FENG SHUI and MAIN DOOR

Having looked at the kitchen and the bedroom in our previous posts it is now time to focus on the main door, the third of the important areas in internal Feng Shui. 

In a previous post we discussed the Ming Tang (Bright Hall) and its effect on the Qi that enters your home, but what about the door itself.  It is the Qi Mouth of the home, the place where Qi enters.  Even when you and your family regularly enter through another door such as the door from the garage to the hallway, the main door still takes precedence.

Having the main door in an auspicious location, facing an auspicious direction based on Home and Personal Eight Mansions will benefit you and your family.  Calculate your personal Gua number. 

The main door and the facing direction of your property may not be the same.  The facing direction is concerned with the direction of maximum Qi and the main door is where Qi enters your home.  Ideally these two will go hand-in-hand however that is not always the case.

Many modern developments have the main door facing 45 degrees from the facing direction or directly opposite a neighbours door.  This may cause conflict between the residents.   It may be positioned such that it is facing a fence or a brick wall which effectively blocks any Qi from entering.  Another popular design is having the main door on an angle.  Like it or not this will very possibly create a sharp angle inside the home.

Ideally your main door, and by main door we mean the door that is used most often by the family, should be in proportion to the size of your property, it should be well maintained and welcoming.  The Qi as well as family and friends wants to feel uplifted when approaching your home. 

Being a Yang part of the home it should be supported by external features such as a road to activate its positive qualities.

When you open your main door looking out what do you see?  Is there a pylon; telegraph post; lamp post; sign post; decorative pillar; single tree; the edge of a neighbouring roofline directly opposite?  If there is and it is on the other side of a park or green area then it is not likely to be a negative feature.  However if it is close at hand it will affect the quality of Qi entering your home.

When you open your main door looking in what do you see?  Is there a staircase; a pillar; the door to a kitchen or toilet?  All these things will have an effect on the quality of Qi once it enters the property.

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

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Feng Shui and Missing Corners-Health and Family

The Eight Aspirations of Feng Shui are Career (north), Education and Study (northeast), Health and Longevity (east), Wealth (southeast), Fame and Recognition (south), Love and Relationships (southwest), Family (west) and Heaven and Mentor (northwest.)

When a location (corner) relating to an aspiration important to you is missing in the Big Tai Chi of your property the first thing to establish is whether this same location is missing in the Small Tai Chi of your living space.  When the locations are missing in both the Big and the Small Tai Chi it will prove difficult for you to achieve your desires.

A loving family and a long and healthy life are two of the most sought after desires in Feng Shui practice.  Financial wealth may have a strong pull on the emotions but without your health or someone to share your life, it will be lacking the positive energy necessary to create a happy and fulfilling existence.

West and East

Looking at the Big Tai Chi of your property, and confirming there is a missing corner in the west of your home will make it difficult for you to have children.  Not everyone wants to be a parent it is true however if you do this is an important area to consider.  The west is a small metal area so if it is missing and the layout of  your home is such that you can incorporate a circular design into the missing area; an area that will be used regularly;  you will go a long way to making up for the lack.  As part of your garden design a circular flower bed with plants will recreate a sense of growth and new life in the area.  Or if the west coincides with the main door of your home, having a circular driveway which is often used will bring lots of yang energy into the space.

Earth energy in the west is auspicious so a garden design combining squares and circles will energise the location.  Bring the earth element to bear with natural material seating and tables and either locate them on a circular base or arrange them in a circular fashion.  Use this area often to activate the yang energy necessary to bring the location to life.

In symbolic Feng Shui the elephant with his trunk down is said to attract the luck associated with having a family.  There are many earth element images available.

In your bedroom the west is the place to display pictures of children aplenty. 

Without good health living a long and fulfilling life is difficult.  The location of health is the east, the area of new growth and vitality.  It is the big wood area of the Pa Kua and if it is missing in the overall design of your property good health will be hard to come by.  The east is the location of the eldest son of the family as well as health and longevity.  An abundant and vibrant rectangular flower bed to the east will create growth and new life and as long as the plants are cared for and not allowed to fade their positive energy will bring benefit to the home.  Having a moving water feature will also serve to ‘feed’ the growth element here.  It is important to ensure that the area is used frequently otherwise it will remain a yin and negative area lacking in the yang energy of movement and positive vibrations.

