Fengshui is a science

**grace55** · 05-16-2009, 11:32 AM

Plants and Fengshui

Plants are auspicious from the point of feng shui. It is always good to grow plants in the house, especially wooded plants.
Plants in the office also bring about increased luck in your career. Place plants in the east, south or south-east corners of your office for maximum luck.
If you are a married couple and want children, avoid putting flowers the bedroom. Instead, place a basket of fruits in your bedroom. Fruits, especially pomegranates, are a symbol of fertility.
Don't place thorny plants inside your home. Thorny plants do form a protective shield, and could be placed outside the home. Don't place them too near the front door. They could be placed a little further away from the door, or in the balcony.
Don't place bonsai plants inside or outside the home. They represent stunted growth.
Trim your plants regularly. Overgrown plants promote bad energy. Similarly, trim trees in your garden regularly. Don't let them overwhelm your house.
Fresh flowers bring luck and fortune in your home. Place fresh flowers in your living room on a regular basis. However, once they die, throw them out. Don't leave dying flowers in your home.
Avoid placing dried flowers in your house. They are believed to bring misfortune. Artificial flowers are a far preferable option and are believed to bring luck.
Do not place any flowers, plants or any other auspicious feng shui symbol in the bathroom. The good luck will backfire and turn into bad luck.
Ever noticed lemons (nimbus) hanging on the entrances of shops? They are believed to ward off the evil eye, according to Hindu superstitious beliefs. Similarly, oranges and lemons are believed to be powerful symbols of fortune, and bring prosperity to the home. They should be placed at the entrance.

**grace55** · 05-22-2009, 09:29 AM

Feng Shui Power Symbols

We are surrounded by symbols every day. From the dollar sign to Santa Claus, from Mt. Everest to religious icons, we live with symbols, decorate with symbols, and employ symbols for various purposes. Artists frequently use colors and symbols in their paintings or works of art to display subtle ideas or suggestions.

In feng shui, symbols are used for a purpose: to meaningfully enhance the objective associated with the symbol. So, say you are trying to gain greater wealth, you may wish to put up money symbols or pictures of banks to bring about greater wealth.

However, many people become over zealous about selecting symbols for enhancement when they are trying to effect a result, such as more money, a new job, or a potential mate. In doing so, it is possible to select items that really don’t appeal to you or go with your decor.

So, do carefully consider the objects and items you select and bring into your home, because you want them to be items that you find attractive. It is also important to note that these items do not necessarily have to look “Asian” or be certified “feng shui-appropriate” in order to work.

A regular frog or turtle will work just as well as a frog or turtle purchased at a feng shui shop. So, shop and decorate with this in mind. It is also important that the symbol is appropriate for the area where it is used -- and that it's activated.

Activated? Yes. All symbols used for feng shui purposes should be activated with a touch of red. This can mean a red frame for a picture of something auspicious, a red cloth that the item is placed on, or a dot of red in print of an auspicious picture.

If there is no red on the object, you can tie it with a red ribbon or stick on a red adhesive dot to activate it. But do be sure to activate your symbols. And while you are at it, consider selecting your own personal feng shui symbol, such as the mountain for strength, or the dragon for good fortune.

In feng shui, there is a tremendous range of symbols – from frogs to Chinese calligraphy to the noble dragon – but there are also some more important symbols that I call “power symbols.” These have a higher resonance.

That is, the symbolism and effect the power symbols apply is very strong indeed. Below are just a few of them. Do consider adding these symbols to your feng shui, and remember: these aren’t just good feng shui, they are power feng shui. One note: always follow the warnings and advice for annual feng shui.

**grace55** · 05-22-2009, 09:36 AM

THE MAJESTIC MOUNTAIN

Mountains are extremely important – perhaps even the MOST important – symbol in feng shui. They encompass all things in feng shui: yin and yang, water, fire, gold, etc. Mountains also represent the four key features in landscape feng shui: the dragon, the turtle, the phoenix, and the tiger.

