Health, Unity and Well Being Area of the Ba Gua

by Rev. Vikki Anderson

So now we are in the exact middle of the ba gua or your floor plan. This represents the health area. The colors in this area should be yellow and earth tones. It reflects a calm area in your home and should be yin in nature. The shape for this area of the gua is square and the body parts it represents are the stomach and spleen. This area like all others should be clutter free.

When I had an emergency gall bladder surgery last winter, the doctor said I healed faster than most and was amazed. I really didn’t want to tell him that it was because my living room (in the health area) was clutter free, newly redecorated and I had just purchased new furniture. He knows I am an astrologer and teach tarot and metaphysics, so I didn’t want to concern him any more!

Everything was in order, thus, my health was in order very quickly after my ongoing illness which lasted for over two years. I was diagnosed with acid reflux and on three medications for a year which of course did nothing since I never had acid reflux. Then, I was told I had an ulcer but because I was very sick and couldn’t eat anything, they wanted me to wait until I returned from China to get an endoscopy and cat scan (getting another Feng Shui certification in China Studies). I did lose thirty pounds without being able to eat – not a healthy way of dieting, but I still appreciated the weight loss. Within a week of returning to the USA, I had a horrible attack, went to the emergency room and was admitted for gall bladder issues and pancreatitis. It was interesting to me that once the health area was completely and accurately Feng Shui’d, my illness came to light and forced me deal with the issues at hand. Then, after the successful operation, I was home and felt much better. Everything worked smoothly without incident.

This area in my home is my living room which has lots of light, all the proper cures, colors and shapes. It’s so wonderful to see Feng Shui in action.

What can you do to make that area in your life easier to handle? Think about what you can do to keep yourself healthy. Can you eat better food, perhaps organic? Do you exercise, walk around the neighborhood, walk the dog or go to the gym (or do you just sit home on your butt and watch TV)? Can you clean up any messes left in that area? Can you ask others to keep it clean as well? Are the colors correct or do you at least have the earth tones as accents in the room? Live plants, water fountains, a 60 mm crystal hanging from the ceiling or window and perhaps a statue of Buddha or Quan Yin would be appropriate to protect your health. Any Diety you prefer is certainly acceptable.

This is the calm area of the gua so make it a place where you can reflect, meditate or just relax. Once you do this, you will find that your health issues will be resolved quickly. Stress, exhaustion, being overwhelmed, confused or indecisive will be thing of the past.

Copyright 7/2008 by Vikki Anderson at www.VikkiAnderson.com.

Family Life (Ancestors) Area of the Ba Gua

by Rev. Vikki Anderson

We are now in the middle row of the ba gua. We’ve done the wealth, fame and relationships areas and now we are onto Community, Family Life and Grandparents (Ancestors).

This area should be in green tones and is represented by the wood element and a rectangular shape. The Family Life area also represents the feet, throat and buttocks in the body. So if you were having an issue with this part of your body, checking to see what is out of whack in this area of your floor plan would be appropriate. Is it cluttered? Does it have good energy flow? Enough lighting? Is it a pretty area where you can go to relax? Just some questions to ponder. If not, do something to make the space more Yin (calmer, quieter, and a more relaxed atmosphere).

This area is in the middle left wall of your space from the architectural front door. What a wonderful area to display family portraits or those of ancestors who may have passed on. This honors their spirit. Many people place family portraits on top of their fireplace mantel…not a good place to have family portraits in Feng Shui. The fire will burn or destroy the health of those you have placed on the mantel so be sure to remove them as soon as you can. Hang the photos on the wall in the Ancestor area on end tables or coffee tables so you can enjoy looking at them. Have them nicely framed in rectangular shaped frames for optimum good energy. It would be auspicious if the frames were varying shades of green.

You may also place items in this area that reflect what you do for the community or what attachment you may have to the community, whether it’s a sports team you’ve joined or maybe a sponsorship. Have you volunteered in your community? If so, any letters of recommendation, certificates you’ve earned or information obtained from that organization would be appropriate in this space.

You may, of course, place live plants (even the bamboo plants that live in water) in this area to enhance the space. Green curtains, walls, throw pillows, upholstery, bedding, (depending upon which room falls in this area), statues or calming water fountains would work out well and you would feel a sense of peace walking into this area.

Kindness is represented by this gua. Being kind to others and helping those less fortunate would be a good use of this energy.

www.VikkiAnderson.com for further information.

Fame & Future Area of the Ba Gua

by Rev. Vikki Anderson

So now, here we are at the third area of the ba gua in this series. Fame and future. What is fame? Does it mean you will be a famous movie star? Most likely not. What it does mean is that the reputation that you present to the world will be the issue. Do people trust you and find you to be an honest person. If so, do they give your name or phone number to someone who is looking for the type of service or merchandise you supply? Without positive word of mouth or networking about you or your business, it would take a very long time for your business to grow. By enhancing this area, you will have others think of you in a positive light and recommend your services. Of course, you have to be the honest and trustworthy person that they are recommending, so it is a two way street.

What does this have to do with your future? Well, if you are not doing well in business and do not have a good reputation, do you think your future will be positive? Most likely not. No one will trust you, refer your business or service and then finances collapse and it goes on and on. So, if you have a positive fame area, your future will be bright with many wonderful opportunities in the areas that will be in your best interest.

