As a Feng Shui consultant I have to admit to being a bit nervous about the sale.

After all I’ve applied ALL of my Feng Shui expertise to this beautiful home, where we’ve experienced so much happiness and abundance over the years.

But what will potential buyers think? 

And how can I use Feng Shui to prepare for and enhance the sale?

The first thing to do was figure out whose help we’d need to make the process go as smoothly and successfully as possible.

Thinking about this from a Feng Shui perspective, I decided to focus on the apartment’s Travel & Helpful People sector of the Bagua (more on the Bagua Map here).

My home’s Travel & Helpful People sector includes a bit of my bedroom and part of my back patio — what could I do there to activate our Intentions about the sale?

Since this Bagua sector is tied to the Metal element I moved two small but weighty Metal accessories to the patio, activating my Intention to find the right “Helpful People.”

In my bedroom I cleared out my bedside table drawer, ridding it of quite a bit of stale energy!

By focusing my energy with these simple steps, I felt ready to reach out to the most important Helpful People in my life: my friends and neighbors. 

So far this story has a happy ending: we found a good contractor to make small repairs, and a broker who loves the apartment as is – no staging necessary (!). 

I’ll keep my Feng Shui Diary up to date as this process unfolds. Soon enough we’ll need more help: finding a new place to live!

In Feng Shui, Gold is associated with two elements, Metal and Earth. It’s most strongly connected with the Travel & Helpful People and Children sectors of the Bagua Energy Map.

Activate powerful creative and productive energy in these two sectors with gold objects, golden hues in paintings and art, and even goldfish.

Gold sends a powerful message that you are seeking help for a critical project or are working on achieving a particularly important goal.

Gold can also be used effectively in the Center (Earth) sector of the Bagua as it is considered equivalent to Yellow in Feng Shui.

• In the Center, stick to square shapes for your Gold object to provide the stability necessary in this sector.

Interestingly, as a color that evokes the Metal element, Gold should be used sparingly (if at all) in the Wealth sector of your space, because it clashes with the Wood element there.

Likewise avoid using Gold in the New Beginnings sector which is also is associated with Wood.

Lighting up your space with the sheen and polish of Gold adds a bit of richness to your life that few things can imitate.

Enjoy!

(Photo credits: DavidDehetre & MikeBaird on Creative Commons)

If your Mom is (or was) an important part of your life, this is a beautiful day to honor her. I always make a Mother’s Day toast to my wonderful Mom even though she’s been gone for over seven years now.

But just as important, Feng Shui shows that this is a day to honor the Mother within yourself.

In Feng Shui the Mother is represented by the “Marriage & Relationship” sector of the Bagua Map.

The I Ching symbol for this sector, three broken lines, is the most Yin, or feminine, area on the map and symbolizes the affection, nourishment and sympathy that only a loving Mother can provide.

The Relationship sector represents your romantic relationship because this is the kind of care and devotion you desire in your most intimate moments.

It also represents your own efforts to “mother yourself” even if you don’t happen to be in a romantic relationship.

So this Mother’s Day take a moment for self-care with the pampering and nourishment you deserve.

What kind of treat would you just love to indulge in?

A massage or time at the spa, an invigorating hike, relaxing with a book, watching your favorite movie (again)?

On this Mother’s Day, let your Mom know you care with a well-chosen Mother’s Day gift or even a smartphone app that any Mother can love.

But make time on this special day to honor your own needs while you’re at it. You deserve it.

(Photo credit: pielarski on Creative Commons)

Green (Wood element) and dark Blue (Water element) combine in Turquoise to form a third element: Mountain Earth.

The interesting result? In Feng Shui Turquoise symbolizes the Knowledge & Self-Cultivation sector of the Bagua, represented by the Mountain.

When you wish to concentrate on developing your inner self with Knowledge & Self-Cultivation, a Turquoise object like this beautiful lotus blossom may be placed in the appropriate sector of the Bagua.

The Knowledge & Self-Cultivation sector is located in the inside left-hand corner of your space.

Perhaps you are embarking on a new field of study, developing your meditation skills, or simply wish to bring a greater sense of calm and serenity into your life.

All these important goals can be activated in the Knowledge & Self-Cultivation sector, whose symbol is a monk, studying and meditating at the foot of a mountain.

Sophisticated and elegant, subtle and delicate, Turquoise has a special quality that means it must be used with particular care in your space.

