Feng Shui and Interior Design

The Sixth Nine Houses of the Bagua: Heaven (Helpful Friends)

2008-04-12T00:17:00.001-07:00

Heaven represents the creative force of the universe and is the source of all things. It is associated with the archetype of the father - a figure of authority, strength, leadership, masculinity, achievement, awareness. Yet this house is more popularly known as Helpful Friends and represents all your visible and invisible means of support. Who do you rely on? Baby sitters, people who run errands for you, and those who show up in your life like angels to get you out of a fix or as a shoulder to cry on. The force works both ways, however, so it also represents your spirit of philanthropy and your willingness to give of yourself to others.

This house is associated with the energy of metal, the colours white and silver, the season of autumn, and the northwest. It is represented by jewels, precious stones, crystals, symbols of masculinity and authority, legends, myths and stories.

If this area of your home is missing or lies in a built-in garage, you will miss out on the support of helpers and you will have difficulties with authority. As the energy here is the most masculine, men's fortunes and abilities will be undermined, children will not pay attention to their father, there could be upsets with male superiors at work, and men may spend more time away from home because there is less masculine energy resonating there. You can stimulate this energy by introducing metal, and nourish it with soil energy. Becoming a helpful person by doing voluntary work and making charitable donations can also help. The area of Heaven has a strong relationship with the house of Fortunate Blessing in the opposite corner of the bagua. The more active of this part of your home, then the greater the polarity between the two houses. This means that the more you give away of yourself in terms of philanthropy and time for others, the stronger the magnetism of Wind and the more Fortunate Blessing will come into your home and your life.

A projection in this area could mean that the household is very sociable and popular, with lots of comings and goings. As their energy is more strongly developed, male occupants would be favoured, and there is greater potential for them to be popular figures in the community but equally, with this emphasis on masculine authority, there might be an excess of male ego. Men may have a tendency to be dogmatic, while women are likely to feel less comfortable.

The Fifth Nine Houses of the Bagua: Tai Chi (Health)

2008-04-12T00:15:00.001-07:00

The fifth house lies in the centre of the bagua and although it does not have a trigram, it is strongly associated with Earth and soil energy. It represents a unification of all forces and, as the key meeting point for all the energies, the Tai Chi is an important point of stability and balance, hence its more popular name of Health. This area of your home needs to be kept clear so that the flow of energy can pass through it freely. Clutter and stagnation here will have a great impact on all aspects of your life as it contains aspects of all trigrams: whatever is present here will affect the stability of your life, health, relationship, family and plans.

This area is particularly important for your health, so keep it clean, tidy and uncluttered. Because real vitality and well-being can only be achieved if everything is in balance, make this space feel harmonious, using a good blend of all the lements and not just a predominance of one. You could reinforce the connection with Earth to act as a reminder to yourself to stay centred and grounded, which will strengthen your positive attitude to life. Introduce ceramics, empty containers and anything that is soft and receptive to help you to this end.

If this area is missing from your home, it can be a tremendeous benefit. Indeed, traditional peoples would often leave an open courtyard in the centre of their house and use it as a garden, bringing elements of the outside world into the side. At least two thirds of the space would still be clear rather than being entirely garden.

As this is an important gathering point and social centre, try to keep the middle of each room clear, particularly the living room. Do not block the central space by filling it with a coffee table; put that to one side to allow a better flow of energy and people.

The Fourth Nine Houses of the Bagua: Wind (Fortunate Blessings)

2008-04-12T00:13:00.000-07:00

The house of Wind, or Fortunate Blessings, is to do with our experience of blessings and good fortune. Although the energy here does manifest itself in the world as money (which explains why it is often referred to as the "wealth corner"), it is worth noting that our blessings often come to us in other currencies - opportunities, invitations, our children and friends.

The I Ching trigram for Wind carries the image of a flexible tree which bends in the wind. It represents growth, maturing, our sensitivity and assimilation of ideas brought to us like seeds on the winds of change. Because movement is associated with Wind, mobiles, fans and kinetic sculptures all stimulate Wind energy.

