Feng Shui your Bedroom

Today I am going to clean out the sock and underwear draws. My day starts with searching through these draws. Who believes that one small thing, that doesn't go to plan at the start of the day, can determine the outcome of the whole day??? I am tired of swearing at these draws, so it's time to "shape up or ship out".

A few more feng shui tips...

On average, one third of your life is spent in your bedroom. I think it is practically impossible to waste money on creating the perfect bedroom because it affects you more than any other room in your house. If your love life seems stale or is nonexistent, if your health could use some improvement or if you are looking for a new or different outlook on life, these simple bedroom tips might work for you:

• Change as much as you can about your bedroom furnishings, wall color and accessories, keeping in mind that this room is only about passion, rest and self-nurturing. Try to get a good balance of the five elements as well as honoring the shapes and colors of the house your bedroom falls within.
  
  
• If you are looking for a major change, then stretch yourself and make major decor changes within the bedroom. In other words, don't buy the same old comfort zone stuff that will get you into the same old love- and health-life situations!
  
  
• Buy a wooden bed if you have the choice. Metal beds can conduct electricity, which can be a health concern. Try not to place anything electrical near your bed, and do not use electric blankets (even if they are plugged in but not turned on they can be harmful!), heating pads or massage pads.
  

• Check the lighting level to see if it is not too harsh (yang) or too dim (yin). Listen for distracting sounds and try to alleviate or remove them.
  
  
• Avoid large living plants in the bedroom.
  
  
• Avoid large mirrors in the room if you are not sleeping well.
  
  
• Avoid sharp metal within the bedroom (knives, axes, swords, guns, scissors, etc.).
  
  
• Create a headboard for the bed and place it against the most solid wall in the room. If your bed is in line with a doorway, hang a crystal between the bed and that area.
  

• Try not to position your bed under the lower angle of a pitched ceiling, a ceiling fan or a heavy beam. These features are thought to contain "depressing energy" that literally pushes down on you while you sleep. If you have no choice, a bed canopy or lengths of fabric suspended from the ceiling or beams are believed to be feng shui "cures" for the problem.


• Avoid positioning your bed under a window, which lacks the symbolic support and protection of a solid wall and can lead to fitful sleep as energy enters and exits through the window

By Karen Rauch Carter via home.ivillage.com
and hgtv.com

Feng Shui

I have always been slightly attracted to Feng Shui. Here is a snippet of what I have been trying to achieve...

Photo: Katrina

Feng Shui and your Desk

Why feng shui your desk you ask? Because it is a piece of furniture that you probably use quite often, and because it's where important financial decisions are usually made. If your desk isn't optimally serving you, it could be robbing you of your vital energy.

Desk Size
First of all, the size of your desk it is crucial. Big tasks need a big desk. Don't try to multitask on a single-task desk. If it's bugging you, and you feel unusually cluttered, it's probably too small.

Paper Clutter
Now, let's talk about clutter and organization. Here's the obvious: It's easy to fall prey to paper clutter. But everything should have its own space -- this includes your desktop and the floor around your desk. Think files, trays, drawers, bins, etc. At least 50 percent of your desktop should be seen at least once a day.

Desk Location and Setup (this is something I have been working on!)
Next, let's pick on the desk location and orientation. If you've got a wall or a partition right in front of you as you sit at your desk, you are not in the most powerful position possible. My advice is to turn your desk around if at all possible and get that wall or partition behind you. You should be able to see the door into that office from where you are sitting.

Family: The center left-hand side of the desk is reserved for the family and things of the past from a feng shui standpoint, This is a great place to put family photos; especially in wooden frames as wood is the element for this area. Green is the color for this area in case you have anything green on your desk.

Prosperity: The left-hand rear one-ninth area as we go around your desk clockwise is the prosperity area. A computer works well in this area because it is an expensive item (anything that costs a lot is fine here), but you can use something that reminds you of wealth and riches, or something that makes you feel like you are lucky or have many blessings. For instance, a dollar-sign paperweight, an "in box" (as in money coming in!) or even a live plant can be helpful to you in this area. Just make sure that the plant stays healthy -- we want no withering or broken anything here. Purple is a great color for this area if you've got any lying around.

By Karen Rauch Carter via home.ivillage.com.

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Photo: bhg.com