Dog Month Feng Shui

The Dog Month (Oct 8 - Nov 6) central energy: 6 White Career Star is hosted by the 3 Jade Aggressive Star can boost aggressive behavior. If you are meek and need a boost for your career this will be helpful, but be careful of getting too sassy since the 3 Jade can also result in arguments.

Supportive areas:

Northeast: 9 Purple Current Wealth Star supercharges this sector with support for finances, celebrations, and joy.

East: is very supportive for academic studies, writing, and overall scholarship.

South: 1 White neutralizes the 7 Red Violence Star. The 1 White supports Fame/Authority.

Southwest: The aggressive 3 Jade joins the 9 Purple to fire up this sector with an extra boost of energy.

North: The 2 Black Future Wealth Star combines with the 8 White Past Wealth Star to form a “sum-of-ten” that isupportive.

West: 8 White Wealth Star visits and while it’s not as strong as the current 9 Purple Wealth star, it has merit in that it softens the Annual 5 Yellow Malicious Star to support finances.

The least supportive areas:

Southeast: heightened risks of misfortune or illness. Don’t activate this area by spending time here.

Northwest: 7 Red Violence Star visits, so be careful of security here.

This is a universal reading and does not take into consideration the natal chart of your building. If you are interested in a personalized audit, you may leave a message on the Contact Us form. I generally respond within 24 hours.

Monkey Month Feng Shui

The 7th month of the Chinese Year, the overall energy of the Monkey month (Aug 7 - Sep 6) is pretty supportive. The core energy has a combination that can support family quarrels, impulsiveness, reputation, and finances. Be mindful with your family communications and avoid impulsive behavior. Here’s a breakdown of the other sectors:

The most supportive sectors are the North and East:

The North will be a good area for doing to foundational work because it will be rock solid. Don’t expect any “fruit” right away…it’s a seedling but it will have solid roots. So activities pertaining to things like long-term investments of any kind should yield good returns later. The same goes for starting something new. Use this area to make a plan that you can work over the long haul.

The East will support networking. Again, think of how your connections will affect your business or endeavor long term. But start now, whether it’s sending out emails, scheduling meetings, or cold calls. The East sector will support and solidify these connections.

The least supportive sectors are the Southwest and the West.

The Southwest is like sitting on a volcano. Definitely avoid activating this sector/doing important activities here. Because if you fail, it could have huge ramifications for everyone in the house.

The energy in the West is like diving head first into a pit of despair. Avoid activating this sector if at all possible. Don’t do anything here that is of any importance. Your health and well being are on shaky ground here.

This is a “universal” assessment of the Feng Shui for this month. It does not take into account the specific energy patterns of your home or workplace. If you want a personalized audit, please leave a message HERE.

Snake Month Feng Shui

The central energy of May/Snake Month is that of Yang Wood hosting Earth in a controlling relationship. In this case, it indicates control of future wealth and the matriarch/wife/elder females. There could be a tendency this month for adult children to make decisions for their elderly mothers. It’s also a good month to be more mindful about long-term investments.

The most supportive direction/sector this month is the Southwest. It supports the eldest female of the household, and it’s a good direction to travel for work. It’s the most supportive area of the home or office for any activities that will generate wealth or the modification of past investments.

The least supportive direction/sector this month is the Northeast, which hosts the 5 Yellow Misfortune Star, a “damp earth” element that’s hosted by an Earth Element Palace. This exacerbates the negative energy of the 5 Yellow, which can bring catastrophic events. The Annual 6 Metal will drain some of the energy but not enough to mitigate it. Avoid activating this area. If your bedroom or front door is in this sector, add a plant to help mitigate the energy.

This is a “universal” assessment and does not take into consideration the natal chart of your building. If you want a personalized audit of your building, please reach out to me HERE.

Dragon Month Feng Shui

This month’s Flying Stars are a duplicate of the Annual Flying stars, so the energy is doubled. The central Wood stars this month are very aggressive and can contribute to lawsuits and arguments. They control the heavy Earth of the Central Palace, which results in aggressive tension. If you are a wallflower, this can be helpful, but otherwise, it’s wise to dial back any excessive aggressive behaviors this month. If you’re an attorney, this energy will be supporting you this month. On a global scale, between the Dragon energy and this aggressive energy, there’s likely to be some fireworks.

Universally, the most supportive sectors this month are the East (future wealth) and Southwest (current wealth). There’s a lot of yin metal in the Northeast, which could support career/reputation under the right circumstances.

