Feng Shui Pearls of Wisdom – Living Your Best Life in a

Beautiful Environment of Your Own Creation!

Begin your journey of discovery! Feng Shui Pearls of Wisdom for greater health, career
success, flowing wealth, loving relationships and good fortune for many years to come!

1
 Table of Contents

Legal Disclaimer and Affiliate Disclosure…………...……………….……………………..7

Introduction and Welcome……………………………………………………………….........8

Inspiration for the Theme and Title of This Book………………………………………..10

Pearl #1 – Feng Shui…is this complicated?..........................................................................11

Pearl #2 – Feng Shui Defined…or is it?.................................................................................12

What Does Feng Shui Mean To Me?

Pearl #3 – History of Feng Shui…where did this come from?..........................................14

Philosophical Background – Confucianism and Taoism

Taoism – a Philosophy of Balance and Harmony

Pearl #4 – Chi Definition and other Principles of Feng Shui……………………………19

Defining Chi

Wind and Water – Feng and Shui

The Essence of Wind…

The Essence of Water…

Visualization and Clear Intention

Quality of Relationships

Taming the Clutter Beasties…

Pearl #5 – Feng Shui for Lifelong Health – Introducing Tai Chi, Acupuncture, The
Ison Method and SeiTai……………………………………………………………...………28

Tai Chi

Acupuncture

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 The Ison Method

SeiTai

A Common Thread…

Pearl #6 – Understanding the Five Elements and the Cycles of Production and
Destruction……………………………………………………………………………………..34

#1 – Water Element and Energy

#2 – Wood Element and Energy

#3 – Fire Element and Energy

#4 – Earth Element and Energy

#5 – Metal Element and Energy

The Productive Cycle of the Elements

The Destructive Cycle of the Elements

Summary

Pearl #7 – The Meaning of the Five Elements Colors and Shapes……………………...41

Feng Shui Color and Shape Meanings

Summary

Pearl #8 – Intuition and the Feng Shui Layout for Your Home – the BaGua Map for
Solving Problems and Creating What You Want In Life………………………………...45

Intuiting at the Gut Level…

The Meaning of the BaGua Map

Getting Squared Away with the BaGua Map

BaGua Map Diagram

Creating and Working With Your Blueprint – Choice One

Creating and Working With Your Blueprint – Choice Two

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Pearl #9 – Health Boosters and Longevity the Feng Shui Way………………………….55

The Center of it All…

Chinese Symbols of Longevity

Closing All Drains

Practical Home Improvements for Better Health

Practical Quality of Life Strategies for Better Health

Pearl #10 – Feng Shui for Revitalizing Love or Finding Romance!.................................66

Starting with the Bagua Map

Out with the Clutter and Letting Go of the Past

The Almighty Bedroom

Clearing Away Distractions and Inappropriate Energies

Creating Space for a New Love

Inviting the Energy of Love – Romance Enhancers

Pearl #11 – How to Use Feng Shui to Nurture Your Children and Creativity………...78

Nurturing Children

The Art of Conception

Additional Conception Enhancements

Element, Color and Object Enhancements

Curing Imbalances and Blockages

Pearl #12 - Feng Shui Your Career into High Gear!............................................................90

A Workspace that Inspires

Positioning Yourself for Success

Furniture Factors

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 Working With the Elements

Creating Order – Eliminating Chaos

Symbols for Career Success and Prosperity

Pearl #13 – Enhancing Your Family Relationships with Feng Shui……………………98

Quality Time With Family and Friends

Possibilities for Growing Closer – the Playful Center

Presiding Element, Support Element and Enhancements

Weaving Colors and Additional Energizers into the Mix

Pearl #14 – Lighting Up Your Innermost Desires, Gaining Respect and Building a
Good Reputation……………………………………………………………………………..104

What Really Matters…

Getting the Ball Rolling

Presiding Element, Support Element and Enhancements

Weaving Colors and Additional Energizers into the Mix

Pearl #15 – Building Up Your Knowledge and Wisdom Region for Inner Strength,
Self-Cultivation and Spiritual Growth…………………………………………..………..111

Creating a Peaceful Place

Connecting With Your Spiritual Self

Helpful Additions, Colors and Enhancements

Pearl #16 – Living Prosperity Consciousness - Attracting and Retaining Wealth..…115

The Principle of Attraction

The Power of Gratitude

Presiding Element, Support Element and Enhancements

Classic Feng Shui Wealth Symbols

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Pearl #17 – Travel and Attracting the Right People at the Right Time………….……122

Attracting the Right People and Circumstances

Presiding Element, Support Element and Enhancements

A Few Classic Symbols

Odds and Ends…………………………………………………………………………..……128

Activating Sheng Chi in Your Surroundings

Tips for Chasing Away Shar Chi

Building Up “Missing” Areas

Space Cleansing

Coming Full Circle……………………………………………………………………...……138

What Does Feng Shui Mean to Me?

Bibliography, Recommended Reading and Resources………………………...……….141

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Legal Disclaimer and Affiliate Disclosure
The Publisher has strived to be as accurate and complete as possible in the creation
of this ebook, notwithstanding the fact that Publisher does not warrant or represent
at any time that the contents within this ebook are accurate, due to the rapidly
changing nature of the Internet and the world in general.
While all attempts have been made to verify information provided in this
publication, the Publisher assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions, or
contrary interpretation of the subject matter herein.
Any perceived slights of specific persons, peoples, or organizations are
unintentional.
In practical advice ebooks, print books, reports and guides, and like anything else
in life, there are no guarantees or claims of income made, profits generated or
health benefits by the reading or implementation of the material contained within
this ebook.
Readers are cautioned to rely on their own judgment as to their individual
circumstances and to act accordingly.
This ebook is not intended for use as a source of legal, business, medical,
accounting or financial advice.
All readers are advised to seek services of competent professionals in legal,
business, medical, accounting, and finance fields.
Readers are encouraged to pursue their education in Feng Shui beyond this ebook
and to seek out Feng Shui practitioners for further guidance and special
considerations.
Affiliate Disclosure: This ebook contains some of what are commonly known as
„affiliate links‟. Affiliate links are special links that the author has incorporated into
this ebook that when clicked, take readers to a product vendor‟s page. The author
has an affiliate relationship with some of the vendors, has joined the vendor‟s
affiliate program and as such, will receive a commission or monetary compensation
if the reader decides to purchase the vendor‟s product through the author‟s affiliate
link.
It is in your best interests to always perform due diligence when purchasing
products and/or services from online vendors, and/or purchasing products through
affiliate links. Thank you.
Respectfully,
Ling Meng

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Introduction and Welcome

G reetings and welcome to what I hope will be a most enlightening,

fascinating and life changing journey as we travel the pages of this book
together! Thanks for joining me and blessing my life. My goal is to bless your
life with the Pearls of Wisdom that follow.

Writing this book has been the ultimate labor of love as Feng Shui has been
one of my true loves for quite awhile now. If you are just becoming
acquainted with this ancient art form, philosophy and practice, your new life
awaits you anxiously!

Enjoy the process of rediscovering your entire self, your home, your work
space and any place that holds a special meaning for you.

Feel free to skip to different sections of the book although I suggest if

possible, to read the book in the order presented. My only other suggestion
is to take your time with the material. Savor the information as you‟re taking
it in, like a favorite meal you just don‟t want to end.

We are all seeking answers in our lives. We want a better life - not only for
ourselves but for our children as well. Feng Shui, when understood and
applied has the power to transform your life and the lives of the ones you
love.

As you‟ll see in the bonus book that accompanied this one, “The Science of
Getting Rich‖ by Wallace D. Wattles - we all crave lives of increase. We want
lives filled with joy, love and prosperity that continue to grow with
possibilities.

We want to experience the best life we can possible have. It is only natural
to want this and it is a noble desire. The wisdom of Feng Shui, coupled with
the teachings in “The Science of Getting Rich‖ will help you achieve your
best life.

There is a universal principle that all things are connected and inseparable.
All matter and energy within the universe is One. Even our bodies and minds
are One with all that is.

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The wisdom of the entire universe resides within us and around us. Feng
Shui helps us get in touch with that wisdom and harness it for positive life
changing results. This is why Feng Shui is so powerful when it comes to
shifting the directions and fortunes of people‟s lives.

With Feng Shui you have an eye opening opportunity to understand how the
energy flow…how the composite of your surroundings is impacting your life –
for better or worse. What I want for you is total success with your life, in
every area of your life.

You may find it hard to believe that you have much control over what
happens to you, as well as how you feel physically, emotionally and
spiritually. The good news is you can control your destiny and the quality of
your life to a great extent using Feng Shui principles.

I wish you all the best life transformations and enhancements as we journey
together into the heart and soul of Feng Shui!

Ling Meng

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Inspiration for the Theme and Title of this Book…

“Dragon Encircling Pearl”

Dragons are considered to be one of the most auspicious symbols (very

lucky) in Chinese folklore and Feng Shui. An image of a celestial dragon
grasping a pearl is thought to bring good luck, especially Career luck.

Traditionally, the east area of the home is the location where the dragon has
the most power for bringing the blessings of good fortune. I thought you
might enjoy this bit of mythical history, which provided the inspiration for
the theme and title of this book!

Dragon with Pearl

“The pearl is often depicted with Chinese dragons. The pearl is sometimes
thought to represent the moon. In fact, one legend has it that some dragons
have become infatuated with the moon, and have gone insane trying to
steal it from the sky.

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Other tales depict the pearl as an egg placed beneath the dragon's neck or
chin.

The dragon is said to carry the egg away until it is ready to hatch. By far
the most agreed upon tale is that the pearl represents the dragon's wisdom

…hence the term: pearls of wisdom."

Source: http://www.porgybay.com/Serpents.html

Pearl #1 – Feng Shui…is this complicated?

Good question, don‟t you think? The answer is no – it doesn‟t have to be.
This is one thing that many people don‟t fully grasp. They think of Feng Shui
and immediately think there‟s a steep learning curve involved, or that they
need to go out and hire a consultant in order to make effective changes…or
worse yet, learn Chinese!

While you may still want to hire a consultant, you can begin creating positive
energy that works in your favor by learning some of the basic principles and
applying them directly yourself.

In this book we will be focusing on simple Feng Shui principles, rather than
delving into deep discussions of the many different schools of Feng Shui in
existence today.

The purpose of this book is to introduce you to simple yet extremely

powerful ways of improving the quality of your life and your surroundings by
utilizing Feng Shui techniques.

You‟ll be using the basic principles of positive energy flow, or Chi, the Five
Elements, and the powerful tool of the BaGua map to identify and improve
areas of your home using Feng Shui.

One of the most important things to keep in mind when you‟re doing Feng
Shui improvements is to cater to your own tastes. If you are sharing your
living space with one or more people, you‟ll want to choose and create
improvements that are welcome changes for all concerned.

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You‟re about to discover that there are subtle changes you can make to any
space – even the smallest additions (or subtractions!) can produce better
overall energy and flow of Chi…(sometimes spelled “qi” or “ch‟i”).

We‟ll get into Chi a little later on…just know for now that one of your Feng
Shui goals is to invite, nurture and get the “positive” Chi flowing in your life
and surroundings…starting with what‟s going on inside of you!

Pearl #2 – Feng Shui Defined…or is it?

Let me ask you this question before getting into the meat of this book. Very
simply, what does Feng Shui mean to you?

Now you‟re probably saying to yourself…”wait a minute…you Ling Meng are

supposed to tell me what the meaning of Feng Shui is…that‟s part of the
reason I bought this book!”

Fair enough and yes, you‟ll discover what Feng Shui means to me as you
read on because it is interwoven within the book. But there are two points
that I‟m trying to make by approaching the subject in this way.

Let me tell you a quick story. In junior college I took a class where we
studied fiction. We read the works of many famous short story western
authors, such as Flanner O‟Connor, William Faulkner and James Joyce.

At the very beginning of the class, our professor asked us to write our
definition of “what is fiction”. She wanted to know our thoughts about fiction
PRIOR to taking the class!

The class ran for a full semester…can you guess what our very last
assignment was? We were to write the answer to the original question after
completing the class…What is Fiction?!!

All of the students who actively participated, including myself, had a very
different definition of “what is fiction” at the end of the class than what we
first believed at the beginning.

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Our thinking had expanded greatly. Our understanding of the subject had
deepened, which is exactly what the instructor wanted for us. It was one of
the core purposes of the class.

Amazingly enough, when our understanding of fiction expanded, so did

many possibilities for our lives.

I believe the same is true with Feng Shui. When your understanding of
“what is Feng Shui” expands…so do your possibilities for a healthier, happier
and more fulfilled life.

Please take a few moments to reflect what Feng Shui means to you prior to
reading further and jot down your thoughts on the lines provided below.

If you haven‟t printed the book, just open Notepad or a Word document and
write out your definition of Feng Shui and the date.

What Does Feng Shui Mean to Me?

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Thanks for doing that…I hope I‟ve given you enough space to write!

I mentioned having two points with this discussion. The second is the
personal nature of what Feng Shui means. Your interpretation and use of
Feng Shui is going to be unique to you! What may work for me in my
personal space may not be exactly right for you.

The beauty of Feng Shui is creative flexibility, when it comes to applying its
principles and enhancements. I encourage you to employ your individuality
and your unique creativity to this transformative process.

Feng Shui gives proven guidelines for enhancing Chi and creating the space
you love, but it is ultimately up to you how you apply these tenets. The best
thing you can do is to have fun. Go into it with joy and discovery and the
end result can only be what is exactly right for you!

Pearl #3 – History of Feng Shui…where did this come from?

Let‟s start off with a brief history.

Feng Shui had its beginnings in ancient China – exactly when we‟re not sure
but we have reason to believe it is as old as civilization in China itself. Its
origins date several centuries before Christ.

The Indian practice of Vaastu Shastra, dating back 10,000 years is perhaps
the closest cultural counterpart to Chinese Feng Shui. Members of both
cultures believed in the ability to create better lives by implementing certain
principles of design and specific placement of objects.

The ancient Chinese were looking for a connection between themselves as

human beings and the universe. They studied the stars and derived meaning
from them, which formed the basis of Chinese astronomy and the early roots
of Feng Shui. The concepts of aligning favorably with the universe evolved to
include the use of a compass, or luo pan in Chinese.

The ancient Chinese placed great emphasis on the burial of their dead and
how the bodies were oriented according to the stars! The thinking at the
time was that a properly aligned burial ground would bestow wealth and
good fortune to the descendants living close by.
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Philosophical Background – Confucianism and Taoism

To understand the history of Feng Shui, one must first understand a bit
about the schools of thought that influenced Chinese thinking. The teachings
of Confucius (died in 489 B.C.) and Lao Tzu, the father of Taoism (born
approximately 604 B.C. and author of the “Tao Te Ching” (pronounced “dao
de jing” – the recognized doctrine of Taoism) formed the belief systems in
ancient China as well as today.

Buddhism was also a major religious influence in China.

Confucius is most noted for his short and terse maxims collected years after
his death in “The Analects of Confucius” one of the vital book of
Confucianism. The book contains anecdotes and conveys small tidbits of
philosophy encouraging disciples to live by the highest of moral standards.

You could say that Confucius was a proponent of the Golden Rule.

You could even say he became the moral conscience for many Chinese, as
his teachings upheld the values of justice, morality, treating others with
respect as well as self-cultivation and living an orderly life.

Here are a few examples of brief statements of principle as given by

Confucius:

“Never tire to study – and to teach others”

“Everyone eats and drinks; yet only few appreciate the taste of food”

“In the Book of Poetry are three hundred pieces, but the design of them all
may be embraced in one sentence 'Having no depraved thoughts‟.”

"If the people be led by laws, and uniformity sought to be given them by
punishments, they will try to avoid the punishment, but have no sense of
shame. If they be led by virtue, and uniformity sought to be given them by
the rules of propriety, they will have the sense of shame, and moreover will
become good."

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 Confucius

The Way of the Tao

Lao Tzu’s teachings, which some refer to as the Chinese folk religion of “Taoism”
have expanded beyond the borders of Asia and gained in popularity worldwide.

As the story goes, Lao Tzu was disturbed at the way the world was going. Known
today as the “Warring States” period of China’s history, the unfortunate peasants
were victims of numerous wars among neighboring feudal states and were
growing tired of endless servitude to the aristocracy.

In order to escape the chaos and violence of the times, Lao Tzu retreated from
this world of chaos and embraced nature, cultivating peace and wholeness.

It is during this time that he is thought to have written the “Tao Te Ching”, which
is actually a combination of “Tao Ching” and “Te Ching” forming a total of 81
chapters known as the “Tao Te Ching.” For an accurate translation of the title,
please visit this authority site on Taoism.

In a very real way, Taoist philosophy gave power and meaning back to the lives of
downtrodden Chinese. It was a way for them to find themselves and become one
with all of existence and escape the tyranny of monarchs for the tranquility of
rural life. It taught them to revere nature…to embrace it and nurture it - not
destroy or exploit it.
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The way of the Tao gives people the opportunity to find and cultivate inner
solitude with the purpose of becoming one with Nature and all that is. This is the
ultimate state of being – to know one’s truth and to be at peace with all that is.

There is no need to question this…only to accept it as is. Once you know your
inner truth, the actions you take in the world reflect this truth and in Feng Shui
are reflected in your surroundings. You become wise, knowing what is right by
what your heart is telling you…by what you’ve discovered in your quietest of
places.

Taoism – a Philosophy of Balance and Harmony

Tao (pronounced “Dow”) has defied definition. Some say that one must
experience it to know it.

Some describe the Tao as the life force living within all that is or ever will be.
The key to enlightenment is to listen for the Tao in all things. In Feng Shui
terms this includes your immediate living space, or even the site where you
plan to build your next home!

The most famous symbol of Taoism is the Yin and Yang symbol. For any one
thing, there is an opposite thing that exists. The most common that come to
mind are light and dark, male and female, wet and dry, light and heavy, etc.

The Chinese were always looking to find a healthy balance of both Yin and
Yang in all things. When one is more “present” in a place than the other, the
belief is that an imbalance arises which leads to problems and turmoil.

The ancient practitioners of Feng Shui understood Yin and Yang and believed
that the earth herself was a living thing with special energy and vitality.

For example, a “balanced” site for building a structure had the correct
physical characteristics and topography, promoting the healthy flow of Chi.

A site that lacked this harmony was a detriment to its inhabitants and
caused ill fortune to come upon the unlucky dwellers.

The principles of Feng Shui have governed Chinese architecture for

centuries. The ancient Chinese designed their cities in rectangles enclosed

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within walls, with the surrounding mountains or valleys, lakes and rivers
taken closely into account.

Gardens and parks were also created to enhance the cities and harmonize
them with the surrounding natural environment.

Traditional Chinese Garden

The goal was always to “harmonize” the natural world with the man-made or
architectural developments that were taking place.

Grand emperors of the Shang Dynasty (1711 – 1066 B.C.) built extravagant
palaces according to the principles of balancing Yin and Yang in order to
secure greater power and influence.

Each palace was accompanied by a garden, landscaped with contours and

lines, promoting Yin and Yang balance and harmony with each of the
traditional Five Elements present. We‟ll be covering what the Five Elements
are and their meaning in Pearl #6.

Blessings of a Rich Inheritance

How lucky we are to have Feng Shui in the form that we have it today! This
chapter has only briefly touched upon the fascinating history of Feng Shui,
as an entire book could be devoted to this subject.

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Feng Shui is a child of Confucianism and Taoist thought. Also born of Taoist
thought are its close cousins Acupuncture and Tai Chi, which both deal with
clearing blocks that stop the flow of healthy Chi in the body.

We‟ll explore how these modalities are all interconnected, as indeed we are
all interconnected with each other and our environment. We are truly
blessed to have this knowledge of the ancients passed down, alive and well
and thriving in our modern world.

Pearl #4 – Chi Definition and other Principles of Feng Shui

Defining Chi

Chi is thought of as the life force or energy that everything consists of.
There is no beginning or end of Chi. Chi flows dynamically in and throughout
the earth, the universe and ourselves. Everything is made of Chi and
everything is connected by Chi.

One could even think of Chi as the feelings we‟re experiencing all the time.
Mood swings…happy moments…sensing dangers or threats. All of these
shifting clouds of emotion are made of Chi - the invisible breath of life that
embodies all things.

Chi is often thought of as the essence or breath of life. In eastern traditions

the flow of Chi controls all important aspects of life, such as good health and
fortune.

In Feng Shui and other related schools of thought such as Acupuncture it is

believed that Chi is always traveling and in motion…freely flowing when the
environment is conducive to it.

When things are out of balance or not in harmony the Chi cannot move
freely and becomes blocked. Things start to stagnate and grow stale when
this happens. Things stop moving and we get stuck in some way.

Applying Feng Shui helps us free the movement of Chi throughout our
surroundings. This is the energy we need to have moving unhindered within
our surroundings if we are to experience the greatest benefits.

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Since all objects and “things” are made of living Chi…is anything truly
inanimate? If something doesn‟t draw breath in the same way we do, is it
any less “alive”?

When we think in this way about all of the matter contained within the
universe, our consciousness expands. We no longer define or categorize
“things” in quite the same way we‟re used to doing.

You may recall in the previous section when we talked about the early Feng
Shui practitioners who regarded the earth as a living being? When we
experience the earth in this way, our relationship with all that comes from
the earth and our connection to the earth becomes much more real and
intimate.

Wind and Water – Feng and Shui

As you‟re beginning to see…Feng Shui offers a unique perspective when it

comes to human life and interaction with our world that is still unknown to
many. The English meaning of the Chinese word “feng” is wind; the meaning
of the word “shui” is water.

Wind (also breath) and water are two primary components that are
necessary for life to exist.

The Essence of Wind…

Wind can be felt but is never seen. The effects of wind can be observed,
such as a tree that has been blown over by the force of wind. Similarly, the
unseen or “hidden” force within you that is living spirit is akin to the “wind”.

Your “wind” is your heart‟s desire…your dreams and thoughts that comprise
your inner world as well as emotions. Your inner winds are also felt but
never seen.

The Essence of Water…

Unlike wind, water can be physically viewed with the eye. You can hold
water in your hand and feel its touch upon your skin. You can also feel the
wind, but try holding it in your hand - now that‟s a challenge!

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If you visit the Grand Canyon you behold a Supreme example of the power
of water. No other Element has the same quality of energy to render such
carvings upon the Earth.

A truly breathtaking example – this powerful water energy is still performing

its carving miracles within many beautiful canyons today.

Grand Canyon

Water represents the world of the tangible – its meaning can be equated to
your surroundings as you know them – your home, your office - your
complete physical world.

All Things Yin and Yang…

Wind and Water are prime examples of Yin and Yang in nature. One cannot
exist without the other.

The circle surrounding the Yin and Yang symbol represents the universe –
like a big container. The circle contains all things Yin and all things Yang.

The Yin and Yang shapes within the circle can be thought of as ever
changing, folding into and around the other…utterly inseparable.

Each symbol contains a solitary point or circle of the other, meaning that
nothing is completely one or the other and contains both in order to be.

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The movement of the shapes means that things are constantly in a state of
flux in the universe. Change is the one constant.

Emanation (China) Timeless Art

Wind and water cannot be divided in nature – they cannot be separated or

exist apart from one another. As vital elements of our natural world, they
are “joined at the hip” and inextricably intertwined. Likewise are we humans
when it comes to our inner and outer worlds.

