Feng Shui History

Feng Shui history goes back at least 5000 years and is based on the concept that everything is made up of energy or Chi.  It uses nature and placement to make sure that the energy in any environment is balanced and flows properly.  While we often associate Feng Shui with our homes, its principal should be applied to everything including outdoor areas and even the construction of cities and neighborhoods.

The principles of Feng Shui include the five elements earth, wind, water, metal and fire.  These elements are all associated with a color and each one can be used to balance the other.  This balance of energy is critical because everything around you is connected and if one thing gets thrown off kilter it can affect other areas causing a domino effect which can have bad results in many areas of your life.

Over the years of feng shui history, many different disciplines were combined and today a map is used to determine where to place things in your home, office or outdoor living space.  This map shows you where all the areas are that concern your health, wealth, relationships and success.  By using certain colors and placing certain objects in a particular way you will improve the flow of energy and thus your success in these areas.

In ancient China, Feng Shui was a closely guarded secret of the Imperial Court.  Indeed, its practice was considered so powerful that if an enemy got hold of it the results could be devastating.  Feng Shui masters were forbidden to give this knowledge to outsiders.

Needless to say, today Feng Shui is practiced throughout the world and with great success.  Much like the ancient Chinese prospered in the villages when they applied Feng Shui techniques, many people are finding that when they apply these techniques to their homes and offices they also prosper.  This prosperity has driven a need for experts in this area and many people are now offering their services as Feng Shui consultants who will make sure your home or office has the right flow of energy.

While the exact Feng Shui history is not known, what is known is that the basic principles go back for many thousands of years, perhaps maybe even to the beginning of modern civilization.  This interesting philosophy which served ancient civilizations can now be applied to your modern home to turn to bring in more health, wealth and happiness today.

Feng Shui Symbols

Feng Shui symbols are an  integral part of this ancient art and can be used in many ways to improve your life.  There are many different symbols that one can use to improve anything from your financial situation to your love life.  Some of these must be applied in a specific way in order to invoke the desired outcome but one thing you should always keep in mind is to use symbols that strike a chord with you and not just place a symbol that has no meaning because you read about it in a book!

Along with other items, Feng Shui statues are often used as symbols.  The three legged moon frog, for example is associated with longevity and can be used to increase your luck and prosperity when placed inside your front door facing into your home.  A golden dragon turtle placed in the South East corner of your home or office can bring prosperity.  A pair of golden pigs are great to use when first setting up a home or business as they are thought to bring  happiness and prosperity.

Perhaps one of the most recognizable Feng Shui symbols are the good luck coins - 3 tied together with a red ribbon.  This is a symbol of sharing your wealth and luck and is said to bring positive Feng Shui to both those who give them and those who receive them.

Bells are another important symbol in Feng Shui and when placed outside your home, they bring good news and prosperity.  There is a rule to using these though, if your house faces between the North and West use metal bells otherwise stick with ceramic.

The wealth bucket is an interesting Feng Shui symbol as it is supposed to be  kept hidden away but can bring wealth and prosperity.  Fill a metal bucket with coins and place it inside a drawer or cabinet (anywhere where it will not be on display) in the northwest corner of your office or house.  Another way to increase wealth is to place 3 plants in the south east corner of your office or house.

Goldfish and Koi have been revered in Chinese culture for centuries so it’s no wonder that they are used in Feng Shui to bring prosperity.  Having a bowl with 3 live goldfish or statues or pictures of 8 Koi is said to be a good way to bring prosperity into your home.

Using Feng Shui symbols is a great way to bring health, wealth and prosperity into your home or business!

Feng Shui Elements

The 5 Feng Shui elements are the core of this ancient practice and are an integral part of Feng Shui design. The elements are wood, earth, fire, water and metal and each has certain characteristics and colors associated with it.

Wood is the element associated with spring and the east and southeast.  It’s colors are blues, browns  and greens and it’s shape is the column.  Wood works to diffuse energy so if you have a spot where too much energy is directory focused put a plant there for a cure. In Feng Shui wood enhances the element of fire and diminishes the element of earth.  Use wood for more creativity, imaginations and determination.

Fire is the most passionate of the Feng Shui elements and is associated with summer and the south.  The colors of this element are red, purple and pink and it’s shape is the triangle.   Fire enhances earth and diminishes metal.  This element can spark a lot of energy but if there is too much of it, it can be destructive so if you have a room that is abundant in the color red, you might want to include a water feature in the room (a fountain or aquarium) since water diminished fire.  Fire can cause inspiration, passion and awareness.

