Chinese Culture/Chinese Health, Medicine/Chinese Weight Loss by: Debra Clydesdale LAc DNBAO Chinese Acupuncture Weight Loss Solutions I remember the first time I took Chinese herbs. One of my patients told me “You look really tired – Here take these herbs” and handed me a bagful of different colored packages. It hurt to have it put so bluntly, but it was true, I was building a business, working long hours and feeling a bit drained, so I listened and took them home to use that night. One was a peach green tea that tasted like the Snapple I had been drinking earlier that day, one was an “interesting tasting” dark green liquid which I took with an OJ chaser and the third was a powder that I mixed up with OJ, water and soy milk to make a citrus smoothie. Not bad I thought, for Chinese herbs… And then something amazing happened. I felt full! Little did I know at that time I had been given the key to my natural weight loss that I still maintain 15 years later. I loved it! I had never felt full before in my life. I had been struggling with being thin since childhood. I had learned when to stop eating in order to not gain weight; I knew all kinds of tricks like drinking water before a meal and getting up and walking away from the table. I looked at each new “diet trend” and I had eliminated all those “bad carbohydrates” from my diet and lived at the gym – and I ended up thin and tired all the time. I even tried dexatrim (I may be dating myself – does any body else out there remember that?) and ended up a yo-yo dieter. It was like I was in a constant battle with my body and my weight. In this process of trying everything I had never before felt this feeling of being satisfied. I loved it! So I used the herbs for a few weeks and then I proceeded to talk myself out of taking the herbs – too expensive, etc… and promptly got tired and sick, went back on them – stopped and got sick and tired again, repeated it a third time and then I got the message that these herbs were doing something really good for my body. Then to my surprise, six months later I dropped 20 pounds without changing anything else in my life. I even began to eat more without gaining weight like I used to. I had a lifetime of experience struggling with my weight and I was amazed at how these “little packages of herbs” were changing my life. I would never have expected that these nutritional herbs would help me lose weight. I was so intrigued that I ended up going to Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine School to learn more. That was my door into the world of Chinese Medicine and acupuncture weight loss and I’ve never looked back. Weight Loss is quite a difficult complex problem for some of us, and not even an issue for others. Just recently “Language has been removed from the Medicare Coverage Issues Manual stating that obesity is not an illness…. The medical science will now determine whether we provide coverage for the treatments that reduce complications and improve quality of life for the millions of Medicare beneficiaries with obesity.” Being overweight is now officially a disease. “And as a first step, we expect to convene our Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee in the fall to evaluate the evidence on the various surgical procedures used in treating obesity.” There has to be other alternatives besides surgery. Acupuncture for Weight Loss hit the press in 2003 when Reuters, CNN and others reported of successful acupuncture weight loss clinics in China. Chinese Medicine theory, traditionally hold that overweight people have imbalanced digestive systems. By stimulating the digestive system through acupuncture and herbs, it becomes more balanced and efficient, thus nutrition is more bio-available and the person feels fuller. This is what happened to me when my metabolism came into a better balance. Other theories are that acupuncture mainly helps reduce appetite and improve metabolism. A slow increase in Obesity in China had lead to this new specialty – acupuncture weight loss. A professor at a Traditional Chinese Medicine College in China states that treatments for weight reduction have been practiced, studied and refined over the past 5 years . While an exact comparison between the US and China is difficult, in China the numbers may be close to 10-13% overweight adults, as compared to 64% for the US, but with their lifestyles and economic changes this number is beginning to rise . In Beijing, the capital, students eagerly enjoy down their Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonalds, Coca-Cola, Pepsi and pop tarts. These foods have slowly replaced the previous hot spots with traditional Chinese snacks found in places like Grandma’s Dumpling House . The obesity rate among primary and middle school students has risen to 18 %, from 10% in 1991, the state Xinhua news agency said recently, citing a survey from the Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention.! So what kind of acupuncture weight loss treatments do they offer in these clinics in China? Acupuncture, on the body and/or the ear, herbal supplements and exercise that’s not overly taxing . These are the primary treatment modalities that are used, but Acupuncture is the pillar of their weight loss strategy. How successful are they in losing weight? Currently there are no published research studies in peer – reviewed journals, only success stories emanating from the clinics. One source states “On this modest program – patients are said to lose between 22 and 33 pounds per month .” Huge weight losses of up to 242 pounds are boasted. In China, they say that 4 of 5 patients lose weight. I was fortunate to have been trained by a colleague that studied in China learning these acupuncture weight loss treatments. We are now proud and excited to offer the Chinese nutritional herbal program that I used as well as these treatments as well and other supporting treatments for weight loss at our Oriental Medicine spa-clinic in Los Angeles. I continue to further my study and am exploring working with researchers at a major university to evaluate the efficacy of these protocols. Imagine finding solid evidence that there is a treatment for obesity that has relatively few side effects. It is exciting to see where this can go. The unique acupuncture weight loss program we are offering here in Los Angeles at the Oriental Med Spa is a synergy based on the treatment protocol currently used in China, Chinese Dietary therapy including nutrient packed supplements and nutrition for weight loss taught to physicians . It is a gradual reduction method and includes Oriental Medicine Diagnosis, a series of eight Acupuncture for Weight Loss Treatments, Auricular acupuncture (ear seeds) and herbal pharmaceutical grade Chinese nutrition supplements. Acupuncture and nutritional herbs are used primarily to strengthen the digestive system so it becomes more efficient. The food you eat is better assimilated and you feel full more quickly with less cravings. We hear “I noticed that my cravings were much less” on a regular basis from patients. Breathing exercises are also a vital part of our program. For additional support we also provide Chinese Nutrition diet analysis, Eating plans, Lifestyle Changes Support, RejuvaQi Qi Gong Exercises, Slim & Toned IR BodyWrap and AromaWraps for weight loss. Treatments range from active to pampering. Each program is tailored and individualized for the patient’s unique situation. In China they say that 4 of 5 patients lose weight. Only time will tell here in the West . Searches of medical literature show that all of the following are important, lifestyle choices such as daily exercise, smart diet choices, dealing with your “inner eating demons”. Others are important but haven’t gotten quite as much press – proper breathing, body balance & flexibility, and constitution. Let’s face it we all come in as a unique individual with our own DNA, personality profile and favorite foods. First is the decision to lose weight, next is the right support. This is where I believe Chinese Medicine and acupuncture for weight loss are powerful supporting tools, to help us find our own individual paths to healthy living. It is a slow gradual reduction method. It takes time as the body rebalances. It worked well for me, it has worked for others and if you are seriously looking for support for your weight loss, come in for a treatment. We’d love to share it with you. Chinese Medicine | Chinese Health Secret | Chinese Acupuncture: Read and Learn all about it! | Chinese Technique for Health and Strength | Weight Loss with Ancient Chinese Twist | Chinese Pregnancy | Chinese Medicine and Quit Smoking | Chinese Herbalism = Chinese Culture/Chinese Health, Medicine/Chinese Health By: Roy Thomsitt