Feng Shui Guidelines
For Rooms and Gardens

by Paul Darby / International Feng Shui Teacher and Consultant

The practice of Feng Shui can be as simple or as complex as your own attitudes and your own good sense dictate. Feng Shui is neither spiritual nor religious, yet, if you wish, it can be involved with elements of both. It is a very ancient Chinese earth science that can be easily and effectively adapted to our modern living environment. Feng Shui is NOT magic and it CANNOT bring overnight success or rid you of all life's difficulties. But it can enhance your periods of good fortune, just as it can help and support you in times of misfortune and trouble. Feng Shui can alter about one third of your 'luck' - the earth luck which surrounds you in your environment - the heaven luck [karma] and person luck [merit] parts of your life are down to you!

Feng Shui is just ONE piece of the jigsaw puzzle of life, but it is a very important, key piece which lets you see the whole picture before you. Use it, enjoy it, live it. Feng Shui does eventually work for everyone. The following room-by-room analysis will help.

HALLS

The chi enters a house through its doors and windows, but mainly through the main door, known as the 'kou', meaning mouth. The chi must be able to curve and wander through the hall in a meandering fashion, not just rush through and be wasted or lie in stagnant pools, losing its goodness. Auspicious Feng Shui halls are fairly wide and so let the chi move in gently and then allow it to circulate slowly throughout the property. So that the chi can move freely, the hall should be well lit, have no clutter, not be over furnished, especially with angular, sharp edged furniture. A hallway can be a good place for windchimes, bells, frog and fish ornaments and the Blue Carp, a blue coloured ceramic fish which is hollow, to be filled with uncooked rice, and placed facing the door to show any visitors that this home has prosperity.

This balance should be reflected in the lighting used and also through the colours of the walls, pictures, ornaments and carpets. No one element should be allowed to dominate. Depending on the Pa Kua direction, it is important to bring in the other elements.

When a hall seems dark and shadowy, it may be necessary to bring in slightly stronger colours, so that it becomes a bit more yang, but the colours should never be too strong as you do not want yang to dominate. If the hall is left dark, then the hall will remain very yin, also a problem, because the chi would tend to become lazy and staid! Rugs, carpets and doormats can be used to introduce 'friendly' elements both in colour and shape. I also recommend that three Chinese coins, tied together with a red ribbon, Yang side up [4 bits of writing!] are placed under the mat for general good fortune. Pound coins can be used, but cannot be tied together. They should be placed, Heads side up, which is yang.

To help good chi into the house, bright lights just inside and just outside the front door are excellent. These can be left on during the hours of darkness. The on/off security lights are not effective for the attraction of chi, as a constant light is needed.

Once the chi is in the property, it begins to flow through the passageways and rooms like a slowly winding stream. This flow must be steady, never stagnating, never rushing. If you imagine a gorge through which a strong river flows extremely fast, this is the effect which a long narrow hallway or corridor has on chi. The goodness of the chi cannot settle and be used, it rushes straight through and so is wasted, especially if there are three doors in a row, including the front door. Even worse is when there are three doors and two of them are the front door and the back door.The classic way of preventing this rushing chi, this 'gorge and rapids 'effect happening is by using the 'aspirin of Feng Shui' - the mirror. Mirrors can be placed alternately along the passageway to help the chi to curve and bounce from them instead of just rushing through. The mirrors can be quite small but should not cut off the heads of any adults in the property.

Windchimes can also be used to moderate flows of chi, and sometimes if there is an appropriate small window in the hallway, it can be opened to help the chi. This must be used carefully, as security should be a consideration. It is no good getting the right chi flow if all your possessions are stolen becuase you forgot to close a window when you 'popped' to the the shops!

Broadleafed plants are useful as an enhancement of chi, especially in dark alcoves and the sharp edges of alcoves. A few plants placed alternately along a hall, especially broad leafed plants, will help to nurture the goodness in the chi. All the above can be reversed to a certain extent if you think that the hallway is too huge and wide. The chi will stagnate in a wide hall and needs pushing along a little. Also remember, windchimes MODERATE, crystals ENERGISE, so hanging faceted spherical quartz crystals along a wide hall would move the chi. What I have found to be even better is a small crystal chandelier.

