I found a great series of articles which should keep you active over the weekend. This might be old material but try to look upon it with fresh eyes, I bet you find a goldmine!

Feng Shui: Introduction: "Feng Shui: Introduction

by Jane Alexander

I'm a huge fan of feng shui - the Chinese art of placement which has been dubbed acupuncture for houses. Over the last few years feng shui has become increasingly popular in the West, with features in virtually every newspaper and a growing stack of self-help tomes on the bookstore shelves. At first the idea sounds crazy: how can shifting your furniture change your luck? How can re-positioning a mirror bring in more money? Why on earth does it matter if there is a beam over your bed? It all sounds insane. However, if you can believe that our homes are full of subtle energy, constantly moving, then it makes more sense that the lay-out of our homes, the positioning of our furniture and other features, can affect how that energy flows.

Feng shui evolved around five thousand years ago in China. The ancient Chinese believed that invisible life energy (called chi) flowed through everything in life. It's the same philosophy that underlies acupuncture. If the energy in your body is flowing freely and easily, you will stay fit and healthy. If, however, the energy becomes stagnant or blocked, or erratic and undisciplined (through bad diet and lifestyle or weakness in an organ) you will most likely fall ill. The needles of acupuncture simply act by removing the blockages or calming the energy flow - they regulate the chi. The principle is exactly the same in houses. The Chinese believed that the buildings we live in require quite as much attention as our bodies and so developed this highly complex science for "healing" the environment. Centuries of observation showed that different areas of the house and different parts of each room attracted specific energies. Furthermore they discovered that certain configurations (the layout of rooms or even the position of furniture or features) could either help or hinder the free, smooth flowing of energy. If the energy was blocked or allowed to flow swiftly it would cause corresponding blockages and problems in life. Clutter can "catch" energy, stopping its free circulation and turning it dull and stagnant. Sharp corners can send energy shooting out, in too harsh a concentration. A series of open doors send energy racing through, too fast and too frenzied. A blank wall will stop the energy dead in its tracks. However, fortunately, they also realized that very small but specific changes (known as "cures") such as hanging wind chimes or crystals in certain places or using certain colors would correct such disharmony and put your life back on track. Boosting particular areas with auspicious colors and objects could even create better energy and better opportunities in life. At its core, feng shui teaches that by making small shifts to your home you can affect everything in your life, from your finances to your health, from your relationships to your spirituality.

Although feng shui sounds so mystical, it is taken very seriously, not just in its native China but all over the world. Madonna is a fan; so is Pierce Brosnan. There have been rumors in the press that members of the British Royal Family have sought the help of feng shui experts. And, surprisingly, it is not necessarily Hollywood celebrities or troubled royals who are seeking the help of feng shui consultants. Most of their clients are high-powered businesspeople and large corporations who use feng shui to keep ahead of the game and to maintain their profits high. As feng shui expert Sarah Rossbach, author of several books on feng shui explains, "Today, those in powerful positions do not take chances where feng shui is concerned. I was surprised to find hard-nosed businessmen anxious to try feng shui as an added tool to clinch deals, enhance corporate clout, or expand their businesses." Western and Oriental banks, restaurants and corporations throughout Asia and also in the USA consult feng shui experts. Chase Manhattan, Citibank, Chase Asia, Paine Webber, Morgan Guaranty Trust, the American Chamber of Commerce and the offices of the Asian Wall Street Journal and the Far Eastern Economic Review (all sane, sage businesses) have used feng shui. Body Shop founder Anita Roddick freely stated that her headquarters and shops around the world had been designed using the principles. Richard Branson of the Virgin empire has used feng shui to huge advantage. And telecommunications company Orange have used it to rapidly expand their business.

