The Chinese were masters at blending their indoor and outdoor spaces into one. They married the two as one continuous space. According to David Slawson, “the Chinese integrated buildings and landscapes into one area”. Often the Chinese would have a courtyard in the center of the home that brought in natural sunlight to their dark spaces. One could sit inside and enjoy the fresh air of the outside or sit outside and still be close to the conveniences of their home. They would blend the two spaces together to give a more expansive feel to their space. Let me explain how we can use these same principles in our home.

Gardens have always been a prominent feature of Chinese life.  In FENG SHUI, we believe the area surrounding ones home should harmonize with nature. It is important to enhance our natural surroundings, blending our indoor living spaces with our outdoor garden areas. When we apply FENG SHUI to the exterior surroundings of our home or workplace, we will enhance the energy, making our space more desirable.

In FENG SHUI, we view the garden as an extension of our homes. We think of porches and patios as an outdoor room. We want these areas to compliment and balance the structure of our homes. Our homes and yards should be linked physically and have a continuity of style. Frank Lloyd Wright was brilliant at doing this; bringing the style of our exteriors to the inside and vice versa. He did this by using the same building elements inside the home as well on the exterior. Wright was known for using the wood from the land that surrounded the property on the inside as flooring, cabinets and furniture.

I like to suggest to my clients to use their outdoor spaces as additional living space. They could start by making their front porch cozier or try using their deck as another dining area or a side yard as an additional living room. When they use these outdoor spaces as an extension of their living space, it gives them more room to spread out and to feel less constrained by the four walls of their home.

You can always incorporate furniture and accessories from inside your home and bring them outdoors. It is as simple as adding some throw pillows from inside and curling up with them on your porch.  Place some of your houseplants on your deck so they can enjoy the sunshine that they crave.  I love sitting on my patio and enjoying my backyard on a summer evening. When I add a soft blanket, it allows me to stay outside longer and linger in nature’s restoring energy.

When we combine our indoor living spaces with our outdoor gardens, we enhance the energy surrounding our homes. This makes our environment desirable and the energy more harmonious. We can add additional living space without a costly renovation. Try to view your outdoor spaces as extensions of your home; and think about how you can integrate the two into one area. When we marry our indoor and outdoor
environments into one, this will ensure that vibrant energy will encircle our living areas.

Much has been written about finding our personal decorating style.  We all have a particular style that we like. Our style is formed by our experiences.  If you grew up surrounded by traditional furnishings, chances are that when you get the opportunity to decorate your personal space, you will choose traditional furnishings.  Now your furniture may not look like the exact same as your earlier surroundings, but they may have similar feel to it. You might prefer an updated traditional style rather than the standard traditional feel. However, you just might have a traditional flare to your decorating style.

 There are different stages to our decorating style. The same things we loved five years ago are not the same items we love today. Our tastes in furnishings change as our experiences change. For example, let’s say you traveled toGreeceorItalyand you were inspired by the styles and the colors of theMediterranean.  When you return, you might want to add some of those spice colors or exotic furnishing that reflects that region of the world. Our tastes evolve as we experience new events in our life.

 Eventually we grow into our style. As we mature and learn more about ourselves and our likes and dislikes our personal style emerges. For some of us it takes longer but eventually, we discover our style and learn to embrace it. We can flip through a home design magazine and instinctively pick out the rooms that appeal to us. We will choose the rooms that feel comfortable to us. We just know in our gut what feels right. That is our personal style emerging. If we stay true, to these feelings then it will be easy for us to choose our furnishings. I remember an antique dealer telling me “that it doesn’t really matter what you buy. Buy the items that resonate with you and make you feel good”. I still use that advice today.  Don’t buy an object because of the price tag or because a designer recommended it. Buy an item because you like it. That is a way of forming your own personal style. Honor your true preferences and you can’t go wrong.

 Before I buy anything, I ask myself “do I love this item?” If I truly don’t love the object then I don’t buy it. I have found that if I buy an item just to buy it quickly, I learn not to appreciate it. When I choose an object that I love, then I rarely tire of it. I seem to appreciate it more than if I just bought the first thing I find. I often tell my clients this. I give suggestions to items they might want to purchase in order to adjust the energy of their space. I explain to them that I am giving them a suggestion, but when it comes to purchasing this item, they have to love it. I tell them not to buy something just because I told them to buy it. Buy the item because they honestly enjoy the beauty of the object. Now, it might take longer than just running out and buying the first thing we see, but it is worth the wait to have an object that truly inspires us and makes us feel good about ourselves.