STAIRWAYS

Easily the worst kind of stairway are spiral ones. They look so pretty, but act as a waterfall for the chi - a Niagara Falls!It just flows down the stairs, between the stairs and is lost in a pool at the bottom. I generally advise using green silk material wound around the bannisters, so introducing Wood element, a mirror right underneath the bottom most step pointing upwards and green trailing plants alternately placed up the stairs themselves. A windchime can be placed at the bottom and the top of the staircase, which can also be beneficial.

The other common problem is stairs which face the front door directly. What I normally recommend in this situation is, obviously, if possible, to move the door or the bottom of the stairs. If this cannot be done, a circular rug in the colour of the Pa Kua sector often helps, as does a windchime hanging between the door and the stairs to moderate the chi flow.

LIVING ROOM

A living room is just that - a room which has life. It is the room in which the family gather for various activities including TV watching and relaxing. Usually in this room, two or three sectors of the Pa Kua are involved which means decor needs to be closely monitored from one wall to another. The chi in a lounge/living room should be slightly balanced towards more yang - powerful,active energies. Any alcoves must be carefully enhanced, so that they do not become pools of stagnant chi with their edges becoming 'poison arrows'. Once again, broadleafed plants and mirrors, on protruding walls, can be very useful. Obviously then, the best kind of room, whatever its function in the property, is a regular shape, square or oblong, producing few corners and no missing areas, or alcoves. Alcoves usually mean stagnation and plants and mirrors, as well as crystals can serve to get the chi moving again. Remember, crystals energise, windchimes moderate. Windchimes can be useful near doorways into rooms,especially the living room.

The chi moving into the room then has chance to move around in a meandering fashion, through the placement of the furniture. It is best if the furniture placement resembles the shape of the Pa Kua, with the tai chi of the room left empty, apart perhaps for a very low coffee table. You can buy Pa Kua shaped, octagonal shaped coffee tables which are excellent Feng Shui.

Chairs and sofas should be positioned around the edgeof the room, none of them with their backs to the door is best. Try not to make the TV the centre of attention and depending on your personal Pa Kua number and best locations, you may wish to place yourself, or your most comfy chair in that best position for you.

Yang energy should be encouraged in the living room, but it should not become dominating and harsh. No lights should be above people's heads directly and watch out for any 'poison arrows'created by angular shelves such as bookcases. Glass fronted shelves will solve the problem, as they will do with kitchen units. Also you could use trailing plants on the edges of shelves or simply move the books right forward to the edges of the shelves, thus disguising them.

A three legged toad ornament in the room [the Wealth God] is a good idea, as though it has just hopped into the room from the hall. This ornament need not be prominently displayed. It could sit under a coffee table, or on the floor near a chair, even in the South East sector of the room, the Wealth corner. Like ornaments or pictures of sailing ships [which also represent wealth coming into the property], have him facing into the house.

Any electrical items will energise the yang chi in whatever location they are put. TVs, stereos and indeed computers give out a great deal of electro magnetic energy. An amethyst crystal placed on top of these appliances will serve to soften this, if it is needed. Electrical items in the South West will benefit relationships, South East, wealth and accumulation of prosperity, North East, knowledge and learning, and so on, Career wise the North West and North are excellent locations for these appliances, bringing energy and movement into vital areas in the home.

As well as furniture and ornaments, pictures need to be considered carefully, in all rooms not just the living rooms. Any pictures should be pleasant and attractive, with no hunting scenes, lonely windswept moors with single figures or any with sad connections, such as 'Guernica'by Picasso! The colours in them as with the elements contained in any ornaments are very important to their Pa Kua location.For instance, landscapes representing theWood element would be good in the East and the South East, symbolising growth, whilst red should not be used in the West and North West - Fire and Metal do not get on!

