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POSTED: Monday, March 08, 2010

Feng shui, the Chinese art of influencing the energy flow of a house, is affected by everything from the placement of plants to the colors of paint to the position of the toilet seat, consultants say.

A front entrance that is inviting and pulls energy in is ideal, according to the rules of feng shui, as is a closed toilet lid.

Clutter in your living space will bog you down and affect the ability for energy, and thus productivity, to flow throughout the house. Color can dramatically change the impact of a room.

Feng shui (pronounced “;fung shway”;), which literally translates into “;wind”; and “;water”; in mandarin Chinese, is the art of placement as well as choice of color and decor to maximize your home's flow of energy and balance.

While some think of it as the use of Asian decor, fountains or lucky objects, feng shui is actually an art form, thousands of years old, based on a “;bagua,”; or compass that maps out the different areas of life in relation to colors and the five elements of earth.

“;Feng shui teaches us that what surrounds us profoundly affects us,”; said longtime Honolulu consultant Alice Inoue.

She said she believes that rearranging items already in your home can change your energy to better support you.

For Inoue, who has both classical and nontraditional training, feng shui is a combination of psychology, ancient wisdom, physics and spirituality.

Clear Englebert, Big Island feng shui consultant and author of “;Feng Shui for Hawaii,”; called it “;the joy of moving your stuff around and seeing how it can have an effect on your life.”;

Practitioners say good feng shui practices can make a difference during tough economic times and help wealth flow inward.

 

The front entrance

The front door is considered the mouth of the home and, thus, highly important. The energy from your front entrance will greet you every time you step inside your home, as well as every visitor who enters.

Inoue called the door the “;entry point for all energy,”; and recommended that the area be cleared of clutter.

Sometimes a mirror fits in well on the wall facing the entrance, particularly if what it reflects outside is a pleasant scene. Inoue advises using mirrors to add brightness and bring nature into a space. If the reflection is not pleasant, skip the mirror.

Water features flowing inward also are ideal near the entrance, Inoue said.

Englebert called the entrance to your home the “;portal of energy in your life,”; and therefore it should be easy to locate and not obscured. If a front door is difficult to find, then energy might not be able to find you, he said.

 

Creating a place of peace

In times of transformation and chaos, everyone is looking for a place of tranquility, particularly after the economic challenges of the past year, Inoue said.

So it's important to create a place of peace, where one can get away to collect one's thoughts. This place does not have to be a separate room, she said, but simply a corner of a room or even a chair.

To create a place of peace, Inoue recommended claiming the area—one that is already clear of clutter, clean and comfortable.

She suggested placing a table or using a shelf, and dedicating it to objects that are part of your vision, creativity or desires. This can include books that inspire you, a personal journal, photos or objects that represent happiness in your life.

The place of peace should have set boundaries and rules for its usage.

This space is for meditating, celebrating success, receiving inspiration and the place where one goes to connect with the bigger picture of life, Inoue said.

 

Before and After

Take a look at these before and after examples.

The front door

Before: The front door to this home has a doormat that is too small as well as a bareness that could be accentuated by a potted plant.

After: Feng shui consultant Alice Inoue suggested a wider welcome mat to match the width of the door and adding a potted plant on a pedestal to the left of the door.

This helps draw energy toward the door, she said, making it more welcoming.

The entryway

Before: Once inside, Inoue noticed framed art of two fish on a console next to the front door, top center. The fish, however, were swimming to the left and appeared to be heading out of the front door.

Also, the red wall scroll that hung from the wall facing the front door, while it drew attention, was too powerful for a first impression of the home. It was similar to a red stop sign, with the same impact—halting the person entering instead of drawing them in.

After: By moving the framed fish to the opposite wall in the entryway, top right, Inoue explained that the energy flow was heading into the house rather than out of the house. This would draw inhabitants and visitors to the home inside.

Inoue also suggested moving the red wall scroll, which represented the fire element, to a nook in the back of the home. In place of the wall scroll, Inoue placed a painting of an ocean with palm fronds that angled left, again drawing the person into the home.

 

A place of peace

Before: The area was bare, with furniture scattered around randomly.

After: Inoue created a place of peace in one corner of the room by gathering several bamboo plants, objects that are endearing, and framing the wicker love seat with two tables. This place of peace, she says, is now an ideal area for someone to gather one's thoughts, reflect or meditate.

Angling furniture

Before: The dining table above was placed horizontally in the dining area underneath the light—this is where most people would place it.

After: However, Inoue suggested angling the dining table so that it created a new perspective. This technique of angling furniture can break up linear energy, promoting movement and ease. It can also enhance creativity.

 

Alice Inoue's tips

The three pillars of feng shui, according to Alice Inoue, are the entrance, position of the stove and bed.

» The door is the entry point for all energy. Make sure the key doesn't stick, the door opens effortlessly and there is no clutter stacked behind the door. Use water features near the entrance and position them so they flow inward.

» The stove represents the family's wealth and is where you nurture the home. As a fire element, it should be positioned so people using it can see behind them. If not, a mirror can help.

» Since we spend about one-third of our lives in the bedroom, it's important to keep it sacred and maintain balance and serenity. Use pairs of items or pictures of pairs in the bedroom to symbolize healthy partnerships. Keep water features out of the bedroom.

» Choose furniture without sharp corners whenever possible to enhance the flow of energy. Angle furniture to break up linear energy, which will promote movement and ease.

» When searching for positive feng shui colors, choose colors you can easily find in nature.

 

Clear Englebert's tips

» To increase income, don't have pokey or thorny plants near doors, roads or paths. Round leaves, like in a jade plant, are more ideal here.

» If slippers are near a door, organize them and make sure they're all pointing in the same direction to ensure harmony.

» Don't keep dried plants (including leis) on display for more than three months.

» Because it's considered a drain, keep your toilet lid shut and close before flushing. Fix dripping water faucets.

» A solution for noisy neighbors is to hang a “;bagua”; mirror or a discreet, small circular mirror (which you can purchase at a crafts store) on the wall outside facing the problem neighbors.

Source: “;Feng Shui for Hawaii,”; by Clear Englebert