Far more important is that your gutters be in good condition (which they will be when you install the new ones), and that what you see when you look at your home makes you happy. So if you are very attracted to the olive green ones, then go with those. Why compromise with another color you won’t like as much? Each time you notice the gutters you’ll wish you’d gone with the green ones, and that’s not good feng shui at all.

If you feel there is a significant imbalance in the element representation in the exterior of your home — and that it is affecting you in a negative way — then you can use landscaping and accents to introduce the desired balancing element(s) in a subtle way. There’s no need to overthink it, or to make choices that won’t please you.

Hope this helps,
Stephanie R.

Q+A POLICY
The purpose of this Q+A service is to clarify modern feng shui principles and remedies, and to help you make sense of contradictory teachings you’re likely to come across. If you are new to this blog, please read the Q+A Guidelines (see sidebar on left) before sending me a question. Do expect that I will edit your message for clarity and focus, and that it may be several days (or longer) before I post a reply. Keep in mind, too, that you’re getting my personal opinion on the topic. If you ask someone else, you might get a different answer.

Originally Syndicated via RSS from Fast Feng Shui Blog

A: I do think it’s a good idea not to try to apply feng shui to every possible area of your life at once. That just leads to chaos and spreads your attention and energy over many areas, making it difficult to fully focus on the one main thing that deserves your priority attention. And if you are attempting a long-term or complex remedy, such as a 28-day method that requires daily focus and action, then yes, I would recommend keeping your other feng shui strategies simple during that time. When that 28-day period is over, if you feel it’s necessary, you might move on to another remedy or method.

But that’s just a suggestion, and each individual’s needs are situation are unique. Sometimes there’s more than one top priority area to focus one.

Health issues are rarely about just one thing, because anything that adds to our stress level or interferes with getting restful sleep every night can make us more susceptible to illness or make recovery more difficult. So, if financial issues are causing or adding to anxiety and stress, then addressing them through feng shui may also support your improved health in the long run.

How much feng shui you do, how quickly, is really up to you. If you start to feel overwhelmed by it all, that’s a clear sign to slow down and step back. But if a situation is nagging at you and you feel intuitively that you’d like to address it with feng shui, feel free to move ahead, even if you are already feng shui-ing another issue.

BTW: Health issues are often impacted by “sha chi” of various kinds, because sha chi is a stressor that affects your vitality and can undermine the strength and resilience of your immune system. If you think this is something you’d like to explore, you may want to read this article from several years back in my newsletter archives:
http://www.fastfengshui.com/nlt_dec01_2004emf.htm

One of the most prevalent forms of sha chi these days is electro-magnetic pollution. You can also download a free report on EMF Dangers & Solutions from my husband’s website here: http://www.emf-health.com
(click on the link in the blue bar at the top of that page).

Hope this helps,
Stephanie

Q+A POLICY
The purpose of this Q+A service is to clarify modern feng shui principles and remedies, and to help you make sense of contradictory teachings you’re likely to come across. If you are new to this blog, please read the Q+A Guidelines (see sidebar on left).  If you send me a question, do expect that I will edit your message for clarity and focus, and that it may be several days (or longer) before I post a reply. Keep in mind, too, that you’re getting my personal opinion on the topic. If you ask someone else, you might get a different answer.

Wishing you great success with your feng shui, and with best wishes for speedy improvements in your health,
Stephanie

Originally Syndicated via RSS from Fast Feng Shui Blog

A: I don’t know where you read that mirrors should not be placed opposite a window or door, but this is incorrect. Placing a mirror where it will reflect an attractive natural scene into the house (i.e., a view seen through a window) is a very positive benefit and one of the traditional uses of mirrors in feng shui.

There are some people who believe that a mirror should not be placed opposite the FRONT door (not all doors!), because it is thought to “reject” or “bounce back” any positive chi coming through the door.

However, I disagree with this view, as do many other feng shui practitioners. A mirror in the entry can be very beneficial, especially in a small entry with a wall “blocking” the door. A mirror in this position opens up the wall and creates the impression of greater space, as well as reflecting exterior chi into the house.

Hope this helps you gain more enjoyment from your mirrors,
Stephanie R.