The least supportive sector is the West (misfortune). Don’t do any remodeling or earth moving in this sector this month and avoid this sector if possible. The South hosts a “fighting swords” configuration, which is indicative of violence and loss. If there is an exterior door or window in this sector be mindful of security.

This reading is universal, based on Annual and Monthly Xuan Kong. It does not take into consideration your home/business natal chart and how your personal trigram plays into the energetic mix. If you are interested in scheduling a personalized Feng Shui consultation for your home or workplace, you may contact me through this contact form: CONTACTUS

February 2024 Month of the Yang Fire Tiger

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

February 4 marks the beginning of the month of the Yang Fire Tiger (Bing Yin 丙寅), the first month of the Chinese Year. It also marks the beginning of the Solar Year of the Tiger (also known as Li Chun, the beginning of Spring). The Lunar Year of the Tiger begins on Feb 10 this year, but it’s the solar calendar that is the basis for the Chinese Metaphysical Arts. This year we also begin a new 20-year Time Period, which is ruled by the 9 Purple Fire Star. So this year the transition energy may feel a little chaotic because of all these changes…especially with the Fire of the new Lucy Cycle. For more about that, see my article on Era 9 HERE.

The Yang Fire Tiger (Feb 4 - Mar 4) is the first month of the Yang Wood Dragon year, bringing a powerful energetic shift. As this wave of energy moves in, hang on to the helm, hoist your sail, and steer your ship into the prevailing winds and waves of this high-energy year. What a way to give yourself a boost into the year! As we literally “spring” into a new year, be ready to use this energy to dynamically launch your projects.

Dragon and Tiger are opposing forces: Dragon is yang male energy and Tiger is yin female energy. Combined, they produce strong, assertive energy that can either lead to a harmonious connection or clashes of opposing egos. So don’t expect this month to be anything other than energetic, with a likelihood of opposing forces on full display. It will be your job to harness this energy and focus it productively. If you do this, you’ll reap rewards. If you don’t, you could get caught in the undercurrent of chaos. Make it your goal to use the chaos creatively and productively. Be the go-to problem solver and establish yourself for the coming months.

If you have MONKEY, RAT, or DRAGON in your chart, the Traveling Horse Star will promote travel and movement/changes.

If you have MONKEY in your chart this is a CLASH month for you. Considering the rest of the energy of this month and year, I suggest you find a way to use any setbacks to regroup and look for new ways to do things or a new path. Otherwise, you might want to just lay low until the dust settles.

if you have PIG in your chart, you will COMBINE with Tiger to act as a nobleman star and help calm the chaos. It will also cure any clashes in your chart.

If you have SNAKE AND/OR MONKEY in your chart you have a Fire Penalty that can affect relationships and health. If this is the case, be mindful of how you interact with others and take measures to improve your health.

if you have YIN METAL in your Day Master or were born in a year ending with a 1, this is a NOBLEMAN month for you. There will be helpful people when you need them, but you have to find them…they’re not likely to just knock on your door. Be of value to others so you can meet people who can be of value to you.

FENG SHUI

This month all the Stars are in their Home Sectors, which will produce double-strength energy, for better or worse. This month is ruled by the 5 Yellow Earth Star, which brings a malevolent energy of loss and sickness. Not only is this being doubled by the native star but fresh Fire energy of the 9 Purple star is feeding this element. Since this sector is the “core” energy of the building, it’s important to avoid activation of this area. If there’s a stair or other highly active area (like a kitchen), you might want to put a small plant here to help mitigate the unfavorable Earth.

The most supportive sectors this month are the NORTH, NORTHWEST, and NORTHEAST. Again, this speaks to a universal Feng Shui chart that doesn’t take into consideration all of the Stars in your house or workplace chart. If any of these are an entry to your home or office, it will support prosperity. Otherwise, use these areas when you are doing activities pertaining to your health or career, as you will be supported.

If you have questions or want to book a personalized Feng Shui and/or BaZi reading, you may contact me HERE or email me at HelenKstyles@gmai.com.

Period/Era 9: Part 2

There is a 180-year cycle of Xuan Kong Feng Shui Periods/Eras which tracks the cycles of major planetary movements, such as Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn, relative to Earth. While these calculations can and are “off” over the centuries, most Feng Shui practitioners and masters continue to abide by the strict guidelines of 20-year increments.

In the current/prevailing Era the 8 Star in Xuan Kong is the strongest and represents wealth. This wealth energy will pass to the 9 Star in 2024 and the 8 Star will be somewhat diminished to “past wealth.” Cycling through the Flying Stars, the 1 Star will pick up energy as “Future Wealth.” All the Stars have a life cycle, but there are some that retain more influence, no matter what the prevailing star is, while some stars only have favorable energy during their “prevailing” era.

