What is Feng Shui?
Feng Shui (Wind/Water) is the ancient Chinese art of balancing the flow of natural energies in our environment to create beneficial results in our lives. But don’t think of it as just ancient local wisdom; think of it as universal common sense. The thoughtful and purposeful placement of things in relation to other things around them creates positive or negative energy flow. The changes you make within your own home or office have a direct impact on the flow of things in areas of your life.
Dispelling the Myth
For any of you who may not yet be familiar with Feng Shui, it is not a religion. There are several different styles of Feng Shui. It is not hocus-pocus of any sort and it is not just for those woo-woo ladies in a moo-moo peddling trinkets to clutter up your space. Feng Shui is simply working with natural energy by placing everything from your furniture, accessories, desktop items and even your home itself purposefully within its environment to work harmoniously with everything else around it.
How Can Feng Shui Help You?
In today’s turbulent real estate market, Feng Shui can help create more opportunities, introduce the right people into your life to help you, give you greater wisdom to handle situations that arise, improve your reputation, and help create a greater feeling of abundance. Seems like a lot to expect from just changing the way things are arranged, huh? Well rest assured, the energy you spend making these changes will reap you great rewards.
So let’s get right down to it, the fun part! What changes can you make in your home and office to improve your real estate business?
Eliminate Clutter – I know, I already talked about that in an earlier post, but it is such a serious issue on so many levels, and, in Feng Shui, clutter is stagnant energy. It is blocked chi. it is restricted flow. It is heavy, depressing and it weighs you down. It can result in health issues depending upon its severity. Eliminating clutter = new opportunities. Simple as that. Open the pathways and allow new things to come to into your life. Out with the old and in with the new! Spruce up the Helpful People section of your home. Did you know that your home has 9 different sectors representing different areas of your life? The Helpful People area of your home is the far right front area as you stand at the front door. In real estate, you depend upon many people to have your business flow well. To attract the best people to do business with, give some love to your Helpful People section and then be on the lookout for the people that come into your life. Place a silver container in this area of your home. Write down the names of people who can help you and place them in the box. Perhaps you have an offer out and are waiting for an answer. Write the seller’s name down with the intention of hearing back that your buyer’s offer has been accepted. Waiting on an appraisal? Write down the appraiser’s name and place it in the box. Need a sitter so you can show more homes? Write down “perfect Nanny for my children”. You get the idea. Then just let it go. Check the box every couple of weeks. When you no longer need their assistance, remove their names and add another. The Skills and Knowledge area of your home is the section on the far left front, closest to the front door. Spruce up this area and you will find yourself able to make better decisions, have better relationships, handle your business and money matters more wisely and find your inner strength. This is a great place for your books or things that remind you of wisdom, symbols of mentors or symbols of the skills you want to have. Fire up your Fame and Reputation area located in the rear center of your home. Want to be the top agent in your area? This is a great area for your fireplace. No fireplace here? How about your TV? TV’s are fire elements in Feng Shui. This is also a great area for any awards you have received. The color red is a great fire color, so if it works in your decor, add some splashes of red here to activate this area. Build up the Family area of your home, located in the left center section when you are like most people and are striving for an overall greater sense of abundance and well being. Enhancing the energy here will give you a greater sense of security in all areas of your life and improve your relationships. This is a great area for plants and wooden items. Water feeds wood, so symbols of water work well here too. Power up Prosperity Corner! This seems to be everybody’s favorite part of Feng Shui. The Prosperity section is located in the far left rear section of your home or office. Keep this space clean, well-lit and be sure there is plenty of activity here. Add symbols that remind you of wealth and abundance. You can use artwork or photos or even perfumes, whatever works for you. Be sure there is nothing broken here. Purple, red and gold are great colors to activate your Prosperity section. If this is where your bedroom is located, no problem, just keep the blinds open during the day and add a few power elements. Fresh flowers are perfect here and depending upon the situation, a water feature can be a great addition.
Just by making a few changes you will start to see results. Make big changes and you will see big results-but watch out. Sometimes big changes can makes things happen faster than you might have planned for. Just keep a clear vision of your goals and when the dust settles, it will be that much clearer.
Keep a journal and record your results. Be sure to let me know how this works for you, I want to hear about your success!
BawldGuy Talking
June 11, 2008 at 3:11 pm
I’m controlling energy by following this? What energy, and how? Thanks
Benn Rosales
June 11, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Jeff, you taught me to “Do it on Purpose,” so imagine doing your operating space on purpose. If you have every seen someone’s shirt clash with something else they were wearing and could feel that distraction, imagine things in your space that throw you off balance and you don’t even realize it and reconditioning that space to allow you to mentally focus.
I hate to say it, but we did this in our home office just because it seemed to be the cool thing to do, but in our entire home, I’ll admitt, it was my most favorite room in which to work.
BawldGuy Talking
June 11, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Oh sure, pull out the ‘On Purpose’ card. 🙂
The way you put it makes sense. I get lost in the whole ‘energy’ thing.
Now I gotta try it too. I’ll do what you did, and start with the home office.
Gotta go, this shirt doesn’t go with these pants.
Nickie Rothwell
June 11, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Benn, you explained it perfectly. Doing things “on purpose” is exactly what you are doing as you make these changes.
