18 Ways to Fire Up Your Living Space

Auspicious placement of furniture and decorations will clear any blocked energy pathways and charge the positive nature of chi. The following will give you the secrets of energizing the chi of a living room while making your bedroom as restful haven will give you the opportunity to make your home a refuge against the problems of the outside world.

1. Empowering the Main Door

The main door of your home is where the powerful cosmic energy of the outer environment connects with and enters your home. Display image of auspicious creatures near the vicinity of the door to empower it.

2. Feeding the Growth energy at Doorways with Water

The presence of water when located either inside or outside the home promotes the growth energy. It is vital ingredient that brings never-ending good fortune.

3. Creating Good energy on Both side of the Door

Keep the inside and outside the door free of clutter and clean at all times. Create a pool of five elements energy to symbolize universe of good energy. Water brings a flow of wealth, fire brings success and recognition, metal brings protection and strength, earth brings grounding luck and wood brings growth and expansion. Use your creativity to work at creating this five element near your door.

4. Protect your main door with Fu Dogs

The presence of Metal energy in the form of celestial guardian such as Chi Lin or Fu Dog flanking the door offers strong protection against afflictive energies. Activate your guardians by tying a red ribbon.

5. Clearing blockages in the Hallway

Do not let packages, shoes and so on to accumulate in the foyer area of your home. It is fine to have some furniture in you hall to slow down chi but don’t let too many pile up.

6. Creating Feng Shui Strength in the Living Room

Activate the eight corners with symbolic decorative images. Check the following charts. Auspicious objects create good chi and bring positive benefits.

7. Bright Light Always generates Yang energy

Be sensitive to the moods created in your home by light. Never overly dark with lots of shadows for the living room. Home is always luckier when the ambience is bright.

8. Let Natural Sound permeate your living areas

Keep a pair of dogs or cats to create emit natural sounds. Alternatively, you can use radio or television. Silent home suggests the yin aura of tombs and undergrounds places.

9. Create meandering flows of chi in your home

When you arrange the furniture of your home create a mental image of traffic flow – How people will walk around objects. Direct the traffic flow by placing pieces of heavy furniture in strategic places. Make sure the flow is meandering and people will not prone to walking into obstacle or corners.

10. Golden rules for kitchen location

The kitchen must be deep inside and should not be visible from the front door. Avoid in the Northwest and Southwest.

11. Rearrange your Décor at frequent intervals

Rearrange furniture is beneficial because it re-channels the patterns of chi energy, reflecting its dynamic nature and attracting new cosmic energy into your home.

12. Bring in Daily doses of Sun energy

It is very effective way to make sure that the family stays together and that all members are blessed by the powerful rejuvenating energy of the sun. Hang crystal on windows that catch the rays of sun directly.

13. Dining Room Mirror Double abundance

Choose a wall mirror that is large enough to suggest wealth and perosperity. A mirror that refelects all family members as well as the food on the table. This mirror will attract good fortune.

14. Managing Fire and water elements

Inside your kitchen make sure that the water tap is not near the stove and doesn’t directly face it. The stove symbolizes the fire element which will react negatively to the water element.

15. Revitalizing Salt rituals in Kitchens

Once a year give the floor, door and walls of the kitchen a salt wipe to ensure that kitchen surfaces are clear of negative shi and that food cooked in your kitchen never gets afflicted by harmful or stagnant energy.

16. Restful Energy in The bedroom

Your bedroom signifies a place of security and sanctuary. It is best to choose soothing colours rather than stimulating ones. Avoid too much yang energy in the bedroom. Try not to activate the bedroom with too many decorative objects especially wedding photos.

17. Cleansing Ceremonies in bedrooms

Wipe all the surfaces in the bedroom with a cleaning cloth dipped in natural salt water. Then, use space clearing tools to cleanse stagnate chi that may have accumulated. Open all your windows and doors to allow good flow of chi.

18. Observe the renovation taboos every year

There are taboo areas to leave well alone. Renovations or other disturbances in these areas will cause misfortune to befall those living in the house. Suppress the afflicted area with cure and enhance the good area.

Dealing With Bad Chi People

Dealing With Bad Chi People

If you have been feeling victimized, if someone has been making your life miserable by politicking against you, speaking bad about you, spreading lies about you and generally causing you grief and you are being affected by it, then their bad chi has definitely pierced through your aura. When this happens and you don’t do something about it, the result is you begin to feel worse and worse, and soon you will descend into a horrible spiral of feeling miserable and sorry for yourself.

It is important that you recognize this. Those familiar with this syndrome will probably advise you to “ignore” this kind of aggressive and insinuous attack against you, but of course easier said then done, especially when you do not yet have the experience and maturity needed to cope.

Yet it is vital that you do not allow yourself to get into a downward spiral of misery. Otherwise the situation will succeed in pulling you down. So when you feel this happening, here are 2 excellent ways to deal with the situation.

(1) Get two ripe and juicy lime fruits. It is best to pluck them directly off a plant if you have one. If not, you can look for this lime in the market. There are 2 varieties – the smooth limes that resemble miniature oranges and are about the size of a 20 cents coin OR they are the mottled more fragrant variety.

Both are suitable. Bring them home and do not wash them. Hold one each in the palm of your hands and roll them in your palms while thinking, “all the bad vibes, gossip and bad intentions of this person (if you know his/her name say it silently to yourself) is flowing into the lime, keep rubbing the lime in the palm of your hands for about 10 minutes, then go to a big drain or better yet a river and throw both limes over your right and left shoulders into the drain or river, and DO NOT look back.

Just think that you have successfully removed all the bad chi, bad luck and bad intentions from your body and mind.

Return home and have a salt bath. You will find that whoever it is who has been giving you a hard time will cease to have any more effect on you. This is also an excellent way to reduce the pain of losing a loved one and to get through a particularly bad luck month. The lime is believed to have the power to symbolically draw out all the negatives from your aura.

(2) Another really effective way is to think of whoever is causing you grief and visualize that person getting smaller and smaller. Then open up your right palm in front of your face about 8 inches from your mouth.

Imagine this person standing about 3 inches tall on your palm, then with a smile blow hard on your palm, and as you blow, imagine that your enemy is sent into the cosmos where he/she no longer has any power to hurt you.

