Feng Shui, “the art of placement”, utilizes the 5 elements which can be represented by the element itself, its representative shape and/or color.

Additionally, objects of art are used to symbolically enhance or harmonize the changes brought about in the New Year.

The general qualities of a Tiger year are intensity, change, movement, action, drama, activity and inventiveness. The metal element is about focus, creativity and communication.

Balancing Your Environment

Southwest can be harmonized by placing the metal element: coins (6), round objects of art, the colors white, gray and silver. Avoid using red accents in this area.

Northeast can also be balanced by using metal objects of art as noted above. A pair of metal Kilun can also be placed facing the northeast. Avoid using red accents in this area.

North can be harmonized by using the colors blue and black, placing still water and a plant in this area. Avoid disturbing the North this year by remodeling or construction. A protective, positive and peaceful guardian/object of art facing North can minimize negativity.
Placing still water in the North can also enhance the potential for reaching career, academic and romantic goals this year.

***Note: All of the areas above can benefit by placing objects of art that symbolize peace and benevolence.

North and the West have annual energies associated with romance, career promotion and academic success.

West has the strong water element which can stimulate academic and career advancement. Place 4 stalks of Chinese lucky bamboo to symbolize growth.

Northwest can be nourished by placing a plant to feed the strong fire element. This area has the potential to bring about happy and fortunate occasions with the auspicious number “9″.

South can be harmonized by using red and purple accents, bright upward directed lighting and symbols and artwork that depict harmonious relationships and good communication.

Southeast can be balanced by accenting with the color blue or using artwork that depicts the water element.

Center location can be enhanced by placing an object of art and or gemstone that is golden in color. The intention for this remedy is to enhance prosperity.

If you have any questions about this article, or your home’s feng shui you can post your question below.

Best Wishes for a Successful and Blessed New Year!

MaryAnn Russell

The flooring in this key area must be fluid and create an immediate sense of depth.  Your visitors will naturally feel drawn into your entrance hall.  The flooring in the foyer should never dramatically change color or pattern but have a continuous fluid appearance.

Next we look at flooring and room compatibility, which considers the size and shape of the room and ceiling height. Rooms with vaulted or high volume ceilings where the wall color is light can benefit from darker shades of flooring.   A darker flooring color anchors the energy in the room and will create an atmosphere of balance and stability.  Sometimes people will not gather for long periods of time in a room where the the space feels empty and hollow.  Architecturally, when this is the case the flooring choice can compensate for this.

Lighter shades of flooring with minimal design are the most suitable for smaller spaces or lower ceilings.

Split-levels or disjointed floor plans will benefit the most by using one color of flooring.  In feng shui, we correct problematic floor plans that may lack flow by carrying one or two design elements throughout the house to create continuity and flow.

Flooring choices have a tremendous impact on the feng shui of a home or business.  The flooring must never dominate the space but be compatible with the room. Using natural materials and color choices that represent nature is a trend that is growing.  People don’t grow tired of a natural palette and they like feeling more connected to the natural world.

Flooring must suit your lifestyle; if you have a high traffic environment durable low maintenance flooring is the best feng shui choice.   Feng shui aims to create harmony and a high maintenance flooring choice with growing children in a home will have an impact on your daily life.

Flooring choices, in consideration with feng shui, should always be based on designs that are compatible with your floor plan and lifestyle.

Developers and planners should consider these 6 design features fundamental to feng shui.

1. Front Door Accessibility – This should be considered for both the building and the individual units.  The front door is considered a key area in feng shui and should have the most visibility. The path to the entrance must be fully accessible without any confusion about how to arrive there.  When owners, tenants and guests can leave and arrive at their front door without struggle everyone benefits.  On a daily basis the atmosphere will not be permeated with frustration and annoyance.  In feng shui, the front door is understood to be the place where opportunities find you and enter into your life.
2. Entrance Foyer – Stairs should not face the front door.  All the opportunities that have arrived at the front door will be pushed out by the downward push of the opposing stairway.
3. The front door and the back door should be offset so that they are not aligned.  The energy will move from the front door quickly to the back door which challenges the finances of the occupants.
4. Bathrooms should not be visible from the front door-this relates to health and finances.
5. The kitchen should not be the focal point when entering into the condo or apartment-this relates to finances, health and nutrition.
6. Bedrooms – The position of the bed and sleeping area of the bedroom is a key area in feng shui.  The bed should be located on a solid wall with the door visible to someone lying in bed.  In feng shui, we call this the commanding position.  Feng shui bedroom design should consider the placement of the bed as a priority; a solid wall without windows, doors or closets.  It is also important that the bedroom wall where the head of the bed is located should not be a shared wall with the kitchen or a bathroom.   Finally, shared utility closets in multi-unit dwellings can emit a tremendous amount of electromagnetic fields and their locations should be well planned to minimize the impact on bedrooms.

Tip: The foyer or entryway should easily transition into a gathering room where the seating arrangement is inviting.

The Feng Shui Factor: Modern Homes Ancient Blueprint discusses all of these aspects in detail and the concepts can easily be applied to multi-unit dwellings.

MaryAnn Russell

Feng Shui Consultant, Author

Feng Shui Factor

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For some time I’ve been planning to extend the hard scape and patio area in my backyard.   I’ve had different design ideas but I basically know what I want in the finished look.  The area involves the East Family/Health and the Northeast Knowledge area.  In this case, extending the patio will create more balance and make the outdoor living space more functional.  I was struggling with a small part of the area (that will eventually be the extended patio) because it seriously lacks a beautiful focal point and I consider it to be a “dead zone” when it comes to foliage.

