Tag Archives: object

Feng Shui Mirrors : What is the Bagua?

By Lynn Lee

Feng Shui practitioners often use Feng Shui mirrors to improve the Feng Shui of your house or your business. Feng Shui mirrors emit the Feng Shui energy of water. A function of Feng Shui mirrors is to draw the beneficial flow of energy (Qi) into the place it is positioned at.

Generally, the mirrors can be used to expand the space of an area, to reflect and deflect the Qi of an area. In this article, we will talk about these 3 areas of Feng Shui mirrors, as well as the commonly used Bagua Mirror.

As mention earlier, there are 3 main uses of Feng Shui mirrors, there are used to expand, reflect, and deflect the flow of Qi in an area. When used in the appropriate manner, the Feng Shui mirrors will improve the flow of Qi in that area. However, improper placement of Feng Shui mirrors will cause things to worsen.

Listed below is a brief explanation on the 3 types of uses of the Feng Shui mirrors.

Expansion

In this case, the use of a mirror is to create virtual space to adjust your focal view of an area. In the study of Feng Shui, the mirror provides us with a new in-depth view of ourselves as it opens up a virtual view on an otherwise plain surface. The mirror can also create a virtual view of an area, and can “expand” the space of the area.

In Feng Shui, a small space represents limitation. Small spaces will limit the flow of Qi in the area, eventually limiting our movement and advancement in life. Thereby, a mirror is often used to virtually expand a small space.

Reflection

When a Feng Shui mirror reflects an object, it does not only reflect the image of the object, but also the energy the object is emitting. Thereby, it doubles the effect of the energy the object is emitting. For example, if the mirror shows the reflection of a pile of unpaid bills, it will mean that in time to come, there will be more unpaid bills piling up, increasing your debts. On the other hand, if the reflection shows a reflection of a kitchen stove, it symbolizes that your wealth will be doubled as fire stoves symbolize wealth.

Deflection

Feng Shui mirrors can be used to deflect the negative energy (Sha Qi) away from your house or business. The mechanism behind this is that it will deflect the Sha Qi back to its source, preventing it from entering the house. Bagua mirrors are used to deflect Sha Qi.

If your intention is to deflect Sha Qi, the Bagua mirror should be placed outside your house. It is common to see people hanging a Bagua mirror outside their homes. Other than deflecting Sha Qi, the Bagua mirror also brings harmony and good fortune to the owner. For this purpose, you can place the Bagua mirror in your home, preferably in your living room.

With proper usage, Feng Shui mirrors can improve the flow of Qi, allowing you to enjoy a better quality of life. Now that we know the uses of the Feng Shui and Bagua mirror, you can make use of these mirrors to ward off bad luck and improve the quality of your life.

About the Author: Click Here to get Free Tips on how to improve your life with Feng Shui Decorating. Lynn Lee is a celebrated authority on Feng Shui providing valuable advice at http://www.whatisfengshui.net.

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Why Feng Shui Works

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By Candace Czarny

The basic principle behind Feng Shui informs us if you change your environment to reflect your aspiration for something, you can improve you chances of obtaining it. As a result, Feng Shui techniques can be implemented to try to attract love, push your earning power to the next level or to gain success in your chose field. Several different theories try to explain why, and how, Feng Shui works. Whether you believe one or all of these theories are or not valid, their sum total strongly indicates that if you employ Feng Shui in an attempt to get love or money, you just might be taking the first stride towards achieving success.

Feng Shui might well work because it alters your self expectations. If you hang an object on the wall that is said to help you find love, you will expect to meet that special someone. Believing this may make you open to conversations with new people or more optimistic about your chances of hooking up with a stranger. Such factors increase the likelihood you will fall in love after you initiate Feng Shui practices. The rationale behind Feng Shui helping you find love may not be so much spiritual as it is psychological; nevertheless, it is hard to contest the fact that Feng Shui is accountable for your new romance.

Feng Shui can be a great technique for another reason – it continually reminds you of where you really desire to go. This may motivate you to take steps to implement your dreams. When you plant a representation of what you want in plain view of yourself and others, you are making it impossible to forget your objectives. As a daily reminder of what you desire to achieve, it can help you stay motivated as you struggle to accomplish that specific goal.

Simply by definitively admitting and pronouncing your desire to reach a set goal, many psychological experts believe you are more likely to achieve it than someone who conceals and does not express it. This, alone, could explain why Feng Shui is successful. By the time that you have learned the correct Feng Shui approach to your situation, purchased the necessary objects to utilize that particular technique and completed the process so that your environment reflects your stated objective, you will have clarified to yourself that you are committed to seeing your desire fulfilled. Following this procedure, therefore, can help you realize your dreams.

