Pumping up your health

In Feng Shui, your Family & Health area is in the East. Green is the color of this quadrant, and the element is Wood. If you really want to pump things up, add the color green, and live plants. I painted my home office the color above, which is Benjamin Moore "Bunker Hill Green". The name of the color is just as important as the color itself. Bunker Hill is in Boston, my hometown. Since I live in California now, it gives me a little piece of home to have an "East Coast color" in my house. 

You should also be mindful of what is going on in the East quadrant of your house. If you have a fireplace, fire burns wood (the element of Health), so you are figuratively "burning your health". The cure? Add water. Water nourishes wood. So, adding fountains on either side of your fireplace would help. So would painting the room blue, which occurs as water in Feng Shui.

If you have dead plants in your Health area, I probably don't have to tell you this is not ideal. An abundance of the color red is also inadvisable. Red is fire, and fire burns wood. These details may sound strange, but they all add up to the overall feeling of balance in your home. 

Pets are wonderful Feng Shui!

You've probably suspected it all along. Your pets are great Feng Shui. They are like little balls of chi running around your house, spreading joy and love. Pets help circulate the energy in your house. Of course you should not get a pet JUST to improve your Feng Shui. A pet is lifetime commitment, and you should only get one if you love animals, and are prepared to treat your pet properly and take care of it for life.

If you live alone, a pet can keep you from feeling lonely. Plenty of studies have shown that the introduction of pets into nursing homes and hospitals improves patient morale and even physical aspects. Dogs are especially good at getting their owners to exercise, since they need to be walked. Cats are natural absorbers of negative energy. They almost protect us from ourselves. My cat Nordie jumps between us when she hears raised voices. She's very brave, and cannot tolerate arguments.

Dogs, cats, birds, goldfish and basically any living thing (within reason) will bring good energy into your home. If you feel that it's time for a new addition to your family, may we suggest Petfinder.com.

Doors - How the World Sees You

In Feng Shui, your door is how the world sees you. It's hard to believe your door can improve (or hinder) your reputation, but in my many years as a Feng Shui expert I have found it to be true.

Here are our top tips for pumping up your door:

• Your front door should be in proportion to your home. If the front door is too big, you can miss opportunities, and if it is too small, it can cause disharmony.

• Avoid a "shotgun shack" - which means that you can see straight through the front door out to the back through another window or door. Symbolically slow down the the energy flow to the back by adding a curtain, mobile, or plant.

• A front door should open inwards to allow Chi to enter.

• It is important that the front door opens easily without obstacles or difficulties. If the door doesn't open all the way - it means your opportunities are hindered. Doors with broken elements must be fixed or replaced. Hinges should be oiled regularly.

• Make certain that the name or number of your house is clearly visible by day and night in order to maintain harmonious relationships with visitors.

• Take a look out your door, and see if there are any 'poison arrows' - which is anything sharp or dangerous that points towards your door. If you feel you have poison arrows directed at your home place a Bagua mirror (see below) above the door to deflect them.

• Make sure the front door bell is easily located and works, and has a pleasant sound.

• Get a Feng Shui consultation, and find out which door is best for you to use. Use your best door exclusively. Having two main entry doors can cause unnecessary bickering and arguments. It is OK to use the other door if you need to take the trash out, etc.
  

The color of the door should reflect whichever compass direction it faces according to the Five Elements. A list of directions with their respective colors follows: 

• South (Fire) = Red 
• Southwest (Earth) = Earth colors, or red/pink for relationships
• West (Metal) = White, silver, copper or gold
• Northwest (Metal) = White, silver, copper or gold
• North (Water) = Black or blue
• Northeast (Earth) = Earth colors, black, blue or green
• East (Wood) = Green, brown
• Southeast (Wood) = Red, blue, purple, green

Note: If you have had a Feng Shui consultation, your Practitioner may recommend a color that differs from the above, but they will know which elements are needed to weaken or enhance the area, and they may be using the "constructive" or "deconstructive" cycle of the elements.

Do not keep shoes near your front door; they constitute clutter and create stagnant energy. You may put shoes at the back door, but try to put them out of sight.
As for the front, make sure the pathway is clear, clean, colorful, and the way is obvious. This is your visitor's first impression and you want it to be a good one.