In My Head
Wellpoints and Fireflies
by Stevan A. Walkowski
Dharma the Cat with Commentary
Ego
by David Lourie
Moving/Being
New Beginnings in Old Containers
by Paul Linden
Swami Says
Blisskrieg
by Steve Bhaerman
Verbasana
Yoga and Ice Cream
by Thatcher Ross
Feng Shui Today
Q&A with Sylvia Watson and Connie Spruill
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Feng Shui Today
Dear Sylvia and Connie,
I have attended some of your workshops and have found them very helpful in creating a home that meets my needs. I am running into one problem with a particular room - my dining room. The room is too small for a large group of people and I use my large kitchen for big dinners. This means that the dining room usually sits unused except to collect paperwork, bulls and books that I am hoping to read. Since I have no designated area where I can do paperwork, the dining room is becoming my dumping ground. I need help. Any feng shui suggestions to help my ailing dining room?
Sincerely,
Melissa S., Columbus, OH
Dear Melissa,
Two things are apparent: first, your dining room is not serving your needs and second, your bills and books are screaming for your attention.
An important thing to remember with feng shui is that every room be used. A room that just sits there is like stagnant energy - with little movement or circulation, your dining room is fast becoming an unhealthy space. To compound things, you are creating a clutter trap which eventually affects your emotional, spiritual and physical well being. Physical clutter leads to mind clutter.
Here are a few suggestions:
- Turn your unused dining room into an office/library. When choosing your office furniture, choose items with rounded corners and with drawers that can serve as filing cabinets. Ideally, you should position your desk so that your back is to a solid surface. Next while sitting at your desk, you need to be able to see the entry door, preferably in the diagonal corner.
- Tall bookcases should not be placed directly in front of you; otherwise you might feel overwhelmed or oppressed. Also, don't stuff the shelving and fill up all the space as it will create tension and make you feel "crowded".
- Create a reading area with a comfortable chair, small side table and lamp. Use a full spectrum light bulb in the lamp. Full spectrum lighting, although artificial, comes closest to duplicating the rays of the sun. In feng shui, one goal is to bring the outside into our living spaces; full spectrum lighting is a good way to "bring in a little sunshine".
- Bring in plants - they will help clean the air. Choose plants with rounded leaves or that sway easily in a gentle breeze. Lush, healthy foliage can serve as a metaphor for abundance.
Hope this helps and good luck with your new room.
Sylvia and Connie
© Sylvia Watson and Connie Spruill, Healing Environments, 2003. All rights reserved.
Sylvia Watson, FSII, and Connie Spruill, MA, FSII, are certified feng shui practitioners who also serve as faculty members of the Feng Shui Institute of America. They are popular presenters and have been featured in several publications and on TV. They were recently featured in Business First and on Ohio News Network, where they were part of a special on Stress Relief. They teach feng shui at Fusion, Upper Arlington Lifelong Learning and Dublin Community Center. (Send in your feng shui questions to Sylvia and Connie c/o healenvir@aol.com, or address your letters to Healing Environments, 1373 E. Main St., Columbus, OH 43205.)
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