We cannot separate the two – we are “married” to our surroundings and are
profoundly influenced by our immediate environment...whether we believe
we are or not. Why? As we‟ve already discussed, all things are connected!

Feng Shui endeavours to “quiet the natural elements” of wind and water and
create an exquisite balance between the two, often-times untamed
elements.

When one employs the wise practices of Feng Shui, the internal and external
worlds become seamlessly integrated so that all things are brought into
harmony – both inside and out.

When your inner world is conflicting and clashing with your surroundings,
there are unseen impediments and unforgiving relentless storms that rain
down upon your life, causing chaos and confusion, heartbreak and want.

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Doesn‟t it feel good to know you can take charge of your life and your
surroundings to achieve more of your heart‟s desires by using Feng Shui? I
thought so!

Visualization and Clear Intention

So far we‟ve been exploring two worlds – the unseen and the seen
world…the intangible and the tangible. When one practices Feng Shui, there
are two components that must always be present in order to have a
successful outcome.

Remember the wind…your heart‟s desire? Feng Shui demands your desire
and laser focus upon the situations or problem areas in your living space
that you wish to change.

This is also known as creative visualization or prosperity consciousness. The

Feng Shui acts you perform are incomplete without this. At the end of this
book, I‟ll give you links to materials that will help you become better
acquainted with creative visualization and prosperity consciousness.

Moving objects in your immediate living space…replacing old things with

new, etc… has little meaning unless you understand what it is you want to
accomplish.

You may experience some results but performing mechanical changes in

your environment, even clearing away clutter won‟t be as powerful or
effective without your clear intention behind it.

Before a person can experience success of any kind there has to be a

thought process behind the action. You must first identify the reason why
you are taking the action you are taking.

Visualize exactly what it is that you want to create in your life (once we get
into using the Bagua Map, you can do this by life region) and then make
Feng Shui enhancements that set up your environment to give you the
desired results.

In a modern day online course entitled “Simple-ology ®”…people are taught

to simplify their goal setting. We‟re taught that “the shortest distance
between two points is a straight line,” which is the first principle.

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The second law or principle of Simple-ology® is the “Law of Clear Vision” which
states: “In order to hit a target you need to see it clearly.”

The third law, the “Law of Focused Attention” states: “In order to hit a
target, you must focus sufficient attention on it until you do.”

And the fourth law, the “Law of Focused Energy” states: “In order to
accomplish something you must focus sufficient energy on it until you do.”

With every change that you make, whether you‟re clearing away the inner
clutter of negativity or making outer physical changes to your environment
using the principles of Feng Shui, visualize the outcome and know that the
result you desire has already taken place.

Quality of Relationships

Your life is filled with all sorts of relationships. Some are more primary than
others. Interestingly enough, your most primary relationship is with
yourself! You are the person you know the best, after all…does anyone know
you better than you do? Probably not!

When we carry negative thoughts about ourselves and others, the quality of
all of our relationships suffers. Perhaps there is someone we‟ve held a
grudge against for a number of years…someone we just can‟t bring
ourselves to forgive.

When we store this negative energy, it becomes a destructive force within us

and creates a “dis-ease” state. We are no longer at ease…things are no
longer in a healthy flow and deterioration sets in. The feelings of anger we
hold onto directly contributes to this deterioration. Fear does this, too.

When we let go of negativity and cultivate kind and compassionate thoughts

rather than the weeds of destruction, the flow of positive Chi is enhanced.
Even the internal organs respond favorably and all of the body‟s systems are
strengthened.

When you embrace Feng Shui to the fullest, you discover that every
relationship is important. Remember that Feng Shui isn‟t only about the
relationship we‟re building with our home or office.

24
A holistic practitioner of Feng Shui engages the inner work of clearing away
the old cobwebs of negative thinking and grudge holding. Because all things
are connected, you cannot create a peaceful and harmonious Feng Shui
living space if your inner self is crippled with fear and crumbling with anger.

The moral of this story is that we are connected to everything…within and

without. The goal of Feng Shui is to recognize and enhance this
connectedness to our immediate surroundings and belongings, as well as to
the rest of the world‟s inhabitants and places.

Now we‟ll address the quality of our relationship with what we own - how we
get along with the physical “entities” inhabiting our homes and working
spaces. Feng Shui helps us make discernments – it helps us recognize what
is near and dear and what needs to take up residence elsewhere.

We are encouraged to remove items that no longer give us joy (or perhaps
never did)…to clear away things that have outlived their usefulness.

Let me give you an example. When my dad was dying of cancer a close
friend of the family took a picture of us standing together. We had our arms
around each other, but no one in the picture looked “natural” or themselves.
The lighting was bad, no one was smiling and everyone was tired and
stressed from a full day of hectic activity.

The friend had the picture framed and gave it to us as a gift. We appreciated
the gesture – we thanked our friend and promptly put the picture into a
drawer where it stayed for quite some time.

Weeks after my dad passed away I discovered this picture once again. Even
though it was a picture of all of us together, it wasn‟t a picture that brought
any feelings of happiness or joy. It only contained the sadness we felt at the
time, knowing that we weren‟t going to have dad with us much longer.

I decided to throw the picture away. There was no need to remember to be

sad about dad, which is what this photograph contained energetically. It was
OK to let it go.

Part of your Feng Shui “homework” ahead is figuring out the relationship you
have with everything you own or have in storage. Learning Feng Shui is
going to help you handle it all…one area or life region at a time.

25
When your understanding of universal connectedness deepens, you begin to
see why it‟s important to take care of your inner world as well as your
immediate surroundings and possessions.

When we neglect to “handle” our surroundings…we run the risk of stagnation

and becoming trapped in the past, instead of clearing out and allowing a
brighter future to enter. We also run the risk of hidden “poison arrows”
directed toward us – ouch! More on poison arrows a bit later on…

Energetically speaking, it all counts. Everything we own contributes to who

we are and affects us negatively or positively. Even the stuff we forgot about
tucked quietly away in those closed cupboards and closets!

Taming the Clutter Beasties…

One thing you‟ll find if you talk to any Feng Shui expert, as far as vitally
necessary procedures goes is this – getting rid of clutter!

What comes to mind when you think of clutter? I‟ll venture to guess the first
thoughts are the things taking up space in the nooks and crannies of your

home. Piles of paper…magazines or old books stashed

here and there…maybe a few kid‟s toys and games
congregating in that hall closet?

In Feng Shui, clearing away the clutter is absolutely

mandatory - it is a reigning principle. If things have
been piling up for awhile, trying to deal with clutter can
become overwhelming very quickly. It can be a big job.

But you know…Rome wasn‟t built in a day, and for most

of us our “clutter” took awhile to gather too, so
naturally it‟s not going to march out of our homes overnight!

To avoid becoming overwhelmed by accumulations, take one area or room

at a time. You have to start somewhere!

If you‟re having trouble starting with an entire room, begin with a closet or
even the space under the bathroom or kitchen sink. Just “getting into the
act” of clearing and reorganizing brings new life and energy into your living
space and will help you tackle the bigger areas one at a time.

26
If you‟re just too busy to handle it all yourself, consider hiring outside help
to get the job the done faster. Or get the rest of the family into the act!

Inner Clutter…

When we think of clutter, chances are we‟re envisioning this “stuff” outside
ourselves taking up space in a chaotic fashion. But Feng Shui extends
beyond just our physical possessions and the no longer wanted or useful
stuff…or the stuff that doesn‟t hold any meaning for our lives today.

There are other dimensions that clutter extends to. We touched upon this a
bit earlier when we talked about negative thoughts. Did you know that there
also exists bodily, mental, emotional and spiritual clutter?

One of the best books I‟ve found on the subject of clutter specifically is Feng
Shui expert Karen Kingston‟s book “Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui‖.
Karen teaches you how to become free of all sorts of debilitating clutter
forever…banishing it from your life for good!

Taking care of inner clutter includes ridding your body of unwanted toxins.
Many people would never think of a colon cleanse as an act of de-cluttering,
but it is because you‟re taking out the “garbage” that is causing your body
harm and making it easier for all of your internal organs to function at their
best.

Clutter has a way of chaining us to our past, making it very difficult for new
people, experiences and opportunities to enter and enrich our lives.

Doing regular colon cleanses is just one of the aspects of clutter covered in
Karen‟s book. I‟ll give a link to this information a bit later on - be sure to
check it out…highly recommended!

Feng Shui Tip: Most of us lead very busy lives. Take some time each day for you…just some
quiet time to “clear away” the mental clutter that builds up. An especially nice time is just
before retiring for the evening. Leave the computer…abandon the TV…close your eyes and
breathe deeply. Empty your mind…any thoughts that come let them pass…observe them rising
and evaporating as they bubble gently toward the surface of your mind. If you’re having
trouble getting to sleep this could be your answer. Carve out precious quiet time for yourself
every day if you can…

27
Pearl #5 – Feng Shui for Lifelong Health – Introducing Tai Chi,
Acupuncture, The Ison Method and SeiTai

Ok…so you‟re probably wondering why in the world I‟m including information
on these four systems of healing and wholeness in a book that‟s supposed to
be about Feng Shui?

Well…it‟s because of my personal definition of what Feng Shui means. I

believe that each one of these practices…(among others) are all intimately
related to Feng Shui.

I also want to get you thinking about how you can start addressing any inner
healing “Feng Shui” that needs to be done!

I‟ve chosen these four because they are the ones I‟m most familiar with.
There is one holistic healing system I‟ve left out for now because it would
take too long to write about at this time. I plan to include it in a later edition
of this ebook.

As my valued customer, you‟ll receive updates to this ebook free of charge

as long as you‟re subscribed to my mailing list!

Part of our life‟s responsibilities is to nurture the Chi that we‟ve been
given…(the breath of life!). These systems will help us to do just that.

Let‟s touch briefly on each one:

Tai Chi

Tai Chi is a way of promoting health and well being utilizing special exercise
techniques that clear the major pathways in the body (known as meridians
in Chinese medicine) to allow Chi to flow freely. It‟s considered a “soft” style
of Chinese martial art that focuses on enhancing the energy flow throughout
the body.

One does not need to engage in the study of martial arts or use Tai Chi as a
form of self-defense in order to participate. The exercise techniques are
slow, deliberate, and involve focused breathing. In China in the early
mornings it isn‟t uncommon to see people on their way to work stopping in
outdoor parks to perform their morning ritual of Tai Chi!

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The goal of Tai Chi is to retain bodily strength, prevent aging and prevent
other debilitating diseases such as diabetes and arthritis by helping the body
move in gentle ways. Some practitioners claim relief from the problems of
chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia.

The practice of Tai Chi bears a relation to Yoga and may prove to be
especially helpful for older people unable to engage in more vigorous forms
of aerobic exercise, as well as improve balance.

Two of the greatest benefits of using Tai Chi are the reduction in stress
levels that many practitioners claim to experience, as well as the overall
sense of well being during and after the practice session.

Acupuncture

Most people in the West are familiar with the ancient Chinese medicinal
practice of acupuncture. In a nutshell, Acupuncture treats imbalances and
disorders within the body by inserting specially designed needles at blocked
meridian points or primary pathways.

To quote Wikipedia, “The twelve primary pathways run vertically,

bilaterally, and symmetrically and every channel corresponds to and
connects internally with one of the twelve Zang Fu ("organs").

This means that there are six yin and six yang channels. There are three
yin and three yang channels on each arm, and three yin and three yang on
each leg.”

An ancient text from over 2000 years ago called the “Huang Di Nei Jing” (or
the Yellow Emperor‟s Classic Text of Internal Medicine) contained the earliest

writings on Acupuncture theory and

practice.

In the West, Acupuncture treatments

are covered by many medical plans,
signaling a gradual acceptance of this
ancient Chinese medical approach.

Acupuncture treats a variety of

problems…but remember the basic

29
premise is that all “dis-ease” is caused by the energetic blockages that form
within our bodies.

Acupuncture removes these blockages at the source, allowing the Chi to flow
unimpeded through the body, thereby promoting overall health and
wellness. The body‟s communication lines are opened, allowing healing to
take place.

Please note that all acupuncture is not traditional Chinese medicine (a.k.a.
TCM). A number of different offshoots have evolved over the years, as have
different forms and interpretations of Tai Chi and Qigong.

Comparing the side effects of surgery and pharmaceuticals to those of

Acupuncture we can see why more and more people are turning to
“alternative” ways of preventing catastrophic illness.

Remember, the best thing we can do for ourselves is to prevent diseases

before they ever take root and gain a foothold.

Ison Method

As we‟re on our journey of discovering how to live our best life, I thought
you‟d appreciate “hearing” about this fascinating method of clearing away
stress, tension blocks and becoming free from old emotional baggage and
clutter!

It‟s a form of “musical acupuncture”…as you‟ll soon discover!

I only recently found out about this and as of the time of this writing ordered
David‟s program and am bursting with anticipation at making it an integral
part of my life!

Don‟t you just love true stories, especially when they‟re about overcoming
adversity? This is about that and so much more…please enjoy David’s story
below!

The miracle of David Ison’s Life…

A number of years ago David Ison was badly injured in a car crash. He
suffered a broken back and could no longer walk. The western medical
approach was to administer pain drugs and perform spinal fusion surgery.

30
David refused the surgery and meds and decided to take matters into his
own hands. He embraced the practice of focusing intently upon his breathing
and began meditating. He used these breathing and meditation techniques
to direct his body‟s Chi to heal and revitalize his injured back.

To the amazement of his physicians, David left the hospital approximately

one month after the crash walking with the aid of a cane…a man who was
never supposed to walk again.

During his recovery period at home he continued to use the same meditation
techniques he‟d begun using in the hospital. He was improving steadily and
as his body healed, he began noticing other remarkable life changes. He
began experiencing very profound emotional and spiritual benefits.

David managed to turn what at first appeared to be the greatest tragedy of

his life into a positive. His life took a turn he never would have imagined, but
if it hadn‟t, he would have never had the opportunity to give the world his
greatest gift!

David had a background in sound engineering. Because of the miracle in his

own life, David dedicated himself to the creation of transformational musical
tools that have the ability to convey the same extreme benefits he
experienced personally during his healing meditations.

David became a master of these miraculous meditation techniques. He

combined these techniques with his sound engineering background to
produce a healing program that is uniquely his. His discoveries have now
gone on to benefit people all over the world!

Connecting with the Higher or Vital Self

David unlocked the mystery of how to combine energy-based meditation

techniques with modern harmonic theory and ancient musical traditions. His
music brings together Ayurvedic and Chinese practices, endocrinology and
neurobiology with the science of sound.

David’s method targets specific energy centers within your body and has
the ability to clear away layers of emotional, personal, and spiritual
baggage. This allows your higher self to flow through your mind and body in
order to be experienced at a deep and personal level.

31
You may find David‟s method hard to believe or too good to be true, but it
has been proven effective. Medical doctors, acupuncturists, psychiatrists,
physical therapists, and a number of other healthcare professionals are
incorporating David‟s musical tools and healing methods into their practices.

Similar to Tai Chi and Acupuncture, David‟s musical approach to healing has
helped:

Reduce stress levels

Reduce chronic pain
Relieve tension
Reduce panic attacks
Alleviate depression

―Over 500,000 of our patients have experienced David Ison’s music. The
more we use Ison’s music, the more we are convinced of its clinical
effectiveness…‖

-- GEORGE PATRICK, Ph.D., Chief, Rehabilitation Medicine Department,

National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD

Sei Tai

Sei Tai is a fairly modern approach for fostering and maintaining a healthy
body and mind. It is Japanese in origin and is another example of an inner
healing art that understands the importance of energy flowing and moving in
a healthy way throughout the body.

I am fortunate to have a session twice per month with a Seitai practitioner

and massage therapist. Part of the work she does involves breaking up
adhesions that build up in muscle tissue, as well as align the joints.

Toxins are released (lactic acid) back into the bloodstream when deep tissue
work is done so that they can be removed. Anytime your body releases
toxins it‟s important to drink water to flush them out after each session.
After one of these sessions it‟s not uncommon to experience some fatigue
and heaviness…it‟s all part of the process!

One of the primary beliefs in Seitai is that one‟s life force is the focal point of
good health and vitality.

32
Seitai recognizes that our bodies have a pre-existing design and are
intimately connected to the life force or energy that the universe is made of.

The techniques are conceptually similar to Acupuncture in that they are

designed to stimulate the flow and enhancement of the life force within,
thereby assisting the body in re-aligning and healing itself innately from
within, rather than applying external treatments such as surgery or drugs.

A Common Thread…

This section has only briefly touched upon what is available in the world
today in the area of mind/body healing and wholeness.

Homeopathy is another very valuable tradition that has produced healing

results for thousands. Reiki, Yoga and one new modality that integrates
several others - a personal favorite called BodyTalk …and the list goes on.

All of the healing traditions mentioned in this section are similar in that they
enhance the life force already present in our bodies for greater health and
well-being. All of them help the body‟s innate ability to heal itself.

The journey is yours to take – explore and embrace what resonates best
with you and suits your individual needs!

I hope this discussion has encouraged you to explore these methods further
to enhance your health and wellness as you begin living the Feng Shui
lifestyle!

33
Pearl #6 – Understanding the Five Elements and the Cycles of Production
and Destruction

If you took high school chemistry, chances are you‟re familiar with the
Periodic Table of the Elements. No surprise, but the ancient Chinese were
not familiar with the Periodic Table of the Elements! They identified five
primary elements that made up the entire universe – nice and simple!

These Five Elements not only comprise all matter, they also embody certain
energetic qualities and are the essential building blocks of everything in
existence.

The Five Elements are in constant motion and are continually influencing
each other and us as well. Atoms and molecules are constantly moving and
vibrate at certain frequencies – even rocks and mountains that appear
“inanimate.”

We won‟t get into a discussion of quantum physics here…but it is most

definitely tied to Feng Shui!

Each element has a color, a shape, a compass direction associated with it

and a place on the famous Chinese BaGua map which we‟ll be exploring a
little later on.

Similar to the balance of yin and yang and its importance in Feng Shui, our
environments are ideal when they contain a balance of the Five Elements.

In Feng Shui we work with the Five Elements to create the atmospheres and
balanced energies that add to our quality of life. According to Feng Shui
experts we are made up of the Five Elements and are most at home when
they are in balance, all present and accounted for in our living spaces.

If one Element is overly dominant in a room or space it throws off the

energetic balance and problems result. Feng Shui is the ancient art of
placement that solves these problems of energetic imbalance.

A basic understanding of the Five Elements and their cycles is therefore

integral to Feng Shui.

34
#1 – Water Element and Energy

Water is constantly on the move in nature unless reposing quietly in the

stillness of a pond. The Water Element is associated with the ability to focus
and enhances feelings of peacefulness and serenity.

Water helps you come to that quiet inner place

of total concentration. But too much Water in a
space can lead to daydreaming or
procrastination while not enough can cause
tension and strains in relationships.

If you‟re lacking inspiration, adding more Water

energy is just the thing. The natural “home” of
Water is in the Career aspect of the BaGua map
so if your career is stagnant, this part of your
home may be lacking in Water energy.

Water is known to help when it comes to making

connections and enhancing your ability to reach out and find new
opportunities. New business ventures, public speaking engagements or new
ways you can provide your products and services begin flowing your way!

Glass and mirrors are water symbols; water artworks such as fountains or
fish aquariums add this energy to any space.

#2 – Wood Element and Energy

Like saplings in spring…(the season of the Wood

Element)…wood encompasses growth and the
ability to adapt to change easily.

If you want to start a new project a Wood

influence is most appropriate as this element
also enhances creativity and intuition.

When a space is overly dominated by wood the

exact opposite of what I‟ve just described starts
to kick in. Growth can be stunted and creative
energies blocked.

35
You may also experience feelings of being overwhelmed…(just think of a
large foreboding tree casting a dark shadow over you).

When you want to introduce Wood into the areas of your home, one of the
best choices is a live plant or even silk flowers. Plants provide great Wood
energy when they‟re healthy, but if they aren‟t in very good shape be sure
to move them to a special recuperation area or replace them.

Artwork of rolling hillsides with trees and nature scenes of living foliage can
bring a Wood influence to a room.

Introduce flowers and plants that are welcoming and of a friendly

nature…(those whose leaves are rounded and not sharp or pointed).

#3 Fire Element and Energy

Well you guessed it. If your love life‟s in a slump chances are it needs a dose
of Fire! Fire embodies passion – it is the Element of action.

Fire is never still…think of jumping dancing flames!

If an area is in need of more lighting it is in need of Fire energy. Opening

windows and letting the sunshine in is exactly what this is!

Fire can be introduced into a space by adding lighting of

any sort. Candles work well, sunlight, gas or wood
fireplaces – anything that provides heat or light.

Our pets are considered Fire energy or any objects

derived from animals including bird‟s feathers can be
used to add Fire energy.

Often after the breakup of a relationship we tend to

retreat into ourselves…we tend to shut down or “douse”
our emotions and put the fire in our hearts out, in order
to heal.

We may even become numb for awhile. Then later on,

when someone special comes along all of a sudden we

36
feel that “spark” again and into the fire we go…we‟re back into the “heat of
the moment” once again!

Let‟s say you began a business awhile back. A few months have passed and
now you‟re just not as excited as you were at the beginning. Or you were
excited about learning a new skill and something else came along and took
your attention away.

The Feng Shui way of regaining that intense interest is to add some Fire into
the mix.

If you‟re looking to develop as a leader, the right amount of Fire energy

needs to be present. If too much Fire energy dominates a space – watch
out! Tempers flare…people become impatient or even aggressive.

4. Earth Element and Energy

When we think of the earth we often think of being grounded. If your life is
galloping away from you like a herd of wild mustangs on the frontier you
definitely need some Earth energy to settle you down.

You‟ve probably heard about being “centered”. If your life is out of control a
dose of Earth is just the thing to bring you back to that centered “I‟m in
control again” place. Your head stops spinning and you regain your sanity
and strength as a result.

Too much Earth influence however, is going to make you feel mired down
and heavy.

Everything seems like a huge effort when there‟s too much “earthiness.”
Plus your moods and the moods of the people you live with become heavy
and solemn when an overabundance of Earth Element is present.

To add more Earth into your space a nice pottery piece or ceramic will do the
trick or other artwork that portrays the earth – say a farmer‟s field ready for
planting or any scene that represents the earth in her natural form.

37
 Ceramic mugs bring in the Earth element

5. Metal Element and Energy

Metal is the opposite of Fire energy – cold and cool to the touch. A good
balance of Metal in the environment promotes independence and strong
intellect.

Chances are you‟ve heard the expression “sharp as a tack” to describe a

bright individual.

Metal can also be used as a communication booster and a force to propel

projects to completion.

When Metal energy is lacking direction becomes unclear. Plans or projects

that would normally be straightforward become difficult to determine -
confusion and chaos set in.

The tendency is to stop forward motion and put things on the back burner
for later.

To increase Metal in your environment any metallic object will do, as well as
rocks and stones of all types.

38
 Tibetan singing bowl adds Metal Energy

The Productive Cycle of the Five Elements

The Five Elements are engaged in an eternal dance that never ends. Similar
to Yin embracing, ever folding into Yang and vice versa, the Elements cannot
exist independently of one another. They are true co-dependents, but in a
healthy way!

The creation cycle is another name for the Productive Cycle of the Elements.
In essence what‟s happening is one Element is responsible for the direct
creation of another. They are all equal in their creation abilities.

