Feng Shui for Love and Relationships

All of us love to be loved and most of us appreciate the opportunity to share our love with others. People have been using Feng Shui for centuries to encourage stable and loving partnerships in their lives, induce harmonious family relationships and reduce conflict in the workplace. Many people also gain insight and remediation for relationship difficulties like unrequited love, patterns of abuse and dysfunctional relationships between siblings or with parents which can deeply affect us. Sometimes just in knowing why this is happening to us can bring about positive changes in behaviour to improve our lives.

Feng Shui is about manipulating energy in the spaces we use daily to support us in all aspects of life. Those who are sensitive to their environment innately know how best to use their spaces, however, many people especially those experiencing difficulties in life become de-sensitised to their environment and wellbeing and need assistance.

Traditional Feng Shui uses our birth date, manipulation of our environment and unseen Flying Star energy to manage life. Your Feng Shui practitioner can create a Flying Star energy grid of your home revealing unseen energy that can be supportive of relationships or creating obstacles for you in your relationships. Just like our energy is determined by the date we were born, a building’s energy is determined by the year it was completed built – the energy of our home being influenced by geomagnetic energy from the earth, its tilt and orbit around the sun. The energy grid (Flying Stars) for your home is also dependent on the front facing Compass direction of your home (which is not always the same direction as your front door).

For love and relationships, good bedroom Feng Shui is essential. Our bedroom is a place for rest, intimacy and relaxation. For many of us the bedroom is the only private space in the home. Our bedroom is a space where our bodies recover, repair and rejuvenate so our bedrooms should allow us to feel safe, secure and provide privacy. During sleep our liver can rest, our mind can unwind our muscles can relax and we are reenergised. If our bedroom does not support us in these passive pursuits, our health and relationships suffer. How many of us complain of insomnia, waking up feeling tired instead of refreshed or going home with multiple people – never finding a stable partner?

At this current time your Traditional Feng Shui consultant will aim to ensure the owners of the home are sleeping in a bedroom with flying star energy 8 or 9 as this represents good harmony in relationships and health. For a woman wanting to find a stable and lasting partnership with a man, it is best to sleep in a room with mountain star 8, while a man wanting to find a stable and lasting partnership with a woman would best sleep in a room with mountain star 9. If you are in conflict with your spouse and find anger and frustration a constant in your relationship then you could be sleeping in a room with mountain star 3 and would need to use remedies to diffuse. There are 9 energy classifications in total with different consequences and to know what energy star you are sleeping in and whether it is causing you obstacles or not you need to have a Flying Star energy grid completed for your home. You can learn this from books, take courses or hire a traditional Feng Shui consultant.

Encouraging good Feng Shui in your bedroom can assist:

• men and women trying to find a stable partner
• couples in conflict or having a challenging time with intimacy and need to reconnect
• family members in conflict with each other
• family members experiencing health issues
• couples trying to fall pregnant

To encourage loving and lasting relationships try these simple tips to make it feel more comfortable and inviting:

• use soft, neutral and pastel colours for walls, bedding and decor
• attach a bedhead and place your bed against a solid wall to symbolise supportive relationships
• Avoid mirrors in the bedroom, especially not reflecting the bed it gives a feeling of intrusion in a room meant for privacy
• place the bed adjacent to the door to avert active energy influencing and disturbing your rest and intimacy and encourage tenderness. Avoid placing the bed head directly in line with the door especially if at the end of a long corridor, this will provide too much yang energy coming at your head and disturbing your sleep
• create mood lighting. Particularly if you are sleeping in a good energy sector you would encourage this with fire – lighting and candles
• avoid air conditioners directly above the bed or placing a Television in the bedroom that will make the room active and detract from the peacefulness of the room. Televisions distract couples from connecting and can cause distance
• if your home has exposed beams, avoid placing beds or seats underneath them as it can cause a feeling of restriction and pressure for couples that can compound and bring daily issues into the bedroom potentially starting conflict
• allow sunlight through during the day, but have window coverings for night time to induce a good night’s rest
• ensure furniture and objects in your room have no hidden meanings to both you and your partner. Analyse pieces of furniture particularly if they are antiques passed down from relations that you did not get along with or carry residual energy from previous romantic relationships – like your mattress. Remove them from the room and feel the difference. Also be considerate if you are sharing this space with another e.g. if you have a photograph of your parents in the room but your partner does not get along with them, perhaps replace the photo with one of you and your spouse and place the one of your parents in a different room
• introduce symbols of love reflecting togetherness and strength . Traditionally animals like mandarin ducks or koi in pairs are used, however, you may have your own special symbols that mean more to you.