This is a RED area so find a pretty color red and no, not maroon or rose, just RED. This area is in the middle of your back wall in your space. Remember, the wealth area is to the far left and the partnership area is to the far right of your architectural front door, so this is in between them. My meditation room is in this area (along with a bathroom) so I had to do some fancy footwork to make it work. I painted three walls an earth tone yellowish beige, but the middle back wall is a deep red. It is accented with black and red throw pillows, red curtains, a red Japanese fan with a design, stained glass snowflakes, pointed red metal stars in the windows, bamboo as the curtain rod, my favorite Dieties (Buddha and Quan Yin on opposite sides of the room) and of course, a red cloth napkin under a red bowl which holds all of my precious crystals. I also have the appropriate cleansing bells and 4′ metal chimes in that room.

Next to my med room is the bathroom. I had recently remodeled my whole house (which has taken more than two years) to reflect the proper colors in each ba gua area and have updated or repaired things that were no longer functional or aesthetically pleasing. My bathroom was remodeled at the end of 2007. Because money always goes down the toilet or the drain in the bathroom, energy always needs to be uplifted in this area. Being it is in my fame area, I put pointed red metal stairs, fairies, a gnome with a red pointed cap on the toilet tank with a bowl of crystals next to it, bamboo is in a small ceramic container with red glass rocks. My soap dispenser, toothpaste holder and trash can area a beige with red butterflies on them. I also have a smaller version of the stained glass snowflake in that room. The slate tiles on the floor carry through into the shower in a pattern that goes half way across the white tiles (waist height) but at the rear wall, it goes straight up to meet the ceiling. Of course, the middle rear wall of the shower has the slate tiles up against the ceiling going across the whole wall meeting the other two sides that started at waist height and met it up at the top. The premise is that your eye follows the line of the slate and moves upward – so the energy in the bathroom would also move in an upward position. This will not allow the water or money to be wasted or discarded down the drains. I also purchased all new red bath and hand towels as well as face cloths and added a small red rug and a red cotton mat to use when I come out of the shower. I am certainly color coordinated now and ladies, make sure you love your bathroom and all the towels, curtains, shower curtain, items in there, especially if it is in the fame and future area. If you don’t like something in there, how will this bring positive energy to your future? It won’t.

Pointed objects should be in this area. Items like pyramids, stars, butterflies, snowflakes or anything else you can find that is pleasing to you but has points. This area also governs the eyes and head in the human body, so if you are having problems with these areas, fix up this space in your home.

By making some wise choices about this area, your business or career will improve, so will your self worth, self esteem, confidence and overall good health. People will see you in a more favorable light which will give you the confidence to move into a bright new future filled with unbelievable opportunities as well as a favorable business outlook.

Vikki Anderson is a certified Feng Shui consultant and teacher. Feng Shui consultations are done for your home, office and yard. Vikki also assists realtors in finding out why a particular house is not selling. 973-492-3110. www.VikkiAnderson.com.

Wealth Area of the Ba Gua

by Rev. Vikki Anderson

Wealth. Nice word, isn’t it? We all wish we had more, but do we need MORE? In my opinion, having wealth is having enough money to pay your bills and to live comfortably. You live in a comfortable home and have the normal conveniences most people do. Yes, there will always be those people who need the best cars, the best vacation homes, the best travel plans, the best jobs, etc., and there will always be that type of person, but do you have to be one of them?

If you are satisfied with what you have, the universe will continue to bring you what you need. We may not get all of our “wants” in this lifetime, but as long as we have what we need, well, isn’t that exactly what we want? If not, it should be.

The wealth area of the ba gua is another one I usually get asked about. Wealth, money, prosperity, financial security or stability, investments, attracting more money, more ????? In this third dimensional plane we live in, yes, we need money to survive. So, I will give you some hints on how to attract more wealth into your life. It is very simple.

First off, the wealth area (also the empowerment and prosperity area) of your home is the far left corner of your house/apartment from the architectural front door. Many Feng Shui consultants use the whole area, but I like to use the area as close to the actual corner as possible. I think it brings in more power and energy. Do what feels comfortable to you.

This area needs the colors of blue, purple and red, so any combination of these colors would be very auspicious. This area also represents the hip and bones in the body, so if you are having any problems with this area of your body, be sure that this area of the ba gua is clutter free and in repair.

You want to have good light in this area (and be sure to turn the light on frequently to light up the wealth area) as well as many money cures such as the prosperity ball or coin ball, Chinese coins strung together on a cord with a red tassel, two bamboo flutes, live plants, and of course your money vase. Money vase, you ask? Yes, there is a little known feature as a simple money vase that actually attracts more money to you. Get an octagon mirror, a red napkin or cloth (not maroon, rose or magenta), and a clear glass vase that is wider at the top than at the bottom. Put coins and dollar bills from around the world, put money in it that you want to grow (I always keep the amount of one reading or a Feng Shui consultation in mine), put in jewelry that you don’t use but that is of good quality. You intent is to accumulate more money or wealth. You may keep adding to the money vase in whichever way you feel appropriate; however, be sure that the mirror is face up and that the red cloth goes over the mirror. Then place the vase over the mirror and cloth.

Another cure would be to hang paintings or photographs of waterfalls; I actually painted a great picture of a waterfall and another one of a panda bear eating bamboo so I have both pictures in the prosperity corner. I also have a good strand of silk flowers around the GOLD halogen floor lamp (anything that reminds you of $$$) and a money frog in the room facing that corner.

Another easy wealth cure is to have a fish tank with 9 fish in it placed in that corner (you can also add additional fish in 9 fish increments). Also, a small water fountain will bring money into your home, especially if you keep it turned on.

