Feng Shui and the Art of Sacred Balance

by Sharda Chaitanya

Feng Shui is about much more than intentionally arranging furniture or fixtures or decorations in a particular way.  Those things are important, certainly, and are not to be overlooked.  But what happens when the room or house is finally done, when all the prescribed Feng Shui work has been applied and now you have a new place?

Let's go back and begin with the inception of the idea, the initial desire, to make a change using the art of Feng Shui.  The simple idea of wanting change is kind of a big deal.  This is where you finally decided that what you have is not working, or needs improvement.  Initiating change is the first movement toward a better situation, and it is that seed of an idea that keeps you motivated throughout the process, remembering why you are doing this.

I want to emphasize here that Feng Shui is not this huge undertaking.  The huge undertaking is more in the mind - you will have to change how you see something, particularly if that something is dysfunctional.  What we have grown accustomed to has become comfortable, familiar, and therefore reliable - you don't have to think about it. But what is happening on another level when the Chi is off balance, is that the subconsciousness is perceiving disharmony in the energy of the space, which is in turn taxing on the general well-being of those who occupy that space.  Any resistance to change, or doing something positive like Feng Shui, is ego which doesn't want to let go of the very thing it created. Sometimes we so buried our unhappiness about something that we've actually forgotten about it.  Feng Shui can unearth those feelings and help you come to terms with the cause of your negative emotions.

Another Feng Shui Mirror Cure (I Love This Stuff)

I love Feng Shui.  And mirrors.  So what a beautiful opportunity I had today to put the two together.  Again.

Here I am in my usual spot, writing at my desk with the window to the street wide open.  The weather in the City has been nothing short of phenomenal, and it is SOOO good.  So the AC stays off and the windows stay open.  Which lets in the air.  And the subsequent noise from the street.  The routine city ambiance is one thing (and an important thing.  I like it.  I find it soothing) but full-on ghetto thump from a parked car is quite another.

I feel myself wanting to get irritated, but I can't if I want finish my commentary on the NDE that I blogged at my other spot.  I keep on looking out the window trying to find the car responsible for this late afternoon interference, as though if I spotted it, it would somehow make a difference.  I hear a lot of bad so-called music from the streets around here, but this was the worst.  It wasn't the volume that bothered me so much as the horrendously low energetic vibration.  It was really beginning to piss me off!

Relaxed and Sensuous ~ A Porch to Live On

Traditional Porch by Peachtree City Architects & Designers Historical Concepts

by Sharda Chaitanya

What a lovely way to spend your hot, summer evenings!  This design and arrangement of this traditional porch are well balanced and quite inviting.  The earth tones blend in with the front yard, and the white day bed keeps the cool feeling while at the same time stands out enough to give the small space a bit of spark.  From a Feng Shui perspective, it all comes together in a simple way.

The furnishings and architecture has a lot of wood, so I would have made a different choice on the railing. I think maybe wrought iron, in keeping with the aesthetic, would give added diversity of material.  (But cost has to be a consideration also; staying within budget is good Feng Shui!)  The railing and the low wall is almost solid, which most likely gives the owner a greater feeling of privacy. As well, I think I would have painted the floor a darker color, probably a few shade darker that the natural finish on the wicker rocking chair.  

Perpetuating the Cycle of Life

by Sharda Chaitanya

All the devas and elementals that resided in this tree before it was destroyed (by natural causes, one would assume) have been welcomed back by the many plants that have replaced it.

One of the overarching rules of Feng Shui is that you don't want anything dead in your environment.  That may see obvious, but you'd be surprised by how much of what no longer has life is allowed a place in the average home.  

As memorable or as sentimental as they may be, dried flowers from an auspicious or happy day still need to go. Take a nice picture of them when they are fresh, and frame it instead!  It will go much further in enhancing the chi.

