Your Feng Shui Garden In The Heat

The heat wave we’re experiencing in the Northeast right now tells me our world is out of balance. This kind of heat belongs in its correct season, Summer, which is Fire’s domain.

Springtime is the season of Wood — plants need this time to develop and grow, and this type of heat is very damaging — Feng Shui practitioners think of it as excessive Fire “using up” Wood.

In Feng Shui we balance excessive Fire with the element of Water. I’m happy that the weather reports say rain is on the way, so the elements will be coming back into balance naturally. Meanwhile nourish your young garden with plenty of Water to help it get through this moment of excessive Fire.

Feng Shui Artwork

Artwork is super-important in Feng Shui. We want to surround ourselves with things we love, things we feel uplifted by. Art helps attract good “chi energy” and can anchor our intentions when place it with care.

Good Feng Shui art & colors

This is an example of Feng Shui art created by at Robyn Morshead, an artist in Nashville whose work focuses on Feng Shui.

The goldfish are a classic Feng Shui symbol of abundance.  Specifically in this print, the Feng Shui colors of red and gold symbolize Wealth, the large number of fish represent Abundance, and the activity brings good “chi flow” into your environment.

Your thoughts?

Greening the Empire State Building

One of the world’s iconic buildings, the Empire State Building, is about to undergo a $100 million eco-upgrade, aiming to reduce its carbon footprint by 38%. Read all about it here.

This is great news, adding to New York City’s reputation as one of the most carbon-efficient cities in the US.  The fabulously efficient subway system, the relatively tight living quarters — and the fact that most of us walk as much as we can to get from one place to another — mean that New Yorkers produce just one-third the emissions as most cities nationwide.

Good Feng Shui for a Retail Store

Here’s a great example of a small store in my neighborhood (Park Slope, Brooklyn), which clearly knows a thing or two about Feng Shui.  The store — a florist — is positioned in the middle of an ordinary retail block, with small restaurants and shops on either side, and a supermarket at the end of the block.

As you can see in the photo, the store draws attention to itself in a few distinctive ways.  The topiary plants on the sidewalk immediately send a message of vitality, elegance and welcome to passersby, while the friendly red door sends a strong message of confidence and warmth. And it’s clear exactly what kind of store this is by the large type on the awning.

Good Retail Feng Shui

When potential customers slow down to take in the interesting window display, they feel invited in by these guides to the entry, and once inside, they find a store that offers a fascinating mix wares for sale.

Signage, indications of vitality, and a warm welcome are just a few ways to improve customer traffic to your business. What can you do to improve the Feng Shui of yours?

Enhancing Your Business Reputation with Feng Shui

To enhance the Fame & Reputation area of your space — and therefore your life — use the color red, or bring in another symbol of Fire.

One favorite Feng Shui symbol for Fame is a picture of your lucky animal — don’t we all have one?  Mine is the lion, and I have pictures or other representations of it all around me.

The most auspicious bagua placement for your Fame symbol is near the back wall of your office, towards the center.

More Feng Shui tips to come in future posts. Here’s to your success!