When a house is properly situated in the landscape, mountains are always there. Mountains are represented as the large rise at the back of the home (turtle), a large rise at the left side of the home (dragon), a small rise at the front of the home (phoenix), and a low rise at the right of the home (tiger). It is also what is known as the “arm chair position.” In every position, though, there is a mountain. In the home, employ the mountain in your décor.

Have a picture of a mountain in the earth corners of the northeast, southwest, and center sectors. Mountains that have spots or colors of gold brings prosperity (especially if the picture is in the northeast).

Do avoid having pictures of mountains with water as an energizer for support in an office. Water should never be at your back. In an office setting, mountains give you support from the “powers that be” and will help your career during uncertain times.

Mountains that are green and blue colored are excellent in the east and southeast. Mountains that are gold, red, or beige colored or square-ish shaped should be displayed in the southwest, northeast, or center of the home. Mountains that are red-colored or pointed should be displayed in the south.

PRECIOUS LIGHT

Light is enhancing and precious. I am particularly fond of Christmas lights as there are many of them on a string and because they cast a beautiful twinkling glow. Light is also one of the few places that can be used in every location (with the exception of strong lights in the northwest). In particular, lights create sheng chi (excellent chi) energy in the east and southeast. Lights in these areas also promote auspicious good luck.

When lights are placed in other locations, they bring good fortune and enhancements to your life. Do consider adding lights to your home or your office, particularly if your home faces the northeast, southwest, south, east, or southeast.

IF YOUR HOME FACES EAST OR SOUTHEAST

Place planters on either side of the front door and decorate these with small Christmas-type lights. This is extremely beneficial for creating opportunities and good fortune as lighting is a wonderful activator.

IF YOUR HOME FACES NORTHEAST OR SOUTHWEST

Consider adding landscape lighting to the front of your house. In particular, consider adding “uplights.” These are lights that shine from the bottom with the light pointing up. Most lights cast light downwards, but uplights shine upwards. These can be found at home improvement or lighting centers.

Because the northeast and southwest are earth locations, light coming from below (or in the earth) is especially beneficial and fortunate. In the northeast, a prosperity location in period 8 (2004-2024), lights pointed upwards can bring good financial news. In the southwest, uplights can bring relationship benefits.

THE LOVELY VASE

Vases are not only beautiful decorative items for the home, they are also extremely auspicious symbols in feng shui. Vases are also considered a precious object of Buddhism and are seen as creating peace and harmony in the home. Feng shui uses include having vases to capture good chi.

These can be placed in a foyer to help collect more opportunities, or vases can be placed in areas where there are arguments or tense feelings. The vases will help dissipate the acrimony and will improve harmony in the house.

Place a pair of beautifully decorated vases in your SW sector or SW corner of your living room to create harmonious and beneficial relationships. Arguing with your mate? Place a vase in the bedroom to help stabilize relationships and attract greater harmony to the relationship.

THE WHEEL

The wheel is another precious object in Buddhism. The wheel represents truth and wisdom and help in overcoming problems and inner conflicts, such as emotional problems. Placed in the home, the wheel is a reminder of personal, emotional, and spiritual growth and can help symbolize the attainment of self growth and overcoming karma.

Add a wheel to your home or office if you are interested in developing greater wisdom and growth. Placed in the northwest, the wheel can help you attract people who can serve as advisers or mentors who will assist you on your path of personal growth.

BEAUTIFUL DEER

Deer are graceful, lovely creatures that are thought of as symbols of longevity in Chinese culture. In feng shui, many people think of deer as appropriate symbols for the east sector or the east part of the garden where they enhance the health-related properties of the east.

However, deer are also known as wealth enhancers, too. Better still, the beautiful deer represent long-lived wealth and long-term prosperity. Deer displayed in a business signify a company that will grow and prosper for many years. Place figurines of deer in the home for a beneficial, prosperous, and comfortable life for the family.

**grace55** · 05-22-2009, 09:39 AM

The Importance of the Color of RED
9 Ways to Use it to Improve Your Feng Shui

Red is hot. No, not right now, but all the time. Red has always been an important color. It is one of the colors we choose most often to symbolize something, making it one of the most common of all colors in national flag designs.