The creation dance goes something like this:

Water is nourishment for Wood…(think of watering your garden or raindrops

for trees and plants) Wood feeds Fire…(of all the Elements, Wood is the
one that burns the best!) Fire makes ashes, which returns to the Earth
and adds to the matter of Earth. From the Earth comes Metal…(just visit
any mining operation for confirmation on this one!) and last but not least,
Metal leads to the birth of Water (the metal Mercury is a liquid…other
metals such as steel heated to higher temperatures become liquid).

Think about how this cycle works and commit it to memory if you can.
Knowing how the elements feed each other in the productive cycle will help
you when it comes to their practical applications in Feng Shui.

The Destructive Cycle of the Five Elements

39
In this cyclical dance the Five Elements are engaged in the act of
“destroying” each other…figuratively, that is. The law of science applies here
as well – “matter is neither created nor destroyed.”

Perhaps transformation is a better word than destructive when describing

this cycle because of the fact that the Elements aren‟t destroyed, they are
only changed to another form of energy.

In essence, they‟re keeping each other in check…just as Mother Nature (if

left to her own devices!)…maintains the balance of the food chain.

The transformative dance goes something like this:

Water douses Fire…then Fire melts Metal. Metal in turn chops

the wood. Wood takes its nourishment and nutrients from the
Earth…consuming it for its growth. Last but not least, Earth stops the
flow of Water (think of the Hoover dam).

Summary

Both Elemental cycles are necessary and integral. There is no good or evil
cycle. The concepts illustrate how these energetic essences and elements of
nature interact. In Feng Shui thought, the energies that the Five Elements
contain, along with their interactions directly impact the quality of your life.

You can use both of these cycles to your advantage in Feng Shui in order to
balance any disharmony occurring in your life, or in any of the life regions
you wish to improve. We‟ll discuss life regions when we talk about the Bagua
map.

For example, if a room has too much of the Fire Element present…say a big
wood stove is the centerpiece; the complimentary Element that can douse a
bit of that Fire is Water.

So if you had an aquarium in this room, or perhaps a glass statute or mirror

the Fire energy would still be present, just not consuming or overly
dominating the space.

The Fire Element is kept in check by the Water energy in the room.

40
A home design that promotes harmony will take into consideration the Five
Elements and will consciously place them to encourage the right balance of
energy and flow of positive Chi throughout the home.

This is an important aspect to understand – knowing how to increase or add

an influence to a space that is lacking an Element and knowing how to
lessen the energy impact of an overly dominant Element.

The flow of Chi will never be the same for every home and space because
each element possesses a different quality of Chi (energy). Feng Shui
teaches us how to control our environments by mixing and matching the
Elements in such a way so that we attract wealth, love and foster our
creative spirits. Awesome!

Pearl #7 – The Meaning of the Five Elements Colors and Shapes

Now that you‟ve gained an understanding of the Five Elements and their
cycles, let‟s begin the discussion of Feng Shui colors and shapes!

Feng Shui Color and Shape Meanings

Each Element is associated with a color, or range of colors. These colors

have meaning in Feng Shui. Most experts agree that introducing color to a
given area is one of the easiest ways to introduce the energy of a given
Element for balance and harmonious design.

So without further ado – let‟s get into the colors and shapes!

Water – navy blue is definitely a watercolor, as is black and the various

shades of gray. A tapestry of water imagery or drawings of water scenes and
colors is one way to add Water without actually having the Element present.

The shapes most commonly associated with Water are asymmetrical…the

forms are flowing and constantly changing. Think back for a moment…did
you ever study Amoebas in high school?

For me the Amoeba is an appropriate symbol for the Water Element…or if

you‟re familiar with Adobe Photoshop, the icon for the shape tool is an
undefined and rather formless shape that also seems appropriate for
representing Water.
41
Here‟s what Wikipedia has to say about the Amoeba: ―The amoeba was first
discovered by August Johann Rösel von Rosenhof in 1757.[3] Early naturalists
referred to Amoeba as the Proteus animalcule after the Greek god Proteus who
could change his shape.‖

Wood – tints or shades of green and brown are the colors for the Wood
element. Similar to Water, Wood is also known in Feng Shui for its ability to
attract abundance and prosperity into your life.

The shapes associated with Wood are the rectangle and the vertical column.
Installing a flag pole is a symbol of wood – any sort of pedestal or vertical
stand will also work, especially if Wood colors are a part of the design.

Just think of trees – made of wood, green leaves and brown bark and more
or less the shape of a column. Paper is made from wood and contains the
energy of this Element as well. Another way to add Wood influence to an
area is by adding its nourishing counterpart Water.

Fire – all the red tones, naturally! Also pinks and oranges can bring in the
Fire Element along with purple, and according to some Feng Shui experts a
strong yellow color (think of our sun).

The classic shape that represents Fire is the triangle. The way I remember
the triangle is the assistance Fire gives in one‟s career life. Think of yourself
at the top of the pyramid or triangle – you‟ve made it to the top thanks to
the expansion energy of Fire!

Earth – the color yellow…(lighter tints), earth tones and beige‟s bring Earth
energy to a space. The geometric symbols are the square and
rectangle…(but not a vertical rectangle this time!).

If memory serves, the number four in numerology means foundation and

solidity. When I think of a four legged table…(rather than a 3-legged stand,
for example)…that table is solid and grounded. It isn‟t going to tip over very
easily even if someone comes along and gives it a nudge.

Tables with four legs are square or rectangular in shape, same as Earth. If
you need to bring in more stabilizing energy or if the foundation for your life
is shaky in some way, introduce an Earth symbol such as a square table. You
can also bring in the energy of the Element that nourishes Earth, which is
Fire.
42
Metal – white is the predominant color of Metal, as well as gray tones and
light pastels. The geometric shape for the Metal Element is the circle. Other
shapes that carry Metal energy are those similar to the circle - oval, spheres
and ellipses. For example, a geodesic dome home would be “Metal” in
design.

Metal helps your mind stay clear and focused – it keeps you on your toes.
Because it helps strengthen your presence of mind, it can also enhance
communications and help stimulate new ideas.

Summary

The biggest thing to remember when choosing colors and shapes

is to maintain a balance of the Elements and reduce any excessive or
dominating energy.

Your ultimate goal is to design a harmonious place in every room of your

dwelling and a big part of that design takes colors and shapes into
consideration. But the biggest consideration of all is how it feels to you
personally.

You need to love the results!

Have fun making creative combinations of the Five Element colors and/or
shapes. Keep in mind that any object can contain more than just one
Element (most probably do).

For example, if a mirror is shaped as a rectangle, you have the Water energy
of the mirror and the Earth energy of the rectangle joining together in that
one piece!

The sky is truly the limit when it comes to uniting the Five Elements in
harmony within a space.

An old favorite in Feng Shui that unites all Five Elements in close quarters is
the aquarium.

If you have living plants in the aquarium or another column-like

representation of wood for the fish to swim around, you have the Wood
Element present.

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 Aquariums unite the Five Elements

The fish themselves actually contain the Fire energy in the tank! Naturally
Water is Water…(and so are the glass sides of the tank). A sandy bottom
calls in the Earth and any rock or crystals invoke Metal energy.

Think about the colors you love – which ones make you feel the best? Which
ones are you drawn to the most? Nothing is set in stone in Feng Shui. If you
don‟t like a color and it happens to be associated with an Element your
space is lacking, find another solution for bringing in that influence.

This is one of the joys of Feng Shui. You always have a myriad of choices
when it comes to enhancements. Colors and shapes can represent the Five
Elements in a space, as well as objects and materials.

Chances are that even the colors that aren‟t your favorites – there may be a
tint or shade of that color that you can warm up to.

But if not – that‟s OK…don‟t feel like you have to live with colors you really
don‟t like. Feng Shui is about creating spaces you love and who love you
back!

Take some time to sit quietly and think about the Five Elements and their
meaning. The colors and shapes of the Elements will come to your aid time
and again when it comes to making lovely energetic compositions in your
home.

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Pearl #8 – Intuition and the Feng Shui Layout for Your Home – the
BaGua Map for Solving Problems and Creating What You Want In Life.

Intuiting at the gut level…

A big part of Feng Shui success is the ability to sense the vibes or energies
happening in your immediate proximity.

With practice, you can become more aware of the inherent energy in any
given space you enter.

We all have intuition to some degree. The key is to become aware of our
intuition and hone it as a tool to be used in creating living spaces that are
just right, and ultimately ones that we love and love us back.

Do you have a favorite room in your house or apartment? If you do, have
you considered why it is your favorite? What is there about this space that
makes you feel better than any other space in your dwelling?

What feelings do you experience when you enter the room?

How about your least favorite room? How do you feel when you enter this
space? Most of us have been in places where we‟ve felt both ends of the
spectrum.

In some places we feel completely at home, at ease and very comfortable.

In other places we experience just the opposite – we‟re ready to jump out of
our skins. We‟re irritated by the surroundings but we don‟t know why. Plus,
we just can‟t wait to get the heck out of there!

Your own body will give you this sort of information about a place. Is the
hair on the back of your neck standing up? Not a good sign!

Feng Shui is all about keeping energies balanced and harmonized. It

encourages the flow and collection of positive vibes as well as clearing away
any negative Chi pockets that may have accumulated in rooms or dwellings.

Hone the Feng Shui skill of intuiting the energy of every place that you enter
until it becomes second nature.

Becoming conscious and intuitive of your surroundings is an integral part of

Feng Shui.
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The Meaning of the BaGua Map

The Chinese BaGua map is a tool used by Feng Shui practitioners and
enthusiasts to better understand, as well as enhance the energy contained
within various living spaces.

It is also referred to by some experts as the Lo Shu square. The map defines
and divides living spaces into distinct regions known as life aspects or life
regions.

The Chinese word “BaGua” (Ba equals “8” and Gua equals “trigram”) means
“eight trigrams.” The eight trigrams are found in the ancient text called the I
Ching, commonly known as the Chinese Book of Changes.

The Chinese trigram symbols express the various energy expressions found
within nature, such as Wood, Water, Fire, etc…

The shape most commonly associated with the classic Bagua map is the
octagon (since there are eight trigrams!).

The eight sides of the traditional octagon represent the eight main areas of a
person‟s life, known as the “Life Regions” or “Life Aspects.” Scroll down to
the color coded Bagua map below for the names of these different life
regions...(we‟ll be using a simple rectangle in place of the octagon shape).

The eight regions surround a center area. The center is commonly known as
the Balance and Health area, which touches and connects each section on
the map and is also a life region...(so in actuality, there are nine total life
regions when you include the center area).

Each life region on the Bagua map is a little world and compartment of its
own. Each life region corresponds to the most important aspects in a
person‟s life.

Each region is associated with one of the Five Elements and has color and
directional associations.

The names of the trigrams are included on the diagram below, as well as the
traditional compass directions for each distinct area.

The Bagua map is a powerful tool you can use to energetically map out the
areas of your home, an individual room in your home, your office, your
46
garden, your desktop or any space you wish to gain a clear Feng Shui
understanding of.

The Bagua map will help you understand the quality of energy in each
separate section you‟re working with and can be used to diagnose energetic
problems.

It‟s one of the primary tools that you use to figure out the energy of your
home or other spaces and act accordingly!

If Elements are out of balance in one of our life regions, the Bagua map
offers solutions for changes and enhancements.

For example, when things are not balanced or out of harmony in the Career
life region, there‟s a good chance your career is on hold or stalled out.

You may have inadvertently placed objects or symbols in this area of the
home or room that do not support your goals and desires for your career.

Perhaps there is too much Earth influence and not enough Water
energy…(you may recall that Earth stops Water from flowing in the
transformative cycle?)

The Bagua map helps you identify what needs to change - what Feng Shui
suggests in order to balance or enhance specific regions and help deliver the
results that you want for that particular part of your life.

If you recall, the healthy flow of Chi is integral to experiencing a higher

quality of life.

Similar to your physical body, which can develop unhealthy blockages due to
various factors such as a poor diet - your home, workplace or any structure
known to man can also experience energetic blockages.

A primary goal of Feng Shui is to create a healthy flow of Chi throughout all
of your living spaces. Just as your physical body needs healthy nutrients to
thrive and strengthen the flow of Chi, so too does your home.

Feng Shui helps your home hold and store up the positive Chi in all the
various life regions found in the Bagua map.

47
Another goal of Feng Shui is to help you understand how you as an
individual, as well as how others in your household are interacting with the
energy flowing (or not flowing) in your home.

Your home, as an energetic entity unto itself, may very well contain the
energies of previous dwellers, as well as current occupants.

Getting Squared Away with the BaGua Map

OK – let‟s get oriented! For this explanation, please refer again to the color
coded Bagua map diagram below.

Your starting position is the front door – this is how you‟ll orient yourself and
identify the nine life regions in this example exercise.

Imagine for a moment that your home is laid out exactly like the diagram –
it is a rectangle shape with the front door opening into the middle front area
– the Career area (traditional north).

So as you‟re standing in front of your home facing your front door, the back
left area is the Wealth and Prosperity region. The energy contained in this
region helps you attract and save money.

The region just to the right of this one is the Fame, Illumination and
Reputation region and to the right of that, the Love, Relationship and
Marriage region.

Remember, there are a total of nine life regions that you‟re going to become
familiar with as you begin utilizing this map for your own surroundings.

Try to commit these regions to memory if you can.

Instead of using the more traditional octagon shape we‟re going to use a
rectangle shape to identify the nine main life regions – see the diagram of
the simple Bagua map below:

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 The BaGua Map – Life Regions

Trigram = Sun Trigram = Li Trigram = K‟un

Life Region: Prosperity Life Region: Fame, Life Region: Love,

and Abundance Illumination and Relationships & Marriage
Reputation
Element: Wood Element: Earth
Element: Fire
Colors: purples, red and Colors: red and pink
blue tones Colors: red tones tones; white

Location: left rear Location: middle rear Location: right rear

Direction: Southeast Direction: South Direction: Southwest

Trigram = Chen or Jen Trigram = Tui or Dui

Life Region: Healthy Center Region Life Region: Creativity and

Family Children
Balance and Health
Element: Wood Element: Metal
Element: Earth
Colors: green tones/black Colors: white, gray tones
Colors: yellow and earth and pastels
Location: left center tones
Location: right center
Direction: East Location: center
Direction: West

Trigram = Ken or Gen Trigram = K‟an Trigram = Ch‟ien

Life Region: Inner Life Region: Career Life Region: Travel and
Knowledge and Self- Helpful People
Improvement Element: Water
Element: Metal
Element: Earth Colors: black and dark
blue tones Colors: white, grays and
Colors: black, brown, blue light pastels
and green tones Location: middle front
Location: right front
Location: left front Direction: North
Direction: northwest
Direction: Northeast

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 Example Entryway to Home or Room

SIDENOTE: In this example you‟re entering into the Career region of

the home and the arrow is the path to your imaginary front door. Of
course, all homes and entrances are different, but for simplicity, you
will use your front door as your orientation point. Bear in mind –
depending on how your blueprint lays out your front door may not be
opening into the Career region of your dwelling. It could also open
into the Helpful People and Travel area or the Inner Knowledge and
Self-Improvement region.

Creating and Working With Your Blueprint – Choice One

Now we‟ll cover a couple of different ways you can proceed to use the Bagua
map to relate to your existing space. This first approach is going to show
you how to map your home (house) as well as any outbuildings and exterior
features, such as decks, pools, sheds, etc…

There are different approaches to using and applying the Bagua map in Feng
Shui. All have value – we‟ll try to keep it simple!

Begin by sketching out the areas of your home and any add-ons such as a
garage, pool area, outdoor Jacuzzi, deck, porches, etc. Draw this from the
perspective of looking down on the property from a bird‟s eye view, as if you
were hovering over the property with a sketch pad and could even see right
through the roof!

For now, we‟ll be working with your entire home and add-ons, but remember
you can apply the Bagua map to any individual room, or even to your garage
or garden!

Once you have this information sketched on a piece of paper, you‟ll need to
contain everything inside of a big rectangle, which is going to be the outside
50
border for your Bagua map. Make sure that the two short sides and the two
long sides of your rectangle are approximately the same length.

Your home is contained inside this big rectangle, as well as the garage, any
decks, etc…

SIDENOTE: You‟ll create your big rectangle, but

chances are there may be an “empty” spot or two…in
other words there may be nothing in a particular area or
life region except for a part of the lawn, or the driveway,
etc…

Once you have the drawing completed, divide it up into nine equal parts, as
this is going to be your Bagua map.

Your home plus any add-ons (garage, deck, pool area, etc…) could sketch
out as a rectangular shape without large “empty” spaces in-between. If you
don‟t want to make lines on your drawing, place a clear plastic sheet over
your rectangular sketch (with ink lines that divide it visually into nine equal
parts).

Now you can see where the nine different life regions are – just label each
region on your clear plastic piece with a marker or adhesive label. Make sure
that north is the front of the house…(where your front door is).

If your sketch ends up being more of an “L” shape, for example, and you
placed this clear plastic (divided into nine equal parts) over your “L” shaped
sketch, then some areas of your Bagua map are going to be found outdoors
or considered “missing”…such as the open yard area in the sketch below.

Everything is still “inside” your original rectangle, just not necessarily found
inside the walls of your home or add-on structures. Don‟t panic! This isn‟t
necessarily a disaster because there are Feng Shui enhancements you can
perform for “missing” regions.

Figure (1-a) below is a simple sketch of a home and a few add-ons. As you
can see, we have to extend a dotted line toward the back of the property in
each direction in order to form the complete rectangle.

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In this example, the front door opens into the Helpful People and Travel
region. When you know which life region your front door opens into, you can
easily determine where the rest of the regions are on your Bagua map.

If this were your drawing, you would divide each section into nine equal
parts, including the yard areas, garden, shed, etc…

Of course, you would take measurements of the short and long side of the
rectangle in order to find the approximate thirds for each.

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Creating and Working With Your Blueprint – Choice Two

You can choose to work with your immediate space and leave off the add-
ons such as the garage, outbuildings, etc.

The principles are the same. Figure 1-b below is a rudimentary sketch of the
exterior walls of a home divided into the nine regions (shaped primarily as a
rectangle for simplicity‟s sake) with a portion of the Inner Knowledge and
Self-Improvement life region “missing”, or found outside the actual exterior
walls of the home.

If you choose to use the Bagua map in this way, you‟ll still draw a
rectangular sketch – but instead of drawing out your entire property, draw
the exterior walls of your home, making sure to extend any “missing” areas
with a dotted line.

In figure 1-b below the front door is found in the Inner Knowledge and Self-
Improvement area. In figure 1-a, the front door opens into the Helpful
People and Travel area, and in the Bagua map colored illustration above the
imaginary front door opens into the Career life region.

As you face the front door of your dwelling, only one of these three life
regions will contain your front door. This is your starting point for sake of
simplicity and ease of orienting the Bagua map.

(Please scroll down to Figure 1-b below):

53
Most Feng Shui experts recommend that you first work with the entire Bagua
map of your home (or home and surrounding areas if you‟re opting for
54
choice one), because the entire structure has a greater concentration of Chi
than the individual rooms. Once you‟ve enhanced the home at large, then
you can begin working with the individual rooms.

As each room is going to have its own map, the chances of an individual
room being oriented in the same way as your home as a whole is unlikely.
This is because the doorways for individual rooms aren‟t going to necessarily
be in the same position as the front entrance to your home.

And yes, for mapping individual rooms, you will use the main door into the
room for your reference point! For an area such as a garden (or any other
area that doesn‟t have a door)…use north as a starting reference point.

If your living space contains more than one story, you can transpose your
map to any floor. We‟ll cover some information on making Feng Shui
improvements to missing areas later in this book.

So that‟s it in a nutshell! Now that you have a clearer understanding of the

Bagua Map, most of the remaining chapters will focus on improving and
enhancing each life region.

Have fun playing with your Bagua map – once you get going you‟ll see how
easy it is to work with. You may even become addicted to it once you
experience some positive results!

Think about the various life regions – which areas of your life are in need of
immediate attention? Which areas can wait a bit?

It‟s time to swing into action with Feng Shui!

Pearl #9 – Health Boosters and Longevity the Feng Shui Way

The Center of it All…

The Chinese believe that the application and practice of Feng Shui, which
includes the display of special symbols in the home creates a blessed life of
longevity and good health. How appropriate then that the life region of
Health and Balance is found in the very center of the BaGua Map!

55
You can have all the money and fame in the world, but as the old saying
goes – if you don‟t have your health you have nothing!

All the other life regions contact this primary center area, as shown on the
Bagua and all are affected by the energy generated and stored in this pivotal
center region. As it relates to business, the “health” of this sector could
positively or negatively impact the financial well being of your business.

Translate this to other life regions – the health of your children, your family,
having a “healthy” reputation, etc…and you begin to see the importance of
maintaining positive Feng Shui in this life region.

Chinese Symbols of Longevity

As you may have noticed, the Chinese are quite adept when it comes to
conveying deep symbolic meanings to a variety of objects, be they animate
or inanimate…(of course, we know the truth about this, as all things are alive
according to Feng Shui!).

The Chinese love to fill their surroundings with lucky symbols and imagery
that help create a long and healthy life, prosperous business ventures and
good luck for descendants, as well as protection from sickness and bad luck.

Displaying emblems of good fortune is a great way of inviting good Chi into
your home for overall well-being, happiness and a peaceful life.

You can take your inspiration from the traditional Feng Shui symbols listed
below, or enhance your surroundings with symbols from an entirely different
culture or even ones that have a special meaning for you and you alone. The
choice is yours!

The Chinese believe that longevity is not only about living a long life; it‟s
also about the quality of life and good health a person has.

Longevity symbols in Feng Shui are believed to protect inhabitants from

unlucky occurrences such as car accidents, deadly flu strains and
catastrophic illnesses such as cancer or Alzheimer‟s disease.

No Chinese home is fully protected or enhanced without the presence of

certain longevity symbols and objects.

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Listed below are some of the better-known longevity
symbols. Including artful representations of these
symbols in your home will foster good health and a
long and happy life!

Pine tree – a revered Chinese symbol for long

life, the pine is known for its endurance and
steadfastness through the harshest of winter
conditions. If you have pine trees on your property this is a wonderful
omen for longevity. Maintaining a healthy stand of pines is thought to
provide long and happy lives for property residents.

Gourd – the bottle gourd is well known for conveying good luck as
well as longevity. The elixir of immortality is said to be contained
within the gourd that Sau, the Chinese God of longevity, has fastened
to the top of his staff. Gourds are often painted with
the Chinese symbol for longevity and then placed in
appropriate locations to deflect any negative Chi, thus
ensuring a long life.

Crane – a long-standing traditional representation of

immortality. Images and sculptures of cranes are
thought to bestow a long and happy life. The black
crane is associated most strongly with longevity and is
said to live well over 500 years.

Bat – another favorite Chinese symbol for living a long and fulfilled
life. Amulets and pendants with bat imagery are worn to ward off bad
luck and at the same time, beckon the winds of good fortune. The “five
good fortunes” is a grouping of five bats together representing Health,
Wealth, Longevity, Virtue and Love. Longevity is the value of the Five
Fortunes that is held in the highest esteem.

Bamboo – having outstanding qualities of durability and endurance,

bamboo is another strong symbol of long life. Bamboo is notorious for
being able to withstand strong winds and storms, enduring inclement
weather yet remaining resilient and undefeated. Bamboo with solid
stems indicates a life free of sickness and ill health.