Earth is associate with stability and the center of “things”  it is associated with the southwest and northeast.  The colors of the earth element are yellow and brown and the shape is square.  Earth enhances the element metal and diminishes the element water.  It can be patient or if used in excess overbearing.  Earth represents stability, thoughtfulness, generosity and practicality.

Metal indicates a harvest of sorts - sometimes this means financial success or in the negative it can mean destructive violence.  It’s season is fall and it’s shape is the circle.  Metal is associated with the West and Northwest and the colors are white, gray and silver but also sometimes gold.  Metal enhances water and diminishes wood.  Metals energies are discipline and solidity.

Water can be refreshing and renewing or bring a sense of loss and depression.  It is associated with winter and a free form shape.  It is an element of learning, communication and travel.  Water is associated with the North and it’s colors are black and purple-blue.  Water enhances wood and diminishes fire.  Waters energies are sensitivity, wisdom and will power.

Feng Shui elements can be used for many purposes either alone or together.  Many times they are employed as a cure for a certain type or flow of energy.  Other times, they can be used to soften or strengthen another element of the elements.  If you have too much of one element in a room, you can add some of the element that diminishes it to offset that abundance.  Learning the aspects of each element is critical to proper Feng Shui placement.

Feng Shui Cures - How To Activate Them

There are a variety of Feng Shui cures that can help bring in positive energy and get rid of negative energy as well as fix problems in certain areas of your life.  Here are a few that you can easily activate yourself:

Feng Shui Cures - How To Activate The Water Cure

Water represents wealth as well as the flow of life and sustenance.  You can activate a water cure by bringing water into your home either on the inside or the outside through waterfalls, ponds and even aquarium’s.  Not only is the sound of the flowing water soothing but the agitation of the water helps to release negative ions which gives you an overall sense of well-being.  Still water such as that which you might find in a pond or pool represents your stored wealth and the clearer the body of water the better for your finances as well as the clarity of your mind.

When using the water cure, keep in mind that dirty water can have a negative impact so always keep your water fresh and clean.  Also, make sure that the body of water isn’t too large when compared to the size of your home.

Feng Shui Cures - How To Activate The Color Cure

Colors evoke feelings and have an energy of their own so it’s no wonder that they play an important role in the art of Feng Shui.  Activating a color cure can be as easy as bringing in a bunch of accessories or painting your walls.  Different colors have different meanings for example green represents new life, purple represents wealth, white represents purity (but you don’t want to have too much of it), Black is the color of power, red the color of protection.

Feng Shui Cures - How To Activate The Light Cure

There are three ways to use light cures.  You can use lights, you can use mirrors or you can use crystals.  Light cures are used to add more light to your home and can also direct away negative energy.  Lights themselves can be used to brighten up a room, and for a cure, the brighter the light the better.

Faceted crystals can be used to shift energy by facing the facets in the right direction.  You can redirect positive energy into another room or use them to protect you from poison arrows of energy by defusing the energy flow.

Mirrors can also be used to reflect and play an important role in Feng Shui.  The different mirror shapes can be used for different purposes, for example a round mirror could be used as an abundance cure.  Rectangular and square mirrors are used for balance and circular mirrors for unity and wholeness.  The larger the mirror the more powerful the cure.

Feng Shui Crystals

In the ancient tradition of Feng Shui, crystals are often used for cures and , in fact, crystals have been used for healing purposes for centuries in many cultures.  The sparkling minerals are a joy to look at and seem to have mystical properties,  which our current body of knowledge can only begin to understand.  Indeed, crystals emit their own vibrations and can transmit or absorb energy so they are a perfect accessory for Feng Shui which is all about having “good” energy or chi.

Different types of crystals are set to make different vibrations, but for the purposes of Feng Shui the type of crystal is not as important as how you use it.  Different colored crystals can be used to manage the five main elements.  When you buy crystals, you want to cleanse them first and get rid of any old vibrations they might be holding from previous places or owners.  You can do this by burying them in Earth for a few days.  As the crystals get used, you might want to repeat this cleansing process once or twice a year.