The color red is also the color of blood, our life force, so it's no wonder that we're attracted to it. Red energizes us and makes us hungry. That’s why so many fast food restaurants use the color red in their designs and logos. Red is also a popular color for dining rooms; it keeps us enjoying the food and makes our dining experience livelier.

Red has both negative and positive connotations, but regardless of the connotation, red symbolizes one important element: energy. Whatever red touches, it imbues with extra oomph. That’s why, even in the most tranquil rooms, a touch of red is all it takes to keep a room from sliding off into a coma.

When it comes to feng shui, red is an extremely important color. Red is the color of the south or fire and fame. Red turns up the energy level on everything it touches and it animates the inanimate.

Red is also perfectly portrayed in the very popular film, Seabiscuit. The film is based on the true story of Seabiscuit, the legendary racehorse that was “too small” to win. But win he did. What makes this story even more interesting – at least in feng shui terms – is how all the elements were in alignment.

The horse, associated also with the south in the Chinese view, was ridden by a rider in red silks. Not only that, but the rider wore a triangle on his silks, and the triangle is the symbol of fire. So, by feng shui standards, this horse was destined to win because each element was compounded by the next: the animal (horse), with the color (red), with the shape (triangle).

Even the jockey, Red Pollard, was named “Red” and had red hair. Lastly, in the movie, Red Pollard wore the number 9 on his silks. The number 9 is the number also associated with the south.

This kind of compounding of all these red elements adds extra emphasis and power. So, with all this additional power, Seabiscuit, the little horse no one expected much of, couldn’t help but win. Think about this when using red in your home or office.

Consider ways to compound all the elements – not just red. But remember, too much red can burn itself out. Instead of covering everything in red paint, consider adding other red elements, such as number and shape, too. Add these touches to the south corner of your home, living room, or office and watch your popularity soar!

**grace55** · 05-22-2009, 09:42 AM

Red Effects: 9 Tips for Using Red in Your Feng Shui

1. Activate symbols and good luck tokens. Tie red ribbon around feng shui items or good luck items to "activate" them.

2. Stop the drain with red. Put a red toilet lit cover on your toilet to stop the toilet from draining vital energy from your house (unless your toilet is in the center, southwest, or south sectors!).

3. Add a touch of red. Every room needs a touch of clear, pure red. Look at all your rooms and try to find a red item. If one is missing, add a red item, preferably in the S, SW, or NE corners. In the family room, they make everyone happier, times more fun, and people more sociable. Throw lots of red cushions around the room to get everyone happy and bubbling!

4. Warm up your business. Place your phones and fax machines on red paper to stimulate more business.

5. Warm up your love life. Place red and pink flowers in the SW corner of your living room to bring more heat to your romance. Avoid placing them in the bedrooms.

6. Get more attention for your home. If your home is for sale, get more attention to it by placing red flowers in a vase in the living room or dining room. These are excellent for attracting buyers. You will also want to keep a light on at the rear of the house, too. Lastly, make sure there is some open space in the south sector of your home if you are trying to sell it. Open space means air and it takes air to feed fire!

7. Get more recognition at work. Keep a lamp burning in the south portion of your office to stimulate recognition for all your hard work. Add a plant here for an extra boost because plants are wood energy and wood feeds fire.

8. Use pyramid power. The pyramids are one of mankind's most enduring -- and well-known -- symbols. That's because the pyramid is the shape of fire! Have you got a pyramid or other triangle-shaped objects and don’t know what to do with them? Put them in the south sector of your house, your living room, or your office or desk to bring extra recognition (maybe even fame!) your way.

9. Get the power of nine. Place nine objects on your desk or bookshelf at work for an extra boost of recognition. Or, place nine red (what else?) candles on a shelf in the south sector of your living room for more fire energy! Even placing 9 work-related books on a shelf in the South sector can boost your fire and fame energy. Try it today!

