Just Want To Clear The Air Here...

Most of us retreat to our homes after schlepping through rush-hour traffic thinking that we are escaping the pollution. There is, however, a good deal of research that has shown indoor pollution to be worse than outdoor pollution. This makes sense, as there aren't walls and a roof over the interstate.

Before donning the Hazmat Suit, take a trip to your local nursery and grab a few plants for your home and office. Plants not only purify the air and provide fresh oxygen—they are also some of the most powerful Feng Shui tools around.

There are many books ("How To Grow Fresh Air" by B.C. Wolverton) and websites that discuss this for further reading about which plants are best for which indoor situations, and for which plants are best for Feng Shui—and which are not (which are pretty much just cacti and any plant that looks like it could—or actually could—hurt you).

For those of us who would rather die than put a Ficus Tree in our living room—there are many other options that won't leave your home looking like a porno set.

a Dracaena "Janet Craig" Plant

According to NASA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_air-filtering_plants), The Dracaena "Janet Craig" Palm, that specializes in removing Tricholoroethylene—we don't even know what that is, but it doesn't sound like something we'd want wafting through baby's room. This also removes most known pollutants in general.

English Ivy

English Ivy also removes most known pollutants, notably Formaldehyde. Good idea.

Peace Lily

And, there is the ever-faithful Peace Lily. A Feng Shui favorite, which, as it so happens, is also one of the top removers of toxins.

In addition to cleaning the air, having plants in your home and office are great Feng Shui. They regulate energy, are symbols of prosperity, and can also demonstrate your space's ability to sustain life. In other words, if you're caring for your plants properly and they're still dying—it may be a good sign that it's time to find somewhere that is more conducive to the creative and abundant lifestyle you desire.

A Handy Feng Shui Bagua

Much like the Feng Shui Diagram, we created this slick Bagua as an easy visual reference to assist you in treating the various segments of your environment, as they relate to Feng Shui.

The difference is that this is a cure within itself.  You may print it out and put one in every room (make sure the Career section (the one with the water droplet) is facing the door (or North, depending on which school of Feng Shui you choose). And, remember, as with most Feng Shui cures, it can be hidden from view; it is your intention that is important.

Stick one in the glove box of your car (see the Road Shui article for more) with the Career section facing the front of the car.

Put one under your desk calender with the Career section facing you.

You can even print one out and carry it in your wallet while you travel.

This particular Bagua has visual representations of the various sections, incorporated with the color and numbers associated with them. In the middle, there is a Yin-Yang symbol which indicates balance, surrounded by the I-Ching, a symbol representing ancient Chinese texts, also known as The Book of Changes.

Print it. Laminate it. Have your way with it.

Mirror, Mirror, on the Door—What's a Bagua Mirror For?

The Bagua mirror is a simple and effective way to divert fast-moving, disruptive energy away from your home or office. But, before you hop down to Chinatown or place an order online, make sure that you know what you are looking for.

How to determine whether a Bagua mirror is necessary for you.
From the inside, open your front door and look straight ahead. Does it feel calm and peaceful? If so, then you're probably fine without one.

If not, let's try and figure out why. It's probably pretty obvious—a road aiming right for you (energy moving way too fast); a big tree, streetlight or some other flow-disrupting obstacle (energy moving too slow); or perhaps the corner of a building or other pointy object aiming at you (energy too concentrated [aka: Arrow Chi]).

Those are just a few of the myriad examples that could be affecting your energy—you get the idea. You should know the moment you open the door whether or not it's necessary.

Okay, I need one. May I go to Chinatown now???
Yes, but one more thing, and I'm only saying this because I have been in stores and noticed that all three varieties of Bagua mirrors are available, with no explanation attached.

What you want is a flat Bagua mirror (the circular mirror part in the middle). The other two varieties: convex and concave, are used for absorption and reversal, respectively, and should only be used under specific circumstances by professionals (usually on a temporary basis).

I got my flat Bagua mirror—where do I put it?
It is recommended to put the flat Bagua Mirror above your front door (they usually have a little nail thingy), however, you may put it on the front door, wherever it feels good.

Where do I not put it?
Whatever you do, DO NOT USE A BAGUA MIRROR INSIDE. I didn't know any better when I first got into Feng Shui and put a convex Bagua mirror on my bedroom door, and things got really intense with a roomate situation and I couldn't figure out why until much later when I discovered that both inside and concave were no-nos.

Trust yourself.
As with any Feng Shui cure, it is your intention that is most important. So, use your intuition. Pay attention to how the energy is feeling to you, then adjust accordingly.