Q: Please explain the Feng Shui theory of the use of colors?

Ans : Feng Shui has much to say about colors. According to the teachings of Feng Shui every color has a unique vibrational frequency and the objective is to bring them all into balance with each other and all other energies in the environment. The frequency of colors goes from one extreme to the other with red at one end and purple at the other not unlike the chakras which start at the base as red ,then orange, yellow, green, blue , purple, and then iridescent at the crown. This pattern can be used as a reference for one way in which you can select colors for your interior as well as exterior. In other words, have a representation of each of the chakra colors in your home with none of them over-powering and you will probably have a balanced color pattern in your home. Another way to use colors is to use the colors of the five creative elements in Feng Shui which would be Green (wood), Red (fire), Yellow (earth), White (metal), Black (water). According to this theory you would incorporate one of each of these colors in each room. This could be in the form of a picture frame , rug , bedcover, wall color etc. Pay attention to the exterior colors also. If you had a brown roof, brown siding, brown trim, brown door your house would not be in good color balance. The solution in this case would be to paint the trim another color and then the front door could be painted another contrasting color. White exterior and interior walls are O.K. because you can then add other colors to complete the colors.

Q: Does Feng Shui have an opinion on sloped ceilings? My desk is positioned in a room which has a sloped ceiling. It is lower behind me and higher in front of my desk.

Ans: Sloped ceilings cause imbalance. Lower ceilings compress your auric field thereby limiting the flow of Chi. The physical result of this may be headaches, sinus difficulties, and limited breath. If possible reposition your desk so that you will be sitting under a higher ceiling area. If this is not possible then creative Feng Shui techniques will help. The traditional solution is to place two Chinese bamboo flutes on the lower part of the sloped ceiling hanging from red ribbons with the mouthpieces down . To determine the spacing of the two flutes, imagine an octagon between the ceiling and the floor. This will tell you how far apart to place the flutes and the angle between them. If your aesthetic tastes do not resonate with the Chinese flutes then you can place lights on the floor pointing up toward the ceiling as well as upward growing plants. Another creative solution is to paint a cloud/sky scene on the ceiling thereby lifting the ceiling.

Q: Does Feng Shui have an opinion about round or circular homes? And how about octagonal shapes?

Ans: Round, circular and octagonal homes are good from a Feng Shui point of view providing that one is using an open floor plan. As soon as one begins to put rooms into these plans then we get irregular angles causing imbalances from a Feng Shui perspective.The octagon is a sacred shape that is symbolic of the whole and is thought to be in perfect harmonic resonance for large open rooms used for healing and spiritual gatherings.

Q: Could I ask for some advice. I am having renovations done. I am changing my front door which is now facing South. I am thinking of changing it to face East. Is this a good idea? Also a door or a room and the bed, would you have any idea for arranging?

Ans : South or East facing for the main front door is preferable from a Feng Shui perspective so you win either way. Make sure that the new doorway is clear and that there is plenty of unobstructed room upon entering the house. Paint the main front door a contrasting color in order to make sure that the mouth of the Chi is well defined. The arrangements of rooms is important so if possible place the master bedroom in the wealth (left rear) or marriage (right rear) corner. The bed in the bedroom should be placed in the commanding position in the room so that you have a clear view of the door into the bedroom. Remember also to pay attention to the direction of door swing. Avoid having the door swing into the openness of the room you are entering.