are last. Anything metal or with a “metallic” sheen or shine, like silk and satin or even gold and silver threads, are metal. Glass and acrylic are water. Anything wood is wood. Anything rock or clay is earth. Any fire is fire.

Ultimately, you will make the decision about which element your object is based not just on the color, pattern, material, and texture expressed. One comes to feel the intensity of fire, the upwards shooting energy of wood, the flow and mystery and depth of water, the clarity and precision and sheen of polished metal, or the grounded, nurturing, stability of the earth element.

The Cycle of Elements

 According to five element theory, once you have determined what element an object belongs to, you can tally up each item in the room and see where any imbalance lies. For example, you might end up with a décor that has an abundance of wood element, so you are going to want to remove some wood, or, if you must keep everything in the room, use the following cycles to either exhaust or kill the offending element. In Feng Shui you want to exhaust an element before you kill it, as killing is a bit abrasive in terms of energy expressed, since it would technically be two opposite elements existing in the same space. Exhausting an element is reversing the creation cycle, just like when you give birth to something, it exhausts you. This weakens the intensity of the element and brings balance to the décor.

 

Wood is created by water, killed by metal, 

and exhausted by fire and earth.

Water nurtures wood, a metal ax “kills” wood, you need wood to make fire, which burns it slowly thus “exhausting” the wood, and earth literally gets in the way of roots growing, therefore “exhausting” the wood.

 

Fire is created by wood, killed by water, 

and exhausted by earth and metal.

Wood nurtures fire, water “kills” it, if you throw earth on fire is “slowly kills” it (exhaustion in terms of Feng Shui), and fire is needed in the forge to make metal, thereby “exhausting” it in this process of creation.

 

Earth is created by fire, killed by wood, 

and exhausted by metal and water.

Fire makes ash (a type of earth), roots shove earth aside, earth “gives birth” to metal, and water dilutes is thereby “exhausting” it.

 

Metal is created by earth, killed by fire, 

and exhausted by water and wood.

Earth creates metal, the fiery forge melts it, water rusts it, and when a metal ax chops wood, it “exhausts” it.

 

Water is created by metal, killed by earth, 

and exhausted by wood and fire.

Metal creates condensation, water is entirely limited, absorbed, and seperated by earth, and “exhausted” when it is used to grow wood or put out fire.

 

Yin and Yang of the Elements

All elements have the potential to be either yin or yang; just getting a balance of elements does not necessarily create a balanced space if the yin and yang balance is off. The yin expression of an element is the more manageable, quieter, softer side of it, while the yang expression of an element is the more extreme, explosive, powerful side.

Yang fire is so powerful and explosive that it destroys everything (like a bomb). Yin fire can be put out and reignited (like a candle), unlike yang fire which burns everything up. Most people need a little yin fire, as in lighting a fire under your behind, but you do not want to blow yourself up with yang fire. If you do not want the red, orange, or yellow of fire in your space then you can rely on representations of humans or animals, animal print, the sharp, spikey patterns of fire, or the shape of the triangle or cone.

Yang wood is disruptive, like a large tree that shifts your driveway; and yet it is stuck, stubborn, and immobile, as large trees do not go anywhere. Yin wood has all the potential of yang wood in a tiny little seed, but it is tender and gentle, more vibrant and energetic than yang wood. It is still delicate even though it has more energy; it needs encouragement and a gentle, spring-like atmosphere. Lime green is yin wood. Generally, people who like yang wood are not going to want pops of fire or metal, so add a little yin wood to a yang wood atmosphere.

Yang earth is mountains: cold, intense, domineering, moving very slowly and with immense pressure. An example of yang earth would be an oppressive rock wall. Try to avoid yang earth at home, because it is too powerful and domineering. Yin earth goes in interiors. Yin earth is receptive, nurturing, loving, and soothing and is especially good for spa-like areas. All homes need earth element but the majority of homes suffer from too little or too much earth; there is often not a balance.

Metal is clarity and precision. When you need direction, when you cannot make decisions, you need metal element. Yin metal is precious metals and jewelry. Yang metal is lots of shiny silver and makes you feel electrically charged. An all white environment is also metal heavy.

Yang water needs to be avoided in interiors or you will feel like you are drowning. Yang water is when everything is dark and shiny, like glossy, black walls with curved, black lacquer furniture. Overly large mirrors and abundant acrylic or glass are yang water, as well. Yin water is bits of glass, small mirrors, crystal nick knacks, or small amounts of acrylic.