People use feng shui because, quite simply, it works. A hotel in Australia was virtually empty until an Oriental company bought it and called in a feng shui consultant. He said the problem lay with the staircase: it faced the front doors and so the hotel's energy was shooting outwards and being lost. The staircase was moved and the hotel's luck changed almost overnight. On a more personal level, feng shui consultant Sarah Shurety tells of a couple who were on the verge of divorce. They could hardly bear to talk to one another. Sarah checked their house and found the problem in their bedroom. There was a large beam in the ceiling above their bed which effectively divided their bed in half. In feng shui, beams are considered to cause quarrels and even ill-health in the people who sleep under them. Sarah advised the couple to move their bed. "Now they are newly in love again," she reports, "the beam was cutting them in half, separating them.

About the Author:

Jane Alexander is well-trusted as an expert in natural medicine, holistic living and contemporary spirituality. Her aim is to simplify the often arcane concepts behind alternative health and spirituality and make them accessible and meaningful to everybody. She is the author of sixteen books on holistic living, including Spirit of the Home, Live Well (a western guide to ayurveda), The Detox Plan, The Five Minute Healer and The Weekend Healer. Her website was recently given 5 star top rating by The Good Web Guide who said "If she didn't exist, you'd have to invent her and the Mind Body Spirit movement probably owes her a great debt of gratitude..her books are all worth buying." Visit JaneAlexander.org and find out why."

Great introduction Jane!

Sam, Feng Shui Tips

Feng Shui for Academic Success : HindustanTimes.com: "Feng Shui for Academic Success

Mohan Deep
Mumbai, July 11, 2005

I have two instances that go into four years in the past, in front of me: In one, the parents included the sketches of Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, Buddha and Albert Einstein as the interior of a student's room. The windows were curtained to avoid distraction. The desk was in such a position that the child had his back to the door to avoid distraction and so that the mom could periodically keep an eye on the child.

In the other one - in consultation with me - the study desk and the child's bed was placed as per Feng Shui principles, the colors were in harmony with the child's element and the room was airy and bright. The frames / laminations on the walls were a blend of Superman, Archies, my own `the Peak` and (since the child wants to be a pilot when he grows up) a flying aircraft.

And he had a talisman I had suggested to him in his pocket during all the tests. (I will write about this talisman soon and will make it commercially available on this site.)

The first one who had Albert Einstein and others on the wall (not to forget a list of 20 inspiring quotes) has tired of studies and the parents were worried about his tantrums. The second one has steadily progressed and is among the top rankers in his class. Besides excelling in studies he is a rounded, happy personality.

I have often had parents approaching me for Feng Shui help with requests like, "My son is brilliant but he cannot concentrate. His attention span is limited." Or "Though my daughter works very hard the luck is not in her favor." Or "My son missed the rank by one mark."

And more frequently, the parents complain that the children are glued to TV sets. Even a recent study has shown that TV in a child's room adversely affects the academic performance. How does Feng Shui look at TV in the child's room? TV is a big no-no whether in the children's room or in your own bedrooms! TV emits Yang energy that can easily destroy the Yin, required for rest or concentration. The focus of a student shifts because of TV.

The same study advocates the presence of computer in the child's room. I too support it though a net connection in child's room - or for that matter in any bedroom - is like the presence of a third person, a diversion in the life of a child (or a couple). Internet too is a no-no.

If you want the children to be successful in school, make the room study friendly. Bring Feng Shui in the child's room. The bed alignment is as important as the placement of the desk. The right Feng Shui can motivate an average child into successfully participating and winning the race, and an unbalanced Feng Shui can destroy the career of a brilliant child.

It is important that the student sits facing his Sheng Chi (Success direction), which is not the same for everyone. Besides, his work desk must be in the Knowledge sector of the home. This too is not as easy as it sounds. What if there is a toilet in this location? What if the Knowledge corner is incomplete or totally absent? It is unfair to blame a student for not faring well when there are Feng Shui flaws in his surroundings. It is much worse to pressurize him to score when the Earth luck is against him.

