Office Feng Shui Guidelines Office feng shui is an important consideration assuming you create and operate your income streams from your workplace. Asian businessmen have been successfully utilizing utilizing workplace feng shui for centuries centuries and in recent years their counterparts around the world have taken up the practice with enthusiasm. This topic is divided into business office guidelines and home office guidelines because you'll generally have more control over a home office than you will at work. Additional considerations considerations apply to owning owning your own company company if you are in the position of choosing the location of your business premises. The first step in understanding the principles of office feng shui is to become familiar with the bagua (or pakua, as it is sometimes spelled in books on the su bect!. The Bagua The feng shui bagua is an octagonal grid divided into nine sections. "or the sake of convenience, it is often represented in the shape of a rectangle, which is what we are using on this page. #f you imagine cutting each corner off the rectangle, you will see the underlying octagonal shape. $ach section of the bagua relates to a key aspect of life, as seen on the diagram below%
The nine sections are defined as follows% &.
The Blessings (wealth) area (wealth) area relates to your financial situation.
. . ).
The Illuminations (fame) area (fame) area relates to your reputation and position in the world. The Relationships area relates to your personal and business relationships. The Elders area Elders area relates to your mentors and older family members.
*. +. . . /.
The Unit area is the center of the room and is generally kept free of encumbrances. The !reati"it area relates to your sources of inspiration. The !ontemplation area relates to rela-ation and meditation. The #ourne area relates to your destiny or path through life. The Friends area relates to both mentors and your contribution to others.
0hen the bagua pattern is placed over the floor plan of a building, it pinpoints the specific areas that influence these nine key aspects. 1ou can then place symbolic items in the relevant locations to enhance those areas of your life. There are two schools of thought with regard to the placement of the bagua% &.
One school asserts that since the bagua is based on the 2hinese compass, in which the top section faces due south, the bagua should be oriented with the southern (fame! aspect aligned against the south wall of the building.
South $all
.
The second approach aligns the lower aspect of the bagua with the wall containing the front door. This can result in a placement in e-act opposition to the first system.
Front %oor
0e favor the second approach with one modification% we create an additional fame area against the south wall and an additional wealth area beside it.
Office Feng Shui In &our Own !ompan The e-terior aspects of any building where your business is located are as important as the internal office feng shui. &.
0hen first setting up your business premises, choose an office or work space in a prosperous neighborhood.
.
3ake sure the entrance to your building or premises looks inviting rather than nondescript. 1ou may need to make some simple cosmetic changes to achieve this effect. . Avoid renting premises at the end of a T intersection. #f you do, research the feng shui cures that counteract the resulting negative energy flow. ). The best site for a building is on a corner, with the entrance on a diagonal to the corner itself. *. 4se the feng shui bagua to organize the interior layout of the premises. Then use the guidelines in the ne-t section for each individual room as well.
Office Feng Shui In ' $orplace Office 0hether you are an employee or a business owner with his or he r own office, your first step is to stand at the doorway of your office or work space and map out the areas according to the bagua. 1our main focus will be your wealth and fame areas, although you should also pay attention to the other si- areas and decorate them accordingly. 5ere are some tips to keep the energy flowing in your office% &.
According to office feng shui guidelines, your desk should be placed at a diagonal to the doorway or directly facing it, rather than with your back to it.
.
#f there's more than one desk, place two on a diagonal facing towards the door and any others on a diagonal facing into the center of the room. They should not be placed in rows in a traditional classroom layout or back to back. #f the doorways of offices that face each other across a hallway are not e-actly aligned, place a mirror on the front of each door. #f you face a partial wall or partition when entering an office, place a mirror on the partition. 6often utting walls with plants. 7reak up dull walls with mirrors or paintings.
. ). *. +.
The feng shui elements that are easiest to blend into an office decor are pictures and photographs. 8ook for pictures that represent the various aspects and dispay them in the
appropriate areas. 9ery obvious feng shui symbols might invite unwelcome :uestions from visitors or co;workers.
Office Feng Shui In ' ome Office 4se office feng shui if you're working from home to maintain a professional approach to your business. &.
4se a separate entrance to your office if at all possible.
. . ).
Otherwise, choose a room near the front or back door of the house or apartment. 6eparate your office from living areas to keep your business and personal lives separate. #f your office space is part of another room, divide it from the rest of the room with a screen or large plants. Take a short walk before entering your office to work each day and another one at the end of your working day. This separates the business and personal aspects of your life.
*. +. . . /. &>.
&our $ealth 'rea In Office Feng Shui 4sing the first bagua placement system, stand in the doorway to your office and locate your wealth area in the upper left hand corner of the room. 5ere are some traditional feng shui aids you can use to enhance your wealth area% &.
. .
4se an a:uarium or small fountain if you prefer.
o o o o o o o o o
*.
red eggs symbolizing wealth creation a red envelope containing several coins a crystal on a red ribbon near the window three 2hinese coins tied with a red ribbon a pearl or anything spherical (to curb unbridled ambition! a wheel or bell representing power a symbol or picture of red fish symbolizing wealth a lotus flower symbolizing great achievements from humble beginnings #n addition, you can place a decorative ar of water near the entrance to your office.
3ake sure all items in your feng shui wealth areas pertain to wealth. #n term of office feng shui, they might include a bookshelf with all your business or wealth creation books, your business computer, your diplomas and business awards.