Chi Kung and Tai Chi are only two of the keys to self trust and to physical harmony. With the use of these techniques you can succeed with many accomplishments, without having to put yourself through great psychological or physical efforts, violent conflicts or aggression. You may be sure that, once you dominate the genuine laws of the universe, which you assimilate by these methods, it will be impossible for you to be dominated by someone else. Chi Kung – the art of internal harmony (Chinese health and strength) Chi Kung is a philosophical system at least 5000 old, which made survived through all those the centuries, to become very popular at the beginning of this millennium. This art of the vital energy is the most advanced and complex method of improving health and longevity, by offering a feeling of harmony with yourself and with the surrounding world. The four main principles of this technique are: the mind, the eyes, the movement and the breathing. The mind represents the intention, the eyes are considered the focusing of intention, the movement is the action of intention and the breathing is the flood of intention. It obviously takes time and practice to understand their dynamics fully. The benefits which result from practicing Chi Kung can be divided into five: Curing illnesses, and a general improvement in health; Gaining an increase in vitality, and the development of your internal force; Prolonging youth; Cultivation of the mind and intellectual capacities; and, Spiritual progress According to Chinese medicine, various diseases can be the result of such human characteristics as anger, sadness, joy, harmony and optimism deficit. All these factors, coupled with poor diet and nourishment, cause Chiu – the vital energy – either to diminish, or to be present in only certain parts of your body. By practicing Chi Kung you can learn to be more conscious of what’s going on in your inner universe, and to build yourself a defensive system against the disequilibrium, which affects your vital force. The harmony of breathing, and the agility obtained without efforts during the training sessions, confer a better concentration and a fast recovery from stress, tiredness, by inviting you to meditation. Tai Chi Chu'an – the wonder dance (for Chinese health and strength) You have probably seen on TV that in China, very early in the morning, hundreds of people, in large groups or alone, perform apparently weird movements out in the open. This exercise, with waving movements, is an ancestral inheritance. The eternity of the universe, and the rhythm of its permanent changes, have brought about the idea that the human being can become immortal, if only he adapts to and follows this rhythm. This technique represents a putting into practice of the subtle side of the human being (spiritual evolution, mental control etc) and the physical side (muscles, articulation, bones etc). Whenever you feel intellectually or physically tired, Tai Chi Chuan gives you the possibility to gain back, in only a few minutes, your strength and your harmony. There are also other Chinese arts whose efficiency has been proven over the centuries, so why not attend Chinese seminars, or search the internet, in order to get more information, whenever you have the chance? It is a move you may well benefit from, in body, mind and spirit. Chinese Medicine | Chinese Health Secret | Chinese Acupuncture: Read and Learn all about it! | Chinese Technique for Health and Strength | Weight Loss with Ancient Chinese Twist | Chinese Pregnancy | Chinese Medicine and Quit Smoking | Chinese Herbalism = Chinese Culture/Chinese Health, Medicine/Chinese Pregnancy Chinese pregnancy calendar By: Wong Yee Lee Traditionally in China, when once people got married, they would immediately get ready for having a baby. That is why symbolic things such as dolls or lotus seeds would be put on the beds of the newly weds on their wedding day so as to bring in the meaning of having a baby as soon as possible. When once a married woman becomes pregnant, things for the baby will start to be prepared. Prams, cot, baby clothes, etc will be readily prepared to welcome the arrival of the new born. From now on, the health of the mother is of utmost importance. Therefore, the mother should reduce her workload, eat healthily, and employ prenatal education. Prenatal education has come into being for over 2000 years in China. It was believed that a good pregnant mother should eat only meat which was cut only in square cubes, sit only on properly built chairs, walk without a sway, talk softly, etc. By doing so, the fetus would be able to learn the most valued virtues. Although in present days the above mentioned practice is no longer common, pregnant women in China still behave very carefully so as not to do anything which affects the fetus. Still now most people believe that the structure of the house or flat should not be changed while a woman in the house is pregnant since it will cause the fetus no good but harm. Chinese Pregnancy- The first month after giving birth The first month after giving birth is very important for a mother. She needs the most rest and the best nutrition. Otherwise, her body will not be able to recover and can easily get ill. In this month, she can't go outdoors, can't be exposed to wind, can't wash with cold water, can't drink cold water, can't read books etc. However, if a mother really has to wash herself, she should do so by using water boiled with dried ginger skin. In some places in China, a mother must not wash her hair because otherwise she will get a chronic headache. Compared to the west, western women can leave home after a week of giving birth and can go to work after two weeks. It is unimaginable in China. In China, after giving birth, a woman should eat plenty of fish soup and pig knuckle soup. The pig knuckle soup is boiled for a long time with ingredients such as a lot ginger, eggs, pig knuckles in plenty of sweet black vinegar. It is believed that this soup can compensate for the loss of calcium and other nutrients needed by the body. It is a tradition to give out and share such soup to friends and relatives but one can only do so twelve days after the baby is born. Chicken is also ideal for meals after giving birth. In order to help a mother to recover from giving birth, it is recommended that she should eat rice cooked with ginger daily since it can enhance all bodily circulation. Apart from the above, it is also a tradition that after the baby has been born for one lunar month, eggs dyed red should be given to friends and relatives. However, anything salty should be avoided since it will hinder the production of breast milk of a mother. It is only after the baby has weaned then the mother can start considering controlling her body weight. Some practices may seem quite unimaginable. However, they are still practiced in most places in China. Even in Hong Kong, women would follow the above traditions as long as family expectations are involved. Are looking for more information on pregnancy, or other medical related information such as diabetes, or controlling cholestorol, Chinese Pregnancy Calendar = Green Tea Can Help Prevent Cancer Green tea offers catechins which have been identified today as the key element in fighting off toxins that would contribute towards leading to cancer. Some people have considered it as something that would simply be relying on fiction or here say but the truth is that herbal medicine will always have their adverse effects and green tea happens to possess them today. Green Tea Extracts known as Catechins Green Tea extracts trace their origins in China where most herbal and unorthodox means of medicinal attributes can be found. As it stands today, green tea has taken over a clear lead in trying to develop new means of being able to fight of known diseases such as cancer. Cancer feeds on toxins taken in by the human body and it is thus the duty of catechins to fight of and cleanse the body of such food intake. Leading Manufacturers and Origins China leads the race for the development of green tea, mainly because the herbal extracts are immediately available in this part of the world. Japan also has its share of green tea extracts today, making both countries a good source for educating and finding more about this medicinal herb that aims to provide the necessary assistance in the field of cancer and other related diseases harmful to the human anatomy. The Spread of Health Awareness The obvious awareness of people all over the world today is that of emphasizing on the value of health. Such has been the aim of green tea or Camellia Sinensis as it is more commonly known. Supplements, health cleansers and other proper health maintenance practices have been