57
 Tortoise – the tortoise is another potent symbol of
longevity, as well as embodying a myriad of other
deeper meanings, such as prosperity and protection.
Having tortoise imagery in the center region
represents solid support for the entire family,
bestowing good luck and favorable fortunes. The
tortoise may also be displayed appropriately in other
areas of the home, such as the Wealth and Prosperity
life region.

Deer – a graceful and enduring animal, the deer is another symbolic

representation for long life as well as prosperity. The deer is a
powerful symbol to have in a home office or work cubicle as this
powerful agile animal fosters healthy financial growth for business
endeavors.

Other cultures have their own unique symbols that represent longevity and
good health. Have fun exploring the various symbols of other traditions. Use
your imagination and creativity when choosing or creating these
representations.

Remember that longevity symbols or any other type of symbol can be

brought into your space in various ways – through visual representations
(sense of sight)…through aromatherapy (sense of smell…pine‟s essential oil,
for bringing in pine tree essence for example)…it‟s entirely up to you! Just
make sure that you love your results!

Closing All Drains

In Feng Shui great importance is placed on energy – the quality of energy in

our environments, as well as the ability of that energy to flow and
accumulate in life regions where we want accumulations…such as good
health and wealth, for example.

Flowing and accumulating positive Chi is the ultimate Feng Shui goal!

In the next section, I touch upon the importance of keeping the drains in
your home in good working order. It is important for overall good Chi that
your drains are not clogged, as this signifies stagnating conditions in the
home.
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Just as important in Feng Shui is the covering of any drains when not in use.
Symbolically, an open drain situation equates to a “draining away” of vital
energies, health, finances and luck.

People often speak of feeling “drained” when they are tired or overworked.
Having uncovered drains in the house will magnify this feeling of being
drained and will foster conditions that result in draining circumstances. Not
good!

This is why Feng Shui masters and practitioners across the board
recommend closing drains when not in use. Develop new habits, such as
always closing the toilet lid and covering the drain for any tubs or showers,
as well as all sink drains.

I have a cassette tape series published by one of my favorite companies,

Nightingale-Conant Corporation on developing Prosperity Consciousness.
It was recorded by prosperity consciousness teacher and musician Frederic
Lehrman a few years ago.

In one of the tapes, Frederic talks about the principles of accumulating

wealth, and asks the question whether or not we believe we could live on
90% of our income? If we can, then that means 10% of our income can be
consistently saved and accumulated.

Imagine how much more wealth we would have if we put this into practice?

In order to do this, we have to make the commitment to “plug” our financial

leaks. The illustration he gave was one of a bathtub drain. If the tub drain is
always open, it is impossible to “save”. No financial energy can accumulate if
it is constantly being drained away…how true! Not to mention the health
impacts of this condition.

Feng Shui recognizes that the Health and Balance region, along with the
Wealth and Prosperity region are both poor locations for the bathroom, as
the bathroom is one area where draining occurs quite often - even more
than the kitchen.

In addition to covering all drains, Feng Shui experts suggest keeping the
doors to bathrooms closed at all times, in order to protect the energy of the
rest of the home. If you do decide to keep the door closed, a suggestion is
to hang a full-length mirror on the door, which helps magnify the energy in
59
the rest of the house and has the effect of detracting attention from the
drains.

Regardless of where your bathroom is located, use your creativity to spruce

the place up! Candles and essential oils make for a nice ambiance when
you‟re treating yourself to a long luxurious soak in the tub.

A touch of the Wood Element is a welcome addition to bathroom areas as

Water nourishes Wood in the productive cycle. Consider adding a bamboo
plant or other indoor plant that will thrive well in your bathroom or an
artificial representation if live plants aren‟t feasible for you.

Bamboo Bathroom Enhancement

Practical Home Enhancements for Better Health

Feng Shui recognizes the importance of life‟s basics for fostering great
health, like the quality of water we drink or bathe in, the air quality of our
homes and even the quality of the food we eat!

For example, good Feng Shui for any home would insist upon an efficient air
purifying system, as well as a good filtering system for the home‟s water
supply and a higher end filter for drinking water.
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Making consistent healthy food choices is also vital as in doing so, we give
priority to life‟s greatest asset – our good health. Support your local organic
food growers and buy the best quality food you can afford to buy. Or
perhaps you‟re ready to grow your own organic vegetables? Just make sure
to steer clear of those toxic fertilizers and pesticides!

In an upcoming section, we‟ll touch upon the importance of the stove and
having the cook empowered by being in a position of strength at the stove.

The stove is an important energy source for all the home‟s inhabitants. It is
vitally important to keep the stove and surrounding area clean for optimal
Feng Shui and health.

Regular maintenance of your home‟s duct system is good for air quality, and
is especially important if you have pets…(especially cats). Have your ducts
cleaned regularly to reduce airborne allergies and breathing challenges. This
is a different sort of clutter, but clutter nonetheless!

SIDENOTE: Did you know that installing a high efficiency furnace can
save you hundreds of dollars a year in heating costs, greatly improve
indoor air quality and help reduce your environmental footprint?

At the time of this writing the Canadian government is offering grants

for residential home owners to upgrade their heating and cooling
systems. We know this because we received $1,600 in grant money for
installing a 96% high efficiency furnace this year! Your government may
offer energy efficiency incentives so be sure to check.

I encourage you to do a bit of research on high efficiency furnaces, as

well as other smart ways to reduce costs and live in a cleaner more
comfortable home. Even if you don‟t live in Canada, the Natural
Resources Canada website provides a wealth of related information.

Check over the other energy conduits of your home, including plumbing and
electrical wiring. Are the drains working well? Is the wiring old or are there
any circuits that no longer work or prone to blowing?

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Make sure the electrical circuits in your home are balanced and not carrying
a larger load than they should.

Attending to these house issues is good Feng Shui, and is also basic to your
home‟s overall health and safety. Make thorough repairs to your home when
it comes to these systems.

Ridding your home of toxic chemicals is also good practical Feng Shui.
Indoor pollution is a very real problem. Thankfully, there is an increasing
demand for non-toxic household cleaners as more people become aware of
health problems associated with toxic chemical cleaners.

Shaklee Corporation, in business for over fifty years, offers healthy solutions
for consumers when it comes to using people and animal friendly cleaning
products. Replace toxic products living under your kitchen and bathroom
sink with healthier environmentally friendly choices.

You may also want to have your home checked for radon gas levels, as
radon gas has been proven to be directly linked to lung cancer.

Practical Quality of Life Strategies for Better Health

Earlier in the section entitled “Taming the Clutter Beasties” I touched upon
the subject of inner clutter, which includes bodily, emotional, mental and
spiritual clutter.

If outer clutter has manifested in your life throughout your surroundings, it

is likely you also have inner clutter accumulating on various levels. What we
create in our outer world is a reflection of what‟s going on inside.

When it comes to your physical body, keep these key essential points in
mind. Review these bullet points until you develop these new daily habits:

Drink enough water – hydrating yourself upon first rising is a great

way to start the day – before taking any other food. A local doctor of
homeopathy suggests drinking a “not too cold” glass of water with a
teaspoon of honey and a fresh squeeze of organic lemon. Do this
consistently for two weeks and feel the results! You‟ll not only love
how you feel, you‟ll want to continue this every morning, as part of
your routine. Continue to sip water throughout the day…have a glass

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beside you at all times, if possible. This helps the body stay hydrated
and also helps boost energy levels!

This same doctor of homeopathy suggests drinking a full glass of water

20 minutes before a meal, abstaining from drinking fluids during the
meal and waiting until at least an hour after a meal before taking
water again. Avoid alcohol if possible, as alcohol hinders the liver‟s
ability to absorb nutrients.

Chewing food – if we would just chew our food more! Chewing food
to what may feel like excess has a couple of important benefits. First,
it makes it easier and more enjoyable to swallow without having to
drink fluids during a meal. Water or other fluids during eating makes it
tougher for our bodies to digest food – the acids that break down the
food are diluted as a result.

Second big benefit – much easier on the internal organs associated

with digestion. Most people in the West have an enlarged pancreas.
This is because our eating habits are extremely taxing to the pancreas.
Good digestion begins in the mouth!

Breathing – become conscious of your breathing. Most people are

shallow breathers and fail to take many deep breaths during the day.
Practice intervals of deep breathing, especially breathing out fully, as
this helps release tensions and symbolizes letting go to life and being
able to “go with the flow.” Learn to visualize while breathing out – see
your stresses and tensions taking their leave with each exhale.

Proper nourishment – much information exists on how to accomplish

this. Taking smaller amounts of food at more frequent intervals during
the day is better for you than consuming three big meals a day.

Sleep – a solid 7 to 9 hours is considered optimal by many experts.

Exercise – vital body Feng Shui is to exercise daily. We all have the
occasional day where fitting in the exercise is impossible. Make a
commitment to the New You to do this consistently every day. You‟ll
feel so much better because of it! Brisk walking for half an hour,
treadmill, riding a bike…get your body moving everyday for more
energy and better overall health. Consider doing some sort of muscle

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 toning every second day – strength building in order to prevent
muscles from atrophying.

Oral hygiene – extremely vital to overall good health. Removing the

clutter of trapped food particles by flossing regularly promotes healthy
gums, results in fewer cavities and helps reduce bacteria in the
mouth...(not to mention embarrassing bad breath!). Regular cleaning
and checkups are essential for overall good health and avoidance of
costly periodontal disease.

Just as important to fostering great health for the rest of your life is the
work of keeping your body‟s toxin removal systems in good working
condition, as well as the optimal functioning of your body‟s major organs.

Clearing your body of toxic clutter is extremely important…your

very life could depend on it!

Detoxing the body‟s organs with the help of a qualified professional is

primary to building a solid health foundation. Detoxing is one inner body
Feng Shui practice that should be done following a regular maintenance
schedule.

I never knew how important colon cleansing was until reading a rather life
jolting report entitled ―Death Begins in the Colon‖ by world leading
neutraceutical researcher and cutting edge formulary consultant Jon Barron.
Below are a few links for easy reference. I encourage you to read this
specific report, and to check out these other Baseline of Health Foundation
links:

Death Begins in the Colon

Why We Detox

How to Detox

Herbal Formula Clinically Proven to Remove Heavy Metals

Gall Bladder and Kidney

Liver and Blood Cleansing

In the report “Death Begins in the Colon”, some of the highlights include
taking a look at the vastness of this problem. Also touched upon are the
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various digestive disorders prevalent due to unhealthy digestive tracts, poor
Western diet, etc. Jon mentions the fact that digestive complaints prompt
more doctor visits than any other category of ailments in the United States.

You‟ll also discover in this report that the cause of disease can be linked to
having a sluggish bowel (the report goes into more detail on this aspect).
Having this condition results in the retention and continual absorption of
toxic wastes unable to effectively leave the body, which naturally leads to
disease.

Having a sluggish bowel can result in a perpetual lack of energy and other
problems such as constipation. Chronic constipation is not only
uncomfortable, it is a serious health concern and may indicate that a colon
cleanse is in order.

If you adhere to a mostly Western diet, chances are your body is suffering
because of it. Most Westerners have impacted fecal material in their colons
and a load of heavy metal toxins that need to be flushed out periodically.
Living in this polluted state can lead to an overall compromised state of
health.

According to Jon Barron and many other herbal specialists, regular colon
cleansing is a vitally important step in the right direction when it comes to
preventing catastrophic illnesses, as well as living a healthier and more
energy filled life.

You cannot believe how much better you feel – how much additional energy
you‟ll have after a good colon cleanse…I can‟t say enough good things about
it!

When it comes to colon, kidney/gall bladder and liver/blood cleanses I have

a comfort level with Jon Barron‟s products as I have used his products first
hand on numerous occasions and can vouch for their quality and
effectiveness. I highly encourage you to take the 30 minutes or so to check
out the links above.

When you go to Jon‟s website, be sure to download and print out (and read,
of course!) his well-known book “Lessons from the Miracle Doctors”.

The 2002 edition of the book is free to download, or you can purchase the
expanded 2008 version in hard copy. The book will give you a much
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stronger understanding of maintaining a proper “baseline of health” as well
as the overall importance of detoxification.

You‟ll learn about consuming a healthy diet, proper water consumption, how
to prevent catastrophic illnesses and other vital information on many health
related topics.

Karen Kingston, author of “Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui” gives a
reference in the resource section of her book to an herbalist she
recommends for colon cleansing products – Dr. Christopher of “Healthforce
Regeneration Systems”. For further information, visit the website Karen cites
in her book:

www.healthforce.net

For more in-depth information on the importance of colon cleansing from a

Feng Shui perspective, as well as proven strategies for clearing the inner
emotional and mental clutter, consider purchasing a copy of Karen
Kingston‟s book. She will help you gain a better Feng Shui understanding of
how to revolutionize your life from the inside out for greater lasting health
and happiness!

Pearl #10 – Feng Shui for Revitalizing Love or Finding Romance!

You know, sometimes making the simplest of adjustments and shifts when
applying the principles of Feng Shui can make a world of difference.
Remember toward the beginning of this book – the question was asked
whether or not Feng Shui was complicated?

I‟m here to tell you that it really isn‟t hard to make simple-to-implement
Feng Shui choices for this area of your life…or really any area, for that
matter!

I can count on one hand the people I‟ve met who are truly happy being on
their own without a primary relationship. There are some who have claimed
that they‟re happy, but down deep they are secretly missing that special
closeness and intimacy that most of us desire having with another human
being.

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So if your goal is to find a new romance or rev up one that‟s already in
progress, dig into the Pearl below on how to use Feng Shui to attract more
of what you really want for this special part of your life!

Starting with the Bagua Map

If you refer to your Bagua map, the Relationship & Marriage life region is
located in the right rear section of your home in relation to your front door
or traditionally in the southwest corner, if you‟re using the compass method.

Your bedroom may not fall within this sector of your home. If not, that‟s OK.
You can still make enhancements for romance to this area, as well as within
your bedroom.

The environment we create in our bedrooms as well as the Relationship life

region impacts the quality of the relationship we have with our significant
other much more than we realize. What‟s happening in this part of the home
is either promoting intimacy or taking away and reducing it.

Out with the Clutter and Letting Go of the Past

If you recall from the earlier section entitled “Taming the Clutter Beasties”
you‟re aware that having clutter around has a way of keeping things
stagnant and cementing old situations and patterns into place. Not what you
want for attracting new love energies!

Begin revitalizing this life region by clearing out any “stuff” that you no
longer use or have any positive feelings for. Look at the artwork or images
you have in this life region or in your bedroom.

Are there any solitary figures or representations of only one of something? If

so, replace these items with meaningful pairs and symbols of love. We‟ll
cover this aspect in more detail shortly.

Is there anything depressing in this area, or any images or reminders of

hurtful occurrences in past relationships? Are you having trouble letting go
of a hurtful relationship? What emotions do the images you‟ve chosen
convey? Is there a photo or painting of a sad or forlorn looking person? Is
there anything present here that might be keeping you from moving forward
in your love life?

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You may not realize this, but you could be subconsciously storing and
hanging on to items, photos or written materials that keep you living and
locked in the past. When it comes to creating romance and intimacy be
mindful and aware of anything that may be keeping you stuck.

Actually, just being mindful is probably too mild in this case. Be absolutely
diligent with yourself when it comes to this! Get rid of anything that makes
you feel lonely, unloved, angry or experience any other emotion that is
counterproductive to what you‟re trying to create.

Are there any books you‟ve outgrown or are letting pile up in this space?
Time to find them new homes or have a yard sale!

Whether it‟s re-igniting a fading

romance or fanning the flames of a
new one, you have to foster and
nurture the positive flow of Chi within
this life region and in your bedroom.

This is why clutter clearing and placing

appropriate symbols and colors that
attract more of what you want within
any given life region is so extremely
important…(this goes for your love life, attracting wealth, etc…).

It really boils down to this - the “nature” of Chi energy for attracting
romance is different than the energy that attracts wealth.

By doing a few simple Feng Shui enhancements, you‟re giving yourself the
power to summon the “correct” energy for the space you‟re working with.
Pretty neat stuff and a low cost way to get the results you want!

The Almighty Bedroom

The master bedroom is one of the most important areas of any home. Feng
Shui teaches that the best location for the master bedroom is in the back
half of the house, away from the front door.

This location helps the occupants feel safe and protected from an overly
demanding and at times, intrusive outside world. This makes sense, as the

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rear of the home is generally quieter. Make this your ideal place to retreat to
for rejuvenation and relationship joy.

In Pearl#11 on page 84, there‟s a photo of a bed placed in what is known in

Feng Shui as the “commanding position”. Here are some important tips to
keep in mind when positioning your bed and working with your bedroom
space:

Position your bed away from the main door into the bedroom with
the headboard against a solid wall.

Bed should have a sturdy headboard. Again, the headboard is best

positioned against a wall and secured firmly to the bed.

Bed occupants have a clear view of the bedroom door. Best to

have only one door in and out of the bedroom, so that the energy you
want to hold here has a better chance of remaining in the bedroom.

If the bedroom suite has a bathroom attached, make sure the

bathroom has a door and that it remains closed.

Make sure the door into the bedroom is unimpeded. It should

swing freely open without hindrance and should be in good working
order. For example, if the door is dragging on the carpet, you‟ll want
to trim the bottom of the door to allow it to open easily. If the door is
blocked in anyway, or opens with any difficulty it has the effect of
“blocking” the flow of Chi into the room. The same principles apply for
the main entrance into your home!

Make sure there are no sharp objects or corners aimed at the bed
(known in classic Feng Shui as “poison arrows” or Shar Chi). This
causes occupants to feel threatened and drains away feelings of
security and romance. Remove any threatening objects from the
bedroom, or if that isn‟t possible cover them in some creative way.
Remove plants that have sharp needles or thorns such as cactus.

For sharp corners that cannot be moved, some Feng Shui experts
suggest hanging a faceted crystal between the bed and the corner to
help neutralize any “attacking Chi”.

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 Don’t place your bed in the direct line of the door – it is very bad
Feng Shui to have a bedroom door opening directly into the end of the
bed…(where the occupant‟s feet would normally be).

Performing these simple adjustments can have the powerful effect of freeing
up blocked energy or communication lines between you and your current
partner, not to mention opening up the pathways for a new and exciting
romance!

Clearing Away Distractions and Inappropriate Energies

The bed is the “main stage” of the bedroom, or at least it should be! How
can you expect to connect with your partner if you have a home
entertainment center in your bedroom with the TV running every night? Or
attract a new love into your life?

There are plenty of other areas in your home for the entertainment center
and television. Is it the TV you really want your primary relationship with? I
didn‟t think so!

If you have a TV in your bedroom, the best thing you can do is relocate it to
another area of the house or at the very least, keep it enclosed within a
furniture piece so that the TV isn‟t “present” all the time in the bedroom.

Do you have a telephone next to your bed? Depending on your

circumstances, you may or may not need a phone in the bedroom. Just
remember, you‟re trying to clear this space of any distractions.

The next thing to go is any exercise equipment in your special haven of

romance and rest. Exercise is something we all need and hopefully love
doing…but not in the place where passion is happening!

The energy of exercise is contrary to the energy of lovemaking, rest and

rejuvenation. Move exercise equipment out of your bedroom if possible.

Same thing goes for a home office. The energy of business and work clashes
with the feelings you want to foster in the bedroom – primarily those of
romance, passion and peaceful restoration.

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If you cannot relocate your home office due to space constrictions, the next
best thing is to place a decorative screen or some sort of visual barrier that
separates this area from the rest of your bedroom.

You don‟t want your work distracting you from giving your partner your full
attention, or disrupting your sleep with constant reminders of what needs to
be done for your business.

When your life is well balanced…(which is a big part of what Feng Shui
accomplishes)…there is a time and place for everything!

Another important thing to be aware of is the effect mirrors have in the

bedroom. Many people have mirrors in their bedrooms nowadays as many
dresser designs incorporate attached mirrors.

Many people also hang full length mirrors on the back of their bedroom door
for checking how they look before venturing out for the day.

The truth is this. Mirrors tend to cause major energetic problems in the
bedroom. Mirrors should never reflect the bed, according to classic Feng
Shui.

Mirrors can be directly responsible for negatively impacting a sleeping couple

and for causing stress in a marriage – potentially leading to arguments,
infidelity and even divorce!

Bedroom with overpowering closet mirrors

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Since mirrors give off such disruptive energy patterns that are also
responsible for sleep disturbances, the Feng Shui cure is to either remove all
mirrors from the bedroom or keep them covered during the nocturnal hours.

In general, a good rule of thumb for the bedroom is to decorate tastefully

and invitingly without overdoing it. We‟ll get into some specifics on that in
just a moment!

Creating Space for a New Love

The Chinese live by their symbols and so much of Feng Shui is embodied in
the significance of symbols and their unique meanings.

In the next section, we‟ll be using symbols, colors and art for attracting
romance, but for now, let‟s focus on some powerful actions you can take to
usher in the new love of your life.

First of all, take a look at your bedroom. Is there a nice blend and balance of
yin and yang energy in the room? If you want to attract a member of the
opposite sex, this is an important balance to have.

For example, if you‟re a single man ask yourself whether or not your
bedroom is inviting to a woman? Is it only catering to your own single guy
tastes right now? Is your bed pushed up against one wall?

If so, there‟s a lack of balance and the side of the bed next to the wall isn‟t
“open” for your new love to easily enter the bed or move freely around the
bed. Remember, you‟re striving for balance and equality in your new
relationship.

If your bed is in this position, move it away from the wall and place an
attractive nightstand beside it. Doing this energetically “opens up” the other
side of the bed for a new partner. Having a nightstand on both sides of the
bed conveys the energy of a couple in the room…(you can also put a lamp
on each stand, a clock, etc…)…see how this works?

Another action step is to consciously make room for your new partner. Have
you taken a look at your closet lately? Do your clothes take up all the room
or is there some space in there for a second person‟s clothes? If not, create
some space for your new partner to hang up his or her clothes.

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If you have an extra closet, you could move some of your clothes in there.
Go through your clothes and see if you can give away the items you no
longer wear…(doing this alone is great Feng Shui!).

For example, in a climate where there are four seasons – if it‟s the middle of
summer and you have your winter clothes in your closet or dresser drawers
taking up space, buy some storage bins and file them away until it‟s time to
put away your summer stuff. Instant extra space!

Same thing goes for dresser drawers. Ideally, you would have two separate
dressers in the bedroom – one for you and one for your new love. If you
only have one dresser, the same principle applies. Open up some new
space…even emptying out one drawer sends an invitation to the universe for
that special person to enter and fill the space with their presence.

One small point of clarification - you don‟t have to be completely exact when
it comes to making space for your new partner. You don‟t need to be too
analytical about this and try for exactly 50% space clearing in your
bedroom, closet, drawers, etc...

The most important thing is that you‟re starting the process and putting the
energy in motion. Beginning the space making process will go a long way
toward bringing your new love to you.

Another important thing to check is the route from point A to point B. Say
what? OK let me explain! Point A is your front door and point B is the door to
your bedroom. Now take a walk from point A to point B. Are there any
obstacles in the way? Is it easy to navigate? If not, move any objects
causing obstructions out of the way.

Make it as easy and as effortless as possible to arrive at your bedroom door!