There were a few common cures that Feng Shui crystals are used for.  One of them is to remove the harm that a corner sticking into your room might cause.  This is called a poison arrow and happens when you have an odd shaped room that has the corner actually pointing in.  You might have this in a dormer and it can cause a lot of energy to be directed right at you especially if the corner is pointing at your bed or place where you sit frequently.  For the cure use a crystal that is about 40 mm and hang it from the ceiling right in front of the corner on a red string.  This will cause the crystal to defuse the Chi and keep it from all coming directly at you.

Another cure that crystals are commonly used for is when you have the door directly in front of your bed, or if it is your office, in front of your desk.  This open doorway directly in front of you causes all the energy to come right in directly at you.  Hanging a crystal in between the doorway and your desk or bed will help disperse the Chi throughout the room instead of having it aimed directly at you.

You can use Feng Shui crystals for a variety of other cures as well.  For example you might use them to disperse energy in the hallway that is very long with a lot of doors or where two doors open up right directly across from each other.  They are also great for homes that have a stairway that comes down directly to the front door.  Hanging crystal between the door and the last step will help save all your energy from rushing out of the house.  Basically anywhere that you want to defuse or redirect energy, you can use the crystal quite effectively.

Feng Shui Colors

Feng shui colors are often misunderstood but can be a powerful way to balance energy in your home if used properly.  The one thing to remember about color is that your own personal preference is of the utmost importance so don’t paint your new living room read just because you think it is the “Feng Shui” thing to do.  On the other hand if you love the color red than go ahead!  Here are some general ideas on what color means in Feng Shui and how to use it.

Each of the five Feng Shui elements has certain colors associated with it.  In addition, certain colors are more effective when used facing certain directions.  Not only that, but one color can be used to balance out another to create a harmonious flow of energy.

The fire element is often associated with passion and energy in its colors are bright yellow, red, orange, pink and purple.  Since fire is associated with the south, painting the southwest to northeast areas of your home with these colors can help with your career and recognition.  Orange can be used to inspire creativity, yellow creates warmth and cheerfulness and purple is good for healing both physically and mentally.

Water is a powerful Feng Shui cure and as one of the five elements it represents tranquility, purity, and freshness.  Water is associated with the North so you want to use the Feng Shui colors in the east and southeast areas of your home or room.  The Feng Shui colors associated with water are black and blue.  Blue is the color of peace, calming and soothing and reflects love, it can also be associated with adventure.  Black symbolizes income, money and power.

The element earth represents protection, nourishment and stability and is also the element associated with the center of your home.  To gain more stability and protection especially in the relationship area, use the earth colors of the beige and light yellow.

If you want to live with clarity and sharpness, you’ll want to utilize the Feng Shui colors of the metal element which are gray and white.  This element is really good to use in the northern areas of your home.  Be careful with white because you don’t want to have too much of it in one room - be sure to add some accent colors if you are using on all white scheme.

The Feng Shui wood element governs growth health and vitality and also is an expression of abundance.  Using the Feng Shui colors of wood in the south part of your home, office or room is the best place.  These colors are brown and green.

Feng Shui Bedroom Decorating Tips

Creating a Feng Shui bedroom is a great way to ensure that your room not only looks great but is also to set up in order to provide you the best possible sleep.  Choosing the colors that you use, where you place your bed and other accessories can go a long way to helping you get the great rest that you deserve.

When it comes to the bedroom, color is important.  While many people associate red with Feng Shui, red is a stimulating color and should only be used as an accent in the bedroom if at all.  The better colors to use are light colors like pale blues and greens or earth tones.

Another thing that is very important is to not clutter up your bedroom.  This goes for your nightstand and your bedroom closet too.  A lot of clutter creates stagnant energy - not only is this not conducive to good nights sleep but it can have negative effects on your love life as well.  Another thing you want to keep in mind is that the bedroom is a room of rest and sleep.  Having your treadmill, your TV and other external stimulus in the room may distract you from getting good rest.

One important part of Feng Shui bedroom decorating is the placement of the bed.  The best place for it is facing the bedroom door but as far away from it as you can get, however you want to make sure it’s not directly across from the bedroom door because placing the bed where your feet point directly out the door is said to be a huge drain on your energy.  Positioning the bed kitty cornered in one of the corners diagonally opposite from the door is usually the best place and, incidentally, this is actually quite aesthetically pleasing in a design sense to.  If your bedroom has a pitched ceiling, try to avoid putting your bed under the angle of the ceiling and also steer clear of placing your bed against the window.