Q+A POLICY
The purpose of this Q+A service is to clarify modern feng shui principles and remedies, and to help you make sense of contradictory teachings you’re likely to come across. If you are new to this blog, please read the Q+A Guidelines (see sidebar on left). If you send me a question, do expect that I will edit your message for clarity and focus, and that it may be several days (or longer) before I post a reply. Keep in mind, too, that you’re getting my personal opinion on the topic. If you ask someone else, you might get a different answer.

Originally Syndicated via RSS from Fast Feng Shui Blog

The stove is associated with FIRE, and the sink with WATER. Fire and water are natural enemies: water extinguishes fire, and fire evaporates water. That conflict between the elements is why a sink-opposite-stove kitchen layout is said to lead to arguments and tension in the home.
Sure, you could invest in a kitchen renovation and move your appliances around, but that’s a very costly and time-consuming solution. The standard cure for this feng shui problem is to introduce the WOOD element as a peacemaker. The WATER chi of the sink will go to nourishing the WOOD, and WOOD will feed FIRE. Everybody’s happy, and water and fire aren’t getting in each other’s face any more.

In a spacious kitchen, you might have a table or island between the sink and stove. In that case, a nice (healthy, green) houseplant on the table can be the cure. (A wooden table, BTW, does not count as a wood-type object: it has no living chi; is either a metal (round, oval) or earth (square, rectangular) shape; and usually an earth (brown) or metal (white) color.)

In a smaller kitchen, where there’s no room for a table, a green area rug in front of the sink, in front of the stove, or half-way between them, will provide the same benefit. The rug can either be a solid green, or might have a pattern of green vines or leaves.

If you can’t use a rug, hang a green (or leaf-patterned) kitchen towel over the oven door handle.

As a last resosrt, if you can’t find any way to place something green between the sink and stove, put a small plant or two near the sink, and something else to represent the wood element near the stove.

This is very basic feng shui advice, BTW, and just one of the many common situations I discuss in Fast Feng Shui. I strongly recommend that feng shui beginners take some time to study the five elements as well as the ba gua if they wish to apply feng shui successfully to their homes.

Hope this helps,
Stephanie

Originally Syndicated via RSS from Fast Feng Shui Blog

I have experienced a very difficult year financially and am awaiting word on an offer to purchase a piece of property I co~own, which had been my main source of income. We have been having trouble finding new tenants to replace the one large tenant who moved out over a year ago, so we are hoping to just sell the property finally. … If nothing else, I am so glad to have come across your website, Stephanie!!!

A: I believe what matters is what the broken wind chime means to you, not what meaning you might find if you could look it up in an index somewhere. Kind of like dreams: there may be universal meanings associated with various dream imagery, but any particular event or image might mean something very different to you than it does to most people. You did ask what I think, though, so here goes:

On the most mundane level, perhaps the wind chime fell because the string from which it was hanging isn’t suited to an outdoor location. Sun and rain damage fibers, so if it’s been out there for a while needing a new string would be normal. (It’s a good idea to inspect your feng shui remedies from time to time.) When you get into something like feng shui, where virtually everything has some symbolic meaning, it’s easy to start over-interpreting things. So, even though it’s worth exploring what a fallen wind chime might imply, jumping to the conclusion that it means something ominous or highly significant could be a stretch. That doesn’t mean it isn’t worth paying attention to, though, and I suggest that you do. If nothing else, it may signify that there’s some aspect of your money situation you’ve been taking for granted which could use attention before it “breaks.”

I also think that when something falls or breaks, it’s usually because you have conflicted feelings about it on some level. This would especially be likely if the string should not have worn out so quickly. Perhaps you aren’t 100% convinced that you’ve made the best decision about what to do with the property you’re selling. Doesn’t mean selling is the wrong decision, but maybe there are some issues you still need to make peace with.

When you feel undecided about something, flipping a coin can help you make up your mind: not because of any commitment to do what the heads-or-tails outcomes dictates, but because when you see the result, sometimes you feel an instant twinge of relief or disappointment, and that tells you what you really want to do.

Did you have a gut feeling when you saw the fallen wind chime? If so, was it “Uh oh, something’s not working out for me”, or “Oh, good, I’m moving away from needing that prosperity cure now”?

If you had an “uh oh” response, that’s a clue to explore what assumptions, beliefs, or anxieties you might have about money that are still factoring into your experience. It’s difficult to experience good results from feng shui if your mind is filled with doubt or worry, or if you have a subconscious belief that you don’t really deserve to prosper. I explore these very important issues in depth in my book, Fast Feng Shui for Prosperity, so you might want to take a look at that.

