Feng Shui Tip #1: Lighten It Up!
I am talking about your house, office or business.
In a time when we feel we should hold on to every little thing we have, I am suggesting instead to go through what you own and see if you can give up one third of what’s there. Ok, maybe you can’t get rid of one third, but try for at least one fourth.
Old clothes and anything you haven’t used in the past five years not only takes up precious “real estate space” in your house, but it also creates a stagnation due to the old life energy (Qi) of the old and unused “stuff” and prevents new Qi– and more importantly, new opportunity– from rolling in.
After you have separated what stays and what goes you need to move what goes out from your property– out of the house, out of the garage, and out of storage. Sell it on Craig’s list or e-bay, have a garage sale, or drop it off at a charity such as Goodwill. (Do not put the things you don’t use or need in storage, otherwise, you just end up moving them around and that stagnate energy still hangs on to you, not to mention the extra cost of renting the storage).
Feng Shui Tip #2: Clean it Up!
Now that you have made room for the Qi (life force) to flow (and new Qi and opportunity to come in) you need to clean the space. Whether it is a closet that you are just cleaning up or a whole room (or even part of a room) that you are renovating for a different purpose, it is necessary to “move” the energy. A very deep and thorough cleaning is going to stir up the energy and activate it. Remember: Activation is good; stagnation is bad.
Feng Shui Tip #3: Move Around, Refurbish, or Replace
Another way to help re-energize an area of your home or office (after cleaning it up) is to move around the furniture (after cleaning them too). Perhaps move a chair from one room to another, change the location of the sofa and TV, move the bed, etc.
Also, this is a good time to refurbish all that is…well…. needing some “upgrades.” For instance, perhaps the coffee table needs to be stripped and re-stained, or an old, warn chair needs new upholstery, or a lamp needs fixing or it’s lampshade replaced. Ideally, everything should be fixed up and working well. If not it will diverge your creative Qi (the life-force).
So if something is broken and beyond fixing, it should be replaced altogether.
Also, you should get rid of really old hand-me-downs (or any oldie) that really doesn’t reflect who you are, otherwise it creates a feeling of “static mish-match” where you live or work. Replacing these old things will help enhance a new and fresh vitality to your surroundings. And shopping for new items is also incredibly energizing– not only for the “retail shop therapy effect,” but particularly for bringing in new life force energy.
And depending on what you’d like to improve in your life, various areas can be targeted first.
For example, your office or home office can be re-organized, cleaned, and rearranged to improve both business and income. The bedroom can be redecorated to either create more romance, or, if already a couple (who wants a family), children, and so on…
Feng Shui Tip #4: Colors, Lights & Flowers
Color can be used for walls, upholstery, and furniture to help change and improve the “vibes” of your space. Last month I have addressed the use of color based on your date of birth. You can review it in our archives.
Besides the information given there also make sure the new areas are well lit (especially during the day) and bring in a “touch of life” to each room, even the ones that aren’t used much. Flowers are a universal way to do this and even silk flowers and plants can help. Although they do not have the same Qi as living flowers and plants, they still can help bring a feeling of color and nature to an area that shouldn’t be underestimated. So if you have a dark corner where a real plant wouldn’t last, a silk plant would do great there. Or, if you crave nice looking flowers but you’re watching your budget, then silk ones can come in very handy– and need a lot less maintenance.
Feng Shui Tip #5: Improve Your Sleeping Quality
Many pages have been written about the “universal best sleeping direction.” Unfortunately, that’s a myth. Because we are all different and have different energy patterns, our best sleeping direction changes according to our gender and date of birth. The best sleeping direction depends on your Gua –aka your Feng Shui element.
To determine yours, first of all, you must identify your Gua Element. If you do not know it, you can find it listed in the Gua Chart in our archive.
Below I have enlisted your best sleeping direction based on your Gua Element:
KAN North
GEN Northeast
KUN Southwest
LI South
XUN Southeast
ZHEN East
DUI West
XIAN Northwest
Ideally, the headboard of your bed should be oriented in this direction. Be careful that the bed isn’t aligned with an entry door or a mirror, nor that the bed is placed under a window or a beam.
Note: The above information is a general recommendation for each Gua Element. According to each Gua Element there can also be alternative sleeping directions, which can be identified more accurately during a consultation based on the orientation and layout of the house. There are many variables related to it and it is impossible to address every circumstance in a newsletter, but if you are interested in learning more please contact me at dr.simona@fengshuiarch.com.
Meanwhile, try some (or all) of these Feng Shui tips and let me know how they work for you. And remember— keep you mind on your goals!
To schedule an appointment for a consultation with one of our associates or with Dr. Mainini herself, call 310.860.8989 or direct your request to dr.simona@fengshuiarch.com
Click here for more information about our firm
Click here for more information about Feng Shui consultations
