How To Feng Shui Your Desk and Improve Your Life

Would you like to improve your chances for prosperity, love, 
recognition, career, health and relationships?

That's what I thought...who wouldn't?

And what if I told you that all you need to do is re-arrange the stuff on your desk?

Stop laughing! Before you send me packing, bear with me.

Feng Shui...c'mon, say it with me..."fung shway"...

is an ancient Chinese art practiced for over 5000 years. 

The premise is that the energy, or "Chi," (chee) in your living or work environment 
is affected by the objects in it, and how they are placed. 

The objects interact with, and influence your personal energy flow. 

In other words, do you think better when your desk is piled high with papers
from the year 20 B.B. (Before Blacklist)...or when it's neat and tidy?

I rest my case.
 

Can I guarantee that this will work? 

Well, no.

Am I an expert in Feng Shui? 

I'm no Chi-whiz, but I do know more than the average panda bear. 

 For an in-depth lesson, you'll have to go elsewhere,  
but if you want to have some fun, read on.

If the idea is to arrange objects so invisible energy can flow more easily, 
and improve your life, you may be wondering...

 How do I know where to put my stuff?

A Feng Shui map, called a Bagua chart, is the key. 

It's divided into nine sections, and correlates to areas in a house, a room, 
or even just a desk. 

Different colors and elements are associated with each area. 
For instance, if you want to improve your finances, you'll need to put a purple item, something representing water, or a secondary color or element, like wood, in the Wealth area. 

Just a note here - don't take everything literally.
You won't need to set your desk ablaze to satisfy the fire element.  
It can be symbolic.

Two things are super-important when it comes to desks and Feng Shui.

 Don't sit with your back to the door.  
Your desk should be placed so that you can see the entrance. 
If you can't reposition it, put a mirror on the desk to reflect the entrance, 
like I've done. 
 (This is optional for parents who have eyes in the back of their heads). 
The placement of your desk is one of the most important priorities in Feng Shui, 
the others being the positioning of your bed and stove. 

De-clutter your desk area. 
Nothing stops Chi in its tracks like piles of old magazines
and empty yogurt containers. 
This means the space under your desk, too, 
so gather up those old shoes and find them a new home. 

Let's focus on the individual areas.
  I've laid the Bagua chart over my empty desk.

WEALTH/OPPORTUNITY/PROSPERITY:
Use purple, red, green, black, water features (such as a fountain or photo of water), expensive items, candles, wood, rectangular items.
 
Show me the money! Use purple to stimulate your cash flow. I put a square of purple paper in the drawer in the Wealth area. No drawer? Cut a square of felt or paper to any size, and put it under an object, or even secure it to the underside of your desk. 

Phones are best placed in the Wealth area. The "ringing" stimulates more money coming to you. I'm not quite sure how that works if you've got a Justin Bieber ringtone.

A lamp is good in any section of the Bagua grid, as it "brightens" that area. I decided to light up my financial prospects. 
 

FAME/RECOGNITION/RESPECT: 
Use red, purple, green, candles, wood, paper, animal prints, plants, your own business cards, and triangle-shaped objects.

Heat up the Fame area with something red. Whether or not you want to be the next finalist on The Voice, this area can enhance your reputation, help you gain notoriety or recognition (or, blog followers!).  My red vase and animal print note pads intensify esteem and respect.  It's the perfect place to display my awards. 

MARRIAGE/RELATIONSHIPS:
Use pink, red, white, yellow, pottery, metal, candles, squares, cubes, photos of spouses/partners.
 
Think pink to spice up relationships, and not just romantic ones -- this corner refers to any relationship. I put a square of pink paper, and a couple of pink post-it pads in the drawer.  A photo of me and hubby in a metal frame was a no-brainer.

CHILDREN/CREATIVITY:
Use white, gray, black, yellow, metal, pottery, stones, circles, spheres, photos of children, notepads to jot down creative thoughts. 
 
Jump-start your creativity with something white, metal, or circular. This is one area you won't want to mess around with, especially if your job requires the use of your left brain. I used a round, metal bowl with paper clips to enhance this spot. In the drawer below, I've got some envelopes to satisfy the "white" requirement.

HELPFUL PEOPLE/TRAVEL:
Use gray, silver, white, black, metal, pottery, water-themed objects, circles, other people's business cards, travel books, travel photos, souvenirs, contact lists, client files.  

This is a gray area...literally, but let's be very black and white about this - we all need to have a support system of helpful people. I've put some travels books, other people's business cards, a gray and black travel-themed note pad and silver metal pen in my drawer. 

CAREER/LIFE PATH:
Use black, midnight blue, white, items symbolic of water, (such as things with wavy patterns), photos of water scenes, metal, wood, work-related items.

Get down to business with black and blue. Whether you use your desk for a paying job, a hobby like blogging, or to manage the family's finances, sprucing up the Career area will stimulate your success. This area also represents your life path, not just your work life. I lined the drawer with a piece of black wallpaper with a wavy pattern (symbolic of ocean waves), added a wooden ruler, and incorporated lots of metal -- laptop, scissors, hole-punch, etc. 

KNOWLEDGE/WISDOM/INSPIRATION:
Use blue, black, green, wood, paper, plants, reference materials, diplomas, inspirational quotes or books, squares, items symbolic of water.
 
Violets are blue, and knowledge is, too. To stoke the area representing learning and inspiration, I placed a blue piece of paper, and some inspirational books in the drawer. A green plant, symbolic of wood, sits on top of a reference book.

FAMILY/ROOTS/ANCESTORS:
Use green, black, blue, wood, water elements, items passed down from ancestors, plants, rectangular objects, vertical items, pictures of mountains, family photos. 
 
Strengthen family roots with green. This section is important for improving unity and creating strong family bonds, as well as reminding us of our key priorities. A small family photo fits the bill (yes, there is a photo in that frame). I like to think the plant roots in the green pot is doing double duty for both the Knowledge and Family sections.

HEALTH:
Use yellow, red, white, pottery, ceramics, smooth stones, squares, cubes.
 
Yellow represents the picture of good health. The center of the bagua chart is responsible for keeping mental and physical well-being in check. Some say it's the most important part of the bagua chart, which fits with the saying, "If you've got your health you've got everything." I used a yellow square of paper, a pottery dish, and some yellow highlighters for good measure. This area shouldn't be too crowded.

That was a lot of information, I know.

The suggestions I gave aren't an exhaustive list,

but hopefully, it's enough to get you started, and have some fun.

Feng Shui is not a superstition, or get-rich-quick scheme. 

It's a serious, ancient philosophy.
If it's got 5000 years of staying power, I figure there's got to be something to it!

I'd love to hear your thoughts about Feng Shui.

Do you buy into it? 
Have you practiced it?

Will you give it a try?

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