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Whether you're single, married or just wanting to spice up your current relationship, using tried and true effective feng shui designs in your bedroom will help make your dreams become a reality. Soon you'll have the energy of the whole universe singing your song, working to make it happen for you.

The southwest corner of your space or bedroom is your love and relationships corner according to the bagua map. Earth is the associated element here and can be activated more by using fire for optimum effect. This will come into lay a little later.


Clear the Space

Effective feng shui designs in your room, or any space for that matter start with clearing the clutter. Remove old, broke, unnecessary objects and furniture that's been accumulating so that the chi can flow freely through your space. Any blockages will result in restrictive movements of energy which then become stagnant and negative. A thorough vacuum or mopping will finish the job, clearing your space and subsequently your mind of any problems or worries. It will allow you to prepare for the feng shui mind-set of positive thinking and visualizing your goals that will ultimately help attract that spice into your life.

Make sure you open some windows to let the fresh air come in while you change your bed sheets and pillows, airing them out and ridding them of old stagnant energy and preparing them for new vitalizing chi. Even put on some loud romantic music and help the energy circulate. Remember to remove any and all photos of past relationships, items of sentimental value and letters. Any memories that attach you to the past will keep you there, it's time to move on up.


Decorating for Love

Decorating your bedroom using feng shui designs is easy and a lot of fun. Follow the basic guidelines here to help get yourself in the love zone.

* When choosing colors to decorate with, think pink and sexy. Pink and red are the colors of love to use so buy decorative items for your love display with this in mind. If you decide to paint your walls, red may be too overpowering so softer pink tones will be perfect, even earthly yellow tones.
* Everything needs to be balanced so don't overdo a certain color, or item in your room. There can be too much of a good thing, balance is the key.
* You're trying to attract love into your life, symbolized by a connection between two people. Therefore, everything in your love display area should be paired with another to reflect a two-sided relationship. More or less then two and you're heading for trouble.
* According to love and relationship feng shui designs, earth and fire are good elements to use in your corner. Objects and pictures that resemble these elements should be used here. Wood is harmful to the overall positive effect you're creating here and so you should remove any wood related elements like picture frames.
* Remember the elements of earth and fire are good in your love corner according to feng shui designs. Think of objects and designs that resemble these elements for full effect and remove anything resembling wood or metal as these will harm your efforts.
* Keep the energy alive in this area by frequently updating and changing around your display in the love corner.

Here are some great examples of objects that you could use to enhance your southwest love area. Try to mix and match them as best as possible to find which feng shui designs and arrangements works best for you.

* Natural quartz crystals or raw amethyst are great for attracting love. Ideally you should hang them on a string above a window in the southwest corner. Light will then be able to shine on the crystal which will reflect your intentions into the room.
* Make sure your love area is well lit at all times, with natural daylight, bright lights or candles. Light the candles every night to increase your chances of attracting love.
* Earth based materials like ceramics and pots or bowls are great for vitalizing love energy. Put artificial silk flowers or peacock feathers in them to maximize their potential.
* Use earth and sun objects and symbols in the area, a globe would be ideal.
* To target love energy in a marriage, use pictures of lovebirds, ducks or statues in twos. A Chinese love knot is another part of feng shui designs that is very useful for attracting love chi, use it to further decorate your pictures.
* Remember never to use real live flowers in your bedroom, use artificial peony flowers instead.
* Photos or pieces of art showing happy couples can be put up around the area. Never display pictures of people on their own, lonely, or this is what you'll attract.

There's much much more you can do to enhance your love area but these are some great starting points that will be very effective when used in the right way. You should always remember when you're arranging the feng shui designs in your love area to visualize what you hope to achieve by doing this action.

The power of intention is extremely helpful in all aspects of feng shui, it's just as important as the action itself. You must be positive and expecting to receive what you desire from the feng shui designs and techniques you've put in action. Be grateful and ready to accept the love you've attracted. Get started right now in your relationships area and you'll soon be welcoming all of the wonderful love and romance you can handle!

Did you know that popular and extremely effective feng shui techniques are also used in offices and workplaces around the world to attract great wealth and good fortune through sound business feng shui principles?

In fact, in Hong Kong, feng shui practices are heavily enforced through the very building and construction of a business and it's premises, to the day to day runnings of business in the workplace, office and meeting rooms. From billionaire Asian business tycoons to the Bank of China to small family owned stores, business feng shui practices are implemented to help acquire greater wealth, fortune, health and happiness. So maybe it's time that you put some sound business feng shui into action in your workplace to help you get that raise, bring in more customers, increase your profits or just work better.

Take a look at these business feng shui tips to help point you in the right direction towards greater luck energy in your work life.

* Make sure that you always sit with a solid wall behind you to represent support and strength in your life. You should sit so that you're in full view of the rooms main entrance and windows for optimal business feng shui placement.
* Office furniture, desks, tables or shelves should all have rounded corners, or even better be round in shape. Straight edged or sharp corners will cut chi and destroy the flow through your space, ultimately creating “sha chi” or negative chi.
* The same principles can be applied to plants in your business feng shui space, make sure that they are softer edged plants and don't have sharp or spike-like leaves, commonly known as poison arrows.
* Don't place empty boxes, or even an empty vase near the main door. As new chi enters the office, it will be sucked into the empty spaces leaving nothing left for the rest of the environment. The idea is to attract sheng chi (good energy) and keep it circulating freely in your environment for maximum benefit.
* Using the Bagua map (find one on my website), determine your area or wealth of future wealth area and place items like the fax machine, telephone and computers in this area to attract more business.
* If you're a shop owner, place the till register or even the petty cash container in the wealth area. Your order books should also be placed here, along with 3 ancient gold Chinese coins held together with red strong or ribbon stuck on top of them to attract more money to the business.
* Keep your desk surface clean and clutter free as it is symbolic of your state of mind, tidy desk is a tidy mind, working better will result. The same can be said for the workplace or office in general, clutter is enemy number one not only in business but everywhere. Clear the clutter first to avoid any blockages of energy flow in the area.
* Use mirrors help to create more light which represents the water element, and the space will become more soothing. Southeast, East and North are the best feng shui places for mirrors according to the bagua map.
* Placing a mirrors next to your cash register or order book will symbolically double what's reflected, so your profit and orders will increase, or even your wage packet!
* Be careful not to reflect the main entrance to your space in any mirrors as it will act as a way for the energy to leave you, having the reverse effect which is probably worse than having the mirror there at all. Be weary of what's reflected in all your mirrors and be sure the reflections are only of positive symbols and objects, so that you receive more of them.

