Day 3 Feng Shui Life Make-Over

by Deborah Redfern, Feng Shui Studies

Feng Shui Enhancements have several purposes, one of which is to activate the energy of a bagua area and infuse the area with Intention.  Wood Element symbols are a wonderful feng shui enhancement to add to your home or office because they represent these following qualities:

• forward movement
• growth
• expansion
• rebirth
• breaking past obstacles

The Wood Element is represented in two areas of the bagua map: Family area and the Prosperity area, which are located in the rear left and rear middle of the house or office as you face the front door.  The following diagram of the bagua map shows you where these areas are located. If you need directions on how to apply  the bagua map to your home, see How to Draw the Bagua Map.

Wood Element Symbols

As you can imagine, the strongest symbol for Wood element area are plants and flowers which are symbols of growth: healthy green plants, potted trees, flowering plants and vases of flowers.

Some plants and flowers are considered better than others: I would say the number one criteria is that they are healthy. Silk foliage and flowers are an alternative if the area you want to put the greenery in does not receive enough light to maintain a healthy plant.

Other symbols you can consider are those which are reminiscent of the trunk of a tree, such as rectangular shapes, long narrow stripes, columns or tall lamps (especially ‘uplights’).

Colors: green for foliage of course, but also blue and purple are considered appropriate symbols for the Wood Element.

Patterns: stripes and floral patterns.

Family Area symbols- this could be family photographs, or a collection of items or images that area a symbolic family.

The Family area also represents where you have come from – your family heritage, your past history and your roots. A wood element symbol could be an items which celebrates where you have come from, or it could be just the opposite – a symbol which represents breaking free of obstacles from the past.

The Prosperity area represents all forms of abundance and prosperity: from financial prosperity to having abundance in love and relationships, creativity and luck. 

Day 3 Exercise: Choose Your Symbols

Choose Wood Element symbols  that reflect who you are and the change you want to bring into your life with care.  You can of course choose among the traditional symbols of growth I have listed above, but you are by no means limited; in fact the most powerful symbols are ones which have deep personal meaning for you.

Have you worked on the Exercises for Day One and Two? (Day One: What do you want to bring into your life, and Day Two: Be aware of the meaning your belongings have for you). These will undoubtely inspire and influence your choice. You may in fact, find that you already own the symbols you wish to use and just need to put them in the corresponding Wood Element areas.

You could choice one enhancement to represent both the Family and the Prosperity area, or a unique enhancement for each area.

Placing Your Enhancement

People often ask if anything particular needs to be done when placing a feng shui enhancement, such as a ceremony. To me, the most important thing is the Intention behind it and the way in which you honour that Intention. For some people doing a ceremony helps them to honour their Intentions, for others, simply Knowing is enough.

For doing a ceremony, here are some guidelines.

Write your Intentions down (either for your life, or for the bagua areas you are working in, and read them as you place the enhancement. Additionally you may place the paper under the object or bury it in the soil (in the case of it being a plant).

Here is a blessing I find particularly poignant for this area:

I Anticipate Great Good
And Open My Heart to It

I am alert to new beginnings. I open my heart to bless the “hello” that comes to me uninvited and unexpected. I bring to my world a child’s openness to new companions. I allow myself to be met. In the face of new beginnings, I practice curiosity and expansion. I embrace risk and I open to play. Mine is a festive heart. I do not allow old songs and old ideas to become the only melodies I will listen to. I practice a listening heart. I am attentive to the pipings of small adventures. Even in the face of haste, even in the light of past experience, I entertain optimism, allow enthusiasm, encourage care. My heart is resilient and expansive. I cherish all that I have and welcome my ability to care still further for all that yet is offered me.

Blessings: Prayers and Declarations for  a Heartful Life, by Julia Cameron 

 

© Deborah Redfern 2010. All rights reserved.

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