classical or traditional fengshui

oldfengshui @ 2008-06-20T16:09:00

2008-06-20T23:09:56Z

I’ve been kicking around this topic in my head for a couple of months now and I think it’s time to talk about it.

Losing weight with Feng Shui.

I know it’s sitting out there with some puzzled looks, but a lot of people are starting to ask me about it. ‘I’m happy with my life, but I really wish I could lose some weight. How do you do that with Feng Shui?’

Personally, I think the Health Gua is the most important Gua to activate, but when I started placing intentions myself (since I always practice what I preach!) I felt like something was missing. From my own experience, motivation and drive has always been hard for me to keep going when it came to losing weight. I also felt like I didn’t know what I should do first or how to do it. Okay…so knowing that, motivation and drive lines up with one’s life purpose which is the Career Gua. Knowing what to do is easy…that’s the Knowledge Gua. I also believed that one must love one’s self to obtain a healthy body so I threw the Love and Marriage Gua in there.

After adding three more guas to the mix, I started noticing a pattern. Oh dear! Could it be that all the guas need to be activated to lose weight??? I’m afraid so. Wealth and Prosperity is not always about money. Most people were at their healthiest when they were young so yes, the Children and Creativity (cross training would go here too and keep things new) gua goes in the mix too. There’s a lot of diet and weight loss programs out there that have support groups to help encourage you along so yes, the Family Gua and the Helpful People and Travel gua fits.

How you perceive yourself and how others perceive you would include the Fame gua and this one made me cringe a little. Our society and our nature as humans prefer healthy people. People who have healthy bodies that are appealing inside and out tend to be approached in a more positive outlook over unhealthy ones. Sadly, it was too logical to dispute.

I thought that this exercise would also help anyone who is having health issues in general; physical and mental. People who are ailing find comfort in their “stuff” and surround themselves in clutter for security.

Just like an explosion which starts from a center of impact and chain reacts to expand outward, that’s really how I would approach a Health issue. I’d start from the center and steadily work myself out going around all the guas equally until I finish the entire house. This includes the yard too if you have one. Healthy house=Healthy body and mind.

Cross posting to popularfengshui, fengshui_life

oldfengshui @ 2008-03-31T20:19:00

2008-04-20T13:33:31Z

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone had helpful suggestions about this dilemma. I got a peace lily plant from my boyfriend. when I got it, it had a few white flowers on it, which I just cut off.

In the last month however, it has started flowering a LOT. I am unwilling to deface this plant any further, since it has shown a lot of tenacity and I attach a great deal of sentimental value to it.

Can someone please explain what I am supposed to do with this plant? I can't really come around to the fact that having a defaced plant in my office would really improve the feng shui, and frankly if it werent for my chinese upbringing i would really love the white flowers. could there be ANY LOOPHOLE in the white flower rule that allows me to keep this plant without defacing it further????

help =(

newbie

2007-08-16T19:36:19Z

hi there! i am moving to an apartment that i will be sharing with 3 other people for college this weekend. i want to feng shui my room and any other rooms that i am able to. but i know nothing about it. what resources(books, websites, etc) would you guys suggest i use to learn about it so i can do it? thank you. :)

also new office...

2007-07-28T14:36:17Z

...also this new office is a rectangle, also quite simple, about 6-8 feet by 21 feet. Also there is a sort of desk-counter at the end by prosperity and all that, wooden cover over also a radiator. What are also good ideas to put in the various places, mostly only also wall space and not shelves...? Also thanks! (also I say also a lot lately)

any reason NOT to put shelves here...?

2007-05-24T20:10:05Z

...in my bedroom, the bed faces the south (a bit southwestish) wall, and across the street is a small house with sort of yucky people, and nice trees and all. Is there any reason I should not put some shelves with clean folded clothes on this wall, to sort of muffle sound from traffic and also to absorb vibes or something...? I would not block windows or make it openly hostile in intenion, but I have a ton of clothes stored in a big narrow closet that runs pretty much the whole length behind a little wall *behind* the bed, and it seems like maybe the absorbent-of-noise properties might be better used elsewhere...ideas on this? Thanks!