 Take the time to look at your own personal furnishings. Does your style align with your current preferences? Look around your home to see if you are surrounded by the items that truly inspire and motivate you. If not, maybe this is the time to take a personal inventory and review what your preferences are. Spend time in your space and see how it feels to you. Are you comfortable spending time in your home? Do you like to spend time there? These are just a couple questions that you can ask yourself to see if you are aligned with your desires. If you don’t enjoy being in your home then this might be the time to review your space and remove any objects that are not serving a purpose. Take the time to discover your own personal style and embrace it!

First is a man’s Destiny,

Second is his Luck

Third is his FENG SHUI,

Fourth is his Virtue

Fifth is his Knowledge.

According to the Chinese, there are five core principles that create a successful life. The first principle is our destiny. Some people seem destined for greatness. It doesn’t mean just because we are destined for one thing, that we can’t transform our lives. According to William Jennings Bryan  “Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved“.  We can change our future no matter where we started.  We have heard the stories of people coming from nothing and making it big. We might know someone who had a terrible childhood and emerged as a strong and successful person. We do have the potential to alter our destiny.

The second principle is luck. We all know someone who is lucky. We often make comments such as “you are so lucky” or “what a lucky dog”. Some of us do have more luck than others, but it doesn’t mean we will be unsuccessful. Samuel Goldwyn once said; “The harder I work, the luckier I get”.  This means we might have to work harder than others to get the same results. We know if we want something, it may take a little longer to come to fruition. Luck is just one piece in the puzzle of life and it is just one part of our future.
The third part of the proverb is FENG SHUI. Now FENG SHUI may not be the most important part of this proverb, but it does play a role in our future. I believe that the way we honor and recognize the energy of a particular place has a powerful affect on our lives. FENG SHUI is a way in which we can modify our surroundings, to improve our current situations. When we study how the energy flows through a particular place and use that beneficial energy to transform our lives, we can improve our future by honoring the energy of our environment.

The fourth principle is virtue. Our values and principles shape our future. How we live our lives and carry ourselves has an affect on how our lives will enfold. If we desire to have more meaning in our lives, then we need to honor the spirit of everyone. Our virtues are traits that build our foundation for good moral living. Personal virtues are qualities that promote the well-being of our community and ourselves.

The last principle is knowledge. Wisdom is the key to changing our life. If we want to improve our lives then we need education to transform. Knowledge is the key to opening doors and expanding our circle.  We never want to stop learning. People often say “I am too old to learn” or “I have had enough of school”.  Education comes in many forms and is not always found in a classroom. Some of the greatest lessons in life come from our everyday experiences. It is important that if we want to evolve, we need to be constantly learning, growing and exploring.

When we put these five core principles together, they make the ideal combination of what we need to succeed. Each piece makes for the perfect package.  We do have control over our future and we can use these principles to transform our lives.  Our own efforts will produce our own results.   We can honor the energy of our environment in order to transform our lives. We do have control over our own destiny.  Now we might have more luck than our neighbor or our neighbor might be more knowledgeable. It doesn’t matter.  We can use the principles as a guide to motivate us to reshape our future!

Vision boards are a popular tool and have become better known since 2006, when “The Secret” was published. They are a great way to create our future with the power of images. Vision Boards are a way for us to physically set our intentions out into the Universe in order for our dreams to come true.

I view FENG SHUI as a Living Vision Board. It is a physical interpretation of a vision board. FENG SHUI is about setting our intentions out into the Universe and having our desires come to fruition.  I tell my clients that if you intend to change your life, then your life will change. I explain that when they call me for a consultation they have already taken the first step in creating their new life. If you want your circumstances to change then they will. Change can take longer for some than others. Transformation will work with the right attitude and a strong desire to make a change.  For over 3000 years FENG SHUI has helped many people transform their lives, and you can use these same ancient principles today.  Surround yourself with the items that you want; in order to create the life you desire.

For example, you might be seeking more creativity in your life. Maybe you are working on that book or a highly creative project that you need some help with. You want your environment to reflect your creative desires. Surround yourself with whimsical items or books by authors that inspire you. Place objects around that will motivate you and get your creative juices flowing. What you are saying to the Universe is “I need more creativity in my life and I am ready for the inspiration”.

Maybe you are looking for more recognition in your career. Do you feel like you are working hard and you are not being noticed for all of your efforts? Highlight your life and your talents. In my office, I have my name written in Chinese calligraphy. It is a way of telling the Universe that I am a student of the powerful Chinese philosophy known as FENG SHUI. It is a beautiful display of artwork as well as a way to bring recognition to my career.

