Feng Shui

[Katy]

Does anyone have any experience with feng shui? I'd like to start adding some elements to get chi flowing and such. Any experience, stories, insight would be greatly apppreciated.

[quest]

I don't have any experience per se, but I do have 'feng shui for dummies' and I'm planning on poking through it to see if I can incorporate some of the 'basics' into our home. And I'll be checking this thread often!

[suzubeane]

My only experience with Feng Shui was professionally. (I'm an architectural designer.) I was helping my Hair Stylist design her new salon space, and with all the other programming requirements, it was hard to make sure that her station would end up in the "Money Corner" as opposed to the "Fertility Corner." She kept saying "I want this place to be profitable! I don't want to have a baby!" I finally had to point out to her that as lesbian in a monogamous relationship, she probably didn't need to rely on Feng Shui to ensure she would not get pregnant. ;) .

Ultimately, practical concerns won out over those of harmony and balance, but in this case, I don't know how balanced she would have felt if we hadn't designed the space to be functional above all else. I guess I have to say that that would always be a major consideration for me.

[Katy]

Thanks ladies. I have to agree that functionality supercedes the feng shui rules (at least in my book). And in my case, it's not like I have anything asian in my decor. I just really like the principles and I'd like to incorporate some. I was laughing about the salon owner fear pregnancy - good for you to point out the feasability behind that fear ;)

[LuluGirl]

I found this article on the Behr paint website...

Feng Shui colors (http://www.behr.com/behrx/inspiration/fashionable_4.jsp)

[houseblend]

I read Feng Shui for Dummies before we moved into our house. A lot of it talks about how different areas of the house are related to different aspects of life. Such as the back right part of the house is strong in marriage. I like that because that's where our bedroom is. :) The center of the house reflects health. It actually said that having the kitchen in the center of the house was poor Feng Shui. The book also discusses things to do if your house is not set up that way.

I found the book fun to read, but a lot of the ideas were not things I would want to do. For example, a lot of the suggestions were to hang crystals in various places. That's not really my style, though.

If I understand right, there are also different philosophies of Feng Shui. I only read the one book, so I'm not familiar with the others. Either way, it is definitely an interesting concept. I do believe that our surroundings can effect our moods so I definitely think there is some merit to it.

[flygirl]

I have a large book on it, but I've only glanced through it so far. I don't intend to change my lifestyle by it, but given the option I'd like to try some things.

[Hangin'in]

*bump*

I've done the ba gua map to our house...... but I'm not sure how to interpret! The self understanding gua is completely in the garage..... so to have a better understanding of myself and my spiritual life, I guess I need to start cleaning it out.... have the garage sale.... organize the outdoor stuff, and get it to where we can park in there!

[artist]

I finally had to point out to her that as lesbian in a monogamous relationship, she probably didn't need to rely on Feng Shui to ensure she would not get pregnant. ;)

:D

LMAO!

[katmg]

The only thing I can remember reading about in college was that you are not supposed to have your bed face the door b/c that is the position that they take dead people out of the room - feet first. Something like that, so since then I try not to have my bed face the door. :o Of course, supposedly you can block that energy by placing a chest or a bench at the foot of the bed.

Also, you can use things like mirrors and crystals to try to help areas where the energy is not...going where you want it. Sorry, I know that's vague but it's hard to verbalize energy movement.

Most of the information I had on Feng Shui was about how to site a house and where you wanted main entries, windows, etc. in relation to your location. Not very helpful information unless you're building a new house in a new subdivision. ;)

[maplekitty]

The only Feng Shui thing I do is never face the bed towards the door.

[Katy]

Great! our bed IS facing the door! But I thought that was a good thing, just like your desk should face the door so your enemies don't "stab you in the back" sort of power thing.

[katmg]

Great! our bed IS facing the door! But I thought that was a good thing, just like your desk should face the door so your enemies don't "stab you in the back" sort of power thing.

Do you have a bench or a chest or something at the end of the bed? That is supposed to negate the bad chi of having it face the door.

[Katy]

we have a step stool so the pupster can get up when his back is acting up. But no worries, we're planning on rearranging the room a bit soon anyway.

[Kimberland30]

Weird about the bed position. We had ours facing the door, then I moved it to another wall because I was getting blasted with heat/ac from the vent. I can't say moving it has changed anything though. However, now that it's on a different wall, I do have room for a bench at the foot of the bed, something I didn't have before.