This is an excellent way to reduce and even completely remove all the negatives associated with that person in your mind.

The important thing to understand about these cures is that while you cannot do anything about what people say about you, you are in control of your own reaction towards them. Sometimes it is our own mind that blows things out of proportion so we end up getting hurt by our own perceptions.

By using the above 2 cures – the first a ritual and the second a visualization, anyone can significantly reduce the impact on one’s own mind.

The result is that you become a happier person. With practice, you will find that the negative people you are bound to encounter in life will soon have lost their power to disturb your mind.

Activating Your Fame Corner

Activating Your Fame Corner

Are you feeling unappreciated and your efforts unacknowledged in a career where fame, recognition and a good reputation are essential for success?

Make your fire of fame burn bright by energizing the fire element of the south, the fame corner. One of the best and easiest methods is to use bright lights - spotlights, crystal chandeliers and twinkling lights. Lights signify valuable yang energy and so they are especially potent. Just be sure that they are white, yellow or red, which are yang colours, and not yin colours like blue or black.

The colour red is particularly effective in activating the recognition factor. Everyday objects with red as their dominant colour can also be displayed in the south. These include soft furnishings such as upholstery, lampshades, drapes, bedspreads, rugs and carpets.

You can also use objects of the fire element to energize the fame (south) corner of your home. A fireplace is an exceptionally good way to do this, and its effects are especially evident during winter months when there is a great deal of yin energy present; when the warm, bright, cheery yang energy is most needed. In tropical countries where there is no practical need for a fireplace, other objects can be used to represent the fire element.

Since wood produces fire in the productive cycle, both wood and fire motifs can be incorporated into the interior decoration of rooms in the south part of the home, or on walls in the south side of a room. The wood element is best stimulated with plants, either live or artificial. Pine cones, banzai trees or other plants can be used for this.

You can also light red candles, hang a painting with red as the dominant colour or a photograph frame made of wood in this corner as they would be excellent supplements to the fire element.

The Exuberant, Fiery Horse - Your Ticket to Fame

The Exuberant, Fiery Horse - Your Ticket to Fame

Does your profession require you to be well known and easily recognized? Are you or do you aspire to be a politician, model, singer, actor, writer, sportsman, or any other public figure? Well, here are some pointers that may help you along the way to achieving the fame you desire!

According to the Pa Kua of the Later Heaven Arrangement, the trigram that represents fame, recognition and reputation is Li, placed in the South. This means that the southern wall or corner of any home or room is the fame corner. The ruling element of the south is fire.

To energize the fame corner and activate opportunities for becoming famous and widely respected, place something that symbolizes fire in the south: bright lights, sun motifs, red-coloured objects and anything else that suggests this element.

You may also use objects that symbolize the wood element, as in the productive cycle, fire is produced by wood, so wood is said to be good for it. Avoid the water element as water destroys fire.

An excellent and most appropriate symbol to place in the South is an image of the horse. In Feng Shui, the horse, whose natural element is fire, is the seventh creature of the Chinese zodiac. It is favorably regarded as one of the animals that exude Yang energy and its representative direction on the zodiac is the South.

The horse is also one of the precious animals included in the mandala offering to Buddha. It's emblematic of nobility, class and a comfortable lifestyle, and stands for speed and perseverance.

When the horse is depicted laden with valuables such as gold ingots, pearls, precious stones, gold coins, etc, it is particularly precious and represents the aspiration of a comfortable life and the attainment of high rank, which brings recognition and a life of ease and luxury.

Another type of horse that is good for display is the tribute horse, which the Chinese always associate with gifts given to emperors and other powerful court officials - the tribute horse has been associated with gifts brought by the vanquished to the victors. Thus, if you're involved in a competitive situation, use a painting or sculpture with the tribute horse as the subject to bring you victory luck.

If you cannot find such an image, look for something that shows a precious horse (preferably white) that is being led and not ridden by an official. This symbolizes upward mobility and promotion, and is very auspicious indeed.

The horse is best placed in the living and family areas, but never in the bedrooms. Also, do not display a horse that is rearing up, particularly if it's directly behind you or directly confronting you, as this may cause you accidents and physical problems related to the limbs. Instead, get a statuette or painting of a horse or horses that are in non-threatening postures.

Reading the Faces of Future Queens

Reading the Faces of Future Queens

When Lady Diana Spencer married into the British Royal family, she developed into the most popular princess of her time. She had beautiful features and was idolized. But sadly her face did not indicate she would ever wear a crown. If you look at close-ups of her, especially after she became Princess of Wales, you can see she has a crooked nose, a serious imbalance which brings misfortune. As she matured, her cheekbones became increasingly more sunken and her eyes took on a haunted look. It is no surprise that indignities and tragedy eventually befell her.

Now fast forward to more recent times. If you look closely at the face of another princess, also a commoner who marries a crown prince - Princess Masako of Japan - her face too has taken on a sunken appearance. Although in her case her husband loves and supports her, her face also lacks the look of a Queen. Will she eventually become Empress of Japan? If face-reading techniques are anything to go by, it seems not. JENNIFER TOO takes a detailed look at the faces of some of the more prominent of today’s commoners who became crown princesses to see who among them will or will not become Queen.

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark

Of the handful of commoner women who in recent years won the heart of Crown Princes and went on to marry them to become Crown Princesses, one stands out prominently. This is no other than the stunning Mary Donaldson who has become Princess Mary of Denmark. Here is a woman who has an almost perfect face with several features that mark her out to be someone incredibly special.

To start with, Princess Mary has a perfect egg-shaped face which according to Chinese face reading techniques is the ultimate face shape to have. An egg-shape face for a woman indicates she is certain to marry well - either to someone very wealthy or someone who comes from a ruling family. In olden days when the eunuchs of emperors looked throughout the kingdom for potential brides for the Emperor, they would look for women with egg-shaped faces, flawless complexions, small rosebud lips and bright, sparkling eyes.