As long as you keep the energy balanced in this area, your financial security will become more stable and secure.

Call Vikki Anderson for a full Feng Shui consultation @ 973-492-3110 or visit her website at www.VikkiAnderson.com.

Partnership Area of the Ba Gua

by Rev. Vikki Anderson

I was asked to do a 20 minute presentation on the relationship or partnership area of the ba gua at a bridal shower. Anyone who has had me as a teacher or heard me as a lecturer knows that I talk for 2-3 hours at a clip, so this was a real challenge. However, I am always up to challenges, especially when it was with such a nice group of women as this.

The first point I made was that in general, we all need to remove clutter from our homes as clutter does not allow positive chi (energy) to circulate throughout our space. With this positive chi, comes new opportunities, ventures, journeys, beginnings and a happier life. So if you don’t need, want or like an item in your home (including clothing that you haven’t worn in years!), get rid of it or donate it to a friend who could use it or a local charity.

Then I continued by adding that the front and back doors should be adorned with bells. The vibration of the bell will actually move energy around. So, every time someone comes into your home, they are bringing positive energy in to your space. Every time they leave your home as well, the vibrational rate will be higher due to the bell’s tones.

Another quick tip would be to have a 60 mm round lead crystal (Aurora Borealis) hanging on every ceiling fan you have to stop the energy from being cut up with the blades. This would deflect the energy from going to the blades (even if you don’t use the ceiling fan, the intent of the fan is to cut up energy). Fans cut up health, wealth, partnerships and happiness. So go out and get some crystals preferably hanging from a red cord in 9″ increments (9″, 18″, etc.).

Live plants throughout the house brings in the much needed “live” energy which sustains and nurtures us. Plastic or silk plants or trees are unacceptable unless they are so real that someone would have to go up to them to touch them to see if they are real or not.

Hang a bagua (eight sided or octagon shape) mirror outside of the bathroom. You can put it above the door trim or on the door itself if you can tape or hang it safely. A crystal should also be hung from the ceiling between the bathroom door and the toilet to deflect money from going down the toilet. Water is money or wealth in Feng Shui, so keeping the toilet lid closed is very important (tell your fella) and if you continuously let water run in the kitchen or bathroom sinks, you are making your money go down the drain. If you have leaks, fix them as you are losing money all day long.

The partnership area is in the far right corner of your space once you walk through the architectural front door. It doesn’t matter if you never use the front door (as many of us come into our homes through the garage), but for the placement of the ba gua, you must use the front entrance. You should at least open the front door once a day to let positive energy into your space. If you have a second floor, it’s the far right corner of the space as you come off of the staircase.

This area should be in pinks and reds. Objects in this area should be statues in pairs (two doves, two flowers, two pictures, two plants, two frames, one piece of sculpture with two people in it, two bamboo flutes, two crystals, etc.). This tells the universe that you want a romantic significant other or partner. Don’t do what a student of mine did. She made all of the necessary changes, especially in her partnership area and had many pairs of statues. She kept attracting new girlfriends. I asked if she were gay and she said no. So I went to her house to look at her statues, and yes, she had many of them — however, they were all adorning PINK ribbons, so that’s the partnerships she attracted – all feminine ones. Once we changed half of the ribbons to blue, she is now engaged to the man of her dreams! You must put a specific intent out to the universe so it knows what to give you.

Bamboo, whether it is pieces or live plants, is auspicious or important in every room. If you want to energize a room, just put up bamboo curtain rods. That’s what I did in my home so that each room has the sacred bamboo in it which brings luck and happiness. Not only is it lucky, but it really is a very impressive interior design.

The perfect item for this room is the Love Frogs. They are purple frogs facing each other with a Chinese coin in their mouths. These frogs stand for unity of spirit, identical energy and power, no secrets (because they are looking directly at each other) and the financial security is equal as well. This is always a nice gift to give to a bride and groom or in this case, at a bridal shower.

No knives or scissors should ever be left out including those butcher block knife sets that are left on the counters. Sharp items cut up health, wealth, happiness and partnerships.

I hope this gave you insight into the partnership area. I will be doing each area of the ba gua to help you understand that energy and what you can do to change it with just simple Feng Shui cures.

Feng Shui for Winter

by Vikki Anderson

Winter is a time when the earth is in hibernation. The chi rests. Plants rest, trees rest and of course we rest and try to take it easy. The weather gets colder and snow blankets the earth and all looks peaceful and beautiful from the inside of our home. It’s a lovely time of the year.

We may have time to read that book that has been sitting on the shelf for a few months because we were so busy with our autumn yard clean up, etc., and never got around to doing what we wanted to do. It’s a time to sit home and watch TV or have fun with the family. Adult education classes are over until February, so this is a time to decorate the house, enjoy your family, read, play board games, write holiday shopping lists, battle the crowds in the stores for holiday shopping and generally enjoying the indoors.

As winter progresses, it’s a time to make sure your car is in good working condition as well as your tires. You want to be safe in the snow and ice filled streets. Be sure to get that oil change to make sure the engine runs smoothly too.

Here are a few ways to bring in positive (chi) energy into your yard and home for the holidays.

Holiday Feng Shui Tips:

Have holiday lights on if it is appropriate to your holiday. Nothing brings guests better than a light display during the holidays. Put lights on timers so that you don’t have to be home to have your lights come on. This also lets others think you are home when you may be off holiday shopping or visiting family, friends or neighbors. (As an aside, I also have motion lights on my house to cover the whole yard, driveway and front walkway for the same reason).

