Bathrooms

by Vikki Anderson

Bathrooms are very important in Feng Shui since they hold the largest drains in the home.  Money is represented by water whether it is a stream on your property, a leak in your pipes, a fish aquarium or a running fountain.  Water running down the drain means that money is draining out of your life or being flushed down the toilet.  That does not sound like a good prospect for the financially savvy person.

So men, close the lid to the toilet seat.  The intent is to keep the energy/money in the home, not losing it by letting the water run down the drain.

Keep shower curtains/doors closed at all times.

Place a bagua (eight sided mirror) outside of the bathroom door.  It could be placed above the trim of the door or on the door if it is secured.

A large beveled mirror can also be hung on the outside of the bathroom door reflecting the energy (chi) back your living space or office and in many instances, it gives the appearance of a larger more continuous space.

Another wonderful Feng Shui cure is to put a 60 mm round leaded crystal on the ceiling between the bathroom door and the toilet.  The intent is to deflect the energy from running down the sink or toilet and bouncing it back into the home.

A simple cure would be to keep the door closed at all times; however, it might be difficult to know when someone is using it.

Depending upon which gua your bathroom resides in, you may wish to use the colors of the specific area to amplify the positive effects of the bagua area.

Keep items in the area color coordinated with the area of the bagua.  For instance, if your bathroom is in your fame area, (the red colored and triangle shaped areas), you may wish to have red towels and coordinate it with red items with points such as gnomes with their red hats, red stars, red butterflies and how about a pointed leaf pattern on your shower glass door or a stained glass snowflake?  You can use this method for all the nine areas of the bagua.  You may also wish to keep red candles in this area since the element that governs this area is fire.

Do yourself a favor and get rid of old or mismatched bathroom towels and face cloths and have a unified look in your bathroom.

With these simple cures, you can be assured that your finances will be more secure and more prosperous opportunities will be available for you.

www.Fengshuimoon.com, copyright 2009.  You may reprint this article with appropriate acknowledgement of author’s name and website.

Helpful People, Travel and Masculine Energy

by Rev. Vikki Anderson

This is the last section of the ba gua. It is immediately to the right of the front entrance if the entrance is directly in the middle of the structure. This is the white, gray and black area which represents the Helpful People, Travel and Masculine Energy gua. This is the second gua that is ruled by metal. It correlates to the head in the human body. This area suggests a circular or round shape for optimum energy and positive chi.

This would be the perfect place for your office so that helpful people can assist you in developing your projects or business. This would also be a great travel area. Perhaps you travel for your business or wish to travel more for your business, then fixing up this area would be in order. Because this area is so close to the front door and the front of the house, many people will find you and bring in business. Never put any type of office in the rear of a home or building as it would take people a long time to find you. You want to be as close to the public or people as possible.

You can use white or different shades of gray as your metal filing cabinets. You can also use gray metal desk accessories. You can use those colors for your walls or accent colors. A tweed rug would help add texture to this area.

If you wish to travel, place travel posters, photos or paintings of places you would like to go or people you would like to meet.

A bookcase would be appropriate in your office space as well. Remember, books placed horizontally in a bookcase will bring in yin energy (calming energy) and placed vertically in the same bookcase will change the energy to yang energy (energizing energy) depending upon which energy you need for that area.

This is a forceful area bringing in masculine energy so make the most of this energy and accomplish your goals.

This area of your home or office should be organized, structured, uncluttered and well lit for optimum positive energy and opportunities. A round leaded crystal could be placed in the middle of the room hanging from the ceiling or in a window so that when the sun shines through it, you will have all the colors of the prism in that space – your ultimate goal.

Article by www.VikkiAnderson.com. Copyright 2008. Do not reprint without permission.

Feng Shui Results

I have been actively teaching/lecturing and practicing Feng Shui for over twelve years now; I had probably started in this field as it was sort of partially popular, but now everyone knows about Feng Shui or at least has heard of it.

Clients call back usually within a week or two and let me know how things are going after some of the changes or I give them a call in case they have questions about where to hang something or about a position of a piece of furniture, color or shape they wish to add or remove.

Intent is a very important part of Feng Shui.  You put out an intent that you want to have better health, improve your child’s  study habits, you want to have a romantic partnership which is in both partners’ best interest, that you need more abundance which will sustain you and your family, or to bring in more business.