When it comes to furniture, rounded corners are best.  Choose wood over metal, especially for the bed.  A wooden headboard is great, but a footboard is a no-no as this can block your forward progress.  Placing an inspirational object or piece of art directly across from you so it is the first thing that you see when you wake up in the last thing you see when you go to bed is considered to be a good practice.

Accessories are important in Feng Shui decorating and, while mirrors are common in bedrooms, you have to be careful about where you place them.  You don’t want them beside, opposite or over the bed but if you simply must, try to cover them with fabric at night or you may end up making any troubles you have worse. Also, if you have an adjoining bathroom make sure that you always close the toilet lid and keep the door closed or all your good energy might end up going down the drain!

Feng Shui Bed And Window Placement

When it comes to Feng Shui bed and window placement, is very important.  Your bed is critical to your good sleep and without good sleep how can you feel good and have good energy?  So, making sure that your bed is placed in the proper spot in relation to your windows is key.

One thing to remember is that Chi likes to travel between the door and windows.  Take a good look at your room and picture this stream of chi going for the door to the windows in your mind.  You want to avoid placing your bed in the middle of this area.

Another thing to think about is where the windows are in relation to the head of your bed.  You don’t want a window to be near your head while you are sleeping or your energy might flow out the window while you are sleeping.  Instead of feeling refreshed in the morning, you will feel tired!

Another critical aspect of Feng Shui bend and window placement is to make sure you don’t place your bed under a window.  If you do this then there is no support for you while you are sleeping.  You won’t be able to sleep well.  In fact, if you are often restless at night it might be because of that window behind your bed!

In addition to windows, you need to think about other objects when placing your bed if you want the best nights sleep possible.  One thing you want to be sure of is that you don’t put your bed in between 2 doors!  This will cause you to be bombarded with harmful chi during the night.  Also, be sure that you don’t sleep with your feet pointing towards the door - this is actually known as the coffin position because traditionally you are carried out feet first after death.  Sleeping with your feet towards the door will cause all your good luck to rush out the door.

When it comes to the bed, you’ve got to be careful about what rooms are above, below and beside it.  For example, if your toilet is directly above where you place your bed it can be bad for your health, your wealth and your relationships.  If the bed is against the same wall as the toilet then this can cause lost opportunities and ill health.  Having the bed above a garage is extremely bad luck and you will find that your life will lack substance and success will elude you no matter what you try.  Having the bed above the kitchen or stove is also a recipe for extreme bad luck.

When planning out where to put your bed, put some thought into it.  As you can see Feng Shui bed and window placement is just one of the things you need to consider in order to have a restful sleep and awaken full of energy and good luck.

Feng Shui Bathroom Tips

Feng Shui can be applied to every room in the house including the bathroom.  Of course, with this room, you’re a little more limited as the fixtures can’t be moved around as easy, but here are some feng shui bathroom tips that can help you gain positive energy for one of the most used rooms in the house.

The principles of feng Shui apply to not only what’s in your bathroom but where it’s located.  If your bathroom is located across from the entry this can be problematic because the entry to your home is where your opportunities and career are located. While it’s probably not practical to move the location of your bathroom, there are a few things you can do to help keep your opportunities from going down the drain.

Good feng Shui bathroom practices include always keeping the toilet lid and the bathroom door closed to prevent the escape of energy.  Having excellent lighting and keeping the bathroom very clean is essential.  If your bathroom is in the center of the house - which is associated with prosperity - you can add a full-length mirror on the closet door across from the toilet to help deflect the energy.

In the bathroom, you want to make sure everything is in tip top shape.  Don’t let your faucets drip because this is a sign of money being wasted.  Since the bathroom is very much associated with water, you can add a little bit of the element earth to balance it out.  A fresh flower arrangement near the toilet could work wonders.

Just like any other room, you want to apply Ffeng Shui principles to the color of your bathroom.  If you’re bathroom is located in the middle (your prosperity center) you might want to counteract the draining energy which could in turn cause a drain on your bank account by painting it red.  Properly placed bathrooms are better in pastel or pale colors.

Another thing to consider in your feng shui bathroom decorating is to use a lot of mirrors.  Using a lot of mirrors will help the Chi to move around the room and flow throughout the house more effectively.  This works out pretty good, since mirrors a often used quite extensively in the bathroom - just be sure you place them in the right spots and you be able to eliminate a drain on your Chi.