If you are a baker, bake all the great cookies and breads you usually do for the holidays. Nothing invites family, friends and neighbors in general to come into your home more than freshly baked items with those wonderful aromas filling your home and seeping through your doors or windows. Do you need to bake so many cookies? How many can we eat? After the holidays, I get to throw a good deal of them out to my squirrels which live on my property and they say thank you.

Have all of your shopping and wrapping done early. You can buy presents all year long and wait until after Thanksgiving for larger items or items that you want to make sure you can return.

Decorate the house at different times. You can put up the tree one night and then put up window and yard decorations over the next few days. Be sure the children are home, so that they can assist in making your home look beautiful for the holidays. Even though I’m sure they’ll complain at having to work and do something as lame as put up Christmas or holiday decorations, it will be good to show the children that these holidays are for families and families work together.

Write holiday cards when you have a few spare minutes throughout the fall. Many people put names and addresses on computer labels and I must admit I did that for many years. I have learned that they are very impersonal and it’s just like you are saying that you wanted to get that chore out of the way as quickly as possible and had no regard for the person it was being sent to. I hand write all my envelopes and messages inside each card rather than writing a longer typed Christmas-gram. It’s more personal and it’s very rare, so your card will stand out. I have received many comments on my original notes and how refreshing they were.

When getting ready to have a holiday party at your home, here are some tips: clean the house one day, set up the tables and cooking/serving dishes and glasses you will need another day (pop them in the dishwasher if they haven’t been used since the last big holiday), do the food shopping and preparing what you can ahead of time and on the day of the party, you can relax, get ready in a stress free environment and have fun! Clean up can be done tomorrow or after your guests have gone. Some people actually pitch in and clean up as they go. If this is all right with you, by all means, accept the help. You’ve worked hard!

Or throw a load of dishes and glasses in the dishwasher, go to bed and rest so you can face the mess ahead of you in the light of day with a strong cup of coffee or tea in your hand!

Do simple things to help your party run smoother. Prepare the coffee ahead of time so that when it is time for your guests to have coffee (or tea), all you have to do is plug the pot in.

Put your milk pitcher in the refrigerator filled with cold water so it will be kept colder for a longer period of time after serving.

Make sure your table linens are clean. Check them at least a week before your party and clean what needs to be washed or sent to the dry cleaners.

Have holiday music playing in the background, but be sure it is calming music and not blaring to disturb your guests. The idea is to let everyone enjoy themselves which includes chatting to one another to catch up on their lives with soft music playing in the background so you can hear one another.

Be careful about mistletoe. Many guests are shy so if they do not kiss the person they find under it, you may kid them about it once, but then let it go.

If this is a pot luck dinner, prepare a menu so you can tell everyone what they could bring to your home. If it’s not a pot luck dinner but others ask what they may bring, you can always suggest gourmet dips, crackers, breads, wine, sparkling apple cider, eggnog, a bottle of liquor or any dessert a dessert of their choice. Tell them how many guests you are expecting.

You do not need to put out every holiday decoration you have. As the children leave the nest, you can put up a modest yet tasteful display of decorations. The holidays are for us to relax and enjoy the season, not stress over all the decorations, where to move the furniture until after the holidays and rush out to buy the biggest live Christmas tree you can find. I find live trees dangerous, messy (I found pine needles the next July stuck in my rug and eventually my feet!). They need constant water and they seem to dry up quickly. Be careful.

Is an artificial tree out of the question? There are so many kinds of artificial trees that are pre-lit (a gift from Heaven) and in so many shapes and sizes, do we really have to spend a lot of money year after year and have yet another beautiful part of nature being cut down, destroyed and then burned when they are not sold? An artificial tree can be purchased after the holidays for very reasonable prices and they look good for at least ten years if taken care of properly.

Winter Tips:

Be sure the furnace is in perfect operating condition so your heating bills will be reasonable and your family will be safe.

If you have a fireplace, be sure to have enough wood stored in a dry space so it can be used whenever you need a fire. Be sure the fireplace has been cleaned, if needed. Every other year would be a good starting point to know when you should have it checked.

Put light timers on in several rooms so that they come on automatically when you are not home. The darkness of night comes quickly in the winter time, so make sure it looks as if someone is home.

Place your heat on a timer too so that you are not wasting precious fuel when it is not needed. There are many thermostats with timers built in and if you don’t have one, they are not outrageously priced.

Are all the window and door seals tight so that you don’t lose precious heating in the winter?

Is your roof in need of repair? It would be worse if your roof was in need of repair and you found out while ice was melting and found its way through your attic and into one of your room’s ceilings.

Keep an extra entranceway runner handy so that excess mud, water or snow can be wiped off easily from shoes or boots before coming into your home.

If it works for you, do shopping in bulk so that you have fewer trips to the store and have plenty of items on hand in case of an unexpected snow storm. I live alone and shop in bulk. I give half of the quantity of the items in each package to my parents that I purchase and keep the rest for myself. I even buy cat and dog food in bulk and never run out, especially in inclement weather. With gas prices, it’s yet another way of saving a few more dollars each month.

This is a great time to clean out attics and basements during the bad weather. Until the weather breaks, you might as well be productive.

Clean out closets and/or draws one a day until you are finished.

Go through your clothes, towels, bed linens and tablecloths and see which ones you no longer need, like or use.