These practical and common sense Feng Shui tips relate to the physical placement of furniture and decor. While these changes will provide relief, if the unseen energy (flying star) in your bedroom is not conducive to harmonious loving relationships, then obstacles will still present. This is where an experienced Traditional Feng Shui practitioner will help your know exactly what energy is present and how to assist in your goals.

Reflection

We are all special and hold within us unique qualities that make us who we are.

 The Chinse philosophy to life encapsulates the interdependency between nature, the universe and man. In previous articles we covered the 2 universal laws of Chinese metaphysics – Yin and Yang and the 5 elements of the universe. By combining these laws we can interpret the Feng Shui of one’s home or office and the journey of one’s life.

Chinese culture believes there are 5 factors that influence our life. The first 2 are out of our control, and the last 3 are the tools we are left with to make the most of our lives. This is a philosophy and not a religion. No matter if you believe in God (single or many), deities like Buddha or prophets like Mohammed the following should not undermine any religious teaching but is in essence common sense.

 1. Destiny

Earth, Metal, Water, Wood and Fire – what do these mean?

5 element pagoda for universal protection

Part 1 covered the first fundamental law of Chinese metaphysics – Yin and Yang. In part 2 we unveiled the mystical Bagwa or Pa Kua and in this article – Part 3 we are going to explore the 5 elements and how they interrelate to each other providing the building blocks for Chinese metaphysic practitioners to use their craft and make predictions, analysis and diagnosis that help people in achieve balance in their every day lives.

Many cultures use the elements and forces of nature in analysis and design. This is more apparent with architects, graphic designers and artists. But food and supplements can also play an important part in balancing the elements within the human body. As Grand Master Raymond Lo of Hong Kong has dedicated his life study of Feng Shui and Ba Tze toward, I am finding his teachings particularly powerful in the recommendations I give to my clients.

In Chinese metaphysics, the 5 elements follow 2 special cycles which cannot be broken. There is a passive more yin cycle of birth, regeneration and renewal and a more aggressive yang cycle of destruction and conquering. Following the rules of Yin and Yang, both are needed for balance. It is the cycle of birth that you will see used in objects such as the special pagoda statue shown above that when displayed or worn will has a protective symbolism and quality.

The Cycle of Birth and Destruction

Each of the 5 elements is associated with its own shape, colours, numbers and carries a wealth of information that has been compounding on top of an ancient database of observations from nature and practitioners of old.

Referring to the left hand side of the diagram above, the base represents Earth which is square in shape. Within the Earth you find Metal ore like iron and copper. Metal is represented by a round shape. From metal a dew drop can form to produce water – an irregular shape. We can water a seedling to produce trees which are wood and represented by rectangular shapes. Wood is used to fuel fire which has an angular presence and finally fire burns the wood and produces ash which goes back into the earth. This is the cycle of birth.

On the right hand side and just as important is the cycle of destruction. Earth can be moved and dammed to capture water. Water in turn will quench a fire. Fire will melt and reshape metal and metal can chop wood. Finally, wood or trees will claim the land or earth.

It is in these fundamental cycles that Feng Shui, Chinese Astrology and other related disciplines operate. On the surface, Yin and Yang, the trigrams and the 5 elements of the universe seem so simple. In its application you realize that in knowing this you know very little and the life long study of Chinese metaphysics begins. Knowing the cycles is fundamental before determining the balance of these elements in the environment or person being assessed and assists in giving the correct recommendations of colours, décor and shapes to be used to balance energy in your home.

Feng Shui application

The 5 elements represent various energies in a person’s home. This energy given a point in time can be good, negative or neutral. To recommend how a room’s energy can be enhanced to support good energy, the cycle of birth and destruction are referred to. For example, Fire may be used in a room with good earth energy (current prosperous star 8) because fire gives birth to and produces more earth. Similarly if you wanted to boost unexpected money luck you could place wooden furniture or wooden wall décor to give birth to more fire where your money luck energy exists. These are very basic and simple recommendations, but in knowing where this unseen energy lies and the time during each year it will activate, you can make real and positive changes to your environment that will change your life.