BEAMS

Beams can be found in any room. If they can be seen then they need to be protected, because they symbolise the pressing down of chi onto whoever or whatever is beneath them. Incidentally, it is for this reason that bunk beds are not a good idea! Beams can be protected in the tradtional way by placing open fans on them, or bamboo flutes with the mouthpieces at the bottom of the beam and the tops slanting towards each other, or by more 'modern' methods such as postcards of birds in flight or a hot air balloon rising. Another good idea, somewhere under the beam is to have small uplighter lamps. Anything indeed which will make the beam feel 'lighter' and less oppressive.

FIREPLACES

Fireplaces can often help to give a very welcoming effect to a living room. If the fireplace is in the West or North West, a problem is caused [Fire/Metal clash in the Destructive Cycle].

Often the effect of a clash like this can be neutralised by the introduction of the other elements. For instance, a mirror in an ornate frame above the mantelpiece would help, as would trailing plants on the mantelpiece and plants at either side of the fire, and even one in front of the fireplace, when the fire is not lit.

As much natural light as possible should be allowed to filter into the living room and hanging faceted quartz crystals in the windows can be a good idea. Always check windows in any room to see if any 'poison arrows' are 'looking in'. These 'poison arrows' can include any roof apexes, corners of buildings, lamp posts, bus stops, T junctions, as well as doctors', dentists', hospitals, undertakers, churches and graveyards - all bring unwanted nasty chi into the room.

Pa Kua mirrors, remember, can be used as a last resort, but only on the OUTside of the property, never inside, but crystals, crystal animals, or the Chinese Unicorn, the Qirin can all be used on window ledges to point at the offending edge. You can also use protector warriors such as Kuan Kong. Vertical blinds or net curtains can be used in a similar way as dispersers of harmful chi.

Check every window.

DINING ROOM

Whenever possible the dining room should be separate from the living room. Once again, when thinking of decor, work out which Pa Kua location or locations are represented in the room. Remember that dining areas can be for just the family, family and friends plus sometimes, business colleagues as well. It is definitely a social area.

A good dining room, which has been decorated using Feng Shui principles, often brings strength to all members of the family. It was seen in Ancient China as a centre of wealth and also a place of deeply based strong relationships. The best place for a dining room then is where the earth energies are strongest so near to the tai chi, the centre of the property. If the tai chi is contained within the dining room so much the better. It is therefore best if the dining room is not part of the kitchen or the living room. It then spoils both rooms.

As big a dining room as possible is good. It should look welcoming and open and a relaxed atmosphere needs to be encouraged. The lighting then, is very important, it should not be too bright, artificial or glaring.

Wall lights and dimmer switches are a good idea. Mirrors too will help to soften the lighting and a large mirror reflecting the dining table is thought to immediately double the family's wealth - since in Ancient China, the more food you had showed the more money you possessed. Observe how Chinese Restaurants use mirrors and you will not go far wrong! The energy levels in a dining room need to encourage relaxing chat so should slightly favour yin. The colours can be brighter than pastel, as you would choose for a bedroom, but not strong. Ornaments and pictures in the room can bring in brighter colours. Pictures should be of bright flowers or of rounded fruit, but once again sunny happy landscapes could be used.

These ornaments may change slightly depending who is dining, friends, family or business colleagues. Wooden tables are always best and as large as possible is good. Best shapes are either oblong or round. If the table is oblong choose lots of other rounded shapes in the rest ot the room, and of course the opposite would be true. If the table is round, then some angular lines can be brought in around it. Decoration of the table including the cloth, the crockery and the cutlery will all depend on the sector of the Pa Kua the room is in. As a general rule go for simple shapes and plain colours. Silk and real flowers are excellent, dried flowers represent decay - do not use them!

Simple colours rather than heavily patterned wallpaper and dado rails are often best with walls in most rooms including the dining room and the lounge. Overpatterned wallpaper can have the same effect on the chi as mirror tiles and crazy paving.

Crystal glassware is a good idea as are candles in an appropriate colour, lit for the meal. A few large soft leafed plants can be good, as can a small water feature in an appropriate part of the room, or even a small aquarium.

