Feng Shui your KITCHEN

Having already delved into the Dining Room in this series, it makes sense to move onto to the placement and layout of your kitchen.

Whether you have a kitchen/diner or a separate kitchen and dining area the kitchen is best treated as an area in its own right.

It benefits from being deep within the house rather than at the front and it should be light, bright and airy during the day and have sufficient lighting to make it safe to use at night.

It is best kept clean and uncluttered with no small appliances or gadgets on display and certainly no knives out on display. 

If you know your Kua number* and are aware of your good and bad directions based on this number, then having the kitchen in an area of your home that represents a bad area for you has the positive effect of controlling the bad energy.

One exception to this is the Northwest.  If the kitchen is in this area it is known in Feng Shui as ‘Fire at Heaven’s Gate’ and can have the effect of bringing bad luck to the male head of the family.  If they are also the breadwinner it can cause loss of job, status and money which affects the luck of the whole family.   Fire destroys Metal in the Five Elements.

Another inauspicious place to have the kitchen is in the centre of the home.  This is called the heart of the home and is better if it houses the dining or family room.

The kitchen is not an area to enhance; it is a work area and should be treated as such.  Mirrors are not auspicious and this is particularly relevant if they reflect the cooker or stove.  This has the effect of doubling the Fire energy of the stove and increases the chance of a real fire erupting.

The kitchen is a place where Fire and Water co-exist and it is important that when designing the layout they are kept apart without being opposite one another.

If the stove or cooker faces the main door, a toilet door or a bedroom door it symbolises food flowing out of the house.  In Feng Shui food is considered one of the most important indications of abundance.  The stove should not be directly below a toilet on the upper floor.  It can also have inauspicious consequences for anyone sleeping directly above the kitchen stove.  If the stove shares a wall with a toilet on the other side this is also an extremely inauspicious configuration.

The Five Element Theory can be used in this room to positive effect when deciding on colour schemes however it is important to remember the elements already in the room and if for example you have a kitchen in the South, a Fire location, decorating in red will create an excess of Fire Energy.  In this situation exhausting the Fire element with Earth colours will create a more auspicious balance.

As you can see, there are a lot of taboos associated with this very important room and while it is not easy to change the location of your kitchen there are things that can be done to balance out the energies and create an auspicious room within your home. 

*Discover your Kua number at www.abundance-chi.com/

Next time – L-Love

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

JEWELLERY; GEMSTONES and Feng Shui

Jade is highly prized in the Far East and auspicious used in jewellery.  Rings, bracelets, pendants, necklaces and earrings especially in a good quality deep green colour will bring their wearer good luck.  The darker the colour the more auspicious it is.

You can also use jewellery and gemstones to invite health and wealth, love and good fortune.

Wearing amethyst can attract good luck and protect against ill-health.

As the saying goes ‘diamonds are forever,’ they represent among other things, longevity.  They can also bring plenty of admirers into the life of their wearer.

Gemstones are also associated with your day of birth and this is said to bring you the attributes belonging to that day. 

For instance, Monday is also known as ‘Moon Day’ and the gemstone associated with this day is the white pearl.  One attribute associated with the stone is inner beauty.

The emerald is known for the inclusions in its stones and it signifies success and growth.

You can wear gemstones the colour of your four auspicious directions based on your Kua number to invite the aspiration associated with these directions.

Auspicious Directions

Overall Success or ‘Sheng Chi’

Health

Love and Relationships

Personal Development

 The centre is not specified as a ‘direction’ but it does signify the ‘Heart of the Home’ so is both an Earth element which represents stability and solid ground and an important area to positively enhance in any space for the benefit of the entire family.

Each of the Five Elements has a Yin (stillness and quiet) and a Yang (movement and noise) aspect and this is something else to consider when enhancing your living space.

Element	Yang	Yin
WATER	Flowing Water	Still or Stagnant Water
WOOD	Growing Wood	Dead Wood or Furniture
FIRE	Roaring Fire	Dying Embers
EARTH	Crystals, Stones and Pebbles, Sand	Underground Earth
METAL	Moving Metal/Metallic Sounds	Unyielding Hard Metal

In your living areas, the living and dining rooms, the elements benefit from being more Yang than Yin; in your sleeping area, the bedroom, the elements benefit from being more Yin than Yang.

Yang is created with brightness, light, sound and movement; with activity and is in harmony with lively and harmonious living – Yin is darker and quieter and allows your mind, body and spirit to be refreshed and recharged for a new day.

In the practice of Feng Shui, Water relates to a steady stream of income, of your career.  Water should never be used to enhance in the bedroom, this is a major taboo.

Wood signifies health if it is in the East and wealth if it is in the Southeast, Water ‘feeds’ Wood and will enhance these areas, as long as it is Yang Water (moving water.)

Fire brings fame and recognition in your chosen field and this is fed by Wood.