Chinese Astrology application

Every person’s birth date can be translated into a collection of elements. Analysing the balance and interaction of these elements is fascinating and will provide insight into a person’s health, relationships, career, financial position and much more. As an example and following the health findings of Grand Master Raymond Lo, a person with an imbalance of water in their chart (where water is needed by the individual) can be boosted by taking Omega 3 supplements. Likewise, a person requiring more fire in their life can try eating more spicy foods and honey. Those with too much earth would do well to take more antioxidants and watch their in take of carbohydrates and sugars as earth is related to cancer and diabetes. While taking any supplements should be verified by a naturopath or medical doctor, I have found some of my clients to already be taking the supplements I know they need from their charts. I also see clients that have for no other reason than intuition obtained tattoos of animals their charts reveal will protect them. On reflection of these situations I can’t help but suppose that this system of Chinese Astrology based on the forces of nature and over 6000 years old is innately inside all of us. If you or someone you know are stuck in life or about to make an important decision try a Chinese Astrology reading. It truly will give you direction and acceptance.

Mariko Fisher is principal of FengShui by Sakura and is your Feng Shui and Chinese Astrology consultant in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra. FengShui by Sakura provides Feng Shui and Chinese Astrology courses in Sydney suitable for beginners. Mariko also carries a wide range of quality Feng Shui product, gifts and modern home ware with meaning and symbolism for home and office. If you enjoyed reading this article, please share this with your friends and family. To ensure you receive the latest postings, register on our website.

A popular symbol of Feng Shui is the Bagwa / Bagua / Pa Kua but where does is come from?

Feng Shui Bagua mirror

As discussed in Part 1 – Yin and Yang, Chinese metaphysics is based on the duality of Yin and Yang and the 5 elements of the universe – Earth, Metal, Water, Wood and Fire. If we look closely at the Bagwa there are 8 trigrams (sets of 3 lines) arranged in a hexagram. Fu Hsi (introduced in the previous article) invented the 8 trigrams (among many other things). It is said Fu Hsi invented this system of trigrams as a simple way to store a wealth of information based on his observations in nature.

Each trigram is made up of broken and unbroken lines. The single unbroken line represents a Yang line, and the 2 broken lines represent a Yin line. While no one knows for sure how and why Fu Hsi invented and chose to present the trigrams in this fashion, one explanation could be his natural observation of the world (albeit China) at the time. These trigrams representing Yin and Yang were originally arranged by Fu Hsi as depicted here and each is named after a natural form.

Hexagrams - Early Arrangement

Chien = Heaven; Tui = Lake; Li = Fire; Chen = Wood; Sun = Wind; Kan = Water;Ken = Mountain; Kun = Earth

Heaven is depicted above in the South (yes the South) and Earth is below in the North. The Fire or Sun is rising in the East and the water is in the West. The rest follows the position of China’s natural landscape of mountains, earthquake zones, lakes and so on. This early arrangement represents the forces of nature and the 8 trigrams in the form of a hexagram. Popular usage can be seen in:

• a Bagua mirror which may be seen hanging on doors or windows facing spiritual shars like churches, grave sites and police stations offering protection against negative spiritual influences that may attack their home

• the Lo Pan, a trusty tool of the Feng Shui consultant that carries the trigrams in the centre of the instrument surrounding the compass needle to protect it against negative spiritual energies

Feng Shui Lo Pan

• other symbols of protection that are based on this theme of the 5 elements of the universe that include The 5 element Pagoda – this is an object of protection that one can wear, carry or display and represents the 5 elements in the form of the shapes they represent. The construction of the pagoda follows the elemental rules of birth. With Earth in a square shape at the base giving birth to Metal – a circular shape that in turn gives birth to water, wavy in nature and gives birth to Wood represented by a rectangle that completes the pagoda with a triangle representing Fire

5 element pagoda

• The Pentagram – this is an ancient symbol with its first use dated interestingly as far back as 3500 BC – similar time frame when the Lo Shu and Trigrams were reportedly invented. The pentagram was first recorded as a symbol of power in Ancient Mesopotamia. With many cultures and beliefs since then claiming the pentagram and using it for deep and meaningful symbolism and messaging, it has more recently been aligned to the 5 elements of the universe due to the 5 points. Feng Shui symbols and products of the pentagram with the 8 trigrams embedded in the centre have been designed in jewellery, key rings and the like as amulets for protection.