In the living room, I said that clocks were a good idea for movement and energy and for this very reason, keep them out of the dining room. You want a lazy, relaxed, meal with good conversation. A clock will just emphasis the time ticking by and will bring tension in just when you do not want it. This is especially important when dining with business colleagues, when of course you will have enhanced the North and North Western sectors of the room already!

KITCHEN

Kitchens are very difficult rooms to get right using Feng Shui. Think about it for a moment. You have a clash straightaway of fire and water - in the appliances that you find in a kitchen. The kitchen, as it contains water and also food, is connected with wealth and is often called one of the'water' rooms. In Ancient China the kitchen directions/locations were worked out very carefully and whenever possible they were placed in the North[Water], East[Wood] or South East[Wood,with touches of water and wind]. The most favoured was the South East where the breezes helped to keep the charcoal stove alight, the South East of course also symbolises Wealth.

In kitchens, avoid placing fire and water near to, or opposite each other. For example, cookers and fridges, cookers and dishwashers. Try to separate them. Be careful also when placing the cooker that, on the floor above, there is not a bed directly above it. This can often lead to infection after infection, colds and sore throats. Cookers should never be in the North and water should never be in the South. If this happens - because of the design of the house, other elements have to be brought in to compensate. The kitchen will be a yang room,with lots of activity. It should be kept uncluttered with no knives on display, nor any untidiness on work surfaces. Knives on display in a kitchen have the same negative effect as knives, guns, brass cannons [these may be used as protectors under special circumstances] and other such objects throughout the house, including of course, stuffed animal heads. They are all connected with cutting, killing and violence.

There will always be a lot of angular shapes in a kitchen so wherever possible introduce rounded shapes. Usually these can be in the form of pots and pans. Stainless steel, reflective shiny ones are excellent Feng Shui as are reflective surfaces throughout the kitchen.

KITCHEN EQUIPMENT/APPLIANCES

There is a lot of electro magnetic energy in the kitchen which also explains why it is thought of as a yang room. But, like the TV and stereo in the living room, these pieces of electrical equipment can be used to energise appropriate sectors of the Pa Kua which you want to focus upon, such as career or health. It is vitally important then that any electrical items in the kitchen are maintained carefully, work efficiently, and never allowed to become noisy. Once again as with other rooms, good natural light is important. Light, but if you wish, slightly brighter colours on the walls are therefore a good idea with a few stronger colours coming in through equipment and ornaments. These colours will depend on where the kitchen is situated in the Pa Kua. Crystals in the window and indeed herbs growing on the window sill are very good Feng Shui. Kitchen doors should be closed whenever possible. Food on the dining table is excellent Feng Shui, but food being prepared, even the smell of it is not!

BATHROOMS AND TOILETS

Bathrooms are notorious in Feng Shui. Wherever they appear they can cause damage!

The bathroom/toilet is a Water element room, like the kitchen, and flushing the toilet equals flushing away wealth. In Ancient China and Japan, the toilet would not be a part of the living area of a property, since it symbolised decay and filth.

Today, we have bathrooms/toilets in houses. It is said then that the best positions, or the 'best worst' positions for a bathroom/toilet are in the South East or East. The South East is the Wealth corner and is associated with the full richness of life, the East represents growth, family, health, longevity and the realisation of ambitions. Other locations are not so good, especially the North, which is Career and Life Journey and which is already a Water element zone. Far too much water symbolism can result in negative chi dominating.

By now you should be beginning to realise what to do about it. That's right - introduce more of the other four elements especially Earth element. Colours such as yellows, terra cotta, caramels with touches of brown would help. Another good element to bring into'over watered' bathrooms, or into locations other than the ones mentioned, is that of Wood, greens in bathrooms are very helpful. Always reduce water symbolism in bathrooms, all the typical Western things I'm afraid, lots of blues, seahorses, starfishes, dolphins and any touches of black - they should go!

Again, as mentioned with the other rooms, natural light is important. Mirrors can be used to help with this, but ensure that no mirror reflects the toilet - -which would double the problem!