Here are some of the results I have heard over the past two months from some of my Feng Shui consultations and these are paraphrased, but I just wanted you to get an idea of what the results could be.  I am giving you some of the obvious cures that we did to change the energy; of course, many other cures were also put into effect.

I need you to Feng Shui and bless my new pizzeria.  After you did the last one, with all of the problems and issues, I am happy to tell you that I am opening up another one in the middle of June, so I need you to bless this one too.

I HAD GIVEN SOME SUGGESTIONS OF CUTTING THE ENERGY FROM CEILING TO FLOOR MIRRORS ON BOTH WALLS SINCE ENERGY WOULD BOUNCE BACK AND FORTH CONTINUOUSLY SO PEOPLE WOULD JUST STAY IN THE PIZZERIA FOR HOURS AFTER ORDERING ONE PIZZA OR MEAL.  WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY.  STAINED GLASS AND A MENU BOARD WAS PUT UP OVER THE MIRRORS TO DEFLECT THE ENERGY AND BUSINESS PICKED UP.  OF COURSE, OTHER FRONT DOOR CURES, MIRRORS, FLOWERS IN THE REST ROOMS, RELAXING ART WORK, ETC. WERE ALSO USED.

You came and Feng Shui’d my construction business a few weeks ago.  If you remember, I wasn’t getting along with my partner and even though we just opened a new office, there was no business. But after your visit, I am booked for the next two months — thank you.

EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A NEW BUSINESS, THE ADDRESS HAD THE 9 UPSIDE DOWN BECAUSE THERE WAS A SCREW MISSING AND IT LOOKED LIKE ANOTHER ADDRESS.  ALSO, THE DUMPSTER WAS IN THE WEALTH AREA, WHICH WAS MOVED, AND A DILAPIDATED SHED FILLED WITH GARBAGE WAS IN THE PARTNERSHIP AREA.  THESE WERE FIXED AND MOVED TO OTHER AREAS OF THE YARD.  WE ALSO REMOVED A SHEET COVERING THE FRONT WINDOW WHICH PREVENTED ENERGY FROM COMING INTO THE BUSINESS.

My 4.5 acres of property is doing well now since you gave me instructions on where to put the pool, the patio, the BBQ, the evergreens and other plants.  Things are going well and when the house is finally completed, I would like you to come back and bless the house as well.

THIS WAS A LARGE YARD OF A CONTRACTOR WHO WAS BUILDING A VERY IMPRESSIVE 8,000 SQ. FT. HOME AND WAS HAVING A COMMUNION PARTY ON SATURDAY AND IT WAS WEDNESDAY!  HE HAD GREAT IDEAS FOR HIS PROPERTY, BUT NEEDED GUIDANCE FOR THE EVERGREENS, LARGE TREES WHICH I SUGGESTED NOT BE PUT IN LINE WITH THE FRONT DOOR, THE PATIO WAS IN THE WEALTH CORNER WITH THE HARD FINISHED POOL (BEST PLACE FOR A POOL) AND WE MOVED THE BBQ FROM THE WEALTH AREA WHICH WAS EATING UP HIS PROFITS AND MONEY, TO THE FAME AREA BUT IT WAS ALSO GOING TO BE SURROUNDED BY VERY SOFT FOLIAGE IN RED (THE COLOR OF THE FAME AREA).  WE PUT UP TONS OF CHIMES AND BELLS, A MIRROR ON THE HOUSE TO REVERSE THE STREAM’S POSITION ON HIS PROPERTY AND APPARENTLY ALL IS RUNNING SMOOTHLY.

I did not have a date for 2 years and when you removed the 8 dead plants from my partnership corner, as you know, I started getting dates again.  How cool is that?

THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS EATING DINNER WITH HER.  A FRIEND FROM TWO YEAR’S PRIOR WHO JUST STOPPED DATING HER WITHOUT EXPLANATION, CALLED BACK TO GO OUT ON A DATE.  IT WAS ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR AFTER WE THREW THE PLANTS INTO THE DUMPSTER.  SHE WAS HOPING THEY WOULD REVIVE, SO SHE LEFT THEM THERE, BUT I KNEW THEY HAD TO GO.  SHE IS DATING AND HAVING FUN NOW.

You helped me pick out room colors, rugs, hang pictures, move furniture and fix up all the areas of my life that you thought should be fixed; however, I am not totally satisfied with the Feng Shui consultation that you did on my home.  I wanted to be back in the dating area and we did start to fix the partnership area.  I wined and dined a woman and when I brought her back to my home, she didn’t want to come in.  She wanted to wait before going to bed.  That was disappointed.  I wanted to get laid and nothing happened.