at the forefront of such calls for new ways and innovations to attend to health issues today. A Business Opportunity in Retail Green tea has also become a business aspect in the area of new product development in the sense that people would manufacture the said green tea drink into bottled beverages and make them immediately available to the consumers aching to know where they could get sensible and quality made drinks. Hence, the green tea fever has been widespread all over the world, doing its part in adhering towards the world?s call for alternative medicinal means to fight of dreaded diseases that inject harmful toxins from different food intake and exposure today. Eliminating the Body Toxins Toxin release is something that green tea is known to do. But a word of caution. It is easy to lay claim that green tea is available and can be manufactured by anyone. This is why it would be best to be alert through reading studies and research as done by medical professionals all over the world. The presence of green tea ingredients in the usual pet bottles to which most have been identified today would entail studying the nutritional facts found in them. The ingredients and composition of the said brew will be a good way to determine the actual contents of the green tea variant as offered in the market today. A Different Type of Taste Another aspect for consideration is that green tea may not necessarily be ideal for the taste buds of a person. Similar to the unwanted medicine taste that most people would need to consume to get the proper medical attention for known illnesses, green tea holds the same. To some people, the taste may not be immediately accepted but as other products, it grows in people especially if the mental aspect of its benefits would be taken into account. The taste of green tea is really something that would inform people of its presence in them. Possessing the necessary oxidant agents to cleanse the body of the toxins, the catechins buckle down to work once green tea finds its way into the digestive system of the body. Internal cleansing of the toxins is the immediate recourse and this is where green tea consumption does its work. The whole belief in the benefits and magic that green tea provides is similar to believing in the good that herbal medicine has provided in the world today. People will have their reservations from such advancements but with medical breakthroughs and research to back up the claims, all that green tea needs is to find ways to make them available to the consumers who require them. The obvious awareness created by health all over the world is a key instigator in allowing people to be more conscious in keeping their bodies clear of unwanted toxins that are covered by each green tea extract found in most green tea drinks available today. = Is Green Tea Healthy By: John M. Stout For several years now, we've been hearing about how green tea can prevent many serious diseases, including cancer. As the evidence mounts, it can be hard to ignore the fact that green tea is a powerful way to protect your health. So, what is it about green tea that is creating so much attention? Well, it appears that the anti-oxidants in green tea are just as powerful as those in fruits and vegetables - possibly even more so. And, anti-oxidants are critical to preserving health and preventing disease. As we convert the foods we eat into energy, we create free radicals in our body that can damage our cells and our DNA if left unchecked. It is believed that unchecked free radicals contribute to the development of many diseases, including cancer. Anti-oxidants combat these free radicals so that they are not able to wreak such havoc on our bodies. Therefore, a diet rich in anti-oxidants is a great way to protect your health. Your best sources of anti-oxidants are fresh fruits, vegetables, and yes, green tea. The research abounds to support the fact that green tea is healthy. Here are some examples. Take a look in the March, 2004 issue of New Scientist Magazine. You'll find numerous studies mentioned that suggest that green tea protects against many types of cancers, including lung, prostate and breast cancer. A study at Kyushu University in Japan showed that green tea slowed the growth of a certain type of human lung cancer cells. Next, visit the US National Cancer Institute's website and review their studies. You'll find evidence that the anti-oxidants in green tea inhibited the growth of cancer cells and reduced the number and size of tumors in animals. Check out the May 2002 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. This magazine describes a Chinese study that showed that men and women who have been lifelong tea drinkers have higher bone mineral density than those who are not tea drinkers. The study involved 497 Chinese men and 540 Chinese women over the age of 30 who were asked about how much tea they drink as well as about lifestyle factors. Of the 1,037 study participants, 48.4 percent were habitual, long-term green tea drinkers. The researchers found that those who had been drinking tea habitually for six to 10 years had higher bone mineral density in the lumbar spine, and those who had been drinking tea regularly for more than 10 years had higher bone mineral density in all body sites measured than study participants who didn't drink tea regularly. This same magazine reported on another study in December of 2005 that suggested drinking just one cup a day of green or black tea may lower the risk of epithelial ovarian cancer in women by 24 percent. By drinking two or more cups each day, you can cut the risk by up to 48 percent. This study was conducted over a 15 year period by researchers at the Swedish Mammography Cohort. It's important to report that there appears to be virtually no evidence that suggests that anything about green tea is unhealthy. Even studies which can't necessarily support green tea health claims show that green tea has no negative effects. For example, a study conducted by Yoshitaka Tsubono, M.D., Yoshikazu Nishino, M.D., Shoko Komatsu, M.D., Chung-Cheng Hsieh, Sc.D., Seiki Kanemura, M.D., Ichiro Tsuji, M.D., Haruo Nakatsuka, Ph.D., Akira Fukao, M.D., Hiroshi Satoh, M.D., and Shigeru Hisamichi, M.D. could find no link between consumption of green tea and gastric cancer. The study did not find any increased protection among those who consistently drink green tea, but it also did not find any health risks associated with large green tea consumption. So, in light of all the evidence, it seems that adding green tea to your diet is a wise choice. While we still need to do more research on the subject, there certainly is reason to believe that green tea is a powerful tool for protecting your health. In addition, there's reason to believe that green tea's effects may be more prevalent on certain types of cancers, and less prevalent on others. And, even if it turns out that green tea doesn't prevent serious diseases - there is compelling evidence that green tea is healthy. Green tea can support healthy teeth, and slows down the aging process, just as any other food rich in anti-oxidants. Plus, there is also research that suggests that green tea may speed up metabolism and help you maintain a healthy weight. As you can see - you have nothing to lose. Even if green tea doesn't make you live to an old age with no serious illnesses, it won't hurt you. So, go make a cup of green tea. There's little doubt that it will do something good for your body. = The Chinese Art of Feng Shui For over 3,000 years the art of Feng Shui has been practiced in China. Early Chinese people who practiced Feng Shui were responsible for finding the area that was used to build homes and creating their villages. The areas they found were called Belly of the Dragon because they were above areas that were prone to flooding and below areas of high winds. This is what is meant by achieving the balance of wind and water. Once they found the right spot for building, the Feng Shui master would oversee the building of the structures so that they did not interfere with the natural elements of the area. Being in harmony with these elements is the basis for Feng Shui. Feng Shui practitioners in the very early days were regarded highly but the only patrons they were allowed to see were the emperors and privileged people of that time. The commoners were not allowed to seek assistance from them. Any Feng Shui practitioner who was found to have helped a commoner was subject to being severely punished or put to death Feng Shui art uses the solar system, the earth, and a person's birth date to calculate the best directions for a person to live and work. Placement of certain objects related to the five elements of the Feng Shui principle are key