Earth is represented in the Northeast and this is the universal study and education area.  It is also the element of the Southwest and this represents family, love and relationships.  Both of these areas are ‘created’ by Fire, by light.

The West is the area of the family and family harmony and the Northwest represents heaven and mentor luck.  These areas are the Metal areas and they are enhanced by the element of Earth.

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

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INTERIOR Design using Feng Shui

Whether you are moving into a new home or redecorating your existing home, using the Five Elements of Feng Shui allows you to create an interior design in harmony with both your lifestyle and the Chi Energy that is all things.

Having a good working knowledge of the Five Elements and its three cycles is a fundamental part of Feng Shui and all its differing practices.  It helps you create harmonious living and working spaces which benefits everyone.

You can incorporate the Five Elements into your entire home which is known as the Big Tai Chi or into individual rooms which is known as the Small Tai Chi.

By dividing your space, or spaces, into nine (four primary, four secondary and the centre points of the compass) you can introduce colour, light, shapes, sound and movement using each of the Five Elements in their specific areas and their enhancing areas, pictures and images can complete the design creating balance and harmony.

Direction	Element
North	WATER
South	FIRE
East	WOOD
West	METAL
Northeast	EARTH
Southeast	WOOD
Southwest	EARTH
Northwest	METAL

The centre is not specified as a ‘direction’ but it does signify the ‘Heart of the Home’ so is both an Earth element which represents stability and solid ground and an important area to positively enhance in any space for the benefit of the entire family.

Each of the Five Elements has a Yin (stillness and quiet) and a Yang (movement and noise) aspect and this is something else to consider when enhancing your living space.

Element	Yang	Yin
WATER	Flowing Water	Still or Stagnant Water
WOOD	Growing Wood	Dead Wood or Furniture
FIRE	Roaring Fire	Dying Embers
EARTH	Crystals, Stones and Pebbles, Sand	Underground Earth
METAL	Moving Metal/Metallic Sounds	Unyielding Hard Metal

In your living areas, the living and dining rooms, the elements benefit from being more Yang than Yin; in your sleeping area, the bedroom, the elements benefit from being more Yin than Yang.

Yang is created with brightness, light, sound and movement; with activity and is in harmony with lively and harmonious living – Yin is darker and quieter and allows your mind, body and spirit to be refreshed and recharged for a new day.

In the practice of Feng Shui, Water relates to a steady stream of income, of your career.  

Water should never be used to enhance in the bedroom, this is a major taboo.

Wood signifies health if it is in the East and wealth if it is in the Southeast, Water ‘feeds’ Wood and will enhance these areas, as long as it is Yang Water (moving water.)

Fire brings fame and recognition in your chosen field and this is fed by Wood.

Earth is represented in the Northeast and this is the universal study and education area.  It is also the element of the Southwest and this represents family, love and relationships.  Both of these areas are ‘created’ by Fire, by light.

The West is the area of the family and family harmony and the Northwest represents heaven and mentor luck.  These areas are the Metal areas and they are enhanced by the element of Earth.

Next time – J-Jewellery

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

HEALTH means Wealth in Feng Shui

In the practice of Feng Shui prevention is always better than cure and this is no exception when it comes to Health.  Whatever else you have in your life cannot be fully enjoyed if you don’t enjoy good health.

To energise your home for good health you can activate your Health Direction in harmony with the Five Elements, as shown in the table below.

Kua Number	Tien Yi (Health)	Energise
1	East	Bamboo, Crane, Pine Tree, Round-Leafed Plants
2	West	All-Metal Windchime, Smooth Crystal Balls
3	North	Metal Tortoise, Windchime, Small Aquarium
4	South	Scented Candles, Horses, Round-Leafed Plants
5 (Male)	West	All-Metal Windchime, Smooth Crystal Balls
5 (Female)	Northwest	All-Metal Windchime, Smooth Crystal Balls
6	Northeast	Crystal Gemtree, Natural Crystals, Scented Candles
7	Southwest	Bowl of Natural Crystals, Scented Candles
8	Northwest	All-Metal Windchime, Smooth Crystal Balls
9	Southeast	Bamboo, Small Round-Leafed Plants, Green Dragon

‘Tien Yen’ translates as ‘Doctor in Heaven.’  This energy strengthens the body, mind and spirit so that you are able to live life to the full.  

The number associated with the illness star in Flying Star Feng Shui (a more advanced practice of Feng Shui) is 2 and its element is Earth.  When it ‘flies’ into an area that is in conflict with the number and the element of the area illness can result.

As an example, if the number 2 illness star ‘flies’ into the South, it is both causing illness vibrations relating to the heart, blood, veins or eyes and at the same time exhausting the energy of the South which is Fire.  The solution to this is to introduce Metal energy into the area.  The Metal has no effect on the element of Fire however it will exhaust the Earth element of the illness star. 

This is where knowledge of the Five Element Theory of Feng Shui and its three cycles is essential.  To effectively neutralise the illness star it is necessary to know the element to use to counteract its negative energies.