You can put them in a big bag or box for a springtime garage sale or you can simply donate them to your church or synagogue. My local animal shelter recently advertised that they needed these items for bedding for their animals so I brought bags of things I would no longer use to them.

Clean out your makeup drawer! If you haven’t used something in a year, toss it or give it to someone who may want or need it, if it is still good. Once mascara is opened, it can only be used for three months until bacteria forms inside the tube. If creams smell bad, toss them. There is a certain shelf life on cosmetics, so check them carefully. Otherwise, you are storing items that are unusable or bad.

When putting away holiday decorations, do one area of your home at a time. Pack things carefully so you won’t find them broken next year. Put tree decorations together, the manger and figurines in another box and all of your window and room decorations in another. Label each box with a big black magic marker or Sharpie pen. Rubbermaid makes lovely large containers which seal out moisture, so perhaps investing in a few of them will help make the storing of your decorations easier. You can color code the boxes for certain items.

Read; there is no time like winter to curl up in front of a fireplace or in a cozy chair and read. You can see TV all year long. At this time, there are mostly holiday specials on or repeats. Holiday specials are great, but they tend to play them over and over again.

Spend more time with family and friends. Have a few cocktail parties or get-togethers with finger foods. I was recently introduced to a fun game called “Apples to Apples.” I don’t like games but my sister-in-law said, “You don’t have to know anything or do anything that is hard,” so I gave it a try. We played for hours and had fun – both with the kids and adults. It also got us talking a lot more to each other and laughing way too much!

Catch up on recorded shows that you didn’t have time to see.

Catch up on sewing, crocheting or knitting projects while watching TV or listening to the radio or CD.

Sell your old treasures on eBay. There is nothing like the winter months to get you looking through your stuff to see that you don’t need a lot of things any longer. Get some money for them by selling them. It’s easy to sell on eBay if you have never done so before. Just read through the site and you will see how easy it truly is. If I can do it, so can you.

These are some of the suggestions I have for the winter season.

Good luck and enjoy the snow!

www.VikkiAnderson.com

Feng Shui for Autumn

by Rev. Vikki Anderson

Autumn is a wonderful time to clean out your house of all the things you no longer need, want or like. Many garage or yard sales are going on in local neighborhoods and you can make some extra cash by getting rid of your “treasures.” You never know what people are looking for and you may just have that odd piece of furniture, kitchen accessory/appliance or accent piece they have been looking for. This is also a great time to make room in your home, garage, basement and attic for the upcoming holidays. Remember, with the weather getting cooler and eventually colder with snow, your family needs room to relax, read a book or magazine, write out the bills, enjoy each other, watch TV or play video games, and do homework. They need a comfortable and organized living space.

With the new energy of the season, it is important to clear out the summer energy and have a more relaxed and calming environment. Many people rearrange furniture, change bed linens to glorious fall colors and change curtains in every room. Any alterations bring a change of energy with them so be sure that you feel comfortable, happy, relaxed and stress free after you redecorate or update your room’s look. If you are tired of the same old curtains or comforters, change them. If the same worn out throw pillows are a site for sore eyes, perhaps going to flea markets, garage sales or local stores who are having sales would be a good alternative. It will make you feel re-energized as you bring in new energy of the item and the color into your home.

A quick reference to colors:

The bold color brings in more vibrant and dynamic energy. The pastel of the color brings in the energy in a softer, more harmonious level. Remember that these colors also work if you are wearing them as clothing or accessories.

Black

Most teens wear black and now we know why they act the way they do! Black represents depression, upset, negativity, sadness, and feeling out of place or without a connection, despair, misery, hopelessness, dejection and melancholy.

Blue
This soothing color helps you express emotions, empathy, sympathy, compassion and sensitivity. Nice calming color for a bedroom.

Gray
This color is not recommended for rooms since it brings with it fears, doubts, worries, anxieties, being over whelmed, confused, lost, and indecisive.

Green
Peaceful and calm color. Brings in prosperity and abundance, financial security, fertility and growth. It gets projects “growing” in the right direction; it is a nurturing and supportive color.

Pink
This refreshing color brings harmony, peace, joy, self confidence, love, happiness and everything that will make you happy.

Purple
This is the most spiritual color which has the highest vibrational rate. Purple brings in esoteric interest and study, philosophy and honors all traditions. Metaphysical or spiritual knowledge is brought through this color for you to use or to pass it along to others who could use the knowledge and insight from Above.

Red
Assertive, dynamic, passionate and energetic color. Motivates people who are procrastinators. Brings vibrant energy, makes one self motivated, active and lively. Too much red can cause tempers and anger. I do not recommend this color if you are looking for a restful or peaceful environment.

Tan/Browns
This section includes beige, mauve, orange, and khaki as well. This is a very grounded, focused, stable and organized color. Tan, etc., brings a good foundation and is very secure. It helps you stay connected to Mother Earth, keeps your feet on the ground and makes one very persistent.

White
This is the sucker color. It brings energy of being too good, caring, loving, kind, generous, honest, trust worthy and doing everything for others and nothing for you. Eventually, you will become a doormat or have no life of your own since you are too busy helping others. Set some boundaries. (Never paint the inside of a house white if you want to sell it – it is a cold color and puts people off). I tell my students never to wear white underclothes as your foundation for the day is to be a sucker and have everyone take advantage of you! Wear more beige!

Yellow
This color stimulates the mind. It activates intelligence, logic, analytical and methodical thought and is a great color for a library, place where children study and where common sense is required.

