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In the last two articles (D&WC January and February 1997), we have analyzed homes and rooms to correct the challenges that interfere with chi, the energy that flows in and through homes. This is always a good way to start enhancing a home's energy.
Once these basics have been covered, you may want to discuss with your clients particular life situations they intentionally would like to enhance. Are their careers going nowhere? Work on the Career areas of the home. Too little money for all of the bills? Enhance the Wealth & Prosperity areas. Has the family been plagued with illness? Consider Health & Family augmentation. Are the children out of control? Enhance the Children & Creativity areas.
Pick the one life situation that is the most important to enhance at the present time. Then use the Personal Enhance-ments discussed in this article. Plan one or more of these in the life situation area of each room of the house and in the appropriate area of the total house based upon the Bagua Map. Watch the changes that happen. Later you can go on to enhance other life situations as desired.
Personal Enhancements
We all have possessions that are meaningful to us. The more positive feelings we associate with an item the more positive chi it has. Because every object is made out of a particular material, we can analyze its make-up and place the object in the associated area of the life situation we wish to enhance.
- Plants and Flowers. As one of the Nine Basic Cures, we already have discussed how to remedy some structural or architectural problems with plants. We also can use them to enhance particular life situations.
For example, to enhance Health & Family maintain healthy plants or freshly cut flowers in this area of the room or home. Using the colors blue or green here would be even better.
It is very common to want to increase one's financial well-being. Placing fresh or silk flowers in the Wealth colors of blue, purple or red is very powerful. A healthy plant with round leaves (the shape of coins) also would be beneficial.
One's love life can never be too good. Having a relationship grow is similar to growing a healthy plant. In this area use a flowering plant with red, pink or white flowers. Silk flowers, such as a pair of red roses, also could be used. Try to stay away from pointy, prickly plants.
- Water. Almost everyone has some positive associations with water. Whether it is a natural or a man-made feature, the sound of water generates positive chi.
In the Wealth & Prosperity area moving water symbolizes the flow of money. Place a gently trickling fountain, an aquarium or a water garden here. For a less expensive enhancement a mirror could be used. Frame the mirror in one of the wealth colors: blue, purple or especially red.
The Career area actually is located in the same area of the Bagua as the water element. Any water symbols here will be very powerful. Consider the options noted above and photographs or art containing water images in the form of streams, oceans, lakes or waterfalls. Remember, the water should have movement but not violence. A stormy sea or river rapids will move the money too quickly and none will be retained by the clients.
- Affirmations and Quotes. An inspirational saying or quote is always a positive thing. You can find one for each of the different life situations to be enhanced. Find one or more appropriate sayings and have them beautifully mounted. Then place them in the appropriate Bagua area of the house or room.
- Photographs and Printed Images. Like quotes and affirmations, there are photographs and images of every type of thing imaginable. If enhancing the Love & Marriage situation, use a photograph of the couple at their happiest time. If looking for Helpful People, find the image of the person who instills the feeling of assistance and guidance. The person could be a religious or spiritual leader, a business mentor or role model.
For Health, use images of family and friends as well as gardens, landscapes or flowers. When enhancing Knowledge & Self Cultivation areas, use images of mountains, quiet places, wise people or great teachers.
The Travel area can be enhanced by photographs of trips taken or, better yet, images of places yet to go. And the Children area should have images of joyful children especially at play and creating things.
Using photographs taken by the client of significant life happenings and people will make these augmentations even more powerful.
- Color. We've mentioned color in the Nine Basic Cures and the Bagua Map shows the colors that are most helpful to each life situation. Chi is enhanced by placing objects in the suggested colors in the life situation areas. Thus a mirror framed in red will help the Wealth & Prosperity area. Flowers in white will augment the Love & Marriage area. A blue vase would work well in the Health & Family area. As objects are being placed compare their colors to the Bagua suggestions and place them appropriately in the room or house.
- Five Elements. The Bagua also shows five elements associated with particular life situations. Using this information can create some of the greatest chi. This topic was discussed in the first article. The following ideas will expand upon that information.
Use wood and anything that represents wood in the Health & Family area.
Place fire and anything that represents fire in the Fame & Reputation area.
Metal and its representations are best placed in the area of Children & Creativity.
Career, as mentioned above, requires the use of Water and any appropriate symbols of water.
Finally, the center of the house or room is Earth and can be enhanced by all of its associated images and forms.
- Personal Mementos. Through our lives we pick up items to remember where we have been and what we have done. Positive chi is created through these definite and positive associations.
When doing a client's home ask those living there to gather his or her most significant mementos. Analyze each item to determine its placement. For instance, if the item is made of wood, it would be placed in a Health & Family area, while a metal object would be placed in Children & Creativity area. If the memento signifies achievement, such as diplomas or awards, it would be place in the Fame & Reputation area. Items of great value would be located in the Wealth & Prosperity area. These objects could include antiques, coins, crystals and the like.
This review, analysis and placement not only incorporates items of meaning to the clients, it also empowers these items to continually support areas of the clients' lives.
- Specialty Items. There are a few items that can be intentionally located in the Bagua areas that have not been covered so far. Let's clear these up now.
Wealth & Prosperity also can be enhanced by motion objects such as wind chimes, wind socks, whirligigs, flags or banners.
Objects made from animals such as leather, wool, feather and bone are best placed in the Fame & Reputation area.
Paired items are symbols of Love & Marriage. Place such sets in that life situation area.
Toys, dolls, art supplies and other symbols of creativity and imagination are appropriately placed in the Children & Creativity area.
Brief cases and quality office accessories are career enhancements and should be positioned as such.
Crystal and glass objects can enhance the Career area (water) as well as Wealth & Prosperity.
The Knowledge & Self Cultivation area is the location for books, tapes and any objects inferring study or contemplation.
Placement and Intent
Feng shui was and is an integral part of the Black Hat sect of Buddhism. Although we need not get involved in religion to use it successfully, there is a basic premise that will help. The movement of objects will modify the clients' fates about 10 percent. However, when the clients think about the placement of an object, clarify the reason the object is being moved and visualize the desired outcome, the power of modifying his or her fate can increase to 90 percent.
This is not religious, it is spiritual. It is the process of symbolizing a goal to manifest its occurrence. This is the depth that is available through feng shui.
No matter how many articles are written on this topic, there is always more to learn. Truly, a discipline that has been around for more than 3,000 years cannot be learned in a few written words. Keep your mind open to all of the possibilities the environment affords. Use common sense and your new feng shui eyes to further enhance your life and the lives of those around you.
 Susan Dudics-Dean is owner of Celestial Designs and an interior designer who has worked in the San Francisco Bay area of California for more than 11 years. She also is a newspaper columnist and seminar speaker.
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The Bagua Map modified into a rectangle.
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