You might have a desire to travel. So why not display images from the places you want to visit. Or, surround yourself with objects from these exotic destinations. You should display the pictures and souvenirs from these magical places. This simple exercise will motivate you to plan that special trip and put your ideas in motion. For the longest time I wanted to go to Hawaii, so I collected travel brochures and articles on the beautiful islands of Hawaii. My husband thought I was crazy and kept telling me we could not afford to go on such an expensive trip until we retire.  That did not stop me. I was going to Hawaii before I retire. Months later, a very dear friend of mine offered me a free trip to Hawaii! I believe setting my intention out into the Universe and reinforcing it with images and maps helped to seal the deal.  

It is important if we desire to transform our lives that we need to surround ourselves with objects that will raise our energy and reinforce our personal desires. FENG SHUI not only helps to adjust the energy of a particular space, but it can also improve our position in life. FENG SHUI has long held a tradition of being a philosophy of improving our destiny and we can instill these ideas into our lives today.  When we reinforce our intentions with physical objects and images our dreams can take root and grow. Using FENG SHUI as a living vision board is a simple but effective way to bring our goals to life!

There are many schools of thought in FENG SHUI; and the original school of FENG SHUI is the Form School. The principles of the Form School are based on the formation of the land. It is believed that the way the land forms around a structure can make a building more auspicious. In the Form School, the land is studied and then it is determined how a structure should be placed. The ideal location is having mountains behind your home for protection and a river in front bringing in the positive energy and carrying out the negative Chi.  In addition to the natural elements in the front and back of your home, you want to have rolling hills on the sides surrounding your home.  Today we may not have those particular natural resources to surround our home.  However, we can use the Celestial animals of FENG SHUI to fill this purpose.  The celestial animals are the Phoenix, Dragon, Tiger, and Tortoise.  If you are facing the front of your home, you want to picture the Phoenix down at your front door. The Dragon to the right, the Tiger to left and the Tortoise just behind your home provides added safety. You can place an image or a statue of these scared animals in your home or even your yard. In my home, I have a statue of a dragon on the right side of my home.  I also have an image of a phoenix tucked inside in my front door. In my backyard garden, I have a couple of turtles and tortoises.  By placing these images and statues around my home, I am honoring the ancient energies of these animals. I am creating sacred land formations to make up for the lack of the natural formations that the Chinese used thousands of years ago.

Animals have special energies associated with them. Often celestial animals are used for their protective abilities.  There are specific attributes that are connected to each animal. For example, the Phoenix represents fame, opportunity and it will help you to find success. As well as being a protector, the Phoenix has the ability to heal our wounds and make us invincible.

The Dragon symbolizes wisdom and creativity. This celestial animal is full of energy and is associated with activity. You want to make sure you place the Dragon in an area where there is a lot of activity, a place in which you want to achieve your goals. The Dragon will assist you in accomplishing your tasks and bringing success. Avoid placing a Dragon in your bedroom or places where you intend to rest. The Dragon may be too much energy for such a place.  But, the Dragon can help you accomplish your dreams.

The Tiger represents courage and patience. It is also considered as the protector of the dead. The tiger is used for protection around gravesites to insure peace and protection for the dead. This celestial animal is known for warding off disasters and fire. The Tiger can also provide protection from thieves.

According to FENG SHUI, the Tortoise is one of the most sacred animals. The Chinese have long believed the tortoise to have a special significance.  The Bagua or the energy map that is used in FENG SHUI is based on the shell of the Tortoise. It is even believed that the image of the Bagua was first discovered on the back of the Tortoise.  These celestial beings are believed to be the roots of FENG SHUI. Besides being great for protection, they are a powerful source of strength. The Tortoise can enhance your career as well as attract new business. It provides grounding energy necessary for success.

Even though we may not have the soft rolling mountains in our backyard, or the bubbling stream running in front of our home, we can use these ancient Celestial animals of FENG SHUI to set our intentions and energies. We can make up for what Mother Nature has not given us. That is the beauty of FENG SHUI. We may not always have the ideal situations, but we can use these ancient Celestial Animals to adjust the energy.  We can use the Celestial animals as a way to protect, enhance and strengthen us and our surroundings!

Applying the principles of FENG SHUI to our offices is a popular topic. I have had many requests for FENG SHUI consultations in businesses and offices this year. FENG SHUI can play an important role in our workspaces. We need to have an environment that supports and encourages our businesses to be successful.  It is important to address the energy of our work places to ensure success in our career. It doesn’t matter if we work in an office or if we work out of our home. We want our work area to be filled with healthy energy that motivates and inspires us to success.

The first thing we want to address in our office is the position of the desk. We look for a commanding position or what we call the power position. The power position is when we have a solid wall behind us and a view of the doorway, but are not in direct line of the entryway. This placement will ensure that we have the stability of a wall behind us, at the same time we will be aware when someone enters our workspace.  Having the proper position of our desk will give us the confidence and energy to perform our work effectively.  It can be as simple as having our desk in the power position, which makes all the difference in our workspace.

