Feng Shui is the art of manipulating your physical environment to be in harmony with your surroundings. Although creating harmony is the fundamental principle of Feng Shui, other influences such as attracting money, operating from a position of power within a specific space or arranging furniture to achieve greater success are all important elements that can be enhanced through Feng Shui.
The Bagua Map forms the center of Feng Shui and is used as a guide to allow positive energy to flow into certain areas of your life related to how a specific room or space is organized. The 9 principles of the Bagua map include:
- Abundance and Prosperity
- Fame and Reputation
- Love and Relationships
- Family and Community
- Mind, Body and Spirit
- Creativity and Children
- Wisdom and Self-awareness
- Career and Life Purpose
- Helpful People and Travel
The map is not only used to attribute a specific element that to a specific space, but also to achieve a balance among the 9 principles. Different attributes are therefore assigned to different spaces in order to achieve a balance between work, home, friends, the community and other areas of life.
In order to achieve the greatest success, whether in business, home life or with friends, it is important to balance all the elements. Taking all this into consideration, the top tips to Feng Shui your office space in order to attract success, power and profits, include:
- Organization
Organizing your office by freeing up space, getting rid of clutter and implementing systems that optimize productivity are all essential. When you walk through the door, you don’t want to have to avoid a chair or bumping into the corner of your desk. You also don’t want to have to hunt through piles of paperwork and office supplies to find what your are looking for.
So tidy up, file away papers, hide cables and wires and get rid of any furniture, decorative or other items that do not contribute to the office space or have a function. You may be left with just a desk and chair when you are done but this gives you the opportunity to begin working with a blank slate.
A clear space provides a clear mind and the minimalist approach is ideal for creating harmony as well as productivity in your work environment.
- Your Desk
Your desk is the most important element in your office. Just like the room, it should be clear of clutter and organized. It is recommended to follow a Feng Shui desk chart for optimal organization of your desk (http://www.gowithharmony.com/feng-shui-office-desk.html). Your desk should be organized according to the 9 Feng Shui principles or attributes of the Bagua chart.
The placement of your desk within your office space is of vital importance. The “Power Position” is considered to be optimal for an office. Optimally, your desk should face the door or at least give you a view of the door so that you can see people entering and leaving. Consider using a floating white desk for an amazing look and feel. Your back should therefore be facing a wall and not a door or window. A desk can be placed at an angle with your back to a corner to optimize your ability to see everything that is going on if your office has a window and a door. Your chair should also not be in line with a door as this can place you in the path of negative energy. This puts you in a position of power and control over your environment.
- Soften Sharp Edges
Sharp edges in Feng Shui are considered to be poison arrows and can result in irritability, frustration and discomfort as well as result in job loss or a loss of money, all of which are not conducive to a good working environment. Placing a plant in front of the corner of a desk or other object is the ideal way to soften a sharp edge.
It is also important to pay attention to sharp edges or poison arrows that are pointing from outside your office space and use barriers to reduce their effects. Once again plants can be used as an effective barrier as can mirrors, wind chimes and drapes. Keep in mind that mirrors can reflect and magnify negative energy and are best placed outside the office space.
- Inspiration
It is important to be inspired in your work environment. Hang art work or add decorative items that have personal meaning to you and inspire creativity, productivity as well as provide motivation. Items that inspire you to greater prosperity, success and abundance are ideal. However, it is important to keep balance and organization in mind.
Just one inspirational piece of art can be more powerful than a space filled with images. Keep in mind that art may take many forms and what you may consider to be beautiful or inspirational may not be to another’s liking. Your preference should supersede the opinion of others unless it begins to affect an object’s ability to be inspirational. Art should never clash with the overall theme of your office space.
- Color
The 9 elements of the Bagua chart play an important role for color choice in the office. It is generally recommended to stay away from black as it absorbs positive energy and projects negative energy. White provides clarity of mind and can therefore be very beneficial in the office. Soft or pale green, blue-green, yellow or gold and sandstone are ideal colors for the office environment.
Neutral or earth tones ground the office environment. Bright colors are stimulating and create a happy and energetic work environment. Red represents fire in Feng Shui and can inspire passion, power and excitement in the work environment. Using to much color in an office space can create and imbalance and it is therefore recommended to stick to neutral tones to ground the room and then add splashes of color, especially the brighter tones, to attract certain energies or exude certain characteristics.
While Feng Shui isn’t a magic formula to create success in the workplace, it can create an environment that is more conducive to productivity, creativity, power and simply improve the way you feel and operate within your office space.