Let’s take a look at how these Stars’ energy will play out in the upcoming 9 Period:

The 1 White Star (fame/reputation) currently has good energy and as mentioned above, it will continue to have good energy as the “future wealth” star in Period 9.

The 2 Black Star (Illness) currently has rising energy and in Period 9 it will have dead energy.

The 3 Jade Star (aggression/arguments) currently has rising energy and in Period 9 will have dead energy.

The 4 Green Star (academics, relationships) currently has good energy and will continue to have good energy in Period 9.

The 5 Yellow Star (most malicious star) currently has dead energy and will continue to have dead energy in the next Period.

The 6 White Star (career) currently has good energy, which will continue in Period 9.

The 7 Red Star (robbery, loss, accident by metal), which is currently the past wealth star with failing energy, will have dead energy in Period 9.

The 8 White Star (prosperity) is the prevailing star of wealth with high energy. It will have falling energy as the “past wealth” star in Period 9.

The 9 Purple Star (growth/expansion/joy) is currently the future wealth star and its energy is rising. As stated above, it will become the prevailing “wealth” star in Period 9.

The life cycle of Xuan Kong stars affects not only the quantity but the quality of energy of each star. Since every star has both a positive and negative (yin-yang) character, its behavior depends on where it is in its life cycle. There are some Stars that are always more or less favorable and others that are mostly unfavorable unless they appear in their prevailing year.

As an example, the “White” stars are generally favorable standing alone, whereas the Yellow, Black, and Red stars are mostly unfavorable. The Green stars can go either way, depending upon their “usability” and their life cycle. And the Purple Star is mostly favorable, though its energy fluctuates over its life cycle.

Note: In Xuan Kong Feng Shui, the stars represent specific energy. They are not actual stars but a shorthand for specific energetic behaviors based on their gender and life cycle. Each Star also has specific relationships with other stars based on their assigned Element. In the natal chart of a building, these calculations are also affected by the place and orientation of the building, along with the year it was completed. This is why when you see universal annual or monthly Flying Star charts, that’s only a small portion of the energetic impact on your building.

In the coming articles about Period 9, we will look at the overall energetic effects of Period 9 on buildings, such as particular sitting and facing directions, and how to capitalize on Period 9.

If you’re interested in having a personalized Feng Shui audit, you may contact me HERE.

August 2023: Month of the Yang Metal Monkey

Aug 8 - Sept 7 is the month of Geng Shen/Yang Metal Monkey. We are now entering the Autumn months of the Chinese year, with metal being a prevailing element. The Monkey’s Yang metal, combined with the Yang Metal stem in a Water Rabbit year can bring and infusion of confidence, enthusiasm, and confidence. Business sectors that can be especially affected by this energy are Banking, Science/Engineering, Film, Sales, & Jewelry. While the gentle Sheep gave us a respite from the fiery Horse month, the energy of the Monkey will likely create a little excitement this month. If you have Monkey in your chart, you’ve likely been finding that this has been an eventful year with your hard work paying off.

This is a Clash Month for Tiger, which can mean challenges and changes.

If you have Tiger and Snake in your chart, it will form a Fire Penalty this month, which can affect relationships and health. So be mindful of those areas of you life. If you have only Tiger or Snake, it’s still a partial penalty, but not as powerful as the “full monty.”

If you have Tiger, Horse, or Dog in your chart, it forms a Traveling Star, which indicates travel or movement of some kind.

If you have a Yin Wood or Yin Earth Day Master or were born in a year ending with a 5 or 9, this is your Nobleman month for you! Whoohoo!

Feng Shui Analysis for August

The 2Black Illness Star flies to the center palace this month, where it’s supported by the native Earth Element. It’s hosted and controlled by the Annual 4 Wood element, and that relationship can create tension. So, be mindful of your health by taking preventative steps to improve your immunity and overall health. Maybe it’s time to tweak your diet and exercise habits or take other measures to improve your overall physical and mental well-being. It’s important to note that if you’re struggling emotionally, to reach out to people or agencies that can help.

The 5Yellow Malicious Star flies to the Northeast, where it is supported by the native Earth Element. It’s hosted and controlled by the Annual 7 Metal Star, a combination that is both aggressive and volatile. So this is not an area where you want to spend much time, particularly if you have not remediated the Annual Star. If it is at your front door, it’s preferable to use another entry if possible or avoid activating it as much as possible. If it’s your bedroom, either use another bedroom or add a plant to help support you.

The sectors that are most supportive and beneficial are the South and Southeast. Activating and spending time in those sectors could be beneficial to your overall prosperity.