The hexagram containing the 8 trigrams is an ancient symbol that carries the power of protection from the abstract energies we cannot see. Around 1000BC Emperor of the Chau Dynasty – King Wen rearranged this Early Heavenly arrangement into what is now known as the Later Heavenly arrangement depicted below.

Hexagrams - Later Arrangement

This rearrangement better serves people living on earth. It was changed to represent the seasonal influences of nature on living things. Additional observations about humans evolved to create a more accurate and relevant set of predictive data supporting each trigram. As such practitioners of Ba Tze or Four Pillars of Destiny, the I-ching and Feng Shui consultants rely on this later version of the hexagrams to serve the living.

By embedding the Yin and Yang symbol in the centre of the hexagram, it is obvious why the presentation of this symbol should be shown with Yang on the left and Yin on the right. Wood fuels the fire and these are the yang elements. While Water and Metal are the cooler yin elements. Interestingly, Earth is neutral and serves to cut through the centre of the Tai Chi representing its neutral nature and presence throughout the seasons.

Mariko Fisher is principal of FengShui by Sakura and is your Feng Shui consultant in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra. FengShui by Sakura provides Feng Shui and Chinese Astrology courses in Sydney suitable for beginners. Mariko also carries a wide range of quality Feng Shui product, gifts and modern home ware with meaning and symbolism for home and office.

Feng Shui for Children

Parents want to provide a secure and safe environment for their children. Once you become a parent your mind tunes itself to the endless possibilities of harm that could befall your child. Your intuition or 6^th sense is heightened and this allows you to remove obstacles and the child from harm’s way.

This instinctive knowing that many parents develop, particularly mothers, saves our children from many physical consequences. What is more difficult is determining the obstacles that befall the emotional well being of our children. Children can’t always articulate what makes them feel safe secure and how they feel. Like us, often their behaviour is being influenced by their environment and the other people and objects sharing that space with them.

Feng Shui has been used for thousands of years throughout the Eastern countries to ensure a safe environment providing the best opportunities for their children. There are many DIY books that will help beginners grasp the fundamentals, but the skill in Feng Shui is knowing and applying Flying Star energy to a building – where you can pull on certain levers to enhance aspects of your life (good health, harmonious relationships and financial stability) and pull back on other levers to minimise obstacles. (arguments, legal matters, sickness). Knowing these levers empowers our life.

Feng Shui is utilizing any space in a way where we can balance nature’s energy and make it work in our favour. Feng Shui traces back to Neolithic China (4000BC), and is fundamentally built on the recorded observations of patterns from the natural surroundings at a time when the forces of nature influenced every part of daily life. Using the 5 elements found in nature, Earth, Metal, Water, Wood and Fire, Feng Shui is a systematic and logical way of determining which levers to control.

A Flying Star assessment is more complex than Classical Form School Feng Shui and involves knowing the orientation of the front of your home, the year your home was built and having an accurate to scale floor plan of your home or office. Flying Star Feng Shui will be able to determine for example if the child’s bedroom has anger and frustration energies. If the room is decorated in colours such as blue and green supporting this energy then your child will more than likely have low tolerance levels and get frustrated by little things. Setting aside the child’s profile, your lever in this example would be Fire or Earth– Red colours for fire (probably use subdued hues of red for a bedroom as it is a place of rest) or neutral beige and yellows for earth to minimise the wood element in that room. Every building is unique and will have its own energies. A qualified Feng Shui consultant will be able to highlight these levers and when and where to control them successfully.

Classical Form School Feng Shui focuses on the physical aspects of a space and the way energy interacts given size, shape and proximity of objects in relation to each other.

Below are 10 areas you can examine and action in your child’s bedroom today. The 10 tips below will ensure your child’s room is set up adequately to support them from a classical Form School Feng Shui point of view. These tips will help dilute any negative behaviour from your child, but a flying star assessment will pinpoint exactly the levers to pull to turn that behaviour around.