Think creatively about ways you can open the space in your bedroom for a
new love to comfortably enter. Sit quietly in your bedroom and “feel” the
energy of new romance. Visualize how pleased your new love will be when
he or she first enters your bedroom and sees how inviting, warm and cozy it
is.

The more detail you put into your creative visualizations, the more effective
you‟ll be when it comes to attracting what you want. Imagine the clothing of

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your new love hanging in the closet…the extra toothbrush in the
bathroom…the person‟s favorite slippers tucked under the bed. Enjoy!

Inviting the Energy of Love – Romance Enhancers

OK – let‟s dig into some fun and effective enhancements for romance!

First of all, what do you already own that spells “romance” for you? Are
there any meaningful symbols you‟d like to add to this life region or part of
your bedroom? Take a look at what you already own that holds a romantic
connotation for you and see if any of these items feel at home in the
Relationship region of your home!

In traditional Chinese Feng Shui, a pair of mandarin ducks have long

represented romance and loving committed relationships.

People often purchase mandarin duck sculptures from Chinese shops, or

display paintings that contain the two ducks in this life region of their home
or bedroom.

Another famous pair in Chinese lore that helps create a happy marriage
without conflicts or separations are a pair of geese. This is another fine
choice for a wall hanging that ensures a fulfilled relationship.

Imagery that contains pairs…whether it is artwork, photos, sculptures,

etc…especially things that convey feelings of romance or happiness can work
here.

Mandarin duck couple

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Yet another famous symbol for relationship and marriage bliss is the Double
Happiness sign. The tradition was to carve this symbol into pieces of a new
bride and groom‟s bedroom furniture, or display it in other ways, including
calligraphy.

Dragon and Phoenix with the Chinese character meaning “double happiness”.

Another powerful enhancer for romance that you can easily incorporate into
your bedroom or romance life region are faceted crystals. Crystals stir up
the energy of love and romance. They make great additions to your
nightstands, as this places them in close proximity to the bed. Quartz and
amethyst crystals are suggested, as are smooth round crystal balls.

Another strong symbol for enhancing couple energy is the peach. Peaches
are considered a most auspicious (marked by success or favorable) fruit. The
peach is a strong marriage symbol and having a painting with peaches in
your bedroom is thought to conjure romance and invite marriage
opportunities for singles.

If you recall the ―Productive Cycle of the Elements‖ section, adding touches
of the Earth Element in whatever creative way appeals to you is also
advised, as well as the Element that feeds Earth, which is Fire.
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When we think of romance, we relate to the energy of Fire - that special
spark we feel or warm glow we get when we think of that special person or
dream of a new love interest. Candles are great love enhancers and create
the right ambiance for love, and of course, are embodiments of Fire energy.

Not long ago I was at a gift shop that had a beautiful volcano shaped candle
holder made of mineral salt that held a small tea candle in the middle. This
was ideal for bringing in Fire energy, as it was in the shape of a triangle and
also contained a candle. The shop also offered lamps in triangle shapes,
which work just as well energetically.

Remember the colors for this area? Reds, pinks and whites are your best
choices. These colors are good Feng Shui choices for sheets in the bedroom.
Don‟t be afraid of pink sheets guys…your new love will appreciate that you‟re
working on bringing out your feminine side!

These colors are also good colors for your bedroom walls, although bright
red might be a bit much! Just use your common sense when choosing wall
colors or wall paper for this life region. You don‟t want to come across as
overbearing or desperate.

A painting with a couple holding hands or embracing is also a nice

enhancement for this region. Look for a scene where you‟d find yourself the
happiest – perhaps walking along an ocean beach hand in hand or watching
a sunset on a mountain top?

Here‟s yet another option, if you have the time and inclination. Get your
creative juices flowing and make a “romance” collage! This can be made of
anything that symbolizes what you want the most from a new relationship.

This Feng Shui strategy can also be used if you‟re in a relationship that
needs a bit of a romantic boost. Make the suggestion to your partner that
you create a collage together. This is a great way to get closer and spend
more time together.

You could go through magazines together, look for ideas by visiting image
sites such as www.istockphoto.com or revisit pictures you already own.
Perhaps you went on a romantic vacation earlier on in your relationship? Get
those photos out and relive that romantic experience by making them part
of your collage…have fun with it!

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Are you into massage, or thinking that this is an activity you‟d enjoy with a
partner? Creating a Feng Shui enhanced massage area in the Romance
region of your home is another way to enhance your new blossoming love
life or create more intimacy for your existing one!

Having a portable massage table is a nice option as you can set this up in
your bedroom or other conducive space to attract a new love. Dress the
table with pink sheets or coverings and make sure to have a bottle of quality
massage oil close at hand…(and a few red or pink heart shaped candles as
well!).

My partner and I set up a massage table in our master bedroom when we

want to give each other this special gift. We have massage oil and a nice
selection of candles on the dresser that we light during massages. We also
have a small ceramic aromatherapy piece for infusing our favorite essential
oil scents into the room.

Scents have a powerful effect when it

comes to stimulating our desire for
love. There‟s a reason why the perfume
industry is into the billions of dollars!
The olfactory lobe of the brain is a part
of the limbic system, which is the area
of the brain where our sexual desires
originate.

Special aromatherapy candles are available in a multitude of different

scents. Some favorite sensual tantalizers are sandalwood, patchouli, jasmine
and rose. Select the ones that appeal to you!

Most of us don‟t have enough touch or romance in our lives - let‟s face it. It‟s
something we need to take time out for. Sensual massage is such a great
gift to give another person…and receive as well!

Earlier I mentioned taking out the home entertainment center from this part
of the house, as well as your bedroom. But that doesn‟t mean you can‟t have
a smaller CD player handy so that you can play music in this area! Choose
music that evokes feelings of romance and relaxation.

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You have a variety of tools at your disposal in Feng Shui that can be used to
clear away any negative energy or hindrances to progress that may be
lingering in a space.

Do you have a bell lying around the house? Perform a little Feng Shui sound
ceremony in your bedroom and romance life region to “wake up” the love
energy. Walk from your front door, through the Relationship region and into
your bedroom ringing the bell. Then find a nice home for the bell in the
Relationship area or in this area within your bedroom.

Give it a ring every now and again!

Open the curtains and allow sunlight into this space during the day. Hang a
faceted crystal, which has the power to draw positive Chi into the room.

These are just a few suggestions when it comes to “romancing” your home
and master bedroom. Have fun with this and please send me your stories as
you start seeing results in this most important aspect of your life. I‟d love to
hear from you!

One last reminder before moving into the next section. As you‟re performing
your changes and enhancements, remember to visualize the results that you
want to achieve.

Continue to visualize your love life the way you want it to be. You can make
it happen, with the help of Feng Shui!

Pearl #11 – How to Use Feng Shui to Nurture Your Creativity, Your
Children and the Ability to Conceive

Nurturing Creativity

In our modern day world of hustle and bustle

how many of us can honestly say we take the
time to nurture our creative sides? Have you
forgotten what it‟s like to be creative or have
a creative thought?

Being creative is one of the most beautiful

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essences of childhood. It‟s no wonder the Chinese think of children and
creativity as being a part of the same life region.

As we get older we gradually “grow out of” being creative and transition into
the solemnities of “reality” and the world of mundane repetitive tasks. Much
of our fun and joy is lost as a result. We forget how to pretend.

When we take the time to nurture our creativity we regain a special part of
ourselves that has been lying dormant.

If you refer to your Bagua map you‟ll see that the life region of Creativity
and Children is located just to the right of center, having the traditional
direction of west. This region is home to the Metal Element and the colors
white, gray and light pastels.

If you find that your life is a bit too serious or work oriented, or that you no
longer have a playfulness about you that you once had you‟ll want to
enhance the energy and possessions in this sector.

Similarly, if you want to rekindle a love affair you once had with a musical
instrument, or support a passion for oil painting or stained glass work you‟ll
want to make conscious Feng Shui adjustments to this area of your home or
special room.

Creating a space within this region for playing music, drawing or

sculpting…whatever your artistic passion may be is ideal.

Your hobbies can also find a home in this sector. Into quilting or crocheting
perhaps? Display any finished projects here, or set up a place in this sector
to do your favorite hobby.

Another thing to consider when designing this area is to create a special

space that includes the capacity for quiet and solitude.

I have a friend who is an inventor. For quite some time he lived in a large
bustling noisy city in the western United States…a city that never slept. Then
he moved to a remote area of Arizona and set up a home off the electric
grid, powered completely by solar power and wind with the occasional boost
from a diesel powered generator.

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When I visited him there I could not believe how absolutely quiet it was in
this place. He told me that his best thoughts…his most innovative inventions
and ideas came more freely and more often because of living in this remote
area.

He had to get out of the city and come into nature‟s silence in order to do his
best work and receive his most creative thoughts.

Most of us don‟t have the luxury of living out of the city in such a quiet
place, and many of us would never want to take things to that extreme. But
having some frequent quiet time to pray, reflect, meditate and give our
thoughts room to flow freely is precious and rejuvenating.

If possible, carve out some quiet time each day. Even if you only manage
five or ten minutes on some days, just commit to this practice and do it.
Your life will come more into balance if you do, and you‟ll cultivate a more
peaceful and creative self as a result.

If you recall the section earlier on in the book where I mention David Ison
and his work? David‟s “Musical Body” program is ideal for capturing some
quiet restorative and creative moments while clearing away Chakra
blockages (energy blocks that occur in these centers which can also shut
down creativity, lead to poor health, etc…).

If you wish to meditate or do Chakra opening work, placing thoughtful Feng

Shui enhancements or cures within the Creativity and Children region is
beneficial.

Nurturing Children

When you work with the Creativity and Children sector of the Bagua you can
choose to consciously create a supportive space for your children that will
foster and encourage their creativity and well-being.

This space can also be designed with the view to spending quality time with
your children. For example, reading to them, entering into artistic endeavors
such as finger painting, doll making or playing fun board games.

Nurturing the creativity of your children has the added benefit of unlocking
your own creativity. This nurturing also gives you the ability to once again
view the world through a child‟s eyes.
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Taking time to nurture the children in your life is the path to nurturing your
own creativity and spirit of childlike adventure and discovery - the energies
are one and the same.

Ask yourself the following questions:

Is your child happy and fulfilled?

Is your child doing well in school?

Is your child experiencing fears of any kind?

Does your child have enough of your attention?

Is your child getting enough rest or prone to illness?

As we move forward within this Pearl we‟ll cover some Feng Shui
suggestions for enhancing the Creativity and Children region which will help
to support the children in your home.

The Art of Conception…

The third reason to perform Feng Shui cures in the Children and Creativity
region is to get the Chi moving for a successful conception and healthy
pregnancy. Talk about creativity!

Your enhancements to support conception can begin in this life region, but
are not limited to just this region. If you recall, the Element of Metal
embodies creativity. The shapes associated with Metal are the circle, sphere,
ellipse and oval.

Placing round objects made of metal are obvious Feng Shui touches for this
area that help boost creative Chi. Your round object choices, however, don‟t
necessarily have to be made of metal.

For example, if you choose a round picture frame made of some type of
metal to display a happy photo of your child (or other children at play for
example, if you don‟t yet have children of your own) the creative energy is
thought to be a bit stronger than choosing a frame made of a substance
other than metal.

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But if you decide upon a round wooden frame, or a rectangular metal frame
for your children‟s pictures that‟s OK too. As long as you include at least one
appropriate shape, color or Element you‟re doing what you need to do to
bring in more of the desired energy.

Images or paintings of children engaged in creative activities are nice

enhancements for this area and help foster the Chi for conceiving.

Another idea is to construct a picture collage of your parents, which also

includes your grandparents and their parents, etc…and display it in this
region.

Include pictures of yourself and your partner, as well as your immediate

ancestors. Don‟t forget to include the ancestors of your partner in your artful
genealogical creation!

Creating and displaying this collage of family historical beauty has the effect
of continuing the family and helping usher in the next generation.

Traditionally in China, having a large family with many descendants,

especially sons was a major life goal and achievement. Sons carried on the
family name, while daughters left the family to marry.

In China, an appropriate gift to a pregnant woman would be a painting that

contains children, along with images of peaches and pomegranates. This gift
carries the energy of bestowing long life and many descendants to the
expecting couple.

You may not be able to find this exact imagery in art form but that‟s OK. If
you wish to support the local artists in your area, see if they have paintings
that contain images of children or other art forms that fits the color, shape
and Element criteria for this region.

Feng Shui teaches that enhancements to this area have the effect of not
only supporting the ability to conceive, but also of supporting the quality of
your children‟s‟ lives and their ability to overcome life‟s challenges with
greater ease and confidence.

Cures to this region also have a cascading effect – the good creative Chi not
only passes to your children but to their children as well.

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Additional Conception Enhancements

No Feng Shui discussion of conception would be complete without including

some information about the master bedroom of the home. In Feng Shui, one
of the most important objects in one‟s home is the master bed, as well as its
position within the bedroom.

The master bedroom is normally the room occupied by the parents – the
people responsible for creating the offspring! This is one of the reasons why
the marital bed is of such importance.

According to Feng Shui, the bed is the focal point of the bedroom, as the two
most important activities occurring in this room are rejuvenation through
restful sleep and relating intimately with your special partner.

In order for partners to feel safe and secure in the master bed (one of the
first steps toward successful procreation), the placement of the bed in
relation to the main door into the room is very important.

One significant aspect of bed placement in the room is putting the bed in
what is known as the “commanding” position.

The commanding position means placing the bed in a position of strength,

which is important for conception as well as providing an overall sense of
security, optimal rest and rejuvenation.

A good command guideline to follow for bed placement is to have the bed as
far away from the entrance to the bedroom as possible, while still
maintaining a view of the door (an important security issue as you would not
want a bed in a location where you could not see the door to the room).

Locating the bed diagonally to the door is also considered a good position.

Feng Shui experts talk about the importance of headboard position and that
the optimal position is to have the headboard of your bed against a solid
wall, for additional support and protection.

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 Bed located in the Command position

The photo above shows a bed in the ―command‖ or strength position. The
headboard is solidly against the wall and although you cannot see the door leading
into the bedroom, the bed’s occupants have a clear view of the door. The color
scheme in this photo is not ideal, but it does show a good bed position.

There is also good ―couple‖ Feng Shui energy in this photo. There is good balance
inviting two people, or ―couple energy‖ into the room—the two nightstands, with
two lamps, two plants and two decorative pieces gracing each night stand. Another
plus for this bedroom is the amount of natural sunlight coming into the room
through the two windows. Sunlight is the Fire Element…which translates to passion!

SIDENOTE: Small live plants in the bedroom are OK,

as well as artificial representations. However, Feng
Shui advises against large or too many live plants in
the bedroom as they emit carbon dioxide at night!

Think of the wall against which your headboard rests as the protective
mountain in traditional Chinese Feng Shui, giving strong protection to the
bed‟s occupants.

If you can position your headboard against a wall in the Children and
Creativity section of the room, go for it as this could very well enhance
fertility!

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Don‟t worry if doing this isn‟t feasible or compromises the command
position. Just do the best you can to maintain the all important command
position for the bed in relation to the room‟s entrance.

Apply the Bagua map to your bedroom and locate the Children and
Creativity (C&C) area. The idea here is to choose appropriate enhancements
and add similar Elemental, color and shape symbols to this area of your
bedroom as you did to the main C&C area of your home. Doing this will help
stimulate the flow of creative Chi throughout the space and encourage
conception.

If you made a genealogical collage as previously described, you could place

your creation in this area of your master bedroom. Perhaps you have a
family heirloom such as a decorative plate, round in shape and containing
the color white? Displaying round objects on a metal shelf is another way of
adding Metal‟s influence to this region.

Other family heirlooms or collectibles such as sculptures or likenesses of

religious leaders are also appropriate in this area, especially if they are made
of metal. For example, a brass likeness of Buddha can stimulate the energy
of conception when placed in this part of the room.

Another classic fertility symbol is the pomegranate fruit. Display a picture or

artful representation. As with many fruits, the pomegranate has a diverse
and colorful history, and if you ever open one, you can see why the
association with fertility is so strong!

Images are extremely powerful to our subconscious minds – more than we

can even begin to realize. Having pictures of children in the C&C area of your
bedroom can also help stimulate conception.

You could also have a picture of a dragon or a dragon statue close to your
bed, as the dragon is believed to encourage the yang energy so necessary
for conception.

This next thought may seem rather superstitious to some – but at the same
time you have nothing to lose by trying it! Feng Shui expert David Daniel
Kennedy maintains that when a couple is trying to have a baby, the baby‟s
essence or spirit resides under their bed. Then mysteriously, the baby‟s

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spirit will choose the right time to “move into” its mother‟s body when
conditions in the universe align correctly for it to do so.

Mr. Kennedy also mentions that the act of cleaning or sweeping under the
bed while trying to get pregnant is a mistake and may shoo away or disturb
the waiting baby‟s spirit. Vacuuming the floor under the bed would tend to
have the same result.

Best advice – keep the area under the conceiving bed clear of any objects or
clutter, and wait until after mom tests positive before giving it a good
cleaning!

Element, Color and Object Enhancements

Now that you have an understanding of what is appropriate for the Creativity
and Children area, you can set about the task of choosing appropriate
shapes, colors or the actual element of Metal itself to build up the creative
energy in this life region.

The color white, light gray or any pastel color for the walls will work well in
this particular life region.

This is also a great place to display your children‟s artwork, as well as any
special cards or drawings they‟ve made for you. I have a niece who always
makes special drawings and cards of all sorts for her close family members.

Some of these include her favorite animals and landscapes. I have a

treasure trove from her of beautiful posters and cards saying “I love you”
and other messages that always have a way of lifting my spirits every time I
read them or look at them.

Praising your children‟s artwork by proudly displaying it is also great for their
sense of well being, not to mention ushering and storing their creative Chi
energy in your home.

Exhibiting your children‟s artistic accomplishments is a wonderful way of

honoring their creative spirits and helps foster even more creativity and self-
esteem.

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 A Child's Watercolor Creation

As mentioned previously, this area is also conducive to musical creativity. If

you‟re not sure where to place that grand piano you recently inherited from
aunt Mathilda, here‟s just the place! This area of the home makes for a great
music room where children and other family members can practice their
music or singing.

Here’s a handy list of enhancements for ease of reference:

Round shaped clocks (if you can find one made of metal that doesn‟t
clash with your décor, by all means!)

Metal sculptures that you love or family heirlooms made of metal

including ones that have religious meaning

Photos of your children or other favorite creative people you relate

to in round metal frames (or just metal or round)

Artwork that contains the colors of this sector – white, gray or light
pastels

Pictures of ancestors in metal frames, or a genealogical picture

collage of your own making

Other round shaped objects, such as decorative plates, stools, drink

coasters, etc…

White and/or metal ceiling fan

Children’s toys or artwork

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 Heirloom toys (we have an antique baby carriage dating back almost
eighty years that children in our family still play with to this day!)

Include some objects, symbols or colors of the Earth element (in

the productive cycle, Earth creates Metal – Metal is Earth‟s offspring).

Brass or metal wind chimes/mobiles

I think you get the idea of what you can do to enhance the C & C life region
now! Enjoy using your creativity to design this part of your home, this region
of your master bedroom, or any other room for which you wish to increase
the creative energy.

All of these enhancements have the capability of supporting the youngsters

in your family with the creative spirit that energizes their minds, brings out
the best of their talents and prepares them for adult life.

Depending on what room your C&C area happens to be located in will

influence your choice of enhancements from the list above. Please don‟t
think you have to include all of these – this is just a listing of possibilities to
get you started off in the right direction.

Curing Imbalances and Blockages

As you work to enhance the C&C area of your home, be sure to look for
conflicting energies that may be present or objects that block the flow of
creative Chi.

OK – what do I mean by that? Not to worry…these concepts are going to

become clearer as you learn what to do, as well as what not to do in any
particular life region.

Think back to the Destructive Cycle of the Elements. Can you recall which
Element destroys Metal? Again, destroy is probably not the best term - the
more accurate term is transformative. So which Element acts to transform
Metal from its original or natural state?

You got it – Fire! An overabundance of Fire energy has a way of stifling

creativity in this life region so be careful not to have too many Fire symbols
that are not balanced out by Water…(if you recall, Water douses Fire).

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So what do you do if the C&C area happens to be your kitchen? Most
kitchens have a stove which is definitely Fire energy. Is there a way to
“cure” this condition? Yes, the good news is Feng Shui always has an answer
for any energetic imbalances you may encounter in your home!

Thank goodness, you don‟t have to move your stove or your fireplace if they
happen to be located in this region.

A straightforward Feng Shui cure for neutralizing the Fire energy of the stove
or fireplace is to place a mirror across the back of the stove or above the
fireplace.

Placing a mirror on the stove helps diffuse the Fire energy, but may also
address another Feng Shui problem, depending on the location of the stove
in your kitchen.

Fire energy balanced by Mirror (Water)

If the stove is against a wall, a mirror placed just above the stove spanning
its width will help the person cooking observe any movements in and out of
the kitchen.

The mirror needs to be big enough for the cook to observe any movements
or energy flow into the kitchen that would not otherwise be visible. There‟s a
good chance an entryway into the kitchen is not in clear view as the cook
works at the stove.
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The mirror takes care of any subconscious feelings of insecurity the person
cooking might have, as the cook‟s view behind his or her back is now
available.

The stove is known as the energy generator of the home in some modern
Feng Shui circles and as such, its placement in the kitchen is just as
important as is the bed in the master bedroom.

Having the stove and the cook located in a commanding position in the
kitchen makes for a healthier energy flow, and more than likely better
tasting food! The cook is in a position of command when able to view all the
comings and goings in and out of the kitchen.

Other Fire symbols to remove from the C&C area would include candles,
electric heaters, lamps or any triangle or pyramid shapes. Of course, you‟ll
need to have lighting in the area, but you can choose fixtures that contain
metal, or have a C&C color or shape in order to balance out any overbearing
Fire Element.

One choice to consider is the style of lights that recess directly into the
ceiling. Many of these are made of metal and are round to boot!

Once you‟ve made improvements to this area, be sure to take some time to
sit quietly in your newly created space and visualize what it is that you want.
See the positive results happening in your new C&C area that you have set
into motion with Feng Shui.

Pearl #12 - Feng Shui Your Career into High Gear!

A Workspace that Inspires

With the evolution of the computer age and telecommuting, more and more
homes contain a home office. Most contain an array of equipment - desktop
and/or laptop computer, printer, fax machine and scanner…to name a few!

You want your home office to be a space that draws and contains the
powerful energies for success. You definitely want this space to be as
productive, inspiring and creative as you can make it!

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As with any of the life regions, make this region attractive to you. Place
energetic influences here that you are drawn to and make you feel
energized, vibrant and uplifted.

Is there a person in your career field that you look up to? Someone you wish
to emulate? Hang a picture of the person or introduce an object that reminds
you of that person. Whatever it is that keeps you striving toward your goals
and keeps you focused – that‟s what you want for this area of your life!

The Career life region has traditionally held the north position on the Bagua
map, with the Water Element having a home here. The colors for this region
are black and dark blue tones. As with all the life regions, locate where your
Career area is by orienting from your front door‟s position.

Take this life region of your home seriously…(and your home office if there is
no possible way to locate it in this sector). In addition to inspiration,
productivity and creativity, you are also fostering discipline here. Ideally,
your home office needs to be in a dedicated room, especially if you work
from home full time.