The Bagua

The Bagua is the concept that different areas in your home affect different parts of your life. For example, the south part of your home brings recognition: it is considered the fame and reputation area. Its element is fire and its colors are red and orange. Its shapes are triangles, pyramids and chevron patterns. Perhaps placing a tiger (all animals are fire element), or something cone shaped, or a fiery color in the south will help bump up your reputation.

The north is for your career. Its element is water, its colors are blue and black and its shapes are wavy shapes. It might be a good idea to place an aquarium with live fish (kept clean and healthy) in the north of your home.

The east is the place of your foundation, being your family and your health. Its element is young wood. Its colors are light green and blue, its shapes are vertical stripes and columns. Do NOT place a garage in the east health sector. It is a good idea to place a dragon somewhere in the east. It is also a good idea to fill the east with healthy plants.

The west is for creativity and children (as they are your creation). Its element is metal, its colors are white, silver, gold and all metallics. Its shapes are round and domed shapes. Placing coins or a sword in this area brings luck and protection.

The southwest is for love and relationships. Its element is big earth (as relationship is so foundational to our lives), its colors are pink, red, terra cotta, beige, and cream. Its shapes are square things, such as rectangles and plaid. It can be activated with pairs of things, red peonies for young ladies of marriageable age, phoenixes, dragons, and mountains.

The northwest is for mentor luck and travel, or “worldliness”. Its element is metal which makes its colors white, metallic and pastels and its shapes are round shapes. The best way to activate this corner is through metal, like coins.

The southeast is for prosperity luck, and its element is established wood. Its colors are violet, cobalt, green, brown and blue. It is a good idea to have flowering plants in this corner.

The northeast is for education and self-cultivation. Its element is little earth and its colors are blue, grey, white, and black. Its shapes are squares and rectangles. It is a good idea to activate this area with crystals for focus.

The center of the home represents balance and harmony.

Its element is earth and its symbol is the yin yang.

Décor

Your décor is always saying things about you, to your guests, to yourself, and to the universe at large, so make sure it says the best. Pictures, photographs, and portraits should reflect the energy you want to see in your life. For example, no single items for a person who wants to be in a relationship: put things in pairs if you want to be “paired up.” If you’re single and you surround yourself with pictures of single people, you’re only confirming your solidarity. A CEO had only pictures of single men in his office and complained about not having support from his employees. Avoid negative imagery in general, but especially in areas of your home you want to promote: a picture of sinking ships in the southwest can be bad energy for your love life.

Similarly, a violent image in the career area of your home can create disharmony in your work relationships. If you are argumentative in general, don’t put too much red in your home or office, or too many pictures of humans or animals, which are all fire energy, and only amplify an inflamed temper. The same CEO had photos of boxers in his conference room and complained about the contentious energy there. Be aware of the symbolism in your space. Also, artwork should represent who you are (or want to be) today, not who you once were. Update pictures regularly. If you do not, you stay stuck in the past. Do not have only baby pictures around of your grown children.

Clutter can create bad symbolism; it can relate things in ways you would not like. Piles of things are clutter: piles of mail, old magazines, and paper are all clutter. These are signs that you are no longer taking in new information, that you are feeling overwhelmed, or that you have such low energy that you just cannot face your life. Clutter is also one of the most detrimental things for mental health and often represents all the things you refuse to look at, finish, or do. Clear out clutter at all costs and watch the magical effects of cleanliness take hold of your renewed mind. Also, if you are a bit depressed, get rid of downward hanging things and replace them with upward surging things. A dark self-portrait can also be depressing. Focus on yang, the active, light energy in your space if you are down. Avoid yin, the passive, dark energy.

Mirrors are extremely useful in Feng Shui since they control, direct, and reflect Chi. They can also add dimension and depth to a room. However, they do double whatever you reflect, and so do not reflect someone working (because it doubles their work), anything cluttered, or anything ugly. Never have a mirror reflecting the toilet or bathroom door. Never place a mirror right inside the front door because it reflects the Chi right back out. Ideal placements for mirrors are in dining rooms and stairwells, though they must be large enough to reflect the whole table or the totality of anyone ascending the stairs, cutting no one out or worse, “beheading” them. Another good place for a mirror is above a fireplace because it balances out the fire energy, as mirrors represent water. Mirrors also can be used to “adjust” a room: if the room is longer than it is wide, add a mirror to elongate the shorter side, so that it feels less irregular. Very large mirrors, however, can overwhelm a space and bring in too much energy: proportion should be considered as well as what is being viewed in the mirror. Mirrors can be used to add the impression of windows; however, if you have mirrors in the bedroom do not have them reflecting the bed. Mirrors should not have any cracks or be hung at a height that cuts off anyone’s head.