If your Trigram is a 2, the Southwest sector is your home base, and a “Combination 10” supports you this month. Use this sector’s energy to do activities that can support or grow your business, career, or finances.

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If you want to schedule a BaZi or Feng Shui Audit, contact me HERE

March 2023: Month of the Yin Wood Rabbit

March 6 - April 4 is the month of the Yin Wood Rabbit (Yi Mao 乙 卯) and the second month of the Yin Water Rabbit (Gui Mao 癸卯) year. This month favors Goat, Dog, Pig, and Rabbit. It’s not as favorable for Horse, Rat, and Dragon, and it’s most unfavorable for Rooster, which is in both a Year Breaker and Month Breaker with Rabbit. If Rooster is in your hour pillar be cautious with your investments. If it’s in your day pillar, be mindful of your personal relationships and health. If it’s in your month pillar, career changes may be on the horizon. If it’s in your year pillar, there could very well be a change in your surroundings, such as a move or a change in your social circle.

This month the East sector supports ventures for your success. So use/activate this sector by completing tasks related to your pursuit of success. The best days to activate are Mar 6, 12, & 30, which are Success Days on the Tong Shu/Chinese calendar. These days favor Goat, Pig, and Rabbit most. Also, Mar 7 is a good day to launch new products. Aside from this, the East is the least supportive sector this month. Houses that sit in the East are overall not supportive this month. To mitigate this, make sure you are up to date with your annual and monthly Feng Shui adjustments, and be mindful of keeping everything safe and clutter-free.

Avoid starting or launching new projects/products on Mar 9, 16, 17, 21, 28, 29, & Apr 2.

There is a protective shield in the West sector this month, so use this for tasks that pertain to your finances/investments.

This month will be a time of change for the Rooster since it’s in Clash with Rabbit. There may be obstacles to overcome but it’s when we have to adjust to them that we often pivot, change, or discover a new direction. Growth is often painful but it’s in these moments that we find a new purpose. If Rooster is in your day pillar, there is a calamity sha that can promote disaster, illness, and injury, so be mindful of your health and don’t do anything that puts you at risk. If it’s in your year, month, or hourly pillars you may encounter large, unplanned expenses. Change your daily habits to avoid issues and safeguard your health and wealth.

The Snake & Dragon or those born with a year ending with a 2 or 3 will enjoy the nobleman this month.

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Are you ready for your personal Feng Shui and/or Bazi analysis? Contact me HERE for more information.

2023 Xuan Kong Flying Stars

2023 Year of the Rabbit will begin on February 4, 2023. This year will be governed by the 4 Creativity/Academics/Romance Star. This Wood element is hosted by an Earth Palace. This is a destructive cycle for these elements…Wood destroys Earth. So, while the wood will be drawing energy from the earth, it will create tension between the two, which has the potential to create obstacles this year. At the same time, it will be a year for academics/studies. So if you’ve considered adding to your knowledge base, the energy of the 4 Green Star will support you.

The Tai Sui (Grand Duke Jupiter) sits in the East (E2)this year, which is governed by the Rabbit. The Tai Sui can be supportive if you sit with your back to it but is “offended” if you face it, so avoid doing so. Also, the 2 Black Illness Star (Earth) is hosted by the East Palace (Wood). While the Wood will control the Earth and reduce its efficacy, it will also create tension, so it’s best not to activate this sector. No construction, noise, or high activity.

The Sui Po (Year Breaker) is always opposite the Tai Sui, so it will be in the West (W2). The San Sha (7 Killings) will also occupy the West…but will include the entire sector from SW3 to NW1. Once again, this sector is best left undisturbed this year. The Metal 6 White Career Star is hosted here this year, which receives energy from this Metal sector, so it will support careers. If this is an area that you normally use for career activities, turn on a lamp to dissipate the energy of the San Sha and position yourself so you face the West.

The Northwest hosts the 5 Yellow Misfortune Star. While this Earth Star will be somewhat diminished by the Metal of this sector, it’s best not to activate this star. No construction, loud noises, or high activity.

The North (Water) hosts the 9 Purple (Fire) Expansion/Celebration Star. Water obviously controls fire, so there’s very little energy available and a lot of tension which can negatively affect the middle son or health issues concerning the heart or eyes.

The Northeast (Earth) hosts the 7 Red Violence Star (Metal), and contributes to its efficacy. If a door or window is located here, be mindful of security. If a kitchen is located here, be careful when using knives.

