Office Feng Shui

In reality if you work for a corporation or large organization you may not have any or many options when it comes to the location or the setup of your office or office space?

However as long as you have your own personal desk you can at least consider the way you work at this desk.

Many office layouts incorporate an open plan design with cubicles for individuals.  This is not necessarily an auspicious option as the first thing you will likely be confronted with is a block in front of you where the partition separates you from your colleagues.  The only thing you can do in this situation is to place an auspicious poster or picture on the partition to inspire you.  It is preferable if it shows open spaces and somewhere you would like to spend time to symbolically open up your space. 

Keep the bulk of your work on the left hand side of you to ensure the Dragon is higher than the Tiger which is on the right hand side.  This gives you the support of the mighty Dragon and invites the protection of the Tiger rather than have it revert to its naturally aggressive nature. 

Two things to ensure are that you can see anyone approaching your desk and you have the support of a partition or a wall behind you.

Keep your desk clear and tidy with a ‘bright hall’ or clear area in front to allow your creativity to flow.  This is especially important if you are looking to progress in your chosen career.

Working from home, or working in your own business gives you the ability to choose your own space.

One important suggestion is to have a solid wooden office door to enable you to separate your working life from your home life.  You can also have a sign on the door with the name of your Company.  This differentiates your office from the rest of your home. 

There is the saying ‘don’t take your work home with you’ and this is as important (if not more so) when you work from home as when you work in an external office environment.   The temptation can always be to do ‘just one more thing’ and this can escalate preventing you from having any time for yourself or your family.

Inviting symbolic auspicious images into your office to boost the positive Feng Shui of your career. 

Birds always invite positive messages and displaying images of birds inside your office door can help deflect any bad luck.

The mythical bird of the South, the Phoenix, is a symbol of new opportunities

The Crane symbolises longevity

The Eagle symbolises wealth

Even the lowly Rooster, the Chinese astrological animal of the West, can play its part.  This is particularly relevant if you work in an external office or work from home for an external organization.  By placing an image of the Rooster behind you it will symbolically provide an effective antidote to office politics by pecking away at the negative energies created.

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

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FENG SHUI and Zen

What is Zen?  Does it have any connection with Feng Shui?

One interpretation of Zen is to be fully aware in this moment.  It is a state of being that brings together body and mind in perfect harmony as when you are in a state of meditation.  It is seeing the wonder around us in reality rather than the everyday picture our mind can paint.

Zen is often described as simplicity.  Indeed the traditional image of a Zen garden space is a minimalist area with stones and pebbles swept in flowing harmonious paths to avoid straight lines or poison arrows as they are known in Feng Shui.  Planting is kept to a minimum and the area is still and quiet inviting contemplation.

This is where we can introduce elements of Feng Shui into the picture. 

The Zen garden features Earth in the form of sand, pebbles and rocks (the rocks simulate the mountain-support.)

It encompasses the calming and uplifting sound of Water to invite relaxation and tranquility.

Plants (Wood) are brought in to create life.

Lanterns are strategically placed to introduce light (Fire.)

In an authentic Zen garden the lanterns will be sculpted from granite which incorporates in it the sparkle of Metal.

We can now see a balanced blend of the Five Elements of Feng Shui combining to create a peaceful and harmonious space.

While Zen can sometimes represent too much Yin the introduction of growing Wood and lit lanterns introduce Yang elements.  

In our homes we are looking to create harmony so can take elements from the Zen ideals to integrate into our space.  The difference is that in a Yang living environment Yang elements should prevail to prevent lethargy from infiltrating our senses.

However in your sleeping space, your bedroom, you can introduce many of the Zen elements as this is ultimately a place of rest.  Introducing Zen techniques can therefore achieve a peaceful and relaxing environment* to refresh your body, mind and spirit.

*Water should never be introduced into your sleeping area as it represents instability, however you can introduce the colour of water (blue) into your décor.  Wood or growing plants are Yang so in the bedroom they are discouraged; however the element of Yin Wood in your furniture choice is ideal.  Auspicious lighting brings in a Yang element as no space should be entirely Yin or Yang.  Our previous blog on Yin and Yang highlighted the importance of balance.