**grace55** · 05-22-2009, 09:44 AM

Signs of Good Feng Shui:

9 Tips for Reading the Environment

Good feng shui has a number of definitions.It includes everything from

good landscape layout, auspicious topography that includes

mountains, lakes, or oceans, and good design, including auspicious or

inauspicious shapes, harmonious arrangement of elements, and a host

of other factors. But did you know that good feng shui can also include

very subtle environmental clues, too? It’s true.

For instance, have you ever walked into a home or office and felt uncomfortable at once? Or, perhaps your children became unruly or your baby started to cry. These are all signs that the feng shui of the space is not right.

When do you want to observe signs? Important times might include…

…when you are searching for a new home to buy

…when you are making an important decision

…when an important event is about to take place (birth of a child, moving, marriage, funeral, promotion, graduation, etc.)

…when you are beginning to a new endeavor (marriage, starting a business, etc.)

Where do you look for signs?

These can be out your window, hanging on the walls, on the radio, on the television…almost anywhere. So, stay attuned to what you see and encounter in an environment for an intangible feng shui “stamp of approval.”

**grace55** · 05-22-2009, 09:46 AM

What are some good signs?

1. Happy children.

Children who are laughing and giggling are excellent signs. If children play around a house you are interested in buying this is an excellent sing. Cooing, happy babies are especially good signs – as is pregnancy!

2. Rain.

When you are considering a financial move or starting a business and rain begins to fall, this is a very excellent sign, as water equals money in feng shui. A light, lovely rain is always a blessing and a good signal of prosperity.

3. Sunshine.

Sunshine breaking through clouds or trees is an excellent sign of good fortune. Sun streaming through windows (as long as it’s not blinding) is another wonderful sign.

4. Plants.

When you see a plant blooming or trees and flowers doing very well, this is an excellent sign. If you are starting a business and see pictures of forests or vases of flowers, this is a very beneficial sign for your business. Look for plants that stand out, are blooming, or are especially beautiful – such as a large, magnificent oak tree.

5. Birds.

A flock of birds, a picture of a bird or birds, a lone hawk or falcon flying are all examples of excellent feng shui signs. Cranes, in particular, are thought to be good signs of both longevity and great fortune. White birds signal good health or bad situations turning better. Birds flying over a house or business bring good news of prosperity!

6. Wind.

When you arrived at a house you are interested in buying, does the rain stop and the clouds part and the wind begin to blow? Or, does a light breeze greet you as you step out of the door? These are all excellent signs. Light, comforting breezes are excellent feng shui and augurs good luck. Strong wind, however, blows away good luck.

7. Animals.

Are there any animals gathering close? Do you see a group of beautiful horses? Or, is there a toad hopping by? Happy, beautiful animals are harbingers of good news and good outcomes. Pay attention to the animal world at the start of any undertaking or when times are stressful. Even butterflies are considered excellent and wonderful predictors of positive outcomes. Cows are symbols of wishes coming true!

8. Fruits or flowers.

Do you see fruits or flowers? Are they fresh and beautiful looking? These are excellent signs of success and bounty, and can be real or in paintings. Pink flowers are considered as good symbols of love, white flowers as symbols of good health and better times, yellow flowers are believed to be the best symbols of wealth, red as symbols of happiness. Do you have a flower bush that rarely blooms? Take note of what’s happening in your life if it begins to bloom!

9. Heavenly visions.

Do you see certain religious symbols or elements? This can be taken as a sign of a stamp of approval of a higher order. Pay attention to symbols that you see that suggestion spirituality. This can also include dreams. Pay attention to dreams, jotting them down each morning just as you wake, for clues about what’s happening in your life.

Look around and see what shows up when you are confronted with a situation, such as buying a business or looking for a new house. Looking outside of ourselves for confirmation can be very powerful!

**Eli_Sagy** · 01-22-2010, 10:32 AM

Science is something you can test and observe the results - can you do that with Fengshui??

**jessicalange** · 02-27-2010, 11:09 AM

Avoid placing dried flowers in your house. They are believed to bring misfortune. Artificial flowers are a far preferable option and are believed to bring luck