DO NOT put plastic plants in a house unless they are so life-like that they truly fool the eye. Most of the time fake plants just collect dust. Real plants are so much more important: they purify the air, give off life energy, add beauty, and bring nature indoors. Keep your plants healthy: any dead or dying plants should be removed. Plants add pops of color and can bring in a pop of fire element without over doing it.

Drapes are important in a home, as they frame the windows, or “eyes”, of a house and are therefore symbolic of a the lens through which you view the world. In addition, curtains provide privacy and therefore afford security. The most important thing about drapes is to balance yin and yang, as your views on the balance between masculine and feminine, hard and soft, light and dark, are so important to your life.

Be careful about blinds: they chop Chi and the view of the eye. A traditional Feng Shui master would not put blinds in a home. Using natural, soft drapery is better Feng Shui because it absorbs sound and helps manage the flow of Chi coming from the sun. The integrity of the material also emits an energy, and you want natural, not man-made, energy in your home. Natural fibers are always chosen over synthetic ones in Feng Shui and drapes are a good opportunity to bring something natural into your space. You want to create a safe, nonharmful environment for yourself: you want a healthy home as well as a beautiful one.

 

Feng Shui 101: Dos and Don’ts

In Feng Shui there is such a thing as “command position”, which allows you to be in control of your life by being in control of your space. Whenever you are sleeping or working in a room, do not have your back to the door, as this represents your willingness to be surprised. You need to be able to see who is coming into the room without being in direct alignment with the door. This puts you in “control” of the room. You also want your back to a solid wall, not a “weak” wall of windows.  Having a solid wall behind you represents having the solidity of a mountain at your back, called “mountain position”. Sit in an office chair the supports your full back. Also, there should be enough room between where you are sitting and the door for someone to be able to walk in (and hand you a check).

Energy flows where your eye goes. When you walk into a room, your eye is drawn to the opposite corner, which tends to be dark. Do not have clutter in this area. Try to brighten it up. Lighten corners with plants and light.

Every closet should have an empty shelf and every room should have a free, open corner with nothing in it. This represents opportunity and allows the Chi to circulate. Since Chi is nourishment, it should be purposefully directed.

Staircases should never be facing a door because the Chi goes directly up the stairs and does not make it to the rest of the house. If your staircase is close to the front door, ground it with a plant to keep the Chi from running up the stairs, but make sure the plant does not block the Chi.

Never have literal water under a staircase because it will not “support” it; you need earth, metal, or wood element below a staircase to support and ground it. Do not have a glass staircase because glass is water. No holes in a staircase because it leaks Chi. Curving staircases are good Feng Shui because they give the Chi a chance to slow down and gather. Staircases are bidirectional: what goes up also comes down. You do not want wealth or health to go up and down, or family life to go up and down, so be careful about where in the home you place staircases. Staircases should be well lit, %100 clutter free, with pictures, mirrors, and artwork going up the stairs to draw the Chi up.

Avoid “poison arrows”, angular features (corners of furniture and columns) that seem violent, sending negative Chi toward someone. The point of Feng Shui is to create areas where you can let your guard down; poison arrows keep your guard up: so don’t have sharp edges pointing at you when you’re sitting or sleeping. Use plants, fabric, mirrors, or beveled edges to counteract poison arrows. At best, they simply cause anxiety (be it conscious or subconscious), and at worst, poison arrows can cause loss of health, wealth, or position.

Try not to put anything under slanting walls. If you do, it represents stunted opportunity. The fix is to paint the slanting wall the same color as the ceiling. Beams can also make you feel like the ceiling is falling in on you. The fix for beams is to fill in the beams until only 2 inches are poking out. You can also paint them the same color as the ceiling or have lights pointed up at the beams themselves to lift the eye.

You also never want a ceiling fan over a bed; they chop the Chi. If you do use ceiling fans in a home, use ones with rounded blades. You generally do not want ceiling fans at all.

You should never be able to see a bathroom when you walk into a building and bathrooms should never be at the end of a hall.

You do not want too much ivy or anything growing on the outside of the home because it represents choking.