Here are a few ways to bring in positive (chi) energy into your yard and home.

1. Put some beautiful fall potted plants on your front steps or walkway. This invites the outside into your home and allows the beautiful colors to attract family and friends to visit more.

2. Hang beautiful chimes from trees, your deck or house gutters for a melodious sound to relax and calm you.

3. Hang up whirl-i-gigs to promote positive chi to circulate around your property and remove any stagnant areas of dead or dying chi. There are many decorative ones for autumn, Thanksgiving, Christmas or any holy holiday or perhaps just winter scenes as it gets closer to December.

4. Plant bulbs for next year’s beautiful gardens! To correctly place the right color in the right area of your yard or garden, follow the ba gua colors (see http://www.vikkianderson.com/ under Feng Shui).

5. Burn white sage throughout your home, closets, bathroom, cellar, attic and around the house to ensure negative energy or negative chi is removed while keeping your windows in your home open at least 2” to allow the negativity to escape from your surroundings.

6. Place 60 MM aurora borealis crystals in windows that get the morning sun so that rainbows will dance on your ceiling and walls. Each room should have many colors in it for balanced energy.

7. Get rid of things you no longer need, want or like, so that you will have a clutter free space to enjoy and come home to each evening without feeling overwhelmed by the clutter.

8. A fresh coat of paint will do wonders for your space and your mood. Choose the proper color for the area of the ba gua you are painting; if you can’t, add a few decorative touches like pillows, books, candleholders, afghans, statues or paintings with the required colors in them.

9. Buy bamboo pieces. I use them as curtain rods in every room so the auspicious energy is blessing every room. If you can’t use them as curtain rods, stick one piece (two in the partnership area) leaning in a corner as a decorative piece. It certainly brings attention to a space.

10. Let the light into your home. Many people put heavier drapes and curtains for the autumn/winter months, but be sure to open them during the day to allow energy, opportunities and good luck into your home.

http://www.vikkianderson.com/ – check out the On Line Store. A full assortment of Feng Shui cures will be available on the site soon. For a private Feng Shui consultation, call Vikki Anderson at 973-492-3110 or email her at Starscape50@aol.com.

Feng Shui This!

By Vikki Anderson

Most of us don’t realize that we attract things to us by our thoughts, actions and most importantly our environment. Here are some of the simple tips that you could do to positively change the energy in your space. Just know, like everything else, this is a process and takes time.

We work with nine areas of life in Feng Shui which include: Skills & Knowledge, Self Cultivation and Wisdom; Family, Foundation and Ancestors; Prosperity, Abundance and Good Fortune; Fame and Reputation; Relationships, Love and Marriage; Creativity and Children; Helpful People, Travel and Benefactors; Career and Life Path; and Health. If you have clutter in any of these areas, there will most likely be an issue in that area of life.

Wind chimes and whirligigs are the most beautiful and easiest of the Feng Shui cures inside and outside of your home. If you feel you need the energy to flow better in a space, try these cures.

Front door entrances should be beautiful and welcoming. The space should be inviting so place a melodious chime over the front door area. Place a bell on the door so that when it is opened, not only would you hear the beautiful tone, but you will also be aware that someone has come into your space. If the walkway is a straight line from the street to your door, plant flowers, bulbs or evergreens strategically placed to slow down the chi (energy). A birdbath or bubbly fountain in the front yard will bring abundance into the home.

As you open the front door, you should see the inside of the home. If there is a wall in your view, a tasteful mirror will help bring in positive energy. Remove clutter. Having stairways upon entering a home allows the chi to run out of the house quickly. Plants at the bottom or on the stairs as well as crystals or chimes above the front door will help slow down the exiting chi.

Long narrow hallways need beautiful pictures or mirrors to slow down the chi from running down that space and exiting the home. You can also put planters or lighting on both sides of the hallway to keep the energy in your home longer.

Hang a 40-60mm leaded round crystal on a red cord in 9” increments on your ceiling fans to stop your money from being cut up.

Beams on a ceiling need bamboo flutes to lighten the heavy energy. Crystals may also be used.

Place a small ba gua (eight sided) mirror outside of all of your bathroom doors or above door trims. This keeps money from “going down the drain.”

De-clutter your home so that people feel comfortable. Clutter may cause allergies, health issues and depression. Make your home feel welcoming. Try to place properly sized furniture in rooms.

Live plants are best in a home, but if you must have silk, be sure that they look so real that people will have to touch them to know the difference. Remove dead or sickly plants and never keep old dried up bouquets of flowers visible.

Fountains or pictures of waterfalls would be appropriate for the wealth area. This area is also advantageous for an indoor or outdoor pool. Place a money vase filled with increments of money you would like to manifest to attract more financial opportunities.

The attics in the home are your future; your living space is the present and basements are the past. You should clean out accordingly, so that the past is in the basement, etc. Also, closets follow the same rule. The bottom is the past, the middle is the present and the shelves are the future. Keep them clutter free.

You need to put your intention into everything you do as well as perform specific prayers and mudras to activate many of these cures. One just can’t go around the house and place a crystal here and a chime there and think that you have Feng Shui’d your space. That is when a professional should be consulted; however, you can do many of the suggestions I’ve listed above to get on the road to a great start.

You may contact Vikki Anderson at www.VikkiAnderson.com or Starscape50@aol.com.

Feng Shui Your Garden

By Rev. Vikki Anderson

Spring time is fast approaching and most of us want to clean out the yard and plan our garden for the upcoming season. Here are suggestions to help you Feng Shui your garden to bring in positive chi into your environment.