Having part of a deceased tree on one's property is all too common.  And not advised from a Feng Shui perspective.  When I was on vacation at a bed and breakfast in Santa Fe a few years back, I saw that they had taken the care to put some life back into a tree truck that was sitting on their premises.  They had put a few Feng Shui items on and around it.  On closer inspection, I noticed a small Ganesha statue inside a tiny nook in the tree.  It was then I realized these folks had done the Feng Shui!

Feng Shui, Bohemian Style

 

by Sharda Chaitanya

The above design speaks volumes about individuality.  I love this room for everything that it is not - it's not conventional, it's not "arranged", it's holds to no conventional decorating rules and it's not for everyone.  This room is a wonderful homage to the Bohemian lifestyle of the intelligenscia of Paris and New York - following no rules other than free expressions of thought and art.

The first thing that strikes me is that if follows the 60/40 rule of Feng Shui which states a room should be 60 percent Yin and 40 percent Yang, and I think this room gets pretty close. It's open and large and has a lot of empty space (Yang).  And it is matched by the soft colors, intimate accent pieces and personal proximity of furniture (Yin).  The draping of fabric on the back wall brings a feminine (Yin) quality into the room, that could have easily been overwhelmed by that over-sized wall (Yang).

The Bedroom Walls ~ Why Choose Pink?

Traditional Bedroom by Brooklyn Architects & Designers CWB Architects

by Sharda Chaitanya

It is almost universally understood that pink is the color of love, of the heart and, by extension, of romance.  If you are in a relationship (in this case I refer to those of a connubial nature) then pink is the ideal color for the bedroom walls.  If you want to keep the connectivity and spice in the romance, then the color pink is the way to go.  I am aware that pink in not the most favored color, and many people snare and snarl at the very thought of pink and having it anywhere near the vicinity of where they live or dress.  

So in light of that, there are a few ways to make pink walls (or other things in the bedroom or relationship corner) palpable.  First of all, it doesn't have to be bright  pink - it can be a subtle, softer pink.  (Note:  not to be confused with peach, which, though similar, has a different purpose!)  And it needn't be all four walls of the room that get painted pink, it can be one or two, with two being better.  

Stuff Over the Headboard Needs Consideration

Traditional Bedroom by Barrie Architects & Designers Caroline Harrison Designs Inc

by Sharda Chaitanya

It is never a good idea to have anything protruding above you over the headboard.  It gives an underlying sense of tension, a feeling that something unexpected might happen.  Although intellectually, rationally, we know that shelf in the picture, for example, is tightly secured to the wall, nonetheless, it does and will affect us on a more subconscious level.

When I owned the cafe, one of my regular customers had come in for his usual coffee and bagel.  I noticed he had bad gash on his forehead.  I asked what happened and he said the he smashed his head into bookshelves that were over his headboard!  No surprise there.  The very fact that you hurt yourself in your own bed, the place you should feel the safest, is clear indication that something is wrong.

Slanted Ceilings and Their Cure

Contemporary Bedroom by Middletown Design-Build Firms Aquidneck Properties

by Sharda Chaitanya 

There are a few issues in this bed/bedroom situation.  I hadn't even looked that closely until just now, so I will come back to them another time. What I want to focus on is the slanted ceiling (on both sides, no less) and the fact that the bed is directly beneath it!  Ahhh...I am getting a headache just looking at it.  Living with slanted ceilings is never a good Feng Shui idea and if you think about it for just a sec, you can see why that is.  The energy created by the slanted ceiling is reflected in the energy of your astral body and of your subconscious; which in turn puts unnecessary pressure on your body that will eventually cause headaches, even perhaps migraines.  The is particularly true if the ceilings like this are in the bedroom.  When the body is asleep it is vulnerable/susceptible to the things that surround it. 

As well, the person(s) who sleep here will find that they are having trouble making decisions, following through with plans or just generally stuck in their life, unable to make any progress, despite the best of intentions.