THIS WAS THE MOST SHOCKING STATEMENT OF MY LIFE BECAUSE I AM SUCH A SPIRITUAL PERSON.  I HAD DONE SO MUCH TO HELP THIS PERSON WITH HIS BUSINESS AND NEW TOWNHOUSE AND THIS IS WHAT HE SAID TO ME.  I GUESS HIS INTENT OF “GETTING LAID” WAS NOT IN LINE WITH A TRUE POSITIVE INTENTION.  I HAVEN’T HEARD FROM HIM IN ABOUT TWO MONTHS, BUT I HOPE THINGS HAVE IMPROVED OR HE UNDERSTANDS THAT HIS INTENTION NEEDS TO BE CHANGED TO A MORE PRODUCTIVE ONE.

My health was steadily declining and after the health area in my apartment was decluttered, things started to get better.  I felt more energy and feel much better than I have been in a very long time.  I am not 100% but I haven’t felt this good in twenty years.

GETTING RID OF CLUTTER, GETTING RID OF THINGS SHE NO LONGER NEEDED, USED, FIT INTO OR LIKED WAS THE EASIEST THING TO DO.  ALSO, WITH ALL THE CLUTTER, SHE WAS UNABLE VACUUM OR DUST REGULARLY AND HER ALLERGIES BECAME WORSE.  SHE WAS ALWAYS AT THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE AND ALWAYS SICKLY.  SHE HAS TREMENDOUSLY IMPROVED.

I needed more money into my life.  You were right, I was not going to become a millionaire by changing the wealth area, but I now have enough to pay my bills and live comfortably, just like you said.  Bless you.

I GAVE HIM A MONEY CURE AND DISCUSSED INTENTIONS FOR THE FUTURE.  HE SAYS THAT THINGS ARE MORE STABLE AND HE IS MORE IN CONTROL OF HIS FINANCES THAN EVER BEFORE.

I can’t believe that putting statues together would help our marriage.  Once you saw that all of our male/female statues were separated and you asked if we were thinking of separating, I was so amazed.  We were going to give it another try after a year’s separation and we immediately put all of the statues together touching each other as you suggested.  Our marriage is alive and well and we wish to thank you for your input.

HUGE HOUSE, LOTS OF EMPTY SPACE, THIS HOME FELT LIKE A COLD HOTEL.  WE GOT THE STATUES TOGETHER, PUT THINGS IN PAIRS ALL OVER THE HOUSE AND GOT RID OF RELIGIOUS STATUTES IN THE BEDROOMS (VERY DISRESPECTFUL TO THE DIETY).  WE ADDED MORE COLOR, REMOVED AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF PILLOWS FROM COUCHES AND THE COUPLE’S BED (WHICH INDICATES THAT YOU DON’T WANT COMPANY OR A PARTNERSHIP AS THERE IS NO ROOM FOR IT) AND THEY REPORTED THAT THINGS HAVE TREMENDOUSLY IMPROVED AND THAT THEY ARE DOING WELL.

I’m so glad that you told me to take off those partitions in our windows.  It made the world of difference.  As you said, our life was fragmented and disconnected and now that we “see the whole picture”, things are better, more fun and our lives flow much better in a positive way.

MANY NEW HOMES HAVE PARTITIONED WINDOWS.  MY FATHER USED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THEM WHEN HE HAD TO PAINT THEM AS A PAINTER AND CARPENTER, BUT NOW MANY OF THEM COME INSIDE OF THE WINDOW AND YOU PAY TOP DOLLAR FOR THESE.  THIS WOMAN WAS VERY LUCKY AND THESE SMALL PARTITIONS ON EACH WINDOW THROUGHOUT HER WHOLE HOME POPPED OUT OF THE INSIDE OF THE WINDOW EASILY.  WHEN YOU HAVE PARTITIONED WINDOWS, YOU PARTITION YOUR LIFE.  THINGS DON’T RUN SMOOTHLY.  YOU ONLY GET HALF OR A PART OF THE STORY, OR THE MONEY, OR THE FAME OR THE LOVE….IF YOU HAVE PARTITIONS BUILT INTO THE WINDOW, AT LEAST PUT 60 MM ROUND LEADED CRYSTALS IN THE WINDOWS TO BREAK UP THAT RESTRICTIVE ENERGY.

