Creating Feng Shui Environmental Affirmations

In an ideal world your home would be an entire Environmental Affirmation. In other words you would be surrounded by objects that lift your spirits; please your senses, have wonderful feelings and memories associated with them, and constantly affirm your harmony and balance. When surrounded by such beauty your environment acts as a giant vessel of positive Chi, constantly nourishing and strengthening your material world.

To reach this goal, begin by looking at the objects and architecture you live with.  Decide what you love and what you don’t.  If you don’t love much about your current home, don’t be discouraged. You can improve it immediately by placing one thing you love in each room. This begins the process of enhancing the Chi flow by attracting the things that uplift you. Begin discarding what you don’t like, and watch your world change for the better.

Dining Room Before and After

This is a perfect example of a client who turned a not so comfortable dining room, with a very “active” mirror into her own “personal paradise.” This dining room is located in the Wealth area of the home, and was specifically redesigned to take on the opulent qualities of that sector. The purple wall, blooming flowers and richly appointed lighting and accessories make this a designer’s dream room, and will surely enhance the client’s prosperity.

 Before

 After

Enhanced Dining Experience Through Feng Shui

Dining rooms are also very important rooms in our home, because like the kitchen they represent a “hearth” or heart of the home where meals are created and shared. This represents nourishment of the body, hearts and spirit.  Unfortunately in many homes, dining rooms are used infrequently only for entertaining, while the family eats in haste in other rooms of the house. 

Reclaiming the deeply nourishing experience of enjoying our meals in a pleasant and serene dining environment, we become more aware of the vital energy (Chi) in our food. Essential vitality is passed on to us with every meal.

Although the dining room takes on the qualities of the Bagua area it is located, with art that relaxes and inspires; Waterscapes in Career, blues/greens and wooded scenes in Knowledge, floral scenes and family pictures in Family/Health, purple opulent art in Wealth, red tones in Fame, romantic art and pairs in Love/Marriage, whimsical pastels and children pictures in Children/Creativity, travel or spiritual guide pictures in Helpful People, and gold earth tones in the Center, there are other very important considerations.

1)      Comfort is very important for the flow of Chi. Make sure your dining room furniture is very comfortable for you and your guests.

2)      Avoid protruding legs or sharp corners that would make leg placement difficult or possibly tear clothing.

3)     Large mirrors are too active for dining rooms, and they tend to make guests self-conscious and uncomfortable. If you can’t remove the mirror quiet it down by placing plants or decorative objects in front.

Relax and enjoy a pleasant dining experience.

                                                                

                                                    

Feng Shui Chaos

Chaos is part of the cycle of life. It helps us become creative, get motivated and keeps us moving forward. But chaos can also work against us, so it’s important to understand the two kinds of chaos.

ACTIVE CHAOS – This is creativity at its best; a chef spinning in a kitchen whipping up a beautiful meal, a painter creating a masterpiece, a quilter cutting and sewing, a new patio being built, or a closet being cleaned. The Chi hums as new creations are forming. The key to keeping this active chaos is to clean up the mess, reorganize and enjoy the creation.

 PASSIVE CHAOS – This is a mess that has overstayed its welcome. It grows in piles in your office, unattended drawers, untidy closets and garages. The Chi has nowhere to flow. Passive chaos stops and drains us. The only way out is to break up the tasks in manageable chunks and tackle them one at a time.                                                                           

The more you let go of the old and organize, the more you attract the new.

Art Complements Feng Shui

   Art of all kinds, including paintings, sculptures, collages and textiles have a powerful effect on your personal energy. To enhance the Chi in your home choose art that elicits positive feelings and makes your heart sing. Your goal is to make sure every piece in your home is one that you love.
   Match your art with the function if each room. Choose soothing, romantic or sensual for bedroom; lively, colorful for the living room; powerful and motivational for home office.

    Use the Bagua Map to help you choose the appropriate art. This Georgia O'Keeffe painting would enhance both the Fame and Reputation area due to it's fiery redness, as well as the Love and Marriage area due to it's representation of a pair of red flowers. Have fun with it!

Feng Shui Entrances

Indoors: As stated in previous posts, the two most important rooms in your home are your master bedroom and your front entrance. The inside of your front entrance is as important as the outside. This is the first thing your guests see and where the Chi (life energy) enters. In Feng Shui your entrance foyer needs to be beautifully inviting. The best painting in the household should be displayed by the front door. If you have the space, set up a welcoming arrangement that may include art, a table with a vase of flowers and/or an interior fountain. When your entry is small hang an attractive mirror, or art with depth to open the space.
 As with the outdoor entrance area, keep the indoor parth free of clutter; avoid toys, sports equiptment, recyclables and mail. If you have a coat rack by the door, keep it organized and not overly stuffed.
  Do whatever you can to treat yourself, your guests and your "chi" to a welcoming first impression.

Most Important Rooms in Feng Shui

The two most important rooms in your home are the master bedroom, which you can read about in previous blogs, and the front entrance.  The area leading up to your front door, as well as immediately inside and outside make up this very important area. This is a place of first impressions, of welcoming your guests and the entrance of "Chi" (positive energy) into your home.  As in your bedroom, make this the most fabulous area ever.

Outdoors: Install a water feature near your front entrance to symbolize your desire to have prosperity flow in (ensure that the water is directed toward your home).  Make the landscaping around your entrance especially lush and inviting.  If possible create a curved, meandering path to the front door, and place interesting garden art and a seating area embellished with beautiful flowers.

In Feng Shui, the color red is often associated with prosperity. Many people paint their front doors a shade of red,  or place red flowers as greeters on each side of the door. Have fun with it, and enjoy the benefits of positive energy flowing in.