3/27/04
METAL BED FRAMES
While brass beds are sexy and romantic, they may not be a good idea if you are sensitive to electromagnetic stress. As many of us know by now, it’s important to keep computers, electric alarm clocks, answering machines and other such devices a good six feet or more away from your head while sleeping. If you get headaches at night you should certainly consider that you may be sensitive to these emissions. I have long since opted for the old-fashioned battery operated alarm. There are some wonderful ones. I had the Goofy alarm complete with the hammer and bells. Of course, if your sensitive to loud noises, this could be rough on the wall you throw it at. But I digress. That metal bed frame is an excellent conductor of electricity. So if you aren't sleeping well, try someone else's bed for a while. If you’re interested in more on electromagnetic stress, Karen Kingston devotes a chapter to it in Creating Sacred Space With Feng Shui. That would be a good start. Or you could go visit our teacher Eric Dowsett’s site for even more in depth information.

6/8/03
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Before you set up the badminton net or the horse shoe set, consider dividing your yard into the nine equal sectors to see where to put all that summer stuff. The movement of any game is a great activator of Ch’i. You can pick you life issues and set up the games in the places of your life that need the most activation. Let’s say you and your husband have been trying to get pregnant. If so, then set up the horse shoes in the middle right one ninth of the yard. This is the Children sector. Remember to orient the bagua on the front walk to the front door. Another way to look at placement is by elements. Anything metal like horseshoes would go in the Children’s sector, also in the Career sector. The basketball hoop should probably go in Family, even Fame, as it is tall and resembles a tree. Volley ball and badminton nets stretch horizontally like water and would work well in Career or Family. The grill or the fire pit would go best in Fame or Health. Use your imagination and have fun! Afterall, it IS summer!!

4/27/03
PSYCH 101
So many of you wrote to say that you enjoyed last week’s tip about the body that we thought we’d help you psychoanalyze yourselves this week by bringing you the concept that each sector of the bagua is linked with psychological qualities. Thunder, which is associated with the Family sector, is about stimulation and impulses. So if your life is a snooze, it’s time to think about the middle left parts of your home, office, and each room. What can you do to encourage yourself to be more inspired and excited in this sector. To the contrary, if your three year old lacks impulse control, you might want to check to see if the bed is in the middle left over stimulating him while he sleeps. Also check to see if there’s too much green stuff, wooden stuff, or tall things in his room. The middle left is also associated with the past and with our ancestors. We could have a field day with that, right? So if you feel stuck in the past, struggling with parental issues, or wanting to connect with your matriarchal or patriarchal lineage, look to the middle left sector. And when you do, keep the destructive cycle in mind remembering not to overload this sector with metal things, white things, or round things because metal chops wood.

2/2/02
ST. BRIDGETT VS. THE GROUND HOG
According to the Celts we should light thousands of candles to let the world know that Spring is coming instead of watch some furry little creature for a sign of his shadow. St. Bridgett of Ireland is said to have started that brilliant, fiery tradition. Talk about good Feng Shui! Candles are fire and can increase your Fame. Becoming a Saint ain’t too shabby! Not only that, but candles are very Yang. This masculine energized Ch’i is a welcome change from the wet, cold Yin of winter, especially back in those drafty castle days. During these shortened wintry days, the ritual of lighting candles when you come home from work can help chase away the blues, increase romance, stimulate new ideas for bringing greater wealth, or simply brighten up a darkened corner. The only place where you do not want an overabundance of candles is in the Children/Creativity sector which is the middle right one-ninth of any space. Because the element here is metal and fire melts metal, it has the power to destroy. If you want a candle or two here, go for round white ones. Because fire creates earth, candles in the middle one-ninth are fabulous. They can be a wonderful stimulation to robust health. Go for yellows, oranges, reds, and earth tones here. Obviously the corner sectors of Wealth, Love, Helpful People, and Wisdom can benefit by lighting candles of appropriate colors, purple for Wealth, pink for Love, silver of gray for Helpful People (but not too many here) and blue for Wisdom. Remember to always light the candle with intent. Think what it is you would wish for, just like on your birthday, then light the light.