If you look closely at Mary Donaldson’s face, you can see she has all these features. Her nose can be described as aristocratic; it is neither too big nor too small, and has a delicate look without appearing thin. It has flesh but is not excessively fleshy, and her nostrils are also discreet. Most importantly, her nose is straight, well-balanced and slightly tilted upwards – a mark of someone who is or who will become aristocratic. It is likely that Mary’s body also reveals some special marks, for she was born several continents from the home of her Prince Charming, the dashing Prince Frederick of Denmark.

Mary’s background is as far removed from that of Prince Frederick as is possible, yet against all odds, they met, fell in love and got married. Prince Frederick is not just any Prince. He is heir to the throne of Denmark and the Royal House of Denmark is reputed to be one of the wealthiest in Europe. Its fortune they say surpasses that of Queen Elizabeth of England.

What is lucky about Mary’s cheeks is that they indicate not just wealth and more than enough to eat, but also success, a life of luxury and great popularity. She also seems to know how to put just enough colour on her cheeks, thereby ensuring continuous good fortune and a happy marriage.

Mary keeps her hair long and silky and this complements her overall look. There is perfect symmetry and balance to her face and the Chinese always stress this when they speak of appearances bringing a good destiny. Finally, if you look at Mary’s chin, it is slightly pointed and also tilted slightly upwards; these are two important signs of power in old age. Women with this kind of chin are well favoured among the lady dowagers of China as they are said to bring excellent fortunes to their husbands.

Mary’s chin rounds up a very lucky and special face. It suggests that Princess Mary will ascend the throne of Denmark. She will have more than one son and will become more popular as she matures.

Princesses Masako of Japan

In Japan, we meet Crown Princess Masako, 41, whose face is a striking example of a woman who could find her later years getting increasingly difficult. Princess Masako is the wife of the future emperor. She was a successful diplomat with a promising career when she married the Japanese Crown Prince. Reports suggest she had her misgivings and hesitated several months before agreeing to the marriage. Prince Naruhito, the Crown Prince, persevered, reportedly phoning her night after night during their eight-month courtship.

Educated at Oxford and Harvard, she took the royal role reluctantly. It was as if she suspected she might not ably handle the stress of being Royal. She has since been proven right.

Look at her face. There are many tell-tale signs of imbalance in the middling years (from the eyes down to the mouth). Her complexion is sallow despite use of make-up. Her eyes are shadowed and taper downwards. They also look swollen and sunken. Masako’s cheeks look very depressed as if the flesh were sagging. There is no colour on her face. Instead, there is only an air of unhappiness.

Her face is tight and full of tension. Her teeth are uneven. Her nose, although straight and indicative of wealth, seems too large for her face. And her smile is forced. It is the face of someone suffering, and more unhappiness gets etched on her face, the longer she will endure her unhappiness.

From her face we can see that her “middle” years, which should have been her happiest (between 30 to 45 years), are turning out to be her most stressful. Reports suggest she is under a lot of pressure to produce a son and heir, and at one stage had a breakdown during which her in-laws the Emperor and Empress were said to be distinctly unimpressed.

Today, Masako is still not fully recovered from her severe mental collapse and is seen only rarely in public. Her husband, Prince Naruhito, often photographed with their three-year-old daughter Aiko, is strongly and publicly supportive. When they married, Masako was a talented and multilingual career woman who had lived and worked abroad. One can say she was then a thoroughly modern Japanese. After eight stifling years of marriage, she has lost her vibrancy. No longer allowed to articulate herself in public, she has become a demure, soft-spoken shadow, walking three steps behind her husband. The change is reflected on her face and body. Will she eventually ascend the throne as Empress? We will have to compare her face with that of a rival princess, her sister-in-law, another commoner who also married a prince – Naruhito’s brother Prince Akarshino.

Princess Kiko of Japan

These days, Princess Masako is overshadowed by Princess Kiko, who gave birth to a baby boy in September, thereby ensuring the survival of the Japanese imperial line of male succession for another generation. The response to this has been electrifying. Millions issued congratulations and celebrated for weeks.

Japan is divided into opposing camps of royal watchers: Team Kiko versus Team Masako. It is an unusual development. The Japanese Imperial family is the oldest royal line in the world, but it is also the most tightly controlled. Members of the Royal family cannot have last names, cannot own personal wealth, cannot have opinions and are assumed to have no personal lives.

Today Masako and Kiko are living symbols of the pressure confronting Japanese women – to be modern or traditional. Princess Kiko is cheerful where Masako is miserable. Kiko is relaxed and the role of princess sits easily on her. The drumbeat of praise for Kiko continues unabated, while Masako has become an object of pity. This, sadly, is reflected on her face.

Let us take a look at the face of Princess Kiko. She can do no wrong these days. Since giving birth to the heir to the Chrysanthemum Throne, she has been extolled as a model wife, a paragon of motherhood and a national symbol of courage. She has an auspicious oval face and her cheeks are well balanced.

Her eyes are bright and sharp and they are a lucky almond shape with a slight upward tilt. Her forehead is clear and her nose is straight and symmetrical. Her lips are small and her chin is rounded. Overall, Princess Kiko’s face is well proportioned with straight brows and a straight nose. There is a symmetry here that implies good fortune.

It is indeed the kind of face that suggests continued upward mobility. The more you look at her face, the more you will be struck by its sheer clarity and symmetry. There are also no aimless or distracting lines on her face. Her entire face is smooth and unblemished. She could well become Empress.

Letizia Ortiz of Spain

Married to the Spanish Crown Prince Felipe in the summer of 2004, Letizia was formerly a TV journalist. She has since given birth to a girl Lenore and is reportedly expecting a second child in May next year.

Her face reflects her fortune indeed. It has plenty of yang energy and her cheeks are prominent. She has a straight nose that is also slightly tilted upwards.

Her eyes are bright and balanced and she has a prominent forehead. Her cheeks are full indicating she brings good luck to her husband. Her face shows wealth and happiness into old age. She is likely to continue having good fortune. If Prince Felipe, her husband, ascends the Spanish throne, so too will she, for hers is a face that continues to be loved by her spouse
.

Mette Marit of Norway

When the Crown Prince of Norway, dashing Prince Haakon, announced he was dating Mette-Marit Tjessem Hoiby (an unwed mother with a four-year-old son) with a view to marrying her, the Norwegian press became abuzz with stories of the future Crown Princess’ past.