What Inspires You To Use Feng Shui?

by Vikki Anderson

I was approached by a columnist to talk about Feng Shui and what could possibly inspire one to, say, redecorate a house.  She asked, “Can you be inspired by a photograph, a color, a picture, furniture or lighting fixtures?”  I thought about her question for a moment and decided that these are not the mundane things that inspire me to fine tune Feng Shui in my home.

I told her, “No.  I think people should be inspired by wanting to better their relationships with their partner or family members.  Perhaps they would be inspired by needing to fix their wealth area so that they can make more money on the job, or work smarter and not harder.  If health is an issue, I would imagine people would like to fix their health area so that their health would improve easily and stay stable.”

Thinking about her statement and my response was interesting.  I am not sure she got it.  Inspiration can be received by doing many things.  In my field, I think inspiration comes by wanting to help those who need assistance in a particular area(s) of life.

The nine areas that I work with which are listed from top to bottom in the bagua are as follows:

Wealth area – far left corner of your space from the architectural front door.  Keep blues, purples and reds in this area to keep your wealth in good shape.  This area need rectangular shapes.  It also represents the hip and bones in the human body.  This area’s number is 4.

Fame/Good Luck area – this area is the middle wall of the back of the house as you enter the architectural front door.  This is a red or fire element area.  Candles or pointed sculpture, pictures, etc. should be in this space (butterflies, stars, snowflakes, etc.).  It represents eyes and heart in the human body and can many times also encompass the joy in your life.  This area’s number is 9.

Relationships/Marriage – this area is the right hand corner of the back wall as you enter the architectural front door.   This is a pink area which also needs square shapes and is an earth element.  It represents the abdomen and organs in a human body.  This area’s number is 2.

Ancestors/Family – this area is to the left middle of your space as you enter the architectural front door.  This is a green and wood area which also represents the feet, throat and buttocks in the human body.  It does also represent kindness (given and received).  This area’s number is 3.

Health/Well Being – this area is in the absolute center of your space and can sometimes be parts of two rooms.  It is a yellow/earth tones area and is represented by a square shape – also an earth element.  It also represents the stomach and spleen in the human body.  It does also represent calmness.  This area’s number is 5.

Creativity/Children – this area is to the right middle of your space as you enter the architectural front door.  This is a white and metal area.  The shape needed in this qua is round or a circle.  It also represents the mouth, head and lungs and does also represent courage.  This area’s number is 7.

Knowledge/Education – this area is to the immediate left of the architectural front door and may sometimes be behind the front door as it is open.  This is a black, blue, green area and is represented by earth and a square shape.  It represents the hands in the human body.  This area’s number is 8.

Career/Business Success – this area is as soon as you open the architectural front door if your door is in the middle of the outside wall.  The colors needed here are black and dark tones.  It is a water area and the shape is abstract, wavy or unusual; a shape that is not represented within the other guas.  This gua also represents the ears, blood and kidneys in the bagua and also correlates to gentility.  This area’s number is 1.

Helpful People/Travel – this area is to the immediate right of the architectural front door.  This is a white, gray and black area and represents the head in the human body.  The shape for this area is circular and the element is metal.  This area’s number is 6.

If you are having a particular problem with your job, family, career, or whatever, you should determine which of the guas need your immediate attention.  Get rid of clutter.  Organize the space.  Keep it clean and neat.  Make sure it is well lit and a 60 mm round faceted leaded crystal hanging from the ceiling (especially if you have a ceiling fan which cuts up health, wealth and happiness) would be auspicious.  If you would like to hang a crystal in at least one window in every room of your house, you will be inviting all the colors to be represented in every room, which is your goal.  With each color comes the energy of that color to help balance your space.

Inspiration for Feng Shui?  How about better health?  How about a stable and secure job?  How about improving family, friends or colleague relationships or if you don’t have a relationship, how about inviting one into your life and how about just wanting your life to be stress free and more conducive to your being constructive, happy and allowing all the positive opportunities to find you?  That’s the true inspiration, isn’t it?  Let’s make our lives much better – not by being inspired by a piece of art or a possession, but by ideals and ideas of happiness, family, love and intelligence and a stable financial future in which we could all flourish and grow.

If you have any questions about this area, please feel free to email me at Starscape50@aol.com or visit www.Fengshuimoon.com.

