In a perfect feng shui world, you’ll find all five elements present in a room. This helps to keep the room feeling comfortable, harmonious and balanced – and thus making you more productive, effective, and successful.

The checklist below has some of the most common problems associated with missing or excess elements. The list will help you determine what element is out of balance and the Element List will help you balance the energies in your home correctly.

Don’t forget to look at all important rooms, such as your living room, bedroom, office, and even your garden to make sure your surroundings are in good feng shui shape.

Common Problems

__Lethargy, depression, excess weight – too little fire or too much water

__Instability, clouded thinking, hyperactivity, unhappy relationships – too little earth

__Lack of opportunity, low career growth, feeling spiritually disconnected – too little water

__Poor health, lack of growth, low vitality, family disharmony – too little wood

__Nervous exhaustion, scattered thinking, busy for busy sake, disorganized – too much metal

__Impulsiveness, anger, frustration, anxiety – too much fire

__Lack of creativity, initiative, ability to analyze – too little metal

__No fun, little enjoyment or zest for life – too little fire

__Financial problems, too many bills, too little income – too little water and/or wood

__Stuck or smothering relationships, boredom, overly serious – too little earth

Element List

_____Water Element. The water element relates to business, career, and opportunities. It also has an effect on emotions, feelings and intuition. When the water element is correctly placed, career and business function more smoothly and there is progression in the climb up the corporate ladder. Water can also help create insights, make you feel inspired and spiritually connected and refreshed.

When there is too much water, there is depression, lethargy, weight gain, and isolation. Look for dark colors, blues, black, purple and wave shapes. When there’s not enough water, add water using color or shape. You can also add water figures such as shells or figurines of fish or a real aquarium.

_____Wood Element. The wood element relates to health, growth, and advancement. It is the element that relates to the family, the feet and the oldest son. When wood is correctly placed, the family is happy, growing and health is vibrant. Too much wood can cause arguments and fiery tempers.

When wood is lacking there is little expansion, life feels stalled, stuck. The shape is rectangular, similar to the tall shape of a tree trunk. To add wood energy, use brown and green colors and rectangular shapes. Dried flowers, bonsai trees and cactus are negative wood symbols and should not be used in the house.

____ Fire Element. The element of fire is the one element that is not naturally present in the earth and has to be created. It is powerful and spreads rapidly. It can keep you warm or burn down the house. Fire represents sociability, the family name, good friends, happiness and its presence indicates the success that comes with fame or public recognition.

Too much fire energy can create a home that is overly-stimulated, nerves frayed, anger and irritability rampant, not enough rest. Too little fire creates remote feelings and a lack of ambition or vision, low self-esteem, little happiness or zest for life.

The fire element is symbolized by triangle shapes, lamps, and candles. It’s also associated with the color red. Add red colors or triangle shapes or more lighting to brighten up your home and give it a punch of color and energy! Do be careful with the fire element. Too much of it can overwhelm your space.

_____Earth Element. The earth element is an element of caring, stability and calm reserve. When earth is lacking there is a lack of focus and mental clarity. The shape is square. Earth elements help make relationships strong and enduring. Too much earth can create a home that is sluggish and ineffectual. This can manifest with low motivation and apathy.

The earth element is symbolized by square shapes, stones, ceramic and crystal elements. It’s associated with the color of ochre, beige, tan, and yellow. To boost the earth element add stone or earth-related objects and golden colors. To reduce the earth element in your home add metal objects as these exhaust the earth energy.

_____Metal Element. The metal element is an element of creativity and represents the manifestation of inward flowing movement, which includes wealth. Adding metallic objects such as Chinese coins, metallic bowls and windchimes brings more metal energy to a home. Arching, oval and round shapes are associated with the metal element. Metal energy helps bring logic, precise thinking and ability to think analytically. Ceiling fans, white colors, televisions, stereos and computers are associated with metal energy.

Too much metal can cause too much movement, speaking before thinking, and being hasty. Too little metal brings mental dullness and inability to manifest because metal is a conductor and its presence in a home helps manifest quick thought, decisiveness, and movement. When you want to activate the metal element choose gold, silver, white or gray colors. If metal is too prominent, add water colors of blue and black or water elements such as fish or fountains.

________________________________________

Kathryn Weber is the publisher of the Red Lotus Letter Feng Shui E-zine and certified feng shui consultant in classical Chinese feng shui. Kathryn helps her readers improve their lives and generate more wealth with feng shui. For more information and to receive her FREE Ebook “Easy Money – 3 Steps to Building Massive Wealth with Feng Shui” visit www.redlotusletter.com and learn the fast and fun way how feng shui can make your life more prosperous and abundant!

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Below is an assessment of the energies for the upcoming year.  Be sure to put your remedies and enhancements in place!

The very best energy for 2009 is found in the center, southeast, south, southwest and northwest corners.

The worst energy is found in the north, northeast, east, and west.

2009 should be a much, much better year than 2008, thankfully. We have had some major upheaval because of the instability of earth over water, which is what 2008 was the year of the Earth Rat. The earth element is on top of the rat element, putting earth on top of water. This created upheavals around the world and made for some difficult times.

