Did you know that there’s a World Toilet Day? There is; it’s November 19th and its purpose is to call attention to the 2.5 billion people who lack access to clean sanitation, and the death and illness that result from that lack of access. Toilets get a bad rap in feng shui because everyone assumes that they ruin your feng shui.
Feng shui is more popular than ever, and more and more people understand that when their homes and businesses aren’t comfortable, attractive, or harmonious, it can create discomfort, disease, and bad luck that hurts their finances, relationships and career.
It’s a man’s world, or so the saying goes. And it’s true because the world is a busy place, full of go-go-go drive that requires lots of yang energy. Without yang energy we’d stay in bed all day and be too lethargic to get anything done. Feng shui needs yang energy – we all need yang energy.
Not since Madonna has anyone caused a stir in the world of pop music like Lady Gaga has. And with a name like Lady Gaga, is it any wonder? Her name, a reference to the Queen song, “Radio Ga Ga,” is herself a controversy and is referred to in the media both as a ground breaking artist and a shock value put on.
Moving into to a new home is so exciting. It holds promise for all kinds of new experiences and opportunities. We may think that a new space won’t impact our lives that much, but we intuitively know that we’ll be changed and different once we occupy it. That’s because different spaces exert a different influence over us.
Sometimes a house or office can feel uncomfortable, and there’s no real reason you can put your finger on to explain your uneasy feeling. Other times, it’s easy: someone has been there that was negative, ill or died. Homes and spaces often take on the energy of the previous occupants as well. There may be instances when you moved into a space and just felt like someone else was there, or the space just didn’t feel right – it’s because of lingering negative energy.
It’s become increasingly popular to use an iPhone or smart phone as a compass. However, when you’re using it to be accurate, it’s best to use a magnetic compass to measure a magnetic field. That’s because electricity interferes with magnetic measurements.
All energy in the universe exists as a duality; it’s either positive or negative, yin or yang. Yang energy is the bright energy of laughing children, blooming flowers, energy moving, and outward movement. Yin energy is the energy of darkness, stillness, and going inwards. Both are important, but when one is out of balance, the house can become overloaded with that energy.
The number 13 has long been considered negative and unlucky. But what are its feng shui implications? For too long well-meaning feng shui practitioners have preached that 13 is unlucky — but that’s only half the story. It could be because the number 13, when the single digits are added, make a four.
It’s resolution time. How fun. But let’s forget about those for a moment. Getting to the end of the year and greeting a brand new calendar, a new birthday, another anniversary or just another year may seem overwhelming. To some it’s a clean slate, a chance to start over fresh. And yet, to others, it’s a mix of the two.
Feng shui in the Year of the Snake poses some severe challenges. In my 2013 Feng Shui Forecast, I wrote that children are under an influence that can cause them harm – particularly from metal – like guns, cars or knives. But that’s not the only concern we have in 2013, but it is among the most sensitive.
The Year of the Snake is slithering ever closer to us, but it’s no reason to get squeamish. The sixth sign of the Chinese Zodiac, the snake represents wisdom, intelligence and self-control. The snake also represents the ability to strike at will, quickly and powerfully. We will see some big changes in the year ahead…