Whether your fallen wind chime is highly, or just mildly, significant, do be sure, if you’re going to hang it up again, to use a heavier/sturdier red string to hang it with, and be sure that the desired outcome you image is clear and strong in your mind.

Hope this helps you gain some helpful insight from the incident, and that your finances take a turn for the better soon,

Stephanie R.

Q+A POLICY
The purpose of this Q+A service is to clarify modern feng shui principles and remedies, and to help you make sense of contradictory teachings you’re likely to come across. If you are new to this blog, please read the Q+A Guidelines (see sidebar on left). If you send me a question, do expect that I will edit your message for clarity and focus, and that it may be several days (or longer) before I post a reply. Keep in mind, too, that you’re getting my personal opinion on the topic. If you ask someone else, you might get a different answer.

Originally Syndicated via RSS from Fast Feng Shui Blog

Instead of composing each newsletter issue as a separate web page (as we’ve done in the past; see back issues in the archives), we’ll be sending our subscriber list a monthly email with a summary of new blog posts as well as any other updates to this website.

Not only will this provide a wider selection of Q+A for readers to learn from, but we’ll also be keeping in more regular contact.

If you’re not yet a subscriber, you can become one here.

Originally Syndicated via RSS from Fast Feng Shui Blog

In the bay area near Oakland, an architech has taken the time to assure that people’s final resting place will be as auspicious and as positive as all of their living life had been.  Beautiful bay views, well place and arranged items, and a thoughtful design bring an inner piece to the departed and their families.

Feng Shui is for all of your life… and beyond!

Behind the smiles and charm, rats can be terribly obstinate and controlling, insisting on having things their way no matter what the cost. These people tend to have immense control of their emotions, which they may use as a tool to manipulate and exploit others, both emotionally and mentally. Rats are masters of mind games and can be very dangerous, calculative and downright cruel if the need arises. Quick-tempered and aggressive, they will not think twice about exacting revenge on those that hurt them in any way. Rats need to learn to relax sometimes, as they can be quite obsessed with detail, intolerant and strict, demanding order, obedience, and perfection.

A valuable lesson for Rats is to learn to consider others before themselves, at least sometimes, and to avoid forcing their ideas onto others. Rats are fair in their dealings and expect the same from others in return, and can be deeply affronted if they feel they have been deceived or that their trust has been abused. Sometimes they set their targets too high, whether in relation to their friends or in their career. But as the years pass, they will become more idealistic and tolerant. If they can develop their sense of self and realize it leaves room for others in their life as well, Rats can find true happiness.

According to tradition, Rats often carry heavy karma and at some point in life may face an identity crisis or some kind of feeling of guilt. Rats are said to often have to work very long and hard for everything they may earn or have in life. However, a Rat born during the day is said to have things a bit easier than those who are born at night. Traditionally, Rats born during the night may face extreme hardships and suffering throughout life. Rats in general should guard themselves against hedonism, as it may lead to self-destruction. Gambling, alcohol and drugs tend to be great temptations to Rat natives.

Traditionally, Rats should avoid Horses, but they can usually find their best friends and love interests in Rabbits,Monkeys, Dragons, and Oxen.

Professions include espionage, psychiatry, psychology, writing, politics, law, engineering, accounting, detective work, acting, and pathology.

(From Wikipedia)

The year is now 4705. Some people look at this year as a very lucky year, the year of the golden pig. Many people are having children so they are born under such a auspicious sign. The birth rates in the asian world are climbing!

Some are concerned that this will be a difficult year, filled with disruptions and worse. Read about that here.  Isn’t there always a little ying and yang for every year?

I wish everyone the best year possible, as we say goodbye to the year of the dog and look forward to the year of the meticulous and careful pig!

An interesting question in the Feng Shui Q+A is from someone who lives in a small apartment and has no place for the litter box except in the wealth corner of her office. What can she do to keep the ‘negative’ energy from polluting her finances? Stephanie provides a clever and stunning solution using knowledge of the five elements to actually use the energy of the litter box to support strong wealth chi. You can read the answer in the Feng Shui Q+A of the newsletter now.

Originally Syndicated via RSS from Fast Feng Shui Blog