Hallways in homes and businesses often present special Feng Shui problems.  Considered to be the ‘veins’ of a structure,  corridors and hallways conduct energy (ch’i) through a building and if the hallway is too long, it can negatively impact the rooms along the way.  Like a highway with no exits, long narrow hallways cause energy to rush too quickly past rooms, collecting instead at the end of the road where traffic tends to pool and back up.  A bedroom or office located at the end of a long hallway suffers from the impact, so it’s best to slow down acceleration.

For commercial clients, I recommend choosing carpeting, wood or tile with design details that feature a different pattern at regular intervals along the corridor.  Artwork, signage and lighting also help to pause fast moving energy, directing attention instead to adjoining rooms.  My residential clients use throw rugs, sconces, plants and statuary to create incremental segments along the hallway which helps eliminate a tunnel effect.

If you live or work in a building with long hallways, try some of these tips and let me know how you like the outcome!

Wishing you good ch’i,

Diane Gallin, CFSC

Spring is in the air pretty much everywhere in the United States thanks to warmer than usual weather patterns.  New growth on plants and trees is emerging early and they are thirsty for water during this period of rapid development.  In Chinese Five Element theory of Feng Shui,  spring is associated with the wood (tree) element, growth, expansion and new beginnings.  Longer days and warmer weather coax us out of closed buildings and retrospective ideas.  Like the blooms and sprouts all around us, we are more receptive to fresh and innovative thoughts in spring.  But what to do if you feel stuck?

For inspiration, try bringing nature indoors by opening windows and doors whenever possible.  Place young plants in your home or business where you will see them every day.  They are working hard establishing roots and branches that will serve them well the rest of the year, so tend them carefully as you set your own personal goals.  In your décor, be sure to include images that represent spring rain, flowers, early morning and potential.  Since spring brings forward motion, not retreat, visualize where you want to be when winter calls again and plant the seeds now that you will need to succeed.  Spring is a great time to feed your mind with new ideas, your spirit with optimism and your body with fluidity and motion.

Wishing you good ch’i,

Diane Gallin, CFSC

Do you have any square shaped columns or low hanging beams in your home or office?  If so, they might be creating a bit of ‘sha ch’i’ in your environment.  In Feng Shui, sharp or protruding corners create cutting energy that can negatively impact people who sit, sleep or work near them.   One of the cures we use to mitigate the problem is to place a leafy plant in front of the offending angle.  If you sleep or sit next to furniture with sharp corners, place a trailing plant such as ivy on top to help soften the angle.

Next time you are feeling ‘on edge’, take a look around for these design details and apply a Feng Shui remedy.  I think you will be pleased with the results.

Do you have family photos on display in your home?  In Feng Shui it is good to honor family and ancestors by displaying pictures or remembrances of them in the Wood area of your home or in the direction of the east.  Ancestors represent the roots of the family tree while children represent branches growing toward the light and into the future.

The Wood area also represents new beginnings, so be sure to balance young and old family members and leave enough room for those yet to come.

The year of the Yang Water Dragon (Ren Chen) is approaching on January 23 and if you haven’t already begun, this is the time for your preparations.  Here are a few tips to get started:

• Clean your home and business thoroughly, including basements, garages, porches, attics and storage rooms
• Wash windows, paint, clean filters and drains, dust and clear your clutter
• Organize files, closets, drawers, calendars and schedules
• Clean out refrigerators and pantries and only put back the foods you want to eat
• Replace, repair or remove anything that is broken (especially clocks and watches)
• Remove your hanging crystals and soak them in a solution of sea salt and water Then place them in the sun for a few hours to absorb yang energy.  Restring with new red ribbon and rehang
• If you have an altar in your home, clean and re-state your intentions for the coming year
• Pay your debts and balance all accounts
• Clean and oil the hinges on your front door
• Reconcile any disputes you may have
• Get a haircut
• Clean and optimize your computer files and drives

Stay tuned for more information on the Yang Water Dragon.  It promises a busy and productive year with lots of unexpected happenings, so hold on and enjoy the ride!

Diane Gallin, CFSC

Have you noticed how our homes and businesses look so much more inviting during the holidays?  From a Feng Shui perspective, this is because we typically introduce Feng Shui cures such as light, color and sound in the form of seasonal decorations.  A simple strand of outdoor lights on a tree or shrub illuminates the path to a front door, welcoming business, friends and ch’i.  The sounds of holiday music and bells vibrate the energy in a space, which helps to clear stagnant areas.  The color red, which represents the fire element, radiates and attracts attention, warmth and energy to a darkened corner.

In winter, you can use items from nature such as berries, greens, pinecones and nuts in your décor, since the colors of the season are generally abundant outdoors.  Simmer cinnamon, orange, apples and cloves in a pot on your stove to naturally scent your environment.  Light a fire or candle in early evening to warm your spirit through the longer nights.  Then turn on your favorite music, sit back and enjoy your beautiful surroundings.

Wishing you good ch’i,

Diane Gallin, CFSC

The moon represents yin energy in yin/yang theory of opposites.  Yin is feminine, soft, yielding and still – like the darkest of nights.  Never conflicting with the yang sun, the moon complements and completes the cycle of nature that regenerates while at rest.  This interdependence makes all things yang possible.

While the sun inspires us to reach out in action to effect change, the moon challenges us to recognize and trust the wisdom we already possess. Take a moment tonight to go outside and bathe in the light of the full moon, allowing her gentle energy to restore your nature and to honor and recall your trusted intuition.

Wishing you good ch’i,

Diane Gallin, CFSC

Have you checked to see that all the clocks in your home and business are in working order lately?  The end of Daylight Saving Time this weekend affords you the perfect opportunity to do that.  In Feng Shui, clocks and watches represent the orderly passage of time, so a broken, slow or non-functioning clock in your surroundings can have a negative effect on your progress.   The unwound grandfather clock in your Career sector or stopped watch in Relationships sends a message that time stands still for you in these areas of your life.  The perpetual motion of working timepieces mirrors the natural flow of energy in life and keeps us moving in the right direction.

Wishing you good ch’i,

Diane Gallin, CFSC

Do you have a window near a chair, desk or table you frequent?  Sometimes people feel it necessary to cover windows with heavy curtains or shades, but with Feng Shui, nature can provide the privacy you desire without blocking light and air.  You might plant an evergreen or perennial shrub with beautiful dense foliage in front of a window that requires privacy.  Or choose from a wide variety of graceful grasses and wispy ornamental plants to create a more fluid and transparent screen. Be sure to allow room for ch’i to circulate between the branches and the building.  Clean your windows then keep an eye out for nesting birds, bees and butterflies.  Sit back, relax, and enjoy the view!

Wishing you good ch’i,

Diane Gallin, CFSC

Autumn is in the air and with it all the brilliant colors, scents and flavors of the season. As trees prepare to go inward for the winter, they send out acorns, pinecones and brilliant foliage in shortened daylight hours.  Colorful pumpkin, squash and root vegetables are bountiful.  These gifts of nature adorn our landscapes and make beautiful indoor arrangements as well – reminders of earth’s changing cycles.  But when decorating your home or business in autumn, it is best to avoid lots of twigs, hay and dried flower arrangements, since they represent the past in Feng Shui.  Instead, choose colorful fresh mums, leaves and cabbages of the season for display, and bring nature’s bounty (and prosperity) indoors with you!

Wishing you good ch’i!

Diane Gallin, CFSC

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