Using the Small Tai Chi of the living space and symbolic Feng Shui, images of the peach, the deer, the crane, bamboo and the pine tree are all associated with longevity and are often displayed together in Chinese paintings.  Depending on your culture and likes and dislikes however opting for something that represents long-life and with which you have a natural affinity will invite positive energy, energy suited to your way of life.

Feng Shui practised correctly will activate positive energy in your life and home and is designed to enhance and improve however, it is not a replacement for caring for yourself and having a lifestyle in keeping with good health.

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

We hope enjoy our blogs and leave any comments below or email: crystal@abundance-chi.com visit: www.abundance-chi.com LynC

Feng Shui and the Lo-Shu Grid 1-3

The nine numbers of the original Lo-Shu Grid from the north following a clockwise cycle are 1, 8, 3, 4, 9, 2, 7 and 6.  The numbers opposite one another around the grid always add up to 10 and with the number 5 residing in the centre any row up, down or diagonally will add up to 15.

Each of these numbers and their associated direction has an element, colour, shape, family member, aspiration as well as more intangible aspects such as body parts or musical notes.  We will look at the fundamental parts of each number and how they affect us all.

All odd numbers represent yang energies and all even numbers represent yin energies even when the area itself may be the opposite. 

Number One (1) – This is the number of the north. It is one of the auspicious white stars of Feng Shui and is synonymous with career luck. One represents new beginnings, creativity, independence and self.  The north represents water; the colours blue and black; its shape is wavy. The middle son (Kan) has his home in the north and it signifies dark, winter, an excess of yin energy.  Water and the number 1 are both yang.  If the north represents the back of your home avoid placing a water feature here, especially a pond, pool, waterfall or swimming pool.  Water at the back can suggest lack of support in your endeavours. 

Number Two (2) – This is the number of the southwest.  It is a yin number which represents the yin energy of big earth and its shape is the even-sided square which represents a solid base; loving and nurturing energy.  Two represents a couple, balance, yin and yang; it signifies co-dependence, partnerships and co-operation; it invites choice. It is a number representing interaction with others, and unity.  Its colours are earth colours such as ochre.  The southwest is a vital area to care for as it represents the female, the mother, caring and nurturing, love and relationships in its many and varied forms.  Love and relationships between a couple, between family members and between friends.  This is predominantly a yin area (Kun) the receptive, the yielding.  

Number Three (3) – Three is the big wood area of the east and it signifies communication.  The number three is a yang number that signifies the trinity; in this instance father, mother and child and also time represented by past, present and future.  It also represents Heaven, Earth and Man which are the basis for Feng Shui practice.  It indicates pleasure achieved through creativity. The shape of the east is rectangular. 

This location represents the eldest son of the family (Chen) and signifies new life and upward growth.  Its colours are the darker olive or emerald greens.  Sons are known as the Dragons of the family and east is the location of the mighty Green Dragon.  If you choose symbolism an image of this celestial creature is auspicious here together with large round leaved lush plants. The east also represents health and longevity.  Growing bamboo, which is one of the many symbols of longevity, in the east of your garden is auspicious, however take care of the variety you choose as they grow fast and can take over if not controlled.  Other symbols of longevity are the pine tree, peach and the long-legged Crane.  These are often represented together in oriental paintings. This is the place to house your larger pieces of wooden furniture. 

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

We hope enjoy our blogs and leave any comments below or email: crystal@abundance-chi.com visit: www.abundance-chi.com LynC

FAMILY Harmony with Feng Shui

However big, or small your family, enhancing your home to improve the Feng Shui for all its residents will bring a sense of peace and harmony to everyone.

In the Eight Aspirations Formula of Feng Shui the area associated with family, with descendants luck, is the West.

So whether you already have your family, or you are not yet ready to start your family, enhancing this area in your living room or family room is auspicious.

The West is Small Metal, its number is 7 and it is the best place to display a portrait or picture of all the family looking happy and united.  Shining a light at the picture will enhance its positive effect even more.

There are a few things to consider before displaying the family picture in this area.

If by hanging a picture in this area it is either a) under a low beam, b) opposite a toilet door or c) opposite the front door, then it is best to display it elsewhere.  These are all inauspicious and will have a negative, rather than positive effect on the family.