Many people work on the good energy sectors first and often don’t apply remedies to the negative energy areas. However, that is a mistake. Ignoring negative sector and concentrating on the positive ones is like being told you have gold in one corner of your property and you go to dig and ignore an angry mob of marauders heading toward your house.

Instead, you should do what you can to exercise protective feng shui first and foremost and fortify yourself against negative energy and once that is done, then work on digging your gold!

POSITIVE ENERGY SECTORS

CENTER SECTOR (Health, Wealth, Relationships)

LUCKY 9 STAR MAKES THIS A FAVORABLE SECTOR

The 9 star is a very fortunate star in a wonderful location. Because the purple 9 is located in the heavenly heart palace, the whole family benefits from a more convivial atmosphere, communications are enhanced and the family has a good sense of well-being.

The 9 star is a fire star and enhances the earth location in the center palace. Socializing at home will bring prosperity and enjoyable times to the whole home and everyone who lives there. Make it a point to spend lots of time in the center of the home.

SOUTHEAST SECTOR (Wealth, Material Abundance):

No. 8 WEALTH STAR BRINGS PROSPERITY TO THE WEALTH SECTOR

The 8 star brings opportunities to create more prosperity and wealth. This is especially fortunate if your home faces the southeast or if your bedroom or office is located in the southeast corner. This star brings wonderful success when this sector is brightly lit and activated with yang energy. Because of the 8 star’s location here this year, the southeast wealth sector is the luckiest of the nine sectors.

SOUTHWEST SECTOR (Romance, Relationships, Women, Woman of the House):

EXCELLENT NO. 6 HEAVEN ENERGY IN THIS SECTOR THIS YEAR!

This is a wonderful combination as the white 6 star is considered to be very auspicious. It signifies wonderful accomplishment and the ability to rise to prominence and attain greater prestige. The six star also makes a request. It asks women to think bigger, aim higher and open their world up to larger possibilities – and it supports them in those endeavors.

One cautionary note and that is to be careful of overwork. Women tend to work non-stop, but this year could take this to a new level. It is possible that overwork, stress, and fatigue sets in. Make sure that you schedule down time, self care at the spa, and schedule weekends away and vacations for 2009.

NORTHWEST SECTOR (Travel, Helpful People, Patriarchs, Foreign Travel):

1 White Star brings business opportunity

The 1 white star is a beneficial, helping star. When it is located in the northwest corner, it brings opportunities for both business and career. Because the northwest corner is associated with six heaven energy, the six and one combinations are especially beneficial for making great progress in business. This is especially so if the business situation is one where you need to outdo the competition!

SOUTH SECTOR (Fame, Recognition, Social Status):

No. 4 Green Romance and PR Star located in this sector

Typically the four star brings great creative and academic success and travel energy to the sectors it visits. The four star brings wonderful work creativity, unique ideas, and all kinds of breakthroughs.

It also draws suitors to you. Lastly, the 4 star is known for the ability to help you advance in matters related to romance, education, creativity, writing, sales, and public relations. If you want to spread the word about yourself or your business (or your romantic availability!), this is the sector to enhance.

NEGATIVE ENERGY SECTORS

NORTHEAST SECTOR (Spirituality, Wisdom, Education, Personal Growth):

3 Quarrelsome Star here creates gossip, slander, legal tangles

Grand Duke Jupiter (22-37.5)

This star makes legal problems more contentious and makes everyone more likely to want to settle disagreements in court! Because this is a wood element flying into an earth sector, there could be some mental fatigue and stress and inability to think clearly.

Studies could slide from burn out and so could the ability to make good decisions. To offset this tendency keep candles in this sector, keep the area well-lit and use lots of red colors. This will help to exhaust the negativity of the three star. DO NOT FACE THIS DIRECTION.

EAST SECTOR (Health, Family relationships):

7 Red Violence Star and THREE KILLINGS

The 7 star is known for creating injuries, robberies, theft and other malicious tendencies. Because it is located in the health and family palace, there could be a possibility for violence that harms the health and family – such as a carjacking. Take extra care if your home faces this direction or if your main door faces east.

If you have a garage or workshop in the east corner of your home, careful of any kind of injuries from metal such as saws and blades. The same is true if your kitchen is located in the east. Be extra diligent and careful with sharp knives and choppers.

It’s also possible that sharp words will be harmful in the family because the 7 star relates to the mouth and is associated with the element of metal, so watch that arguments are not too cutting or that things said in anger are left to fester. To help offset this negative energy, use water.

THREE KILLINGS CURSE: Located at 45-135 degrees East.

The three killings wreak havoc wherever they’re located. Because they are in the east, there is a likelihood of legal tangles associated with families and between family members. Be extra cautious about all paperwork with relatives and troublesome family members.

Be aware, though, that the 3 Killings is located here, and you shouldn’t have your back to the east. People will talk about you and gossip could hurt your good name, rob you, try to steal from you, or otherwise betray you. Concentration will also be poor if your back is to the east. Watch for legal tangles and lawsuits. So, be sure to avoid sitting with the EAST at YOUR BACK or you will be surprised by underhandedness.

