GUESS WHO’S USING FENG SHUI?

April 14, 2010

By Sharon Hay

Clutter slows down positive chi flow in your environment.
As chi gets stale, so do different areas of your life

Feng Shui is used in all cultures and all walks of life. You couldn’t be more wrong if, like a large portion of the population, you believe that the primary users of Feng Shui are of Asian descent. If you are ready to welcome Feng Shui into your world, you will be in some very good, and exclusive company. Imagine, you will share the wonders of Feng Shui with the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Madonna, Sir Richard Branson, Donald Trump, Telus, MacDonald’s, Canon, The Body Shop, plus many casinos and hotels.

For those who are not familiar with Feng Shui, it is a science that has been practiced around the world for thousands of years. Originally, the principles were the closely guarded secret of the elite, but it has become more and more popular in North America over the last 20 years.

Everything is alive with chi. Feng Shui practitioners have been taught to manipulate chi and use it to create positive environments for harmonious living. Maximizing this positive energy is an important part of Feng Shui.

Donald Trump understands the importance a Feng Shui practitioner plays as an integral member of his architectural teams. The union of Feng Shui and architectural design makes for a happy and healthy home. When you build or move into your first home it is important you have a Feng Shui practitioner provide guidance for the best way to arrange your living quarters to ensure an easy transition. A good Feng Shui practitioner will work with your décor tastes and the environmental needs of you and your family so you feel at home very quickly.

Nightstands and lamps of even height represent
equality in the relationship

Feng Shui works with the energies of the earth, humans and astrology. Take for example the effect of the magnetic pull from the planets and how it affects us and the earth. A good Feng Shui practitioner will advise you of the best time of year, day and place to break ground.

When moving into her new office, Oprah Winfrey contacted her Feng Shui practitioner for advice on the best way to set up her main desk and other furnishings. The number one tip? Do not sit with your back to the door. When you have a good peripheral view of the door of your office, you are sitting in the command position. Having your back to the door is like having your back to your business, and you might experience feelings of others “gossiping behind your back.”

Sir Richard Branson of Virgin Records fame, used Feng Shui principles when decorating his famous “Necker Island” retreat in the Caribbean. Walking toward the main house, you instantly feel relaxed and awash with peaceful calm. The buildings are very open and airy which allows the chi to meander in and through the space with ease. The building materials were picked with care to ensure using as many natural elements in the design as possible. We get positive feelings when we surround ourselves with nature and things made from nature.

Madonna has also drawn on the principles of Feng Shui in the design of her living space. Very rarely will you see clutter in Madonna’s home. Walking areas are kept clear and things that are no longer useful are continuously removed.

When you have a good peripheral view of the door of your office,
you are sitting in the command position

Some common areas where clutter tends to build are in clothes closets, junk drawers, garages, kitchen cupboards and bookcases. When clearing clutter, focus on small areas at a time, and designate a minimum of four hours to work on one area. You may find it helpful to enlist the aide and support of a friend as you sort through your things. This makes the task fun.

Another area where Feng Shi helps is in the bedroom. Newlyweds should set up their bedrooms to keep the passion alive! Nightstands and lamps of even height represent equality in the relationship. Don’t forget to keep clutter out from under the bed so good chi flows around the bed for a restful sleep. Too many mirrors in the bedroom may also cause constant waking during the night. If you can see yourself while lying down in bed, remove the mirror or cover it up with a beautiful scarf or other fabric to quieten down the energy the mirror reflects. Close the ensuite bathroom door before going to bed to keep the negative energy of the toilet away from your sleeping space. Want to spice things up? Place an animal print pillow or throw on the bed – introducing these elements will increase the passionate energy.

For additional information please visit the website at www.canadianfengshui.ca.

Filed under: FROM THE EXPERTS