to having the correct balance and in turn provide peace and harmony. During the East Han Dynasty in 25 A.D., written records were kept that detail the beliefs that are today used as Feng Shui. The theories of Yin and Yang, believing that everything must be balanced to achieve harmony, were practiced around 770 B.C. to 475 B.C. at the earliest. Many Feng Shui practices were handed down from generation to generation. They more often were in the form of communicating verbally or poems were made up to teach to students. Because the Feng Shui art was kept a secret from commoners, not many written records are available. If you believe in the power of Feng Shui, becoming more in balance and at ease with your life are part of the results. These results do not happen overnight. The truly devoted will have the harmony in their life as well as the peace within to overcome the most troublesome of obstacles. The energy that is associated with Feng Shui is called chi. Chi is influenced by the positioning of something and anything that is placed around it. In that way of thinking, the earth is positioned and all living things that are around it are energy. The energy can be either positive or negative. Many people believe that crystals are important to the practice of Feng Shui. However these are treated as myths among true practices of this ancient art. Your space has to have the energy patterns clear and distinct. Only then will everything fall into place. About the Author: Are you interested to find out what is Feng Shui? Download our free report on How To Clear Your Life's Clutter With Feng Shui and learn valuable Feng Shui tips to improve your Feng Shui Home = Chinese Numerology Although the exact origins of numerology are unknown, Chinese numerology is believed to be one of the earliest forms of numerology. It is thought that the origins of Chinese numerology date back nearly 4000 years to the banks of the Yellow River. The tale that is told is that the first of the five mythical emperors of China, Wu of Hsai, was working on the banks of the Yellow River trying to find a method to prevent the floods that regularly devastated the communities located along the river. It was during the course of this work that Wu found a tortoise shell, which at the time was considered to be a very good omen. This particular tortoise shell, however, was extremely rare, unique and special because it had fascinating markings on it. The shell showed a magic 3x3 square on its back that later became known as the Lo Shu Grid. The Lo Shu Grid was particularly remarkable because every row, column and diagonal on the grid add up to the number 15. The number 15 was very significant because it is the number of days between the new moon and the full moon. Additionally, the number 5 was highly respected in ancient China, and was located in the important center square of the grid. The Lo Shu Grid became the basis of Chinese numerology and is still used today in the Far East. The grid took on a different adaptation in the West, and eventually over time Chinese numerology evolved into three different systems that are used today. There is the Western Version of Chinese Numerology, Traditional Chinese Numerology and the Ki system. There is very little known about the origins of the Western version of Chinese numerology, although Hettie Templeton is credited with its popularization. Templeton taught classes and gave numerous public lectures and broadcasts throughout Australia during the 1930's and 40's. Her teachings helped Western Chinese Numerology gain the popularity it enjoys today, so most of the current information regarding this form of numerology comes from Australia and New Zealand. The Western version of Chinese Numerology is by far the easiest of the three versions of Chinese Numerology to learn, and it is believed by many to be the most accurate. In fact, there are a large number of numerologists in China and Hong Kong who use the Western version rather than the traditional version of Chinese Numerology. Chinese numerology uses only the numbers 1-9, and 0 is not included. Western Chinese numerology uses a square made up of 9 boxes - 3 down and 3 across. You can think of this square like a tic-tac-toe square or like a number sign (#) Each box in the square has a number from 1-9 associated with it. The boxes are numbered from 1-9 starting in the lower left square and moving up each column. So, from bottom to top in the first column would be 1,2,3, from bottom to top in the second column would be 4,5,6, and the last column from bottom to top would contain the numbers 7,8 and 9. The numbers from a person's date of birth are then input into these boxes one at a time. So for instance, if someone was born in the year 1966, they would have one 1 in the bottom left box, one 9 in the top right box, and two 6's in the top middle box. Depending upon how many of each number a person has in their grid, you can tell a lot about their strengths and weaknesses, their character traits and more. = 6 Ways of Forming Chinese Characters Did you know there are 6 ways of forming Chinese characters? Yes, 6 kinds of forming Chinese characters make up 50,000 Chinese characters in existence today. It shows that there is a logical symbol system used to create Chinese characters. That they are not just made up of random lines and strokes. Once you know these 6 types of Chinese characters, you'll find that learning Chinese writing isn't so difficult after all. The "radicals" They are the "root elements" of Chinese characters. They are the meaning part of Chinese characters. There are 214 of them and they exist independently or as part of complex characters. Once you get a general idea of the common radicals, you can guess the meaning of Chinese characters. Modern Chinese dictionaries are organized by radicals - starting with one-stroke radicals, two, three and so on, and hanyu pinyin, the modern Chinese Romanization system. By knowing the radicals and the 6 ways of forming Chinese characters, you can roughly guess the meaning and sound of Chinese characters. What are the 6 ways of forming Chinese characters? 1) Pictographs The earliest Chinese characters some 4,000 years ago were shaped like the things they represented. Known as "pictographs", these were pictures of humans, animals and natural objects, like "sun", "mother", "bird", "food" etc. There are only 300 plus pictographs but they form the building blocks of modern Chinese writing. 2) Ideographs To create more words, symbols were added to pictographs to form "ideographs". For example, by adding a horizontal stroke, "wood" became "root", and "mouth" became "sweet". Later, two or more pictographs were combined to form "composite ideographs". 3) Composite ideographs Two or more pictographs were combined to form "composite ideographs". These are "meaning plus meaning" words. For example, "man" 人 added to "tree" 木 forms the Chinese character "rest" 休 -- a man leaning against a tree. And three characters for "wood" 木 together make a "forest" 森. This way of forming Chinese characters shows the creativity of the ancient Chinese, but it could not produce a lot of Chinese characters easily. 4) Borrowed characters This means a Chinese character with the same sound as another was borrowed to form new characters with no regard for its meaning. The result? New characters with the same sound but different meanings were formed. For example, the Chinese character for "north" 北 showed two people "back to back" and originally meant just that. The original character 北 was borrowed to represent a direction, while the sound remained unchanged. But what happened to the original meanings of these borrowed characters? In order to retain their original meanings, a meaning component was added to the sound component. So using the same example, the character meaning "back to back" was given a "flesh" component 背 so it could keep its original meaning. 5) Phonetic compounds As a result, "sound plus meaning" words or phonetic compounds were formed. These are Chinese characters with a sound part and a meaning part. Today, this type of Chinese characters make up 80% of Chinese characters in use. 6) Transferred characters The last type of Chinese characters is called Transferred characters. Transferred characters share the same radical and have the same meaning but their pronunciations are different. This is the least important of the 6 ways of forming Chinese characters. So early Chinese characters were created based on meaning alone and started from pictures. Eventually, each Chinese character became "a unit of sound and meaning" like what we have today. But it remains possible to guess the meaning of Chinese characters from the meaning component, the radicals. = Yin Yang-Ancient Chinese Secrets As I sat down to write about Yin Yang, I found myself distracted and in the same instant realized a brilliant way to demonstrate the powerful impact Yin Yang can make on your life. Quickly, I turned my insight into an experiment and began with an observation of my workspace. Physical Desktop: 1. Bills check book and credit cards. 