Follow these quick business feng shui tips to allow you, your office, company or workplace to benefit from greater balanced energy and help attract to you more of what you want whether that's a clearer work focus, more profits or greater wealth luck!

The feng shui elements are one of the main foundations that feng shui is built upon. The five elements dictate how objects and furniture should be distributed and placed precisely around our home to attract the right type of energy we desire. Luck in wealth, love, family, careers, health, fame, children and education can all be achieved through correct use of the feng shui elements in your home, it's a core concept and should be fully understood to benefit from it's efforts. Each element has specific colors and location in your home associated with them and we'll get to those a little later but first, let's break down rights and wrongs of using the elements in your home.

The Productive and Destructive Cycle of Elements

Productive Cycle

The feng shui elements – water, wood, fire, earth and metal – can be arranged in a cycle where each element is used to create the next in the cycle. By using the correct locations, objects and directions, feng shui takes account of the elemental relationships and can use one element to assist or boost the another, bring greater energy for the life area they're placed in.

The productive cycle is as follows:
Water > produces > wood > makes > fire > produces > earth > creates > metal > makes > water and so on.

Example:
Out of all the feng shui elements, water is the strongest representative of your wealth energy, which is located in the southeast area of your home or space. Water related items should feature in your wealth area to energize it and attract more of it. In the productive cycle, metal is the elements that makes water and so metal objects can also be placed in the area to boost the wealth area. Water is the main element and so be sure it isn't overpowered too much by the metal.

Destructive Cycle

In the same way, if a destructive relationship of feng shui elements exists in the same location, this can bring about negative results which will harm your good intentions for the area. Most of the time, people unknowingly already have conflicting elements in the wrong locations which is why their wealth, career or any other area of life is suffering.

The destructive cycle is as follows:
Wood > devours > earth > destroys > water > extinguishes > fire > consumes > metal > demolishes > wood and so on.

Example:
As mentioned above your wealth corners main element is water. Earth destroys water in the destructive cycle shown above and so having any objects related to earth would devastate the positive effects of your water element, therefore your wealth. Things like ceramic pots, pictures of land or globes etc and will need to be removed before good wealth energy can flow freely into your life, unrestricted by the earth element.

Elemental Properties

For your reference, note the following relationships each element has with colors, locations (according to the bagua map) and objects in your home:

Wood – Green shades – East – Paper, Plants, Furniture, Pictures of Wood etc
Water – Blue or Black shades – North – Fountains, Aquariums, Pictures of Water etc
Fire – Red shades – South – Bright lights, Fireplaces, Candles, Pictures of Fire
Metal – Metallic colors, Gold, Silver, White – West – Coins, Jewelry, Wind chimes, Pictures of Metal etc
Earth – Brown shades – Center – Pots, Flowers, Ceramics, Globes, Pictures of Earth etc

Knowledge of the feng shui elements and their cycles help you too utilize the energy you need, and can balance out the destructive energy you don't. Balance is the always the key when using the elements, they can even be used to correct any existing elemental and location problem you have in your home.

Sometimes, structural things like fireplaces can't simply be moved. They'd naturally represent fire and if they're in the wrong location for that particular element, you can use water based objects to destroy the fires negative effects and again, balance out the energy. A firm understanding of the feng shui elements and how they work will be key to help you benefit from all the great things that feng shui can bring you and your family. Wealth, health and happiness can soon be all yours when you combine all of your feng shui knowledge to build a life-time of well being and good fortune!

When choosing a property, have a mountain at the back and water features in front

"Mountains govern matters related to human relationships and longevity while water affects one's financial health and growth," said the fengshui master.

Advised homebuyers to look for properties with these features to enjoy their benefits.

Importance should be placed on the environment, building and personal aspects when buying a property.

Good feng shui is understated, zen-like and clean,urged housebuyers to avoid certain locations which were "unfriendly high tension wires were not just bad for feng shui, but bad for health, too.
One should also avoid places at top of hills, that faces mountains and at lower parts of valleys,

Feng shui has been around for a long time, but I've always been a bit of a sceptic. I mean, how can you change your life by moving furniture around? Or improve your fortune by purchasing ornaments for the house?

Feng shui is a serious profession. If you look back to ancient times in China, the emperor was the only one allowed to receive the benefits of feng shui. The practice was not attainable by common people.

Feng shui espouses that there is a strong link between humanity and nature and that the way in which one interacts with his surroundings has a significant influence on his life and fortune - the ideal result being to attain a measure of balance and harmony with nature. Achieving such a balance in one's own home is thus of great importance. In Feng Shui For Harmony In The Home, the author makes use of her architectural background to provide a comprehensive analysis of the various factors involved in ensuring the presence of such harmony in one's abode, from the positioning of the house right down to the very decorations used within.

Winter always seems to say…quiet down, rest, and go inward, deep, deeper. Examine the strength and mystery within yourself. It’s time now to refrain from the frantic, rush, rush, rush and assess what is really important! Prioritize and get on tract.

In Feng Shui energy talk, the Water element signified by the color black or dark blue is at its zenith. The Water element is also known as the winter element since it is so prevalent during this time. Its direction is north. This is a yin element and the number associated with it is the number one (1). Objects that represent water include aquariums and fountains. Animals belonging to this element are the rat and the boar.

