MAKING WAVES WITH FENG SHUI
Trunks, Tabletops And Trouble
by Dennis Fairchild
 

Yep, it’s get-it-together-before the-leaves fall Feng Shui-time! Dig the season and dump yer junk. Feng Shui (pronounced “fung schway”) has been around 3,000 plus years and is a globally-symbolic, spiritual melange of Buddhism, Taoism, astrology and rural folklore magic. This month, let’s peek through some phenomeNEWS postal stuff and pursue reader’s queries.

Dear Dennis,

I have three carved wooden elephants and hippo from Africa. They’re about about 40 years old.

Can you tell me where should I display them to get the best out of them?

Jean Marie; internet

Dear Jean Marie:

The elephant and hippo symbolize fertility, power, prudence, wisdom, high moral standards and longevity. Figures, paintings or statues of such are Feng Shui-fantastic when placed in pairs and “residing” inside one’s home – especially when aiming at a main entry or outside a bedroom door. Wherever you choose to place them, every dweller should rub the mammoth’s bellies and backs several times every week in order to attract money and communication amongst family members.

Wooden statues, versus stone and such, are said to “activate/attract” healthy good vibes and prosperity, especially when placed in the east or southeast areas of a foyer or hallway “looking” out to the main street; if an animal art-piece is china, porcelain or terra cotta, point them facing the northeast or southwest or in the northwest or west if they’re made metal. Always place their trunks or horns away from where people sit.

Dear Dennis,

Because I have loud neighbors and read your column, I asked my hubby to buy me a bagua mirror to “repel” the side-by-side noise. He bought me two kinds – one (the mirror) scoops inwards like a bowl and the other one is flat like a normal mirror. I’ve seen concave ones on the internet, too and am writing to ask if one type better than another?

Sabrina; Royal Oak, MI; internet

Dear Snow White Sabrina:

“Bagua mirror on the wall, which is the fairest of them all?”

Mirrors reflect light, illuminate and “expand” confined areas. Both types of bagua mirror (pronounced “bah-gwah”) are said to deflect negativity when aimed at an offending object – and, they’re a cool vitamin supplement for every home. Locally, CostPlus World Market outlets carry many bagua mirrors; online, try www.fengshuiemporium.com.

Generally, the bagua mirror is a round-shaped mirror embedded in an eight-sided wood frame encircled by the eight trigrams I-Ching symbols. For centuries, big gun biz-types and renters aim them facing bad neighbors or cash-competitors to symbolically repel other’s cranky energy and give them a dose of their own medicine.

Bagua mirrors are most effective when used outdoors and pointing at the Bad Guy. Flat mirrors are less powerful and are best-used when displayed above one’s main entrance door and facing toward the street. Convex mirrors protrude like a beer belly and are said to send/bounce back any aggravating offensive energy but should not be embellished with I-Ching like trigrams. Stick with simple flat ones and maybe invite noisy neighbors for a picnic. Always use prudence and caution and, perhaps, sip calming chamomile tea.

Dear Dennis,

I’ve been married for years and because things are slowing down in our love life, I bought a Feng Shui tabletop water fountain in hopes that it might make us more sexual. I read in a few books to put it in my bedroom and did. But it’s constant Niagara Falls-like sound is driving me crazy Help!

Bobbie and Robbie; Ferndale, MI

Dear B & R,

Plus the sound from the running water is also probably prompting more late-night running visits to the bathroom, as well. Right? As it’s a fact that 60 percent of our body is made up of water, esoteric and logical Feng Shui relates these “water cures” to the kidneys and bladder. This means: keep them out of the bedroom.

Sleep-space responds best to repose, relaxation and the s-word. Best to transplant water-y fountain-y things to a northern (career) or southwestern (relationships) spot in either a family-gathering room, library or den. The water element is also assigned to money, love and health. And any other human essential requiring attentive, loving nurturing. To view a good selection of fountains and other classical Feng Shui stuff, dive into www.fengshuiessentials.com and www.lightstones.com.

Dear Dennis,

I’m now prepping my humble plot of land for next spring’s flowers. I’ve been depressed and unfocused this year and wonder if there are any types of bulbs or flowers that would keep up my spirits next spring. Thank you.

Sal S; Dearborn, MI; internet

Dear S, as in “smell”:

Like animals who understand and respect the sense of smell, human infants, too, identify their caretakers by smell as well as sight. And in Feng Shui, surrounding one’s place with aromatic beauty is quite powerful.

Simply put, it’s said that planting basil around one’s bedroom or kitchen helps to reduce headaches, migraines. Ditto for geranium, whose smell is said to assist in relieving premenstrual tension and is an antidepressant. A Feng Shui favorite is jasmine (for emotional grief-suffering) and mint (to eliminate mental fatigue). During wintertimes in the midwest, try heating apple cider on your stovetop as its smell has been found effective in lowering blood pressure.

Dennis Fairchild is one of phenomeNEWS longest-running columnists and Royal Oak MI’s best-selling author of divination books. For information about personal Feng Shui or astrological consults call (248)-546-6912. To submit a question for column consideration, e-mail DenFairchild@aol.com.