Mette Marit took the unusual step just days before her wedding to clear the slate at the start of the long path to her someday becoming Queen of Norway. She admitted to having used drugs and having led a ‘wild life’. Mette also confided she had worked as a part-time waitress before. Then with her Prince by her side, she appealed for the matter of her past to be firmly closed, and closed it has stayed since her marriage in August of 2001. She and her Prince have a daughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra born in January 2004.

If you look at Princess Mette Marit’s face you can see courage and determination written all over it. She has a clear forehead and her eyes are well spaced apart. They appear bright with a hint of a smile. Most importantly, her cheeks are extremely auspicious as they are full without being fleshy. She has a straight nose with both sides well proportioned.

Like the other women who married crown princes, note she also has a pointed and slightly up-tilted chin, which indicates a life of wealth and luxury. Her entire face is balanced and well proportioned. This predicts she will have good fortune which gets better as she matures and there is every likelihood that should her husband ascend the throne that she will too.

Kate Middleton girlfriend of Prince William

Now we take a look at the girlfriend of Prince William, heir to the throne of Great Britain and eldest son of Princess Diana. The lovely Kate Middleton has a face that resembles that of Denmark’s Princess Mary. Kate’s face exhibits all the indications of the presence of a royal and princely boyfriend in her life. In fact, her face indicates plenty of good fortune. It is full without being fat and it has plenty of yang energy. Her face is brimming with good health and she has many features that indicate good fortune that reinforce each other. It is likely that not only will she marry a very noble and high born husband, she will also be much loved as well. The Chinese describe this kind of face as being not just filled with good fortune, but one that also attracts luck to those around her. To start with, Kate, like Mary, has a perfect egg-shaped face. Chinese face reading always describes women with this oval-shaped face as destined to having a good life filled to the brim with creature comforts. This kind of woman has many admirers throughout her life. When other indications also confirm it, they will enjoy great fame and success and they will be much loved.

Kate’s eyes are well balanced on both sides of the face. Her high forehead indicates a sensible intelligent mind while her nose indicates she is surrounded by great wealth and will live a life filled with luxuries. So whether or not she marries Prince William, she is destined to contract a brilliant marriage.

Kate’s cheeks are what bring her extreme good fortune. All through her middling years, she will enjoy good fortune and she will have many children. Her luck continues into her mature years.

Her chin is another good feature - it is pointed and slightly tilted upwards. This suggests she will continue to enjoy good fortune in her later years. It is also an indication she will hold a high positon in her old age.

If she does indeed marry Prince William, her face suggests she has the destiny to become Queen. From her face, it seems that if this is to happen, it will be sooner rather than later in her life. If she does marry Prince William, it will be the first time in Engish history that a future king has married a commoner who is not an aristocrat.

How to Feng Shui Your Website

How to Feng Shui Your Website

Ever since the internet went worldwide in 1993, communication has just progressed by leaps and bounds. Following that, businesses of all sorts have decided to take the path of the information superhighway. After all, going online meant that you could reach people who were living halfway around the world just as easily as if they were next to you.

Everything being constantly in flux, even the application of Feng Shui principles has taken on a very contemporary appeal. Here, we offer some tips on website Feng Shui, which you can combine with your own innovative ideas for a modern yet auspicious website design.

Similar to masthead designs in newspapers and magazines, the top of your webpage should have a prominent display of your company name, company logo and nature of business.

When designing your company logo please keep in mind that rounded and curved shapes are preferred over sharp and angular ones. Avoid incorporating inauspicious elements in your logo design because these harbor negative energy. In any case, if your company logo happens to be angular and you cannot change it, then make sure that none of the Poison Arrows are directed at your company name or even your product name.

For an idea on what auspicious colors or shapes to use, apply the 5 element analysis to the nature of your business. First, check the table below for the dominant elements symbolized by your business. Then, refer to the appropriate colors and shapes for your design.

NATURE OF BUSINESS	PRIMARY			SECONDARY
	Element	Color	Shape	Element	Color	Shape
Restaurant	fire	red	triangular	wood	green	rectangular
Architecture, Building, Real estate	earth	yellow	square	fire	red	triangular
Automotive, Electronics, Engineering, Equipment, Jewelry, Machinery, Mining	metal	white	round	earth	yellow	square
Banking, Insurance, Money -changing, Shipping, Trading, Travel	water	black	wavy	metal	white	round
Farming, Forestry, Furniture, Gardening, Horticulture, Sawmill	wood	green	rectangular	water	black	Wavy

But there is one very important point I have to stress on. Don't get so carried away with the idea of applying Feng Shui to your web design that you end up having an entire Pa-Kua on your website.

(Caution: Do not put a Pa-Kua on your website. It is a very potent symbol used for protection. Hence, it is normally displayed to deflect Shar Chi. If it is incorrectly used, its power to repel may put off many of your would-be users.) Lastly, try to aim for a well-balanced design for your website. When the yin and yang energies are in harmony, then the inflow of good luck is smooth and unobstructed.

10 feng shui tips that will help you to improve on your career luck!

10 Great Tips To Activate For Career Luck

10 feng shui tips that will help you to improve on your career luck!

Dragon Water Fountain

There are few symbols that surpass the Chinese Dragon in popularity amongst those who use Feng Shui. The Dragon is said to create the precious cosmic Chi which brings good fortunes into our homes and workplaces. Displaying the dragon together with moving water is even more potent. Display such a water feature in the North for limitless success in your career, or in the Southeast for plenty of wealth luck.

Crystal Globe for Success

The crystal globe is one of the most powerful energizers for success in fields related to education, literature, publishing, media and communications. If you work in one of these fields, displaying a crystal globe on your desktop where you work will bring you not just success, it will bring you wealth and recognition as well.

Keeping Fish

Keep an aquarium in the North sector of your living room to activate for career luck. The best fish to keep are the arowana or goldfish (nine; eight red and one black). But displaying figurines of fish work just as well as the real thing without the cost and hassle of maintaining an aquarium. If you are displaying the arowana, display nine together for best effect. If you decide to keep real ones, do not feed them with live bait; this brings bad karma. Instead, train your arowana to eat frozen worms or pellets.

