What is Feng Shui?

          Feng Shui which literally translates as ‘wind-water’, is an ancient Chinese art of placement. This science balances the five elements – earth, metal, water, wood and fire, correcting the flow of energy in your environment thus setting the stage for positive happenings. It has successfully been applied by companies like Walt Disney, HSBC, Citibank, etc.

How does Feng Shui work?

          The environment in homes and offices is constantly influenced by the ‘chi’, i.e. the energy that comes in. This has a direct impact on the occupants and various aspects of their life such as health, success and opportunities.

          The goal of Feng Shui is to make certain that the chi is flowing properly in your environment.  When the energy is aligned, occupants are more successful in their lives and businesses.

Preparing for positive change

          Before getting down to the life changing process of implementing Feng Shui in your home or office, it is vital that you prepare for these changes to occur. One of the basic ways in which you can do this is by getting rid of clutter.

What is clutter?

          Clutter can be defined as possessions that you don’t use any more. These are often objects that we believe may one day be useful, broken items that we intend to repair someday and old clothes that we hope to fit into again.

How clutter affects your life?

          Everything in your house has the potential to raise or reduce your personal Chi or energy. Each area of your home has a symbolic meaning with which you resonate at a deep level. Clutter and untidiness causes constriction and inertia in the corresponding aspects of your life.

          Clutter blocks your progress in the areas of opportunities, wealth and relationships. Putting things out of sight is not the solution. The stagnant chi will still be present. Cleaning the clutter from your environment creates a free flow of chi which in turn brings abundance into every aspect of your life.

Simple magic

          The following are simple and powerful tips that anyone can implement in their environment without a consultant and reap the benefits immediately:

• Sitting and sleeping in your auspicious direction will not only increase your abundance but will also have a positive effect on your health and well being.
   
• Broken gadgets should be repaired or disposed of as these will cause the chi to stagnate. This in turn causes various aspects of your life to stagnate as well.
   
• Washing the floor with salt water at least once a week will keep the bad energy at bay.

Make the most of your living area

• The energy coming through the front door is an important factor that determines how happy and prosperous the occupants will be. Make sure that there are no obstacles in the path of the flow of chi.
   
• Placing a frog with a coin in his mouth at the entrance of your home will invite abundance and opportunities for you and your family members.
   
• While most plants, especially upward growing ones are auspicious in your environment, cactus plants should be outside your home.

Create a comfortable environment in your bedroom
 

• A bedroom mirror that reflects the bed creates serious problems. From relationship problems to severe health problems, these are avoidable simply by removing the mirror or by covering it completely at night
   
• Remove any water images from the bedroom. The same principles that apply to mirrors in your sleeping area are valid here.
   
• Do not place your bed under overhead beams since this causes headaches.

Bathroom, Toilet and Corridors

• Keep your bathroom and toilet doors closed and place a framed mirror outside the bathroom door to prevent wealth and opportunity from being drained out.
   
• Placing a bowl of sea salt in your bathroom will eliminate negative chi from this area. The salt has to be changed every two days.
   
• Use a six rod metal wind chime in the centre of a long corridor to break the flow of harsh chi.

Enhance the energy in your office space

• Keep your work desk a clutter free zone and deal with any outstanding back log of bills, memos, enquiries, commitments, etc. Doing so will create opportunities and possibilities.
   
• Position your desk so that you are able to sit with a solid wall behind your back to ensure that you have support in your business. 
   
• Avoid sitting directly in front of the doorway since the harsh energy will come straight to your table bringing a lot of problems and obstacles directly to you.

Things to keep in mind while buying a house

• Avoid buying a house facing railway tracks, located near a police station, hospital, open drains, graveyards, etc. as these are inauspicious and bring in a lot of harsh chi. This causes severe health problems.
   
• Bathrooms located in the middle of the house can cause your energy to drain away, leaving you feeling tired and lethargic.
   
• Avoid buying a home with an entrance that is below street level. It is difficult for beneficial chi to enter this type of building.

Leo is a Feng Shui Consultant and runs ‘Holistic Studio’ where he helps people live happier, healthier and wealthier lives through Feng Shui, Aura Scan, Meditation, Healing . He has completed his Masters in Feng Shui under Lillian Too in Malaysia. You can contact him at leovelloz@gmail.com or visit his website at www.holisticstudio.com