"Poison Arrow" Shar?

2007-05-01T13:20:57Z

Hello - I am totally new to Feng Shui and this community. I picked up Feng Shui for Your Apartment by Richard Webster. I am not clear on how the corner of a neighboring building forms a shar. Webster says this is "a sharp angle caused by the corner of a neighboring building that is oriented at a forty-five degree angle to your apartment." So based on this very rough sketch of my townhouse complex, are the townhouses suffering from a shar from the neighboring office building? You can't tell from the sketch, but it is a rather large imposing building.

If that is a shar, how should I put up a pa-kua mirror to reflect it? Should it directly face the pointing corner? Is it okay to hang it on the front door?

Also, the townhouses are terraced down a hill, like steps. See very rough sketch #2. Is this good or bad?

Thanks very much!

garbage and cat litter...?

2007-04-28T16:54:51Z

...I bought a little report at tarot.com about my directions and all, and it gave four categories, and each one said "don't put your garbage here or your money/relationships/success/health will go to hell"...SO WHERE DO YOU PUT IT, THEN? I mean just normal weekly kitchen garbage, and cat litter which I keep in the bathroom, pretty much, not stockpiled waste pathologically clung to...that's the clutter! ahahaha!

where to put sex books...?

2007-04-21T20:50:14Z

...by that, I mean the instructional ones about "have hot sex with your spouse every night" or "sex magic and love in your relationship" and "one million goofy but fun postures" and taoist sex or whatever, NOT fiction or erotica or porn...I have had those books in the romance corner for years, here and in the previous house, and often the relationships have had tons of good sex, but not enough else...and I'm not into that stuff at the expense of love etc. ...so, where would you put them, or what would you do?

Quick Important Question

2007-03-15T15:21:12Z

Okay I am moving into a new place. My bedroom is the problem and I am not sure where to place my bed. I figured out my Pa gua number and the Lo Su Square and this year is 2 Fire Pig, my star is 3 Chen Eldest Son Wood so my year's direction is in the NW falls which falls in 6 the Metal House and unfortunately the directions I have to put the head of my bed are all in bad places for me. Its a choice between my bed facing South West, North West or a corner in West. There is no room for East or South or South, because of the room size there is not a lot of room between the windows closet and ajoining wall. Out of those 3 bad directions which ones could I find some way to correct with other measures.

I would be sincerely appreciative for any answers very soon, I have this decision tomorrow because I need to figure out where to put the shelves and other items that will be installed tomorrow.

Thank you!!!

money tips...

2007-03-11T19:51:28Z

...from a bit more of a popular perspective, but the general principles apply:

Feng Shui Money Tips
by Stephanie Roberts

Do you know where your financial "power spots" are? The contemporary methods of feng shui associate prosperity issues with the back left corner of any space. Stand at your front door facing into the house; your wealth area is at the back of the house on the left-hand side. There's also a wealth area within each room: facing in from the doorway, it's the corner area in the back of the room on the left-hand side. Where are the wealth areas within your office, living room, kitchen, and bedroom? Now that you've identified your money power spots, here are some quick and easy ways to apply feng shui to these spaces:

1. Clear out any clutter from these important areas. Clutter is a sign of stagnant energy, and clutter in your money power spots can clog up your cash flow. Getting rid of clutter is one of the most powerful ways to shift the energy of your power spots into high gear.

2. Fix things that are broken. Anything that doesn't work as it should is a sign of something wrong in the area of your life that corresponds to that part of your space. Examine each of your money power spots to look for anything that needs repair. It's time to do something about that loose doorknob, non-working light switch, stuck file drawer, or clock that doesn't keep correct time, to name just a few possible examples. Remove items like these from your power spots or fix them so they work properly.