Amethyst Tree for Good Relations

There is no fun in going to work if you don't get along with your workmates. To ensure harmony between you and your colleagues, superiors, subordinates and business associates, place an amethyst gem tree on your desk. The amethyst is sometimes known as the stone of contentment and harmony, and will prevent anger and discord.

Boosting your Commission Income

For those of us involved in jobs where there is the opportunity to earn commission or side income, display a three-legged toad for wealth luck next to your desk or diagonally opposite the front door to your home. Carry three I-Ching coins tied together with red/ gold thread in your purse/wallet. If you are in sales through the telemarketing, paste three I-Ching coins tied together with red/gold thread on your phone.

Metal Windchime in the North

The career sector according to the Eight Aspirations theory lies in the North. Displaying a six-rod metal windchime in this sector produces water energy, which activates for career luck. It is important, however, for the rods of the windchime to be hollow, so that the auspicious Chi can rise up the chimes.

The Mythical Dragon Tortoise

The Dragon Tortoise is a mythical creature that gives you the support of the tortoise combined with the courage of the Dragon. Place a figurine of the Dragon Tortoise on your desk or behind you to gain the support of your boss, counter office politics and get you the promotion you deserve.

The Tribute Horse for Victory

From the times of the Sung emperors through to the Imperial rulers of the Qing dynasty, the tribute horse has been associated with gifts brought by the vanquished to the victors. If you are in a competitive situation at work, displaying or wearing a tribute horse in your office or home will bring you victory, be it a project idea, promotion or opportunity for partnership.

The Chi Lin or Chinese Unicorn

The mythical Chinese Unicorn, known as Chi Lin, is also referred to as the Dragon Horse. The Chi Lin's presence is said to attract the powerful cosmic breath of the dragon, bringing good fortune luck to those residing in the abode. Displaying the Chi Lin at the workplace represents good fortune in promotions for those wanting advancements in their career. It is especially potent for those in the military, civil service or in politics.

The Rooster to Counter Politicking

Petty office politics is common in most workplaces. The best way to counter such negative and counterproductive energy is to display the figurine of a Rooster in the office. This will quell arguments, backstabbing and politicking.

A Dozen Hot Tips To Feng Shui Your Workspace

People who work spend most of their waking hours at the office, so it is imperative to have a harmonious work environment. Functioning in a properly feng shui-ed office makes a world of difference to productivity and interpersonal relationships. It makes you enjoy coming to work. Harmony at the workplace diffuses bitchiness, reduces politicking and minimizes gossip - things that can cause much unhappiness. Good feng shui in your personal space helps you achieve recognition and promotion.

Given these benefits, can anyone afford NOT to ensure their workspace has been properly feng shui-ed?

1. Watch Your Back

Anyone who wants to harm you will find it easier to stealthily creep up on you when you are not watching and hit you from behind. So it makes sense when feng shui repeatedly warns you to watch your back. Make sure you have good back support where you sit.

If you are in a desk job, ensure the back of your chair is placed so there is a solid wall behind you. Sitting with your back to the door is incredible bad news. But a window directly behind you can also be bad. Close such windows with heavy blinds and display support symbols of career success behind you.

These are the dragon tortoise , the turtle, or a painting of a mountain. Get one that does not have water painted into the scenery.

2. Avoid Sitting Facing A Wall

A desk that is placed facing a wall acts as a barrier to promotion. If you cannot move your desk, hang a picture of scenery featuring an open field to symbolize your own personal "bright hall". Or hang on image of a phoenix on the wall in front of you to symbolize being faced with many opportunities. This will help counter the negative effects of facing a wall, and will create the cause for you to change desk to one with better feng shui.

3. Display A Rooster

The rooster is the best symbol to use to counter office politics. If you are constantly dodging underhanded tactics from co-workers, display a rooster with a prominent beak and comb to peck away at unwanted politicking. Another good symbol to use is the jade cicada, best worn as a bracelet.

4. Display A Crystal Sphere To Absorb Negative Chi

Nothing ensures harmony and more efficiently than crystal spheres. Place six in various sizes in the space you have consciously defined as your own. This will ensure your hours spent at work are pleasant and rewarding. Crystal spheres have great, active power in this period of 8.

5. Avoid Being In A Confrontational Setting Arrangement

Position your work desk so you are not directly facing anyone else. It is better to have your back to someone than to be positioned facing another person directly, because facing someone constantly will cause confrontational energies to build up between you and that person. Even if you work for someone and cannot change the layout of the entire office, try to ensure that at least your own desk is positioned to avoid this.

6. Choose The Right Chair

The chair you sit in at work will have a bearing on how well you do in your career. Because you have to sit in it for long periods at a time, especially in a desk job, get a chair that is ergonomically designed to prevent back and neck strain. Herman Miller chairs are wonderful office chairs because they are specially designed to minimize aches and strains, allowing you to sit at length without getting tired or uncomfortable. Chairs meant for visitors on the other hand do not need to be overly comfy, lest they overstay their welcome! When picking sofa sets and settees for meeting areas, go with something not too comfy, for the same reasons. Harder sofa sets also generate a more dynamic type of chi energy more suited to the workplace.

7. Do Not Sit Too Near To The Door

Sitting too near the door, especially the front door in an open plan offi ce, is an unprotected and vulnerable location to occupy. If the office lay-out is such that someone has to be nearer the door than others, and that someone happens to be you, try to sit such that you avoid having your back to the door. Make sure you can see the door at all times, so you have a view of people approaching. Make doubly sure you have the necessary support symbols with you to counter the negative effects of such a desk location. At the next opportunity to move desk, do so

The Feng Shui of the Flower Horn

The Feng Shui of the Flower Horn

The Flower Horn or Hua Luo Han has been touted as the feng shui fish for the coming period of 8 (beginning in 2004), just as the arowana had been dubbed the feng shui fish for the present period of 7 (which began in 1984). It is said to bring its owner lots of prosperity luck and good fortune in everything ranging from wealth and fame to love and happiness.

