Feng Shui gripes for Hotel Rooms – there are many reasons why it is difficult to get a good night’s rest in a Hotel Room. Even taking away the fact the Hotel itself may not have good feng shui construction and the fact that people leave their residual energies on the matress behind them, the room – it’s set up and the need to cram all appliances into the same space leads to bad night sleeps.

From our August Newsletter I have replaced ‘Feng Shui tips’ with  ’Feng Shui gripes’ for Hotel Rooms. I have been in the fortunate position of staying in all star Hotel rooms from 5 down to 3 star and in various countries. And I have to lament that the Feng Shui in most of these rooms including the 5 stars leaves little to be desired. Feel free to register online and leave your comments on where you have observed bad Feng Shui in Hotel Rooms. If we create a list and send to the global Hoteliers organisations perhaps some may incorporate Feng Shui principles in design. They are all on Twitter and I am sure would loooooove our feedback..:-)…these are a start….

• Air Conditioner above your bed head
• Air conditioner you can’t control (not feng shui but annoys the hell out of me when they give you an airconditioner but the air is centrally controlled – especially at night!)
• Some hotel rooms do not have windows – ahya – needless to say I walked straight out and requested a new room!
• Rattling fridge that goes off at 1am
• Mirrors facing the bed
• Open plan bedroom and bathroom – this was supposed to be ’spa like’ – not when I can see the toilet!
• TVs not hidden in a fold away cabinet
• Bright LCD Bedside table clocks that forbid you to sleep and wake at ungodly hours set by previous occupants
• Rooms directly adjacent to the ice and vending machines – why do people want buckets of ice at 12am?

Mariko is traveling to Regional NSW Towns to share her Feng Shui expertise in homes, shops and offices. Dates are booked for Bowral, Tamworth and Orange – Consultation fees will not include travel costs. Contact us today for more information and to arrange an appointment.

Lucky bamboo has multiple purposes. In Feng Shui Lucky Bamboo in a vase of water is used as a remedy for areas with negative energies carrying legal issues and scandal. Lucky bamboo is also considered in Feng Shui as a good indoor plant because the bamboo leaves are whispy and allow light to penetrate a room. large leafed indoor plants are said to attract spirits that have not moved on but they cannot hide under a bamboo leaf.

In Chinese symbolism Lucky Bamboo is considered to attract money wealth. The greater the number of Lucky Bamboo, the more auspicious. Perfect for retail shops, restaurants and kitchens as the wood helps fuel the fire and your money.

The common twisty variety of lucky bamboo takes over 18 months to achieve the twist and involves moving light in a circular fashion to get the bamboo to spiral. The lucky bamboo FengShui by Sakura stock is Australian grown and of great quality. The 40cm stems are perfect size for your vase and offer a pleasant and calming effect in any room whether trying to ahieve a feng shui feel or not and with our online prices much lower than retail stores, you can afford to place multiple stems in a vase creating a lovely feel.

Lucky Bamboo will last anywhere from a couple of months to a couple of years in a vase of water depending on how you look after it. As with any plant, it is important to give your lucky bamboo sunlight and a change of water weekly. When the roots grow in Spring and Autumn you can trim them so they don’t overgrow in the vase. We have fresh stock in now, so be quick and order today. Your lucky bamboo can be ordered in either the bushy variety or the traditional twisted variety. Look at our online store to see the photos and order your lucky bamboo online. They transport well and you will find them a low maintenance plant to lift the energy in your home or office.

Dear Mariko, Thanks so much for your email. I had all ready read several books on Feng Shui, but still came away learning a range of things that were new to me, in a really enjoyable learning environment.

“Hi Mariko, many thanks for an enjoyable day on Saturday.  I found it fascinating and educational.  I have been stuck in my new book ever since!”

Feng Shui workshop – North Sydney Community Centre Term 3

Contact us for details 0414 930092

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.