3. Enhance your power spots with symbols of prosperity, such as a bowl of coins (add your loose change to it every day), a "lucky bamboo" plant, or anything that symbolizes success and prosperity to you. There are lots of Chinese luck symbols available, but you don't have to use them unless you want to. A picture of your dream house, or a model of that luxury car you long for, is an effective money symbol because it has personal meaning for you.

4. Accent your money areas with the colors green and purple. Green symbolizes vitality and growth, and purple is the color of wealth. Place a bowl of green and purple grapes (real or artificial) in the wealth area of your kitchen, to symbolize abundance filling your home. If you use real grapes, it's okay to eat them, just add more from time to time so the grapes remain fresh and the bowl is always more than half full.

5. Pay attention to how you handle money every day. Do you keep paper money neatly sorted in your wallet or money clip, or is it jammed in there any old way, or crumpled up at the bottom of your pocket? Clean the clutter out of your purse and wallet, and start handling your money as though you value it.

6. If you neglect your money, it will neglect you, so be sure to balance your checkbook regularly and pay your bills on time. Put your checkbook in an attractive cover (choose green, purple, red, blue, or black) and keep it in the wealth area of your desk - that's the rear left corner again -- or in the wealth area of your office.

7. Live generously. Money is a form of energy, and it needs to flow through your life, not just into it. Hoarding and scrimping work against more coming in, while giving generously within your means makes space for even greater abundance. If you don't yet have ample money to share, give as generously as you can of your time, energy, compassion, and appreciation.

8. Take a few moments every evening to think about all the good things that happened to you today and to express your gratitude for what you have received. Small things count, too, so it's okay if there's little of the spectacular on your list most of the time. It's not what happened that's important; it's getting in the habit of focusing on the positive side of things every day that matters. The more you notice, appreciate, and express gratitude for blessings received, no matter how small, the more good things will come your way, including money.

A true experience of prosperity is determined not by how much money you have, but by how well you notice and enjoy what is already present in your life. The formal name for the wealth area is "fortunate blessings" - as you de-clutter, repair, and accessorize your money power spots keep this broader meaning in mind. When you celebrate being rich in friends and family, or rich with laughter, or the richness of your spiritual life, or even being rich in air and sunshine if nothing else seems to be going well for you today, material blessings will come to you more readily as well.

Copyright © 2005 Stephanie Roberts

many tips, free newsletter...

2007-03-11T18:31:18Z

http://www.fengshuitips.co.uk/

...this site seems very scattered, but has some free tips, plus links to their own store...happy browsing among it all!

several articles from traditional perspective...

2007-03-03T21:53:24Z

http://www.iching-fengshui.com/article1.htm

...at the top is an option for articles, and there are a few to choose from, about taboos, offices, fishtanks, etc. ...

where is a good place for library/bookshelves?

2007-02-24T20:17:31Z

...I forget where the best place to put fairly substantial quantities of books that I want to keep is....they are not the rubbishy giveaway ones, but ones that are part of my library...thanks!

use for glass icicle ornaments...?

2007-02-19T19:41:59Z

...I bought some costly imported (on sale) glass ornaments made in the shape of icicles...I can' think of any use for them that would not mess up the fengshui of something...ideas, anybody...? They are still in their box, and maybe they're spooktastically freezing my house even as we speak, or maybe they need to be put to good use...thanks!

for more motivation...?

2007-02-19T19:34:04Z

...I am looking for easy answers for getting more motivation and actual follow-through...right now, the house is supercold, and there is simply no heating oil, and no money for it, so that is obviously an element out of balance (and no, I will not borrow or steal; I've done this before, and can't see the point of wasting another thousand bucks that I don't have)...I stay warm, and light candles to get the energy going, and I use the stove...the windows get nice sun, and I feel cheerful enough, but sometimes like I'm not achieving stuff I want...any other ideas...?

Happy Valentine's Day!