The winter months push us humans together. We occupy the same space as before, just a little more closely than before. Our interior space becomes even more ‘energy’ important as we are challenged to share that space and energy.
This is an opportune time to critically survey the space that the family will share. Make certain that all the Feng Shui 101 basics have been accomplished. Clean and polish that space! (A complete and thorough housecleaning and straightening with ruthless editing of items is absolutely necessary if energy is to flow in an auspicious manner)

This month the five elements are in the following configuration:
Fire is weakest energy (Extreme Yang energy)
Water is the strongest energy (Extreme Yin energy)
Metal is a waning/weak energy (Yin energy)
Wood energy is born (Yang energy)
Earth energy is strong (Yin energy)

The emotional elements of the water element, which is very strong right now, is that of willpower, magnetism, sensitivity, wisdom, persuasiveness and the ability to focus the mind. It assists in consolidation, revelation and knowledge and its archetype is the philosopher. The associated planet is Mercury.

If water is your nourishing element and you do not have a good balance in your Feng Shui assessment, bring water elements into your environment. Since the water element is VERY strong right now, don’t overdo a good thing! Add a fishbowl, aquarium, irregular shaped glass coffee table, artwork whose predominate color is dark blue or black. If you have TOO much water, then balance your environment with the energies that will stabilize and balance the water energy. Fire elements: candles, red triangular shaped object, reds, pinks, oranges in fabrics/ tablecloths, light up that fireplace!

The fire energy and element are at their weakest now, so using Fire energy suggestions are an excellent thing to include in your environment. You are bringing in and balancing what nature is taking away, thus creating a more harmonious and flowing energy pattern.

Another energy that will soak up some of that water energy is the Wood element. To add wood to your environment bring in a live plant or two (Some of my plants come inside this time of year) Polish up a forgotten wood piece in the attic or basement, use striped fabric or fabric with a floral design. Wood sculptures, wooden frames on pictures/photos or use wood colors. The archetype for wood is the pioneer (makes sense, doesn’t it!) The associated planet is Jupiter.

Another element that will help to balance all that water is the earth element. Get out your pottery, concrete/brick type of ornaments, if you have brass objects use them to balance the water element. Ceramic tile, ceramic drawer pulls, carved stone sculptures and fabric in earth tones will work wonders in balancing the water energy. The archetype for the earth element is the peacemaker. The associate planet is Saturn.

I personally have a close association with the water element. I have worked diligently to bring my environment into balance. Powerful water has been an issue here at my old historic home. There is no basement ….In the 1800’s,( my house dates back to 1804) land was settled where water and animal life were plentiful. I have spent 26 years here. The gardens and surrounding shrubs and trees have been added to balance all the water that exists here. In my seasonal table articles I reference that the dining room in is the North, a water element direction, so a large wood table and wood chairs were selected for that space. The brick floor was selected, a large stone fireplace was selected. Wood built-in bookcases were selected. Wood corner cabinets and side tables were selected in order to balance the extreme and powerful force of the water element. The color, green, associated with wood was selected as a wall color. On the exterior, an additional garden was added with wood arbor, gate and fencing. Stone walkways meander through the space.

Are you getting a true picture of how much water I have had to balance? If you could have seen the geyser shooting out of the fire pit, perhaps you’d begin to understand the power of water.

From time to time the water finds a tiny crack or crevice that wasn’t recently caulked and finds a way to let me know that the willful, persuasive force of the North is still present. I stand in awe and appreciation of the Water element and its energy!!

A popular Western conception of feng shui is that’s it’s simply a way to organize and streamline the possessions within your home. However, this ancient technique is more than a way to de-clutter, it’s a symbolic Chinese system of aesthetics that when practiced can bring harmony to your home. The literal translation of feng shui is “wind and water,” and the practice of feng shui accounts for astronomy, environment, and the natural elements when planning the layout of a building. Feng shui advises the strategic placement of objects within any given building so they remain in harmony with the surrounding environment and inspire positive energy and balance. Factors that determine each positive location include the year the individual was born, the surrounding natural environment, and movements of the solar system.

With origins dating back to the third century B.C. during the Han Dynasty in China, feng shui was historically practiced with a compass-style instrument that read the stars and determined the North-South orientations of Chinese cities. Feng shui was viewed as a tool to ensure the health, wealth and prosperity of the imperial dynasties, and is still used today as an element of traditional architecture in China. The purpose of feng shui in modern culture is to create human environments that harness good qi: the literal translation of qi is “life force energy,” a state that can swing between positive and negative energies according to the structure of your home and its interaction with your surrounding environment.

In addition to the placement of objects and furniture within your home, there are products and simple techniques that will help you create balance in your home.

Wind chimes are an instrumental component of feng shui, however they must be strategically placed. The sound of a wind chime is believed to activate or enliven the Chi or “energy” in an area, and the melodic sound of a wind chime will subtly alter your own mood, which in turn will enhance the energy and peace of your environment. Choose wind chimes that correspond to the size of your space—choose a smaller chime for offices and bedrooms and large wind chimes for open outdoor spaces. Use wind chimes made from a material that corresponds to each area’s element. For example, a southeastern room corresponds to the element wood, so you would want to use a wooden wind chime in that room. Gongs are an alternative to wind chimes that also evoke scintillating sound and counteract negative Chi.

Arbors and trellises can be used to inspire balance in the gardens and recreational areas outside your home. Climbing vines can be trained around the lattices of a trellis, which blends nature with the structures in your backyard so the two elements live in harmony together. Arbors are also an excellent way to create a reflective retreat outside your home—a place where you can sit peacefully with a good book or contemplate the events of the day. Alternately, garden fountains are a wonderful way to bring the soothing sound of nature indoors. Consider a small indoor fountain for placement on a dining table or dresser to maximize the flow of life energy and activate positive Chi indoors.

