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Whether you believe in the Oriental powers of feng shui or not, there are an increasingly large number of people who do. Either way, it's fun to examine different ideas, so let's take a look at your home office from the feng shui point of view.

Business people in Asia have considered work place feng shui to be a crucial contributor to personal and business success for centuries. Anything that has lasted for centuries is worth a closer look to see if any part of the concept will work for you. In this article we will ignore corporate business office feng shui, and focus on home office adaptations.

Have a separate outside entrance to your office if possible. If you can not, then choose a room that is near the front or back door of the house or apartment. Separate your home office from the rest of the living area in order to keep your business and personal lives separate. If your home office is part of a larger room, then partition it off with bookcases, screens, or large plants.

Never have your back to the window. Having your back to a door symbolically leaves you open to attack. If you directly face a door you may be overpowered by the incoming Chi. The best position is with your back to a wall that holds an Earth element such as a picture of a mountain or a lake. The next best position is angled away from a doorway or facing a wall featuring a water element such as a fish or a picture of lake, or even abstract art that features wavy lines.

You can energize your desk by adorning it with objects that symbolize the five elements to attract work and luck. Simply follow the Lo Shu grid like this: North: Your beverage cup or glass. Northeast: A crystal paperweight Northwest: Your computer terminal East: Fresh flowers Southeast: A small green plant South: A desk lamp or something red

Flat ceilings are best for promoting the flow of Chi. If you have a sloped ceiling, cathedral ceiling, or exposed beams then you you can hang wind chimes or bamboo flutes to offset the negative effects.

If you have views of harmful elements from your window, you can negate them by the strategic placement of wind chimes or plants. Cactus and Bamboo are plants symbolize good fortune and are ideal for placement in the home office. Any sharp leaved plants are good feng shui in this area as they are believed to deter harmful influences.

Always take a short walk before entering your office to work each day and another one at the end of your working day as another measure of separating your business life from your personal life. Leave at least 7-9 inches of space between each piece of office furniture. This allows room for energy to flow.

Keep your workspace clean and clutter-free in order to allow a free flow of feng shui energy throughout the room. There is a difference between clutter and stored items. Stored items should, however, be filed away or stored neatly in a cabinet or closet to allow the flow of feng shui energy.

Place a picture of a lake, waterfall or any other water scene on one of the walls on the East side of your office. This represents the flow of energy. You can also use one of those desktop fountains or even an aquarium

Place a green, smooth-leafed plant, not one with jagged or pointed leaves, on a shelf in the corner closest to your water item. You can use an artificial plant if you are a known live plant killer.

Here are some other items that you can also place in that corner: * red eggs symbolizing wealth creation * a red envelope containing several coins * a crystal on a red ribbon near the window * three Chinese coins tied with a red ribbon * a pearl or anything spherical * a wheel or bell * a symbol or picture of red fish * a lotus flower symbolizing great achievements from humble beginnings

Also, consider placing a decorative jar filled with water near the entrance to your office.

Fend Shui Benefits

Feng shui is said to make you more aware of how your environment affects your state of mind. Even if you don't subscribe to the ancient Oriental ways, you have to admit that an uncluttered office, with room to move around, and pleasant decorations is much better than a cluttered dungeon that's stuffed to the ceiling with piles of paper.

Also, feng shui helps you to stay focused by forcing you to store incomplete and future projects in a storage area so you won't be distracted by worrying over them every day. Feng shui experts claim that you will receive these additional benefits as well: * Increase your prosperity & abundance. * Boost your health. * Reduce insomnia & stress. * Enhance your personal power. * Easing of family conflicts. * Increase your concentration * Enhance financial security. * Attract new customers to your business. * Upgrade your life in many other ways.

There is a lot more to feng shui than we can possibly cover in this article. The Internet is an abundant source of articles. Thousands of books have been written on the subject, and there are even feng shui consultants that will come in and help your organize your office and home. Hopefully your interest level has been raised and you will follow up by learning more.

Good luck and good health!

Suggested readings:

Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui by Karen Kingston
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0767903595/hbbo-20

Feng Shui Your Life by Jayme Barrett
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0806976292/hbbo-20

© 2004 Vishal P. Rao