2. Current novel "Eat pray, love" which unfortunately I've been carrying rather than reading. 3. Motorola headset; charged lying next to the instruction booklet which I've also carried from Del Mar to San Francisco back to Del Mar and now to Maui. 4. Complete airport that my four year old insisted on setting up on my desk; an improvement over him slamming my laptop shut and yelling, "No more work Mommy!" 5. Cup of very strong coffee. 6. My blackberry and my journal. Computer Desktop: 1. Two open browsers; Safari because I like its book marking system and Firefox because it magically makes all the websites work and remembers my usernames and passwords (Halleluiah!) 2. Shopbop.com shopping cart with carefully selected Havaiana flip flops (did you know they come in a thinner and sexier strap for $7.00 more?) 3. Email, always open defying every rule of time management. 4. Google results for Yin Yang; the only thing that should be on my desk! 5. A newsletter announcing a class for Mommies who want to start their own business - is there no end to what Mommies can do? After careful review and analysis I chose to classify my findings as "clutter" (A.D.D. was a close second). Next, I applied the principle of Yin Yang and discovered that in clutter lies organization. Aha! I'd been telling my husband this for years now I was one step away from having scientific proof. The Yin Yang principle is "the" preeminent ancient Chinese secret offering explanation to everything that exists, changes or moves. Its origin comes from observing the very essence of the Universe - from darkness there is light. Yin Yang embodies duality or an opposite nature with Yin tending toward passive, dark, feminine, downward seeking and Yang tending toward active, light, masculine, upward seeking. Because we can see dark and we can see light they appear separate yet they are connected. Everything in life has this same connective quality. However, notice your tendency to identify Yin and Yang as separate and to judge which one you relate to or prefer over the other. This same human tendency prevents us from accessing the power of the principle. So to access the power of Yin Yang we must embrace both Yin and Yang and observe without judgment. So getting back to my experiment, I noticed that my Yin Yang relationship with clutter and organization did indeed include judgment. I saw clutter as bad and organization as good causing a separation and resistance of clutter. But guess what? When you apply Yin Yang and know that clutter and organization are one; resisting clutter is resisting organization. I know at this point you probably want to yell "JUST CLEAN UP YOUR DESK! But trust me there's a valuable nugget here for you if you're willing to read on. There is also a cyclical nature to Yin Yang. Everything changes into it's opposite in an ongoing cycle of reversal. Health changes to sickness and sickness changes into health. The more you embrace Yin Yang and see your life as one continuous flow, your experiences in life will naturally reverse or begin to flow more easily. And finally, there is an inclusive nature. Yin exists within Yang and Yang exists within Yin. Poverty contains the seeds of wealth and wealth contains the seeds for poverty and so on. If we can see wealth in poverty than we are more likely to experience wealth. So in conclusion, if I see organization in clutter, I will naturally begin to experience organization. Sort of like when Mary Poppins snaps and all the toys put themselves away (Did I mention I have a four year old?) Seriously, as I see clutter and organization as one, I physically feel any resistance or judgment that I had leave opening up a great sense of freedom and inspiration to simply clean up my desk (see you were right all along too). Applying Yin Yang to Your Life What's your Yin Yang issue? Do you have a reoccurring event or vicious cycle like finding yourself in the same type of relationship, reoccurring debt, not quite getting your body into shape or just never quite being satisfied with life? 1. Pick an issue and write it down - this is the Yin. Now write down the opposite - this is the Yang. 2. See the Yin and Yang as separate. Now visualize the Yin and Yang coming together and actually overlaying one another becoming one. 3. Feel yourself embodying the Yin and Yang with total love, acceptance and compassion. 4. Release any attachment, pain or confusion associated with the struggle you've had up until now and see it and feel it leave your body, yourself and your life. 5. Now write down what you want and know that it is because you've embraced both the Yin and Yang that you can now fulfill your desire. = Confucianism It’s hard to overvalue the influence of the Confucianism to the development of Chinese culture, politics arts and history. Scientists still doubt and can’t define the exact meaning of the teaching. Some place it to religion; others place it to moral ethics, third to political science. There are others who try to follow it without vain reflections and they state it works for them. I think all of them are right in their own way as the Confucian teaching is a harmonious mixture of ethics, esthetics, politics, religion and humanism. Kung-fu-tsu (we know him under his Westernized name – Confucius) was born in 551 B.C. into a middle class family. From the very childhood he was devoted to learning and fond of many subjects. He mastered six arts – ritual, music, archery, charioteering, Calligraphy and arithmetic – the basic set for the noble youth of those times. Even being very young he was interested in public service. When grown up, Confucius went traveling state by state to study the way of life and customs of people of the different provinces. He was born in difficult for his country times. China of the Eastern Zhou dynasty (that is the time he lived) was split into a number of small states which were at war with each other. These wars weakened the country, made a lot of harm to its people and devastated its lands. This was a time of moral chaos when moral values were rejected, crime and disobeying flourished and ruined the society from inside. The difference between poor and rich class was overwhelming and lead to a great contradictory in the society. There was a great need in a social theory which would reunite the country and Chinese nation and make it powerful and mighty union. A lot of theories were proposed at those times but Confucius’ one turned to be the most successful one and won a great supremacy during the ruling of the Han dynasty. During his life Confucius accomplished several books. He didn’t write them himself and they were written by his successors from his words. “The Confucius Analects” is the most famous of them. It’s a book of quotes and sayings of the master on the social, ethical and moral topics. The life of China during the Zhou dynasty can seem something distanced and uninteresting to the modern people but if to make a deep survey of the situation, we will see that problems people faced then are repeated in the most of modern societies and have same roots as they did in the times of Confucius. If to think we can state that the decline of moral values, the growth of crime rate and a big gap between rich and poor classes of the society we face now sound very alike with the problems of the ancient China. History repeats itself. This simple truth was discovered by Confucius many centuries ago. “Study the past and you would define the future.”