But there’s one very important component that some offices are missing entirely: a window.

Bring a plant with you when you move offices!

Working in a windowless office cuts you off from an effortless connection with nature, which you need to stay in balance throughout your workday.

Good Feng Shui and human nature agree that the way to bring balance and harmony back into your work environment is with plants and views of nature.

Healthy plants with good Feng Shui lift the vitality of your space, add good air circulation and keep Chi energy moving as you care for it each day. 

And landscape or other natural artwork provides you with the outdoor views you’re otherwise lacking, reminding you of your intention to stay connected with nature’s bounty.

Recent research shows that people who work in windowless offices are five times as likely to keep plants in their offices, and three times likelier to put up pictures of nature. 

Are you surprised?

Looking for ways to bring good Feng Shui into your office?  Email or call me at 646-382-3878 to start talking about personalized solutions today.

If your energy feels stuck, it may help to tackle both your visible and your invisible clutter.

Here are a few essential tools to help yourself get unstuck and take more confident control of your life.

1. Clear Visible Clutter
Clutter accumulates, it’s the way of the world. Mail arrives, kids come home from school, meals get eaten, clothing piles up; on and on it goes. Every event seems to present an opportunity for stuff to accumulate.

So it’s super-important to stay on top of it to help Chi energy move freely, bringing new and better things into your life.

One of my favorite ways to make sure there’s always a clear pathway for Chi is to do a “quick daily sweep” starting with Feng Shui’s three most important areas: the entry, kitchen and bedroom.

Once you feel good about these areas you can move on to other spots. Paying a little bit of attention every day will keep positive Chi circulating moving with minimal effort from you.

2. Clear Your Mind
Many years ago I came across the life-changing book The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, one of the “bibles” of self-discovery.

In the book Cameron presents several ideas designed to help you get in closer touch with your creative spirit.

The idea that changed my life is “Morning Pages” – three pages written in longhand every morning before the day gets into gear.

Writing Morning Pages helps you to clear the clutter in your mind. Everything that’s most important now makes its way onto the page, bringing your awareness to the things that matter now.

3. Clear Your Thoughts
Taking a walk is the best way to bring your attention to the here and now.

Just a turn around the block will do!

After your walk you’ll feel refreshed, with unexpected, productive new thoughts in your mind, and you’ll feel more energized to tackle whatever is coming your way.

How do you keep your life feeling clear and strong each day?

Each of us is made up of a combination of all of Feng Shui’s Five Elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.

But one element always predominates — the one that corresponds to your personal Archetype.

Your Archetype represents your innermost qualities and the way you express yourself in the world.

Seeing yourself through this unique lens helps you stay in balance by showing you how to enhance the traits that make you feel best, and downplay or reduce the qualities that aren’t working for you right now.

Over the course of your life your basic Archetype will not change, although the balance within you may.

So keep your Archetype in mind as life moves through its cycles and you’ll be better prepared to maintain your balance, come what may.

Which Feng Shui Personality Type describes you best?

The PIONEER: Archetype of the WOOD element
* Values personal freedom, confident, purposeful
* Competitive, ambitious, direct
* Good at planning and strategy
* Idealistic, flexible, optimistic
*Enhance your Archetype with Wood, nourish it with Water, restrain it with Metal

The WIZARD: Archetype of the FIRE element
* Charismatic, enthusiastic, empathetic
* Values clarity, inspiration, insight
* Alert, lively, and social
* Dynamic, communicative, passionate
*Enhance your Archetype with Fire, nourish it with Wood; restrain it with Water

The PEACEMAKER: Archetype of the EARTH element
* Centeredness, stability
* Sociable, agreeable, attentive
* Has a great need to “belong”
* Reliable, nurturing, supportive
*Enhance your Archetype with Earth, nourish it with Fire, restrain it with Wood

The ALCHEMIST: Archetype of the METAL element
* Values structure, precision, efficiency
* Good at boundaries: self-reliant, needs personal space
* Discerning, methodical, scrupulous
* Neat, calm, disciplined, honorable
*Enhance your Archetype with Metal, nourish it with Earth, restrain it with Fire.

