Easy Feng Shui Tips

• The Basics

  There are five elements used in feng shui. They are wood, earth, metal, fire and water. When these elements are balanced in your home, you have a better balance in your life. According to Karen Rauch Carter, author of "Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life," the way to use these elements is "to place them in the appropriate area of the home and give intention that they work for your particular cause." Particular causes to which Carter refers can be broken down into nine zones: Prosperity, Fame and Reputation, Relationships and Love, Family, Health, Creativity and Children, Skills and Knowledge, Career, and Helpful People and Travel. The first thing you need to do to begin focusing on an area is to divide your home into nine sections, each relating to a previously listed life situation. In each designated space, there are actionable steps you can take to change the energy, therefore balancing and enhancing that area in your life.

• Action Tips

  Begin your experiment into feng shui by picking one of the nine zones, or life situations, that you would like to enhance and apply the following tips, respectively. Career and Life Path: Make sure your front door doesn't stick and opens all the way. Adding mirrors, glass and metal to your space enhances this zone. Prosperity: Keep toilet lids closed when not in use. Add mirrors or reflective objects behind or on top of your stove. Remove broken items or dead plants. Keep your house free of dirt and dust. Health: Add healthy plants or pictures of landscapes. Anything made of earth is also a good addition. Bring fruit and funny items into your space. Fame and Reputation: Fireplaces, lanterns, candles and light are excellent additions to enhance this area. Plants, or anything green, also create excellent energy. Add recognition items, such as diplomas, professional licenses or awards. Create a personal wish list and safely place it somewhere in your home. Relationships and Love: Add mirrors, candles, fresh flowers, the color red, or sensual sounds to increase the flow of energy into this area of your life. Remove negative images, uncleanliness or games. Creativity and Children: Add art, light and music to this area. Place a bed or bells in this area, if possible. Remove the color red or pointy objects. Family: Mend or repair anything that may be broken or need fixing in this space. Remove any deadly metal, such as guns or knives. Add wooden frames with family members. Bowls or centerpieces with natural elements like pine cones, acorns or nuts are good additions, along with any wooden products like bamboo or wicker. Skills and Knowledge: Remove drugs, alcohol, or anything you smoke. Clear away any clutter. Add books, light, food, symbols of mentors or wise people. Elements that are good for this space are wood, metal and water. Colors to use are blue, black and green. Helpful People and Travel: Add silver containers or boxes to this area. The color gray and symbols of favorite places are best for this space. Be sure to remove junk and cover any drains.

References & Resources

• Carter, Karen Rauch. "Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life." New York: Fireside, 2000.