Maintaining discipline day in and day out is one of the biggest challenges
faced by people who work from home. You‟ll want an office that has a solid
door you can close at will so that you can focus on your work. It‟s important
to have the ability to insulate yourself during work periods from the rest of
the activities taking place in your home.

If your career is on hold and keeping you frustrated, be sure to apply some
simple Feng Shui to this life region and on a smaller scale, to the Career life
region within each room. It can mean the difference between feeling stuck or
uncertain in your career to accelerating much more rapidly toward your
goals!

Positioning Yourself for Success

We‟ve discussed the importance of maintaining positions of strength in Feng

Shui – maintaining what is commonly known as the commanding position in
a given space. This is especially important when it comes to building the
energy power quotient of your Career area.

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It is crucial that you work in your home office from a protected position of
strength. Since most of your work is done behind a desk with a computer on
it, you will want the desk arranged so that you easily have a view of the
door to the room.

A weak and vulnerable position is just the opposite of this – having your
back to the door. You don‟t want to be weak when it comes to the quality of
your work or in business negotiations so if at all possible, arrange your
space so that you‟re able to comfortably see the door.

If you cannot arrange the desk to see the door, you can do the same thing
we did in the kitchen for the cook – install a mirror so that you can easily
glance and see the entryway behind you. This should go a long way toward
lessening the vulnerability issues of poor desk placement.

Furniture Factors

OK – so what is the ideal desk? One that fits you and suits your particular
needs. A strong desk made of wood is a good choice. You want something
solid – something that feels sturdy to you that will “support” your business
efforts, and provide you with the right amount of space.

The desk doesn‟t have to be huge or overbearing…just big enough to give

you the space you need.

Some Feng Shui practitioners suggest arranging the desktop according to

the Bagua. This basically means having symbolic representations of each life
region in their appropriate location, according to the Bagua map layout.

For example, your computer could represent the Career area (located in the
middle front of the desk), a telephone could be located in the Travel and
Helpful People region, and a picture of your children in the C&C area…you
get the idea!

One extremely important consideration is the chair that you‟ll be sitting on,
as well as how your arms and legs are positioned. You want an ergonomic
chair that is comfortable and does the job of supporting your body well when
you are working.

If your current office chair isn‟t providing you the support or comfort that
you need, be sure to “test drive” your new office chair before purchasing,
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and make sure the store has a return policy in case the chair doesn‟t work
out.

I recently consulted with my doctor regarding office chairs. She suggested

Obusform brand chairs as being a good choice for helping maintain the right
posture and position at the desk. These chairs can be adjusted for height,
provide lower back support, and have armrests that can be adjusted. Some
models come with headrests, if this is your personal preference.

Ideally, your feet should be flat on the floor, with the tops of your legs
parallel to the floor and your forearms parallel to the floor while at the
computer.

Another observation made by my doctor is the fact that people tend to “lean
into” computer screens over time, which causes back problems and poor
posture. Not exactly a great way to be on top of one‟s career or maintain a
commanding body position! The monitor should be easy to read, and easy on
your back and neck – adjust it so that it is at eye level.

Try to remember to sit up straight, and of course, take frequent breaks by

getting up and moving around. Sitting is one of the worst positions for the
back. Even if you don‟t have back problems, it is unadvisable for anyone to
sit for too long at the desk or in front of a computer screen.

Working With the Elements

The next consideration is the amount of light and also the quality of light.
Light is Fire energy, so you definitely want some Fire in this region to help
you feel more energized and able to swing into action!

Ideally, a window or two is a great way for the Fire element to be added in,
but if your office doesn‟t have a window, consider installing a powerful light.

A poor desk position would be to have a window at your back. This doesn‟t
provide the necessary support or security that a solid wall subconsciously
provides. The best place for windows would be to one side of the desk or the
other.

If you‟re feeling isolated in your business and you need to strengthen lines
of communication to the outside world, consider introducing touches of the
Metal Element.
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For example, place a metal filing cabinet or other object that brings in the
Metal Element…(it can be the color of Metal also, which is white)…in either
the Helpful People and Travel sector or the Creativity and Children area of
your office.

Earth – be careful not to introduce too much Earth into the Career area. You
want just enough to feel supported and grounded. If your desk is in the
shape of a rectangle, this will bring in some Earth energy to the space. Too
much Earth could bog you down and impede progress.

Wood – consider a living presence in the Career area such as a vibrant

young plant. This is a good choice for this life region. When you look at your
plant, envision the growth and expansion of your business empire and be
sure to take good care of the plant.

Water – a vital energy to have in the Career area, Water represents the
flow of wealth into your business. Remember that Water‟s home is here, so
any enhancement you choose, such as a small water fountain sculpture, an
aquarium, glass sculptures, or anything appealing that conveys the shape
associated with water (waves) is appropriate.

An Artist’s Scenery of Glass

A mirror is also an excellent Water energy choice, as mirrors have a way of

doubling the efforts of the business owner, as well as the profits of the
business.

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Traditionally, a mirror made an excellent gift to a person looking to advance
their career as this represented increased success and career advancement.

Creating Order – Eliminating Chaos

The Career life region is one area of the home that cannot tolerate clutter.
Clutter breeds confusion and chaos, which is not the energy of career
success. Removing clutter and organizing your workspace creates clarity and
helps you move forward unimpeded.

Earlier this year I went through stacks of papers and books that had been
piling up in my office closet. I continued the process by organizing the
materials that I needed to have easy access to, and then cleared out or filed
away the rest.

The result? The energy flow in the office improved greatly, and I now am at
least twice as productive as I was before the clutter clearing! I could actually
feel the difference in the room, not to mention I was now able to find what I
was looking for without having to hunt for five or ten minutes!

Don‟t allow your home office to become a repository for old mail, forgotten
papers and other “dead wood”. Removing piles of no longer needed stuff
opens the conduit for new opportunities to flow and frees the space up for
creativity and productivity to happen naturally.

Once you‟ve de-cluttered this life region, decide that you‟re going to keep it
that way and not let it slip back into chaos. While you‟re organizing ask
yourself a few questions such as:

What do my files do for me? Do they serve me best by storing

information that is only accessed once in awhile, or for historical
purposes?

If I have piles of papers or projects I‟m working on now, do I want

them filed away or do I want them to be more easily accessible, laying
flat on a work surface?

If you find that your current projects need to be in plain sight for you to be
at optimum strength and clarity, think about setting up a separate table for
the paper piles to live on.

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If you don‟t have space for another table, think of other creative ways you
can easily access these in-progress stacks without having them hidden away
in a filing cabinet. There are filing products out there that can accomplish
this.

Symbols for Career Success and Prosperity

Below are a few classic Chinese symbols that have proven effective for
enhancing career success:

Mountain imagery – in Feng Shui the mountain is a strong symbol

for strength, perseverance, and support. Mountains are associated
with the storing of wealth, as precious metals and resources are found
in mountains. In a home office, displaying a mountain painting behind
you on a solid wall represents great support for your business, and will
help your business sustain you through rough economic conditions.

Hard work symbols – artwork or objects that represent hard work or

fruitful harvests are favorable items to display in this region. What
pictures come to mind when you think of a successful business or work
endeavor that produces favorable results? To convey the essence of
this idea the Chinese often display imagery of a ripe harvest in the
field ready for the picking.

Peak of the Season

Swimming fish – fish swimming in water represents the movement of

wealth and prosperity towards you and your business. The Chinese
have always favored goldfish, carp and another variety known as the
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dragon fish. Any red, orange or gold colored fish will work for this
enhancement. Make sure the fish are healthy and look well fed!

Ship Artwork or Model – a symbol of success in business is a

representation of a trading ship from days of old. Most people have
heard the expression, “when my ship comes in”.

Well, this is exactly what‟s happening with this energy enhancer! Build
a model “treasure ship” from a kit (if you like this type of hobby) or
purchase a ship sculpture and position the ship so that it is sailing into
your office, laden with rich cargo. You can place pieces of jade, gold
coins (they don‟t have to be real ones) or anything else that
represents wealth in the ship. Feng Shui wealth ships can also be
purchased online.

Phoenix – a powerful symbol of rebirth, the Phoenix is the famous

celestial bird known to “rise from the ashes” and heal itself. Every time
the Phoenix is reborn or recovers, it is presented with a new
opportunity for life.

In a career sense, the Phoenix represents new opportunities for your

business and the opening of new career paths. Traditionally displayed
in the southern part of the home, it is appropriate to display in the
Career life region to attract success energy for all business projects
and undertakings.

Dragon – one of the most powerful and well-known symbols in Feng

Shui, the dragon is the perfect symbol for a
new business. The dragon is traditionally
displayed in east with the rising of the sun.
A popular symbol many Chinese based
businesses choose for company logos to
denote lasting success for the business.

Persimmons – according to the ancient

Greeks, persimmons were known as the
“fruit of the gods”…(link takes you directly to Wikipedia). Displaying
a picture of a persimmon tree (the Japanese persimmon is native to
China) denotes good fortune in business.

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 Bamboo – associated as bestowing longevity in Feng Shui, bamboo
also bestows good fortune for business owners. Because of the
resiliency of bamboo and its ability to endure through all sorts of
weather conditions, so too will your business thrive through tough
economic times with the aid of bamboo in your office. Place a bamboo
plant or illustration in your office where it can be easily viewed.

These are just a few suggestions for what you can do within your Career
region to bring more career luck and good fortune. More symbols for
attracting wealth and prosperity will be covered in Pearl #16, “Living
Prosperity Consciousness - Attracting and Retaining Wealth”.

Pearl #13 – Enhancing Your Family Relationships with Feng Shui

Quality Time With Family and Friends

How are things with your immediate family these days? Do you have enough
quality time together?

Are you able to make the most of the time that you have together? Do you
lack closeness as a family? Are your friendships suffering?

Most of us lead incredibly busy lives. We get wrapped up in our own

individual activities and forget or find it challenging to make time for family
activities and close friends.

You may be missing quality time with your family or feeling disconnected
from your roots. If you want to develop stronger and deeper relationships
with your family and your friends, this is the life region you‟ll want to
enhance with Feng Shui.

Creating a lively clutter free Family area can be a lot of fun, especially if you
make it a family project!

The Family life region is located left of center which is traditionally the east,
according to the Bagua map.

The Family region, in addition to being a space where the family interacts
and shares relaxing moments and entertainment, is also a place where
members can go to get in touch with the family‟s history.
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This is a great place to display the family tree (or begin work on one!) as
well as store any genealogical information.

If you want to make this into a family project, assign teams or individual
members to trace back a certain branch of the family. There are so many
resources available now for doing this type of research.

Doing this sort of group project could be a lot of fun and could also help your
family become closer in the process!

Couple Exploring Their Family Tree

In Pearl #11 we touched upon the idea of making a genealogical collage. A

collage of this nature would be just as appropriate in the Family life region
as it is in the Children and Creativity region.

The Family area is also a place where the accomplishments of family

members can be recognized and displayed – either living family members or
those who have passed away. Diplomas, trophies…anything that represents
a special accomplishment can be shown and honored here.

These symbols of accomplishment represent the goals and aspirations of

family members, past and present. They serve as reminders to stay focused
on existing goals, as well as create new goals in order to get the most out of
life. They also serve as inspiration for living your best life.

Sharing these emblems publicly in a special family place has a way of

reinforcing these goals and helping them come to fruition. Be proud when
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sharing your symbols of accomplishment and ask for support from your
family as you make your intentions clearer to yourself and to them.

This area exists to help the family become more connected to each other
and to play more together. It‟s also a place where people can come to
discover more about their roots and in the process gain a clearer
understanding of who they are and what their life‟s purpose is.

It is also a place of appreciation: a place where family members come to

express gratitude and love for the family they have been born into, and for
the blessing each family member is to the family.

Having gratitude and love for each other also means forgiveness. No room
for harboring grudges here. Let go and practice the art of forgiveness so that
your family and friendships are healthy and happy.

Possibilities for Growing Closer – the Playful Center

Many families enjoy spending time watching movies together and have
elaborate home entertainment centers or big screen TV‟s. These electronic
mega systems are often the focal point in the family area of the home.

There is nothing wrong with having a place to enjoy movies or special

programs together, but this doesn‟t have to be the main focal point or
activity that takes place here.

Think about ways you can close off the TV from the rest of the room when
not in use. Too much TV watching tends to take people out of relationship
with each other and into the world of their own private thoughts. Some
families are consumed with television watching - spending hours every
evening in front of the TV.

If your relationships are suffering from too much TV, then it‟s time to take
the focus off the TV and onto other activities that bring the family together
in this life region. If you have a child addicted to TV watching or too much
video gaming, restrict these activities and replace them with activities that
help the child feel more connected and in relationship with the family.

Feng Shui is all about balance and creating a healthy play space for
everyone to enjoy. My sister has a television but refuses to buy a satellite
dish or install cable. Her family only watches TV when they wish to share a
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movie together. This has been a healthy choice for her family as they now
spend more quality time together.

Ideally, the family room should be one of the largest rooms in the home.
You could consider it the “chameleon” of the home…easily changing and
shifting to accommodate a myriad of activities. Think about ways you can
fluidly transition from a variety of activities, making the most of this space.

What does your family enjoy doing? If your family enjoys board games or
cards, keep them here in this area for easy access, along with a folding card
table.

Perhaps one or two family members enjoy doing jigsaw puzzles? See if a
corner of the room can be set up so that the puzzle can be worked on
without disturbance. This room can have more than one corner for any
chosen pastime or hobby - see what floats your boat!

Create the necessary storage spaces within the room to put away games
and other toys when not in use so that the room remains uncluttered and
flexible.

If you don‟t have a lot of closet space built into the room, there are other
ways to get around this. Attractive baskets or containers made of wicker or
rattan can be a nice functional addition for storing games and toys.

What about dancing? Can you easily open up the space in this room for a bit
of dancing when the mood strikes? What about a quiet lounge and reading
area? These activities are also appropriate within the Family region.

You may also want to use this space as an exercise area if you don‟t have a
separate room for exercise equipment. Exercise equipment doesn‟t have to
be stationary – you can purchase equipment that can be easily stored or
moved out of the way when not in use.

Just remember that one of your main goals is to maintain a Family region
where everyone can feel comfortable doing whatever activity they love to
do.

Presiding Element, Support Element and Enhancements

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The Element who finds its home in the Family life region is Wood. Wood is
the energy of spring time – of rejuvenation, renewal and new growth!

The Wood influence helps relationships begin anew and offers strong support
for healthy family bonding and progeny...(progeny sometimes defined as
“the result of a creative effort”).

Think of the shapes of Wood – columns, pedestals and pillars. These vertical
support shapes of Wood help create a solid foundation for family growth,
health and vitality. Incorporate a few Wood shapes into your room design.

Weave the Wood Element into the Family life region in a way that suits you
and your family. Here are some suggested enhancements:

Creations made of wood, such as tables, chairs, functional items

such as wooden salad bowls; sculptures

Pictures of family and friends displayed on walls or in wood frames.

A family portrait in a rectangular shape brings in the Wood Element
and the energy of togetherness. It is best if all members are smiling!

Landscapes or paintings of spring scenery – sprouting gardens or

other scenes conveying the energy of plant growth

Living plants with curvy leaves (no sharply pointed leaves or plants
with thorns, which represent poison arrows in Feng Shui)

Linen patterns or wallpaper with flowers, trees or other symbols of

spring growth

Anything in the natural shape of Wood (think vertical

rectangles…pillars, etc…)

Freshly cut or dried flowers, as long as they are fresh and contain
uplifting vibrant energy

The Element that feeds Wood in the Productive Cycle is Water. Any Water
influence can be nicely blended in with your Wood Element choices.

For example, you can add a small fountain for Wood‟s nourishment or a
mirror, which also helps expand the size and bring new life to this region.

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Adding the Water Element will assist in creating loving family relationships,
smoothing communications between family members and friends, as well as
help the energy flow within the family when difficult family decisions must be
made.

Avoid Metal in this region unless it is balanced in a display that contains all
of the Five Elements. Remember – Metal chops Wood and Wood is the
Element you want flourishing in this region!

Weaving Colors and Additional Energizers into the Mix

The color green is at home in the Family region, embodying the energy of
expansion and vibrant health. Blue green shades and blue are also
appropriate choices.

Black and darker blue tones are the colors embodying Water, so touches of
these colors here and there are also welcome additions.

White is the color of Metal and ideally should be kept to a minimum. Items
with round shapes fall into the Metal category, so reduce their presence here
as well.

Colors assigned to the various life regions on the Bagua map are not
absolutely set in stone.

Regardless of the life region you want to enhance with Feng Shui, if you are
truly not comfortable or have a dislike for certain colors, keep their influence
to a minimum or avoid them altogether.

Usually, you‟ll be able to find a color within the range of tints and shades
available for any given color that you can appreciate…even if it just hints at
the color.

For example, if you have your heart set on painting your walls white, you
can add in a touch of green which will hardly be noticeable to the eye and
yet will still have the effect of adding the energy of growth and upward
expansion to the area.

Enhancing this life region with more natural light is suggested, as no living
Wood Element such as trees or plants can thrive without some natural light.

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Wood chimes are appropriate space energizers for this life region, as the
chimes are made of wood and produce the sounds that foster family
harmony and balance.

Bring the chime to life by giving it a brush with your hand as you pass by it!
This will “wake up” the Chi in a positive way.

You can also have a few bookshelves in this region – just make sure you
have nice lighting and a comfortable place to take in reading pleasures.

As you begin your journey decorating the Family region, hold warm and
loving thoughts for each member of your family and the close friends who
will share this special area with you.

Intend positive outcomes for your family and friends. Wish them good
health, happiness as well as a long and prosperous life for each person,
yourself included!

Pearl #14 – Lighting Up Your Innermost Desires, Gaining Respect and

Building a Good Reputation

What Really Matters…

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To put it bluntly, if you‟re living a life devoid of dreams, aspirations or goals
you‟re not really living! Too many people are „dead‟ to life – they‟ve given up
on their dreams and are going through the motions of living each day.

They‟re caught in a vicious cycle of getting up, going to work, coming home,
eating, shopping, sleeping and then repeating the cycle again and again.

People who feel “stuck” often take little pride in their work or what they are
capable of accomplishing and suffer from low self-esteem. They‟ve forgotten
their heart‟s desires and have no reputation to speak of. Even more sadly,
they don‟t really know who they are.

Their path is in dire need of illumination, spark and direction.

They know their lives are lacking and they feel unfulfilled, but they don‟t
know what to do about it.

People Caught in the Rat Race

If you‟ve given up on your dreams…if you‟re discouraged or feel that

entertaining dreams of a better life is a waste of time and energy, it‟s time
to awaken the Fame, Illumination and Reputation region!

Another definition of illumination is clarity. Time to clarify, identify and

prioritize your innermost desires and dreams.

This is the life region where you aspire to become a better person by
elevating the quality of your thoughts…(you‟ll also be doing this work in the
Knowledge and Self-Cultivation region, coming up next). It is here that you
become mindful of your outward responses to the various life situations and
circumstances that come your way.
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Enhancing this area will help you gain more respect for yourself. This is
where respect begins. If you don‟t have respect for yourself and how you‟re
living your life, you can‟t expect others to have respect for you. Ask yourself
the following questions – take some time to think about these:

Do I feel good about my innermost thoughts and conversations?

What is my true opinion of myself? What judgments have I passed on
myself? On others?

Am I constantly in reactive mode to life situations that present

themselves? Do I have the skills to respond, rather than react?

Do I view myself as a negative person? Is this how others view

me?

Am I proud of my reputation? Do I feel good about my position in

the world and the opinions that others hold of me?

What do I want to be recognized for the most in my life? What

legacy do I wish to leave?

Your reputation begins with you, as does the amount of respect you
command. When you are true to yourself – when you keep the promises you
make to yourself you are more inclined to keep the promises you make to
others.

A good reputation is based on being honest. Make it a priority to do what

you say you‟re going to do. This is one of the first key steps to building a
solid reputation – when you and the people in your world know that you
always keep your word. Let your word be your bond.

You may have heard the expression – ―Your reputation precedes you‖. Often
this is the case. Before we even meet a person we hear something about
them…good things…or not so good.

Most of us wish to be held in high esteem. It‟s only natural and important
enough in Feng Shui to have a life region dedicated to this aspect of life.

When you feel good about yourself and hold yourself in high esteem, others
will as well. Just remember that it all begins and ends with you. You are
responsible for the respect and quality of reputation that you have.

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If you feel discouraged after honestly answering one or more of the
questions above, don‟t despair. It may take some time and effort to build a
reputation you can be proud of but don‟t think it can‟t be done. It can, and
the best way to start is to get some positive Feng Shui changes happening in
this region now, coupled with your desire to change this aspect of your life!

Getting the Ball Rolling

It‟s only natural to want to be well thought of, realize our dreams (or create
new ones) and gain recognition for hard won accomplishments.

You can enhance this region without running the risk of becoming famous.
Yes, this is the life region that holds the energy of fame, but many of us
don‟t want or crave fame, yet still want a level of recognition and respect.

As you are probably aware, there are negatives to being famous such as a
loss of privacy.

If you dream of attaining a level of fame there‟s nothing wrong with that but
just be aware of the drawbacks. Once you gain the spotlight, you may not
be able to leave so easily! The overriding theme in Feng Shui and a solid life
principle to live by is maintaining balance in all things.

Remember in the Family region we talked about displaying trophies and

diplomas that represented accomplishments? It is also appropriate to display
representations of achievements in the Fame and Reputation area.

When displaying such badges of success in this region, be aware that your
intention is a bit different. It‟s a bit less of an inspiration to other family
members and more of an inspiration to you, as an individual.

A bit of healthy self-indulgence, if you will!

Having a healthy pride in your accomplishments is a good thing. Remember,

you are building your self-esteem and giving yourself the recognition and pat
on the back you deserve.

Perhaps you feel you‟ve done little or nothing that deserves recognition?
Think again. Think back to a time or situation when you truly felt proud of
yourself. Did you ever help someone out of a jam? Did you go out of your
way for someone or gladly do a favor?

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Once you‟ve identified such a memory – see if you can find something to
place in this life region that represents or reminds you of that good deed. Be
creative and have fun with it!

Do you have a special talent that you‟re proud of, but neglected to develop
due to time constraints or other reasons? Maybe it‟s time to take stock of
your natural gifts and abilities. Once you get in touch with what you truly
love doing, you can start doing more of it and begin sharing it, too!

Presiding Element, Support Element and Enhancements

If you refer to your Bagua map, you see that Fire is the Element that reigns
supreme in this region, and that the compass location is south. Let‟s get this
region or wall sizzling and begin making some changes from the suggestions
listed below:

Symbols of achievements – display diplomas, trophies and other

physical items that represent your top achievements

Symbols of your aspirations – this can be anything that has a

special meaning for you. It could be a picture of an animal that
embodies strength or excellence. Any symbol that denotes attainment
of a coveted goal or prominent position

Inspirational lighting – includes good natural light. Ideally this

region thrives and comes alive with lots of windows and other light
enhancers such as candles

Great location for a fireplace, wood stove or cooking stove

Pictures of people who inspire you to take positive action in your life

Items that bear the shape associated with fire – pyramid or cone
shaped items, as well as triangles

Written reminders that help you build your self-esteem, respect and
reputation. Hang these in a highly visible location and read frequently

Adding these fiery touches will help your self-esteem and self-respect
expand outward. Nurture the flames of self-esteem and respect and you will
automatically bless yourself and those you touch.