There is always, of course, another possible explanation. Perhaps claims made by Feng Shui maintaining that decorating a room in a specific manner to allow positive energy to flow freely throughout the environment, are actually true. Whatever you believe the reason Feng Shui works expectation theory keeping you motivated or spiritual involvement, one thing is certain: you have nothing to lose by investigating whether Feng Shui works for you.

About the Author: Candace Czarny,ASID,CFM,LEED AP, “Award Winning” Interior Designer, Feng Shui Expert & author. www.ArtOfPlacement.com is continually ranked “Top 10” in Google and Yahoo. Clients testify of dramatic results!

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Feng Shui & Symbology

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By Juliana Abram

Symbology is very special to my heart. In fact, one of the more precious gifts I received is from my husband. It is a piece of artwork depicting in white jade, the Chinese dragon and phoenix. This hangs proudly in my office and for me, represents what I try to achieve daily for myself and others – the balancing of yin and yang.

The Orient has always had a particular penchant for looking at objects and interpreting their hidden meaning. This is revealed by the prolific use of symbols and that these symbols are like a secondary language, rich in nuances that penetrate all communication.

Not all Westerners are aware that in Chinese, each written character represents an entire word which is in deep contrast to our alphabetical text – where a sequence of individual letters signifies a word. This means that more or less every word in the Chinese language is represented by a different symbol so it is not unrealistic to consider that whenever pen is put to paper or in carvings it can also have some mysterious, abstract or obscure meaning.

Symbols are generally categorised as either auspicious or inauspicious and can be viewed as conveying the unseen messages of good or bad luck. All Oriental artworks are viewed as symbols, and their characteristic themes – water, clouds, flowers, trees, animals, rocks even colours – portend not only themselves, but also something beyond themselves – there is meaning far beyond the visual experience. There is virtually nothing in all of nature or any artefact that is not seen as being imbued with particular significance.

I simply love the meaning of things!!! On my first journey to Singapore back in 1986 I purchased a silk painting and it’s always been dear to my heart and this painting still hangs in a special place within my home. I was told that this beautiful piece of art depicts the story of the Eight Fairies or as I first came to know them – the Eight Good People of the world. Now these Fairies or immortals are on a special journey travelling the world dispensing good fortune to everyone they meet and each one of these ‘good people’ has a special object that they always carry with them. These items still carry auspicious meanings as they have done over the ages and generally, they can be hung anywhere in the home. They have also come to play a symbolic part in Feng Shui.

There is much controversy as to exactly when the eight immortals came to be however most stories and artworks can be dated back to the Song, Yuan and Han dynasties. I have listed the items carried by the ‘eight immortals’ and I hope that you will be able to put at least one of them to good use for yourself in your own home or place of business.

The gourd:- This wonderful object can be placed around the knob of your bedroom door as it symbolises good health and longevity. It is one of the items carried by Li Tie-guai, one of the most recognisable of the eight immortals as he is lame. One of several legends has it that he would frequently leave his body to wander the land and heavens. On one particular day whilst his spirit was wandering around the mountains his body was found lifeless and he was subsequently pronounced dead. In keeping with the custom of the time he was cremated so, upon his souls return he could not find his own body and therefore he had no option but to take refuge in the first available body. This happened to be the body of a crippled beggar and so it was that Li Tie-guai continued his existence supporting himself on a crutch or staff and is therefore always depicted as a lame beggar. The gourd is said to contain the holy nectar of the Gods, therefore, it is a popular accessory of many Buddhist Deities. In art a gourd decorated with arabesques and roses signifies the wish that ‘spring may last for ten thousand generations’. In other words – this is a wish that your family lasts forever.

The Fan:- Fans first appeared in China during the 10th Century AD and these beautifully painted fans have been a specialty of the great Chinese artist ever since. One of the eight immortals, Zhong Li Quan, who is said to have lived during the Chou Dynasty around 112-249BC, is the chubby chief of the immortals and recognisable by the Fan which he uses to revive the dead. Many other Gods also use the fan to drive away evil and as a result, from a Feng Shui perspective it has been said that fans have the power to deflect negative ‘chi’ or energy that has been directed your way by a hostile source.

Lotus: As the symbol of purity modesty and love, the lotus enjoys a unique importance in Chinese folklore and it seems that this is largely due to the influence of Buddhism. The lotus comes out of the morass and yet is not itself tainted. It is inwardly empty, outwardly upright. It has no branches and smells sweet. There are two Chinese words for lotus: lian and he. Lian is to love, bind, connect uninterrupted as in marriage and also means modesty. A lotus bloom with a leaf and a bud means ‘complete union’ whilst a boy with a carp beside a lotus means abundance year in year out. He Xian-gu was the immortal carrying the lotus and was brought into the group by Lu Dong Bin after he rescued her from a demon by using his magic sword.

