Back To School, Back To The Office with Feng Shui

It seems too soon (!) but here we are: it’s time for the back-to-school, back-to-work routines of the “other” three-quarters of the year after the glories of summer.

How can Feng Shui help you ease back into the hustle and bustle of fall?

With Feng Shui’s calendar we can harness the power of the Five Elements: summer’s incandescent Fire becomes weaker as it feeds the Earth element of late summer, followed closely by the Metal element of fall.

Earth & Metal for Fall – The Season Of Joy
In Feng Shui, fall is the season of Joyful emotions, when we reconnect with friends, co-workers and clients.   Earth provides the energy for re-establishing these relationships, while Metal provides the stability and focus you need to make the most of them.

To get every part of your life ready for the season of activity ahead, here are Feng Shui tips for your home and office to help you harness the energies of the elements to your best advantage.

Fall Feng Shui At Home
1.  As the Fire-y brilliance of summer fades, keep the light alive and nourish your Earth element by bringing warm earth tones into your environment.

2. Re-connect with Earth by attending to indoor plants: fertilize them after the draining energy of summer, trim off dead material, and repot them or loosen up the dirt to give them some breathing room.

3. Support the Earth element by clearing clutter from horizontal surfaces like dining tables, guest beds and kitchen counters. Earth nourishes Metal, the element of maturity that helps you focus and bring closure to important projects.

4. Metal represents Children in Feng Shui’s Bagua.  If you have kids, this is the moment to help them fine-tune their bedrooms and study spaces as they return to school.

Fall Feng Shui For Your Office or Business
1.  Improve your ability to focus by adding Metal to your environment:  a metal objet d’art on your desk, a metal sign with your business name for your office door, a round box for office supplies…  (learn more about Feng Shui’s Metal element here.)

2.  In Feng Shui, fall is about the harvest and completion of projects.  Be proud of your business achievements so far this year: write them down, place the list on your bulletin board, and let your successes inspire your future growth.

3. As the quality and duration of daylight decreases, stay in contact with the Fire element by keeping your office well-lit.  Full-spectrum light bulbs are great for offices and will help you maintain your energy during the increasingly long days ahead.

4. A typical business Feng Shui challenge is that of too much Metal in the office: white walls and furnishings, metal filing cabinets and desks, shiny metallic accessories.

If this is the situation in your office, balance Metal by introducing healthy plants and/or red accessories.  Balance is always the key to good Feng Shui!

Don’t hesitate to call if you need a hand bringing these tips to life.  I’m available for Feng Shui consultations in New York City and via phone and email as well.

More Bad Feng Shui For Kids

When I came across this photo in a magazine recently, I recoiled in horror:

Giant animals, aggressive colors, busy patterns: this nursery is almost certainly guaranteed to give the infant twins who sleep here nightmares. Bad Feng Shui indeed.

I wouldn’t recommend it for adults, either

What do YOU think — would you have wanted to grow up with this on your nursery walls?

Good Feng Shui For Your Child’s Bedroom – video

As children grow up, their Feng Shui needs change.

Here’s my video about Feng Shui for children ages 4-11 years old: Seven Steps To A Child’s Feng Shui Bedroom.

In it you’ll learn how to create a bedroom that can help with your child’s study habits, celebrate important accomplishments, and encourage creativity and growth.

For younger children please watch my video about the Feng Shui for the nursery or bedroom, Six Feng Shui Steps To A Happy, Healthy Nursery.

Enjoy!

Thanks again to babybites.com for sponsoring this video!

Good Feng Shui For Your Baby’s Nursery – video

Interested in creating great Feng Shui bedroom or nursery for your new baby?

Here’s my video, filled with tons of Feng Shui tips and guidance to help you get your young one off to a great start in life.

Step by step, you’ll learn just how to create great Chi energy, from colors and decoration to placing the baby’s crib in the best possible location.

I hope you enjoy this 12-minute video, Six Feng Shui Steps To A Healthy, Happy Nursery, sponsored by Babybites.com.

Good Feng Shui To Help Kids Who Aren’t Getting Along

A question came in from Sarah a few days ago about Feng Shui tips for reducing conflict at home between young children.

Try these Feng Shui adjustments to calm things down and create an atmosphere that fosters cooperation.

1. Cool down a Yang environment. Bright colors and an overly busy playspace can encourage aggressive behavior.

Try painting the walls with soft Yin colors like pale blues and greens.

Clear out any toys that aren’t currently being enjoyed by the children.

Avoid bright overhead lights, which can feel oppressive, filling in the room with floor and table lamps that create soft pools of light for focused play.

2. Enhance the appropriate areas of the Bagua: Children and Family.

The Children area is located in the middle of the right hand side of your home or the children’s playroom. Enhance it with your kids’ artwork or other projects they’re working on.

The Family area is exactly opposite on the left hand side of your space. A great enhancement for this area is happy family photos that remind the kids of their most important support network

3. Empower each child with his or her own designated area, creating a sense of ownership and boundaries.

What have I missed? Let me — and Sarah! — know in the Comments.