Begun in China over 3,00 years ago, feng shui is the science and art of harnessing chi or qi, the positive energy, in your home.
Addressing the complexity of this ancient Chinese philosophy, Ebba Legaspi, a Milton, MA classical feng shui practitioner says, “feng shui is like an onion with many layers.” It involves balancing the five elements of wind, water, fire, metal, and earth which represent the distinct phases of your life. It depends on the facing direction of your home and spatial arrangements within it so energy flows uninterrupted, the time and date of your birth, and the characteristics of the current lunar year.
You’re in luck, 2023 is the year of the water rabbit, the luckiest of the twelve Chinese zodiac animals, standing for a year of education and growth. This could mean career promotion, real estate acquisition, and/or financial success can smile down on you at any time, especially if built on a solid foundation.
From the book, Feng Shui Dos and Taboos by Angi Ma Wong, here are some simple ideas on colors and objects you can use to decorate your home to promote a prosperous new year. So, grab your compass and begin!
When it comes to colors, use turquoise and aqua color in the northeast area to promote affluence. Throughout your home, use the wood colors of brown, beige, and tan to activate wealth and progress. Except in the bedroom, use metallic gold to enrich business and career success, prosperity, and wealth. Use green or any shade of red in the south areas for fame, fortune, and protection from evil. If purple is your color, use it in the east or southeast areas to promote prosperity. If you work at home, use ultramarine blue in the north to attract business wins.
Put an aquarium, a water element which denotes the flow of money, in the north area to improve business and career success or in the east for prosperity. But facing a bedroom or bathroom, the aquarium could result in a loss of fortune. Include eight gold-colored fish
and one black arowana, a “prosperity fish” believed to activate wealth, provide protection, and ward off bad energy. Both pet birds and fish symbolize wealth in your home.
Light candles – red, blue, or purple ones – in the south areas to enhance your reputation and fortune. Tie three silver dollars with red cording and hang on the back of your front door to welcome prosperity into your home.
The following items on your desk can attract prosperity and good luck: a tortoise, Chinese unicorn, crystal paperweight, candy jar, or dragon, the Chinese symbol of affluence and new beginnings. But don’t face the dragon toward the north as it is considered
unlucky and don’t clutter your desktop with too many objects as it brings bad energy.
A narcissus or jade plant placed in the east or southeast area can bring you good fortune and riches.
Over your kitchen stove which stands for both nourishment and wealth, hang a metal wind chime with five hollow rods to double your money.
Interestingly, a shed snake’s skin is said to bring you wealth.
In conclusion, Wong says, “I have personally seen fortunes rise and fall because of the application of feng shui. It is an intricate process,
requiring patience and years of careful experience.”
Barbara Graceffa owns and operates Secretary of the Interior in Quincy, MA offering creative solutions at reasonable rates.
Learn more about her decorating, downsizing, decluttering and home décor sewing services, decorating workshops, and quilt programs and shows at www.sec-interior.com and enjoy her art quilts on Instagram @secretaryinteriordecorating.
You can reach her at 617.921.6033.
Secretary of the Interior: Decorating Blog 