Let me tell you where I’ve made my mistake while waiting for the right time to move ahead with this project.  This so called “dead zone” makes up a small part of my backyard and, from an aesthetic point of view, looks lifeless and bleak.  From a feng shui perspective it weakens the balance of the exterior.  Every time I look at the area a little dissatisfied voice in my head makes a criticism.  Symbolically a “dead zone” is not good, along with the simple fact that the energy is not “vital” in that area of the yard.

I had to come up with a simple interim solution because I just couldn’t stand to look at the “dead zone” anymore.  I bought 3 of the same type of trees I have in the rest of the yard and I put them in grow pots.   Also, to create a more finished arrangement, I placed some solar lanterns between the pots.  So, whether we put the new patio in next week or next year, I won’t have to look at a “void” in the yard.  The new trees will continue to grow and the lanterns can be relocated anywhere.

I am sure you have areas in your home or property that you would love to improve when the time is right;  just don’t make the mistake I did and do nothing.  There is always something you can do to improve it.  I basically took the design elements from the rest of the yard and carried them over to the “dead zone” for a temporary but reusable arrangement.  My husband’s response was, “why didn’t we do this sooner?”

The second feng shui idea I’ve been focusing on is the room or area of the house you spend the most time in.  This area of the home becomes a “room of great influence” and should be well balanced, functional and beautiful.  I would encourage you to pay careful attention to the feng shui in this area.  When you walk into your “most used room” it should elicit a sense of peace and satisfaction for you on every level.  A space where you spend a great deal of time influences your health and well being and can be considered “formative”.  Recently I had some crown molding added to my “most used room” and the outcome created the following:

• Improved the floor to ceiling or spacial balance
• General ambiance of the room was elevated because the “eye” tends upward toward the new design feature
• Added a sense of strength and solidity to the entire room

I hope some of these ideas get you thinking about your own feng shui and how your environment  is connected to your quality of  life.  If you have any questions always feel free to send me an email or call my office.

Best Wishes,

MaryAnn Russell

714-842-7728 PST

Feng Shui Factor

Anti-Aging

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3 Types of Office Space

1. The home based office
2. The business owner’s office in a commercial space.
3. The office space of an employee or an executive in a small or large company.

Click Here to learn how to apply feng shui to each type of office.

Each Chinese New Year we look at the 8 Compass Directions and determine the areas that have opportunities which areas or directions need harmonizing.

For feng shui purposes, the New Year began on 4 February based on the Gregorian calendar.

The year of the Ox will be characterized by discipline, hard work, strength and service like the Ox plowing the fields.

In order to be successful this year put your affairs in order and use a methodical, disciplined approach to acheive your goals.

Let’s first look at the compass directions and life aspirations that need to be harmonized:

The East/Family Health sector can be harmonized by placing a live plant or tree, still water and 3 metal brass Dragons or Chi Lins facing East.  I recommend The Feng Shui Emporium to purchase the Chi Lin:  Search Chi Lin

*This remedy for the East can be placed inside or outside the house.

Also for the East, place a blue accent or blue object of art.  Try not to disturb the East by remodeling or breaking ground.  If your front door or bedroom door faces East it is especially important to put these remedies in place.

The Wood element is associated with the East and the liver; take good care of your liver this year and use herbal teas, supplements or lemon in water to support and detox the liver.

The Northeast Knowledge can be harmonized by placing a pair of Chi Lin in the Northeast sector and facing Northeast.  Place a red accent in the Northeast.

The North Career sector can be harmonized by placing the “salt water and coins” remedy.  In a glass jar place 1 part coarse salt and 1 part water along with 6 pennies and a quarter.

The West Children Creativity sector can be harmonized by placing a Wu Lu Gourd or metal Calabash.   Search Wu Lu Gourd or Calabash

Here are the areas of opportunity for 2009 Year of the Ox:

The Southeast Wealth sector has the timely and auspicious number 8.  Tap into this energy by placing accents of gold and a Citrine crystal in this area to support a better year financially.

The Northwest Networking and Travel sector has the future timely number 1; place a live plant or four stalks of lucky bamboo to support career advancement, academics and romance.

The South Fame Reputation sector can be enhanced by placing a small bowl of still water to stimulate growth in career, academics and romance.

For the Center location of the home place a live plant to bring about events to celebrate!

Tips on how to make these annual changes easy:

Keep on hand 5 metal Chi Lins; they come in pairs so you will have one left over. The use of the Chi Lins or Lions is to protect, ward off and gobble up unwanted negative energy.   The Feng Shui Factor discusses the meaning and use of protective animals and icons which are found in every culture.

Note:  Always place them on the perimeter facing outward, never inward toward the living space.  Search Protective Symbols

2 or 3 red tassales to place where the “red” accents are needed.  The fire red accents helps to burn up the agumentative nature of the 3 wood.

I also have at least 2 Wu Lu Gourd or metal calabash. The use of the gourd or calabash is to absorb illness.  Search Wu Lu Gourd or Calabash

For the still water I use a small decorative glass bowl with some river rocks or colored glass rocks in the bottom.

For the “salt water remedy” I use a plain glass jar (uncovered) and hide the jar in a basket or cupboard.  When the water evaporates I just add more water.   This remedy reduces the difficult “5 earth” by draining the salt and metal from the earth.

The idea behind using a Citrine gemstone is to draw “gold” from the timely 8 mountain.  I use a Citrine sphere.

For the blue accent I have a small wall hanging that is primarily blue and it is lite and easy to move, a decorative blue ceramic jar or a blueish gemstone.

I keep all of these items on hand so that when the annual changes occur it is easy to move them around.

Much of my focus for the New Year will be on feng shui and the home based business and home office.  The home based business trend continues to grow during these economic times.

Best Wishes!

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