The Square Life

If you want your Ch’i to flow smoothly (as we all do), then feng shui’s your way to a positive and enlightening environment. Say goodbye to edgy corners and trash cluttering up your floor. Say hello to a house practically glowing with energy patterns.

Surely you remember that feng shui represents five elements: fire, water, earth, wood and water. As the stronger and weaker areas in your home shift with the New Year, you can combat the negativity thus created by using those elements as a sort of shield.

Helpful hints:

• The West side of your house is weaker for health this year. Strengthen it by adding elements of water and metal. Fresh water in a metal bowl works.

• The Southwest side of your house is strong for romantic relationships and pregnancy. You can enhance those areas of your life by adding elements of fire here, along the lines of things that are red or candles, incense, etc.

• The East side is also good for romance this year. You can cultivate that budding love by placing plants, or flowers here. Think green.

• Avoid leaving shoes or slippers around the main entrance to your home. The space needs to be free and clear to allow the Ch’i to flow unimpeded.

• If you want to have a good rest, your bed should have a solid wall behind it. The solid wall helps you to go into a deeper sleep and get a better rest.

• Open your bedroom windows for at least 20 minutes once a day to allow fresh Ch’i to flow in. If you don’t, you’ll sleep with stale Ch’i every night, blocking the good fortune you might otherwise enjoy.

• Avoid having a refrigerator, washing machine or toilet opposite your stove in the kitchen. Fire and water are opposites, and the collision can create contention in your kitchen.