The Southeast (Wood) hosts the 3 Jade (Wood) Argument Star. This star can be helpful if you need courage. However, it’s an aggressive star, which is being boosted by its own element so be very careful about how you use this energy since it can promote arguments and lawsuits. When using this sector, be mindful of how you interact with others and if a conversation to escalate into an argument, de-escalate/move to another area of the house or office.

The South (Fire) sector hosts the 8 White Wealth Star (Earth). This is the most favorable sector of the year. The Fire of the South will fuel the efficacy of the 8 Wealth Star so this is a very supportive sector to spend time and to activate with activities!

The Southwest (Earth) hosts the 1 White Authority/Fame Star (Water). Unfortunately, the Earth of this Sector will “dam up” the favorable energy of the 1 White Star and create tension in this sector.

This is the generic Flying Stars for 2023. However, the annual stars are only one part of the equation when it comes to working with the energy within your home or office. Every building has its own “natal chart” and every person occupying the space will bring another layer of energy. If you are interested in having your home, office, or business audited, you may contact me HERE.

The Japanese Concept of "Ma"

The Japanese term for negative space…a gap, pause, or open space…is “Ma.” The concept of negative space in art and design is essential to the composition. Ma is the principle of creating interruptions or absences…moments of awareness and quiet…a free zone where dissimilar things can reconcile. Empty space provides both support and a respite from the other elements of the design…a quiet place for the eye to rest and allow for differences to be reconciled.

Without negative spaces (or at least a perception of negative spaces), a design can feel chaotic and exhausting. Contrary to Western culture, more of a good thing is not better. When in doubt, opt for less. The more negative space there is, the more notable is the rest of the composition. An example of the use of Ma in design would be Danish furniture design…sleek and minimalist with a lot of open spaces contributing to the concept. Modern architecture also embraces this concept with clean lines and vast amounts of glass that provide a moment for exterior surroundings to play a prominent part of the interior experience. Frank Lloyd Wright was a master of using open spaces, along with compression and expansion, to emphasize the hand-crafted elements of his designs. Exterior “Zin” or Asian gardens perfectly express Ma in their spareness and total concept. A prime example of Ma in art would be a Sumi brush painting, such as the one at the top of this article. When there are fewer objects in a space, the pieces therein assume “pride of place.” Your eye is drawn to them simply because they are surrounded by open space. Ma is used in art installations/exhibits and even retail merchandising.

The existence of negative space in artwork has been interpreted as, ”emptiness full of possibilities, like a promise yet to be fulfilled.” In music it’s referred to as, “the silence between the notes.,” which completes the composition. Examples of this concept also appear in the Tao Te Ching:

• Spokes meet the hub, though the space between them is the essence of the wheel.

• Pots are formed from clay, though the space inside is the essence of the pot.

• Walls with windows and doors form a house, though the space within is the essence of the house.

In Feng Shui, negative space also facilitates the gentle movement of qi. When a room is filled to the brim, with little to no negative spaces, the qi gets stuck…and stagnates. It is for this reason it’s beneficial to develop a regular practice of editing your living and work spaces of unnecessary items. Open corners of the room, curate items on counters, bookshelves, and other surfaces to include more open spaces and less stuff. Remove things that are no longer being used and donate or sell to someone who will use them. Even things stored out of sight create stagnant energy. All those drawers, closets, and cupboards stuffed full of things are “blocking” the qi flow. When you regularly “cleanse’ your space, you create ma to facilitate room for fresh energy to enter. The same can be said for exterior spaces, where gardens are overgrown, the qi cannot move. This practice of editing and clearing out old energy will invite more creativity, productivity, and greater joy.

Rooster 2021 Feng Shui

The central energy of the month is that of untimely metal stars boosted by Earth. We saw this configuration back in January when things were pretty rocky, globally. The visiting 7 Red star has a violent energy that is also associated with disease of the lungs. In January, while there were new vaccines in the marketplace, the COVID virus was still raging. There was also an attempted coup to overturn the US presidential election, and the transfer of power was unprecedented in its volatility. So, while there are some differences astrologically, we still need to be mindful of how we interact with people. This energy is in every building during the month of September, so try to give yourselves and others space to work through things. Don’t take risks that could put you in harms way. Treat others with respect and love, and infuse your home or workplace with high frequency energy.

This month you’ll find the inauspicious 2Black and 5Yellow stars of sickness and destruction in the South and East. You will want to move your monthly adjustment of 6 coins each (total of 12 coins) to these locations. Let’s break down the energy for these two sectors:

South: The Illness Star (2 Earth) meets the 1 Water Star in the Fire host sector. While the Fire supports the Earth, when the earth meets water in a destructive/controlling cycle, the result is tension. When you add the 6 coins to this sector, it will reduce the energy of the Earth and empower the energy of the Water. This results in a net gain of positive energy.