Take care with Turquoise, using it in moderation as an accent color or as part of a larger color scheme: one color in your art or your accessories. 

A little Turquoise can go a very long way, providing just the spark you need to activate your goals and dreams.

(Photo credits: downing.amanda on Creative Commons, showoffinc.com)

But since it carries a particularly heavy symbolic load, it’s essential to deploy the color Black very carefully and correctly in your space.

Black is closely associated in Feng Shui with the Water element and all that it signifies:

• The depths of your fears and the courage it takes to conquer them.
• The will to move forward in your life.
• The mysteries of life and a philosophical outlook to help you deal with them.
• A sense of flow and connection with the world around you.

Black is best used when you wish to cultivate these specific attributes in your life.

When used in or near your entryway Black has an especially meaningful impact, helping you to cultivate things like flow, courage and connection on a daily basis.

However, it’s easy to get “carried away” with the flow of Black. Too much Water energy can make you feel disoriented, as if you’re drifting and aimless. 

If that’s the case it may be time to pull back on Black in your environment.

Using other Feng Shui colors and elements you can direct your energy appropriately: simply add Earth energy (Yellows and other earthy colors)  to introduce boundaries, or Metal (Whites and pastels) to create structure.

How much Black do you like to have in your environment? How is it working for you?

(Photo credits: David Gunter and epsos.de on Creative Commons)

What do you think of this bedroom?

Let’s count the aspects of Bad Feng Shui:

• The platform. In and of itself this is not necessarily bad Feng Shui, but this platform contains books, LPs, and maybe even electronics – way too much activity underneath a bed!
• The bedside accessories. There appears to be a gigantic stereo/TV receiver right next to the bed, sending intense electromagnetic waves at the sleepers’ heads all through the night.
• The mirror. I don’t know why a mirror sits in that particular position, but just imagine how disturbing it must be to catch its off-center reflections during the night.
• A LOG appears to be falling down over the bed! Axe-like, this decorative feature could hardly be more threatening.

And there’s more: the metal rack, the lack of comfy rugs, the mysterious black shelves…..

What do you think? Is this bedroom salvageable?

(Photo credit: theplatformbed.com)

This makes sense because Purple combines the intensity of Blue with the rich warmth of Red, two colors that bring along with them an abundance of unique and important qualities.

This lush combination gives Purple a quality that evokes everything  from the deepest mysteries to grandeur of royalty.

Appropriately then, in terms of Feng Shui Purple is the color assigned to the Wealth sector of the Bagua.

The Wealth area is about not just gathering wealth unto yourself but even more importantly having a sense of Gratitude about the abundance in your life.

So place your Purple objects, or paint your walls Purple, with a sense of Intention about the things you feel most grateful for.

The Wealth sector in Feng Shui is also associated with the Wood element, so combinations of Purple and Green do double-duty to activate your goals and dreams!

For a great example, here’s a lighthearted arrangement of purple irises that does a beautiful job evoking Wealth and Gratitude.

Have fun with Purple as it brings richness and depth into your life!

(Photo credits: clearlyambiguous and lotuspilgrim on Creative Commons)

When you eat food that’s in season you give your body good Feng Shui by keeping it in balance with nature’s rhythms.

Seasonal eating makes it easier to maintain your vitality at a healthy weight, too.

Today’s guest blogger, health coach Priscilla Stephan, owner of Sweet Path Wellness, shares the details!

Aligning Your Diet With The Seasons

Seasonal eating has significant health, economic and environmental benefits. By consuming fresh, local produce, your diet contains a variety of essential vitamins and minerals that fortify your immune system during times of seasonal change.

It’s cost-effective as the abundance in quantity keeps prices low. Moreover, seasonal produce is usually locally harvested which means a smaller carbon footprint. Here’s how to bring seasonal eating into your life.

Spring is the season of fresh beginnings and the Wood element. The focus is on the liver and gall bladder. A healthy liver establishes a smooth and flowing energy throughout your entire body and mind.  

• The best foods for spring are light and cleansing: young plants, fresh greens, sprouts and raw foods. These foods emphasize the yang, ascending and expansive qualities of the season.

Summertime is the season of the Fire element, characterized by hot weather, long days, and conserving energy in the heat.

• The best foods for summer refresh and cool you down – salads, fresh fruits and vegetables, light carbohydrates, and raw foods. The focus is on the heart and small intestines. The heart regulates blood circulation. A calm heart brings clarity and peace to the entire body.