Flowers raise an abundance of chi (universal and cosmic energy) but one must keep them well balanced for positive results. Dead plants cause sha chi (negative chi) to stagnate over your yard, garden or house. Using organic compounds instead of chemical ones goes without saying: we want to attract nature, not poison Mother Earth. Instead of agonizing over the dandelions that nature provides us each year, why don’t we revel with their sunny yellow faces that bring good health for you and your family.

There are several ways of approaching the ba gua enhancing features. The most powerful way is to mentally super-impose the ba gua over your entire yard or property. You would then want to plant corresponding colors to the appropriate color in the ba gua. For example, imagine an octagon (or a stop sign shape) over your property or the garden area. You can have several bagua’s throughout the property or just plan the property as if it were in the larger ba gua covering your entire property.

If you wish, you could add chi enhancing flowers on in the areas that correspond with issues that you are currently concerned with in this stage of your life. If space is at a premium, you might want to plant a mini bagua of flowers in the octagonal or round shape, using the corresponding colors in the middle of your yard. Use your driveway to alight the ba gua entering your property in either the Knowledge, Career or Helpful People gua.

There are a variety of special flowers associated with specific gua’s whose powers are defined below:

• Purple butterfly bushes attract butterflies which can enhance the Wealth area of your property. Spring time hyacinths, purple petunias, or asters could also be used. A holly bush in this area bring prosperity.
  

• Snapdragons call the atheric dragons to the Health and Family area of the bagua. Sage gives the area lots of energy. You can then dry the sage and use it for smudging your home, yard or yourself.
  

• Blue hydrangea or blue delphinium are great in the Knowledge area, as are tulips, peppermint, and spearmint.
  

• Black knight iris are a great conversation starter for a lovely spring day. Although it isn’t the color black, basil planted in the career area can bring fortitude.
  

• Dusty miller, fescue silver lining or silver artemesia in shades of gray can fortify the Helpful People gua.
  

• White peonies or chrysanthemums, two Chinese favorites, are great additions to plan in the Children and Creativity area. Don’t forget the daisy as these cheery little flowers can brighten anyone’s day.
  

• The pink rose will bless the Love and Marriage gua, but don’t overdo it! More than three bushes on an average size property can cause relationships to become too thorny. Balance this area, as well as the others, with different size and shaped plants by adding pink dianthus or geranium.
  

• There are many varieties of red flowers available for the Fame and Reputation area. Pick a flower that you feel is beautiful and which resonates with your energy.
  

• The center of the bagua (the earth/health) area is represented by yellows and browns or earth tones. Marigolds are not looked upon favorably from a Feng Shui perspective, so choose another species of yellow flower. Lemon Verbena can be recycled into potpourri when dried. Who can resist the simple beauty of a golden pansy?
  

• Outdoor plants and trees should not be located directly in front of the home’s entrance or block window views. Trees and bushes are providential when planted in multiples of three. While the most auspicious number in Feng Shui is nine, outdoor space may limit that option. Do not allow bushes to scratch against a home, and if you have pets or small children, be sure to research the plant’s toxicity before planting in your new garden.
  

• When planting, it is important to declare your intentions as to what you would like these flowers to bring into your life. Thank the Earth Gods, the fairies, the angels, Spirit or whomever you believe in for their part in the upcoming beauty, and add the whimsy of a windsock or whirl-i-gig to get the chi moving. In a few short weeks, you will enjoy the majesty and chi of butters, fireflies, bees and other beneficial life forms.

See more Feng Shui and metaphysical articles on www.VikkiAnderson.com.

Feng Shui for Summer!

By Vikki Anderson

Summer is a great time of the year to move positive chi around your home and garden. It’s a time when you can leave the windows wide open so that fresh air will circulate the chi (energy) throughout your home. It’s a time when you should enjoy the outdoors, family and friends and travel to all those destinations you’ve always dreamed about. But to do that, you should handle a few things ahead of time so that you can be ready to have fun at a moment’s notice.

Here are a few ways to bring in positive energy into your home and yard.