East: The Malevolent Star (5 Earth) meets the 4 Wood Star in the Wood host sector. There is tension from the controlling cycle of the Wood over the Earth, which also energy from this sector. By placing the 6 coins here, the Metal will diminish the Earth but it will also cause some tension with regard to creativity. This may not be the best location for creative endeavors or for conceiving a child.

For a full audit of your home or office, you may contact me for more information HERE.

June 2021 Yang Wood Horse Month（Jia Wu 甲 午）

Jia Wu

June 5 - July 6 is the Yang Wood Horse Month. June is the season of Summer, the Fire element. This forms the Heng hexagram (#32) of Thunder over Wind, which brings an energy of consistency/duration. This is the most stable moth so far this year and is a month to commit to relationships or other endeavors for smooth progress.

This is your Nobleman month if you were born in a year ending with 1 (1961, 1971, etc.) or if you have Yin Metal in the day of your birth. Helpful people will be around you if you need them.

This is your Peach Blossom month if you were born in the year or day of the Snake, Rooster, or Ox. Relationships, both intimate and within your professional network can benefit.

This is your Clash month if you have Rat in your year, month (December), day, or hour (11p-1am). This can create obstacles or disturbances. This may lead to changes or growth. Be careful not to put yourself in harms way or take risks. Leverage the clash energy to your benefit.

This is a Self Penalty month for those born in the year of the Horse. If so, be mindful of self-sabotage or negative self-talk since you may have feelings of unworthiness or self doubt. Self awareness, discipline, and self-control are essential during a period of self penalty. There’s no other way to get through it gracefully. Just remember that good things are worth fighting for and stay focused.

The overall Feng Shui energy for this month is in a productive, supportive, harmonious cycle, with the entry of the 1 White (water) Star of Reputation being supported by the annual 6 White metal. Add to that, the 8 White Star of Wealth and Benevolence, and you get the auspicious combination of 1-6-8! So, between the BaZi and Feng Shui energy this month, you can look forward to very auspicious energy! Make good use of it through your actions. Don’t waste it on complacency!

Add your monthly adjustments of 6 metal coins each to the South (misfortune) and Northwest (illness). These coins can be of any denomination, just as long as they’re round and made of metal. This adjustment is in addition to your annual adjustments and don’t affect them.

If you want to schedule a Feng Shui evaluation of your home or workplace, or a personal BaZi analysis, you may contact me HERE.

Feng Shui for Bedrooms

You may have read about all kinds of “Feng Shui Rules” for bedrooms. There is a lot of folklore about bedrooms that has nothing to do with Imperial Feng Shui. When it comes to bedrooms, “form” is the primary concern.

The primary function of a bedroom is obviously sleep. It may also be a place where you retreat to relax. Of course, a bedroom for a couple is also a place for romance. But whether it’s a bedroom for a child, single, or couple, first and foremost, it must be a peaceful sanctuary. In order for that to occur, begin by eliminating clutter. Chaos is antithetical to rest and relaxation, so clear the clutter. As an example of what a bedroom should look like, use a high-end hotel sleeping room as inspiration. It should be open and airy with good air circulation and lighting. Here are a few more things to be mindful of:

• Avoid storage under the bed

• No electronics except lighting

• No exercise equipment

• Organize and store everything in drawers, closet, or other enclosed storage…no open bookshelves, etc.

• The bedroom door should be visible from your bed, but not in direct alignment

• There should be a solid headboard (wood or upholstery)…no open spindles and avoid metal beds. Beds without headboards lack support and protection and metal is too yang.

• Don’t place the bed in front of a window. If this is unavoidable, use heavy window coverings that can be closed when sleeping.

• Don’t push the bed into a corner…there should be space between the bed and the wall

• A neutral palette is preferable since vivid colors are psychologically stimulating

• It’s preferable that the bed is not directly under an open beam or ceiling fan

• Avoid large mirrors or any that show your reflection from the bed

• If the bedroom has to serve dual-function as an office or study space, computers should be stored out of sight when it’s time for sleep

• All art should support a peaceful, restful environment and don’t hang anything above the headboard. This is not the place for a family or vacation photo gallery.

• Avoid placing furniture with corners directed the bed

• Doors that align to the bed, such as an en suite bathroom or closet, should be kept closed when sleeping

• Large windows/sliding glass doors that are near the bed should be covered with curtains for sleeping, since the energy is very yang and can disrupt sleep.