+.
Add any inspirational pictures, :uotes, affirmations, etc. to your area, in other words, anything that moves you to take action. . 4se the bagua to determine the wealth area of your desk, your bookshelves and so on. Then place additional symbols there as well. . #f fame is a component of your drive to success, you can add some additional items to the fame area of your office% any item that's red (representing fire! o o any item made of wood a conch shell representing a prosperous voyage o o a wheel or bell representing power a phoeni-, rooster or peacock symbolizing good fortune o
#f you want to incorporate the second system of bagua placement, you can add some fame symbols to your south wall and place a plant and a photograph of water to the second wealth area located in the left hand corner of the south wall.
Office Feng Shui Benefits ?egardless of whether you see feng shui as a valid way of influencing events or as another form of superstition, there are a n umber of benefits in e-perimenting with both office feng shui and feng shui in general% •
•
•
"eng shui makes you more conscious of how your environment influences your state of mind. An uncluttered work space with sufficient room to move will help you think more clearly and productively. 4tilizing the office feng shui guidelines will help you stay organized. Any form of simplification will also reduce stress. Office feng shui helps you focus on the task at hand. #f you remove all uncompleted proects and potential future ones to a separate storage area (where you won't see them from your work space!, you'll eliminate a key source of distraction.
•
0hen you've finished decorating your work space, take a walk through it and note your first impressions% #s it uncluttered@ o o =oes it suggest flow@ Are your tools placed logically and within easy reach@ #s it aesthetically pleasing@ =o you enoy being in this space@ o o =oes it suggest focus@
Beond Office Feng Shui Obviously there is far more to feng shui than this basic introduction. "or an in;depth look at the subect, there are many good books available in bookstores or your local library% •
•
•
Accountant 6uzan 5ilton takes her readers on a magical ourney through the psychology of feng shui in her e-cellent book, The Feng Shui of Abundance. 0illiam 6pear's book, Feng Shui Made Easy is another well;written book that offers a comprehensive guide to the subect. "or a more traditional 2hinese approach, any book by 8illian Too will teach you how to apply the principles of feng shui in your daily life.
&our *e+t Step,
You can achieve all this for your business with feng shui.
Ancient laws for living today Feng shui is the art of analysing and influencing the interaction between peop le, buildings and the environment, in order to enhance quality of life. It has been practised for at least 3,000 years. It works on the principle that, when the 'chi', the life energy force, is flowing appropriately around your health, wealth and happiness can be significantly improved. he art lies in influencing this energy to ma!imise the g ood fortune it gives. he words feng shui "pronounced 'foong shway'# mean 'wind and water', the two most powerful forces of nature. $y harmonising your surroundings in this way, you flow with the tide% not against it. he benefits can be considerable. For many clients, balancing their work environment to support them, rather than obstruct, results in very positive changes. &pportunities for good fortune are then more likely to open up, leading to improvements with every aspect of your
business.
How feng shui works for business reating an environment for a health business involves considering and giving advice on the(
Eradicating the negative ) feng shui consultation is partly aimed at detecting and removing the effects of geopathic stress on the business. his is caused by some k ind of disruption to, or distortion of, the earth's natural energy field, causing harmful radiation to emanate from the earth's surface. *cientific research+ has shown that if geopathic stress is not removed, it can cause chronic fatigue, lack of concentration, lethargy, headaches, and other symptoms which are synonymous with 'sick office syndrome'. If it is present it can affect staff morale and productivity, and may have more serious, longterm implications. +his was led by -r &tto $ergsmann of the niversity of /ienna, 110
A favoured solution Feng shui is part of everyday life for millions of people throughout the world. 2any of the country's top companies use it, such as( /irgin, *$, &range, $ritish )irways, $4) and 2arks 5 *pencer. hey believe it has brought business success, or helped to create a sense of balance and order.++ ++Feng *hui for 2odern 6iving maga7ine
The path to harmony )ll you have to do is complete a simple tickbo! questionnaire, which will establish your priorities, and include scale plans of your workplace. It is important to ensure that the 'relative' proportions of the rooms are correct. he more accurate the plan, the more effective will be the result. If you find it difficult to acquire plans for
the premises, the local fire officer will have copies. his is needed ten d ays before the consultation. I will clarify your priorities at the start of the visit, then quickly tour the site to note specific activities in each area. )fter that, I usually work on my own% both inside and outside. 8hen I have finished, we can discuss my main recommendations for improvement. I will then send you a comprehensive, written report. It is always best to carry out the recommended changes a few at a time. $y introducing them slowly, you can wait and see the effects of each. If you don't follow the advice, you can't e!pect the benefits. -o not e!pect instant miracles% time has a part to play.
In complete confidence -iscretion is assured as your consultation with 6 can be totally confidential. If you prefer, however, it can be ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -ate 4eriod 9lement Fate
:;< ::3 8ater pper ::< 103 = 9arth
pper 10< 1=3 3 8ood pper
1=< 1<3 < 8ood 2iddle 1<< 1;3 > 9arth 2iddle 1;< 1:3 ; 2etal 2iddle
1:< =003 ? 2etal 6ower
=00< =0=3 : 9arth 6ower =0=< =0<3 1 Fire 6ower