Tips for practicing feng shui in your home:

1. Fill your rooms with natural light. Use light-colored or sheer curtains and open the windows often for fresh air that will energize each room.
2. Study the five elements of feng shui: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water, and learn how to use each material and its colors appropriately in various rooms of your home to balance the energy in your environment.
3. Be mindful of your bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen. The placement of objects in these three key areas is inherently connected to your health and well-being.
4. Keep doorways and doorsteps free of shoes and clutter so good Chi may travel freely throughout your home.
5. Decorate with the color red sparingly, as it represents the element of fire and could bring undue stress to your home, and accent each room with live plants to feel the yang chi of joy in every indoor space.

This material started to come into widespread use ever since the dawn of metallurgy in 6000 BC. About 2000 years later, feng shui (the teachings of how to live in harmony with nature) started to emerge in Neolithic China.

There are five main elements of nature recognized by this ancient teaching - metal, wood, fire, earth and water, and we can make each of them work for us. Metal is the fifth and the most majestic element. To understand the intangible essence of metal, let’s turn to feng shui and see what it says about the energy properties of this material.

The feng shui metal element is associated with the evening and late autumn. It’s responsible for our physical well-being, strength, and analytical abilities. It’s the symbol of wealth, success, and leadership. If there’s too little metal in anyone’s room, they may start feeling cautious and quiet. Some types of metal include: steel, iron, aluminum, gold, and silver. You can use any of these to balance your home and life.

It became fashionable to decorate furniture with wrought iron back in the Gothic era. Forged metal is also very popular today, as it can help create a bright and original interior in any room. Skilled craftsmen can make some truly incredible items for your home, which will have the illusion of flexibility. According to the ideas of the Chinese philosopher Lao-Tzu, the unbeatable flexibility of this material gives you unlimited possibilities.

The feng shui metal element is believed to enhance entrepreneurship. For instance, using a chair made of this material in your home office can help you become more active. You can also introduce metal in the wealth area of your home (the southeastern part), such as in the form of Chinese coins tied with a red ribbon.

How to add metal the creative way? You can have a beautiful wrought staircase leading to the second floor of your home. You can use it for fences and lattice gates. You can find modern or old metal beds, rocking chairs, original hangers, mirror frames, chandeliers, lamps, wood trays, holders for bottles, and many other accessories. Both indoor and outdoor metal products can help to smooth out the rough corners of any furniture, as well as walls and windows. In the garden, you can use metal furniture (benches, pergolas), jugs, vases, and landscape sculpture. The ways to add the feng shui metal element are almost endless.

The designs can be semicircular, circular, oval, arched, and so on. Try to select these objects based on your personal preference. If the items appeal to their owner, then they will surely bring good luck.

Recently, more and more people started to design their homes and offices in accordance with the recommendations of feng shui. Many people also refuse to use artificial materials, and give preference to natural materials. Metal products combine fabulous elegance and unwavering strength. When we admire the processed metal, we dip into the positive energy of the feng shui metal element.

There are a number of ways to improve your health using this science, ranging from redecorating your entire home the proper way, to merely adding several talismans in the right areas of your home. In this article, we will discuss how you can try to enhance your physical well-being by employing some simple and affordable talismans.

The feng shui health theory states that health is determined by the balance of your environment. Consequently, our well-being largely depends on the décor of our homes – the place where we spend most of our time. The world of symbolism teaches improving health by placing special talismans in your home, which help to attract health and longevity to their owner. Using the information presented in this article will enable you to choose the items that can help you restore your health.

The following figurines can bring health and longevity to their owner: a crane, deer, turtle, peaches, and items made of pine and bamboo. These classic charms have long been used for curing disease and enhancing the physical well-being of a person by the Chinese.

These charms are also used in health amulets. For example, the god of longevity is often portrayed with a peach. This figure represents a smiling old man, holding a peach. The god of longevity Sau often has a deer nearby. The images with these characters can also have a good effect. Thus, you can use figures or pictures depicting a deer, turtle, a flying crane, or bamboo stalks.

The best location for these talismans and pictures is the eastern part of a home, which is believed to be responsible for health. Therefore, you need to design the eastern part of your house properly. The longevity section should be filled with various symbols of longevity; it should be well lit; it needs to look very pleasant. Thus, it will help to promote meditation, and banish negative thoughts. Its effect can be enhanced by several times through the creation of internal and external harmony in that area, such as making it a beautiful and well-lit place.

Some people believe that feng shui can only be used to know what to place inside the home, and were to place it. However, the true meaning of this art is to achieve harmony in all three major energy systems: Heaven, Earth and Human.

A human is a conductor that absorbs the energy of the Heaven and the Earth. Our body is made of energy; it receives the energy from the outside and processes it. Thus, we can use feng shui health techniques to become a better conductor of these subtle energies.

There are skeptics who deny the existence of subtle energies. However, those who believe can improve their general health. This science uses the wisdom of generations to help modern people achieve longevity, success, and harmony.

Neolithic Feng Shui: During the Neolith Age, there was no single Chinese state. People settled near the fertile floodplains, in the area between the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers. Ancient Chinese feng shui advised building homes, facing south, on the southern slopes of hills. The homes needed to be surrounded by natural barriers (trees) to keep them warm and protect them from the northern winds. Trees also helped to prevent soil erosion and mud slides.

The trees were worshiped and served as protection against evil spirits; the slightest damage inflicted on trees was believed to be capable of causing many disasters. The modern countryside feng shui is still riddled with the ancient Neolithic superstitions.

Classic Feng Shui: It derived from Neolithic feng shui. It observes the Qi (energy flow) of heaven and earth, and its interaction. The classic teachings can help you join in the harmony that surrounds us. To do this, you need to understand your spot in your surroundings, and start moving from there towards the equilibrium. If you manage to bring harmony to your life, you’ll get the strength to act and to succeed. This may help you to achieve health, wealth and success in personal relationships.

Classic feng shui uses the following tools and data to help a person in harmonizing their life and home: compass, numerical schemes, birth year, and the year the home was constructed.

