Dan's Papers - August 17, 2007

Even though we have three more weeks until the unofficial end of summer, it's time to consider the months that lie ahead and think of ways to keep our energy restored once we're back into the daily grind. Many of us spend our time between home and the workplace in a constant on-the-go state. By employing some helpful and meaningful Feng Shui design strategies, our spirits will remain in a highly charged manner through the creation of our own personal sanctuaries. It may also allow us to slow down and take a moment to appreciate life itself.

Feng Shui surpasses aesthetic value and delves into a deeper realm, impacting space and the human mind, body and soul. Even though all of China's prominent cities have followed Feng Shui techniques regarding layout, design and planning, we can adapt it on a smaller scale.

Following a few basic principles can help transform your home and office into a place of energy renewal. Think about your home. Is there a sense of warmth, love and nurture? Does positive energy flow through your rooms? Is your house inviting to both you and your guests?

Feng Shui is widely used to strengthen relationships between spouses, family, friends and business associates. One of the most important principles of the practice is that of family contentment. To achieve such happiness and harmony, choose a spherical shape for the dining room table. Metaphorically, the circle represents an eternal bond. Your table shape will strengthen your family/guests' conversations and visibility for all to be seen and heard in a smooth energy flow.

Unaware, many of us have 'obstacle objects' within in our homes that create negative energy such as protruding bookshelves and displays, visible kitchen knives, overhead beams, and stacks of papers and magazines. Overhead beams for example can convey a feeling of heaviness and constraint from above. Take a moment and walk around your house and/or workplace and take note of objects and/or areas that create a negative, static, or "dead space" type of feeling.

For example, if you notice that your TV and computer are stationed in your bedroom, they can certainly be a product of distraction and lack of intimacy, causing a negative outlet of energy withdrawal. By simply rearranging, eliminating, and organizing objects within your surroundings, you're opening up avenues for positive energy flow. Once you've diffused such negative objects, it's time to positively enhance your space through the use of color and helpful objects.

If you'd like to strengthen romance between you and your partner, keep certain objects in pairs such as candles. Also creating a harmonious sense of Chinese Ying and Yang a.k.a. opposites within your space can also impact your relationships, such as figurative artwork depicting male and female or landscapes of land and water. Be creative and think about what types of imagery suits your interests, yet adhering to this idea.

Color, an integral part of the Feng Shui process, will also improve your space by setting symbolic moods. Consider where these colors have found a place in your home. If you're daring enough, splash some color onto your walls and if you'd like to play it safe, you can always accessorize with such beautiful hues. Once again, think about your personal reaction to color and how it fits into your life.

Feng Shui expert and author, Diane Alba-Means, briefly maps out color choices. "Pink is known as the color of love and will give your room a soft approachable feel. Red is a strong passionate color that can create feelings of power and excitement. In your bedroom, it is best to use this sparingly as an accent instead of painting all walls in the color red. Green is a calming color and gives a sense of safety and stability to many people. White is the most common color that people use on the walls. Although it creates a fresh and relaxed feeling, it has a tendency to be a little on the cool side. Blue is another calming color."

Whether you hire a Feng Shui consultant or independently set out on this design challenge, keep the positive energy flowing - it will do wonders on the mind, body, and soul.