There are many of us moving forward in to new ventures, lifestyles and ways of thinking. It isn't easy, we will make mistakes and we will be anxious. However; there is also a sense of diving in and stretching out our arms to merge in to that sea of newness with hope and excitement.
As holidays are coming to an end and as they do, we all start to look at new beginnings, the new school academic year starts, work colleagues return from final summer breaks and we start all over again. I have re-posted this first step in to Feng Shui for beginners. It is a very good place to start - as the song goes! Where Do I Start? Using the Bagua Map, you should have completed the process below. Create a drawing of your whole space within a square Place the map on a drawing of your whole living place
I have a friend who had to leave everything behind her for a range of personal reasons. She is a young woman who is embarrassed that she has mismatching plates and mugs to use for guests. It was her birthday and it was a lovely excuse for me to go to the Zara Home sale and buy her pretty white plates, bowls and lovely water glasses. It made her so happy so easily. As a lover of beautiful cups, plates and way too many vintage glasses, I love finding bargains and also appreciate the expensive porcelain as well. Beautiful
Metal is an interesting Feng Shui element and in its positive form it represents purity, clarity, honesty and freshness. In its negative form, it can be blunt, cool and too precise. The key colours that partner with metal are shades of grey and tones of white. The other elements include Earth which strengthens and creates the Metal element and Metal is aligned with Water as it is created from Metal. The elements to avoid are Fire as that melts Water and Wood as Metal cuts down Wood. Where Can I use Metal? Checking out the Bagua Map, a
Raymond Peynet is a famous French illustrator and known for his poignant drawings of lovers. There is a tender element that strikes you when you view his work. This lovely statue is in a central area in Antibes outside a tiny museum in his memory. With so much going on, we need to remind ourselves of kindness, compassion and unconditional love.
Human nature is like water. It takes the shape of its container - Wallace Stevens. In Feng Shui, Water is the word for Shui and is seen as a yin energy that flows, representing emotion, wisdom and offering life and often needing to be contained. Within a positive partnership, Water needs Wood to grow and Water is created from Metal. In a negative partnership, Water puts out Fire and Earth drains Water. While this is the general cycle, there are times where you may wish to weaken the Fire or Earth elements in your space. Let's check out the Bagua
It’s Complicated. Feng Shui is based on our Chi, our life energy and how we interact with our environment. Like me, you will end up reading so much that is confusing. There is the original ancient compass method including your personal birth calculation and other aspects, but they are wrapped up in Old Chinese culture, lifestyle and architecture. We will follow the modern Black Hat Method. Using the 5 elements and colour map, an interior space can be created that sings to you. I am so lucky to have found my mentor, Clear Englebert, and you can find a
Follow my blog with Bloglovin “The home should be the treasure chest of living.” Le Corbusier. We lived in an amazing city, Berlin, with its truly international, diverse history, architecture and challenging bureaucracy. We had a lovely apartment that felt as if it was in a treehouse and it had a gentle but fun energy. The colours were perfect with soft hues of sky blue, cafe latte and cream. But our hearts need to be near the sea in all seasons and I have a strong connection with the French culture. The South of France is an escape from
What on earth is the Earth element? In Feng Shui, it is all about grounding, stabilising and nourishing the inner core of your space. In the 5 elements life cycle, when balanced, Earth is made from Fire and it is where Wood and life grow, it also creates and polishes Metal. If in a negative cycle, Earth can be weakened by too much Wood, depleting it of energy, and Water can muddy Earth. In the Bagua map, it is the key element for the Inner Knowledge and Relationships sectors. It is also the key element for the centre of
Let's talk about jewel colours - ruby, amethyst, aquamarine, emerald, sapphire, citrine and topaz. They add style and drama, often lacking in neutral tones, and in the right amount, can offer warmth and a deluxe hotel feel. These tones that are on trend at the moment, can be seen from the living room to the bedroom, offering elegance and making a real statement. If you choose to use one or more of these, you need to ask yourself, how much? Do you go big and bold or just accent? It does require planning and careful selection of colour and