Clutter and proportion:

1. Is the bedroom clean and clutter free?
   • Feng Shui strictly is not about cleanliness or clutter but it stands to reason that if the room is clean and clutter free, energy can move more freely around the room. If you cannot walk in a straight line from one end to the other then chances are you need to rearrange a few things and tidy up. For a quick fix (but not lasting) try sweeping the room of toys and clothes into a laundry basket or toy box – ready to put away once you have renewed energy
   • Think about what it is like to wake in the middle of the night to a bedroom with toys and objects everywhere. Child’s imaginations are highly active, shapes and shadows can scare them giving them a sense of insecurity in their own bedroom
   • Good hygiene in the bedroom will minimise the risk of recurring illness, stop the spread of germs to friends or siblings and minimise discomfort to your child if they are allergic to things like dust
2. Is the bedroom furniture in the right proportion for the bedroom?

§ In a consumer driven society where we are able to buy everything for our children, we have to be realistic about what we can fit into the space. The room should be filled with practical and necessary furniture. Refrain from filling a room with unnecessary objects as the energy will flow differently and stagnate

Support and security:

1. Is the bed head against a solid wall?
   • In classical Form School Feng Shui, protection and shelter at your back is key. Your child’s bed head and the solid wall will provide security while sleeping, protection from the elements and a more restful sleep.
   • If the only practical position is against a window due to design or space, then compensate by implementing a large solid bed head and well hung curtains

Pressure:

1. Are there any exposed beams directly above the bed?
   • The extent of influence an object has on your child depends on its relative distance to the bed or study desk. An exposed beam directly above the bed creates the feeling of pressure. The child could subconsciously be feeling pressure in life and if they are susceptible to this, an exposed beam will further exacerbate this experience. Beds, study desks or areas of play should not be directly placed under an exposed beams

Active vs Passive Energy

1. Where is the position of the door in relation to the bed?
   • The bedroom is a place of passive (yin) activity, renewal and regeneration. Doorways bring active (yang) energy into the room. If the bed is directly facing a door, any activity entering could disturb your child’s peaceful resting state
   • If the bed head is behind the door, this gives a feeling of insecurity and threat of attack. It is best to position the bed in front and adjacent to the door so the child does not feel surprised
   • If your child has a study desk in the same room, the door should not open on your child’s back, instead the chair should be placed against a solid wall facing but not directly in front of the door
2. Do you have ducted air conditioning vent above the bed?
   • air conditioning is considered an active (yang) component in a space that is used for passive pursuits like sleeping, reading and resting. Placed directly above a sleeping child may impact on the quality of rest your child experiences
   • Air conditioning vents are similar to sleeping under an open window. If your child is susceptible to colds, flus and chest infection, then this could cause chill and running noses in the morning
   • While the humming of the air conditioner once running might be considered as restful ‘white noise’, the sound of the air conditioning starting up and abruptly stopping above your head is not very restful
3. Is there good shade on your child’s window for night time?
   • Being a room of rest, it should have the right balance of Yin energy. This includes the ability to keep it dark when sleeping. If the windows have proper covering, there are fewer shadows reflected in the room during the night and this should encourage the child to have a better night’s rest. Depending on their age, if they are afraid of the dark, a little night light close to the floor is ideal.

Shar Chi – negative energy from objects:

1. Are there any sharp objects or pointed edges aimed at your child’s bed?
   • Sharp edges or pointed objects act like arrows or weapons and if directly in line with the bed, will have negative energy or ‘shar chi’ directed at your sleeping child. It is best to rearrange the furniture or place something in the way to block the arrow. Examples can include the corner edge of desks or tall boys, books in an open bookshelf – particularly if left in disarray, the edge of doors left open and pointed at the bed
   • Look outside the bedroom window and see if there are any pointy objects like roof lines, church steeples or neighbouring windows facing directly into your child’s bedroom. These may represent Shar Chi and can be minimised by placing a pair of Fu Dogs in the window sill facing outward at the Shar. Alternatively, put a barrier outside the bedroom window like hedging to support your child while sleeping.