A Consultation Above and Beyond

by Vikki Anderson

I had recently taken a class at Caldwell College, given by Feng Shui Designs out of California, for the Advanced Feng Shui Practitioner. This was the third such certification course I had taken with Feng Shui Designs because I find them to be outstanding teachers, very ethical and they give their students the tools they need to have a successful Feng Shui Consultation/Teaching practice. So, as usual, thank you Helen and James Jay. (My Feng Shui book entitled, Feng Shui This! A Guide to Health, Wealth and Happiness — which is almost completed — is dedicated to them).

As we were sharing stories of our Feng Shui consultation experiences, one young woman in class told us of her ordeal in Tahiti. She lives in Hawaii and was chosen by a Hawaii resident who was the sister of a group in Tahiti. The reason I bring this particular story to your attention is (for all new consultants) that a practitioner or consultant can go above and beyond what is normally expected of a Feng Shui consultant and this particular woman certainly did. (She asked that I not use her name, but had permission to write his abbreviated version of her story).

Her consult was going to be for a two week period. Her airfare was paid but many of her other expenses were not. She was given a place to stay on the property so was at the mercy of her clients. As time went on, she had learned that it was a much bigger piece of land with more than seven structures or farms, as I recall, on them. At one point, she had to swim in a lagoon about 500 meters to get to the other side. The people with her were clapping their hands loudly and she didn’t know why, but later found out that the water had small sharks in it and the noise “usually” kept them away! Her clothes were carried in an ice chest that one of her helpers brought along. I kept suggesting that she advertise: Feng Shui Consultant Who Is Willing To Swim with Sharks! That in itself was unbelievable and we were all glad there were no accidents or attacks.

As we talked on about this particular consultation, we learned that she had stayed in a room on one of the farms with the family who owned the property. She told us later that her room had rats in it. She ate meals with the family — so again was at their mercy because one never knows what someone is going to serve for meals and if you would like it or not, especially being from Hawaii and then America. We all have our own likes and dislikes and it would be easier if you could be in a hotel where you could order from a menu according to your tastes. The most disturbing thing was that her day started at 6:00 AM when she got up and then left the farm at 7:30 AM and the day ended at 11:00 PM because she was with this family and had to go according to their schedule. (By talking with her, it did seem as if they were taking advantage the whole time she was there, but this is my opinion).

She had to tell the owners of the property to buy 100 pounds of rice which had to be transported by wheel barrow. Rice is fairly cheap; however, the outdoor blessing took a few days and she actually mixed the ingredients for the blessing one bowl at a time! She also personally paid for the countless packages of realgar (a very expensive ingredient in yard or house blessings) and took that fee out of her total consultation fee.

The more we heard about this consultation, the more we had known that our fellow Advanced FS Practitioner had been taken advantage of. Although she did manage a $15,000 fee for the two weeks, after deducting many expenses which were not paid for by the client separately, she figured out that she may have gotten $10,000-11,000 out of the deal. Yes, this sounds like a lot, but for the amount of time she had put into this assignment, plus the never ending additional assignments that followed and was included in same consultation, she had been taken for a ride – or should we say Swim?

Then she informed us that the people kept emailing her with never ending questions when she returned home and wanted this to be considered as part of the original fee for her two weeks’ work. We had to inform her that it was not part of the original fee or agreement and to tell the client she was busy and that they could set up an appointment for an hour at a set fee and she could answer all of their questions then.

The point I am trying to make is that as consultants, we need to be covered too. I have come from a corporate background where I worked for a lawyer twenty out of the thirty years with the same Fortune 50 company. I cannot stress the fact enough that we all need contracts with specific hours, specific tasks that we will accomplish during our consultation at a specific fee. The word here as you may have noticed is SPECIFIC. Have a contract so both of you know what is expected of you and vice versa.

You don’t have to swim with sharks or sleep with rats. You don’t need to sleep in your client’s home eating food that you may not like AND you need your own space to reflect, meditate, or do something on your own time. This is not slave labor, we provide a valuable service for a reasonable work schedule. We can work a regular 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM day or as many consultants prefer, limit your consultation to six hours per day. This is draining enough without going on into the wee hours of the night and/or morning. Long hours are ridiculous especially if this is in a foreign country — wouldn’t it be nice to see the local scenery and meet some of the natives on your own and not be inundated with never ending questions which totally drain your energy and health?

Don’t be taken advantage of if you are a consultant; if you are a client, do not take advantage of your consultant as most will not stand for it and the ones that will – well, we are trying to teach them to be more assertive and build up healthy boundaries that everyone can respect.

