Did you know that Feng Shui is actually made up of a variety of practices? One of the most ancient and basic is called the Form School. Form School looks at the surrounding external environment to see what effect it may have on the structure being evaluated.

Not only do we consider the natural environment but also man-made features. I love comparing the photos above because they illustrate a great example. See how the energy of water moving through the landscape is similar to a road moving through the landscape. They both are conduits of energy; one man-made, one natural. It is not ideal to have a house built directly next to a fast moving road or directly next to a fast moving river. A house built next to a meandering stream or a meandering road is a completely different experience. This is just a single example of many effects the environment can have on a home.

The Form School also looks at the protection a property will bring to its inhabitants. An ideal location will have each of the four protectors. The four protectors are an ancient idea and have names that come from Chinese mythology, they are called; the Black Tortoise, the Red Raven, the Green Dragon and the White Tiger.

When facing a house the Black Tortoise sits to the back of the structure. This is the most important of the protectors and should be higher than the house and should be able to be seen from the front. If the land does not do this a grouping of very large trees can also act as a protector or even another building. The Green Dragon lays to the left and the Red Raven lays to the right. These are commonly fulfilled by neighboring houses or building when homes are located in a community. The Red Raven is the protector to the front of the house. The feature is tricky because you want it to ideally be raised but to not block the view when looking out from the house.

There are unique aspects to every location that can affect a home positively or negatively. A good Feng Shui consultant will not only look at the interior of your space but also have a footing in Form School Feng Shui and consider what impact the surrounding environment can bring and what solutions can be employed so that the environment can be as supportive as possible.

You’ve probably heard about how Feng Shui can create harmony and balance in your home, but can it improve your performance at work too? While the ancient Chinese philosophers who developed the practice of Feng Shui thousands of years ago didn’t have the average corporate employee in mind, the concepts of yin and yang and the flow of positive energy can be applied to any environment.

Today companies hire Feng Shui experts for architectural design, interior design, and landscaping. If you’re lucky enough to work for such a company, you may already be reaping the benefits of Feng Shui. But what if you’re stuck working in an old, dark building that hasn’t been updated in twenty years? Don’t worry because in both scenarios, what’s most important is your own personal work space. And that’s usually a place you can improve.

The principles of Feng Shui can be applied to work. Ask yourself the following questions about your office or work space. If the answer to any of them is "no", find a way to fix it.

• Is it clean?
• Is it uncluttered?
• Is it filled with things you enjoy?
• Is there enough light or better yet, natural light?
• Is it welcoming to visitors?

Keeping your office clean and uncluttered makes concentration easier. If you have an unobstructed path in and out of your office for yourself and for your visitors, energy will flow in and out easily - that includes new ideas. If you fill your space with things you love (photos, favorite coffee mug, motivational sayings, etc), your time working will be more pleasurable. If you’re lucky enough to have natural light through a window, that’s energizing. If you don’t, make sure you do have enough light and perhaps bring in your own desk lamp instead of relying on fluorescent lighting all day. Plants naturally take out bad carbon dioxide and replace it with oxygen.

Lastly, make sure you move your own energy around during the day by getting up to stretch, going outside, walking around or visiting colleagues.

The complete article at Examiner.com

I heard this great idea on the radio the other day; planting more for the hungry. This is how it works. So there are many of us out there that are planting vegetable gardens on our property. Whether it is a small garden on a city lot or a sizable garden in the country, there is a big movement building for growing your own food again. Even the Obama’s planted a garden this year on the White House lawn.

When planning your garden plant a few more veggies than you think you will need. Seeds don’t cost much and you are already putting in the effort. The vegetables that you don’t need you can bring down to the local food bank. Food banks are hurting for food in this recession where so many people are looking for work and fresh food is a rarity at places like food banks. This would be a welcome addition for the families they service.

Binders and folders are a great organizational tool. These multi-taskers can be used in a multitude of ways.

A binder with clear sheets can be used for:

• Keeping each child’s artwork protected and readily available.
• A quick place to put those class pictures, certificates and paper mementos.
• A place to store all those great recipes that you printed off of the internet right at your finger tips.
• Sort and protect important documents (i.e. Birth certificates, SS cards, transcripts) that are needed often.
• Create an idea book for your home. Instead of having to keep an entire magazine, clip the article and put it in your Idea Binder.

Folders are great for:

• Keeping all your information for an up coming vacation together (i.e. reservation confirmation, maps, sightseeing interests).
• Keeping your papers for an on-going project in one spot.
• I’m a big fan of those accordion folders for keeping everything at my fingertips. I use a big one to keep track of each child’s school work for the week and any short term info and a small one that I can throw in the car or purse for household business items (i.e. check books, stamps, coupons, receipts).

Take stock of that pile of papers on the counter - maybe it’s calling out for a binder!

Interested in expanding your study of Feng Shui?

Asheville Feng Shui now has Chinese Lo'pan Compasses available for purchase.

This is Master Sangs Lo'Pan which he developed specifically for English speakers and is the same one I use in my evaluations.

Please e-mail me for more information.