Colours and Décor:

1. What colours have you used to decorate your child’s bedroom?
   • To invoke a sense of calm in the bedroom, subtle neutral colours are better to use than loud vibrant colours. Many children’s bedrooms have bright pinks and reds and blues. These look great, but have the effect of stimulation. If the child does not have another room they can retreat to in order to calm down, you may find their behaviour more active than passive.
2. Does your child’s wardrobe have mirrors on them?
   • Mirrors in any bedroom are not a good idea. There are many reasons including an old Chinese belief that one’s spirit travels when dreaming and will get confused on returning to the body. In Feng Shui the mirror stores the image of everything in the child’s bedroom. If the room contains shars, this negative energy is replicated within the mirror and impacts everyone in the room. It is best to cover mirrors at night while sleeping
   • From a practical point of view, mirrors can be scary when you wake up in the middle of the night. It can lead to a sense of insecurity – causing the child to feel like someone else is in the room and making the room to look bigger than it really is instead of cosy and safe.

By Mariko Fisher

Principal – FengShui by Sakura

mariko@fengshuibysakura.com.au

www.fengshuibysakura.com.au

For Feng Shui Consultations, Products and Courses

Mariko Fisher is a qualified Feng Shui consultant based in Sydney and mother of two. One of her passions has been to implement Feng Shui correctly in her own home for her two children. Through these intimate learnings, first hand experience in client consultations wanting results for their children and theoretical knowledge Mariko can provide expert Feng Shui family consultations for anyone wanting to ensure the emotional well being of their child.

Almost everyone has seen this ancient Chinese symbol of duality called

Yin and Yang.

The outer circle represents ‘Mu Chi’ – everything, yet nothing. It relies on a cosmic event where the universe is created and is filled with the ‘Tai Chi’ which is Ying and Yang.

“Only after [the One] is acted upon will it begin to penetrate [through yin and yang]. Without the two forces there cannot be the One” Chang Tsai (1020-1078).

The yang portion is white. It is the male side and represents light, joy, happiness, heat and strength while the Yin portion is black. It is the female side and represents dark, sadness, cold, weakness and so on.

While there are 2 portions, a little black circle exists within Yang and a little white circle within Yin. This signifies that neither is complete without the other. Going to extremes presents imbalances that disrupt aspects of our life, grey areas are necessary for harmony and balance.

It is difficult to know which came first, but in Western science the Big Bang theory and the Bible assumes that first there was nothing and then ‘something’ happened – be it an infinitesimal hot mass expanding into what we know as the universe or a superior being creating life and the universe. Yin and Yang exists no matter how we describe creation and the universe.

Yin and Yang is simple, but complex. It lays the foundation for all Chinese metaphysics including Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture and Feng Shui. Akin to the West’s binary system of zeros and ones, Yin and Yang should not be unfamiliar or mystic as it represents the foundations for all living things. Look at the European languages like French and German and you will see that nouns are divided into masculine and feminine. In technology, the first computers were coded with instructions on cards that consisted of zeros and ones.

Fu Hsi - Ancient mythical sovereign (4000 BC)

It is uncertain when Yin and Yang developed. The concept of duality in life is said to date back to Fu Hsi (4000 BC) and can be found in many ancient Chinese writings including ancient medical texts of the Yellow Emperor found in the Han tombs. These medical texts suggest that illnesses are caused by imbalances in Yin and Yang and the 5 elements of the universe that support it. (next month’s article will cover the 5 elements).

While there are many intricacies and considerations, the fundamental basis of Feng Shui and Four Pillars of Destiny (Ba Tzi) is derived from Yin and Yang and the 5 elements of Earth, Metal, Water, Wood and Fire. All consultations examine the relationship between Yin and Yang and the 5 elements as they appear in your home, office or garden. In fact any space can be assessed and improved using only these fundamental laws of nature. It sounds easy on the surface, but add the dynamics of time and motion layered with human nature and free will and it soon gets complicated.

At its simplest level, the physical features of a room can be assessed using the principle of Yin and Yang. For example a room that does not have good sunlight and is prone to damp and cold would be considered Yin, while a room that is exposed to constant sunlight and movement is classified as Yang. One is not more dominant or better than the other. For harmony and prosperity, there must be a balance of Yin and Yang.

Getting this balance correct to ensure harmony, prosperity and wellbeing in your family or at work is what a skilled traditional Feng Shui consultant will provide.

