Feng Shui for Families*

Is there a favorite room in your home to which everyone seems to gravitate? Have you ever gone into someone else's house and felt uncomfortable? Do you notice how some places make you feel tense or tired, while other places leave you feeling either relaxed or energized?

Many people intuitively apply Feng Shui principles without realizing it, as they strive to make their surroundings as comfortable as possible. They may have wind chimes hanging where they can hear the tinkling melodies brought about by gentle breezes. Or they may have fountains in their entryways where they can listen to the soothing sound of trickling water.

Feng Shui (pronounced “fung shway”) is a 4,000-year-old Chinese philosophy, the art and science of correct placement. Translated into English, Feng Shui literally means “wind and water.” Feng Shui seeks to create harmony and balance by maintaining a healthy flow of energy in a favorable direction. This ancient Oriental concept has been rediscovered by modern architects, interior decorators, and landscape designers. It is being practiced in homes and businesses around the world.

Practitioners of Feng Shui believe that by arranging furniture in specific ways or by placing objects or plants in strategic locations, a feeling of well-being can be created. Feng Shui has been said to promote harmonious family relationships, foster good health, revive energy and enthusiasm and even encourage fertility. Although Feng Shui is based partly on superstition, it emphasizes natural physical laws, aesthetics, and common sense. This includes everything from the orientation of a building on its site, to locating the best place for rooms, and decorating with the smallest of objects.

The basic tools of Feng Shui are: directions (north, south, east, west, etc.), elements (fire, earth, metal, water, wood), and colors of nature. Each direction represents certain aspirations in life: SE=wealth and prosperity, S=recognition and fame, SW=marriage and love, W=creativity and children, NW=mentors and helpers, N=career, NE=knowledge and education, E=family and health. The elements have good and bad sides. For example, metal “chops” wood and fire “melts” metal. Balancing all of these considerations will affect the choice of furnishings and décor.

If the rooms in your house are in the "wrong" place or if anything else is "wrong," there are cures that will offset the negative aspects. For example, an unfavorable north-facing bedroom can be given a boost by adding shiny metal or a lively color, just as a bright southern bedroom can be toned down. Mirrors, shiny objects, and lighting placed in key areas will reflect back negative energy or attract good energy, and the placement of barriers (plants, folding screens, etc.) will slow down energy moving too quickly through an area.

The basic principles of Feng Shui are surprisingly effective with kids. Children pick up on the "vibrations" created in spaces early on. A child that everyone likes to visit doesn't necessarily have better toys or snacks. It may be that his room and the living space he occupies is in balance and harmony, so it is a comfortable and enjoyable place to play. Families who have utilized simple Feng Shui principles have noticed improved health, more restful sleep, better study habits, reduced sibling rivalry, increased friendships, and general family harmony.

According to Feng Shui practice, children are one of the eight aspirations. In addition, the Chinese have always emphasized education as a focal point in shaping their lives. All parents want their children to grow up strong, healthy, and intelligent. The influence of the physical environment is an important factor in a child’s development. The bedroom and study area are their most significant surroundings, so when planning children’s rooms consider what will be good for these formative, impressionable years.

Bedrooms

The west is for children, creativity, and projects. This is an ideal location for a child’s bedroom, especially if he or she is anxious or squabbling, or if the relationship between parent and child is troubled, because the west has a contented feeling. The best colors for western children’s rooms are white, gray, light pastels, and metallic colors. Metal is the preferred element. If a creative space can’t be in a west-facing room, it should at least be on the western side of a room. Emphasize this area if a parent or child is working on a creative project, or if they would like to be more creative in general. Creative areas can be enhanced with accessories made of white colors and stone, metal, round or oval shapes. Soft furnishings may be any color except red.

The east is also an ideal location for a growing child because it is bright, positive, and active. It encourages imaginative play and stimulates mental development. At the same time, the liveliness of the east may need to be moderated to calm the environment for sleep. The east is a combination of water and wood elements. Therefore, the best colors for this sector are soft blues and greens, which are peaceful and calming. For the walls, use something light in tone. Be creative with soft furnishings (i.e. flowered designs on covers or rugs). Bright solid colors may be used in small quantities. Avoid geometric, angular, checkered, and striped patterns.

A child’s room often has to function as a playroom as well as a bedroom, so the challenge is to make it fun during the day and peaceful at night. The primary colors of yellow, red, orange, and cobalt blue are too stimulating for a bedroom. Black is not suitable either. Bright blue and green are okay in small quantities but need to be balanced with softer shades. Children’s rooms should be decorated with soothing colors to make them cozy and calming—soft shades of blue, green, yellow, gray, lilac, or pale purple.

Children generally enjoy more energetic surroundings than adults, so some bright colors and pictures depicting movement are okay. But for an overly active child, try to create a more peaceful environment. Objects with hostile themes (swords, wild animals, army toys, battle scenes) and high-energy objects (televisions, radios, sports posters, exercise equipment) should be avoided. Computers and other electronic equipment don’t belong in the bedroom, either. Glass and mirrors reflect and speed up energy, while fabric coverings absorb and slow down energy.

Choose positive images to suit the child’s needs. Star and cloud motifs are good. Children's toys and artwork energize the west. Mobiles can be hung in a child’s room (metal and bright colors in the west; soft fabric pastels in the east), but never hang them directly over the bed. Wood is ideal for toys because it is a natural material, warm and pleasing to the touch. Use wall lights instead of table or floor lamps. Try illuminating the west side of the house with bright lights; it is said that this will ensure obedient children. If a child is irritable or unmanageable, add some greenery such as a live plant to his or her room.