1/19/02
YOUR DESK
Whether you are composing music at your writing desk in the den looking out at the river in the back yard or planning business strategies on the twenty-seventh floor overlooking Central Park, your desk is your creative station. First and foremost, it should be in a position of power. This means that it should be kitty corner from the door facing out so that you can have a full view of anyone entering. If you must sit looking at a wall or out a window with your back to the door, PLEASE position a mirror so that you can see movement. If you have your desk directly across from the door, you are in a power position but the door may be constantly beckoning, “Wanna leave?” Now you need something supportive behind you like a wall, a tall cabinet, or large pieces of art. Get specific. If you’re an architect, maybe a couple handsomely framed Frank Lloyd Wright buildings would be appropriate. If you’re a clothing designer, perhaps an intricate tapestry. If you’re a landscape designer, perhaps a couple orange trees. Be specific so that as you head to your desk to work, you affirm what you do. While you’re working, you won’t see these things, but you’ll feel their presence. When you look up from your work, there should be something in front of you that reminds you of why you work. If you dream of retiring to a lake, perhaps a photo of a rowboat on a shore or a pair of real oars mounted on the wall would do. If you dream of your composition being played at Tanglewood, you should look up and see something about Tanglewood. Be specific. The part of the brain that will go and get you what you want craves detail. Now look at the rest of the room. If it’s cluttered and messy, your work is likely to reflect that. Remember, what you see is what you’re gonna get! Is the color conducive to your work or does it leave you cold? If you want to be bolder in your work, don’t sit in a baby blue office. Try to look at the whole picture as a stranger might, and notice what it says about your work. You may be surprised!

1/12/02
FEED THE CRITTERS
Movement and sound are powerful activators of ch’i. Our feathered friends will provide both for a song, or close to it. Let’s say you’re looking for more romance. Select or make a red or pink bird feeder, one with hearts, or better yet, a pair of feeders. For more power, place the birdie diners outside a window of whatever room is in the far right or Love sector of your whole home. We have one in our dining room window. When we eat, we can watch them eat. And the location is in an area where our home indents and leaves us lacking in Wealth. The movement of the birds to that window is very good Feng Shui. In locales where there is less activity outdoors because of the cold, you can encourage all kinds of critters by providing water as well as food. Don’t forget that you can divide your yard into nine equal sectors and create some miraculous changes out there as well as inside your home. So if you want more creativity, find the middle right one ninth of your whole yard and plunk a shepherd’s hook into the ground for that feeder or place a heated bird bath there. The birds will worship you. Wow! How creative to have a hot shower in the thick of winter. If you are not sure how to orient the nine-sector template on your yard, just imagine the Queen of England coming to call. Where would her people escort her onto your property? Usually this is the driveway since it is often parallel to the front walk, but sometimes the driveway and front walk are on different sides, especially if you have a corner lot. If this is the case, chances are the driveway leads into the garage and or the back door of your home. This is not the formal entrance. So before you activate in your yard, figure out it’s orientation. Then create an outdoor habitat of good ch’i.

12/22/01
RING IN THE NEW!
Sound is a powerful and diverse activator of good Ch’i. Whether the stereo is playing, the parakeet is singing, church bells are ringing, or a picture of a piano just sits on a wall reminding you of the potential sound, all will function as activators. An activator is a stimulation not only of general good Ch’i, or energy, but of specific intent in certain areas of your life. For instance, if you’re looking for more creativity, look to the middle right one ninth of any building, yard or room. Metal chimes and bells, round bells and drums, and that old piano that you painted white are perfect. Think of the feeling you get with different sounds. Thunder is powerful. A flute can be uplifting. A waterfall can be soothing. The sounds of wind chimes are playful. A dog barking can be a warning. The wind blowing in the trees is magical. Find a sound that matches your need and place it with intent. The bell that rings in the New Year is nothing accidental. It is made more powerful with your wish for the New Year. So, ring them bells!

8/25/01
BACK TO SCHOOL
A great Feng Shui teacher, R.D. Chin, says: The clutter of our life is intrinsically connected to the clutter or our soul. Remember that as you start to amass new belongings for your children at places like Staples and Bed, Bath & Beyond. These new items for backpacks, desks, and dorm rooms will help define their lives. We thread to everything we own. More stuff creates more responsibility. If the computer or the little refrigerator or the battery operated pencil sharpener goes on the fritz, we have to fix or replace it or decide to live without it. Those little shoulders are going to suffer from the burden of so many books. Why add to that? And if you walk the streets of city colleges in May, you’ll be amazed at what those kids leave behind. If those possessions had really been essential, they wouldn’t be left on the street for the taking. So think twice when your kid says, “But Mom! Dad! I just gotta have that hot pink microwave. It’ll match my computer!” A walk to the cafeteria might do your child some good. And I’ll bet hot pink nail polish will work just as well.

5/26/01
PARTY HARDY!
Having a party is wonderful ch’i. Bringing people into your home/yard/office is a terrific way to activate things in your life. The stuck artist may want to position the buffet table in the Children/Creativity sector. If you’ve been under the weather, set up the badminton net in the middle, or Health sector, of your yard. And remember what your intent is in having the party, invite only those who will support your intent, and clean up the mess/clutter quickly afterwards. Oh, yeah! Have FUN!!!