2007-02-14T20:03:10Z

Alright my friends love is in the air. I can smell it. Amidst the smoggy exhaust of the car in front of me during my morning commute where the driver has no idea that his blinker is still on, I can still think of love. Dirty stinky intoxicating love! It's awesome and we all want it.

In terms of Feng Shui, there are two guas that are considered very popular and get the most attention. One being wealth and the other being love. In my experience, I feng shui more spaces for these two reasons over any other.

The love and marriage gua is located in the Southwest. The element is Earth and the supporting element is Fire. Fire creates and strengthens Earth; think of a volcano and molten lava. Poor elements for this area is Wood (Wood eats Earth; think of a plant growing and you have to repot it) and Water (think of waves hitting a cliffside heavy with erosion). I consider Metal element a neutral element. It neither helps or hinders Earth.

For those of us who are single and would like to eventually have a partner in our lives, the best recommendation I can give is to make sure there is room for someone to be with you.

Is your bed pushed up against a wall so there is only one way in (room for only one person)? Do you have singular pieces in your bedroom and SW (one nightstand, one lamp, one pillow)? Is your closet and dresser jam packed with clothes?

Making actual s-p-a-c-e for a person to be with you is key to energizing your love and marriage gua even if your bedroom is no where near your SW. I say this because you have the capacity to be most vulnerable and intimate with a person in your bedroom. The intention for love is strongest in your bedroom.

I've watched a ton of decorating shows and most people who remodel their homes either abandon the bedroom because of money issues or run out of steam and creative ideas. Too bad. You should know exactly what you want for your bedroom (like you should know exactly what kind of mate you want to have), buy the best bed you can afford (you want your mate to give you comfort), the sturdiest headboard (you want your mate to support you emotionally) and the most expensive linens and pillows you can find (along with comfort-sex and cuddling just feels better in nice sheets). Your furnishings should be balanced-a mixture of masculine and feminine taste that is personally appealing to you. Ideally, there should be equal spacing on either side of the bed (so both partners feel they are on the same level/equal footing within the relationship). This goes for matching nightstands, matching lamps, artwork that displays personality, but is restful, blissful or just puts a smile on your face. The room (including the closet!) should be clean, uncluttered and tidy. Memories and photos of past lovers shouldn't be in a shoebox under your bed (the universe becomes confused by this and believes you are still pining for the past and not ready for the future). A picture of your mom, dad--even your kids shouldn't be prominently displayed on your dresser (there are other places in your house that the picture of your mom should reside).

Everything should have a purpose and place for being there. The key is the intent to have the best quality relationship you can get.

Secondly, with your compass find where the SW point is in your house. The most powerful stone for this area is rose quartz. Placing two rose quartz here bumps the energy up in this area like nothing else. Try to find two pieces that are unique and close to the same size. Avoid purchasing those polished heart shaped ones made especially for another feng shui school. You want a partner who is like you, but different enough not to bore you to tears. I use amethyst and rose quartz because it's significant to me. Still earth element. Still different, but still me. I've recently added two glass vases to my SW. One contains slips of paper inside with my "top ten" list. Every person should have at least a top ten list of what qualities they really want in a partner. The other has at least ten things about me that I can offer someone.

Thinking about when I did that and how dramatically my dating game changed makes me believe that that particular cure over anything else I've tried has been the most powerful in terms of results. My attitude is different now and the men that I talk to now have been narrowed way down to men I enjoy talking to and spending time with.

You can always help Earth element along by burning two identical candles preferably in glass containers. I do not recommend any scent over another other than it smells good to you and the candle holder is appealing to you. Never buy anything that you don't like or think it's ugly because you need it to practice feng shui or that it will do for now; especially when you are curing your SW gua. For the strongest and maximum result, burn these candles at least 3 hours at a time.

free individualized fengshui wealth report...