Feng Shui can be an effective tool to enhance the performance of the students, to trigger their luck in education and career sectors. But, consulting a Feng Shui Master a week before the examination and expecting a miracle is stretching it too far. If you want to consult the Master, do it now but not necessarily for the examination the next week!

The best thing is to get the Feng Shui right and then patiently wait for the results. And if you want the talisman you will have to wait.

(Feng Shui Master Mohan Deep, one of the top Feng Shui consultants in the world, is based in Mumbai, India. For more information you may visit http://www.fengshuimiracle.com or write to him at md@mohandeep.com.

Office: 91-22-56997992. Fax: 91-22-26350503 Cell: 9820199378. Address: 222 Shantivan, New Link Road, Andheri (W), Mumbai 400053.)"

Use Feng Shui to ace those tests this academic semester!

Sam, Feng Shui Tips

Feng Shui in Colours: "Feng Shui in Colours
By Jennifer Brand Palencia

How does choice of colour affect your feng shui?

Colours and colour schemes are factors that are considered thoroughly in interior design. And so it is in feng shui, too. In this issue, our feng shui consultant, Jennifer Brand Palencia, shares some tips on the choice of colours for your home and workplace. Selecting and using the right colours can bring personal prosperity and harmony into your life.

In feng shui, there are five elements that symbolise the five basic forces in the universe. These five elements continuously affect our fortunes, for better or worse. Each element is associated with a colour. These elements are metal, wood, earth, water and fire. White, gold, silver and metallic colours represent metal, while wood is related to shades of green, blue and brown. The water element is depicted via the use of black and grey, while the fire element uses red along with purple and pink. The earth element uses colours such as yellow and beige.

Colours affect us physically, psychologically and emotionally. They are the first things we see when we open our eyes and are the last thing we see each night before we go to sleep. Colours affect everything from our choice of clothing to our moods.

In the business world, careful use of colours for branding and corporate identity can affect employees and customers subconsciously. As an example, certain fast food chains use red and yellow a their business colours. It is suggested that red and yellow give a sense of urgency, inducing people to perhaps eat quickly and leave, there by promoting higher turnover. Another example is that of certain airline some years ago, which had its cabin colours in green and yellow. The number of passengers suffering from motion sickness or nausea on their flights was phenomenal! After they changed their colours to a more soothing blue, the number of sick passengers was reduced considerably.

The presence of colours in our homes, lives and workplace is important because without it we deplete our energy system. The colours of our walls, floors and furniture all activate, balance, or depress our chi. Feng Shui and the adjustment of colour in our surroundings ensures that we receive a correct balance of energy that helps us feel energised and happy.

Colours may also be used to complement, or migrate aspects of person’s elements in their set of the Four Pillars Of Destiny also known as Pat Chee. The Four Pillars is an eastern theory that attributes everyone with a combination of the five elements based on the date they were born. People may be strong in one element or weak in another.

A general tip is to avoid an all-neutral colour scheme. Having an all-neutral colour scheme lends itself to apathy and indifference. People who use exclusively neutral tones may be trying to neutralize their feelings. Colours invoke feelings, and having no colour at all invokes neutrality. If you are partial to these colours or if you already have these colours on your walls, don’t panic. Try painting a room or even just one wall, or hang some colourful artwork on the walls.

Of course, before you go on a painting spree in your property, several factors must be taken into account. Your birth date and kua number, along with the nature of the property (residential or commercial) also contributes to the choice of colours. Also, while using colour based on feng shui theories is a possible solution, this is a complementary solution to contribute to other more substantial feng shui counter measures like installing the element itself.

The complete strategy of determining what elements you have in your composition is, unfortunately, beyond the scope of this article and should be performed by a properly trained feng shui consultant. He or she can give you a full analysis of your favourable elements and also what solutions you can use to maximise the benefits of colour management.

Feng Shui Colour Theory In Action

Lisette is a water person born in the spring season where wood element is strongest. As water gives birth to wood, the wood will exhaust the energy of the water element and weaken it. Thus, she is considered a weak water person requiring the support of the metal element and the reinforcement of the water element itself in her environment.