Having the picture under a low beam will symbolically ‘press down’ on the family causing ill health and stress.

Opposite a toilet door brings the negative associations of the toilet to the family.

Opposite the front door indicates that as soon as the family enter they will go back out again, preventing family harmony.

If you have not yet started a family and wish to do so, then you can display the images of elephants with their trunks down, a pomegranate made from earth materials and pictures of babies.  The pictures of babies can also be displayed in the master bedroom.

Each of the eight compass directions relates to a member of the family however when you have young children the most important areas to look after are the Northwest (Father) and the Southwest (Mother.)

Is either of these corners ‘missing’ in your home?

If they are missing from the whole house, which in Feng Shui is known as the Big Tai Chi can you enhance the Small Tai Chi?  This is individual rooms, and for Family Harmony the living room or family room is best.

Your young children rely on you for support in their childhood so it is important to look after the areas that directly relate to you, their parents.

Both areas benefit from being well-lit (and this is especially important in the Southwest where fire (light) enhances the element of the area which is earth.

Display crystals, lights and anything relating to the earth element in the Southwest.

Display wind chimes, a picture of man of the house and activate the area with plenty of Yang elements such as the family television.

Next time – G-Gardens

We hope enjoy our blogs and leave any comments below or email: crystal@abundance-chi.com visit: www.abundance-chi-com LynC

Dine Auspiciously with Feng Shui

Your dining room is an important area to get right to benefit all members of your family.

Ideally, its best location is in or near the centre of the home ‘the heart of the home, or the Tai Chi.’ This signifies unity and strength in the family when they come together to dine; it invites family harmony.

If your ground floor is an open plan design, are you able to locate the dining area in the centre?  If not, it is better hidden deep inside the home rather than near the front door.   This is not considered to be a public area of your home so is best away from view.

What is the shape of your dining table?  Regular shapes are more auspicious than irregular shapes.  A rectangular table is symbolic of the Wood element, which in turn signifies growth.  A square table is symbolic of the Earth element, which signifies grounding or stability.  Round, oval and eight-sided tables are also auspicious.

The table is best made of wood (growth.)  Some modern dining suites have glass-topped tables and although they may be stylish, glass is a Yin Earth element and not conducive to lively family interaction around the table.  It also gives the impression of having nothing solid to hold the food.

Is the table big enough to comfortably sit all members of the family?  If everyone is huddled together it suggests a feeling of lack.

Your dining chairs are best if they are big enough to sit on comfortably, but not fussy in design.  You can inadvertently create intangible negative Chi Energy by sitting on a stained dining room chair.  

Now your family seating arrangements:  These are best if all members of your family are able to sit facing one of their auspicious directions based on their individual Kua numbers.*  More especially, if they are able to face their Tien Yi (Health) direction.  If they face their Sheng Chi (success) direction it can sometimes have the effect of creating a competitive stance across the dining table, instead of a harmonious one.

A good balance of elements is important in the dining room.  If the décor is too dark the level of conversation at mealtime is likely to be muted or non-existent and if it is too bright, some heated discussions may ensue.

One very auspicious element to incorporate into your dining room design is a large mirror which reflects the table.  This symbolically doubles any food on the table and in the practice of Feng Shui, an abundance of food is considered to be wealth manifested.  (Making the mirror big enough to reflect all members of the family without cutting off their heads will benefit everyone.)

Whatever part of the home houses the dining room it is one area that benefits from incorporating all of the five elements.  The shapes, colours, pictures, lighting and soft furnishings can be pulled together to combine a harmonious feel and create a positive environment to spend time.

A chandelier above the dining table combines the very best of the Earth element (crystals) with the Fire element (light.)

Having a wooden dining table introduces a Yin Wood element while displaying a vase of fresh flowers introduces a Yang Wood element.  China plates, glassware and cutlery combine Earth and Metal and having a soothing Water feature in the room will introduce the Water element.

*To find out how to calculate your Kua number and discover your auspicious and inauspicious directions, visit our website www.abundance-chi.com.

Next time we will look at E - Exterior Feng Shui.


We hope enjoy our blogs and leave any comments below or email: crystal@abundance-chi.com visit: www.abundance-chi-com LynC