Apartment Living: How to Feng Shui Your Humble Abode

Have you recently experienced a string of bad luck? Do you often find yourself feeling sick and run-down for no obvious reason? If this sounds familiar to you, you could be suffering from a case of bad Feng Shui.

The Art of Flow
Feng Shui began in the West Han dynasty around the third century B.C. The term refers to the placement of objects so that they are in harmony with their natural surroundings. According to the theory of Feng Shui, the Earth is very much alive and is exploding with energy. Therefor, the "chi" or universal life force of any space depends upon its physical surroundings. Physical surroundings are composed of the five elements earth, water, fire, metal, and wood. Each of these elements works together in order to successfully lead to prosperity, happiness, and harmony. In employing Feng Shui, the goal is to utilize, analyze, and correct the movement of chi into and out of every space.

Doorways
A large doorway has the potential to allow chi to escape. In order to counteract this, you may place a set of wind chimes outside of the door. The wind chimes will also prevent negative energy from entering the space.To improve a narrow doorway, place a mirror on either side of the door. The mirror will have a reflective function, thus increasing the amount of chi flowing through the space. If the front doorway is visible to the back doorway, chi will flow in a straight line, directly into and out of the space. In this situation, it is useful to place a large potted plant in between the two doorways. This will deflect the path of chi and cause it to take a meandering path throughout the space. It is also advisable to remove all shoes that are lying around the doorways. Chi is carried by the wind and will pick up the smell of footwear. This can cause bad luck and sickness.

Fountains and Fish Tanks
As was mentioned earlier, chi is carried by the wind. In order to remain in a space, chi enters searching for water. If no fish tank or fountain is available, the chi will be swiftly carried out by the wind. However, the placement of the fish tank is very important. While a correctly placed fish tank brings about all kinds of fortune, an incorrectly placed tank has the potential to create trouble at work and money-related problems. If you experience any of these problems after placing a fish tank in your space, wait at least four months. If there is no improvement by that time, it is advisable to move the tank to a different location.

Furniture and Decor
One of the most important steps to improve chi is also the most obvious: Clean up that clutter! Clutter and dirt serve as roadblocks to positive chi. When arranging furniture, be certain that chairs do not restrict doorways. When placing each furniture item, bear in mind that it is important for people to be able to move through the room without running into anything. It is wise to avoid marble tables, as marble may add to pressures at work. It is also important to have an even number of chairs in the space.

Birthday Symbols
We are all born with a symbol that is determined by our birth dates. It is wise to locate your symbol, element, and direction using a tool known as a ba-gua. A ba-gua is a nine section map of the energetic qualities of your space. Through using the ba-gua, you will be able to determine what type of decor you should place in the middle of your space.

Be aware that Feng Shui is a complicated art. A good rule of thumb to follow is that when you are feeling good, you know you have done something right.