NORTH SECTOR (Career, Business Opportunities):

5 Yellow Misfortune Star

This star is said to be the most unfortunate of all the stars. The Five Yellow Star brings misfortune, misunderstandings, bad luck, accidents, and financial problems. This is especially true if you sleep in the north sector, work in the north sector of your home, or if your front door is in the north sector. Do take extra care any of this is true for you.

The energy is located specifically between the degrees of 337.5 – 22.5. If these are your door facing degrees be sure to pay extra careful attention and take the precautions outlined here.

Try to avoid this sector if you can. If not, do be sure to have a windchime hung up to draw away negative energy. A pendulum clock, a whirling fan or any kind of metal movement is helpful. Shiny metal bowls or figures are also effective as are metal colors of white, gray, silver and gold – and will stimulate the north’s water-producing (wealth!) capabilities.

WEST SECTOR (Children, Creativity, Family):

NEGATIVE ENERGY FOR 2008 – Annual Black 2 Sickness Star

The black 2 star is a very strong star. It creates problems wherever it goes – especially illness. Because it is in the west sector there could be problems associated with the mouth, teeth and eating. Children could be more likely to suffer from illnesses. Because the two is an earth star and it’s moving into a metal sector, it will be weakened, which is good news.

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Annual Afflictions

© Kathryn Weber, All rights reserved

Would you like to use this article on your website or publication?  You can. Simply include the entire, unchanged article with the blurb below with a link back to this site.  A courtesy email would be greatly appreciated!

Kathryn Weber is the publisher of the Red Lotus Letter Feng Shui E-zine and certified feng shui consultant in authentic Chinese feng shui. Kathryn helps her readers improve their lives and generate more wealth with feng shui.

For more information and to receive her FREE  E-book “Easy Money – 3 Steps to Building Massive Wealth with Feng Shui” visit www.redlotusletter.com and learn the fast and fun way how feng shui can make your life more prosperous and abundant!

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The ones who get through the problems to make their life more successful, though, are those who have some common traits. And, with the economy the way it is, a successful person will be looking at how to adapt to the situation and capitalize on the times as they are – not as they wish they would be.

In 1990, my husband and I bought a $60,000 house (below) that was run down and smelled like urine inside. We had a 12% loan to pay on this “gem.” But, our house was in a great neighborhood, and I could see that with a little effort, we could have a beautiful home in about a year – and more value in our home, too.

House – After

Everyone said this was the “worst possible time to buy a home” because values were inflated and interest was, too. But you know what? We could buy one and did, but we bought smart. We bought under the market and it put us on top after it was over.

Three more houses later and we’re in a gorgeous home and life is good. These are the lessons I’ve learned about taking positive steps in difficult times. And it’s good feng shui, too.

1. Stay involved.
As easy as it is to throw your hands in the air and sit on the sofa, that does no one any good. Look at new opportunities. Learn a skill and look for ways to hedge your bets. Just like buying an undervalued house in a good neighborhood was a good investment, you can find ways to profit even in the worst times. Look for them.

2. Put more in.
Rather than sit and wait to see what was going to happen with the recession we were in 1990, we invested in our home and our environment and it paid us back. FDR showed us with the WPA that investment into yourself is a good thing. By putting money and time into America’s infrastructure, we reaped the benefits of the good energy and improved bridges, roads and other public works – and got ourselves out of the Great Depression. Work on your landscaping, repaint a room, install organizers. Improving your home will improve your life; trust me on this one!

3. Be detached.
Feng shui is about balance, and where does a balance pivot? It balances in the center – neither negative nor positive. Learn to watch the news with detachment about the rumblings of the sky falling and don’t fall into the trap of believing that the sky really is falling. Detachment will keep you balanced in the face of hysteria of either the positive or the negative kind.

4. Seek out opportunities.
Continue to make efforts on your behalf and don’t give in to apathy. Learn to be invaluable at work and to your clients and learn a new work skill. Find something unique that you can do – or a unique offer or twist on what you already do to improve your prospects.

5. Be daring, be BOLD.
The worst thing you can do is sit on the sidelines like a cardboard cutout in a store window that watches the parade go past you. An Israeli friend of mine recalled a story about a bomb that exploded close to a restaurant where he was eating with an American friend. The friend was alarmed and wanted to run out. The American asked the Israeli why he wasn’t running away from the restaurant. “Because this fish is so good,” he recalled licking his fingers. My mother was hugely disappointed that I didn’t cancel a trip to London in the early 80’s because the IRA was setting off bombs. There will always be crises and catastrophes. Enjoy the fish every chance you get.
© K Weber Communications LLC 2002-2008

Kathryn Weber is the publisher of the Red Lotus Letter Feng Shui E-zine and certified feng shui consultant in authentic Chinese feng shui. Kathryn helps her readers improve their lives and generate more wealth with feng shui. For more information and to receive her FREE Ebook “Easy Money – 3 Steps to Building Massive Wealth with Feng Shui” visit www.redlotusletter.com and learn the fast and fun way how feng shui can make your life more prosperous and abundant!

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