Developed through selective crossbreeding in 1996, the popularity of the Flower Horn has been gaining momentum by the day. The origins of this hybrid fish can be traced from the Cichlid family, which is classified under the genus of Cichlasoma.
The Kua or trigram for the period of 8 is Ken, which among other things, symbolizes the mountain and the earth element. The Flower Horn’s most important distinguishing feature – its nuchal hump, which protrudes from its forehead– is said to simulate the mountain. This fleshy hump combined with its muscular bulk contributes to its overall squarish profile, which solidly reflects the earth element.

The current feng shui cycle is the Period of 7, which is governed by the Kua or trigram of Tui symbolizing Metal. The graceful arowana, with its body shaped like the blade of a sword and its pearly sheen, attests to the metallic attributes of the trigram.

Another distinctive trait of the Flower Horn would be its black coloured side markings, which develop as the fish matures. These side markings are said to resemble lucky numbers or Chinese calligraphy or even Arabic wordings. Well-developed adult fish with exceptional markings could well sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Some Flower Horn have reddish pink side markings that are heart-shaped; these are said to bring excellent luck in love.

Currently the most popular fish among fish hobbyists and aquarium specialists, the Flower Horn or Hua Luo Han should be displayed prominently in public areas of your home or office to invite prosperity and good luck into your lives.

18 Omens of Good Fortune

18 Omens of Good Fortune

Belief in lucky and unlucky omens has always been a universal part of our psyche. Like it or not, many of us believe in signs of good fortune and impending misfortune. The greatest leaders of the world believe in it, philosophers think seriously about it, while actresses, gamblers and celebrities are hopelessly obsessive about it. Ordinary people engage in rituals and wear an infinite variety of charms to attract good portents. We believe in lucky and unlucky days. We have our favourite good luck amulets.

Our belief in lucky and unlucky signs is almost subconscious, so much so that we constantly interpret the most commonplace things that happen to us as suggesting either good or bad luck. A broken mirror, inadvertently walking under a ladder, getting stung by a bee or dreaming of white tigers – each time something remotely out of the ordinary happen to us, instantly we wonder if it will bring us good or bad luck. Here are 18 common events in everyday life believed to be powerful indications of good fortune.

	When Bats Nest In Your Home This is one of the most powerful indications that the family is about to become seriously wealthy. The Chinese regard bats as symbols of abundant wealth. The circular pattern of five bats is a very popular design feature found on furniture, paintings and ceramics. The Chinese believe that bats nest only in auspicious places – they have highly developed sensory parts that are able to “smell” out places with auspicious chi. The next time bats come and nest in the eaves of your home, rejoice because this heralds good fortune.
	When Someone Gives You Money On A Lucky Day It is the surest sign that you will enjoy a significant increase in money luck. A lucky day is usually a new moon or full moon day. Or it can be a day of your animal sign. Check the Feng Shui Almanac for these lucky days. Make sure you keep the cash given to you on that day, as it is described as “good luck money”. Money can be given to you in many ways. It could be someone repaying a debt owed to you, or someone giving you an unexpected tip for some favour performed. This is the belief behind the tradition of giving lucky money on the fifteen days of the lunar New Year. These fifteen days of the year’s first moon are looked on as “days of miracles”, so money received on these days is always regarded as lucky money.
	When Bird Droppings Land On Your Head Many people believe this to be a major sign of wealth coming from heaven. Hence, although, it is really yucky and a major inconvenience, when something like this happens to you, take comfort in the fact that this is described as good luck being just around the corner! In fact, most things associated with birds tend to spell good fortune, such as when birds fly to your home and start making nests in and around your house. While bats bring abundance, birds bring good news and opportunities. The next time a flock of ravens, pigeons or magpies come to your home, feed them with bird seeds. Birds are also said to be powerful protectors and guardians. Even crows are said to be messengers of the Gods. So welcome birds with open arms.
	Finding Your Initials On A Spiders Web Is said to be an indication you will have good luck forever. All your plans will develop to fruition and whatever obstacles may be blocking your projects will be dissolved. Like the spider, you will attract food and money without even trying! This actually happens more commonly than you realize.
	Meeting Up With A Snake Is another sign of good fortune. Whether in your garden, inside the home, or out trekking, if you meet up with a snake, it means something or someone important is coming into your life. Never ever try to harm or kill a snake when confronted with one. The more poisonous the snake, the better is the good fortune. The king cobra is described as a snake of extreme good fortune. Whatever you do, never kill a snake as they are also associated with some spiritual presence. They usually slither away themselves when they sense human presence.
	When Your Hands Tingle It is a sure sign that money is either coming to you or leaving you! The general consensus is that when it is your left hand that tingles, money is coming to you – the 4-digit kind or winning a lottery. When it is the right hand, it means money is leaving you. The same interpretation is also placed on hands that suddenly start to itch. If your left palm starts to itch, mercilessly rejoice. It means you are about to come into a windfall!
	When You See A Shooting Star And immediately make a wish, whatever you wish for will manifest within the next thirty days. If you are sick, you will get well; if your luck has been bad, it will take a turn for the better; and if you have just had a quarrel, you will make up. If you have lost something, you will regain it e.g. if you have just broken up with your boyfriend, you will make up with him or find a new boyfriend. Seeing a shooting star can be quite a common occurrence, so always have a wish handy. Close your eyes and wish fervently!
When Your Date Of Birth Adds Up To 8 (without any remainder) such as in 9/6/65 (9 + 6 + 65 = 80) you will be lucky all through the period of 8 which does not end until 4th February 2024. 8 is already a magically powerful number, so when one’s birth day adds up to 8, it is an indication of good luck. Those with kua 8 will also enjoy good fortune all through the period of 8.
	When Your Ears Start To Itch Many believe this meams that someone is talking about you. If it is the left ear that itches, it means that whoever is talking about you is saying nice things, while if it is the right ear, then whoever is talking about you is saying uncomplimentary things. Next time your ear starts to itch, you know you are being talked or gossiped about. Some say, “right for spite, left for love.” Others reverse this omen. If you think of the person, friend or acquaintance who is likely to be talking of you and mention the name aloud, the tingling will cease if you guess correctly!
	When A Butterfly Flies Into Your House This is commonly interpreted to mean that you are about to receive some important guests. If the butterfly has bright colours, it means the visitor will bring good news relating to your love life. If the butterfly is dark – almost black – the visitor is bringing you good news related to your career or business. Never chase a fluttering butterfly out of your house. They almost always bring good tidings. Do not try to catch it, as inadvertently killing a butterfly causes your good luck to change into bad luck.
	When A Cat Comes Into Your House It usually means some kind of bad luck. Usually black cats signify treachery and betrayal, so it is better to chase them away. White cats signify death, but some say that golden cats signify good luck hidden in bad luck. In the old days cats were often associated with witchcraft and bad omens.
	If You Put On Your Clothes The Wrong Way Round This is said to be a sign of extreme good fortune. It doesn’t count if you do this on purpose, but if for some reason you wear your clothes the wrong way round, it indicates that you will shortly receive some windfall or some very favourable news. This is a particularly good omen for those who have been suffering a spate of bad luck, as it suggests that your luck is about to change for the better.
	Finding A Good Luck Symbol Such as an acorn, a four-leaf clover, a horseshoe, a coin all spell good luck of some kind coming your way. You should not throw away the lucky symbol, as signs of prosperity often possess some excellent energy. It is also believed that if you bury them in a metal box in your garden, the good luck multiplies.
	Meeting Up With A Cow Is said to be a most auspicious sign as the cow is a symbol of prosperity and fertility. Of course this is not something likely to happen in big cities except perhaps in India where the cow is so highly revered it is allowed to roam freely on roads and highways and motorists are required by law not to run them down. But if you do take a drive to the countryside one day and are confronted by a cow, rejoice, because it suggests great good fortune coming your way!
	When A Dog Comes To Stay When someone brings you a dog as a gift or if a stray puppy decides to adopt you, welcome him or her into your home. A dog entering your home is a very favourable sign, as it means you will have faithful and sincere friends come into your life, helping you overcome obstacles of all kinds. Black dogs bring wealth and protection. Golden dogs bring prosperity and happiness and white dogs bring love and romance.
	When You Hang A Flag You should make very sure that it is hung up securely and that even with the daily wind and sun causing it to flutter, it should not fall. When any flag you hang up falls from the staff, it implies danger is coming OR that your success takes a tumble. A flag coming down sometimes also means a car accident or some tragic accident. On the other hand, when the flag flies proudly and flutters in the wind, it brings plenty of good fortune. Usually flags flying indicate victory.
	Garden Creatures That Bring Good Fortune Include insects and grasshoppers. If a grasshopper were to hop into your house, it means a very distinguished person is about to visit you. It can also mean that you are about to receive a great honour. Ladybirds suggest visitors, while frogs jumping into your home suggest money is coming to you.
	When It Rains And The Sun Is Shining The simultaneous appearance of the sun and the rain is a very good sign indeed. This is when it is most likely for you to see rainbows in the sky. Indeed when the sun is shining brightly and there is also a shower of rain, it means that everything you are working on will be successful. You will receive the support of some very important people. If a son or daughter is born on such a day, it is a wonderful sign of a great life. If you happen to be getting married on such a day, you will enjoy a very auspicious life together.