The energetic association with wealth means that having a bathroom and toilet in this area can be financially challenging. Energy is constantly being depleted by being dragged down the drains and basins, and the downward movement of energy when the toilet is flushed sucks away the positive Chi energy which has gathered in your home, making it difficult for it to manifest itself as hard currency in your life. Take heart, there is a remedy that does not involve major repumbling. Healthy, upward growing plants, pictures of plants (for interior rooms without natural light) and small stones from a river bed acting as anchors can reverse the flow of Chi. The toilet seat should be kept down at all times, plugs left in the drains and a small mirror hung on the outside of the bathroom door (which should also be kept closed).

When this area is missing in a house, accidents and misfortune generally follow. Adjustments involve tree energy again: plants and the colour green. And wood likes to be nourished by water, so this is an ideal place for an indoor fountain or fishtank. Pictures of moving water can also be used, for throughout time, water has been associated with life-giving properties, nourishment and the generation of wealth. If the missing area is contained in your garden, it is worth investing in exterior lighting, a bird bath and attractive plantings for even though it is outside, the space is activated by these, and positive energy is still generated. When there is a projection in this area, on the other hand, the household prospers and everything the inhabitants put their energy into will be more successful.

The Third Nine Houses of the Bagua: Thunder (Elders)

2008-04-12T00:11:00.000-07:00

The third house of the bagua, Thunder, is associated with the family, elders and that which has come before us. In Eastern and traditional cultures older people are revered for their wisdom; indeed, they are often referred to as the "long living". Their counsel is sought and they are shown great respect. We carry the spirit of our ancestors in our energy just as we carry their DNA in our genetic make-up and it is important for us to acknowledge our heritage. How can we know where we are going when we do not know from where we have come? Gratitude to our family needs to be expressed somewhere in our home; this area, most frequently referred to as Elders, is an ideal place for family photographs and treasured mementoes.

Stagnation in the form of clutter, things which you no longer use, or broken items in this area of your home may result in unresolved issues in your life and difficulty in starting anew. A lack of forgiveness on our part of some past misdemeanour or thoughtless act by an old friend or someone in our family can end up having a strong influence over the future. When we don't let go but hold on to the hurt it takes up space in our psyche and ends up holding us back from creating the future we want. This inability to let go is often mirrored in our surroundings when we hold on to old things from the past which serve no purpose now. A big clearing out of belongings, which you know deep-down you no longer need, can have a truly cathartic effect on your present and help to open up a new future. Lack of support from a strong Elders area will also affect your ability to be creative. Anything that symbolically represents difficulty from our past will affect the new future we are trying to create.

The shape of the trigram for Thunder from the I Ching has a solid line underneath which gives it a deep, base resonance, and indeed, it is associated with sound and noise-making. The energy of Thunder rising up in the east represents new beginnings, spring and the start of a new cycle. Thunder is associated with tree energy, which is represented by the colour green, tall shapes and plants. It signifies vitality and movement in the home.

As regards your home, a projection in this third house will mean a greater sense of maturity in the household. If the section is missing, occupants will lack energy and endurance, they may have to work harder, or find they have family problems. As this energy is connected with sound, where occupants are lethargic and stubborn, they can be shaken up and stimulated with the thunder of loud music flooding through the house. Noise-making machines like air-conditioners, hair-dryers, refrigerators, televisions and stereo systems all vibrate Thunder energy, and so does the human voice. Conversely, if you have problems with noisy neighbours, calm down the Thunder energy in your home. You can redirect this unwanted intrusion by a single tall plant to act as a channel for this strong energy. Reducing the colour yellow helps, too.

To correct an imbalance, you need to bring in the tree element - tall green plants, tall furniture and chairs, the colour green, artwork featuring green or woodlands or symbols of support, like pillars.

The Second Nine Houses of the Bagua: Earth (Relationship)

2008-04-12T00:07:00.000-07:00

Earth is the element of receptivity, openness and yielding. Energy here is manifested in the physical world in partnership or, more generally, the Relationship area, so it is often called the marriage corner. If this area is missing in a house, it could be the reason why the occupant is single; couples living there are likely to have difficulties.