At a more basic level, keeping the home clear and clutter-free will avoid the likelihood of Yin Energy forming which will in turn create negative vibrations.  Opening doors and windows on a regular basis to refresh and revitalize the energy of your home will help maintain good health.

Poison arrows can also create illness vibrations.  If you have an overhead beam ‘pressing down’ on the heads of your family either above a seating area or above their bed, this can cause headaches or migraines.  The edges of walls or free-standing structures such as open shelves can also cause illness in different parts of the body depending on where the poison arrow is pointing.

Keeping your bathroom clear and clean as well as ensuring you have no blocked pipes or blocked drains in your home is the equivalent of keeping the blood flowing freely through your body.

The universal direction for Health is the East and displaying the longevity symbols of the Crane, Bamboo and the Pine Tree in this area as well as lush large round-leafed plants is auspicious.

Next time – I-Interiors

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

GARDENS and Feng Shui

These days any outside space can be turned into an additional room; a garden room; when it is located in the private area of your home.

This makes it ideal for treating exactly the same as you would any room within your home, in terms of creating an auspicious flow of Chi Energy throughout the space, making it the perfect spot to spend time in nature.

This is especially important if you live and work in a city or large town and are not able to spend as much time in the wide open spaces as you would like.

There are two ways of calculating the location of each sector in your garden and home.

The first is using the area around the perimeter of your land (house and garden combined) and the second is splitting your front garden, your home and your rear garden into three distinct sectors.

The first solution can be used if you have direct access from the front of your property to the rear of your property.  In this case you can split the whole of your property into nine sectors.  If your home is located in the middle of your property then the chances are you will have three sectors in the front of your home, three sectors for your home itself and the remaining three sectors in your rear garden.

	Rear Garden
	Centre of Home
	Front Garden

The second solution is recommended if you are unable to reach your back garden from the front of your home.  If this is your situation then you can split the rear garden into nine distinct areas, all based around the primary and secondary points of the compass plus the centre.

	Rear Garden
	Centre of Garden
	Top of Garden
	Home

Once you decide which of the two methods to adopt, the next step is to use the compass to establish the direction your rear garden faces.  As in all calculations of Feng Shui, guesswork is not recommended because it could create negative energies in an area rather than the positive energies you are seeking to achieve.

It can be a haven of peace; a vibrant family fun area; a party area; a Garden of Eden or a water garden.

Trees, bamboo is especially auspicious in the East, plants and flowers, garden furniture, bird feeding stations, seating areas, fire pit, ambient lighting, wind chimes and other decorative items, water features or a vegetable garden; how wide is your vision?

Your choice is limited only by your imagination, the space you have available and to a degree the direction your garden faces.


Next time – H-Health

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

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Exterior Feng Shui – part 2

In the first part of ‘Exterior Feng Shui’ we talked about looking for negative influences outside your home.

So if you have any of these, what should you do about it?

PROTECT first!

The way to protect your front door is by placing protective animals on either side.

These can be outside (if you have the space) or on the inside facing out.

These animals can be Chinese Fu Dogs, they are a popular protector in the East and also readily available in the west.

If you prefer alternatives, you can use dogs or lions.  Elephants with their trunks down are also protective creatures.

Whichever image you use they will only protect if they are facing outwards.  

Especially in the case of the lion, which is by nature an aggressive animal, if you have them facing inwards they will send negative energy into your home rather than protecting the outside of your home.

Poison Arrows

Coming From

Remedy

North	Place earth objects like boulders, decorative objects, a brick wall between your front door and the poison arrow
Northeast	Place lush green plants between your facing direction and poison arrow
East	Place wind chimes between your facing direction and the poison arrow (the sound of metal on metal will dissipate the negative energy)
Southeast	Place wind chimes between your facing direction and the poison arrow
South	Place a water feature between your facing direction and the poison arrow (in the case of your front door only put water directly in front of the door or to the left)
Southwest	Place lush green plants between your facing direction and poison arrow
West	Place a bright light facing out between your facing direction and the poison arrow
Northwest	Place a bright light facing out between your facing direction and the poison arrow

This is using the destructive cycle to neutralise poison arrows.  If the affliction is less serious, for example you have a poison arrow that is partially hidden by a wall or plants then the exhaustive cycle can be an alternative.

Using plants and flowers, lights, water features, wind chimes or crystals can all help deflect poison arrows away from your front door.

Shiny metallic door furniture can also deflect negative energies to avoid them influencing the energy entering your home.

While the purpose of this is to deflect negative energies away from your home, you don’t inadvertently want to bounce these back towards a neighbouring house, so things like decorative cannons or similar are inauspicious.  

These create their own poison arrow pointing at your neighbour and the purpose of Feng Shui is to be in harmony with your surroundings, not conflict.

The important thing is to create a clean, clear and welcoming area in front of your home to invite positive Chi Energy to enter.

Next time – F-Family and Feng Shui

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