Being Clever About Money

Being Clever About Money

How do you make sure the money you earn does not disappear or get frittered away? How can you see your money grow steadily over the years, accumulating and expanding so you eventually experience a creation of real wealth instead of constantly having to make ends meet? Getting on top of your finances is not difficult but in addition to having good feng shui, you do need to follow smart advice, exercise discipline in the way you organize your cash flow and be alert to investing your surplus money. LILLIAN TOO suggests some ways to be smart with your money.

Begin your year with a firm resolution to focus unwaveringly on managing your money. Aspire to become rich and start taking control of your finances and do so in a conscious and serious manner. You need to have an attitude of respect towards money that is neither overly emotional nor excessively detached.

If you want to accumulate wealth, you must first establish the right attitude towards money! Understand that it is a tool and you are in control. You must never allow the management of money to overwhelm you. Let it be a natural part of your life, one of the skills you need to develop and absorb into your daily rituals of living so it becomes second nature to you.

Begin by getting a good idea of your current financial situation. Know the kind of budget you live under. Train your mind to think in a quantitative way, putting numbers to all your thoughts and ideas about everything to do with your money situation. You cannot be clever about money until you know the parameters of your financial situation.

Once you know what the overall position of your income and expense sides, you can start to think strategically about your money. This is the start of dreaming dreams and formulating strategies inside your head. Hazy goals eventually become clearer and this starts you on the road towards becoming financially savvy.

Start With Your Saving Potential
You begin by developing the saving habit. Amass some equity! The first goal is to endeavour never to be in the red in terms of cash management. Never allow yourself to run out of cash. Let this be the golden rule by which you live.

From here you will be in a comfortable position to make an estimate of how much you can save. Saving is a magic word in financial management and this requires you to quantify just two numbers; the first is your combined on-hand income; and the second is an accurate estimate of what you need to spend to adequately cover all the needs of your life. Do not forget to set aside a little something for special indulgences and little luxuries. When you undertake a disciplined assessment of your financial situation, you are much better equipped to know if your combined incomes (for couples) are adequate for the both of you. Put another way, it also shows if you are living beyond your means.

An Exercise In Budgeting
Budgeting is the first step in creating the habit of keeping track of your spending. This implies taking control of your money. You need to do this if you want to save and be able to invest. This is how wealth accumulation begins, by first creating some personal equity!

Next you need to extend your time horizon. Look beyond your current situation and see if you can work out how much money will be coming in and how much going out over an extended period of time, for instance 12 months. Include holidays and other anticipated expenditures. This is to see if your lifestyle is costing you in excess of what you earn.

Being clever about money requires you to think beyond conventional logic. If you find that you never seem to have enough money at the end of each month because the cost of living has overtaken your earnings, you should start shopping for more financially attractive deals on all your big expenditures.

Expanding Your Income Base
In addition to looking for opportunities to expand your income base, also shop around for better buys and bargain deals. For instance, you can make it a habit to only shop for clothes and other luxuries during sales and to buy your necessities such as monthly groceries from warehouse outlets a little way out of town. You will be surprised how much you can “save” when you really put your mind to it. This does not mean you need to give up on things that make you happy; it means you start to shop smart.