– states he in his book. (Confucius, The Confucian Analects, p.18). And he followed his own advice. He studied a lot of great leaders of the past and a lot of successful reigning systems before he produced the one of his own. Confucius believed that the divine order is reflected in the order human beings present on the earth. He believed that our ancestors understood this order better than we did as they didn’t lose the connection with the ultimate source and understood the union of the earth and heaven better than his contemporaries. He set ancient people as an example and the past model or reigning considered being the best one. He specialized not only in the orderly arrangement of society and relationship between people but in self-perfection and self-development, humanism and moral rectitude as the ultimate goals of every person. The concepts of jen and li are often considered to be the main concepts of Confucianism. Each of these concepts has a lot of shades of meaning and covers almost all the teaching. The concept of jen includes goodness, benevolence, humanity and kindness. These are the qualities of the personality which define the level of its development and differentiate it from non-human beings. For Confucius these qualities make the basis of moral rectitude. The more developed the qualities mentioned above are, the more developed the personality is according to the teaching of Confucius. If put in the basis of human relationship, these qualities provide genuine and open communication and both sides get profit of it. Humanity, kindness, goodness, etc. do not depend of the race or social status and can be born or developed during the lifetime. Since jen is a sense of humanity, developed towards others it increases the self-esteem of the individual himself. Confucius can not imagine right attitude to others without the right attitude to yourself. “Respect yourself and others will respect you.” (Confucius, The Confucian Analects, p.73) addresses he his followers to underline one more time the importance of right self-esteem. Some scientists state that “The Golden Rule” of human interaction mentioned in many scripts and by many authors was first formulated by Confucius in his teaching. It sounds like “Do not do to others what you would not like them to do to you.”(Confucius, The Confucian Analects, p. 45). Confucius states that following this rule would stop wars and conflicts and bring harmony and peace to the life of the country in general and its citizens in particular. Another important component of the teaching presented by Confucius is so called Lee concept and it describes the principle of order, gain, and benefit. Lee gives concrete guide to human action and stresses on the importance of the obeying the order. He defines two aspects of order. First is a common order, rules and customs incarnated through the relationship between people in the society. This set of rules in not written anywhere and it is connected to the moral system of the individual and defined by jen. Another aspect of lee (order) principle is realized through the social order or the general ordering of life. Confucius paid a lot of attention to the principle of yi (righteousness) as one of the means to achieve high moral level. Yi helps the person to recognize bad and good things. It’s an internal controller which gives the person the ability to make right judgments about the people and situations and to react accordingly. Confucius stated that truth can be hidden sometimes and most common reaction to the situation is not always the best one and the possession of yi principle helps to define the true nature of things. Right understanding generates the right behavior which is described in another aspect of yi – the moral disposition to do good. The concept of “good” is defined by the higher wisdom and can not be understood by ordinary human but can be felt as a sense of internal righteousness. Hsiao (filial piety) is a concept described in great detail by Confucius and very peculiar not only to Confucianism, but for the whole Chinese culture and moral tradition. This is the concept of obedience and respect which was considered the greatest of virtues. Hsiao concept had several levels same as most of the other ones. It includes the obedience of the son to the parents, obedience to family, friends, society, and mankind. Historically parents had a very big influence on the life of their children and had very much authority in the family. All the virtues mentioned formed the concept of the gentlemen very important for Confucius’ teaching. Gentleman is an incarnation of all the virtues and moral rectitude such as humanity, kindness, obedience to the higher will, roughhouses and wisdom. It’s an ideal everybody must strive to achieve and Confucius strove to himself. Fulfilling all the concepts and rituals of Confucianism could take the whole life but it’s common for oriental people who concentrate on the process, but not the result. “It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.” (Confucius, The Confucian Analects, p. 45). The concept of the gentlemen as an ideal man can not be separated from the concept of an ideal ruler of the country. Confucius couldn’t image a good ruler who would keep the country in peace and order and bring wealth and prosperity to its citizens not being a gentleman. Grateful citizens would provide obedience and respect to the ruler fulfilling the principles of filial piety, righteousness and goodness. This was the model of the society and human relationship presented by Confucius. We can not give less than due do to Confucian ideas of humanity, sacrifices for the sake of common good and order very uncommon and ever revolutionary for the times he lived. Same as we can not deny that some of the ideas of this ancient teaching could be very helpful to the modern political leaders and just ordinary people in everyday life. = Feng Shui - A Chinese Love Horoscope Sherry came across as quite the activist to Matthew today. She gave a lecture (well, almost!) chronicling the harsh treatment man has meted out to helpless animals since time immemorial. Matthew couldn't help wonder what had led to her tirade when all that he'd done was mention his neighbor's dog had remained unfed for two days. While it did seem like Sherry had raved and ranted about hapless creatures for the most part of their online date today, what was really troubling him was that up until now she'd seemed like a fun-loving girl. Could he have got it all wrong? Did she always blow things out of proportion? Did they have a compatibility issue? What do you think Matthew did? Well, he didn't have to do much really. His eyes fell on the astrology link of his free online dating site. A click on the link brought Chinese Astrology to life. Out of sheer curiosity, Matthew decided to read it through. He was amazed to discover that Chinese astrology went back to over a thousand years before Christ. "Wow!" thought Matthew, "if it's been around that long it must have some enduring content." Here's some of the other stuff he discovered... There are twelve animals in the Chinese Calendar and they are ranked in a particular order. These are the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Each animal represents certain traits, strengths and weaknesses. Each year is named after a year. For example: the year of the Rat and so on. After every 12 years, a new cycle begins. Apart from this, an year will also have one of the five natural elements: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood attached to it. These elements represent the five planets and the positions of the planets influences the persons born under them. A complete cycle lasts sixty years, and covers all animals and elements. It begins with the year of the Rat and ends with the Year of the Pig. The science behind Chinese horoscopes is that time and its effect on human births are used in order to classify human nature. Sherry was born in 1970, the year of the Dog. Those born in the year of the Dog are crusaders by nature. "Figures," thought Matthew. Suddenly Sherry's outburst made sense. Always looking for a cause to fight, these people don't rest until they've expressed their opinions. What's more, stability and dependability are their hallmarks - qualities anyone would love in a partner or spouse. The Feng Shui Chinese love horoscope had just made Matthew's day! He was pleased to learn that he was a Horse and the compatibility horoscope for the Dog and the Horse bode well. So if your partner goes from amiability to aggression in a matter of seconds, don't be alarmed. Just click your way to Feng Shui: A Chinese Love Horoscope' on your free online dating site. He could be a "Tiger" ready to command and confront. And if you love a good fight, could you ask for more! = Chinese Culture/Chinese Feng Shui Feng Shui (pronounced "phung schwee" and meaning literally "wind water") is part of an ancient Chinese philosophy of nature. Feng shui is often identified as a form of geomancy, divination by geographic features, but it is mainly concerned with understanding the relationships between nature and ourselves so that we might live in harmony within our environment. Feng shui is related to the very sensible notion that living with rather than against nature benefits both humans and our environment. It is also related to the equally sensible notion that our lives are deeply affected by our physical and emotional environs. If we surround ourselves with symbols of death, contempt and indifference toward life and nature, with noise and various forms of ugliness, we will corrupt ourselves in the process. If we surround ourselves with