After my friend Jane told me a little about feng shui, the Chinese art of placement, I made several attempts at learning more by reading about it. I found the books complicated and hard to apply.
I forgot all about it until I noticed a lecture that was being given at Border’s by two feng shui practitioners. A friend and I decided to attend.
Little did I suspect that it was going to turn me into a madwoman. The lecturers gave use some simple tips about things we could do in our environments to improve the chi (energy flow). They introduced us to the bagua, kind of a blueprint for placement.
I spent an hour or so in bed after the lecture mentally moving furniture. I decided that my office was completely backwards, feng shui-wise, so the next morning I began rearranging things.
Six hours later, my office had taken on a new airiness and was more inviting than it had ever been.
They also told us that in order to get things flowing forward in life, we should go home and move twenty-seven objects that hadn’t been moved for a year. I had no difficulty locating twenty-seven things that were overdue for relocation. I changed mirrors and hung crystals. I fretted over sharp corners and pondered ways to soften them. I had a ball seeing my old familiar surroundings with new eyes.
What’s so intriguing to me about this feng shui business is that it’s a wonderful way to become more clear about the metaphors in your life.
For instance, after I moved my computer to the other side of my office, I needed a longer cord. The one I had was quite tangled and I was going to just plug it in when I realized it would be going through my partnership area. “I don’t want tangled partnerships,” I told myself and decided to take the time to straighten out the cord.
Now when I notice it, I affirm that all my partnerships are running smoothly. It can get even more cosmic than this, but I will resist the urge to go on and on about the metaphysical insights gained from moving furniture around.
“Care for our actual houses,” writes Thomas Moore, “is also care of the soul. No matter where we live, we can cultivate this wider piece of earth as a place that is integrally bound to the condition of our hearts.”
But, then, the Chinese knew that centuries ago.
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If you’d like to learn more about feng shui, a delightful introduction can be found in Karen Rauch Carter’s Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life.
Never heard about moving 27 objects before, and I have been learning about Feng Shui for a while. Wonder why the #27? Love that it is mostly about common sense, but occasionally I am stumped as to the why of something. I can definitely say that following some of the cures and tips that it has made a positive difference for me.
Your story goes to show that often we may not understand something until we either are ready or find the right teacher. That’s why even though many may teach the exact same subject it is in the unique delivery of the right person(s) that makes it finally click. I believe that every adult has that ability inside to be that someone for somebody.
Barbara, thanks for reminding me of feng shui! I love the 27-object concept and I had never heard of it before. I believe I will try a version of this soon as my mind went immediately to the first 4 or 5 things I will deal with. Of course, in my case, I will likely have to add another “zero” to 27!! But, nothing is wrong with that idea – at all!
Thanks again for all your good ideas. And, by the way, I’m still referring to Michael Pollan’s “Food Rules.” Just love them and they, like feng shui, boil down to the essence of simplicity and workability in living one’s life. Hooray again!
Jane, I can still remember you talking about the dragon coming up out of the water and shaking himself off and spreading good luck.
Oh, yes, the dragon! I loved that one – still do! I would love a water feature at my house here, but I would definitely have to have something to eat the mosquitoes which would also love to have a water feature around. At any rate, you’ve got me thinking again about feng shui and that’s a good thing. Maybe a nice dragon will appear to help me out.
A good book, that simplifies Feng Shui is “Move your Stuff, change your life” by Karen Rausch Carter. She simplifies Feng Shui and is pretty funny too. I’ve been moving things around this winter, but I think with the weather warming up, it’s time to re-visit the book and see what more I can do to have better Feng Shui in my house! The one big thing I remember is always close the toilet lid, because if you leave it up, all the good chi goes down the toilet. So my toilet lids are always closed. Water features are always good in entry ways (which is why you usually see fish tanks in lobbies of Chinese restaurants)– or pictures of water work just as well.
Jami, that’s a good idea about an indoor water feature. Sounds like one I could put into practice. I haven’t had fish since I was a little girl. They were pretty and fun to watch. I think I will check out that book that Barbara and you have both mentioned. Sounds like a good one.
Wow! Just have to report on this. I just searched the Dallas Public Library for the Carter book and they have three copies – all in Spanish! None in English. Who would have guessed? Moving on to Amazon!
Jami, that’s the very book I mentioned at the end of the post.
Different Schools of Feng Shui use different “Auspicious” numbers..Either 8 or 9 is the more “fortunate” number.
Moving 27 objects is working in moving multiples of 9. 9 X 3 = 27
http://www.TheFengShuiVoice.com
I like the idea of moving 27 things, so I put it on my agenda for today. Will give me a good reason to dust all my bookshelves in my office and living room. Also reminds me to light my candles and turn on my water fountain in the house. It does help to get me centered quickly and with minimal effort.
Thank you for the refresher!
Barbara- how did i miss that you mentioned that book at the end of the blog? Obviously I was checking to see where my copy was on my bookshelf instead of reading the last line. Time to re-visit the book, haven’t looked at it since I started working from home.
Jami, I get Move Your Stuff out from time to time. Love her writing style and examples. Really makes the whole subject wonderfully accessible. And, yes, indeed, you must revisit it and make sure your house is in order. I think it’s especially critical when home is also World Headquarters.
Idea: maybe we should have a feng shui workshop at the Jamboree.
B- Ohhh…I like the Feng Shui idea for the Jamboree. Everyone can bring an outline of their office on paper and as a group we can help everyone re-arrange their office (and re-decorate). I had a friend who had a crowded, messy desk right next to her bed in her bedroom, and I asked her, how do you get any work done in here? When she moved her “office” to a spare bedroom in the house, all of sudden her business increased. Amazing!
It’s really easy to stop “seeing” our own familiar environment. Add your thoughts to your own JJJ idea file so we don’t lose it.
Feng Shui is used mostly by old fashioned chinese. I dunno if it really works.`.,
i am a very strong believer in feng shui and somehow there is a truth behind its predictions:`*