The 9 Basic Cures for Correcting Problems in Your Home


Our goal as we work with feng shui is to balance the energy flow through the various gua. In some cases, especially if the building or room is irregularly shaped or if certain sectors are either blocked or missing entirely - as in the case of an L-shaped house - special feng shui "remedies" must be employed to correct the problem. Usually, there is more than one solution to a problem, so you don't have to sacrifice aesthetics.

Just as it is impossible for a physician to prescribe a set of cures that will work for everyone in every situation, so it is impossible to offer a list of feng shui procedures that will "heal" every home or office. However, in the same way as a doctor might suggest standard remedies such as eating a balanced diet, getting plenty of rest, and exercising regularly, we can usually recommend some or all of the following corrective measures to balance the ch?i in nearly all situations.

These "cures" are used to alter, moderate, disperse, or increase ch'i. Be aware, though, that each cure has its own purpose, and haphazardly implementing them without having the proper understanding can do more harm than good. In this book you'll learn the right ways to use these cures to balance the ch'i in your home and resolve a wide range of common problems. Part II will show you how to apply the cures described below.

1. Sounds
Pleasing sounds, particularly from wind chimes and bells, can also be used to improve the energetic condition of your environment. Wind chimes are probably the most frequently used "sound" cure in feng shui. Outside, they help disperse disruptive ch?i, such as traffic noise; inside they summon positive ch'i. Soothing, harmonious music - particularly classical or "new age" - can also have a positive effect on ch'i. However, loud, raucous, or harsh music, such as heavy metal or rap, can disrupt ch'i.

2. Lights
Lights symbolize the sun and produce positive energy. Outside, they can "fill in" missing sectors of an L-shaped building. Inside, they "brighten" and enhance ch'i energy. You can use either electric lights or candles to improve the ch'i in a particular gua of your home or office. Objects that reflect light, such as faceted crystal balls or mirrors, can also be helpful.

3. Mirrors
Mirrors are so popular in feng shui that we sometimes call them the "aspirin" of feng shui. They can be used in a myriad of ways, both inside and outside buildings. Outside, they deflect "disruptive ch'i" from oncoming traffic; inside they facilitate the flow of ch'i by reflecting light and visually increasing space.

4. Living Things
Living things represent nature, growth, and life, and thus attract nurturing ch'i. Plants and fish in aquariums are the two most commonly used living cures in feng shui. Have you ever noticed how often Chinese restaurants incorporate aquariums in their decor? Plants provide the additional benefit of cleaning the air in our environments by absorbing carbon dioxide, so they actually enable us to breathe better. Even silk flowers can help correct unbalanced ch'i if your light situation won't support live plants.

5. Moving Objects
Moving objects stimulate positive ch'i and disperse harmful ch'i. Fans, fountains, mobiles, and whirligigs are some frequently used feng shui cures. They can be beneficial indoors or out, and are especially helpful in areas where the ch'i has gotten "stuck" or "trapped." If you want to add some excitement to your love life, you might consider placing one of these cures in your relationship gua.

6. Heavy Objects
Heavy objects help "hold down? ch'i and stabilize unsettled situations. Large stones, statues, heavy pieces of furniture, or objets d?art can also be used to keep ch'i from flowing too quickly from one area to another. They are useful when you are trying to hold onto something that appears to be slipping away, whether it?s money or a relationship.

7. Electrically-powered Objects
Electrical objects stimulate the sectors in which they are placed. Stereos and television sets are the most frequently used electrical items in many homes, but electric fans, air conditioners, computers, and other appliances can also stir up sluggish ch'i. They are helpful when you want to activate a particular area of life that
has grown stagnant.

8. Bamboo Flutes
Historically, bamboo flutes are associated with harkening good news. They can be used to help bring peace, safety, and security to a home or business. Their hollow interiors also transmit ch?i from one spot to another?even through walls or solid objects. Thus, they are often used to "lift" a low ceiling or beam that seems to be compressing the ch'i in a room. Playing a flute can help strengthen ch'i. The Chinese also believe that bamboo flutes chase away evil spirits.


9. Colors
Colors have long been understood to have powerful psychological effects, in both Eastern and Western
systems of thought. We all have favorite colors that make us feel good when we wear them. Detergent manufacturers know that shoppers respond positively to bright blue and orange packages, so they often use these colors for their containers. In feng shui, however, colors are utilized for very specific purposes. For instance, green symbolizes growth and nature, and offers peace and tranquillity; red is considered energizing and auspicious; yellow represents the sun, vitality, and longevity.


Other Cures

Red ribbons are another useful feng shui cure. They are sometimes tied on bamboo flutes and hung on heavy structural beams to help provide an uplifting effect and elevate oppressive ch'i. Fringe or fabric can be used to soften the impact of a hard, sharp edge or a slanted beam. Sometimes cures can be used in combinations to enhance the properties of each, just as several spices may be combined to produce an even better flavor. For example, you might choose to place goldfish in a pool at the base of a water fountain to stimulate and increase positive ch'i. Or, you could hang a mobile made of crystal pendants or small mirrors in a dark corner to awaken and move the ch?i through the area.

In the next section, we'll see how to implement specific cures for specific problems in every room of the house.