A compass helps to determine your home’s spatial position. In combination with its year of construction, you can get a Qi map of your home. Your birth year can help to determine the compatibility between you and your home. Thus, you will find out how to improve the Qi of your home by adjusting the 5 main types of Qi (fire, earth, metal, water, and wood). As a result, you may improve your well-being, health and interpersonal relationships.

Conclusions of Modern Science: Many of the Feng Shui provisions coincide with the findings of modern science. For example, the great physicist Albert Einstein proved that matter is an illusion - a masked form of energy. In other words, both, us and the space we live in, are bundles of interdependent energy flows. In order for us not to waste the available opportunities in vain, we need to direct these energy flows in the right direction.

Basic Principles of Modern Feng Shui: Positive thoughts attract favorable Qi; negative thoughts attract negative and harmful Qi. A negative state of mind has a negative impact on any situation.

Every part of creation is alive and full of energy, spirit and mind. We need to strive to reconnect with the beginning of all things. We are constantly affected by many factors, so there’s no need to search for an ideal solution to any problem. Select and apply different potential solutions from those available. Intuition always helps. After all, feng shui is an intuitive understanding of a person’s place and direction in the universe.

These are rarely found in their pure form in our homes. The main goal of Chinese teachings is to create such an interior, where every element is present, where it’s balanced with the other elements, and where all of them emit good energy, bringing happiness to the lucky homeowner. You can achieve all of this, if you recognize the value of the five elements and understand how they interact with each other.

So, let’s talk about the fire element. This element is extremely bright, unruly, and powerful. It warms us and provokes us to act. It symbolizes vitality and intelligence. It raises the level of activity in a person. However, its overabundance can lead to irritability and temper.

Its colors are red, orange, pastel pink, purple and peach. The direction is south. The symbol is a phoenix. The corresponding body organ is the heart. Is has more of the Yan energy than Yin. It fits well with wood, and does not fit well with water.

The symbols of the feng shui fire element are fireplaces, candles, lamps, light bulbs, spices, wool crafts, leather crafts, feather crafts, and paintings depicting a sunrise or sunset. Items associated with this element have either a peaked or triangular shape, as this element is very dynamic.

The House of Fire: This is a house that faces north, and thus is believed to be located in the South. If you live in such a house, you need to strengthen its element.

An ideal design solution for such a house will include the forms that symbolize this element both, into the interior and exterior design of the house. The interior can include fireplaces, bold chandeliers, etc. The exterior can include triangular roofs and angular structures with sharp edges. These shapes can often be found in libraries and churches. The buildings with a fiery form excite the mind and emotions. People living or working in such buildings have new ideas quite often. The use of wood will help to increase your luck in this type of a house.

The People of Fire: These are usually flexible and thin people, with bright eyes and broad smiles. They are charming, cheerful, fond of fun, excitable and prone to frequent changes of mood. They love change, bright colors, and a cheerful lively atmosphere.

Some people are excessively fiery, which may have to be fixed. People, who find themselves unable to relax, and those who always try hard to be the soul of any company may have to pay with their health or wealth. To achieve balance you need to balance the feng shui fire element, by reducing the use of the color red and any triangular forms in the interior. The balance can also be achieved by the use of earth tones, ceramic ornaments, and rectangular furniture.

All in all, the feng shui fire element is one of the most potent ones, and you need to learn to use it the right way, in order to achieve the most from it.

One of the most important factors to consider is the spatial position of your desk. Some positions are best avoided, or need to be improved if there’s no way to move the desk.

According to feng shui for career, sitting with your back to the entrance door is best avoided, as it may allow your colleagues to work around you for promotion. If there is no other option, put a mirror on your table to see those behind you.

Sitting with your back to the window is also a disadvantage, as it may make you feel “unsafe”. For gaining a sense of safety, consider placing a large object at the window, such as a plant or bookshelves.

It’s best not to have your desk crammed into a corner or squeezed between cabinets. Try to move it so that you can access your desk from the front and back. In Feng Shui, an open space symbolizes prospects.

Try not to sit facing a colleague either, as it may cause your energy to start dissipating.

In accordance with feng shui for career, sitting right next to the entrance door is the worst. No matter what job position you have, the passer-by will take you for someone they can ask for information. The hustle of people walking by and distracting you may become very tiring. Consider changing the location of your desk.

It’s acceptable to face a wall. However, try to hang a picture of a wide lake or valley on the wall in front of you to expand your visual perspective. You can also hang a picture of a flock of birds or a plane to increase your ambition. You can also hang an image of mountains - in feng shui, mountains symbolize assistance and rise.

According to feng shui career, the best way is to sit with your back to the wall, and face the entrance door diagonally. Try to make your desk visible from the door, and not blocked by filing cabinets or anything else.

If there are many shelves with piles of documents and reference books where you work, try to review these and dispose of the obsolete ones. Those that are used seldom can be moved to a storage room. Cluttered and clogged cabinets and shelves prevent something new from coming in and limit your professional growth. Keep your workplace clean and tidy to circulate the positive Qi energy. Rooms with musty air, dirty windows, disordered furniture, and piles of documents will create bad Feng Shui.

Good lighting is another great way to attract positive energy. It’s good to have additional lighting on your desktop, such as a desk lamp. The light source must be located on the left (for right-handers). If you work on a computer, aim the light directly at your keyboard. Bright sunlight may interfere with your work, so consider using blinds or curtains to dim it. However, try not to switch to artificial lighting altogether.

If there are no windows in your room, be sure to have a photo of natural landscape on the wall, or have a small aquarium, flowers, or plants in the room.

Using feng shui for prosperity allows us to use subtle energies to achieve prosperity in everything. This knowledge can help find love, strengthen relationships, find a vocation, climb the corporate ladder, gain wealth, improve health, and more.