Let me see if I can explain the energy concept I’m referring to here.
Have you ever walked in a room where people had been arguing? You can feel it even though the argument is over – the energy remains in the room. You’ve heard the expression, “the air in here is so thick you could cut it with a knife”. That’s an example of negative energy and it can remain in a space for a long time. Making Feng Shui adjustments can “clear the air” to release that negative energy.
Another way to look at Feng Shui that I think we can all relate to is, picture walking into a room you’ve never been to before and there are two seats left to choose to sit in. The first one has its back cozily nested against the wall with a nice cocktail table in front of it, an end table on one side of it and a nice floor lamp on the other side. This seat also has a great view of all the action in the room. The other chair is sitting right smack dab in the middle of the room all alone.
Which seat would you automatically choose?
Most people would like the seat against the wall with table to set their drink on, relax and enjoy the view. The other seat is what is often referred to as “the hot seat”. In Feng Shui, the arrangement of the furniture against the wall is called the “command position”.
I haven’t seen your office Benn, but my guess is that your desk is in a power position making it very comfortable to sit there as long as you like.
Does that help explain the kind of energy I’m referring to and how moving things around a bit and doing them with intention (on purpose) can make positive changes in your business and personal life?
Paula Henry
June 11, 2008 at 4:56 pm
I once had a Asian couple who built their home based on Feng Shui principles, from the lot number to the number of steps in the stairwell. I have never looked into it for my home, but do find it interesting and appreciate your knowledge.
Does this work for each individual room or simply for the layout of the home?
Also, when you say “stand at front door”, does that mean facing the door from the inside or from outside, cause either my Helpful People section or my Skills and Knowledge are “in the toilet”. That’s where my front bathroom is. I’m thinking one is just as important as the other and I’m going to have to do something to fix it.
I am going to start to work on my office by getting rid of clutter and organizing – suggestions are welcome.
michael price
June 11, 2008 at 8:23 pm
cool, success by straightening up. 🙂
Ines
June 11, 2008 at 10:16 pm
I am a HUGE believer of Feng Shui and have applied it to my own home with great results. I am no Feng Shui Master but have read several books and the applications in my house have to do with finishes, color and vegetation- what an incredible difference it has made.
It’s funny how you know who will be open to the flow of energy and who won’t – and most people that don’t see it or refuse to criticize it, usually don’t know enough about it.
Christopher Zabka
June 12, 2008 at 10:47 am
This is very interesting, Nickie. I have heard of Feng Shui and am aware of its basic principles, but I never knew colors also played such a strong role in it.
Larry Yatkowsky
June 13, 2008 at 1:12 am
With the second largest Chinese population in North America Feng Shui has played a large part in our business. Offshore buyers often bring their favorite mancer to Vancouver to check the house and property for various spirit paths and energy flows.
Placement of front doors, house number, street number, external and internal stairs, the placement of the master bedroom in relation to the stairs, location on the street relative to another street and the passage of the sun across the entrance are but a few of the criteria.
It’s a fascinating to experience and watch the process. However, without the passing grade from their mancer the home will not be purchased. There is nothing in our traditional sales training that prepares you for this.
Oh – it it doesn’t matter how pretty I am or whether my shirt matches my pants
Property in Poland
June 13, 2008 at 4:05 pm
I think it is a interesting post … I believe in the good energy in plants, decoration and colors … we could practice the Feng Shui … it is a new alternative … Very Nice information =)
Irina Netchaev
June 16, 2008 at 11:16 pm
Nickie, you inspired me to buy a couple of feng shui books. Many of my clients are working with feng shui masters and I’m learning from them. Next time you’re in Pasadena, I’m taking you out to lunch… at my house. Maybe after you’re sated, you can help me with some of my rooms. 🙂
Nickie
June 27, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Hi Paula,
The bagua is applied as your are standing at the door looking in. And you are right, the bagua can applied to the entire home, each room, each table, each closet, or the entire lot. Depending upon the layout of the home, typically the bagua is applied to the entire lot, then the entire home, then to each room. There are different schools of Feng Shui; I practice the Western form of Feng Shui. Others apply the bagua by direction, so someone else may give recommendations based upon compass readings. And don’t worry about your bathroom, there are cures to work with problem areas and enhancements that can be made for all areas of your home and office. Email me with any direct questions, and I’m happy to help out!
Hi Michael, Yes indeed! Cleaning and de-cluttering is definitely one part of opening the door to success!
Hi Ines! It is amazing to see Feng Shui at work! Keeping a journal helps tracking results easier. It also makes it easier to find when something doesn’t work or when an adjustment is creating change quicker than desired.
Hi Christopher, colors, elements, numbers, texture, temperature-they all impact Feng Shui! It can be great fun learning how they interact with each other and how they impact you and those around you.
Hi Larry, Feng Shui is serious business and for some folks it can be deal breaker. Many will bring their consultant or mancer with them to approve the site prior to writing an offer-hopefully not cancelling after entering Escrow. 🙂
Hi Property in Poland, Thank you! Absolutely there is energy in all things! The key is surrounding yourself with positive, uplifting energy!
Hi Irina, Lunch is on! And of course, my pleasure to assist you in your home!