Drains are “bad” because they wash away your energy. Leaking faucets means money is just dripping down the drain. Leaks in windows are also energy leaks. Take care of your home’s insulation and make sure your doors close all the way so that you are protected and have good boundaries. If these are not attended to, it means your boundaries are weak and you allow things into your life that you should not.

Anything that is broken, chipped, or cracked should be thrown away. It is extremely rude to serve someone on a chipped plate. Keeping such things in your home means you do not take care of things: that there are little things that build up in your life that you do not address. Address these.

The door to your house should be immaculate. Never have a frayed, worn, or old doormat. It shows that you are too cheap to care about your guests. Miserliness and putting low quality items in your home announces to the world that you care more about penny pinching than you do about living a beautiful, healthy, happy life. Cheap bedsheets should be avoided at all costs. You should give yourself the best first. Not paying attention to small “infractions” in the Feng Shui of your home is tantamount to wearing sloppy clothing, leaving food stains on your shirt, slouching, and burping in public. They send the exact same message to the universe that bad manners do to those around you: that you do not respect them or yourself.

The number 9 (fire element) in Feng Shui is very powerful and is the reason why it is said to move 27 things in your home (2 + 7 = 9) when you want to finish a chapter of your life. Nine brings karmic debt to a head and when you consciously use it, you will need to address things: you have to drop things you are holding to pick up something else. Once you have moved the 27 things, you can wash your walls with salt water to really renew your space.

 

Environmental Feng Shui

Humans are electromagnetic, we are conductive, and EMFs greatly affect us. So do not have electronics in the bedroom; if you must, try to put the tv in an armoire. Do not put phones next to the bed. Try not to have big appliances on the floor above positioned over the bed or office since they produce EMFs. They will affect the quality of your sleep and life. A headboard should not share a wall with a home office’s computer. If impossible, you can line the back of the headboard with cork and aluminum foil to deflect and insulate from the computer’s EMFs. Do not sleep in a metal bed, it conducts.

NO polyurethane finishes on floors, no PVC on the floor or in furniture. NO plastic bedding or plastic fiber rugs which emit VOCs. Also, choose paints that are the safest, greenest products. In the bathroom do not use plastic shower curtains. Try to avoid plastics in general. Encourage organic cotton bedding.

If you live in harmony with nature, you thrive and proposer and then you do not get sick. Humans need grounding to release our electric charge, or else our nervous system is “freaking out” (fight or flight), so it is a good idea to walk barefoot on the earth as much as possible. The earth siphons off this electrical charge and once we release it, we switch over to the parasympathetic state (rest and digest). Do not worry about wealth until you have health.

 

 

Chinese Astrology

 

Just for reference, here is an abbreviated list of the Chinese Zodiac:

Rat – sociable and family-oriented, quick witted and opportunistic with an eye for a bargain. May hoard and not finish projects.

Ox – dependable and loyal, patient and well organized, the ox isn’t easily swayed. Not particularly imaginative though capable of good ideas.

Tiger – dynamic and impulsive, tigers live life to the fullest, they are egotistical and need to be admired. Generous and warm but with sharp claws.

Rabbit – diplomatic and hates conflict, calmest of the signs, may appear to daydream but are really planning their next move. Social with good communication.

Dragon – pioneers, a law unto themselves, motivates others, the center of things but loners, jump into projects and conversations. Hard working and generous, trustworthy and loyal, can explode when upset, but soon moves on.

Snake – connoisseur, inward-looking and self-reliant, kind and generous but demanding, don’t easily forgive, very patient, elegant and sophisticated and good at making money, intuitive, mysterious, charming and passionate.

Horse – active, tireless, smart, multitasking, ambitious and confident, not interested in other’s opinions, can be impatient and explosive, but do not bear grudges.

Goat – emotional and compassionate, can easily get their feelings hurt, dogmatic, romantic, lucky and popular, they do anything to avoid conflict.

Monkey – intelligent, capable of wigging out of situations, motivated and motivates others, oblivious yet popular, not above trickery, enthusiastic, successful and active.

Rooster – sociable and gregarious, confident and the center of attention, excel at debate, incapable of underhandedness, perfectionist yet puritanical, hate criticism.

Dog – dependable and loyal, inherent sense of justice, intelligent but not excited by wealth, likes to relax, very helpful, may be prone to pessimism and criticism.

Pig – sociable and popular, generous yet over-indulgent, great organizers.