An excerpt from the Yellow Emperor’s ancient text explains how Yin and Yang assessments could be made in relation to a person’s health;

“If Yang is overly powerful, then Yin may be too weak. If Yin is particularly strong, then Yang is apt to be defective. If the male force is overwhelming, then there will be excessive heat. If the female force is overwhelming, then there will be excessive cold. Exposure to repeated and severe heat will induce chills. Cold injures the body while heat injures the spirit When the spirit is hurt, severe pain will ensue. When the body is hurt, there will be swelling. Thus, when severe pain occurs first and swelling comes on later, one may infer that a disharmony in the spirit has done harm to the body. Likewise, when swelling appears first and severe pain is felt later on, one can say that a dysfunction in the body has injured the spirit….” Translated by Mark Coyle

I would like to share my thoughts on Yin and Yang using a very recent and simple example…

Setting up my fabulous fish tank has brought me pleasure and pain. In itself the fish tank is water and cold. It is also metallic so you would consider it as Yin. But for the tropical fish to survive, I must heat the water and create movement with a filter which is yang. Getting the balance right between water temperature and movement proved critical to the lives of my fish. My tank being Yin, could not sustain life without the correct balance of heat and movement being yang. Needless to say my first lot of neon tetras died (supposedly the most hardy of tropical fish). I shed a tear and felt remorse for being responsible for not getting the balance right – or perhaps it was the thought of failure. Needless to say, I monitored the next lot of fish every hour on the hour – checking the thermometer, adjusting the filter and testing the PH of the water. This time, after the second day, I felt relieved and joyous that my fish had lived.

Within my tank I had got the balance between Yin and Yang right so it could sustain life and bring my family hours of joy as we watch the brightly coloured fish swimming around. My only thought now is for how long because ensuring balance and harmony is an ongoing effort.

I would love to hear how you can apply Yin and Yang principles to simple events in your life. Leave a comment.

So when you are on the street or surfing the net and see the symbol of Yin and Yang you will know its origins, what it stands for and if you want to show off, you will also recognise if it is the right way up or not. This symbol is often distorted and sometimes incorrectly represented on jewellery, emblems, flags and everywhere a symbol can be attached or engraved.

In the next article we will overlay the 8 trigrams of Yin and Yang (forming the commonly seen ‘bagwa’) and representing the 5 elements onto the Yin and Yang Symbol to reinforce the correct orientation of the symbol.

As in this picture below, the correct presentation for this revered symbol is with Yang swelling at the top and tailoring down the left hand side. The warmer elements of Fire, Wood and Earth dominate the Yang portion. Yin swells at the bottom and tailors up the right hand side of the symbol. The cooler elements of Water, Metal and Earth dominate the Yin portion.

I hope you enjoyed this article, you are welcome to provide comments if you would like to join in a discussion thread. Please pass this link onto your friends as something new and interesting to learn.

If you would like to learn more about Feng Shui, contact FengShui by Sakura to enquire about our 1 day Feng Shui workshops and 2 day certified Feng Shui courses. You are also welcome to browse our online Feng Shui products and gifts – modern and traditional quality Feng Shui products representing great value.

Author: Mariko Fisher

Feng Shui is an effective tool for pinpointing problem areas and good fortune in any environment. Many think Feng Shui is just about correct placement of objects and furniture. It is, however, it is also about utilising spaces in the correct way, keeping spaces clutter free and being in harmony with the external environment and landscape.

To maxmise the benefits of a Feng Shui consultation, de cluttering your rooms and performing a space clearing exercise will magnify your experience. FengShui by Sakura offers both DIY space clearing kits and a space clearing consultation service.

The effects of Space Clearing is noticeable in spaces that collect stagnant and negative energy such as rooms or houses that are:

.: closed up – perhaps previous occupants had sight difficulties or felt vulnerable
.: remain unoccupied for a while
.: Not well ventilated
.: do not get a lot of sunlight
.: have irregular shapes
.: are cluttered with objects, books and belongings
.: have had a history or marital break up and arguments
.: have had a history of sickness or death.

De cluttering and Space Clearing will make your home or office sparkle and provide occupants with renewed energy and opportunity. Residual energy will build up again, but like spring cleaning, the exercise should be repeated annually.

Contact FengShui by Sakura – your Feng Shui consultant in Sydney to obtain an obligation free quote.

I would like to wish you an abundant and prosperous 2009.

Feng Shui is a term many of us have heard of yet may not fully understand its applications or usefulness as a tool to help enhance our lives and that of our children.

