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FENG SHUI TIPS for
RAT YEAR 2008
ADD BEAUTY:
Bring in fresh cut flowers or a healthy plant for new year. Make sure plants
have soft round leaves; no spiky cacti. If you bring home a lovely orchid, after
the flower wilts, cut away the dead stalk and insert high-quality silk
orchids into the pot.
CLEAN:
To welcome a new year of new opportunities, clean
your home as if it is spring cleaning but done now. Move any piece of furniture
that has not been moved during this past year to clean behind and below it. Be
as thorough as you can.
REMOVE CLUTTER:
If you have clutter anywhere, now is the time to get rid of it. Rat year can be a time of hoarding
so do not let clutter accumulate. If you have
trouble with clutter, contact my colleague Janet Plocke at
www.organizedbyjanet.com
or call her at 650.548.1198, or read
Clear Your Clutter With Feng Shui by Karen Kingston.
FIRST THING SEEN:
When entering your home, what is the first thing seen? Make sure that the
first thing seen is inviting, clean, and inspiring when you enter. You do
not want to see a pile of paperwork or any type of mess.
PAINT:
When the weather warms up this spring, consider a coat of paint on an area
that can use some sprucing up.
Paint colors correlate to the five Taoist
elements of fire, earth, metal, water, and wood:
FIRE/HEART/LIVING ROOM - In Chinese medicine, the element fire is represented by
the heart. The living room is the heart of the home. Your living room is best in
bright and lively colors, or with bright accents, to stimulate conversation and
activity.
EARTH/STOMACH/DINING ROOM - In Chinese medicine, the element earth is the
stomach. The dining room is where we eat and digest food. The dining room is
best in earthen tones of gold, terra cotta, or other soft yin colors. Red paint
in a dining area is too stimulating and people eat too fast.
METAL/LUNGS/BEDROOM - In Chinese medicine, the element metal is the lungs. The
bedroom is where we sleep and breathe deeply while resting. Best bedroom colors
are white, cream, and soft pastels. Avoid bright big prints on bedding and
drapery, especially in a child's room.
WATER/KIDNEYS/BATHROOM - In Chinese medicine, the element water is the kidneys,
and therefore correlates to the bathroom. Paint this room in a soft, quiet, and
calm color for peaceful elimination of waste and for soothing bathing or
showering.
WOOD/LIVER/KITCHEN - In Chinese medicine, the element wood is the liver. Wood is
used in a kitchen to feed the cooking fire. The kitchen must be kept very clean
because this is where food is prepared, but green accents or a plant is
recommended.
FENG SHUI for REAL ESTATE
There can be good real estate
opportunities in this Rat year, but only if very well planned and meticulously
researched.
Risky and speculative ventures are not recommended.
SELLERS STAGING TIPS:
Beauty attracts, clutter repels! No litter, good lighting everywhere, bright
entrance foyer, curb appeal of round-leaved plants along driveway or walkway,
easily identified entrance, must have furniture already arranged so the buyer
knows where to place the big items such as bed and couch, too-large furniture
makes a home seem too small so replace it, no boldly painted rooms,
depersonalize so name not noticeable nor personal photos nor religious items nor
trophies nor awards, toilet seat must be down, close shower curtain or door to
shower, no dried plants, add fresh floral arrangement (silk OK), bake those
cookies, no pet smells or pets on premises, re-hang art to be eye level and
remove any violent or chaotic imagery, raise or remove ceiling fans, clean
closets and cupboards with perfect arrangement to appear symmetrically balanced,
enhance relationship corners, windows must be clean with simple window
treatments, impeccable garage.
BUYERS Home Checklist: YES
Land that slopes gently from front of house and/or gently slopes up behind
property, floor plan and lot perfect square or rectangle, quiet neighborhood
(return on busy weekend night), rooms in front and back quiet, noticeable front
door, risers on stairs, doors that fully open, a door between bedroom and
bathroom, kitchen sink and fridge separated from stove, bed in commanding
position so the entry is seen while in bed, one bathroom wall is the outside
wall of the property.
BUYERS Home Checklist: NO
On a flood plain, landscape that slopes steeply down behind a house, a home
exposed on the hilltop or at ocean’s edge, high electromagnetic fields,
triangular lot shape, at a T-intersection, on a corner, directly across from or
exactly next door to cemetery, fire or police station, mortuary or church
(because of funerals), next to busy highway, dead end sign, split level home,
floor-to-ceiling windows, windows or stairs directly in line with front door,
central spiral staircase, stairway or fireplace, tree directly in front of the
front door, blue roof, ceiling beams, skylight over stove or desk area, central
support pole, doorknobs that clash, pool directly behind house.
FIVE TIPS for your REAL ESTATE OFFICE -- or for ANY OFFICE:
1. Open up the entrance. 2. What is the first thing seen? 3. Clutter must be
removed! 4. Sit facing the entrance. 5. Art on the walls must make sense for
your work.
The far left corner is the WEALTH area.
The far right corner is the RELATIONSHIP area.
The middle of the back wall is the REPUTATION/FAME area.
These three areas are most important for your career.
Other areas of your office are:
The near left corner is the KNOWLEDGE area.
The near right corner is the HELPFUL PEOPLE area.
The center near the entry is the CAREER area.
The mid-wall to your right is CREATIVITY/CHILDREN area.
The mid-wall to your left is the HEALTH/FAMILY area.
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