The teaching involves the use of symbols (charms, amulets) for success. One of the most popular symbols of feng shui for prosperity is the vessels. A vessel represents unity and harmony, and stores your desires and aspirations. This bowl can be filled with any items. The main thing is that these objects symbolize what you want. You can have multiple vessels as well.

Try to choose a bowl made of metal (silver, gold, copper), or ceramic vases. The vessel should be squat and rounded. Also turn your attention to its neck: it needs to be broad, but not wider than the middle of the vase. It’s easy to get into such a vessel, but it’s hard to get out of it.

When you find a suitable container, consider what to fill it with. The stuffing is the main thing in this talisman. Fill the bowl to the brim, so as not to have gaps in what you want.

Three principal objects to consider include soil, Chinese coins, and regular money. Ask a successful and wealthy person for a handful of soil (e.g., soil from a plant vase), and pack the soil in a red bag. Obtain some Chinese coins with square holes in the middle, string nine coins on a thread and pack them into another red bag. Now, use real money in the amount of 988. For example, take 9 dollars and 88 cents. If finances allow, take 988 dollars. String these on a string and pack them into yet another red bag.

Start filling the bowl. Put the three red sacks on the bottom. Add a lot of semi-precious stones: coral, malachite, topaz, agate, and amethyst. You can use the jewelry made of these stones, or use rough stones. Remember: The mascot cannot do without the main symbol of feng shui for prosperity – the gold. Put at least one gold item in the bowl. Fill the remaining space with objects colored in gold. For harmony, you can add dried flowers, cones, leaves, and seeds to your vase.

You can go even further. You can put paired figures of animals inside: elephants, horses, fish. You can also add a lotus flower to this idyll. You can put a ring on the bottom of a small bowl, and place it inside the main one. The ring means endless movement. For the embodiment of the sky, draw the sky and put the picture into the vessel.

For the bowl of wealth to help, it needs to be placed properly. Place it in plain sight in your bedroom. Consider placing it in the southeastern part of the room – this will symbolize the desire for harmony and light. Do not put the bowl where there may be strangers, such as in the living room.

Create a good mascot by the rules of feng shui for prosperity, and the material costs involved in it may come back to you a hundredfold.

In this article, we will explain the golden section (ratio, mean), and describe its use in conjunction with feng shui to improve homes and apartments.

One of the most ardent fans of the golden ratio was Pythagoras – an ancient Greek philosopher, mathematician, scientist, and mystic, who lived in Greece in the VI century BC. Pythagoras was convinced that there is harmony in nature, which can be expressed through numbers and proportions. He was also convinced that these proportions can be used in home design and architecture. Using his theory of proportion, you can "move" the energy in the house from where it serves poorly to where it will start serving favorably.

Pythagoras declared certain proportional relationships, which he considered ideal. He called it the Golden mean/ratio/rectangle. This value is 1:1.618. This value is found everywhere in nature. One example can be a shell, where each part is identical to the other parts by form. Although these parts differ in size, they have the same proportions.

The golden ratio can also be found in the human body. The famous drawing by Leonardo da Vinci – the Vitruvian Man - relates the proportions of the human body with various geometric figures, and is a good example of the described ratio.

The Golden section is a tool that is available to everyone, and that can be used in your home to improve its influence on those who live there. To define this number for any room, do as follows: measure the width of the room and multiply it by 1.618. Thus, you will get the desired length for this area. For example, if the width of the room is 20 feet, multiply 20 by 1.618 and you will get 32.36 feet for the desired length of this room. There’s no need to follow the resulting number to the inch – it will suffice if you follow it approximately.

The principle of the golden mean can be used in one-room studio apartments that consist of one large room with a kitchen, office, and bedroom, all in one room. Feng-shui of such apartments is usually very poor. However, if you own a studio apartment, do not despair! Just follow the basic principles of space organization, make the necessary adjustments, and you will be able to improve everything. The studio can be divided into several golden rectangles, so that each part is proportional.

If it’s a long and narrow space, you can use flowers and furniture as a room divider. If you don’t want to divide the room this way, you can use items that correspond to the golden proportion by their dimensions, such as mirrors, paintings, coffee tables, or aquariums. You can use the same rules for garden landscape design. The golden ratio and feng shui can help to improve any home, garden, office, as well as any other area.

Feng shui has gained its popularity all over the world, and its positive influence has spread far beyond the Asian countries. You can hear about this ancient art from newspapers, magazines and television. However, the information that you may hear carries one major drawback: the principles of this teaching are often seen as an absolute rule, rather than recommendations to be adapted to each specific location and circumstances.

Remember: the theory of five elements represents merely a solid informational base. With its help you can adapt the principles of feng shui to each specific situation, instead of trying to following them as a dogma.

Now, it’s time to discuss the water element and see how to use its properties the right way.

Water is considered to be the primal, essential element. It’s as ancient and mysterious as the sea, which gave life to humankind. Before the first mirror was made (over 5 thousand years ago), people used to look at their reflections in the water. It’s also a spiritual symbol, which hides many mysteries. Furthermore, the very name of "Feng Shui" translates as "wind and water". As you can see, this element is truly a primal one. Now that we know just how essential it is, let’s also review the features of the feng shui water element.

The color of this element is blue, dark blue, and black. Its direction is north. Its symbol is the turtle. It has more Yin than Yan. It fits well with metal, and it doesn't fit with earth or wood. Its symbols are: glass, mirrors, aquariums, rounded and wavy objects, as well as paintings depicting fish in their habitat. The talismans have wavy lines, as the element is variable and unpredictable. The element can be represented by the views of the ocean, lake, river, stream or a swimming pool.

Water has a cleansing and refreshing effect. If you use it skillfully, you will be able to regain strength and relieve fatigue. The excess of this element can lead to lethargy and despair, and can turn you into a thin-skinned and insecure person.

The House of Water: These are houses that face south. They may have curved patterned walls, which will simulate waves. The façade design can have black and blue colors in it, to enhance the element. It’s recommended to avoid green or wooden flooring in such houses, as the wood element saps the feng shui water element.