Castanets:- Cao Guo-jiu is the finest dressed of all the immortals. He is always depicted in court dress and is often seen holding an official sceptre or castanets. So, for those budding thespians ensure you have this deity around you to help you on your way.

Flute:- A patron saint of musicians, this happy immortal is always depicted carrying or playing the flute. It is said that Han Xiang-Zi could make flowers bloom at will and soothe wild animals with his music. He is said to be the great nephew of the statesman and philosopher Han Yu who lived AD 768 – 824. There are many types of Chinese flutes, however; the vertical flute which has only five holes in the upper part and one in the lower section with only one end open is played mainly by women. In Feng Shui a pair of flutes is often used to divert the negative flow of energy.

Sword:- A demon slaying sword is the attribute of Lu Dong-bin (born around AD 755) another of the eight immortals. There are many legends regarding swords and their magical properties. In fact, it is said that an ordinary sword can be turned into one that will repel demons by going through a special ritual and then reforged. In Feng Shui terms there is the sword of coins. Coins are usually associated with prosperity, however, they were also used as protective charms. So it came to be that a cluster of coins were strung with red cording in the shape of swords. These were then worn around the neck to ward off ‘sha chi’ directed your way by a hostile source.

Bamboo cane: Zhang Guo-lao is the immortal that is always shown carrying a long bamboo cane, the so called ‘Fish Drum’. Inside the cane are two rods fitted with hooks, and the whole piece can be used as a means of making various sounds and music. Legend has it that he flourished around the late 7th and early 8th centuries and is always accompanied by a donkey on whose back he would sit backwards and could cover a thousand miles a day.

Basket of flowers: Lan Cai-he is one of the eight immortals and is represented by a basket of fruit or flowers. A decorated basket of flowers represents riches and therefore the motif has been a popular one used during the New Year period.

There are many, many items in varying degrees of styles that can evoke a significant value for another person. So………. why not consider giving a gift for Christmas with substance, one that has an important meaning to someone you care about. Perhaps it will reflect the gift of wealth, good health and happiness or even………..love.

About the Author: Juliana Abram is one of the leading Feng Shui consultants in Australia having been traditionally trained in Hong Kong. Juliana runs her own Feng Shui consultancy ( see http://www.fengshuicentre.com.au ) and her own online Feng Shui store ( see http://www.fengshuishop.com.au ).

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Exploring Mindfulness And Meditation

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By Roy Thomsitt

In our every day lives, we are all guilty of neglecting our minds, allowing our brains to be lulled into a lazy, neglected, and unaware state. It is as if we are allowing ourselves to be sculpted by bland and repetitive consumerism, our individuality being chiselled away by a tedium we cannot even be bothered to challenge with any will.

Life need not be like that. We are each blessed with a powerful mind; but normally people have forgotten or, most likely, never even knew how, to use it. It is such a waste of our own greatest resource.

One way to start to extricate ourselves from the mindless quicksand is to gently exercise our minds, using mindfulness and meditation as a way of bringing ourselves more emphatically into the real world, and start the process of exercising control over our minds and our lives.

Creating a mindfulness meditation is a gentle but powerful exercise. But how do you go about it?

A Simple Mindfulness Meditation Exercise

As with any meditation session, you need to get into a relaxed and comfortable position, eyes closed, and then commence with deep nasal breathing, focusing your thoughts on the breathing to ease yourself into a meditative state.

Once you feel that you are calmed by your breathing and that your breath is under your rhythmic control, then you can move on to focusing on your own body, a part at a time. I was first taught this at yoga class, where we were taught to concentrate first of all on the left foot, focusing on it from a position above ourselves. Then move up the body slowly, left ankle, knee, thigh and so on. When reaching your head, you then do the same in reverse on the other side of the body: right shoulder, right elbow, right hand and so on.

Once you have completed your tour of your own body, as if you were someone else examining it, then it is time to open your eyes and increase your mindfulness of your surroundings.

To do this, focus on any object in the room; it does not have to be anything special: a cup on the coffee table, a vase, a plastic flower, anything. Try to maintain that focus for half a minute, and then move on to any other object. You can repeat this several times, always maintaining a focus on your own body and your own breathing, creating a triple harmony with each object on which you focus.

By using this simple mindfulness meditation you are increasing awareness both of yourself and your surroundings, in a very gentle and easy way. It can serve as a prelude to some mental task, as well as being part of an ongoing mindfulness campaign to strengthen and expand the use of your own mind.

For example, most days I write, but sometimes I just do not seem able to concentrate on what I am supposed to be writing about. I find this type of exercise, even just for 10 minutes, will snap me out of that inexplicable malaise, and I can get right on and write what I should have written earlier.

About the Author: This meditation and mindfulness article was written by Roy Thomsitt, owner and part author of the Routes To Self Improvement website.