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Feng
Shui - The Family's Place For The Heart
By Amy F. Goodmann
Every home needs a place where the family gathers together and
shares their time – where the human energy or ren qi ( rem
chi) can be focused and vitally nourished. These days it is often
the family room – attached to the kitchen and opening onto
the back garden, As well it may well be the dining room, eat
in kitchen. In the winter time it may even be living room if
there is a warm welcome and especially if there is a raging fire
in the fireplace. Giving your home a happy and healthy heart
will bring harmony and prosperity to your family life.
For the hub of the modern home it
is essential that the qi flows freely in your family room and
has access to the rest of your house. With its central location
it is associated with the earth element and the color yellow,
and because of it lively function the family room is yang.
The best orientation is where the room can capture the sun’s
warmth for the better part of the day- toward the south or southeast
in the northern hemisphere or the north or northeast in the southern
hemisphere. If your family room lies on the less sunny side of
the house, make sure that you have plenty of light- hooded windows
or skylight will help- but if your family room is affected by
the strong western sun, protect it with awnings, blinds or pretty
pergola.
If possible, have your family room open out onto a garden or
courtyard- this will increase the flow of qi and allows the family
to easily flow outside in the warm weather. |
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In terms of the dining room and
dining rooms area the Chinese believe that you should never be
distracted during a meal because eating feeds both the body and
spirit. Indeed a classic Chinese greeting is “Have you eaten
yet?” It is thus best not to make your dining room décor
too startling and eye catching. Better to be on lie on the more
conservative side.
If the dining room and kitchen are too near the front door it
is said that the family will be preoccupied with eating and also
the guests will tend to eat and run. If attached to the family
room or kitchen make your dining room a separate space simply
by using plants or screens to block distractions. Two doorways
will let qi flow in and out but if there is only one doorway
allow enough space around it for easy access.
Lastly the arranging of tables and chairs can be done in a way
to bring great health and happiness. Chairs should be comfortable
so that diners can take their time to eat and not be harried.
Ideally chairs should have good back rests and arms- this is
the “: armchair” shape of the four animal spirits.
It is best to place chairs with their backs to the wall rather
than to windows and doors. Ensure that the count of the number
of dining room chairs is even in number. Even numbers represent
luck where single chairs aloneness and loneliness. If you do
have odd chairs simply add on extra chair or remove the solitary
chair from the settings.
A round table is always best. Next in line in choice is an octagonal
table. If your only choice is a square or rectangular table ensures
that no one gets a corner. The negative sha qi can well cause
digestive problems or even a bad temper. Feng Shui! |