You obviously don’t need to build a new house to introduce this element to your home. Simply place a crystal vase with water or a shallow bowl with translucent stones in your home.

The world is always a balance of all the 5 elements. However, we have dissociated ourselves from nature by high walls, forgetting about the universal harmony. To achieve the best in this respect, try to make sure that each room in your home possesses the energy of all the 5 elements. If in any room there's a serious shortage of any element, the equilibrium needed for harmony may be disrupted.

Here are some key items of this element: the color green, east or south-east direction, the symbol of a dragon, and more Yin than Yan energy. The symbols that depict it include flowers, trees, wooden items, rectangular furniture, straw crafts, paper crafts, fabric crafts, and paintings depicting a forest.

It’s easy to add this element to your home using special feng shui figurines made of wood. Here are some good examples of such figures, and an explanation of their properties.

Elephant: The elephant figurine will help to make you more powerful and successful. Elephant became the symbol of a just and respected leader in China. The Elephant will help you acquire the necessary qualities to achieve recognition and high status. Place the statuette in your office or near your workplace at home.

Toad: A toad with coins in its hands is a talisman that helps to attract money. You need to place the toad near the entrance door, diagonally. Don’t set it too high or too low. A money toad should look at the front door, welcoming wealth into your home. A money toad holds Chinese coins that symbolize prosperity.

Dragon: The dragon will help improve the energy of your home and help you succeed. The Dragon will activate the Yang energy that's needed for success in new endeavors. The Dragon is one of the 4 protector animals, each of which corresponds to one of the four cardinal points. A dragon guards the eastern direction, so the statue is best put in the eastern sector of your house. However, the dragon embodiment of the feng shui wood element can be placed anywhere.

Dragon on a pearl: The dragon is a symbol of the Yang energy. In China, the dragon also symbolizes rain, which nourishes the earth and makes it fertile. The Dragon brings prosperity. The dragon that sits on the celestial pearl can help to make wishes come true. This figurine can be placed anywhere in your home or office.

Double happiness: The hieroglyph Double Happiness helps to harmonize relationships and strengthen love. In China, it's a tradition to present this hieroglyph as a wedding gift, so that the newlyweds’ union remains strong. The hieroglyph is best hung in the south-west part of the bedroom, to attract and maintain love.

The mystic knot: The mystic knot is one of eight characters that appeared on the soles of the Buddha (according to legends). This sign is identified with the endless love, so beautiful that it has no beginning or end. It's a good idea to hang this sign in the bedroom, to help prevent separations in your relationship.

These figurines are typically carved from a single piece of mahogany tree, Abash tree, and many others. They can become a perfect decoration for your home and help you balance your life using the feng shui wood element.

There are easy available methods that can help you improve your premises, balance the five feng shui elements and get their energy to circulate the proper way. This could bring numerous benefits, including improved health, increased wealth, better relationships with your loved ones, and more.

Some of the tips that you could receive from a good feng shui consultation are affordable and easy to follow. Let’s discuss two such examples: increasing wealth and improving health the easy way with feng shui.

Wealth: One of the most sought after life improvements is financial stability. Our world is a highly competitive place to live in, where everyone seems to struggle for their slice of bread with some butter.

Feng shui has some truly fascinating suggestions to offer, which work similarly to those of the popular law of attraction (which, in fact, may be based on this Chinese science to a certain extent).

If you want to gain wealth, you need to create a “piece” of it in your own home. For this purpose, you may consider creating the so-called “wealth vessel”. This can be any vase (preferably made of metal or ceramics) that needs to be filled with specific “ingredients”. The ingredients include: Chinese coins, regular currency, semi-precious gems, and a gold ring. The vase needs to be placed in your bedroom, or any other place where it would not be seen by guests.

By locking the representation of wealth this way, you may see an actual improvement in your financial situation in the near future. Note that a professional feng shui consultation could give you more details on this matter.

Health: It’s obvious that a serious health issue will require anyone to visit their doctor and get the proper treatment. However, you can improve your health the natural way as well. Improving health with feng shui involves improving the energy circulation in your home, and especially certain parts thereof.

One of the most important areas to take care of is the kitchen. Improving the energy flows in the kitchen is easy – all you need to do is remove any clutter and clean it well.

Clutter, unused items, and dirty cupboards may not allow for the uninhibited flow of the subtle energies. What you need to do is clean everything you can clean in your kitchen. It may take a day, but the effects can be impressive. Clean your refrigerator and dispose of any old foodstuffs that may be inside. Clean the oven and the pots/pans that are inside. Clean the tables and cupboards. Finish by wiping the external surfaces in the kitchen and washing the floors with soap and water. You can get more tips and advice for this matter through a professional feng shui consultation.

The second important suggestion to consider for improving your health is introducing several special plants into your home, which are: Areca Palm, Lady Palm, Bamboo Palm, Rubber Plant, Dracaena Janet Craig, English Ivy, Dwarf Date Palm, Peace Lily, and Boston fern.

The Compass school studies the cardinal directions and time, using the complex Chinese Luo Pan Compass and mathematical formulas based on Lo Shu – the magic square.

The ba chai (8 Mansions / Houses) can be used in three different ways. The first way is to calculate your personal Kua number (based on your date of birth) and learn about the good and bad cardinal directions for you. The second way is to learn about the good and bad cardinal directions of your home, based on the 8 types of homes with varying energy distribution. The third way is learning both, your personal Kua number and that of your home, and comparing them to each other.

Many people choose to use the simplest approach – determine the type of their home and learn about its good and bad sectors, regardless of their personal Kua. We will discuss this method below.

All homes fall into numerous types based on primary and secondary cardinal directions. In total, there are 8 main types of homes based on their facade direction. The direction of the facade usually coincides with that of the main entrance. Having determined the direction of your home, you can find out which of its sectors are good and bad for people, using special tables.