To guard against impulse purchases, it is a good idea to pay cash for all major buys. We are usually more careful when we use real cash instead of plastic. Using the credit card especially when you own multiple credit cards makes it harder for you to keep track of your expenditures, so make the effort not to get addicted to your cards.

When You Have Surplus Money
If your income situation allows you to save, it means your financial position is healthy.

Once you have a little equity built up, start looking for ways to make your money work for you. Do not be satisfied with merely earning interest from the bank. There are ways of getting a higher return on your money and the way to find out how is to be on the lookout. Start by having a chat with your friendly banker about the different deposit plans they offer.

Buying Your First Property
Your first serious investment should be some kind of landed property. This is a really big deal because wealth creation in your life starts with accumulating assets and the first real asset in anyone’s life is the home they live in.

You will need to amass some equity to buy a house or apartment, at least enough to take advantage of easy house loans being offered by banks these days. If you have a steady job and you have at least a good thirty years more to your working life, you will find banks more than happy to offer you financing that will help you purchase your own home.

If you do not already own the home you are living in, you should definitely consider buying property to live in. Owner-occupied homes are easy to get financing for and in 2008 the earth element (which means property) represents wealth creation. So this is a good year to buy property.

Here’s a tip. Borrow as much of the cost of the house as you can, and go for the longest tenure. This way the equity you need as down payment will be less. I would say that it is not difficult to find banks willing to finance from 70 to 80 percent of house purchase price especially when they are in a “good” location. Remember to put top priority on location. Buy from reputable developers or if you are buying from an individual owner, make sure you invite your banker to give you an assessment of how much the bank values the property at. This is because the loan they will be willing to give you depends on their valuation of the property and not necessarily on the price you pay. As for tenure, it makes sense to stretch out the loan as much as you can so that monthly repayments are easier on you.

You will find that what you have to pay in renting living premises is lower than monthly mortgage payments, so make sure you do your sums to make sure you can afford the repayments. Owning your own house of course holds out the promise of long term capital gain. Your house is sure to worth more than what you pay for it if you think long term. As for the repayments, these become less painful as your earning capacity improves.

Trading Up
Owning your own home also allows you to trade up. Over time as your income improves and your family expands in size, you can use your house to help you trade up i.e. help you buy a bigger house. When property values rise, it usually goes beyond the ability of first time buyers. The only way to keep up with inflation is to have a landed asset, so make sure you have this most essential hedge against inflationary pressure.

If you are purchasing property for the first time, it is better to go for landed property and avoid condominiums. Apartments rarely match landed property when it comes to capital appreciation. It is also easier to sell, say a ten year old landed link house than a ten year old apartment.

Other Investments
As your financial situation improves and you start to think of other investments, be mindful of the issue of liquidity. Assets should be easily converted back to cash. In financial terms we describe this as the liquidity of your investment. As a small time investor, it is always good not to tie down your money unnecessarily. You must be
able to convert your investment back to hard cash with a single telephone call. It is for this reason that so many people “play the stock market”.

Playing the stock market requires luck as much as financial knowledge, and it is a whole different dimension to the management of your money. We will talk about this another time but for now focus attention on steadily improving your financial situation.

Watch Your Feet!

Watch Your Feet!

The Chinese believe “cold arises from the feet” and “a person’s aging starts from the feet”. The feet are the source of hidden troubles for premature senility and pathological changes in the human body. They Chinese believe that every meridian point in our feet is a part of our body system; therefore foot reflexology is the ideal treatment for the elderly, the stressed executive, the sportsman, in fact just about anybody. But did you know that just by observing the shape of a person’s feet and legs, you can learn about their characteristics, personality traits and innermost secrets?

		When legs are long, lean and smooth, this suggests the person will enjoy a smooth sailing life with few obstacles. You are an active, hardworking and helpful person. You are likely to have a very good life before your thirties. After 30, your life depends on other destiny indicators.
		When your legs are short relative to your body, this suggests you are smart, attentive and quiet. You prefer jobs which do not require you to deal with too many people. You may face some obstacles before your thirties, but after that your luck improves tremendously for the better.
		Someone who walks with an inward splay suggests they are low profile, preferring the stable life rather than taking risks.
		If you walk with a splayed feet, it suggests you are a busybody. You can be more into other people’s business than your own. You love to show off to others and are usually very talkative.
		When feet are bony, this suggests a poor person. Life has many difficulties and it is a struggle to make life go smoothly. So do try to fatten up your feet. Nothing like good fleshy feet to bring the good life!
		When your toes are sharp in shape, it suggests you are the black sheep of the family. You love to spend money but are lazy to work; it indicates a lack of great achievement in life.
		When your feet are meaty and smooth, it suggests you will become very prosperous and rich. It is also an indication that such a person’s family is very rich, belonging to the privileged class.
		When your toenails are round in shape and smooth, especially if you are a woman, this suggests you will marry a rich husband.
		When your toes are tiny, this suggests you are a responsible and honest person. People with tiny toes are said to make good spouse material.
		When you feet are big, (size 8 and above for men and size 7 and above for women) this indicates you are a “survivor”. You can deal with any kinds of problems, setbacks, obstacles or difficult people. You are decisive and can provide strong leadership.
		When your middle toe is the longest among your toes, it is not a good indication as it suggests your destiny could turn irksome during middle age. You could suffer from a perpetual shortage of money and face obstacles that block your success.
		When your second toe is longer than your big toe, this suggests you will have plenty of food on the table and plenty of friends around you. You impress others with your good heart, so many will speak well of you. But you need to work hard to maintain your increasingly extravagant lifestyle.
		When your feet are small (size 6 and below for men and size 5 and below for women) you should take good care of your nose or breathing system. You are mature and prudent but should learn to overcome your jealous nature and tendencies, as they could bring about your downfall or be a major source of unhappiness.
		The colour of your toes can not only indicate the condition of your health, it can also indicate your potential for wealth. Toes which are milky white and transparent suggest you will have a stable life. Grey toes suggest you will have a tough life. The best colour however is reddish, which suggests someone rich and successful.
		When your toes are big, this suggests you are a leader. You can be a very stubborn person, hot tempered and possessive, but you can arouse great passion in others.
		When your toes are meaty and uneven in size, it suggests you have the luck to own property and enjoy good fortune. You have the potential to become a property tycoon.