In summer you need to watch out for a very modern challenge: air conditioning that “fools” your body into thinking it is winter. You may be eating heavy “winter” foods just when you need to be at your lightest.

Fall is the harvest season characterized by the Metal element.  It is a time to enjoy heartier foods and flavors.  The Chinese organ systems are the lung and large intestine. The lungs receive the vital Chi of the air and mix with the Chi extracted from food to distribute it through your body.

• Choose more astringent foods to represent the contracting, inward motion of Metal.  Ideal foods include sour flavors like sourdough bread, pickles, cheese and yogurt; pungent foods to clear toxins such as hot peppers, garlic, ginger, radish and foods rich in Vitamin A to boost immunity such as winter squash, pumpkin, mustard greens and other dark leafy vegetables. 

The best foods for Winter (Water element) are hot and expansive: stews, casseroles, dried fruits and beans, food that warms and nourishes us as we expend energy in the cold and that fortify the kidneys.

• Salty and bitter foods like seaweed, miso, escarole and quinoa have a centering quality and move energy inward. The Chinese organ systems are the kidney and the bladder. The kidney provides warmth and energy and serves as the foundation for the body.

In sum, seasonal eating ensures your good health, provides good  taste and value, and it’s better for the planet too.

Don’t know what’s in season? Check out the Seasons App for instant access to seasonal produce in your area. To find the closest farmer’s markets and locally grown produce near you, visit: http://www.localharvest.org/. 

 Spring is the perfect time to cleanse your body of toxins and reboot your system. My friend and health coach, Priscilla Stephan of Sweet Path Wellness, has created an easy 10 day program to energize your life with delicious, seasonal and whole foods. Details here:  www.10dayreboot.com.

(Photo credit: nataliemaynor on Creative Commons)

Like Green, Blue can be used to represent the Wood element, as in the beautiful clematis in this photo.  For instance Blues that shade very close to Purple may be perfect for activating your Wealth corner, which is associated with the Wood element on the Bagua.

Dark blue also stands in for the Knowledge & Self-Cultivation sector of the Bagua, whose image is that of  monk meditating at the foot of a mountain.

I love this strong image of a snow-covered mountain and can easily imagine the peace and quiet one might find at its foot. Mountains, of course, are made of Earth, so here Blue is associated with a second of Feng Shui’s Five Elements.

Very dark blue-black evokes the Water element that belongs to the Life Journey sector of the Bagua, yet a third element that Blue can be used to represent.

Finally, palest baby blue can stand in for Metal, the element of planning and organization. 

So if you love Blue — and who doesn’t? – when should you use it for good Feng Shui, and when stay away from it?

The key to Blue is its coolness — obviously the only element it cannot be associated with is the sensual, emotional element of Fire.

So use a dose of Blue when you wish to bring a sense of calmness and peace into your environment. Be judicious in its application, using your Intention and awareness of Feng Shui principles to place accessories and furniture or paint your walls.

Blue adds depth to any space.  Enjoy its power in your life.

(Photo credits: Hamed Saber & Jeremy Gilbrech on Creative Commons)

Let’s look at a few nurseries. Here’s a lovely example of good Feng Shui in a baby girl’s room:

Some of this nursery’s many positive Feng Shui aspects:

• The crib is in the Command Position, giving baby the greatest visual control of the space. She has the sense that she’s safely in charge of her space — and her life — right from the get-go.
• The stunning yet subtle pink shade on the walls (Benjamin Moore Pink Harmony, perhaps?) is lively and warm without being jarring.
• I love the mirror on the wall, too, which enhances baby’s sense of identity as she grows.

This more gender-neutral example has equally good Feng Shui:

Some Feng Shui aspects of this nursery:

• Green is the color for growth in Feng Shui. The particular shade of Apple Green used here adds zest to the nursery without overwhelming it with color.
• The flower artwork over the crib communicates growth and vitality as well.
• Is that a photo of the baby himself that I see there? This is great for a baby’s self-confidence, especially when the photo is kept up-to-date as he grows.

These two nurseries have several “good Feng Shui” things in common: a calm yet happy atmosphere, interesting things for baby to look at, a comfy chair where Mom & Dad can spend quality nursery time.

What else do you think gives a nursery good Feng Shui? Not being a Mom myself, I’m sure I’ve missed a few things!

(Photo credits: inspirationfordecoration, babydeco)