Wealth, as well as water, is anything circular, so round baths and wash basins are good as are a few rounded pebbles for decoration, as pretty as you wish! You can also place pretty pebbles in the plugholes, when they are not in use - but please ensure that the pebbles are large enough not to slip down the plughole! I want no plumbers' bills! Mirrors are better if contained in a frame, preferably wood, or certainly let them have a bevelled edge.

TOILETS

I think just about everyone now knows that in Feng Shui you keep the toilet lid closed when not in use! Also, after use, close the lid, then flush. Above the toilet, high enough so that you do not bang your head on it, have a five bar [solid] metal windchime. This will push down on the toilet and stabilise the 'nastiness'. It is also essential to close the bathroom door whenever possible and have a small mirror [or large, if you prefer] on the outside of the bathroom door. This effectively makes the bathroom disappear and is generally good, but particularly important when you have a bedroom, study or office door opposite the bathroom room. As with all mirrors, ensure that they do not chop off people's heads.

The toilet is best if it is not seen straight away as you enter the bathroom. This can be important when planning ensuite bathrooms, which are not a good idea as they bring water into the bedroom, which you should never do! [You can imagine then how bad water beds are!]If you must have an ensuite, keep the door closed. If there is no door, install a screen - -hide it, especially views of the toilet, from the bed at all costs! Another extremely 'bad' position for a toilet is just by the front door, opposite the front door, or opposite the back door. All the above enhancements and protectors should be applied.

OTHER ROOMS

Offices should be offices and all 'business things'kept there. No fax machines in bedrooms, no brief cases in the dining room! Good locations for offices are, the North East - Knowledge and Learning, North West - Mentors, Networking and Helpful People, North - Career and of course, South East - Wealth and Richness of Life. Other zones to consider perhaps, depending on the work done there and the Pa Kua numbers of the persons involved, are the West - Creativity, and the East - Realisation of Ambitions - so quite a choice.

Each one, of course, would contain colours and ornaments appropriate to that sector of the Pa Kua. Yang energy should outbalance yin to bring strength, power and activity. Vertical blinds are a good idea and try to get the computer in the East or North West of the room's Pa Kua where possible. Any desks need a clear view of the door.

Conservatories fit into the Pa Kua sectors appropriate for the various 'Life Aspirations'. The overall shape of the conservatory can be important - -rounded shapes are yin, whereas angular shapes would be yang. A workroom would need angular shapes, but a resting, relaxation room could be very rounded. Creative rooms for work or hobbies would be best located in the West.

BEDROOMS

As far as Feng Shui is concerned. Biggest enemies in the bedroom are - clutter, mirrors reflecting the bed and beds under windows or beams! Bedrooms are places of personal refuge and protection. They are where you recharge your body chi. The bedroom should usually be a yin area of quiet calmness. This may change to be more yang for children's and teenagers bedrooms.

North is ideal for quiet sleep. This sector has a calming energy which enhances spiritual depth. It is not good for those feeling lonely however as it can lead to them feeling more isolated. The young and vibrant and those moving forward in their careers might also find the north too relaxing a place to sleep. The north is also associated with sex - so is a good place for a bedroom from this point of view. You could then enhance the south [passion] and the south west [relationships] parts of the room!

The north east has a sharp, motivating chi-this is often too strong for a bedroom - it can even induce nightmares. The active and ambitious energies of the east are ideal for the young. The south east is good for those in business or developing a career. Those looking for passion should move their bedroom to the south. If you are looking for pleasure, the western zone is perfect!

The south west is not the best area for a bedroom, it can lead to cautious feelings. If your bedroom is in the south west, you need to stimulate other areas of the Pa Kua within the room.

Those sleeping above garages need to stimulate all the earth energies they can and beware if your bedroom is above a kitchen. Check that your bed is not above the stove!

If your bedroom is directly confronting the staircase, hang a six tube windchime by the door.

Square shaped rooms are best. If there are any alcoves or corners, then hang a crystal windchime in it. Use softer, pastel colours in bedrooms, adding bits of red in the appropriate areas to bring passion and strong relationship feelings to the fore!

Never sleep with your feet facing the door. This is called 'death' position in China.

