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May 31 , 2004 In
this issue:
Announcements New Book Announcement
We're going to present excerpts from the book as feature articles for the next several issues of this newsletter. (Note: I have not yet received my author's copies of the book, so I don't know what editorial changes might have been made since I last saw the text... what we publish here is from my final draft, so you are getting it the way I wrote it here!) Today, we start with a look at some feng shui considerations for the home office. (This is a two-part article that will continue in the next issue). To read the article, scroll down or click here.
Feng
Shui Tips for Your Home Office Part I: Choosing Your Work Space Many home offices are set up in whatever space is available: in a corner of the bedroom, on the dining room table, down in the basement, or upstairs in the attic or in the guest bedroom. Some of these locations are fine places for a home office; others are not so great. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind when deciding where to set up your in-home workspace. There are essentially two kinds of home offices: home administration centers that are used for paying household bills, keeping track of the family budget and other household management tasks; and work spaces related to earning an income that are located within the home. For home administration, a corner of the kitchen counter may be sufficient. If you are working from home professionally – even if part time – it is best to have a space that is used only for that purpose in order to keep work and home energies as separate at possible. If you hold client meetings in your home office, it is best if clients can use a separate entrance from that used by your family. That way your clients can come and go without having to pass through your living spaces, and both of your energies will remain focused on business. Clients who walk through your living space before getting to the office are likely to make a subtle shift away from a business focus, and their confidence in your professionalism or capabilities may subconsciously be weakened. Make sure there is a clear pathway to your home business entrance, especially if it is at the side or back of the house, so your clients know which way to go when they arrive for the first time. Because office and home functions are different, your home office has its own Mouth of Chi, whether that’s a separate exterior door or a door inside the home. All of the guidelines for good doorway chi presented in Chapter 5 will be equally important for your home office. WHERE NOT TO WORK Certain areas of the home are especially ill-suited for home office use. Here are some locations that you should avoid if at all possible:
Some other situations to be alert for are rooms with low or slanted ceilings, and poor lighting or ventilation (all of which may affect an attic room). A low ceiling in your office is not good because it suppresses aspirations and keeps you focused on the details of the present rather than exploring future possibilities. Slanted ceilings create a similar problem that is focused on one side of the room. If your office has a slanted ceiling, place your desk on the taller side of the room, and use the lower side for file cabinets, book cases, or other storage. Plants and lights that shine upward (rather than down) are good addition to rooms with low or slanted ceilings. Basements often offer extra space to create a home office without interfering with the rest of the house. The problem with basements is that they are usually cool and damp, either inadequately lit or with harsh overhead fluorescent fixtures, and they often have poor ventilation. Windows, if there are any, may be small, dirty, and positioned so high on the wall that you can’t see out of them – not good for having a clear vision of your future direction. Don’t despair if it seems that none of your home office options are any good. Feng shui is about doing the best you can with the space you have. If you must work in the bedroom, for example, you can set up the office in an armoire-type unit and close it up when it is not in use. A folding screen or a fabric curtain can also help to keep work and home energies separate. And if your office space has design features that are less than ideal, feng shui cures such as bells, crystals, and mirrors can help to correct them. Excerpted from “The Pocket Idiot's Guide to Feng Shui” by Stephanie Roberts (Alpha Books, 2004) © 2004 Stephanie Roberts Part II of this two-part article will appear in the next issue of this Newsletter.
Feng
Shui Q+A (Most questions will have been edited for clarity and length, and any identifying details have been changed. Please note that due to the high volume of email I receive, it is no longer possible for me to respond to every question personally. I still welcome your questions, and if I cannot provide a personal response I will try to address your issue in a future Q+A column.) Q: My question is about what to do when you have a mirror that faces your bed. I've heard this is bad feng shui, but the mirror is part of my wardrobe and I am unable to avoid my bed facing it. How serious is this, and what can I do about it? A: The idea that a mirror reflecting the bed is "bad feng shui" stems from an ancient superstition that your spirit leaves your body while you sleep, and might get lost in the mirror and not come back. If you believe that, you'll want to cover the mirror with a shawl or piece of fabric at night. In evaluating what changes are necessary in your home, it helps to understand the reasons behind feng shui "dos and don'ts." There are good reasons for a lot of them, but many (many!) others are nothing more than superstitions that have become entangled with the practice over many centuries. These are not really feng shui at all, and my advice is to just toss 'em out. Keep in mind that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." In other words, if you are sleeping just fine, there's no reason to do anything about the mirrors. I lived in a small condo for several years where one entire wall of the bedroom was mirrored closet doors. I thought this was a good thing because the room was very small and without those mirrors it would have seemed quite cramped and dark in there. With the mirrors, the visual impression of the space was more expansive and comfortable. Remember, if you like your space and feel comfortable in it, chances are it has good feng shui. Don't worry about matching up every aspect of your space to somebody else's checklist. Instead, look for spaces or situations (such as not sleeping well) that you are not happy with, and work from there. Use your common sense, and don't make changes that you don't like, even if they are supposed to improve things. If you don't like it, it's not good feng shui for you, even if it works for someone else.
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With warm aloha,
We also invite you to visit our other sites: All About Prosperity - Articles and resources for developing Prosperity Consciousness and Wealth Building skills: creative visualization, goal setting, emotional intelligence, as well as affiliate marketing, money management, and more. Clutter-Free Forever Home Coaching Program - Is a cluttered, messy, disorganized home slowing you down, stealing your energy and depressing your spirit? Our highly acclaimed program will help you reclaim your space and your life! Feng Shui Ebooks.com - The popular Fast Feng Shui book is now available in ebook format for immediate download! Learn the 9 simple principles for transforming your life and your home. EMF Protection for your Home - Computers, cell phones, cordless phones, TVs, microwave ovens, etc. emit EMF (electromagnetic fields) that are known to be an invisible cause of stress and fatigue. Reduce the effects of electropollution with the QLink EMF pendant and QLink Ally or Clearwave clocks. Miscellaneous Newsletter Archives This newsletter is published approximately twice a month. If you missed our previous issues, you can read them here. ••• (c)
2004 Stephanie Roberts. All rights reserved.
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