The PHILOSOPHER: Archetype of the WATER element
* Introspective, curious, watchful
* Lucid, reflective, hates waste (thrifty!)
* Candid, modest, objective
* Values ingenuity
*Enhance your Archetype with Water, nourish it with Metal, restrain it with Earth.

What do you think of this perspective? Does knowing something about your Archetype help you to see yourself better?

Learn more here about how Feng Shui’s Five Elements nourish and balance one another.

If you’d like to dig even deeper I recommend one of my favorite books on this topic, Between Heaven and Earth, by Beinfield & Korngold.

And don’t hesitate to let me know how I can help you anchor — and balance — your Archetype, within your space.

(Balance scales photo courtesy of zodiac-pins.org)

At this intense time of year, you need good Feng Shui to see you through.

All year long, you strive to balance your feelings of serenity and vitality, when suddenly the holidays arrive with their attendant decorating needs.

Shiny ornaments, piles of gifts and holiday cards, sparkly lights and brilliant colors: how can you integrate all this “big energy” while maintaining your sense of balance?

Here are some key ways to create good Feng Shui in your space during — and in spite of! — the holidays.

1. Remember the principles of Yin & Yang: as the public areas of your home become more sparkly and bright, keep more private areas, like your bedroom, quiet and serene.

It’s not necessary to decorate every square inch of your home, nor do you have to use every ornament you own!

Consider leaving some decor in the box this year, and give your eye a place to rest. You and your guests will appreciate having some breathing room in the midst of the surrounding festivities.

2. Set a warm and festive tone by lavishing special attention on your Entryway. A well-lit, fabulously decorated foyer will welcome guests — and auspicious Chi energy — in style.

Once you’ve welcomed your guests with holiday cheer, feel free to use a lighter touch in decorating the rest of your home.

3. Schedule some quiet time to simply sit and enjoy the beauty of the season. Light the lights, make yourself a lovely snack, take a deep breath. Ahhhhh!

How are you planning to keep your Chi in balance over the next few weeks?

photo courtesy of: kdl.org

It’s the first day of fall, when the harvest comes in and day and night are closest to being in balance with one another, each about 12 hours long.

In Feng Shui this is a time to consider the balance in your life, a time to take stock of your inner needs in relationship with your commitments to the outside world.

It’s also a great time of year to meditate about what you’ve harvested this year and the seeds you wish to plant for success in the year ahead.

One of the easiest and most pleasurable ways to do this is by getting outside: bring yourself back into balance with the beauty and bounty of nature.

As it happens, today is also the Full Moon — called the Harvest Moon because it occurs so close to the Autumn Equinox, and helps farmers work late into the night by its brilliant light.

Here’s to great Chi at this beautiful time of year!

photo by Bruce Barone

(Post written 9/22/10)

Yin & Yang, Earth & Sun

This is the Summer Solstice — the longest day of the year, and the most Yang day of the year, when the sun’s arc peaks and it shines brightly on us the longest.

Now the cycle turns again towards the darkness of Yin, which gets to its maximum point in December.

In Feng Shui the season of the Fire element has begun: hot, bright and filled with activity.

Celebrate today by staying outdoors to enjoy the sunshine for as long as you can!

Yang peaks today.

For your further enjoyment, here’s a little photo diary of Solstice celebrations around the world.

photo courtesy wikipedia.org

The function of a living room is to foster life. It should invite people to gather together, socialize, and relax. So the living room needs a balance with high energy: more Yang than Yin.

Yang energy is “masculine:” assertive and bold, busy and bright.

Living rooms that work best are filled with Yang energy: warm colors, good lighting, growing plants and lots of things to do – games and books, a TV perhaps, a stereo for music.

Yin, or feminine, energy — cozy, soft and nurturing — belongs in your living room too, but to a slightly lesser extent : you don’t want your guests curling up for a nap! I

Create the perfect balance of Yin & Yang in your living room and watch it come to life!