There are also some common suggestions for all homes. For instance, having water in front of a home is typically considered to be good, as it reinforces the Shen Chi – the sector of continuous improvement and growth responsible for the success of the occupants. However, it’s important to keep in mind that any home will have its individual location of the good and bad sectors.

Good sectors are Fu Wei, Tien Yi, Nien Yen, and Shen Chi; they need to be strengthened. Bad sectors are Chueh Ming (big loss), Lui Shar (six deaths), Wu Kwei (five ghosts), and Ho Hai; they need to be suppressed. It’s good if a bathroom, kitchen or pantry is located in a bad sector, as it will weaken its bad energy. As we mentioned above, the good and bad sectors vary depending on the type of your home. Therefore, you need to use special tables to determine these for your home in particular.

Varying schools of Feng Shui continue to struggle with each other and provoke controversy, but it’s not an obstacle to study this powerful teaching. Different points of view are always enriching to a notion, and help to prevent it from becoming stagnant. Any science evolves and tries to adapt to the lifestyles of different generations. The core values of feng shui, however, are always the same. They are the search for harmony and balance of the positive energy Sheng Qi, and simultaneous elimination of the negative energy Sha Qi. Simply use your intuition and common sense, and you may soon learn to choose good places quite intuitively.

Let's start with the basics – making a home attractive for relationships. This can be achieved with the Bagua octagon - a tool for improving energy in any premises. It helps to relate the environmental elements with the aspects of life. According to the octagon, the southwest direction is responsible for relationships. Its color is brown. Its symbol is earth. This sector is connected with your partner, whether current or potential.

The first is the front door. The vital energy Qi penetrates through the door into the home, so the door should attract it. The Qi accumulates near the door, and is let inside by the incoming or outgoing people.

There are three optimal directions of the front door. Southeast: helps to preserve peace and prosperity in the family. If your door faces this way, you don’t need to add anything. Southwest: helps to build harmonious and stable families. If your door faces this way, you can add colors / symbols of wood next to the door, such as an image of bamboo or plum blossom. West: helps to increase romance and pleasure. If your door faces this way, you can add earth elements next to the door, such as crystals or objects of stone.

Even if your door faces another direction, it's not a problem. Decorate it using the color brown or place plants there.

Next is the feng shui relationship advice for the bedroom. Ideally, the bedroom should be located in the southwestern corner of the house, which is responsible for love, loyalty, and caring for family members. If the bedroom is located in another place, do not worry. Feng shui has a list of tools that will help make it more harmonious. First of all, the bedroom should be kept clean everywhere. If you have any devices or exercise equipment in the bedroom, if possible, divide the room into sections, blocking the bed from these.

The bed should not lean sideways into the wall. It is believed that a partner who sleeps near the wall will have less say. When there's space on both sides, both partners will feel equal.

The bed should not be too broad, as this does not encourage romance. The bed should be small enough to provide intimacy in the relationship. The mattress should not be double; any longitudinal stripes on or above the bed will symbolize the rift in the relationship. Avoid water mattresses and any objects that embody the element of water, as water can carry happiness away. Do not place your bed near a wall adjacent to the bathroom, as your happiness may go down the drain.

Now let's review the feng shui relationship tips for objects to place in the bedroom or the room located in the southwest direction, in order to activate it. You can enhance it with an earth element (crystals, rose quartz or amethyst) and fire element (candles and red objects, such as a red lamp). Also place love reinforcing symbols in the bedroom, such as double objects: a statue of a man and woman, a pair of ducks, or a dragon with a phoenix.

Everything that happens creates waves, like a stone thrown into water. Any recurring situation, mood, or atmosphere leaves its mark on the walls, floors, ceilings, furniture, plants, animals and people. This is especially true for events accompanied by strong emotions. This energy accumulates, and gets stuck in all corners and nooks.

If you have just moved into a new house, or if you sense negativity in your home, you need to thoroughly purify it on two levels - the physical and energetic. Feng shui space clearing is essential, as it’s the first step to improving the feng shui of any home. So, let’s see how you can clear your home’s energy.

It’s best to start with the physical removal of dirt. You need to scrape, peel, and wash off all you can: the old wallpaper, paint, and old carpets. You may want to refurbish the floors as well. If the floors are wooden it's best not to cover them with varnish – a tree is a living material that needs to breathe. Next, do the wet cleaning – water has a tremendous cleansing power.

You can also use pieces of wood or woodcrafts to adjust the energy. Determine the strategic sectors of your home, and place pieces of wood or woodcrafts made of aspen, birch, fir or oak in these areas. These woods absorb the negative vibes. Maple, bird cherry, rowan, hazel and juniper can even convert negative energy into positive.

Next, obtain Chinese candles or incense (e.g., sandalwood), and light them for a couple of days in the rooms. Traditional Chinese bells can also help. They disperse stagnant energy, dispel negative energy, and harmonize the energy flow. You can also consider acquiring Chinese chimes and use them in your home.

Another suggestion is to use unpolished crystals and program them to cleanse the space. Take a crystal in your hand and say what you need from it, or bring it to your heart and let your feelings flow into it. Such a crystal would be a good defender of your home, and a good energy cleanser.

Once you have completed the feng shui space clearing, you can consider using various talismans and symbols that can protect and help their owner. Humankind has always sought the help of symbols, and the 21st century is no exception. We will list the most powerful symbols below. You can draw one on paper, wrap it in silk and hide it in your home. Alternatively, you can hang it on a wall or buy a figurine that represents it.

Circle: a powerful ancient symbol that represents eternity, unity, and perfection. Triangle: the embodiment of pyramids that symbolizes the unity of the body, mind and spirit; the unity of the mother, father and child; the unity of the past, present and future. Square: a symbol of the four elements (air, water, fire and earth) and the four seasons; it symbolizes stability and strength. Stars: symbolize intelligence, creativity and success. Wavy line: symbolizes the oceans, the beginning of life, variability and adaptability. Spiral: the symbol of wisdom.