To maintain harmony and balance in relationships it is important to check out every relationship corner of the home to see whether negative space exists. The most important is the one in the bedroom since this is where you are most intimate in your relationship with yourselve and with a partner. If the Relationships area is missing, you need to pay special attention to make adjustments. Moreover, as this house of the bagua carries the most feminine energy, a lack of this house can mean that female occupants will be less fortunate and happy. Make sure that this corner is not collecting clutter or housing on overflowing basket of dirty laundry.

Check out the imaginery of your pictures: are there solitary figures or couples having fun? Even a picture of two flowers reinforces the message of duality. Similarly, make the most of your relationships by showing mementoes of your life together. You need to energize the area, with uplighting, plants, a crystal hanging in the window, a landscape painting with depth, or a mirror - whatever feels appropriate.

The nature of the element of Earth is one of openness and invitation. It is strengthened by flowing lines and soft items. Bring nature into your environment with flowers, plants, candles and water. Cushions and pillows on the bed are ideal reinforcements. The colour yellow holds the gathering nature of earth and can be used in the decor. Avoid furniture and decor that have a hard, unyielding quality. See where you can create welcoming corners that invite closeness and support togetherness - a window seat or a soft-covered pair of low, comfortable chairs facing each other.

The first nine houses of the bagua: water (the journey)

2008-03-05T09:26:00.000-08:00

The first house of the bagua is Water, which represents our movement through life and reminds us from where we have come, so it is more commonly called the Journey area. It is concerned not only with our career and the profession we have now, but the bigger issue of why we are here in the world. Are we doing what we really want or are we just earning a living? The way that chi moves through the world is like flowing water, so that when life is going well for us, we can think of ourselves as "going with the flow".

Where are you now?
Do you enjoy what you do?
What is preventing you from moving forward to new things?
Is your role in life fulfilling? If not, do you know what you want?

The house of Water is associated with willpower and drive. Because it is connected with the direction of north, it is cold and dark. It represents communication, emotions and discovery.

If this area is physically missing from your home then you will find it more difficult to get onto your path. Occupants of such houses will have problems with drive and ambition; possibly there will be confusion with communication issues. You can correct thus by introducing the water element - either in the shape of a fish tank or mere images of water. Choose pictures that show some movement, which help to reconnect you with your right path; pictures of still water will, in time, lead to stagnation. Choose pictures that represent what you want to do or, if you have no idea yet what that might be, something depicting roads, routes or historical maps will act as a symbol to help you find your way. The colour blue can be used to nourish. A projection on your home in this part of the bagua will mean extra energy and focus to help you find what you really want to do in life.

Take a look at this area in your home. Is it cluttered and consequently blocked? Is this where the front door is? Does it provide easy access in and out of the house? Does your door bell work properly? Are you available when opportunity calls?

Having a staircase here is not ideal because the energy is moving up and down too much; the energy of water needs to be more floating. If the entrance hall falls in this house, do you have more than one door that you can go through? Is this a mirror for where you are in life? Are you unable to choose the path? Keep the doors closed and open them only as you need to go through. If your hallway is outside your property but falls in the Journey - in an apartment building, for instance - decorate the external area with your own art and plants so it feels like your own space.

The bagua - a map of energy

2008-03-05T09:10:00.000-08:00

The bagua is a map of how energy moves within a defined space. It is a template divided into nine areas which can be laid over a plan of your plot of land, tropical wooden house, apartment - even the individual rooms.

Each of the nine areas, or "houses", of the bagua has a certain set of characteristics that gives clues to what is happening in your life and how this mirrored in shape and design of your home interior. There is a certain predictable pattern to the way energy moves around a place which has been observed over thousands of years. When the invisible energy moves into the area of the bagua known as Earth, for example, its impact in the physical world involves a relationship issue. In a similar way, any disturbances to the flow of energy in the area of Wind will affect the inhabitant's fortune and finances. Each house of the bagua has many different qualities. It is named according to the trigram from the I Ching with which it is associated, and is given one of the first nine cardinal numbers.