Whatever the space balance is all important so although Yang prevails in your living area having too much of a good thing can cause overwhelm.  This is where the introduction of the stabilizing Earth element in the form of crystals and pebbles and the soothing Water element as a water feature or an aquarium can bring harmony and a feeling of comfort and relaxation as well as sufficient Yang to create a happy and uplifting home.

So you can see that the concept of Zen does have links with Feng Shui; it is possible to incorporate elements of it into your living and outdoor spaces.

Next time – O-Office – a follow-on from ‘Office’ part one

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 Xceptions (part two)

Further to Xceptions part one, let’s look deeper into their meanings and how they can help or hinder your Feng Shui practice.

There are some remedies that you can put in place to reduce the negative effect of the annual afflictions of the Grand Duke, the Five Yellow and the Three Killings so let’s cover some of these here.

Xception Number 1:

In part one we looked at the differences between your Chinese astrological animal sign and your Group based on the Eight Mansions Formula of Feng Shui.

As well as your four auspicious directions, the remaining four directions are inauspicious for you.  So what do you do if your Chinese astrological animal is located in one of your inauspicious directions? 

You take full advantage of its location.  One of the best ways to do this is to invite your allies and secret friend into the area. 

Each animal has two allies and one secret friend and displaying images of them in the location of your animal sign will invite their support.  This is particularly important when your animal sign for the year is visited by conflict.

For example in this year of the Water Dragon 2012, the Dog is the animal opposite the Dragon and the Grand Duke Jupiter around the compass. 

The allies of the Yang Dog (NW) are the Yang Tiger (NE) and the Yang Horse (South); the secret friend of the Dog is the Yin Rabbit (East.)  Displaying their images in the Northwest (292.6^o - 307.5^o) of your home or in your living area will invite their support during a difficult year. 

Xception Number 2:

Of the three annual afflictions, the Grand Duke Jupiter (Tai Sui) should never, under any circumstances, be faced directly.  His location, which is always the compass location of the animal of the year, should be kept as quiet and undisturbed as possible.  The Grand Duke likes peace and disturbing him will invite his anger.  Any external or internal work on your home should be delayed until he moves otherwise you risk illness, loss and misfortune.

If your astrological animal is directly opposite the Grand Duke, (for 2012 it is the Dog), you are in conflict with the Grand Duke.  As well as inviting the support of your allies and secret friend you can display the image of the Pi Yao in the location of the Grand Duke.  The Pi Yao is a celestial protector with a single horn and the face of a lion who gives protection and can counteract and overcome any misfortune created if should you inadvertently disturb the Grand Duke.

Xception Number 3:

The Five Yellow is the deadliest of the annual afflictions and cannot be ignored.

This affliction is of the Earth element.  When it appears in the location of your front door it is particularly inauspicious as the very act of opening and closing the door is activating it. 

One solution is to place six Metal coins above the door to exhaust the strength of the Earth element.

When the Five Yellow enters another Earth area or a Fire area it is strengthened (Earth is in harmony and Fire enhances.) 

In these instances its energies can be exhausted with Metal (this can be in the form of a six-rod hollow Metal windchime or a five-element Pagoda both of which will absorb the negative energy of the Earth.)  If the Earth element is particularly strong it may be necessary to introduce the destructive element of Wood into the area.

Xception Number 4:

The Three Killings always occupies one of the four primary compass locations (North, South, East or West.)

Apart from facing the Three Killings head on, you can introduce the exhausting element into the relevant area.

If the Three Killings is in the South (as in 2012) exhaust its energy with three crystal spheres of the Earth element.

If the Three Killings is in the West exhaust its energy with a large bowl of Yin Water.

If the Three Killings is in the North exhaust its energy with three green plants.

If the Three Killings is in the East exhaust its energy with a bright light.

In addition if the area housing the Three Killings is important to you (if it is one of your four auspicious directions) you can also display three Chi Lins (Dragon Horses) in that area to exhaust the negative energy created. 

Next time – Yin and Yang

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