8 Mansions, a subset calculation of Feng Shui, can help you locate the best areas of the house and the “best direction” to align a bed for restorative sleep. However, that’s a principle that requires a practitioner to determine, and is based on a combination of the Trigram of the house and of each individual. I use this to help people plan new construction or if they have the option of using different rooms in the house as bedrooms. But in most cases there are no optional rooms so the primary concern is that of Form: locating the bed in the “command” position in the room,. If there is more than one option for the location of the bed, then I will use the personal Trigram to help determine the best positioning.

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Feel free to leave a comment or question. If you wish to book a Feng Shui consultation for your home, office, or business, you may either submit via this website’s Contact page or email me at: HelenKstyles@gmail.com

Feng Shui + BaZi for September 2020

September is the month of the Yin Wood Rooster, (Sep 7 to Oct 8). The Rooster month is associated with Yen Metal and the fullest expression of Fall, which is so this is a powerful month.

The second half of 2020 will continue to have a lot of energy as we get into the water months of winter (Nov, Dec). So, hang onto your hat because this Rat energy will continue to be frenetic. I know this isn’t the news you want, but if you can get through this Rat year, a slower, more deliberate pace awaits you in the Ox year of 2021.

This month, the Feng Shui chart shows that the 1 White Water Star will visit the universal Center Palace, which will help mitigate some of the agitation of the Annual 7 Red Star. The other aspect of the 7 is that it’s associated with diseases of the respiratory system. So, let’s hope we get some relief from the current pandemic and typical seasonal flu as children return to school. The 1 White is also known for its potential for fame and fortune, but the earth of this zone will block that potential.

The areas of your home or office that you want to update this month are the South and the Northwest.

In the South this year, the 2 Black Illness Star visits. In September it is joined by the 5 Yellow Disaster Star. The combination of these is particularly unfavorable and even more so since the element of the South is Fire, which feeds both Earth Stars. Mitigate this with metal. For a monthly cure you can add 6 round metal coins. Put them in a bowl or dish somewhere in the South zone of your home or office. If your home or business entry is in the South, it’s a good idea to add the metal cure both inside and outside.

The Northwest will host the 2 Yellow Illness Star this month, so you’ll want to cure this with the same metal remedy you used in the South.

Another area of concern is the East, which is home to the annual 5 Yellow Disaster Star. The benevolent 8 White Wealth Star will join the 5 and it will support the 5. But the metal you have there for the annual star should be sufficient to mitigate the additional earth. However, make sure you don’t further activate it with earth or fire elements (e.g., crystals, red decor, candles, etc.).

Your BAZI for September:

If you were born in the year or day of the Monkey, Rat, or Dragon, this is your Peach Blossom month. This is helpful for all relationships. If you want to add some spark to your romantic relationship, this month will support that. If you want to launch a PR campaign for your business, this will be a good month to do that.

If you have the Rooster anywhere in your 4 Pillars, this is your Penalty month. Make sure you are cognizant of any tendencies for self-sabotage or low self-esteem and balance the Feng Shui in your home or workplace. Stay on top of your tasks and keep your eye on your goals.

If you have Rabbit anywhere in your 4 Pillars, this is your clash month. It may be a moment of transformation and growth for you…but remember that growth is often a painful and hard work.

This is your nobleman month if you were born in a year ending in 6 or 7, or if you were born on a Yang Fire or Yin Fire day or year. Nobleman is your “guardian angel” that can either help you through troublesome times or enhance your efforts toward your goals and relationships.

Please feel free to leave comments below. If you are interested in having a Feng Shui audit or your BaZi chart done, you may contact me via the Contact form on this site or email me at: HelenKstyles@gmail.com

Six Coin Metal Adjustment

You’ve probably seen Chinese coins strung together with a red ribbon either online or in Asian shops. Most often they are labeled as a “wealth” or “prosperity” luck talisman. I’ve seen them with three, six, and 8 coins bundled together. But the 6-coin strand actually has an ancient Feng Shui purpose, which has nothing to do with wealth or prosperity. It’s important to note that this metal adjustment is a “minor” metal, only used to adjust the monthly Xuan Kong energy.

Six coins are an ancient Feng Shui monthly remedy for unfavorable earth. In Flying Stars (Xuan Kong) Feng Shui we use numbers to identify “stars.” These numbers have nothing to do with numerology but are merely a shorthand for identifying specific energy. In this case, the number six is identified with Yang Metal…the most vibrant expression of metal (the number 7 is associated with Yin Metal).

Metal energy is expressed through all metallic materials, curved shapes such as an oval, circle, semi-circle, etc., and the color white. In this case, the coin is round. So the expression of metal in a metallic coin is in both the actual material and the shape. We often use 6-tube metal wind chimes outdoors to mitigate unfavorable earth energies being stirred up outside the house from gardening and construction projects.