2007-02-11T19:09:27Z

...check out the free thingie on www.tarot.com which now gives fengshui pointers...it'll give you a little free report for wealth for you based on astrology, and then you can get the whole report for bigger dollars, but the wealth bit is all free, in honour of the new year next week...

Conquer Clutter By Intention

2007-01-31T20:51:08Z

...seems like this can be helpful whichever school of fengshui you follow...

Conquer Clutter By Intention
By Annie B. Bond, author of Home Enlightenment (Rodale Press, 2006).

It wasn’t until I spent some time thinking about my true intention for a room or space in my home that I was able to get a handle on how to remove the clutter. Try this exercise for the rooms in your home, and see if, like me, you’ll finally manage to conquer clutter. What a relief it is!

Declutter Workbook

Here is a start looking at four rooms. Expand to meet your needs and to include bathrooms, basements, bedrooms, guest rooms, and whatever else you may have.

Living Room
Intentions – What I Want the Room to Offer and Be
(Fill in the blanks)
Mood:
Activities:
Functional Needs:
Enhancers:

Remove to meet intention:
Add:

Annie’s Own Living Room’s Declutter Workbook
Mood: Quiet, peaceful, warm, comfortable, cozy, well-lit for reading
Activities: Reading, talking, listening to music, meditating
Functional Needs: Comfortable furniture, audio speakers, places for books and newspapers/magazines
Enhancers: Plants, fireplace

Remove: Miscellaneous instruments such as recorders, old magazines, items better suited for the family room
Add: Quiet water fountain or gentle wind chime in window

The Kitchen
Intentions – What I Want the Room to Offer and Be
Mood:
Activities:
Functional Needs:
Enhancers:

Remove to meet intention:
Add:

Annie’s Own Kitchen’s Declutter Workbook
Mood: Clear, clean, bright, modern, healthy, sunny; a gathering place,
Activities: Sitting and talking, cooking, easy to keep clean
Functional Needs: Space for chairs (good chairs on an island); energy-efficient appliances, lots of workspace; family to-do lists
Enhancers: Good light, bright colors

Remove: Too many appliances showing; dry goods not always stored (need to reorganize cupboards);
Add: Basket for misc. papers; accessible storage in basement for less-often used items; visible tea pot and cups for feeling of invitation to stay and talk

Family Room
Intentions – What I Want the Room to Offer and Be
Mood:
Activities:
Functional Needs:
Enhancers:

Remove to meet intention:
Add:

Annie’s Own Family Room’s Declutter Workbook
Mood: Cozy, comfortable, friendly, welcoming, togetherness
Activities: TV, DVDs, let-down, family, play games
Functional Needs: Serviceable coffee tables; easy-to-clean; comfortable couches; storage for DVDs, videos, books, etc.
Enhancers: Family pictures

Remove: Books we no longer need; unorganized photos; old videos
Add: Nicely framed photos; colorful pillows

Office
Intentions – What I Want the Room to Offer and Be
Mood:
Activities:
Functional Needs:
Enhancers:

Remove to meet intention:
Add:

Annie’s Own Office Declutter Workbook
Mood: Inspiration, help for thinking out of the box; compelling; feels professional; modern
Activities: Efficient for work
Functional Needs: A place where stacks can look neat; a place for lots of books; serviceable; good trash system; lighting and glare resolutions
Enhancers: Good phone system; ergonomic health; bright colors

Remove: Old magazines, papers, unused books
Add: Baskets for clutter (if I can go through them once a week!)

best first steps...?

2007-01-28T19:55:32Z

...I get stuck because my house seems completely conflicty in each fengsxhui tradition, old and western, as regardsx what faces where, and I want to make it coordinate so I"m not confused...what"s good to do, other than just clean the middle? Thanks!

Auspicious wedding dates for 2009?

2007-01-13T14:04:28Z

I have been trying to find information about good dates for weddings in 2009, but can only find dates available online through 2008. Anybody have any cost-effective advice? I can't afford to pay someone $45 to look up dates for me.