beauty, gentleness, kindness, sympathy, music and various expressions of the sweetness of life, we ennoble ourselves as well as our environment. Alleged masters of feng shui, those who understand the five elements and the two energies such as chi and sha (hard energy, the opposite of chi), are supposed to be able to detect metaphysical energies and give directions for their optimal flow. Feng shui has become a kind of architectural acupuncture: wizards and magi insert themselves into buildings or landscapes and use their metaphysical sensors to detect the flow of good and bad "energy." These masters for hire declare where bathrooms should go, which way doorways should face, where mirrors should hang, which room needs green plants and which one needs red flowers, which direction the head of the bed should face, etc. They decide these things on the basis of their feel for the flow of chi, electromagnetic fields or whatever other form of energy the client will worry about. (If you and your lover are having trouble in the bedroom, call a feng shui master. You probably need to move a few things around to get the bedroom chi flowing properly. Only a person with special metaphysical sensors, however, can tell what really needs to be done.) = Chinese Culture/Chinese Feng Shui Do Feng Shui Remedies Really Work? by: Steven M. Ng THE PREMISE Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese art that has been practiced for thousands of years. It is based on the idea that there should be a "balance" or harmony in the world. Everything around us has its proper place. If something is out of place and the balance is disturbed, this disruption can materialize as a feeling of uneasiness in the people around it, or as violence or lack of prosperity in the area. Feng Shui, in all its various forms, acts to restore that balance and harmony. This balance can be in difference ways, such as health, prosperity, wealth and love. And a lot of it really works. The cities of Hong Kong and Singapore are prosperous capitals compared to their neighbors because they are located in places where the Feng Shui is perfect for a bustling metropolis. Even the house of Bill Gates, richest man in the world, is said to be located in the perfect location in the hills to bring its owner great wealth. But why does Feng Shui not work for some people? In order to answer that, we need to look at its history. THE HISTORY Feng Shui originated from ancient China, a land that developed other skills and arts such as medicine, martial arts and the origins of chemical warfare. The knowledge of these skills were highly priced, and the masters of these skills understandably did not want their secrets to be known to others, for fear that the knowledge could be used for wrong purposes, or that the masters would lose their status and prestige once the knowledge became commonplace. It is therefore expected that the masters might not have handed down all of their knowledge to their students. These students might have compiled whatever knowledge they had, and guessed the remainder that they did not learn from the masters. Some of these students were geniuses, able to replicate the miracles their masters had performed. Others were not so skilled, but used whatever knowledge they had to make a living for themselves. This scenario, when applied to Feng Shui, explains the various schools of Feng Shui that exist today. Some schools do work wonders, but there are also those that produce very little tangible effect. There are many people who call themselves Feng Shui masters these days, more so now with the growth of the internet. So how do we tell which ones can really help you? Unfortunately, there isn't much we can do. After all, someone can say they are a master of a reputable school of Feng Shui even though they are merely charlatans. The best thing we can do is to find someone who has had their lives improved via Feng Shui, and get the name of the Feng Shui practitioner who helped them. THE FAITH However, another important aspect of getting Feng Shui to work is your belief in it. Just like the idols of the ancient Aztecs and the Cross of the Christians, Feng Shui figurines and artifacts act as "focuses". It will work if you believe in it. For example, in modern pharmaceutical tests, the researchers always say that a drug is successful because it worked on a large percentage (say 75%) of their test subjects. But what about the other 25%? If the drug really works, why didn't it work for them? It could be that their body's physiology was different. But in most of the cases, the reason is psychological. If you truly believe that the medicine will not cure you, it won't, no matter how good it is. "It's all in your mind", as the psychologists like to say. The same goes for Feng Shui. If you buy a Feng Shui figurine but think it's just some voodoo magic that probably won't work anyway, I can assure you that it won't work for you. You need to have faith in it. If you believe that Feng Shui can help you improve your life, it will. = by: Charles Kassotis Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese philosophy. It is the study of living in harmony and prosperity with nature. Feng Shui means literally "wind water". It is a form of geomancy, trying to understand the relationships between nature and ourselves so that we may live in harmony within our environment. It is based upon the simple thought that our lives are deeply affected by our physical and emotional environment. One of our chief environments is our house, where we spend most of our time. Feng Shui has advice and solutions to offer, in order to let the "chi", the energy, flow smoothly around the house. Curtains and windows are the most prominent features of our homes. Fabrics, color, material, window arrangement, yes, all these may affect your homes chi. Let's see how to improve it. · Pull the curtains back during daytime to allow sunlight to lighten your house and give the area positive energy. · Keep your curtains closed at night. Don't leave your windows exposed into night as it is considered to bring bad luck. · Blinds and curtain rings should be of natural material. The most beneficial is wood. Avoid plastic by all means! · Curtains should be large enough to cover the window and long enough to reach the floor. · Curtains should have curves to them. When drawn together there should be enough fabric hanging to form pleats and folds. · Make sure that curtains open and close easily. · Curtains that hang limply each side of a window are considered bad Feng Shui. · Keep your curtains and windows clean in order to allow the chi to come inside fresh and clean. · Match your curtains with the seasons to freshen up yours and your chis' mood. Use heavy fabrics for winter and lighter fabrics for summer. Utilize warm colors for wintertime and light happy colors for spring and summertime. Choose shades of green at spring, shades of red, orange and pink at summer, white, grey and metallic colors for autumn and shades of blue in winter. · Windows are best when opening outwards. If a window opens inwards make sure it doesn't face the West, which is the direction that signifies death or ending. In that case, block negative chi with an outward facing mirror or a plant with round leaves. · Octagonal and arched windows are considered good Feng Shui. You can also utilize colors in your curtains to change colors in each room of your house, adjusting it correctly to specific energies each room should have. Have matching pairs in your bedroom and colors that invite love such as pink or green. For the diving room use red to keep guests energized and excited. For kitchens and playrooms orange and yellow is refreshing and revitalizing. Green is a calming color ideal for living rooms. Purple signifies richness and transformation, which makes it ideal for spiritual rooms. Whether you believe in Feng Shui or not, the best way to decorate your house and choose your curtain fabrics and colors is your personal taste and instinct. Add some positive Chi energy and you have the perfect house. Yours! = Chinese Culture/Chinese Feng Shui Feng Shui Cures by: Batsheva Vaknin Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese art used in the home to create balance and harmony. Feng Shui Practitioners have many tricks of the trade used to get rid of negative energy and promote happiness, stability, affluence, tranquility and peace. With the help of this guide, now you, too, can use Feng Shui to enhance your surroundings. Here are some Feng Shui fast solutions to allow you to experience maximum fulfillment in your current home: Color. Color can lift you up or bring you down, so pay attention to the colors you choose for your furniture and to decorate your house. Decide on which color best