Being a mother of 2 toddlers and a qualified Feng Shui practitioner, I was curious to see what kind of an impact Feng Shui applications would have directly on my children. I am making this a life long experiment and am continually analysing the results, however, I am pleased to say that so far the results of implementing Feng Shui principles to my children’s bedrooms, play and eating areas have been awesome with real and tangible outcomes.

As a simple example (and I have a lot more up my sleeve) – by relocating my eldest daughter to another bedroom with better energy, her sleeping habits changed instantly from crying herself to sleep every night to walking herself to bed with just a cuddle from mum and dad. Where she used to have frequent nightmares, she experienced solid and uninterrupted sleep literally over night. I confidently recommended a better bedroom for a client who experienced the same results.

There are often common reasons for our children’s behaviour or well being that are simple to solve, for example – it is too hot or too cold, they are hungry, someone is picking on them at school, they have an allergy which makes their tummy sore and so on. Other times, the route cause of persistent behaviour or illness may not be so easy to determine and as parents we go through a myriad of trial and error solutions in the hope to change our child’s circumstances. I myself do not like to leave any stone unturned and frequently dialed the fantastic nurses at Trescillian for advice and comfort. For all those things that are not so simple and where as a parent you have a feeling that the environment could be playing a role in your child’s well being, then Feng Shui is definitely a stone to discover and turn over.

Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese tool that can be used to ensure you as a parent are aware of the energies at play in the areas your babies and children spend the most time. By being aware of this energy, Feng Shui recommendations can be implemented to balance the unseen energies and make a space feel better. These recommendations are usually very subtle. Often simple decorative ideas or alternate furniture placement will have an impact on everyone in the home. And the good news is that these ideas do not have to look traditional or oriental. There are some gorgeous Asian homewares and decorative wall sconces that are just as effective and in line with traditional Feng Shui principles.

Other solutions to problems may only be solved by a little more disruptive measures like finding alternate rooms for the child to spend time. If you are in the position of renovating, what better opportunity than to ensure real and lasting affects on your family life for years to come and renovate to: create a better energy flow; improve lighting aspects in relevant areas and so on. Renovating is not just about creating additional space – implementing Feng Shui to your renovations is like adding love to your home cooked meals, they end up tasting better, encouraging long and joyous conversations over the dinner table and you sleep like a log.

Some common complaints that I have seen Feng Shui solutions able to improve include:

.: irregular sleeping patterns
.: unexplainable irritation and frustration
.: accident prone children
.: persistent sickness
.: making their room feel better, brighter and acceptable to play in.

By gaining an understanding of Feng Shui and applying it to your home, you are making sure the foundations of your child’s life and that of your family are the best it can be. If you are expecting a new arrival – congratulations! Arranging and decorating the nursery is an exciting step. Before setting up, a Feng Shui consultation will give recommendations on bed and furniture placement, colour ideas for your new arrival, lighting tips and so on so you can target your spending on items that will enhance the room and the well being of your baby. It will also ascertain the best rooms for all family members to ensure the transition is as smooth as it can be.

Consultations should be performed on-site so recommendations on the physical layout and objects impacting the family home as well unseen energy that falls within different rooms within the house can be assessed. I personally conduct a profiling analysis that provides insights into your child’s predisposition based on their natal data. This profiling for example gives the parent direction on the type of student they will be so recommendations can be made on best learning methods for your child; it can predict what kind of interests and career they will gravitate around so you can encourage them in their pursuits and so on. These consultations bring a better understanding between parent and child and I have found provides just as much benefit to the parent as it does to the child. In combining Feng Shui and profiling together, the parents get a holistic and more targeted approach to making the most of their home.

Feng Shui is a fascinating and broad discipline covering all aspects of life. Whether you are renting or a home owner, moving home or renovating, Feng Shui is applicable. The advice I give when selecting a practitioner is make sure they have been properly trained and will perform classical Feng Shui methods. At the end of the day you need to feel comfortable and build a rapport with your practitioner because you have to believe and follow through with the recommendations they provide. Ask some questions and evaluate the answers to see if they ring true to you.

If you would like more information on Feng Shui or would like to learn Feng Shui by a licensed practitioner, please contact Mariko Fisher directly on 0414930092 to understand what FengShui by Sakura can do for your family life, or alternatively please visit www.fengshuibysakura.com.au for some free hints and tips.