It helps you set up an environment where you feel safe and secure, and guides you to create a positive and comfortable place to live or work when you’re feeling challenged or anxious. 

Download the Bagua map here, and discover nine ways to boost your serenity, confidence and sense of abundance. 

Start Here
To begin, align the map so the entry to the space lines up with the bottom of the map where it says “Entry Quadrant.”  You always enter your space through the  “Travel & Helpful People,” “Career,” or “Knowledge & Self-Cultivation” area.

Starting with “New Beginnings” on the left side of the map, here are nine ways to enhance your space with Feng Shui when times are tough.  Give each one careful consideration and use those that apply best to your personal situation.

1. New Beginnings:  If you feel stuck and want a fresh start, the perfect symbol to place in this part of the Bagua is a healthy, vigorous plant with an upright growth habit.  (If you’re not a “plant person,” see my post about plant alternatives) No spiky (ouch!) plants, please!

2. Wealth & Abundance:  In Feng Shui the source of Wealth is Gratitude.  Place something here that symbolizes prosperity to you and for which you feel truly grateful. 

This may be something with monetary value, something personally meaningful (such as a photo of your family), or anything that reminds you of how much you have to be grateful for.

3. Fame & Reputation: How do you wish to “shine your light” in the world?  Place something here that symbolizes that idea: it could be as simple as a bright light or beautiful candle.  Whatever it is, be sure to invest it with positive energy.

4. Love & Marriage: This area is about loving your partner (if you have one) as well as loving yourself.   It’s associated with the Earth element, which represents the nurturing, physical side of life. 

Make yourself comfortable, create a cozy spot for yourself, and set yourself up to feel nourished in every way.

5. Children & Projects: This area is about having confidence in the future. It’s the ideal place for representing your hopes with a vision board or other symbol of optimism.

6. Travel & Helpful People: This area of the Bagua also means “synchronicity,” the amazing and wonderful coincidences that change your life for the better.   Place a photo or piece of art here that honors the people who have made a difference in your life.

7. Career:  The element of Water corresponds to the Career area, representing your life’s journey.  Water also symbolizes cash flow in Feng Shui, so watery artwork or water feature is ideal for this area.

8. Knowledge & Self-Cultivation:  Make time to keep learning and growing so you’re ready for the changes ahead.  Symbols of calmness and inner growth — books, a serene piece of artwork, something to meditate on — are perfect here.

9. Center: The Center of the Bagua, representing vitality and health, brings everything together.  A clear and open Center helps keep all the other areas connected and in balance.  

The Center is where Yin & Yang come together, bringing your entire space into harmony.

Given the special challenges in today’s world, it’s important to consider how every area of the Bagua may be influencing your life, for better or worse. 

So take a deep breath, use your imagination, and put Feng Shui to work to enhance your life in nine different ways. 

Feng Shui has a simple yet surprisingly effective method for getting you unstuck: move 27 things in your space.

You can pick each thing up and put it right back down again, or move it to a different location, or best of all pick up 27 pieces of clutter and move them to the trash (!).

I use this time-honored Feng Shui strategy to get going on days when I feel sluggish and stuck.

I begin by just picking things up and putting them back down, but before I know it I get on a a roll, putting things away, throwing things out, and easily touching 27 items in no time flat.

It’s fun to count to 27 (a powerful Yang number in Feng Shui) and when I’m done I feel surprisingly really refreshed — my Chi energy is moving once again

I’ve seen this help so many people shake their stuck feelings over the years.

Try it yourself and see!

Feng Shui is full of great advice for transforming your life, but it’s impossible to begin such an important journey without having some idea of where you are and where you want to go.

Determine your path.

• Do your desires include better relationships with your life partner, your family, your children?
• Would you like better health, new romance in your life, a smoother career path?
• What are your most important life goals right now? Which two or three have top priority?

Feng Shui has powerful tools like the powerful Bagua Map that can help you start defining your goals and bringing them into reality.

Let me know if you need a hand taking your first, important step.