suits your living room, bedrooms, dining room and furniture by figuring out the energy you would like for that particular room or area. * Red: Great for energy and excitement. Works perfectly in a dining room to keep folks awake at the dinner table. Not so good for bedrooms and studies, as its properties can make it hard to relax and unwind. * Orange: Stimulates hunger. Softer, lighter shades work great for living rooms, playrooms, and even bedrooms. * Yellow: Inspires happiness and creativity. Use in any room to add brightness and vitality. * Green: A healing and soothing color. A perfect choice for a living room or any room where you want to enhance the energy of balance. * Blue: A healing and soothing color. A perfect choice for a living room or any room where you want to enhance the energy of balance. * Indigo: Yet another color that heals and soothes. Good for a child’s room to promote healthy sleep habits. * Purple: A highly spiritual color that promotes richness and transformation. Can be too high of a frequency for a large room, so consider using accents of purple as an alternative to painting an entire room. Light. Light exerts a strong influence over how we feel. Take care to light each room so that you achieve the appropriate calming or energizing effect. * Sunlight: Natural lighting is the very best way to brighten a room. * Good Quality Lighting: Second best to natural lighting. If possible, don’t skimp when it comes to buying lamps, track lighting, or fixtures for your home. * Bright Lighting: Promotes energy and activity (for a playroom, for example). * Low Lighting: Promotes calmness and relaxation (for a bedroom or study, for example). * Dimmers: Can be purchased at a local hardware store. Dimmer switches give you the flexibility to alternate between bright and low lighting in the same room. With a dimmer, bedrooms can be used to play, study, or sleep, your dining room can accommodate a lively brunch or a romantic supper, and the living room can foster animated conversation or some quiet family reading. Touch. Designers often overlook the power of texture and how it influences the energy of your home and surroundings. Play with accessories and furniture of different materials to achieve surprising results. * Rugs: A shag rug emits a playful energy, while a tightly coiled country rug adds a homey, nurturing touch to a living room. Decide whether you would prefer to tread barefoot upon a soft carpet or a cool shiny wood floor. One draws the energy of comfort, the other professionalism. Choose the materials best suited for the energy you would like each room of your home to radiate. * Pillows: Silk pillows add richness and sensuality. Cotton is good for kids or casual relaxation, and fun, fluffy pillows can be employed for a lighter, playful effect in a living room or playroom. * Furniture: Sleek wood furniture conveys a sturdy and reassuring energy, while soft leather couches and armchairs add a luxurious energy to a living room or study. Smell. Aromas are an easy and inexpensive solution to help you achieve a harmonious home environment. Play with different scents in each room, changing them occasionally to see how the smells aid in energizing or relaxing you. * Flowers: Flowers can be a terrific addition to any household because of their color and innate positive energy. Easy to forget, however, is how wonderful a room smells when fresh flowers are added. * Candles: Candles look beautiful and have an immediate calming effect on a room. Use different scents for each room, or place various candles with unique smells together in one collection. * Cooking: Cooking provides nourishment and comfort. An added benefit is the wonderful smells of cooking, which contribute to a balanced atmosphere in your home. * Incense or alternatively, Sage: Incense is a fantastic cleansing agent. Use it to erase negative energies, such as after an argument. The scent will permeate all corners of the room, and either relax or invigorate the inhabitants, depending on what type of incense you use. You! Don’t forget the most important element of your home: you and your family. Even plants and flowers play a vital role in livening up an environment. Pets and children are great for adding movement in each room, which, in turn, keeps the energy of your house circulating. Play with these and other Feng Shui solutions, to maintain balance and perfect harmony in your home. = by: Sam Stevens Did you know that over 50% of women now run their own home business or work from home? Get your compass out and find the following directions because we are going to try and make things run a little smoother for you using the ancient art of object placement - Feng Shui. The most ideal locations to situate a home office, in order of best to second, third ad fourth best are the North (the Career Sector), the Southwest (the Wealth sector), the Northeast (Skills and Talents sector) or the South (the fame and recognition sector.) If possible try to locate your home office in one of those locations. Here are some other general tips that are thought to bring prosperity to your business. Always sit with a solid wall behind your back to ensure that you have support in your life. Never sit with a window behind you. In the office always place the fax machine, telephone, and computers in the southeast wealth sector, as this will attract more contacts. Position your desk to have a clear view of the door. If this isn't possible, hang a small mirror so you can easily view the door's reflection. Don't put a shelf over your desk. This symbolizes burdens the world crashing down on you at any moment. The heavy shelf also symbolizes burdens and difficulties. Avoid having sharp accessories, such as a paper cutter blade or the corner of a Xerox machine pointed at your desk. It is shar chi that symbolizes the cutting knife-edge or a disapproving finger pointing at you. Make sure that you can walk completely around your desk in a full circle. This makes sure colleagues or workload does not cramp you. You should have space to breathe! Do not have clutter in your office. Desktops must be kept tidy and clutter free. Avoid placing In and Out trays on your desk. Try to keep what is in use on your desktop. If you own a NCR or cash till try and place that in your southeastern wealth corner as well. Avoid placing cactuses in your office as the needles of these plants are thought to create negative shar chi. Shar or sha chi is stagnant or harmful energy. In your office, never have the main door opening into your desk as this causes you to be faced with unexpected situations to deal with. Never have a door jamming against your desk, or your prosperity will always be blocked. Do not place your desk in a room so that it is between two doors because this causes chi to rush by and pass you by along with all of your good fortune. In other words the good energy walks in one door, right past you and out the back door! Never set your desk at the top of a staircase as chi will roll down the stairs and cause you loss of opportunity and wealth. If this is unavoidable, place a mirror above the front door looking in and facing the staircase. If people entering your business immediately face a wall and a long corridor try placing a hanging crystal in this area to allow good chi to accumulate. Also place mirrors here to direct the chi into your office. Do not place large electric equipment, such as photocopy machine or microwave near to the main door. These are considered to be "hot" items that cause energy to dissipate. Heat causes the dispersal of good chi. Do not place paper cutter or fax machines or any machine with a blade next to the front door. The "cutting" energy can cause staff and customers to be unpleasant and even possibly to back stab and fight each with other. Do not place an empty vase next to the main door, as empty vessels suck good chi trying to enter your place of business. If you have a vase make sure it is full of flowers! If you have candles in your office, light the wicks to make sure they are burnt, even if you don't plan to light the candle. An unlit candle is bad feng shui as it represents the limitations of possibility. Place a fish tank or fishpond in the southwestern corner of your office. If this is not possible consider building a Koi pond in the southwestern sector outside your building. To enhance your wealth and prosperity, position your indoor water feature in the southeast element of your home or office. For career luck, place it in the north. A tabletop fountain made of bamboo or flat round stones is always good for this purpose. If you have a company signboard or logo it should be optimally placed in the southeastern area, the Southern area or the northern area of your home |
|