All in all, the class was wonderful, but this story was a real eye opener. I will always remember the woman who swam with sharks…

I later wondered if I would ever be that dedicated?

Absolutely not!!

Certified Advanced Feng Shui Practitioner Vikki Anderson will Feng Shui your home, office or yard by appointment only. Also available for staging projects for quick home sales and for presentations to realtors, corporations, organizations and charities. www.VikkiAnderson.com. Call for an appointment or additional information: 973-492-3110.

For Your Information

I have been trying to separate the content of my writings into several blogs. For those interested, here are my additional sites:

http://lalainya.wordpress.com/
http://fengshuithis.wordpress.com/
http://fairyandothertales.wordpress.com/
http://weddingceremonies.wordpress.com/
http://totallytarot.wordpress.com/

http://inspirationalarticles.wordpress.com

Please let me know what you think?

Cell Phones – Are You Addicted?

by Vikki Anderson

Cell phones seem to be the world’s next enticing drug – it’s addictive. I can’t tell you how many people have cell phones stuck in their ears (why not get a cell phone implanted in your ear next time, it’ll be easier) and what’s happening to the rest of us who do not want the constant bombardment of EMFs on us. It’s just like second hand EMFs (electromagnetic frequencies) – worse than cigarette smoke!

I am lucky enough to have found several products to repel these harmful EMFs. After using a cell sensor to see the levels of EMFs in my home, I started to take note of just how high the levels go when a cell phone is being used in my home, in my yard or with people walking their dogs passing by my home. It’s really disturbing. You can go to Qlink.com and see if anything that they have for sale could work for your family and you. No, I don’t own stock in QLink; however, I use their products and really feel a difference in my health and stamina. I also bought the alarm clock which disperses the EMFs in a 50′ radius around your home. I have it in my office near my computer because believe it or not, computers also give off EMFs. I also wear a necklace that does the same thing because I want to be protected at all times. I have a friend who is a nurse who has started selling Bio Products. My favorite is one is a small device that plugs into any home outlet and that takes the EMFs out of all the wiring in your entire home.

Being an advocate against cell phones is not a popular thing; however, my adage is, “Why pay for cancer when you can get it for free?” I used this saying with cigarettes years ago and now I am repeating myself with cell phones. There are so many things we could die from, so why are we just pushing ourselves into the grave before our time?

How many children need cell phones? Are they so important that they need to be on the phone 24/7? I know some parents who give cell phones or upgrade services when their children do well in school. Wow, what a gift! Whatever happened to taking them out to dinner, a movie, a museum, the theater or buying them a new outfit. Try to give them something useful – not harmful!

Are parents or adults so important that they must check it during a movie (this is annoying and distracting to the other patrons, but we know you are obvious to us) or immediately after a movie? I think peoples’ egos are blown way out of proportion these days. Can’t you return a call once you get home and have time to talk without doing a bunch of other things, like, oh, I don’t know, say food shopping, being in a restaurant annoying other patrons, in a doctor’s office annoying the staff and other patients, while driving (which is illegal in many states) and most of all while walking your dog around the block or playing catch with your son. I have seen parents talking on their cell phones while they were “attempting” to interact with their child. I have seen a dad playing catch with his young son. He was engrossed in a cell phone conversation and barely knew his son was there. He looked like a mesmerized robot throwing a ball from time to time without saying a word to his son, but he had much to say to the person on the other end of the cell phone. I could see how sad the little boy was that his father was not paying any attention to him. How lame does a parent have to be to make your child feel unloved and so unimportant. You are also giving the message that communication and interaction with humans is unimportant unless it’s through modern technology. How unimportant do you want your child to feel? You are probably doing a really good job with that, so think before you answer your cell phone if you are supposed to be bonding with your child.

What ever happened to talking to your family and friends in person? How about trying to talk to them at the dinner table or while you are out relaxing at a restaurant? The most annoying thing is hearing someone else’s conversation (which we don’t care about) and not being able to do anything about it. I personally ask the person to tone it down as I don’t care about their life and sometimes that works – sometimes, it doesn’t. Then I ask the manager of the restaurant to tell the person to stop using their cell phones. That usually works. Many of the restaurants I now frequent have terrific signs that say, NO CELL PHONES IN THE RESTAURANT. Hooray for the restaurant management that does this. I will continue to patronize your establishment.