I have a client, as of this writing, who has this exact same problem.  He is feeling a great deal of lethargy in his life and feels no impetus whatsoever to act on any number of offers from others or of  his own volition.  The frustration is nearly unbearable and life takes on a depressive shadow when one feels incapacitated for no apparent reason.  With this kind of sleeping situation, illnesses can arise such as joint pain or constrictions in the circulatory system.

The cure would be to hang 2 bamboo flutes with red ribbons from the seam where the slant meets the ceiling.  As well, one should hang a large faceted Feng Shui crystal from the ceiling in the center of the bed.  Consult a Feng Shui professional for specific details on how to hang the flute and to understand which are the differing types of flutes to use.
 

Feng Shui 101

 by Sharda Chaitanya

Feng Shui is the ancient art of deliberate placement. The philosophy of Feng Shui proposes that everything contains its own unique energy and everything is affected by the energy surrounding it.

While the premise is very broad, the approach is very simple. When objects, (furniture, foliage, lighting, mirrors, elements, color) are placed in correct and particular relationship to one another, in keeping with Feng Shui theory of harmony, then ourselves and our lives “get” that; we are influenced positively and productively because the flow of Chi (energy) is harmonious.

One can use Feng Shui in the home, office or business; for real estate issues, when progress is "stuck"; for propelling your job to the next level, or even enhancing your work cubicle if you are dealing with pesky co-workers!  Feng Shui is a very tangible method for change and lets us feel that we are in control.   Once the physical changes are in place, those for whom the work was done will begin to feel and see actual results.  Simply stated, with Feng Shui we are enhancing and igniting the good Chi and deflecting or eliminating the bad Chi!

Eliminating Conflict and Surprise with Proper Bed Placement

By Sharda Chaitanya

This bedroom is a perfect example for what not to do - it illustrates the opposite of proper placement.   I was glad to have found it for that reason, and because it is the kind of arrangement that is easily remedied, and by doing so, can avoid a myriad of obstacles in the resident's life.

The primary thing - well, two exactly - are the placement of the bed and the way the door is opening towards it.  This causes not one, but two blind spots for the resident.  The other faux pas  here is the way the door further blocks the view.  Even if the door were not slamming into the bed, and was hinged on the other side, it would not make a difference.  The way it is now, whoever sleeps here would very likely be wrought with unexpected and unpleasant issues in his/her life.

Restored Barn With Exposed Beams

Modern Spaces design by New York Architect Arturo Palombo Architecture

Source:  http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/

by Sharda Chaitanya

This renovated barn is beautiful at first sight and has all the earmarks of originality, but when viewed from a Feng Shui perspective, the issues are quite obvious.

Beams, any kind, in any place no matter where it is, are something we would do our best to avoid.  This room is an extreme example of overly-exposed beams.  The overhead beams are cutting across the ceiling, creating a negative energy.  The chi of the room is divided in an abrupt manner, causing  an interuption in the flow of energy.  The interuption would have a negative impact of the persons living there, most likely headaches and relationship problems.

Mirror Mirror on the Wall, Kill The Noise Across the Hall: Feng Shui and the Use of Mirrors

A well-place mirror is a very basic Feng Shui “cure”.

Mirrors are used for a wide variety of reasons, not

the least of which is to open up a room that is too

small, an area that feels cramped, or to deflect

unwanted intrusions of energy.

by Sharda Chaitanya

Noise in a big city is not news.  If you live in a crowded metropolis, then you know the average apartment dweller contends with a variety of sounds, noises and audible disruptions on a regular basis.  We acclimate, drown out, ignore whatever cacophony is not of our making.  We deal.  And I do believe in some ways we may even like it, or going to the next level, even welcome it.  We've moved here and stayed here for a reason; we like being a part of the ebb and flow of city life, the din of traffic, people talking really loud, music in the streets around the clock on most summer days.  It's all part of the bigger picture of the continual pulse that we have grown accustomed to as denizens of a megalopolis.