The bagua is always oriented front the front door of your home or the main doorway into a room. Even if you rarely use your front door and always enter your prefabricated wooden house from the back, you shoulkd still use your front door to position the bagua; only use the other door as your "front door" if you absolutely never open the acknowledge one. Using the grid of magic numbers that comprise the bagua, line up the template on your floor plan so that your door enters through the grid somewhere along the areas Mountain, Water or Heaven.

Although the bagua is most powerful for the ground-floor layout of a building, its storey has its own bagua, which is aligned by using the top step onto the landing as the "front door", and then pulling back the edge of the bagua to the outside wall of your home. Remember too that you can apply the bagua to any room in your wooden house and also that doorways without doors can also be entrances. Sometimes, a room will have more than one entrance; as a crossroads room it could have three or four. You should align the bottom of the bagua with the doorway most frequently used: the door leading from the kitchen to the dining room might take precedence over the one from the living room, for example.

When evaluating your home, place the bagua over the ground-floor plan of the tropical wood house or your tropical timber bungalow to see if there are any sections missing, and think about the correlations there are with what is going on in your life. If the whole Relationship/Earth area is missing, have you been finding difficulty with this aspect of your life? When you eventually start to think about making adjustments to the interior design of your home in order to begin to make changes in your life, use the bagua for each room. Consequently, if you decide you want to enhance your creativity, check each Lake area of every room as well as on every storey of the house.

The bagua can be stretched to cover oblong and ackward shapes. As you lay the bagua over your own floor plan, you will begin to get an idea of what is missing, that is, what is called negative space. If it is less than half, than it is counted as a protusion, which means that the prevailing energy of that prefabricated house's bagua is greater. Bay windows count as small projections.

Irregularly shaped houses with spaces missing should not be viewed as bad or difficult; rather, when you see the adjustments that you can make for each of the nine houses, you will realize that they have tremendous potential.

Why are we interested in feng shui?

2008-03-05T09:08:00.000-08:00

Today, in the West, we have become a remote-controlled, instant, fast-food, push-button society, preoccupied by technological progress. We are becoming disconnected from the natural world, surrounding ourselves with much that is artificial, and exposing ourselves to increasing levels of toxicity and pollution in what we eat and what we bring into our homes. We are creating buildings that can not breathe, which are surrounded by electro-magnetic radiation, with the result that our vital energy is becoming drained by what are now being called "sick" building.

For all the advantage of modern, technological living, we have created a way of life grossly out of step with nature and without respect to the consequences our actions will have on the environment. Most of the lifestyle problems we face today were simply not around thousands of years ago. Electricity may feed us power but it robs us of our well-being when we unthinkingly live in its force-field. Geopathic stress is also more prevalent today because it comes from a distortion of natural radiation from the earth created by digging underground channels for water, communication and travel, and scarring the land with excavations for roads and buildings. We need to develop a greater awareness of what we have done and then take steps to compensate.

There is natural order in the universe of which our ancestors were aware - it provided a code for them to live by. No wonder there is an instinctive desire within us to return to a more natural way of living, to see how we can simplify our lives, without giving up the comforts of the twentieth century. Traditional lifestyles have much to teach us.

Research shows that our homes are less the entertainment centres that they were during the consumer boom of the 1980s. Values have changed. Refuge. Sanctuary. Safety. Calm. These are they words that motivate us now, as we turn out homes into heavens of peace where we can treat from the outside world and screen all communications through our answering machines. People are now realizing that to create change in their lives they need to change their homes and it is this understanding of the link between us and our home that is at the heart of feng shui.

We have to de-clutter our spaces to create the physical space for energy to flow and for new possibilities to happen. Becoming aware of what we have around us, and the impact it has, allows us to make more conscious choices. In this way, we can learn to arrange our spaces to support our goals, whatever they are - to bring up a family in a stable and secure environment, to create a safe heaven from which to explore the world, or simply to achieve peace of mind. Collection of these articles marks the beginning of a new and exciting journey for you to look at your home in a different way, as part of your future.

Where does feng shui come from?