Do not face the door with your head, this will lead to you feeling insecure.

Having your feet pointing directly at the window is considered very bad luck.

Mirrors reflecting the bed will lead to disturbed sleep patterns and headaches.

A bedroom should ideally only have one door.

It should have the biggest bed you can afford and allow both occupants to leave the bed without scrambling over their partners. Wooden beds are considered best, at least 18 inches off the floor.

Do not have drawers underneath-they only accumulate clutter-and then you sleep above it. Water beds are not good Feng Shui - keep all water and symbols of water out of the bedroom.

If you must have an electric blanket, switch it off or remove it before you enter the bed. Both sides of the bed should match and the headboard [best made of wood] should be higher than the footboard.

Headboards should be on a solid wall. Avoid having beams or any cupboards above your bed. Also avoid pictures hanging above your head.

THE USE OF CRYSTALS/STONES

Crystals/stones are energisers and should be especially displayed in the south west, north east or centre of the home - -earth element areas. Avoid placing them in long, narrow corridors as they make the chi rush through too quickly!

Chi can become tired and faded in the same way that furniture and furnishings can be affected by strong sunlight. Hang a well cut crystal ball from a window. This has the effect of transforming the oppressive sunlight into a rainbow of colours, immediately enhancing the room with chi that is revitalised and healthy.

If there are too many windows in a room or house, discord can come between parents and children. Hang windchimes or a crystal in the window, or place a crystal on the window sill. There should be no more than three windows for each door! Crystals should be washed about every six weeks to remain effective. They are best washed using mineral water, rather than tap water.

Crystals are the ultimate symbol of the earth element. They are most often used in the south west, north east or centre. DO NOT place crystals in the north, except under guidance of a qualified consultant. A small amethyst crystal on a TV or computer monitor in the North is fine - it is simply there to absorb some of the electro-magnetic energy.

Clear crystals such as quartz are commonly used, but you can use the raw minerals, stones/semi precious stones/minerals. A faceted crystal in a window will display a yang rainbow. A solid crystal ball in the south west is used to enhance relationships. In the east it is used to encourage career prospects and in the north east to stimulate successful educational advancement of members of the family.

AGATE - called 'The Firestone', helps with confidence and bravery. Good for making you feel more sociable and energetic. South especially.

AMAZONITE - very soothing to the nervous system, uplifting and helpful for creativity, helpful for memory. Good in the West and North East [for study] especially.

AMBER - the 'soul of the tiger'. Excellent for protection, good against bullying - wear amber as jewellery.

AMETHYST - pale lilac/deep purple - associated with meditation and changes in consciousness, intuition, bringing uplifting qualities. Increases spiritual awareness. East/North East especially.

AVENTURINE - midgreen with sparky flecks-calming and soothing, associated with healing and nature. Can heal heartache and sorrow, helps with soothing anxiety, bringing back well being. East/South West/West especially.

AZURITE - a blue stone which helps the flow of energy, useful in meditation - good for mental balance and decision making. Can help with creativity. North East/East and West especially.

BLOODSTONE - helps circulation and the bloodstream. Reduces stress. Use in the South West, South and East especially.

BLUE LACE AGATE - pale blue with milky white quartz-balancing and calming. Enhances your creativity, brings harmony. West/South West especially.

CARNELIAN - good for concentration and energy. Excellent as a study aid. Brings happiness, sociability and warmth. North East for study, or South especially.

CITRINE - pale yellow to golden orange-wisdom and spiritual upliftment. Does not need cleansing. Can raise your self esteem, bring material gain, joy and purpose. East, South East/South West, West especially.

CLEAR QUARTZ - energising, healing, enlightening. Dispels negativity, energises and activates. Useful in most areas (except North!)

EMERALD - helps with spirituality, love, kindness, calmness and patience. Useful in many areas, especially the South West and the East.

GARNET - can balance the sex drive and help with balancing of the emotions, helps to engender compassion. Useful in the South West and the South especially.

GOLD TIGER EYE - brown and golden yellow-strength, grounding, material matters, protection-brings awareness of self and others. Centre, East, West, South West, North East.

