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.