There is even a sign at my local post office which says that cell phones cannot be used in the lobby. It was annoying that people were on the cell phone and trying to buy stamps or mail packages, but had to answer the person on the other end of the cell phone and did not have the common courtesy to answer the postal workers questions because they were busy. Now it is unacceptable in the post office and more power to them for standing up for the common folk who can’t stand this modern day marvel.

Don’t get me wrong, I use a cell phone as an emergency device. It’s in my car and in the last ten years, I may have used it a dozen times. I don’t even know the number and no one has the number because I never check it! Cell phones for emergency purposes keep one feeling safe and secure, but how much do you need to use one?

I feel that anyone using a cell phone while driving should be fined at least one thousand dollars and a few days in jail. The police should enforce these laws so that the public will understand that it will not be tolerated. It’s dangerous and hazardous to our health! That would also stop them from potentially killing someone in a car wreck because they were distracted by the cell phone.

I am for most modern technological advancements, especially in computer software programs and the internet; however, I only use my computer when I am in my home office after all of my work has been completed. Cell phones should be a convenience, not an addictive drug.

With boundaries and limits, I think everyone could flourish in this cell phone mania, but I do feel that if we could survive twenty years ago without phones attached to our hips, ears, pockets or purses, we could do it again. Besides, we may not all be as important as we think we are – and having a cell phone does not make you more popular, pretty, handsome or intelligent – it just makes you look like someone who cannot interact with human beings and who show the world they are so busy, they can’t be out of touch with the world for any length of time and that is rarely the case.

Give all of us a break – get a life and keep your laundry, food or errand list to yourself. We don’t need to hear you call home to see which percent milk or what type of bread you need to buy. We don’t need to hear you call a friend or home about a dollar item in the dollar store. And frankly, I don’t care. Normal people write lists of things they need and why don’t you know which type of milk or bread you use? Why don’t you know these things on your own – are you unaware or just oblivious because you need to be in contact with anyone on the cell phone at all times. Can’t you function without this addiction?

This is not rocket scientist people. You don’t want to have cancer – you don’t want your family to be around that energy, so use the cell phone wisely and stop annoying so many others. Be courteous and learn cell phone etiquette. If you are going to use the phone, at least know how to use it properly.

I know it’s not a popular view, but I have never been a follower like all of the cell phone users. I am a people person, one who likes to keep in touch with friends and use the phone only to set up a meeting for a movie, dinner or get together or leave a minute message saying hi and let’s get together soon. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could all have time to spend with our family and friends again and not just make that memory a thing of the past?

Just something to think about.

Life’s Journey, Career and Business Success in the Ba Gua

by Rev. Vikki Anderson

This is the simplest part of the ba gua to find. If the architectural front door is in the middle of your home, as soon as you open the door, you have arrived. It is the Life’s Journey, Career and Business Success area. This gua is controlled by the water element. It requires unusual shapes, abstract, wavy lines or any shape that has not been mentioned in the other guas. Its color is black or dark tones. It correlates to the ears, blood or kidneys in the human body and refers to the quality of gentility.

This area is where you should have everything in order to attract positive opportunities for your business, your life journeys and your success. The first thing I recommend is a round black rug as soon as you walk into the door. If you cannot find one, at least get a half moon rug. These shapes pool the energy for your business in this area. This area could also use abstract art, black metal furniture or a water fountain. Live plants or bamboo shoots in water would also be auspicious.

When you walk into this space, you should have a clear view of your home or office. If there is a wall directly in front of you, you will be blocked in everything you try to accomplish in business. You should get a lovely mirror (as large as you can for the space) to bring in the outdoors or to allow you to see a beautiful scene as you walk into your space.

Be sure to have a blessed bell on the door to move the chi around every time you enter your home. You should use your front entrance way each day, even if you come in through the garage into your home. Get your mail or water your plants, etc., through this entrance/exit way.

Chimes or whirligigs are very appropriate here too. The chimes will move the energy outside of your door and allow it to come in once you enter or exit your space. Also, an outdoor water fountain, bird bath or perhaps even a lovely metal pair of cranes could adorn your front yard right outside your front door.

The outside of this area should be clear and neat. Be sure there are plenty of flowers outside of this area, especially if your walkway is a straight one. This would send poison arrows towards your home which brings negative energy or leaves positive opportunities outside of your home. If your walkway is a straight one from your front door to the street or sidewalk, then break up the poison arrows with potted plants in an irregular pattern on the sidewalk or place them in a zigzag pattern on your front steps. Geraniums are the best potted plants for this area. Marigolds and roses are the worst. Marigolds kill insects (or opportunities) and roses have thorns which will also hurt your chances at accomplishing something positive.