HEMATITE - black, silvery metallic sheen, opaque-associated with fate, earthing and protective qualities. Excellent for confidence and courage. Good general use-except North.

JADE - extremely good protection for house or for people, if carried or worn as jewellery. Very sexual, encourages love, and health. Excellent in the East, but good generally.

LAPIS LAZULI - a flecked blue stone which brings vitality, awareness and balance, spirituality. Very good in the North East/North West/East especially.

MOONSTONE - especially helpful for women and women's health, particularly period pains. Called the 'Mother Earth' stone, associated with fertility and child bearing as well as balancing emotions. Excellent in the South West, West and East especially.

OPAL - called the 'Rainbow Stone', helps with self esteem and contentment. Useful in the South and the South West especially.

RED JASPER - deep terracotta, opaque-practical qualities, earthy matters, help ideas become reality. South, East, West, North East and South West especially.

ROSE-QUARTZ - pale pink-helps with letting go of anger, bringing forgiveness, comfort, softness, unconditional love, peace and harmony. Good general use, especially in South West and West-not in North.

RUBY - this bright red stone represents affection, passion, power - -an energising tonic. Excellent in the South especially.

SAPPHIRE - brings clarity and inspiration. Good in the North East, East and West especially.

SNOWFLAKE-OBSIDIAN - jet black with white splashes-clearing and guiding, image of light at the end of the tunnel, glimmer of hope after 'bad patch.' Excellent for awareness, balancing, calmness. Good general use-not North.

SNOW QUARTZ - pure white-purity, blessing, cleanses, brings spiritual support and gentle comfort. North East, East/South West.

TOPAZ - usually yellow, or pink - -good for getting the poisons out of the body, good for health and warmth, peaceful and soothing. Good for creativity and self expression. Use in the East, North East, South and West especially.

TURQUOISE - a great strengthener for the whole body, helps with healing, brings emotional stability, communication and friendship. Use in the East, South, South West, West and North West especially.

UNAKITE - pale green blended with salmon pink-balancing, harmonising, argument settling, releases energy blockages. South West/West especially.

ZIRCON - its many colours can help with insomnia and depression, it raises self esteem and balances. Use in the North East, East and South West especially

FENG SHUI GARDENS - GENERAL PRINCIPLES

NORTH - This is the career sector. Ornaments here can be, frogs, fishes and protective warriors. Also useful are tortoises/turtles. A bird bath or water feature can also be placed in this area. Ornaments should be of black or dark blue and made from metal or stone. A rockery is well placed in this area as are small clumps of trees, gentians, ceanothus and clematis.

SOUTH - This is the area of fame, success and public recognition. Known as your 'Bright Hall', it should contain red, orange and bright yellow flowers and shrubs. An ornament of the phoenix, cockerel or peacock should stand in this area. It should be well lit, perhaps with garden lights or a Japanese lantern. Red wooden ornaments are also useful in this sector. Plants in this area could include-camellias, sage, coriander, cinnamon, pieris, acer, euphorbia (fireglow), aquilegias and fuchsia (representing lanterns).

EAST - This is the sector of health, longevity and the family. It is the area of the green dragon. Dragon ornaments and the colour green should dominate this part of your garden. Also useful in this sector are statues of Buddha, cranes or deer. A water feature could be placed here. Planting might include bamboo, lilac, magnolia, hydrangea and small ornamental trees such as crab apple or cherry. Chrysanthemums can also be used.

WEST - This represents children and new projects, hobbies, stages of life and pleasure. It is also the area of the white tiger, who needs to be kept dozing. Use fragrant flowers in this sector. Flowers of white, gold and silver are best. Ceramic ornaments and quartz crystals in these colours are also useful as well as windchimes with six hollow tubes (five is ok, but do not use solid rods!). Any other round shapes are good here including small bells. Plants could include spirea(bridal bower) and convolvus(silver). Do not use tiger statues at all - far too powerful.

NORTH EAST - This is the sector of spirituality, knowledge, education and self-growth. You should use yellows and earthly colours in this area. Terra cotta pots, ornaments, hanging crystals and Buddhas are all good. Plants could include genista and euphorbia.