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Naturally, the Wood Element is the Element feeding your Fire in this region.
From previous segments you‟re aware of what to do as far as introducing
Wood into a life region. Make Wood choices that fit with your Fire décor!

Avoid Water Element influences here – there are plenty of other areas where
Water is a great enhancer. This isn‟t one of them, so no gurgling fountains
or black and dark blue tones in this area.

Weaving Colors and Additional Energizers into the Mix

Not surprisingly, the color red is the color that rules the day in the Fame and
Reputation region. Red is also the color of romance and lover‟s passion…(as
you can see, there are overlapping energies in Feng Shui!).

It is the color that ignites your dreams!

There‟s more to passion than romance. When you‟re “on fire” for life…when
you‟re in the process of realizing your full potential and making your dreams
come true, you‟ve actively taken flight and are soaring toward the pinnacle
of who you truly are. What could be more exciting than that?

The example that comes to mind are the rising stars on the popular TV show
American Idol. Talk about dreams coming true! You may never be an
American Idol, but don‟t think for a moment you can‟t live many of your
dreams, because you can.

Just for fun, take a look at how this life region of your space is decorated
right now. Does it reflect any challenges you‟re having with self-esteem and
reputation? In other words, is there anything present blocking the flow of
healthy Chi? What is the predominant color scheme for this area? Is there
any Fire influence present?

No, you don‟t have to paint the walls a bright fire engine red or go overboard
with a completely red based color scheme here. Introducing some subtle red
tones and shades will invoke the spark you‟re looking for. Introducing Fire
shapes will also help.

Green will also work in this area since it embodies the Wood Element. It only
makes sense, as green represents growth and renewal.

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Wood chimes are a nice addition to this area, as well as in the Family region.
The chimes are an aid when it comes to building your popularity and
recognition. Brush your hand across the chimes as you pass to activate the
flow of Chi.

Placing a pleasing floor lamp or other lighting fixture that you love within
this life region will help bolster your reputation and build the name for
yourself that you desire.

Another great energizer for your Illumination region is our friend the
Phoenix! If you recall, we introduced the power and meaning of this famed
bird in Pearl #12 for good Career luck.

Any crimson colored bird, especially the Phoenix and the symbolism it
contains is a wonderful addition here.

Phoenix Rising

Representations of animals with touches of red coloring or red tones will also
work well. Animals and objects derived from animals make great additions to
this area.

Enjoy enhancing this life region. Take pride in the changes you‟re making
inwardly and outwardly. When you are pleased with the results, invite your
family and friends to your newly created Fame region and give your
reputation and self-esteem a boost!

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Commit to attaining moral excellence – become the most trustworthy and
honest person you know. Your reputation will flourish, as you set yourself on
the path to realizing your dreams.

Pearl #15 – Building Up Your Knowledge and Wisdom Region for Inner
Strength, Self-Cultivation and Spiritual Growth

Creating a Peaceful Place

Now we‟ll focus a bit of attention on what is traditionally the northeast sector
of the Bagua map, the Knowledge and Self-Improvement life region.

This is the quiet place in your home of self-cultivation, revelation and

worship, as well as a place where studying, information gathering and
assimilation can readily take place.

Think of this area as a place where you and your family can retreat to – a
quiet peaceful getaway from demanding and engaging worldly activities. A
place to embrace the quiet of meditation, reading, studying and prayer.

This region is the place of self-discovery and self-development. If you‟ve

been struggling with the ultimate question of your life‟s sacred purpose, it is
here where you‟ll most likely find the important answer to that question.

If you find yourself confused, pulled in too many directions or overwhelmed,

you know it‟s time to retreat into this peaceful region in order to gain clarity
and calmness of spirit.

If you wish to acquire more wisdom or gain a deeper understanding of what

is right, true or of lasting importance for you, pay close attention to the
energy in this sector.

This is also the life region where any skills you wish to develop and hone can
be worked upon. Interpersonal skills, studies, intellectual pursuits, computer
skills and research, etc…are a few that come to mind.

Try to find a little time each day to slow down and enter into the quiet
pursuits associated with this region. Think of this time as a well deserved
“mini vacation” from the everyday hustle and bustle. Even if you only have

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ten or fifteen minutes on certain days…(now I‟m sounding like a broken
record!)…make it a priority to carve out some quiet moments for yourself.

It is impossible to grow deeper in understanding and wisdom when

constantly confronted with the clamor and noise of the world.

Claiming quiet time each day will do wonders for your stress levels and will
help create a healthy balance in your life.

Honor this part of your life - this special Yin based region of the Bagua for
quiet, contemplation, meditation and development of inner truth and peace.
In doing so, you may discover aspects of yourself and abilities that you
never knew existed.

The mountain is the traditional symbol for the Ken trigram, which finds its
home in this region, and the season associated with this sector is late winter
and early spring.

The mountain not only represents an earthly storehouse of precious treasure

and priceless gems in Feng Shui, it is also a representation of enduring
strength, support and unmoving Earth...a still and solemn embodiment of
eternal wisdom.

Connecting With Your Spiritual Self

Do you have a special place of worship in your home? If you wish to

cultivate a deeper relationship with your spiritual self, this is an ideal place
for a small shrine, altar or symbol that has spiritual or religious meaning for
you.

For example, if you identify closely with the life and teachings of Buddha, a
pleasing statute of Buddha would be most auspicious.

If you are a follower of Christ, an appropriate symbol for Christ is going to

have the most meaning for you.

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 Altar for Prayer and Meditation

SIDENOTE: Tom Brown Jr. is the author of “The Way of the Scout: A
Native American Path to Finding Spiritual Meaning in a Physical
World”. Tom spent a number of years with a gifted Native American
mentor and guide that he refers to fondly as “Grandfather”. If you
are looking to connect with your spiritual self you may enjoy
exploring the writings and recordings of Tom Brown, Jr.

The important thing is to create a sacred space or altar that takes you into a
peaceful state for deeper meditation, prayer, guidance and gratitude for all
of life‟s blessings.

Burning incense is an effective way to enhance the Chi of your home altar or
spiritual corner. Indian Nag Champa incense or sandalwood are good incense
choices for obtaining a calm mind and spirit for inner reflection, prayer and
meditation.

In need of a spiritually meaningful meditation? Here‟s one that I found

online. You can modify the words to match your own specific beliefs, or use
as is:

―My body is part of Universal Consciousness, and is a manifestation of the

Living Spirit. I am part of the great Universal Spirit, and my body is a
reflection of that Spirit. Universal Power, Universal Healing is flowing in and
through me now, revitalizing every bone, every muscle, every organ, every
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gland, every cell in my body. I ask that any negativity be cleared from my
body, and be replaced by the warm, loving energy of Universal Spirit. I am
one with the Infinite Intelligence. I allow the healing energy, the loving Light
of the Universal Consciousness to flow through me, healing me, revitalizing
me. I now live in love, harmony and peace.‖

Source Website: http://www.angelfire.com/nj/healing/page9.html

Another way to strengthen the energy of your chosen spiritual tradition is to

have any sacred texts handy and accessible, or related reading materials.
Accessorize with items or symbols that put you in a calm state of worship or
meditation.

Helpful Additions, Colors and Enhancements

In addition to spiritual and religious books, you can include books that have
to do with self-help/development, mysticism, course materials – basically
anything that you want to reference for personal growth and knowledge.
Have a set of encyclopedias? This is a great home for those, or any other
reference books.

A small stereo system is also appropriate here. You may want to listen to
audio books, cassette tape series or CD‟s that enhance your knowledge and
understanding.

Introduce any of the colors suggested for this region. Blue has a peaceful
feel to it – it‟s a color that holds universal appeal being the color of the sky
but just be careful not to overdo it, as too much blue can lead to depression
and lethargy.

Black is associated with Water and represents stillness and depth, so some
touches of black works here. Brown tones will help bring in more Earth and
help you feel more grounded, similar to the energy of the Health and
Balance region.

Paintings or wall hangings with calming landscape imagery, beautiful cloud

formations or a mountain picture with a peaceful feel to it (no volcanoes,
please!) are nice touches here.

Still water scenes within a landscape are also appropriate.

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Any pictures or portraits of people you view as wise or “old souls”…or
anyone who inspires you to lead a life of continuous learning can go on this
wall or in this life region.

Display a special quote or series of wisdom quotes, poems or affirmations on

the wall for easy visual access.

Earth shapes – rectangles and squares are at home in this region.

Earth is grounding and foundation – the foundation of your beliefs,

knowledge and life path are supported by these shapes.

Maintain good lighting in this region. Install lights that have the capability of
lighting up the entire space. The symbology of this is obvious!

One final point – it is extremely important to keep this region clean, clutter
free and clear of cobwebs. This is important for your entire home. Cobwebs
denote confusion and disorder…you‟ve probably heard the expression:
”cobwebs in the brain”.

Cobwebs accumulate in corners and spaces as a result of disuse or neglect –

you definitely don‟t want that happening anywhere in your home or head!

Pearl #16 – Living Prosperity Consciousness - Attracting and Retaining

Wealth

The Principle of Attraction

Not long ago a now famous book and movie was produced called “The
Secret”. The inspiration for the book, as stated by author Rhonda Byrne was
the 1910 classic “The Science of Getting Rich” by Wallace D. Wattles, which
you have as a bonus for purchasing this ebook…(a special Feng Shui Pearls
of Wisdom 2009 edition unavailable elsewhere).

The success of ―The Secret‖ was the way in which the book and movie were
marketed to the public. In reality, ―The Secret‖ Rhonda wrote of wasn‟t truly
a secret at all…(only to those who didn‟t know about it before reading her
book or seeing the movie…which is the definition of a secret anyway,
correct?).

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The book was Rhonda‟s introduction to and experience with a principle more
commonly known as the Universal Law of Attraction.

To gain a deep understanding of the Law of Attraction as it relates to wealth,

read ―The Science of Getting Rich‖ as well as Napoleon Hill‟s classic ―Think
and Grow Rich‖.

These two classic prosperity books will help you acquire the right mindset for
attracting wealth. They will plant wealth producing seeds in your mind so
that new thoughts and possibilities can grow, replacing any weeds of self
doubt and limitation that may be present now.

In the briefest of nutshells, the Law of Attraction states that what you think
about, you bring about. If your thoughts are limited in this regard – if you
don‟t believe that you deserve to be wealthy, or are able to acquire wealth
and keep it, then you never will.

The place to start building and accumulating wealth is between your ears! As
Wallace Wattles teaches – know that wealth is coming to you. Know that it is
on its way to your doorstep before it arrives. This is the faith that is
necessary in order for the blessings of abundance to materialize.

You may want to examine your relationship with money more closely. How
do you think about money and wealth, really? Do you believe that money is
the root of all evil? Do you believe that the rich will never enter the kingdom
of God? Do you believe there is great virtue in being poor?

Or do you believe that God wants all of creation to live blessed and abundant
lives? That wealth can be a blessing and a vehicle for bestowing even more
blessings on others?

You must have a positive relationship with money and acquiring wealth
before money will flow easily to you...(and accumulate!).

In addition to reading these western classics from the turn of the last
century, let‟s see how Feng Shui can help your consciousness shift, as you
enhance your surroundings for attracting the riches the universe wishes you
to have!

The Power of Gratitude

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Having a consistent “attitude of gratitude” will go a long way in bringing
wealth to your doorstep. This is a Feng Shui principle and a teaching found
in many traditions and cultures.

What is wealth, exactly? It is much more than owning cash or precious gems
and metals! True wealth consists of all the good things in your life – your
health, a loving family, close friends…all the wisdom you‟ve acquired as well
as the talents you possess.

Cultivate a moment by moment consciousness of gratitude. Even for the

smallest of things…give thanks. Be thankful if you have food to eat every
day and a warm cozy bed to sleep in at night. Count your blessings…one by
one.

If you are so inclined, try this little exercise, as it may help you better
appreciate all the goodness in your life right now. Write down the blessings
in your life - everything you can possibly think of. Everything you can think
of that warrants a bit of thanks.

You may be pleasantly surprised at how long a list you have.

A grateful heart attracts good things. Try it and see how much better you‟ll
feel – how much more positive an outlook you‟ll have when you appreciate
your life, even down to the smallest detail.

Take a walk and look at the beauty that surrounds you…the flowers and
trees – any of nature‟s awesome revelation. Be thankful that you‟re able to
take a walk!

If you recall the movie ―The Color Purple‖…this was one of the main themes
of this now classic film – that God, or Universal Consciousness truly loves it
when we take notice and give thanks for the beauty and wonder of creation.

When I was studying the audio course in prosperity consciousness by

Frederic Lehrman (mentioned in an earlier part of this book), he instructed
listeners to write affirmations that supported the attraction of wealth. When
you do this, coupled with gratitude, major shifts begin to happen for you.

We were told to write affirmations a few times each day, for 30 days. Try
this simple one – “I deserve to be wealthy”. Get a small notebook and write

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this by hand 5 or 10 times a day. Here‟s another one – “I am now highly
pleasing to myself in the presence of other people.”

These are just a couple of ones that I recall from the course – feel free to
create your own. Affirmations work, whether you believe they do or not…just
trust the process and see what happens!

Presiding Element, Support Element and Enhancements

The Element that finds its home in this south eastern region of the Bagua is
Wood. Remember that Wood is the energy of spring and new growth so if
you can, brings in a hardy live plant.

The Chinese have a particular fondness and attraction for the jade plant. The
jade plant is known as the “money tree” or “lucky plant” and lends itself well
to indoor bonsai cultivation. The rounded shapes of the leaves are
considered a positive attribute, according to Feng Shui, as are the fleshy
textures of the leaves.

Other living plants that appeal to you, or silk and

dried plants are a welcome addition as are materials
(wood furniture, for example) or fabrics derived from
plants.

Leaves of the jade

As Wood is the energy of expansion, it naturally expands your possibilities

for acquiring wealth. Remember to include Wood shapes in this region –
columns, pedestals or pillars.

In the Productive Cycle of the Elements, Water is the giver of Life to Wood.
Water energy is most appropriate for this region, as moving water denotes
the flow of wealth, while still water represents the accumulation of wealth.
Moving water is the energy of money actively circulating in your life.

Place a small indoor fountain, aquarium or other powerful Water symbol for
prosperity building and wealth accumulation.

Placing a water fountain in your front yard, not far from the front door is
another way to attract wealth into your home. Make sure to design it in such

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a way that the water flows toward the house, symbolizing the flow of wealth
coming in.

A fountain that recycles the water through it (especially if you can see the
water moving within it) is powerful wealth imagery, accompanied by a pool
that “collects” the water, symbolic of collecting wealth.

Make sure your front door isn‟t blocked, as the front door is the main energy
conduit ushering good Chi in. Establish a clear well lit path to the front door,
and make sure the path is clear of stray objects upon entering.

Another suggestion is to enhance your dining room to attract more wealth.

Your dining room may not be located in the back left corner of your home
but that‟s OK! Display food or harvest symbols on the table – a thoughtful
centerpiece will do the trick. It doesn‟t have to contain real food – plastic
representations will also work.

Having the table set at all times and ready for a luxurious dining experience
suggests the home is abundant with food, which equates to wealth in Feng
Shui. Hang a picture of an abundant harvest ripe for the picking in the dining
room or in the Prosperity region.

A wind chime is a classic Feng Shui energy booster, and especially

appropriate for stimulating wealth Chi. If you want to really boost your
wealth flow, hang a chime in the Wealth region of multiple rooms in your
house…(back left from where you enter the room).

Do you have any special objects that signify wealth to you personally? A coin
collection, valuable antiques, gifts of art or precious gems? Anything that
represents wealth to you or wealth growing and accumulating is appropriate
for this region.

If you wish, place one or more “wealth attractors” on your desk, in the back
left corner, of course! Make sure they are possessions that you truly love
and appreciate having close by.

Practical possessions such as a safe for storing extra cash and valuables will
help enhance the energy of savings. Mirrors also work well here as they are
symbolic of Water and work to multiply wealth.

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Don‟t forget the colors appropriate to this region – color associated with the
Wood Element, purple and red tones, as well as any shades of blue.

Feeling artistic or creative? Make a collage of items you wish to acquire, or

take a picture of that country home you‟re working toward owning and place
it here. Representations of experiences you‟d like to have are also
appropriate, as well as ones you‟ve already had that made you feel
successful and prosperous.

While focusing on this region, it‟s also a good time to explore the rest of
your house for things that are in disrepair or broken, as well as cover any
open drains…(the last thing you need is your hard earned cash swirling down
any open drains!).

If you find broken objects, repair them, replace them or throw them out.
Something “broken” in your immediate surroundings signifies to the universe
a condition of poverty - an inability to pay for repairs or replacements.

One final suggestion before we move on is to hang artwork or imagery that

conveys feelings of gratitude and abundance. Write down a few wealth
affirmations each day. Keep this special notebook here as a good reminder.

Classic Feng Shui Wealth Symbols

In Pearl #12 we covered some classic symbols for enhancing Career success.
Many of the classic symbols that work well in the Career region will also
work well in your Prosperity region for cash flow generation and savings.

If you‟d like, you can add a few of these symbols to this life region or choose
from the listing below:

Chinese Coins – tying three Chinese coins together with red thread is
known in Feng Shui to bring wealth and prosperity luck. Place the
coins in a small coin holder to carry with you, in Prosperity regions of
rooms or around the main door handle (front entryway, inside the
house). Coins hung on the interior door handle
help wealth remain and accumulate in your
home.

Typical coins have the square in the middle, as

shown in the illustration of the three coins tied
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with red ribbon.

Laughing Buddha – if you‟ve been to Chinese restaurants in the

past, chances are you‟ve been greeted by the smiling face and bulging
tummy of the Laughing Buddha.

Another wonderful symbol to display in the Career region, Prosperity

region or in a public portion of your home or place of business, the
Laughing Buddha is believed to bring great wealth and prosperity to
locations that host his image. Folklore tradition says rubbing the
tummy of the happy Buddha will bring good luck and riches.

Three Legged Toad – one of the most auspicious and well known
symbols of wealth and prosperity in Feng Shui is the three legged
toad, or money frog.

The toad, named Chan Chu, is potent at driving evil away, protecting
possessions and increasing income. You can obtain
statutes of these toads with a single coin in its
mouth and seated on a bed of coins.

The toad is a greeter and inviter of wealth into the

home or office. Best placement is kitty corner to
the front door…(so the toad can welcome the Chi
wealth flowing in). As the toad likes water, it is
also appropriate to place near waterfalls on the property, fountains or
in the garden.

Dragon Tortoise – another powerful symbol in Feng Shui, the Dragon

Tortoise combines the best attributes of the dragon and tortoise.
Similar to the three legged toad, the Dragon Tortoise is also displayed
with a coin in its mouth, sitting on a cluster of coins or gold ingots.

The energy of the tortoise embodies perseverance – seeing projects

through to successful completion. The dragon embodies wealth,
protection and immortality. Place this statue on your desk, in the
upper left wealth corner, or in the wealth life region of your home or
individual rooms. It can also be used to enhance the Career region.

Chinese Unicorn – known as the dragon horse with the name Chi Lin.
A benevolent creature, the unicorn blesses the homes of those who
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 display him with prosperity and abundance. The dragon horse provides
good energy for people who want to advance their businesses. This is
another symbol at home on a working desktop or in the Wealth region.

Wealth Mongoose – a plump contented mother Mongoose

accompanied by her babies is often ceremoniously displayed seated
upon a bed of precious gems. Another powerful wealth generating icon
for the desktop or Prosperity region, the Mongoose is a wealth diety
that historically accompanies the three Tibetan Buddhas of prosperity.
This symbol can also assist those overcoming a streak of bad luck or
Shar Chi (negative energy causing obstacles to good fortune).

Wealth Vase – this can be a personal expression of wealth

accumulation. The vase can be made of crystal or metal such as brass
or silver. Place semi precious stones, pearls, gold ingots, foreign coins,
actual money or anything that signifies wealth to you
inside the vase.

The best shape for this vase is a wide mouth (signifying

that wealth enters easily)…with a narrow neck and large
bottom…(narrow neck means the wealth is easily stored
but cannot escape so easily!). Feng Shui experts advise
owners to hide their wealth vases from public view,
making them even more personal and potent.

There are other traditional wealth symbols from different cultures that you
may wish to display in your Prosperity region or throughout your home. Pick
ones that you find yourself attracted to and enjoy the process as you Feng
Shui your living space for greater prosperity and wealth accumulation!

As with all regions, be sure to take time and sit quietly as you set your new
intentions. Visualize wealth and lasting prosperity coming into your life now!

Pearl #17 – Travel and Attracting the Right People at the Right Time

Attracting the Right People and Circumstances

You may have heard the expression, “when the student is ready, the teacher
will appear” or words to that effect? Is it just coincidence that the “right”
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person shows up at just the right time so that we can learn the lessons life
has for us?

Think of an example in your own life – was there ever a time you were
thinking of a person and then all of a sudden that person calls or knocks on
your door? There probably isn‟t a person alive who hasn‟t experienced this
fascinating phenomenon of “coincidence” from time to time.

Or perhaps you‟ve struck up conversations with complete strangers at a

street corner or in a shop, and some pearl of wisdom they shared with you
really stuck with you and changed your life in a deep and meaningful way.

Synchronicity is the term commonly used to describe these sorts of events.

It‟s like we‟re “in sync” with what‟s happening around us…tapping into
unseen mysterious forces.

What are your thoughts? Do you believe most of these occurrences are just
chance happenings and nothing more?

Skeptics define these synchronistic events by a term called “apophenia”.

Apophenia is the tendency of people to want to convey special meanings to
occurrences which are, according to them, unrelated.

In Feng Shui we know by the way energies flow and accumulate that it is
possible to use our intention, coupled with the energetic cures and strategies
of Feng Shui to attract the circumstances and people into our lives that we
want.

Yes, it is possible to create and attract more of these synchronistic events.

You recall the section earlier in the book that discussed Chi? A more
complete name is “Sheng Chi” or “Cosmic Breath” which is the positive
energy we direct our way, through our living spaces and accumulate by
practicing Feng Shui and diligently applying its principles.

Then there is “Shar Chi” or “Killing Breath”. This is negative energy and ends
up attacking us - resulting in circumstances that we don‟t want, whether
we‟re aware or not! This is the malevolent energy we definitely don‟t want to
have directed toward us, or anywhere close by.

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Shar Chi attacks through what are commonly known as “poison arrows”.
This can result in poor health, loss of wealth, lack of opportunity and all of
the things that detract from one‟s life.

We‟ll cover some ways to neutralize Shar Chi a little later on.

The creation of positive Chi as well as techniques to deflect and neutralize

negative Chi - this core Feng Shui knowledge has been around for centuries
and has endured the test of time.

Feng Shui has changed the lives of those who have embraced its principles
and put it into action for the creation of Sheng Chi.

The region of the Bagua for Travel and Helpful People is found traditionally in
the northwest corner. The trigram for this region is Ch‟ien which embodies
the strongest Yang energy. Ch‟ien is the energy of strength, power, clear
thinking, and intense activity.