2008-03-05T09:03:00.000-08:00

Like its name, much of the understanding of feng shui in the West today has come from the East, where it has been practised for thousands of years. The ancient Chinese had an understanding of the invisible world of energy that lay behind all things. Their knowledge and observations were expressed in the I Ching, a profound oracle which encoded, in the 64 hexagrams of broken and straight lines, a description of the nature of all things. This huge body of wisdom became the foundation of all traditional studies, including feng shui.

Yet the application of feng shui today need not be Oriental. Traditional peoples from all over the world have studied the relationship of humans living on earth under the influences of the forces of heaven. They have looked at the cycles of the seasons, the movements of the planets and, guided by their observations of the natural world, they have reached an understanding of the ways in which different places and homes can affect well-being and fortune.

Over time, different forms of feng shui heve developed as practitioners recorded how they understood the nature of the world, classifying the information in maps and tables. Data on the shape and form of the land (Form School) and the charting of astrological influences on the Earth (Compass School) were gathered and evaluated.

Classical feng shui, which draws together aspects of both schools, is very much alive today because there is still a huge body of the older recorded information available from the Chinese. Whereas, originally, feng shui meant living intuitively through your heart and body, the classicalk approach was much more scientific and, with its complex calculations to evaluate the quality of the energy in an environment, was more about the mind. It has continued to have its appeal through the centuries. Through the articles on this site, we look how you can be guided by your intuition to determine what feels right for you in your home. But it also actively presents a system of looking at how energy moves according to a "bagua", a map of energy thousands of years old, taking into account the importance of symbolism, and understanding the relationship of everything in terms of five types of energy.

What is Feng Shui?

2008-03-05T08:53:00.000-08:00

Feng shui is about how the environments in which we live and work have an effect on our physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. Different places make us feel differently. The amount of natural light flooding in through the windows (or the light of a decorative wooden lamp), the colour of the walls, the type of dining chairs, the style of the pictures and ornaments, the presence or absence of living plants in a flower plant pot - each aspect affects our experience.

Feng shui is the study of the movement of energy and how it moves in patterns, affecting every aspect of our lives. Quantum physics confirms that everything is made up of energy. All physical matter, no matter how solid it feels, is, in fact, only energy vibrating. All around us, in the empty space that we can not see, energy exists as well. Feng shui is concerned with this invisible world, for it is as important to our well being as the world we can see with our eyes.

Imagine, for example, walking into a room after a fierce argument has taken place there. You can feel the tension, in fact you might say that you could "cut the atmosphere with a knive" because there is a tangible feeling of something hanging there in space. Likewise, scientific equipment has now been developed to measure the smallest movement of energy: the lie detector can register the most imperceptible fluctuation in vibrations of energy movement in the body.

Feng shui helps us to understand that our homes are direct extensions of ourselves; they are mirrors reflecting who we are. the places in which we live carry evidence and symbols of our past experiences, thoughts and dreams, and if we want to change and improve the quality and direction of our lives we need to understand how everything around us interconnects. In order to create a new future and make the things happen that we most desire, we have to consider how these might be represented in our homes now. Here, you will learn how changes the interior design of your home will be echoed by changes that are made to your life. Different arrangements will affect the movement of energy in your home and workspace. These will, in turn, be reflected in changes in your wealth, health, happines, opportunities, relationships and feelings of peace.

The goal of good feng shui is to arrange a space so that "chi", or energy, can flow harmoniously so that it feels balanced. Energy moves in spirals and waves and we feel more comfortable when we emulate nature by bringing those same curves into our homes. Smooth and soft energy movement helps us to feel relaxed. Straight lines, angular corners and sharp edges do not mirror our own natural movement of "chi", and so we can feel more stressed.

The relationship we have with a place is very personal as we bring our own unique character to it. Everybody expresses themselves in different ways with distinct preferences of colour, style, fabrics, art, and the nature and amount of their possessions. All these things create different atmospheres and have a different bearing on someone's life. So, although there are some basic principles to follow in feng shui, remember that having good feng shui is also about creating a home that reflects you and what you want. What has to be considered is what you want to use the space for, whether it is for bringing up a family, starting a new business from home, or beginning married life.