Wind & Water School of Feng Shui Articles

by Lisa Janusz

When you walk into your office, or head to your desk, how do you feel? Whatever is happening there is likely affecting your body’s response. Many years ago, I started clearing off my desk each night. After I did that, I no longer felt overwhelmed. I had “room” to sit down and make a plan for my day.

In Feng Shui, your desk has to do with opportunities, career and vision. So, it would make sense that what’s happening on your desk right now might be related to what’s going on in your life. Here are some desk considerations.

For the top of your desk:

Clear it off. This is symbolic of your vision – a clear desk gives you ample opportunity to see what’s ahead and plan for what’s important. It also allows you to enter your office and feel relaxed. You’re not immediately influenced by a stack of papers, folders, projects, and “to dos.” Create a system that works for you.

• I put everything I’m still working on at the end of the day in a decorative box; I sort through it in the morning after I’ve made my daily plan.
• I file or recycle anything I can before the end of the day.

Apply the bagua. If you know the bagua, you can place things on your desk using this system. Where you sit is typically the career area (middle area). You could place a photo of you and your partner in the back right corner (relationship) and put your business cards in the middle farthest from you (fame).

Other desk considerations:

Make it solid. A solid wood desk gives you support and helps you feel grounded. A glass desk doesn’t offer that stability. If you have a glass desk, cover it with fabric to see if that changes anything for you.

Make it fit. This is going to be different for everyone. Your desk should be a good size for you, and appropriate for how you use it. If you are just paying bills, a small desk is fine. But if you’re trying to start a business, upgrade to one that presents the image that aligns with that.

Your desk can be a very supportive element to help align with your future goals. Think about what you want and get started. It’s okay to start small – like taking 9 minutes a day to sort through papers. But do start.

by Carole Hyder

There’s no argument that Feng Shui applies itself well in residential spaces.  Historically Feng Shui principles were applied to the land, but now it’s mostly used in homes, condos, apartments or rooms.  The goal is to arrange a space so that it supports its occupant.

But what if you travel?  What if you’re in a hotel room or spending days in the car?  What if you’re staying in your elderly cousin’s basement?  What happens to your Feng Shui intentions then?

There are ways to bring your Feng Shui with you regardless of where you go. And it can be an easy yet meaningful way to do so.  Here are some suggestions you can try:

Bring a reminder of your home with you.  This could be a photo of someone you’ve left behind—–your spouse, your children, your cat, etc.  A small photo set up in the darkest circumstances can shed some light your way.  Place it on a dresser or nightstand so you can easily see it and benefit from its positive energy.

If you love gemstones and rocks, bring one from home and put it in your pocket.  By having it on your body, it will be a constant reminder that all the intentions you’ve created in your home are still with you.

Flowers are always a good enhancement.  Picking up a few flowers when you’ve arrived at your destination can be a great temporary Feng Shui adjustment, particularly if there’s a connection back to your home.  A bunch of tulips may remind you of the tulips currently growing in your yard.  Or perhaps you’ve always had a fondness for daisies which can lift your spirits when you’re in a foreign place.

Write down intention words for the trip.  Decide what the optimal outcome would be for the trip you’re about to take.  It could be Family Connection, Successful Business, Self-Reflection, Relaxation.  Write it down on a piece of paper and place it in a red envelope.  Place the envelope where you will see it every day.

Some people thrive on the thrill, excitement and challenges of traveling; others find it tiring and daunting.  Either way, bringing a reminder of a place that is familiar and safe can make your travels more enjoyable.

Be sure to check out Lisa Janusz’ article about maintaining good Feng Shui in your car.

by Lisa Janusz

June, August and September are three of the most popular months to get married. It’s no wonder with summer vacations and warmer weather. Those reasons definitely contributed to why we got married in August. Even though we had a pretty traditional wedding (Church, reception at a venue afterwards), Feng Shui was part of my lifestyle then (as it is now). I was very thoughtful in representing that part of me in subtle ways throughout the day.

Here are a few of the ways I included Feng Shui – and you can, too.

Incorporate the 5 Elements

I wrote an article several years ago about how I did that through my wedding day “look,” the flowers and the centerpieces. Essentially, it’s about including each element through a color, representation or the element itself to create balance. I used a combination of all of those to make it happen.

Create a sacred space

We write about this a lot – ensuring you have a sacred space that supports YOU somewhere in your home. We often emphasize this during holidays because that seems to be a high-stress time. Weddings are similar. Even though they are joyful, they can be challenging when managing family expectations. I am lucky to live in a house I love, but I was especially diligent leading up to the day to take time to just “be” in one of my favorite places within my home. Taking a few minutes to get centered and breathe was extremely helpful.

Be true to yourself

I got some advice that surprised me a little: be true to yourself during the process. There were a lot of opinions about what to wear and what to plan, but I reminded myself about that and kept us in the forefront of planning. I focused on what was important to us. I even had someone tell me to look like “myself” so when looking back at photos I would see me. (She did her hair and makeup so differently that day when looking back she said she hardly recognized herself.). Although I did get some “flack” for it, I followed her advice. I wore a look similar to my every day for the occasion – hair, makeup and nails – and I’m glad I did. In Feng Shui, when we look at a space, we consider the individual. We want their space to align with their goals – because what works for one person might have a different implication for someone else.

As you embark upon this season, whether you are planning, helping or just attending, we hope that you feel the joy of the occasion.

By Lisa Janusz