Make this a light and enjoyable area where people will feel comfortable and safe. You may also have a Quan Yin or Buddha statue facing the front door for protection, chimes inside of the front door area and a money toad with its back towards the front door facing to the extreme back left of your space. This would encourage wealth or continued prosperity from your business.

It’s easy to make this area of the ba gua a positive one. What other ideas do you have for this area?

Article by www.VikkiAnderson.com. Copyright 2008. Do not reprint without permission.

The Self Cultivation, Knowledge, Wisdom, Education and Contemplation Area of the Ba Gua

by Vikki Anderson

Here we are on the last third of the ba gua. This portion of the ba gua is in the left hand corner of your space as you come into the architectural front door. This area guides your knowledge, wisdom, education and contemplation areas of life. The colors that rule this area are black, blues and greens. It relates to the hands in the human body and the element is earth.

This is a perfect area for self cultivation; that means that any type of process, information or tools that can help you with your job, your home projects, your education, your knowledge and your beliefs in this lifetime should be placed in this area. What a great area for a study or library. This could also be a viable area for your home office as long as you have lots of helpful items in this area whether it is software programs or textbooks to help you with your business or school work.

What can you do if this area is not perfect for a self help area. You can always put a few books of your interests in your bedroom, TV room, dining room, etc. You can also have some of your favorite items that help you in your areas of interest including hobbies and projects or formal education like textbooks, etc.

The Self Cultivation area is just that. It requires items in it that will help you improve your skills, hobbies, test results and areas of expertise, etc. It could also be a great place to hang posters of places you would like to study (i.e., universities, learning centers, foreign languages or foreign lands) especially if you feel they will help you move forward to obtaining your goals.

Of course, this area should be well lit (without it being lit, there is no emphasis in this area) and it should be comfortable and quiet. It should be an area where you yourself will feel as if you are being cultivated for something special. It should be an area where you attain knowledge in some discipline or area.

Again, make sure it is clutter free, organized, have your desk or chair diagonally facing the door for optimum security and that you have a complete view of the whole room from your desk or chair.

This is one of the entrance gua’s to a space – this is the gua that is used if the entrance is to the left of your home as opposed to the middle or right side.

Article by www.vikkianderson.com 2008. Copy this article with permission only.

Creativity, Children and Feminine Energy of the Ba Gua

by Vikki Anderson

Now we are on the last section of the middle of the ba gua called the Creativity, Children and Feminine energy section. This section is to the middle right of your space from the architectural front door. The colors in this area should be white, silver or gold, it represents the metal energy and for the physical body, it represents the mouth, head and lungs. It also correlates to courage.

This is an interesting area in my home as it falls in my kitchen. Without knowing Feng Shui at the time when I redesigned and redecorated my kitchen, I changed all of the hardwood dark cabinets, which were ceiling to floor on three walls, to white and lighter cabinet doors. Immediately, the space felt lighter and bigger. It really made a big difference in the way others viewed this space and I found myself entertaining my kitchen a lot more than usual.

I put up white lace curtains to keep the sunlight coming through the windows and keeping the space bright! I put many circle or round shaped items in this space. I am currently giving my oval dining room table to my daughter who is moving to a new apartment and I will replace it with a glass and metal round table with wrought iron chairs and white cushions. I have many round potted plants here and many items which represent my creativity on the outer wall in that space.

I remember years ago before I was certified in Feng Shui, I had writer’s block. So one of my friends actually put paper and pens in that area for me to get the spark back into my writing. Within a day, I was writing up a storm. I also have pictures of my daughter in that area and some of her artwork to ensure that her well being is stable and happy.

Of course, there is a white ceiling fan in this space, so I made such I was protected from it by placing a large 60 mm round crystal and blessed Quan Yin bell hanging from it. Ceiling fans cut up health, wealth and happiness, but in this area, it is more likely to cut up the creativity and issues dealing with children, etc. So, that is a good reason to protect the effects of the fan. I also have another blessed bell on the back door leading out onto the porch so that when that door is opened or closed, my space also gets blessings.

This is an interesting space since it relates to so many areas in the ba gua. Make it a clutter free, organized and give it positive intent so that the blessings will flow your way.

Original article by VikkiAnderson.com. Do not reprint without permission.