Next, you want to surround yourself with items and artwork that will instill success, confidence and inspiration. Your office is the perfect place to display objects of achievement. You want to hang up those certificates, awards or that special acknowledgment, to let your clients know of your expertise and your area of specialization.  Your office should reflect your industry. If you are in the financial field, you want to have images of wealth and money, to let your clients know you are serious about investing their money. Maybe your area of expertise is in the health and wellness industry. Try to incorporate pictures of a healthy and vibrant lifestyle. On the other hand, maybe your business is more creative such as a writer, hair stylist or an artist.  You want to have lots of color and whimsical items that portray your ability to create masterpieces.

Lastly, try to incorporate plants in our work area. Plants are a powerful tool in bringing balance to any space. However, they are especially effective in our offices. We are surrounded by many different electronic devices, and plants help to neutralize the electromagnet field associated with these devices. There are many sharp corners in our offices as well, and plants help to soften those harsh edges. Plants clean the air and revitalize the feel of any workspace. They are a great away to add a piece of nature to our offices. When we have a part of nature in our indoor environments, it helps us to feel balanced, calm and healthy.

In order to have a successful work environment, we need to be surrounded by healthy and vibrant energy. Our offices and workspaces should reflect our industry, achievements and the intentions of our business. FENG SHUI is a great way to do just that. By applying these concepts to our modern businesses, we can enhance the positive energy and increase our success. When we blend these ancient principles of FENG SHUI with our intentions, we will create that atmosphere that leads to our success!

We are connected to our environment, and our homes should be that link between our physical body and our surroundings. If we don’t have a healthy atmosphere to live, then we can’t live a healthy lifestyle. Our homes are foundations for good health.  A healthy home gives us energy and stability. We need that healthy foundation to build upon. We need to be surrounded by spaces that helps our well-being and encourages good health. Our homes should do more than just protect us from the outside world. They should nourish our spirit, reflect our dreams and inspire our aspirations.

Our home ought to be a place where we can rest, relax and restore our bodies. Just as our physical body needs a check- up, so does our environment. We should review our environment to see if there are aliments that may be affecting our spaces.  Reviewing a building as a body is not a new concept. For centuries, temples and places of worship have been referred to in a human form. European cathedrals were designed to reflect a human with outstretched arms. In the Hindu culture, the body is referred to being in the shape of a temple; as a way to bring man closer to God. If we think of our home as a representation of the human body, it gives us a better understanding of the ancient art of FENG SHUI.

If we begin with the most important part of our house, it would be the front door. The front door is the mouth of the house.  This is where all the energy or Chi enters the homes and exits the space. We want to make sure that the front door is in good working order and that there is nothing blocking that beneficial Chi from entering the space. Ideally, we want to be able to see the front door from the street.  We want to highlight the front entryway. Have something by the front door that captures the attention of that good energy or Chi. For example, a wreath on the front door, potted plants positioned on the front porch or good lighting accenting the area will ensure that we capture the positive energy and utilize its powerful forces.

The most important appliance in the home is the stove.  The stove sustains our life and keeps us healthy.  We want to make sure our stove is in good working order.  It should be clean and free of clutter. We want to be able to open the door without it banging into something else. The stove represents abundance in FENG SHUI.  If we want to increase our wealth, we should make sure our stove is properly taken care of. There is a cure in FENG SHUI. If we want to double our abundance, we can place a mirror over our burners. The burners represent the wealth, to our stove so we can double that wealth energy by placing a reflective object over the burners that double’s the positive energy. We want to honor the powerful energy that the fires of FENG SHUI can ignite for us!

The most important piece of furniture is the bed. This is where we rest our head. Our bed is where we can restore our body’s energy. It is important that we have a comfortable place to sleep. Our bedroom should be restful and relaxing. You only want to sleep in your bedroom. You shouldn’t have a desk, exercise equipment or an excess of electronics in the bedroom. Our bedrooms should be boring. So boring that all we want to do is sleep in the space. I know that can be hard because we have become accustom to using our bedrooms for more than just sleeping. You want to pick colors that are soothing and restful. Muted tones and softer shades will ensure a good night of sleep. If we honor the energy in our bedrooms, then we will reap the benefits of a restful night’s sleep.

These are just a few examples of how we can utilize the principles of FENG SHUI to bring balance to our surroundings. If we have stability in our environment, then we will have a balance in our lives, and in our physical bodies. We want to honor our living space.  We can utilize the beneficial energy or Chi that surrounds our space in order to ensure harmony in our lives.

Our home should be a place where we can get away from the outside world.  Our body needs a place where we can restore the energy.  Our home should be a place where we can rest and relax. Using FENG SHUI effectively can accomplish just that!