If she decorates her office of home, then metallic colour tones or white (symbolising metal) and some black or grey furniture (symbolising water) would be most appropriate. Wood and fire elements are not too favourable for her, as they will exhaust her water energy. Thus, she should use less red, purple and green and avoid having too many plants in her working and living space. She may also wear more black and white or metallic-hued clothes to balance her Four Pillars.

WHITE -

White is the colour of purity and innocence in western culture, but it is also the colour of mourning and despair for eastern cultures. Representing metal, white maybe used to give an air of serenity or contemplation or to enhance the metal element in a room. More physical metal cures like coins or metal wind chimes may be preferred.

GOLD -

A universal colour of luxury and wealth in any culture and contest, it strongly relates to the metal element. It can be used to introduce metal and prosperity in an area, though it would be wise to be selective when using this colour. Unfortunately, excessive use of this would be considered tacky.

GREEN -

Green is the colour of growth, healing, and relaxation and relates to the wood element. Excessively used, it can bring about relaxation to the point of lethargy. Use this colour in a space to recharge and heal. Green is not often used as a colour tone cure, since powerful wood energy comes easier as a live plant itself.

BLUE -

Blue is the colour of inner contemplation, spirituality, peace and trust. However, it is also a sombre colour of mourning. It represents consistency, reliability and loyalty. Blue is related to the wood element, but westerners adopt it as signifying the water element. Personally, I associate it with water, but try it out yourself. One multinational computer firm has their corporate colours in blue to represent their reliability and dependability.

DARK BROWN -

Dark brown is one of the colours of the wood element unless it’s mixed with orange, which would make it appear mud like. It gives a representation of ha rd work and industry.

BLACK -

Black is a powerful colour that represents the water element, strength and authority. It is a colour that has Yin connotations and also symbolizes the night or winter. It can be used to show intrigue and class, though painting it in a bedroom or living room would not be advisable. Best used with other colours to express creativity.

GREY -

The colour of neutrality and ambiguity, grey represents the water element. Excessive use gives a sombre air to a space.

RED -

Red is the colour of prosperity and joy to the Chinese, represents the fire element, and implies passion. It has the converse effect of possibly giving too much energy (and perhaps insomnia) if used in a space where you need to rest.

PURPLE -

A colour once used to represent royalty, purple is used to heighten spiritual awareness. Purple relates to the fire element, so a reading or meditation room would do well I light shades of purple.

PINK -

A colour that relates to the fire element, pink has been associated in western cultures as a colour of romance, often more so than red. It is a colour that calms and negates rage and may be used in spaces where you need to make rational or calm decisions.

YELLOW -

A colour that represents energy and eastern royalty, yellow is also a colour of religious significance. Yellow depicts the earth element and may create feelings of cheerfulness, warmth and motion. If used in excess, however, it can actually give a sense of anxiety.

BEIGE -

Beige relates to the earth element and it portrays neatness and the concealment of emotions.

FIVE ELEMENTS EXPRESSED IN COLOURS

METAL - White, Gold,
WOOD - Green, Blue, Brown,
WATER - Black, Grey,
FIRE - Red, Purple, Pink,
EARTH - Yellow, Beige

Jennifer Brand Palencia is a successful feng shui consultant with many years of experience and her own consultancy. She is available for consultation and specialise in Destiny (Four Pillars Of Destiny) Reading, Feng Shui Consultations for Residential and Commercial Properties, Water Works and Feng Shui Courses.

She can be reached at:
EFS CONSULTANCY /
Mobile : Natasha 016 835 4289 or Jennifer 019 207 9867 /
Fax : 03 7803 8969 /
Email : elementfs@hotmail.com or elementfs@myjaring.net

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/"

Great! I'm changing my room colours tonight!

Sam, All about Feng Shui