Feng Shui Your Yard - How To

2006-12-09T19:35:28Z

Feng Shui Your Yard - How To

Inspired by The Feng Shui Garden, by Gill Hale (Storey Books, 1998).

The ancient Chinese art of feng shui can help us fill our homes with good energy and serenity, improving health, wealth, and relationships. But did you know that you can also feng shui your yard to enhance the energies there? You can--and the process is easy, fun, and a pleasant thing to do on a lovely day.

Find out how to attract good fortune to you and your family with simple feng shui principles applied to your yard.
First, find the true entrance to your yard, and then look at the listing below to see placements to enhance the chi in each area.

Career or Life Journey
Element: Water
Colors: Black and dark blue
Bagua Position: Center front
Guidance: Make sure to remove obstacles such as overhanging branches, prickles, squeaking hinges, and make sure you have clear passage.

Relationships
Element: Earth
Colors: Pink
Bagua Position: Back right
Guidance: Groups of plants; pairs of trees, flower pots, or statuary.

Family & Ancient Wisdom
Element: Wood
Color: Green
Bagua Position: Left middle
Guidance: A table for family meals, or other family get-togethers.

Wealth
Element: Wood
Color: Blue
Bagua Position: Back left
Guidance: Compost

Helpful People Element: Metal
Colors: White and silver
Bagua Position: Front right
Guidance: Birds, bird houses, statuary

Creative /Children
Element: Metal
Colors: White or silver
Bagua Position: Right middle
Guidance: Children’s play area; creations such as garden sculpture

Knowledge
Element: Earth
Colors: Blue and sometimes yellow.
Bagua Position: Front left
Guidance: Meditation garden; seedlings, flowers, vegetables.

Fame
Element: Fire
Color: Red
Bagua Position: Back middle
Guidance: Your best accomplishments (flowers, sculptures, etc.); moon gate (round or square openings in hedges, walls, etc.)

Tai Chi
Element: Earth
Colors: Yellow or gold
Bagua Position: Center middle
Guidance: Keep the area clear.

here'as a completely whoowhoo question for you guys...

2006-11-18T19:35:21Z

...I always have trouble figuring out the for-real front of the house, since I use the door that was not the front door when it was built 115 or so years back, and I just also figured out that *the house seems to have a multiple personality*: I keep seeing other forms of this house, like maybe the structure/s that used to be here before this was built or something...so, what is the best way, in your opinion, to determine the for-real directions of the house? Thanks for your patience, and for any input!

mirrors...

2006-11-05T14:41:47Z

...I have pretty much no idea what the view of mirrors is in classical fengshui, except have read that they are not used much or at all, and is considered a little bit baloney and 'modern'...does anybody have good insight on this? I bought a bunch of small ones, and pretty much the only thing I won't do is put them in bedrooms...my idea is to put them in places that don't get much sun, or where the sunlight will be reflected in a tricky way that helps things...

corner pointing at bed

2006-09-16T14:44:34Z

I've just moved into a new, small area and I have an unfortunate problem of the corner of my desk pointing towards the right corner of my bed. unfortunately I can't really change the positioning due to the size of the room and the furniture. I'm wondering if I might be able to put a mirror or something on the wall behind the bed to reflect the poison arrow? it only crosses over a small portion of the bed but it makes me a bit uneasy.

it looks something like this:

any help is appreciated :) thanks!

the clutter issue...

2006-06-10T15:46:38Z

...I am pretty sure that I use clutter as a way to slow down the energy in my house, as a protective device of sorts, especially when I feel like I personally am undergoing changes, like sleeping twelve hours a night lately etc. and processing old stuff. Are there suggestions for alternatives, or supportive measures to take, while I undergo this process...? I don'tmind clutter, BUT it feels like I'm going out of my way somehow to make it inhopsitable, and I might be ready to condeier more sophisticated measrues...thanks! I'm posting this to the other community too, to see if there are different approaches from each school...