Shapes should be circular or rounded. Natural wood floors are good. Fabric blinds that can be put up and down are useful in both daytime and nighttime. Beds should never be placed under a window, and you should be able to see the door of the room from the bed. Exposed bookshelves facing or behind beds should be avoided. East or southeast are the most favorable positions for the head of the bed. Beds should be cozy and inviting, with bed coverings of natural fibers. Bunk beds are okay.

Children’s rooms should be sparsely furnished. Avoid bulky furniture, which can make the space seem confining. If more than one child shares a room, see that they each have a place to call their own. It could be a shelf, a drawer, a storage unit, or a small desk. Keep bedrooms tidy and get rid of outgrown items. There shouldn’t be clothing in heaps, or piles of stuff sitting on the floor. Games, toys, collections, etc. should be hidden within cabinets or behind closed closet doors. Everything has to be put away at night, to bring peace to the room for a more restful sleep.

Study Areas

The place of education, knowledge and wisdom is in the northeast direction, either a northeast room in the house or a northeast corner of a room. The knowledge area is a good spot for bookcases, desks, and computers. The colors of knowledge are black, blue, and green. Eight blue items placed in the northeast area of the room are thought to bring wisdom and insight. A globe is an excellent accessory for school-age children, to symbolize their study success.

Place a child's desk in the northeast sector of the room to improve study habits. Make sure they are not sitting with their back facing the door, or place a mirror so they can see the door behind them. There should be solid support behind (like a wall or closet) or a painting of something solid. Pictures of mountains are recommended, as mountains symbolize knowledge. Avoid hanging paintings of water (lakes, waterfalls, etc.) near a child’s desk. Try not to be seated directly in front of a window, especially if there is a tree or outside activity, since this takes away concentration. Don’t place a desk below a toilet on the upper floor as this generates bad energy. Avoid sharp points or angles (exposed overhead beams, edges of shelves or furniture, protruding corners, etc.) aimed toward the study chair or desk, because these are like poison arrows. Stools and tables with rounded corners are preferred.

Observe your child's study area and desk. Surfaces should be uncluttered to allow energy to flow freely. Place a quartz crystal under a lamp on the northeast corner of the desk to assist with retention. Energize academics with a crystal prism in the northeast window. A bookcase encourages reading and studious behavior. Open bookcases should have all the books flush with the front edge of the shelf. Make sure the room is clean and clear with minimal furniture. Keep supplies inside closed cabinets or drawers, and put unused “stuff” elsewhere.

Try applying some simple Feng Shui principles to make your home more harmonious, your study areas more conducive to learning, and your bedrooms more restful. Be sure not to take it too seriously, and you can have fun experimenting with Feng Shui.

Additional Information

www.gypsycaravan.com/Feng-Shui1.html (A free Feng Shui online room consultation with automated software that makes recommendations related to your specific areas of concern.)

www.geomancy.net/resources/art/art-child.htm (Find the best room for a child and the best location for a bed and study table; colorful illustrations.)

www.houseandhomeonline.com/fengshui1299.html (Chaos, Children and Creativity.)

*A Note from Teri

A couple of people have expressed their concern about seeing a feng shui article on a Christian site. They feel that feng shui is an expression of an Eastern religious philosophy and therefore wholly incompatible with Christian households. The fear seems to be that Christians who participate in feng shui - especially Christian children - might be influenced by its Eastern religious aspects.

This type of reasoning can be called a genetic fallacy, which demands that something should be automatically rejected because it comes from a bad source, no matter what its current status is. An example of a genetic fallacy is when Philip told Nathanael about Jesus of Nazareth and Nathanael exclaimed, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" (John 1:46). Astronomy is another example. One wouldn’t condemn the science of astronomy simply because it originated from the occultic art of astrology, which is condemned by God (Isaiah 47:13-15).

Some activities are always ill advised, of course, such as seeking guidance from a horoscope, consulting a palm reader, or dabbling in witchcraft. But we don’t think twice about throwing rice at a bride and groom, wearing a pair of lucky socks, hanging mistletoe, or blowing out birthday candles. These are considered to be quaint superstitions with no idolatry or occult practices attached. The symbolism of Feng Shui can be looked at the same way. To dismiss all feng shui ideas simply because of the initial context from which they arose ignores the dynamic character of the art.

Having studied interior design, I’m naturally interested in different decorating techniques. The way I see it, contemporary Western feng shui is simply a common-sense approach to arranging one's environment so that the people in it are more comfortable. Although the ancient Chinese based feng shui on the Taoist belief in the interconnectedness of all things, even traditional feng shui is not itself a religion, but an art and philosophy of interior and landscape design.

Contemporary Western feng shui is for the most part greatly simplified and de-mystified. It teaches us to be thoughtful about how we arrange and use the spaces we inhabit and work in, and reminds us to be attentive to and appreciative of the relationships and possessions that bless our lives. Scientific principles are also uniquely incorporated such as mathematical calculations, astronomical directions, geologic elements, geography and the environment. Although certain aspects of it may seem New Age-ish, the home decorating tips in feng shui practice are just good design techniques.

Given the great diversity of individual viewpoints and worldviews, it is to be expected that a broad spectrum of feng shui would be practiced today, ranging from the purely decorative to that which is steeped in mysticism or New Age practices. However, if one maintains a proper Christian perspective, then it is possible for the discerning Christian to participate in the feng shui arts. Such Christians would be wise to remember the apostle Paul's words to the Thessalonians: "Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil." (1 Thess. 5:21-22). Christians can use certain aspects of other cultures sensibly, as long as it doesn’t become an obsession and undermine our confidence in the one true God.

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