NORTH WEST - An area for new beginnings, mentors, networking, meeting influential people and important meetings. Metallic colours, white and silver are best. Use six tube windchimes in this location as well as stone and metal sculptures.

SOUTH EAST - This is your wealth sector, not only money, but wealth in terms of a full and happy life. Use greens here, representing growth and money. A small water feature in this sector is very lucky, as are wooden ornaments, small leafy plants such as hebes and low growing flowers. Frogs, fishes and toads are 'prosperous'creatures in this part of the garden.

SOUTH WEST - This part of your garden represents relationships, harmony and marriage-very much the physical side of your life. Use reds and pinks, particularly peonies, genista, euphorbia, tropaeolum as plants. Oranges and yellows are also very good. Ceramic and wooden pairs of ducks, tied together with a red ribbon stand for harmony and close loving relationships. Light the corner with Japanese lanterns, place pebbles and stones within this area. It should look oriental and warm, attracting good chi energy.

FENG SHUI GARDEN - PLANTING SUGGESTIONS

Letters refer to Compass Points

Camellia (Charhua) - evergreen. Known in China as 'living jade'. Red - S. White - W.

Jasmine (Luohshya) - ideal for round entranceways.

Clematis Montana (Tiee-Shiahn) - wavy lines, water symbolism. N. E. SE.

Honeysuckle (Reendung) - Lonicera nitida-will grow in shade. N. E. SE.

Peony (Muh-Shauryauh) - keeps bad chi away, drives off evil spirits. SW. S.

Aster (Shing-Tsaii) - symbolises the majesty of the sun and heavens.

Fuchsia (Jungguor Deng Lung) - symbolises illumination. S.

Hollyhocks (Rumgkueir) - ambition, progress, growth.

Magnolia (Muhbii) - sweet fragrance, good for appeasing the tiger. W.

Ginkgo (Gung Shuh) - friendship. E.

Paper bark maple (Hurng) - success. NW. N. SE.

Crab Apple (Shaguoo) - enhances the flow of chi. E.

Wild Cherry (Yingtaur) - contentment. E.

Peach (Taur) - immortality. Never grow at the front, never take blossom indoors. E.

Plum (Lan Hua) - vitality and hope, cast the petals onto water to attract wealth. N. E. SE.

BAMBOOS

Called one of the three friends of Winter, along with the pine tree and the apricot. The apricot is popular because Confucius wrote many of his books in an orchard of apricots.

Phyllostachys aureosulcata - golden bamboo. E.

Phyllostachys bambusoides - deep yellow leaves. E.

Phyllostachys nigra - black stemmed bamboo, likes full sun. E. N.

Chusquea breviglumis - grown alongside paths, helps the chi to circulate. E.

Sasa varieties - dwarf bamboos, often variegated. E.

Every Feng Shui garden should try to have, where possible, the 'Four Gentlemen of the Garden'-Plum[N], Bamboo[E], orchids[S, SW] and chrysanthemums[E].

Narcissus and all bulbs-buried gold.

Orange blossom - Chinese word for orange is kum, same word for gold. It should be within view of the main door or the back door.

Fuchsias [S] are good because of their lantern flower shapes-bringing light to the garden.

Paul Darby is renowned as an international feng shui consultant. He teaches feng shui and has made many TV appearances. He is internationally registered as a consultant/educator. Paul offers the service of postal feng shu consultations - about 30 pages of room by room analysis. He has helped clients throughout Europe, America, Canada, India and South Africa. For details email pauldarby@fengshuidoctor.co.uk or http://www.fengshuidoctor.co.uk.

Paul is a Registered Consultant with The Feng Shui Society - UK. He is registered with The Feng Shui Guild and The International Feng Shui Network and is a member of the governing body of The Feng Shui Society. He is Professor of Feng Shui and Oriental Studies at The British School of Yoga and a member of The Employment Consultants' Institute. He is a member of, and a workshop provider for The Japanese Garden Society and has a Diploma [Distinction] in Garden Design.


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