When we make enhancements to this life region, we can set our intentions
to bring about the following circumstances:

Experience a greater number of synchronistic events

Protective spirits, guardian angels or people playing the role of

protectors in our lives, keeping us out of harm‟s way and those we
love

Beings that help fulfill our dreams of romance, loving family

relationships, vibrant health, prosperity, etc…

People that teach important life lessons, assisting in the gaining

of insights and wisdom…(you may not always recognize these people,
as they can often be some of the most difficult people you‟ll ever
know!)

People that open doors for new Career opportunities or help make
valuable connections with others in our related field or industry (new
joint venture partners, for example)

Competent employees or contractors you can delegate tasks to

Any gifts you‟ve been given by Helpful People

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 A new home study course, book or DVD series teaching important
skills you need to learn or would like to acquire

Travel and vacation opportunities and deals

Safe travel

Positive circumstances and locations for moving into a new home

or office environment

Arrival of Benefactors – (benefaction – “the act of conferring help or

a benefit” from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English
Language)

Working with this life region presents us with a wonderful opportunity to

accomplish any or all of the points above, as well as become clearer about
where we‟re going in life.

Plus we have the fun of beckoning the right people at the right time to help
us get there in style!

Presiding Element, Support Element and Enhancements

The Element that resides in this region is our friend from the Children and
Creativity region, namely Metal.

Here are a few tips for adding Metal energy, as well as for enhancing the
space for helpful people to come into your life and for travel dreams to be
realized:

Use of white, light gray colors or pastels for walls

All metal objects – silver, brass, aluminum, etc.

Artwork containing these colors or provide images of people,

angels or other entities that are helpful to your life

Round, oval or cylindrical shapes

Rocks and stones arranged to taste

Crystals and gemstones

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 Art or sculpture pieces of teachers or mentors that you relate to or
would like to emulate

Actual photographs of people who have helped you in the past, or

someone you would like help from in the near future

Images or collage of travel destinations you‟d like to visit

Images of a place you would like to move to

Travel books – display or store these books here, as well as maps of

the places you wish to go.

Quotations, prayers or other spiritual representations that

convey synchronicity or Oneness with God

Metal wind chime for attracting the good luck that comes from
heaven

When you work with this region, as with any life region…monitor how you‟re
feeling as you implement the changes.

For example, if you start to feel too rigid or begin feeling uptight, making it
tough to reach agreements with coworkers or associates, you may have
overdone the Metal Element here. Tone down the presence of Metal if this
starts to happen.

The Element that feeds Metal is Earth. To add Earth to this or any region,
you can always bring in tints and shades of yellow, earth tones, ceramic
pieces and square or rectangle shapes.

A Few Classic Symbols

Lotus – one of the eight auspicious symbols of Buddhism, the Lotus is

the famous flower that springs from the “muck” of the world and rises
to the heights of enlightenment. It is said that a lotus flower held by a
young man brings all sorts of relationship success
(Helpful People). To capture the meaning, display a
picture of the lotus flower in this life region with the
intention of attracting Helpful People.

Precious Minister – in “The Handbook of Tibetan

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 Buddhist Symbols” by Robert Beer, he writes of the Seven Precious
Jewels of the Chakravartin. The Precious Minister is one of the Seven,
with a mind sharply “attuned to his lord‟s will that even before the
Chakravartin has issued a command his diligent minister has already
begun to implement it”.

According to this research text, the Precious Minister‟s only desire is to

perform “good works to promote the dharma, protecting and
benefiting all beings”.

To bring the energy of the Precious Minister, select statuettes that

symbolically contain the attributes of Helpful People you wish to attract
into your life. You could even create a collection of Precious Ministers
for this region! A picture of you with your minister or person you turn
to for spiritual guidance is also welcome here.

Yellow Chrysanthemums – used for attracting and retaining

precious yang energy to this sector. Chrysanthemum
stalks are strong – embodying the powerful yang
energy necessary for attracting good luck in the form
of Helpful People. Put your intentions into the
arrangement!

While doing research on the meaning of the

chrysanthemum flower, I came across this interesting website,
which gives some history as well as beautiful pictorial displays of the
flowers. According to this site, one of the meanings of the
chrysanthemum is “a great friend, cheerful and happy”.

Silver Box – a perfect enhancement for this region, find a silver or

metal box (decorative). In the box, place any written affirmations
regarding Helpful People or fulfillment of Travel Dreams. Close the lid
and seal it with your intention. You can also place objects in this box
that are symbolic for you, such as figurines, a set of helping hands,
etc.

You‟ll know you‟re on the right track with this region when more Helpful
People begin showing up in your life, or when special travel and vacation
opportunities present themselves, depending on your intentions.

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Likewise, if unwanted or difficult people and situations keep coming your
way, you‟ll know where you need to focus to remedy the situation!

One bit of Feng Shui advice – become a more helpful person yourself if you
wish to have more Helpful People coming into your life. This is the Universal
Principle of Reciprocity – we ultimately reap what we sow. We get what we
give!

As you lovingly enhance this area you may want to write an affirmation that
sets your intention more firmly. For example, you could say something like
“I now attract Helpful People into my life on a daily basis. I welcome all
Helpful Spirits now and always…thank you for blessing my life!”

Odds and Ends

This is the section where you can readily pick up a few additional Feng Shui
tips to put into action right away. Some you may be familiar with from
previous discussions, others will be new to you.

These are just a few of the highlights – by no means is this complete. For
example, Feng Shui enhancements for the outdoors could be a book by
itself!

Activating Sheng Chi in Your Surroundings

Practicing Feng Shui helps create harmonious energy flows and

accumulations in the environments that matter the most to you. Think of
Sheng Chi as naturally moving in soft curving lines through your living
spaces, rather than in sharp straight lines, which is negative.

Placement of objects and the shapes of objects that promote the positive
flow is the goal.

As you select energizers and enhancements, ask yourself if they give you a
deeper appreciation for life. Do you love what you see, hear or feel when
coming into contact with them?

Sheng Chi is made stronger when you infuse your bliss and creative spirit
when making enhancements and object selections.

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Below are a few suggestions:

Crystals – hanging faceted crystals in various parts of your home

activate the flow of good Chi. For example, crystals hung in nine inch
lengths using red thread or string (traditional Feng Shui suggestion)
can help overcome the draining Chi lingering in bathrooms. Select
round ball shaped faceted crystals – 25mm is a popular size.

Lighting – we covered some lighting tips earlier for certain life

regions. In general, strive for a balanced mix of lighting in any given
space. My partner and I prefer dimmer switches in most rooms for
instant flexibility and mood adjustments.

Select lighting fixtures using tints or shades of the colors associated

with the region you‟re currently focused upon. Choosing table lamps,
standing lamps or hanging ones such as chandeliers can be fun and
creative. Enjoy blending lamp art into your décor!

Windchimes, Bells and Gongs – examples of good choices for Chi

activation that produce pleasing sounds. Like all enhancements, your
choices of instruments that vitalize an area with sound should be ones
that you truly enjoy listening to or are pleasing to hear when
activated.

There are a variety of objects that can be used to create sounds that
make you feel good. Use your creativity and have fun choosing sound
enhancers for your various life regions! Singing bowls are also fine
choices.

Pets – wonderful additions for people who want and love animals in
their lives. Pets are great Sheng Chi enhancers. Pets help lift spirits,
make wonderful companions and are known to aid people recovering
from illnesses.

SIDENOTE: We have a wonderful golden retriever that we

adopted from a local society specializing in placing abused or
abandoned retrievers. His name is Buddy and the people in
our neighborhood just love him, as do we. He shares his
unconditional love freely and is very grateful for having a
warm and loving home, as this is all he ever wanted!

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Make sure pets have a special home within your home – your pets
need their own space every now and again!

Picture of Buddy

Plants – houseplants help bring in vibrant Wood energy and add life
and vitality to regions. A general rule of thumb is to choose plants with
soft curvy leaves and ones that enjoy living inside and are easy to
tend. Avoid spiky plants – ones that have sharp or pointed leaves
(known as “unfriendly” in Feng Shui) unless used outdoors as guards
or sentinels to the property.

Flowers – a whole chapter could be devoted to the many flowers used

in Feng Shui and the touches they bring to their environments. One
way to provide harmonious balance is to arrange flowers in a
multicolored bouquet that beautifully represent the Five Elements. You
can also place a single flower - a white lily in a vase, for example, for
adding Metal to a region.

With cut flowers, a general rule of thumb is good daily maintenance

while they still have their vitality. Take care to trim the bottoms of
stems daily and freshen the water. Once they begin to fade, remove
them as the energy of decay begins to emanate…(Shar Chi).

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If using dried flowers, be careful not to keep them too long – only for
as long as they appear fresh and energetic.

Nature Collages – rocks, stones, gemstones, sea shells, pieces of

driftwood, conch shells, etc…can be arranged to encourage certain
feelings and memories. Mementos of trips abroad…or close to home
contain special meanings and symbols. Be as personal and creative as
you‟d like with your nature arrangements. They can be used to
enhance any life region, as you lovingly impart the meanings you wish
them to hold.

Water Enhancements – earlier on in the book we touched upon the

use of water fountains, specifically for attracting and circulating vital
Wealth and Career Chi.

We have friends who created a waterfall cascading down a course of

natural rocks into a pool, which collects the water (symbolic of wealth
accumulating). Then the water from the pool is recycled back to the
top, creating a constant flow of negative ions, one of the great
benefits of living near moving water. The falls are moving the water
toward the home, not away from it, with the pool not far from the
front door.

This is important to get right. If you decide to landscape a waterfall

into your property – always have the water moving toward your home
to bring wealth and success – not take it away!

Water additions such as swimming pools or Jacuzzi‟s also have their

place when it comes to bringing the positive energy of exercise, fun
and relaxation. The important thing with these is to make sure they
are kept clean and in good repair.

Enhancing With the Wind – these are chosen possessions designed

to move and dance with the wind. Windsocks, hanging mobiles, little
whirligigs and flags fall into this category. These Sheng Chi energizers
can be used indoors or outdoors to direct and circulate the positive
vibes.

Use your imagination when creating mobiles – these can be purchased

but you can also make your own from possessions that hold a special

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 meaning. For example, if you or a family member is recuperating from
an illness or surgery, make a mobile of the get well cards received to
hang in the Health region or room where healing is taking place.

These are just some of the Feng Shui enhancements you can use to draw
positive Chi to a space and help it accumulate there.

Tips for Chasing Away Shar Chi

Shar Chi is the direct opposite of Sheng Chi. Shar Chi is negative energy
that results from too much clutter or blockages in spaces. It can also be
thought of as the energy generated by open drains, which subliminally cause
the depletion of vitality in people and places.

For example, Shar Chi is generated by sharp or pointed angles, such as a

neighbor‟s roof ridge pointing toward your front door.
Sharp corners on coffee tables, straight lines, knives or
objects that embody hostility results in Shar Chi.

You have probably seen those wrought iron fences with

the sharp points bordering a cemetery? Not only is the
cemetery itself emanating Shar Chi, but the demeanor of
the fence is as well!

When you observe your surroundings think of Shar Chi

as anything sharp pointing directly toward you (as you
sleep, for instance…it could be a sharp dresser corner). Your sleep patterns
could be disrupted because of this.

Remember earlier on when we talked about using intuition to “feel” the

energy of places? This is where the skill of intuiting comes in handy - being
able to sense the presence of poison arrows and immediate threats to the
healthy Sheng Chi in your environment.

Anything that evokes a fear response – dark corners in places…(remember

when you were a child and afraid of what was under the bed?). Musty stale
spaces or areas that hold the energy of stagnation invite the accumulation of
Shar Chi.

The energy pathways in our bodies are directly affected by the health of the
energy pathways in our immediate environment. If the energy in our
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immediate surroundings is blocked, weak, or attacking…this is Shar Chi
which can negatively impact health.

The term “poison arrows” (first mentioned in Pearl #10 when we covered
enhancements for the bedroom) is fairly synonymous with Shar Chi. It may
be difficult to spot poison arrow threats as a novice to Feng Shui. Poison
arrows can result in bad luck and misfortunes of all sorts.

In the town where I grew up, a friend‟s family owned a small grocery store.
The store was in an extremely poor location, as a road leading into town
came directly toward the store and was constantly rushing threatening bad
Chi into it. More than once a car smashed directly into this store, resulting in
major damage! Thankfully no one was hurt.

It was no wonder the family closed the business after a few years – they
were unequipped to stop this poison arrow and the misfortune that resulted
because of it.

One of the solutions they could have performed, according to Feng Shui, was
to plant a tree or two in front (but not directly in front of the door, because
you still want a clear pathway in) for protection from the road. Another
solution would have been to place a water fountain in front, which would
help diffuse the attacking Chi.

Here are some other solutions for eliminating or lessening the negative
effects of Shar Chi in your immediate environment:

Remove poison arrows – as common sense would dictate, remove

these threats. Replace sharp cornered tables with round ones. Choose
furniture devoid of sharp corners. Store kitchen knives safely in
drawers.

Diffuse poison arrows – if you cannot easily remove sharp angles,

cover them with fabric or place a plant to soften the harshness. A
plant that covers a sharp angle directed toward you (a vine draped
over 90 degree furniture corners, for example) is effective at diffusing
the attacking Chi of the harsh edge.

Relocating furniture – if your work desk is positioned in the direct

path of a sharp 90 degree corner or angle you may want to move it to

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a different part of the room. The negative energy directed at the desk
can cause stress and lack of productivity.

Plants for jutting corners – if feasible, place appealing plants in

front of jutting corners. Artificial plants are fine for this application.
The idea once again is to soften the sharp edges of corners, reducing
the poison arrow effect.

Exposed beams – many homes feature exposed beams, which are

noted for emanating Shar Chi. Move seating arrangements in rooms
with exposed beams so that occupants and guests are not directly
sitting under beams. A helpful cure for lessening this negative
influence is to hang a wind chime from the beam. Wind chimes are
also effective when placed in front of sharp edges.

Trees and poles – towering trees or street lights that are too close
can pose poison arrow threats, having the same energetic impact as a
sharp roof ridge pointing at your front door. Remove trees that are
too close, as falling limbs from windstorms can cause damage, as well
as intrusive tree roots to house foundations.

SIDENOTE: The front door is of extreme importance and must

be protected in order for good Sheng Chi to enter unhindered.
Remember that this is where wealth and opportunity enters!

One solution may be to hang a Pakua mirror over the front door
to deflect any negative influences posed by poison arrows. Be
careful not to direct the path of the mirror toward a neighbor –
use with care as the energy reflecting away is strong. A more
involved solution would be to relocate the front door. In some
particularly extreme cases it may be necessary.

Faceted Crystals – easy to implement solutions for protruding

corners, lessening the debilitating effects of invasive sharp corner
energy. Hang from the ceiling in a position that blocks the corner
angle. Crystals help the flow of positive Chi while reducing negative
effects. Crystals can also be hung in windows to create harmonious Chi
flows within a room.

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 Lighting – light up dark corners, where Shar Chi likes to hide. If a
room lacks good natural lighting make it a point to install adequate
lighting. Lights can also be used to diffuse the energy of protruding
corners.

Building up “Missing” Areas

Earlier in Pearl #8 we touched upon the Feng Shui problem of having

“missing” areas of the Bagua map. A missing area is an area that falls
outside the rectangle or octagon you are using to map your living space.
When an area is missing, the energy for that sector is weaker and according
to Feng Shui, needs to be built up for best results.

There are approaches one can take to energetically “replace” and bolster
missing areas. Here are some things you can do:

Rock – a large boulder placed in a missing area can bring a strong

natural presence. The rock symbolizes strength, which is what you are
trying to do with missing areas. Statues can also work for this
purpose.

Tree – similar to the rock, planting a tree in a missing area is a good

way to add a strong durable presence. Plants are also good indoor
choices for completing missing corners and spaces, adding positive
yang energy. Artificial plants are acceptable, as long as they appear
vibrant.

Light – a strong outdoor light mounted on a pole or outbuilding can

help complete a missing area.

Water – pools, Jacuzzi‟s, waterfalls or fountains are good energy

choices for completing a missing area and help stimulate the flow of
healthy Chi.

Flag or Banner – another good choice for completing your Bagua

map composition. Hang flags or banners that have pleasing symbolic
meanings or announce the four seasons (or however many seasons
you have in your area!)

Construction – if budget allows, consider building an addition onto

your existing house to fill a missing region. Another consideration is
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 installing an outdoor patio, deck or small structure such as a shed to
fill the space. A larger structure such as a garage will also work.

Special Object – placing a special object into the ground in the area
of a missing region will help energize and complete the area. Some
Feng Shui experts suggest burying a quartz crystal in the missing
region, coupled with your intention to lovingly complete and
energetically strengthen the area.

Mirrors or Art – mirrors come to the rescue by artificially expanding a

missing area. Mirrors, three dimensional artworks or other personal
Chi enhancements placed along walls in close proximity to the missing
region will help materialize the region and strengthen any weaknesses.

Space Cleansing

Here‟s yet another aspect of Feng Shui that has the power to revitalize and
transform living areas! Space cleansing or clearing has to do with performing
rituals or enhancements that whisk out hovering or “reluctant to leave”
energies from an environment.

Many times people choose to do a space cleansing when first moving into a
new home (or at least new to them). There‟s a good chance the previous
owners are still lingering about, energetically.

For example, if you know that the couple who owned the home prior to you
fought like cats and dogs then a space clearing is definitely in order. Even if
you don‟t know the lifestyles or emotional challenges of past residents, you
may want to start fresh with a cleansing.

Space clearing is much more than clearing away the past from a place.
These are rituals of purification as well as emotional and spiritual elevation.

Cleansing raises the quality of life in a region, bringing in the positive energy
of your intentions as you perform (or have professionally performed) space
cleansing. Stagnant, musty low frequency energies have a way of slowing us
down…making us tired and sluggish.

Space cleansing can be powerful! It is not something to be taken lightly or

embarked upon without further study. Just know that it is possible to learn
techniques on how to do this correctly. It is beyond the scope of this book to
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adequately cover space cleansing – refer to the bibliography for more
information and resources.

Having said that, there are some initial steps you can take and techniques
you can perform to begin the process of cleansing a space and inviting in the
energy you wish to have and retain.

Begin by physically cleaning the entire home or specific room.

People with more developed sensitivities have the ability to pick up on
harmful or negative lingering energy. This Shar Chi can be present,
even after a thorough physical cleaning.

If a space still feels “dirty” or heavy or hindered energetically after

clearing clutter and cleaning, this indicates that a space cleansing is in
order.

Prior to moving into a new home or apartment, try to arrange to have

carpets professionally cleaned. Take time to fix any wall holes or
blemishes and apply fresh paint. Just taking these steps can help in
terms of clearing lingering energies from past residents.

Five Elements – create a composition of your own making that

symbolizes the Five Elements. Candles are a nice choice as they are
easy to source and inexpensive. You can make a pleasing arrangement
of five candles - with each one representing one of the Elements.

Place the candles in the center of the room and sit quietly with the
candles lit. Close your eyes, relax your mind and body…loosen any
tight clothing and visualize any negative thoughts, past emotional
traumas held in the space, or sour spirits vacating the region. Use your
imagination – see yourself smiling and waving good bye as they leave!

Next, set to work visualizing your positive intentions for this space and
for your new life in this space. Be specific with your intentions –
whatever you desire to bring about. Eliminate tension and stress,
bolster vitality for better health, foster peace, or dissolve grief.

Know and be thankful that the space is now energetically clear of past
debris and influences – it is a clean slate ready to receive the
impressions you give and wishes you want fulfilled.

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 Essential oils – these can be used to purify, strengthen, calm,
energize (awaken passion) and harmonize regions. Use an essential oil
diffuser or spritz a few drops into the air mixed with water. Either
method will help permeate the space with your chosen aromas.
Incense sticks can be used as well. Purchase only high quality
essential oils as some producers employ processes that significantly
degrade essential oils.

Sounds – use sound to invigorate and stimulate cleansing. For

example, singing bowls, bells, gongs, wind chime pipes or other
objects that suit your tastes. Be sure to energize corners of regions, as
this is where stale energy tends to accumulate. You can also clap your
hands when clearing corners, or walk around the space clapping (after
you‟ve done your intention work).

Doing a space cleansing is an energetic and spiritual act of kindness for a

space. Most buildings – offices, homes and apartments contain some sort of
residual energies and can benefit greatly from cleansing rituals. Design a
ritual that has the most meaning for you.

For maintenance purposes, you may want to set aside a time once a month
or whenever you “feel” that any of your regions need clearing to perform
cleansing activities.

Walk through your home ringing a bell or waving a lighted stick of incense.
Make your intentions clear and know that you are making a difference
energetically within your personal space. Just accept it and know it to be so!

Coming Full Circle…

Wow…you made it! Thank you SO MUCH for taking this special knowledge
journey through the Feng Shui Pearls of Wisdom with me! It is my hope that
your life has been transformed because of it!

As you are probably aware, Feng Shui has its origins in China, but in reality,
every culture and every religion practices forms of Feng Shui…only by a
different name!

Toward the beginning of this book I made a request of you.

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Just for fun and to document your own growth and journey with Feng Shui, I
invite you to once again answer the question:

What Does Feng Shui Mean to Me?

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It is my hope that your definition of Feng Shui is alive with more possibilities
than you ever dreamed of and continues to expand daily. May your
dedication to living your best life be firm and long lasting!

Please enjoy enhancing all aspects of your life as you embrace this ancient
art and continue your lifelong journey with Feng Shui so you can begin
“Living Your Best Life in a Beautiful Environment of Your Own Creation!‖

Much love,

Ling Meng

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Bibliography, Recommended Reading and Resources:

Kingston, Karen “Creating Sacred Space with Feng Shui” (Piatkus, UK, 1996;
Broadway Books, New York)

Kingston, Karen “Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui” (Piatkus, UK 1998;
Broadway Books, New York)

Kennedy, David Daniel “Feng Shui for Dummies” Wiley Publishing, Inc., 2001,
Hoboken New Jersey

Roberts, Stephanie “The Pocket Idiot’s Guide to Feng Shui” Published by Alpha
Books, 2004.

Collins, Terah Kathryn “The Western Guide to Feng Shui” Hay House, 1996.

Chin, R.D. “Feng Shui Revealed” New York: Harper-Collins Publishers, 1995.

Too, Lillian “Lillian Too’s Practical Feng Shui: Symbols of Good Fortune”
Element Books Limited, Shaftesbury, Dorset 2000.

Too, Lillian “Easy-to-use Feng Shui: 168 Ways to Success” Collins & Brown
Limited, London House, London 1999.

Spear, William “Feng Shui Made Easy: Designing Your Life with the Ancient
Art of Placement” New York: Harper-Collins Publishers, 1995.

Barron, Jon “Lessons from the Miracle Doctors: A Step-By-Step Guide to

Optimum Health and Relief from Catastrophic Illness” Basic Health
Publications, Inc. Laguna Beach, CA

Myss, Caroline “Anatomy of the Spirit: The Seven Stages of Power and
Healing” Crown Publishers, Inc. 1996.

Brown, Tom Jr. “The Way of the Scout: A Native American Path to Finding
Spiritual Meaning in a Physical World”

Dr. Christopher (recommendation by Karen Kingston) - HealthForce Regeneration

Systems – www.healthforce.net – Customer Service: (619) 756-5292.

Frederic Lehrman – “Prosperity Consciousness” cassette tape series.

David Ison – “The Musical Body: Chakra Meditations for Spiritual Exploration”

Essential Oils Suppliers – Mountain Rose Herbs and Young Living

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