I am going to stop right there before I make this sound romantic, or that it's enjoyable to be continually bombarded with unchecked noise from any number of sources. If you're like me, then you are familiar with dialing 311 - the non-emergency contact number for all things regarding quality of life (or lack there-of) in New York City.  When you call 311 to register a noise complaint, they tell you that the local police precinct has up to eight hours to respond and address the issue.  Eight hours, ya don't say...?  Well that certainly makes it horribly inconvenient for anyone suffering at the hands of an errant boom-box out of control!!!

The Command Position ~ Feng Shui and Feeling Secure

Good desk placement, plus a welcoming sense for visitors.

The command position means the place from where you can see or are facing the entry way or door of that room.

by Sharda Chaitanya

Whether it's your desk at home or at work, or it's your bed, your stove or your favorite comfy chair in the family room, you always want to be sure that these important objects are placed in correct relationship to the entrance of the room.   The command position is perhaps one of the most important aspects of the Feng Shui of your home and one that yields a great deal of influence in personal perception.

The purpose of the command position is to disallow unexpected surprises in our life; it creates a protective energy in our home and in our mind.  The effects of Feng Shui are not lost on our emotions -- the positive changes in our mood when we awaken the Chi of our environment can range from subtle to profound.  After all, we are the energy of our home and vice versa.

A Mountain of Protection

The way this house is situated, nestled in the mountain, with clear visibility all around, and facing a body of water, is a prime example of good Feng Shui placement.  The mountains particularly are the key factor in this setting.  They are behind the house, serving as a fortress against unwanted visitors or unsavory weather conditions. giving the residents a sense of security.  In the past, when we lived closer to the land and from the land directly, securing property took on a different meaning than it does today, but our human psychology has remained.  The mountain represents safety of a most primal kind, and because it is of nature and the earth, it resonates with a most basic need to be sheltered.

The water in front of the house is equally auspicious.  Water represents money in Feng Shui, and can be a very tricky element if not managed properly.  But in this case, what looks like a small pond, is well positioned.  From what the picture is showing, the size of this body of water is proportionate to the size of the house.  There may be a tributary to the right of the frame, in which case the water takes on another factor.  To have water near one's home represents good money chi.  Important footnote regarding water that is still:  it must be kept clean at all times.  -S.C.-

Clearing Clutter for Our Spiritual Well-Being

by Sharda Chaitanya

In a recent dialogue with a fellow traveler on the spiritual path, we discussed what it meant to clear out our physical space, the place where we dwell.  We both had gotten the sense that a sort of detailed cleaning was in order.  Not necessarily Spring cleaning, which is more like a "hafta do".  But a kind of wellness cleaning, done more with a sense of finishing up old business.

It made me realize that as I prepare for what I anticipate to be an eventful 2013, I have to do some fine tuning.  I want to further lighten the load of debris in order to give myself  that feeling of freedom.  As a Feng Shui consultant, I can assure you that I don't do clutter.  Never have.  Even in college, before settling down at the kitchen table with my Selectric Typewriter to work on a paper, I had to clean the entire apartment in order to concentrate on anything.  If I needed to study, I couldn't have any distractions.

How thoughts become things. A Pillow, for instance.

by Sharda Chaitanya

There are a ton of books on Feng Shui and ten times more than that on the power of prayer, the Law Of Attraction and how to manifest our dreams and wishes.  And it is only fitting - the topic is endless and seems never to get old.  The over-arcing lesson of LOA is to teach us to become first, aware of our thoughts.  And secondly, to refine them so as to allow for our desire to come forth into manifestation.

 

For those of us who meditate, controlling what and how we think is an important concern.  Meditation, the initial aspect anyway, is about controlling the vrittis, the waves of thoughts that come in and out on a regular basis all day long. We understand the power of thought and the actual vibration that is attached to differing thought-forms.  And so what we think AND what we do (because action is thought, externalized) carry a unique vibration.  In the parlance of Feng Shui, it is the quality of the Chi which determines the effect of any given action.