• Keep the house clean so you can leave at a moment’s notice without feeling guilty. Have your family pick up after themselves so you have less work to do. Iron, do wash or chores while you are watching TV, preparing meals, etc. You will be surprised at how many things you can do during commercials, while you are waiting for your meal to cook or play with your dog outside as you walk around the yard to pick up broken branches or leaves.
• Keep a small overnight bag packed for you and your family and place it in your car’s trunk. If an unplanned getaway or you get an overnight invitation for your kids (or an emergency arises), you will have all essentials already in the car and ready to go.
• Use paper plates when appropriate so you don’t have to do dishes every night!
• Have a night when you order take out so you give yourself a break from cooking and you can spend more time with the children or actually do something for yourself.
• Hang bells on your architectural front door to bring in positive energy every time you open it. If you don’t use your front door, make it a habit of going out the front door to get the mail or the newspaper, etc. so that your door is used.
• Clean the bath tub or shower while you are in the shower.
• Bring that pile of magazines you haven’t gotten to outside on the deck or patio so that when you are relaxing or enjoying the sun, you can get through them quickly and either give them away or recycle them. Or ask friends if they would like these magazines, bring them to a hospital waiting room or nursing home. Many of the smaller medical facilities will be happy to have the reading material for their patients.
• Keep lots of fresh fruits and vegetables on hand that are locally grown. Not only are you supporting the local farmers, but you also have healthier food and snacks to nourish you and your family.
• Buy or wear light and no wrinkle outfits for easy traveling and last minute plans. Wash and wear clothes are best so you can wash them, let them dry and be off again to another adventure without lugging an iron with you. Steamers also work well.
• Let the light into your home. Put up sheer curtains or pleated shades that can be opened from the top or bottom so you can maximize the sunlight and immediately feel re-energized. If appropriate, just put up valances on some windows for maximum sunlight.
• Check BBQ to be sure that the propane tank is filled and that all parts are in good working order. You don’t want to be surprised when you are entertaining guests.
• Get citronella candles for nighttime outdoor meals or parties to keep pests away from your gathering. Make sure you also have appropriate lighting.
• Ask family or friends to help with a home or yard project and then have a BBQ to thank them later that day. What a great way to end a hard day’s work.
• Hang beautiful chimes from your deck, trees or house gutters for a melodious sound to relax and calm you. Always have a book on hand that you’ve always wanted to read and didn’t have time. The sound of the chimes will de-stress you and you will be learning from or enjoying a good book at the same time.
• Have a landscaper take care of your lawn and garden so you can be free to enjoy your family and the good weather. If you can’t afford one, mow your lawn early in the morning so you can have the rest of the day free.
• Weed your garden for five minutes each day so that the weeds don’t overpower your beautiful flowers and you won’t feel overwhelmed when you decide to weed on the weekend.
• Take care of outdoor furniture by hosing it down throughout the summer. Cover it if you are going away so that it will not get dirty. When furniture gets muddy or dirty, no one wants to sit on it. Let everyone feel comfortable with clean furniture.
• Have a garage sale to get rid of the things you no longer want, need or like, but make some money from these items which can be used for a fun filled day with family or friends. If you don’t want to have a garage sale, donate to a local charity and get a tax donation form. You will be able to deduct the amount on your income taxes and you are decluttering your space making the space more positive.
• Make sure all outdoor furniture is in good condition or replace it for safety reasons.

• Check pool supplies and equipment to be sure everything is in perfect working condition so no one gets disappointed at the last minute. Be sure children’s flotation devices are safe.
• Trim any hedges or trees that might be dangerous or unsightly. For your family’s safety, shrubs should only be hip height at the front of your home. At that height, you will never be surprised by intruders.
• Keep outdoor lighting clean and in repair so that you can see where you are going in the evening and what is going on outside of your home at all times.
• Take a refreshing walk through a local park or your neighborhood. Everyone is outside now so you may meet new friends or neighbors or can catch up with a friend’s life if you walk together and get exercise at the same time! You can also listen to a learning CD or a CD you had just purchased. The trick is to do several things at the same time to save time and energy.
• Go to flea markets or yard sales and pick up things you need at a discount; however, be sure you get rid of three things for every new thing you bring into the house so that you are keeping on top of the clutter. You don’t need more junk in your home so be sure you need the item you purchase.
• Have your home and deck power washed. Then you can seal your deck for many hours of fun without damaging it.

There are many other things you can do around your home to make it a stress free and fun summer. Make your lists now and try to do a few things each and everyday. Before you know it, summer will be here and you will be enjoying yourself without care or worry.

Vikki Anderson is a certified BTB Feng Shui consultant and does private Feng Shui consultations. Call 973-492-3110 for an appointment or more information. www.VikkiAnderson.com.

Feng Shui for Springtime!

March 29, 2008 at 6:56 pm (Feng Shui) · Edit

By Rev. Vikki Anderson

Spring is a wonderful time to start cleaning out the yard, opening up the windows and letting the new fresh air of spring inside of your home and life.

With the new energy of the season, it is important to clear out the old stale energy from the winter and breathe new life into your environment.

Here are a few ways to bring in positive energy into your yard and home.

1. Put up a small bird bath or water fountain near the front entrance.
2. Hang beautiful chimes from trees, your deck or house gutters for a melodious sound to relax and calm you.
3. Hang up whirl-i-gigs to promote positive chi to circulate around your property and remove any stagnant areas of dead or dying chi.
4. Plant bulbs, annuals, perennials in bright colors. To correctly place the right color in the right area of your yard or garden, follow the ba gua colors (see www.VikkiAnderson.com under Feng Shui).
5. Burn white sage throughout your home, closets, bathroom, cellar, attic and around the house to ensure negative energy or negative chi is removed while keeping your windows in your home open to allow the negativity to escape from your surroundings.
6. Place 60 MM aurora borealis crystals in windows that get the morning sun so that rainbows will dance on your ceiling and walls. Each room should have many colors in it for balanced energy.
7. Get rid of things you no longer need, want or like, so that you will have a clutter free space to enjoy and come home to each evening without feeling overwhelmed by the clutter.
8. A fresh coat of paint will do wonders for your space and your mood. Choose the proper color for the area of the ba gua you are painting; if you can’t, add a few decorative touches like pillows, books, candleholders, statues or paintings with the required colors in them.
9. Let the light into your home. Put up sheer curtains or pleated shades that can be opened from the top or bottom so you can maximize the sunlight and feel re-energized.
10. Purchase a few Himalayan salt lamps, candle holders or prosperity bowls so their medicinal powers (helps with allergies, headaches, insomnia, depression and many more illnesses) and place them around your home to ensure your family’s continued good health.
    

A full assortment of Feng Shui cures will be available on the site soon. For a private Feng Shui consultation, call Vikki at 973-492-3110 or email her at Starscape50@aol.com.