The 6 Coin Remedy is used only for a monthly adjustment to mitigate the 2 Black Star of Illness., which is an inauspicious earth element. In the Early Heaven Trigram, the 6 Trigram (Chien) is illustrated as the highest expression of masculine energy (heaven), and the 2 Trigram (Kun) is the highest expression of feminine energy (earth). The combination of the two literally results in neutral energy. But the 6 metal will also neutralize the 5 Yellow Star, another unfavorable earth star.

The standard remedy for unfavorable earth Stars…5 Yellow and 2 Black…is always metal, according to the Theory of the Five Phases: metal reduces earth since it is the child of earth. For annual metal cures the preference is for moving metal or significant or “heavy” metal objects that blend into the room’s decor. But using six coins under/behind a piece of furniture is an easy solution for monthly cures, which move around every 30-ish days.

You can either purchase one of these 6-coin talismans or simply put 6 coins in a little pouch or bowl. The denomination or origin of the coins is of no consequence, as long as they are made of metal and are round, without corners.

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Please feel free to leave comments below. If you wish to connect with me with questions or inquiries, you may email me at HelenKstyles@gmail.com, or send a message via the Contact page on this website.

Bathroom Feng Shui

There has been a lot written about Feng Shui for bathrooms, much of which have nothing to do with Feng Shui, at least according to ancient texts. Most of what you read is based on cultural adaptations and assumptions.

The truth is that the bathroom is a utilitarian room designed for bathing and elimination. At one time, the public bath house or rivers were for bathing only. Eventually, baths were set up in living quarters, either in the bedroom or in the main living area, near a fire, making bathing more commonplace even in cold climates. A separate outdoor place was designated for elimination, whether in a structure or some other specified area. Eventually, hese two utilitarian functions began to claim a combined indoor space. In most of the modern industrialized world bathrooms occupy at least one space in a residence or building…and often multiple spaces.

The flush toilet, while a great invention from a sanitation point of view, has one pitfall: namely, the “plume” of water vapor that rises each time it’s flushed. The water plume is known to be a cause of the spread of disease…not only from the inhaled particulate but also because that plume has a range of at least 6 feet, which leaves particulate on all surfaces around the toilet. When located in a water closet (a separate toilet room) or stall, the plume is contained to a smaller space, but without a lid the particulate can still be inhaled. This is how Legionnaires has spread in public places and a recent study has uncovered this possibility with Covid-19. In residences in most cases the toilet is located within range of a wash basin and counters where personal hygiene items are contaminated by the water plume. It is for THAT reason that one should always lower the toilet seat cover prior to flushing. It has nothing to do with the perception of “flushing money down the drain.”

While it is true that water is constantly draining out of this room from hand washing to showering/bathing, it doesn’t literally drain your finances so there’s no need to close the drains when the tub/shower and basin are not in use. Overall, the energy of a bath or powder room is one of cleansing debris from the body. Keeping the surfaces and air of a bathroom sanitized is desirable, considering its use. You don’t want that residue in the rest of your living quarters. So, if your bathroom/powder room is not sanitized after every use, it’s reasonable to close the door when not in use…particularly when it’s located near a kitchen (where food is prepared) or en suite bedroom. This is simply a good hygiene practices.

You’ve likely heard that you should keep the door closed if it faces a main entry as well. Again, this is a matter of hygiene and perception. After all, a powder room or bathroom is not generally a function that you want to draw attention to, nor do you want the entry to be exposed to the particulate that is produced in that room. No matter how beautifully decorated nor how expensive the fixtures, a bath/powder room is a utilitarian room for elimination and cleaning.

There is one energetic aspect of a bath or powder room to be aware of: while water is draining, so is energy. So this is a low-energy space. There’s never going to be an opportunity for gains here. Whatever natal energy or visiting energy is in a bathroom, it will be drained by the activity of this space. Whether it’s favorable or unfavorable, it’s going to be drained. For that reason Feng Shui dictates that it is not ideal to have a bathroom in the center of the house, since the center Palace of the house is often referred to as the “heart” of the house and to have draining energy there is not ideal.

Spaces are primarily activated by their use and it’s true that bathrooms are often active through their function. But as stated, there’s also a draining aspect that negates any activated energy there. By their very nature and utility, bathrooms, like laundry rooms, will never be supportive places to spend time.

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Please feel free to leave your comments below. If you want to schedule a consultation, you may use the Contact form on this website or email me at HelenKstyles@gmail.com