The practice of Feng Shui was a hot topic a while back. It's sort of gone by the wayside but I still use some of the practices in my home. Sometimes it's for esthetic reasons, but sometimes I practice it for the mystical possibilities of the practice itself.
It's all about how we are in the universe and how we live in conjunction with earthly elements. I believe that intention has a lot to do with what comes your way. If you leave yourself open to good things they will come to you when you are ready to receive them.
So, what has this got to do with decorating? Well, in Feng Shui there are things that you can do when decorating that can have positive and negative impacts on your life. In these troubled financial times I though it might be helpful to look at which Feng Shui customs may help bring what the practice calls Better Wealth Luck. We'll also look at things to avoid and which practices can bring harmony to your home life.
Chinese Coins
Chinese coins can be found at several locations in the city where Chinese decorative items or supplies are found. I found mine at the Forks Market. Three Chinese coins with square holes in the center threaded through a piece of red string or red ribbon represent the union of heaven, earth and man -- an auspicious symbol. Red string or ribbon must be used and is considered a lucky colour in Chinese culture. This is why you'll see the colour red predominately displayed in Chinese restaurants.
Putting one of these strings of coins in your handbag or wallet is said to activate a never-ending source of income. In the home, hang one of these on your home office door or on the inside of your front door to help boost the family income. I've had one of these hanging from my home office doorknob for years. So far, so good. I'm not a millionaire by any means, but I'm doing OK.
Bury a lucky money box
Feng Shui principles state that burying a money box in the north or northwest corner of the yard will bring good financial luck to the entire household. A metal strong-box with some high-denomination coins (not pennies) inside is all that's needed, although Chinese coins with the yin yang symbol and the square holes in the center are considered to be luckiest. So when you're planting your flowers or garden this year you might want to try this lucky practice.
Personal wealth vase
Filling a metal, glass or ceramic vase with precious and semi-precious stones is said to help protect your personal wealth. Place the stones in a vase of your choosing and put it in a closed cupboard in the corresponding corner based on which element the vase represents.
A crystal or ceramic vase represents the earth element, while a copper or steel vase represents metal. The corresponding corners are: earth -- southwest and northeast; metal -- west and northwest.
So, if you choose a metal vase you would want to put it in a west or northwest corner of a cupboard in an appropriate room. (For a personal wealth vase, the bedroom is a good choice.) The vase must not be displayed, so keep it in a closed cabinet or closet.
Things to avoid
Don't sleep with your feet directly pointed to the door. Position your bed in a way to avoid this as well as having your head position toward the bathroom. Avoid having your headboard under a window and don't sleep directly under a ceiling beam.
Other inauspicious (unlucky) things to be aware of in the home are items like pillars with sharp corners that might directly face you when sitting or sleeping. Any sharp corner is considered to represent a poison arrow pointed toward you. Block or soften sharp corners with plants or decorative screens. Pillars that are too near to a door should be either covered with a mirror (to make them 'disappear') or, again, softened with creeping plants.
Bonsai plants in the home represent stunted growth and should be avoided. A cactus is lucky in the garden but not inside the home. Fresh flowers in the home are lucky while dried flowers are not.
A television directly facing your bed creates bad energy. If you have to have a television in the bedroom, place it in a cabinet that can be closed when you go to sleep or drape it with fabric before you go to sleep.
Mirrors are bad luck in the bedroom as well, especially when facing the bed. Mirrors in the bedroom are said to responsible for the entrance of third parties into the marriage.
Keep brooms, mops and other cleaning paraphernalia out of sight in the home.
Things that are lucky
A painting of peonies hung in the living room will activate your romance luck. Peonies are a pretty flower to display in any case.
Home electronic equipment is lucky when placed along the west wall. This equipment represents the metal element which is excellent for the west sector of the living room.
Crystal chandeliers create good yang energy in your hallway. They can encourage chi, or luck, into the home if they are placed in the southwest corner. They don't have to be authentic crystal to work. Just symbolizing the crystals will do, so glass chandeliers are fine.
connieoliver@shaw.ca
