Sweet Dreams with Feng Shui

by Dennis Fairchild

The Asian philosophy that grapples with the role of color, furniture

placement, landscape and geology in people's lives is called feng shui

(pronounced "fung schway"). There are several schools �?Traditional,

Form, Compass, Black Sect, Pyramid, Nine Harmonies, Vastu. And, as the

saying goes, all paths lead to a sizeable student loan.

Feng shui's earliest roots were rooted and grounded in nature and the

elements. Particular traits were relegated to each compass direction.

For instance, it's decreed that every true northern area of a room

concerns what you want to be when you grow up, your career. The south

concerns support from peers and other people's impression of you. East

deals with health. West concerns those souls whom you adopt as "family"

(pets and step-relatives included). Test-taking and improving

credentials is a function of the northeast. Help from pals in other area

codes is synomous with northwest. Southwest embraces loving,

affectionate adult relationships. Southeast increases investments,

financial security and the Almighty Buck.

Although some contemporary adepts ignore or homogenize compass

directions in pursuit of simplicity, "real" feng shui considers the

movement of the sun, moon and stars, personalizing space in cooperation

with Ma Nature and an "energy" called chi (pronounced "chee"). If you

don't know east from west, ask a neighborhood Girl Scout or buy a

compass. Then, going room to room, superimpose all true directions over

the floor plan of your living and working space ("east" is always east

whether in the basement or a penthouse. And true "north" is north,

etc.).

Since the nights are getting longer as December approaches, let's focus

on the location of your bed and note which direction the back of your

head lies �?not where you point your toes.

�?Head pointing south is said to fan the flames of family fights. While

it may be a sexually stimulating direction for necking and resting the

head, sleep will be restless. Here, yellow tones calm insomnia; purple

and lilac stimulate. When passion starts boiling over, light a candle or

place a tall plant on bedstand for amore. But when you need a break from

wind and waterbed aerobics, toss a handful of charcoal in a low clay pot

and place near your headboard (and take a cold shower).

�?Head pointing southeast encourages social activity and clear

communication in personal growth. Blues and greens are favored here.

Vertically striped patterns of green and blue or a tabletop water

fountain is said to activate bouyant energy here.

�?Head facing southwest creates and enhances peaceful partnerships,

although partners are said to become more cautious, hesitant to take

risks. Drapes, wallpaper or bed linens with check patterns in shades of

yellow and brown "ground" and enhance love energy.

�?Head facing east is perfect for pre-baby boomers. Good for increasing

career luck and keeping life busy. In this situation, for job

opportunity, sleep on sheets of light green or blue pastel shades.

Increase intuition with a wicker or bamboo headboard.

�?Head pointing west tends to make one lazy �?"wanting" the bucks or

beaus, but lacking motivation or focus when going for the gold. Curvy

patterns, warm pinks and maroons are said to increase intuition and

non-verbal communication among bed partners. Avoid grey or charcoal

hues.

�?Head pointing north is said to relieve insomnia and dampen down life

activities. Warm pinks, mellow burgundy can enhance feelings of

spirituality, peace of mind. Boost social engagements by adding brighter

reds to the bedroom. To calm activity and busy-ness, place tall plants

on either side of your headboard.

�?Head pointing northeast stimulates motivation but is not conducive to

rest, relaxation. This is known as "the nightmare bed direction." Calm

unsettling vibes by using somber, rusty pinks, pale yellow. If bad

dreams or paranoia persist, display a handful of sea salt in small white

ceramic bowl.

�?Head pointing northwest promotes deep sleep and is recommended for

parents and elderly family members. When asleep, this head direction is

associated with self control, leadership. Colors enhancers are yellow,

white and pink or metallic copper or brass tones. To diminish

responsibilites, place ivy, a curved glass statue or a picture of water

lillies near the headboard.

There's no "quick fix" in life or feng shui. To understand all tools for

personal growth is a good thing. Start at home.

"To be a person of knowledge, one needs to be light and fluid." �?Yaqui

Saying

Dennis Fairchild, author of Healing Homes: Feng Shui �?Here & Now, is

the American correspondent for Europe's feng shui For Modern Living

magazine, faculty member/ advisor for The International feng shui

Research Centre and columnist for feng shui/ the journal, The Daily

Tribune and phenomeNEWS,