Back to drains. Look closely and see where they may be affecting you in life. Actually, they are not great features anywhere. Be sure to check them out all over the house—it is not just a Helpful People gua problem. If it is a sink drain, tie a red ribbon or red tape around the outgoing pipe (see Figure 29). If it is a shower or floor drain, either use a decorative drain stopper, or get red under the existing stopper (enamel paint sprayed in drain), or keep the drain closed when it is not in use. Also, place mirrors in the area (facing any direction) to keep the ch’i up. These little cures can make a big difference in the flow of ch’i in your home. Everyone can benefit from this simple technique. So, if you are drained of money, friends, lovers, or health, or have any other bad luck, get out the red tape. Hey, and if you are so broke you don’t have a buck to spend on tape, go to a dry cleaner and ask them for some. They’re usually pretty generous with their red tape and don’t even ask questions.
Cure for drains.
FIGURE 29
Prosperity Corner Hazardous Materials All the noxious things mentioned in the hazardous materials list from the Prosperity chapter aren’t good here either. To recap them: dirt and dust, broken items, trash cans, toilets, and reminders of being broke or of other bad times. Trash cans and toilets are the only things that you may really need in your house; the rest should go. Make the best of toilets and trash cans, keeping them as clean and pleasant as possible—stinky stuff is no good. Stick up a Stick-Up if you need one.
| Get Jacked In—Networking Magic |
In business as in many other parts of life, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. And it’s the who that this part of the home reinforces. Whether it’s the best-paying clients or a new lead for a job, working on this part of your home now can save you work later. Any of the above power tool enhancements placed in this area may work, but using a specific person’s name can yield very specific results.
Tom knew he was going to get chewed out by his boss for questionable items on his expense report. The boss asked him to show up in the managers’ meeting the next day to discuss it. Tom asked my consultant friend Nate what to do. He suggested placing the boss’s name in a silver box in his Helpful People corner. He then told Tom that whatever the outcome, it would be fair.
The next day, when Tom went into the meeting, his boss, without question, gave him a bigger expense account.
The reason Nate and I suggest placing specific names here (and in the following examples) is so you focus your attention on the matter you wish to be helped with and on the person or persons who can actually help. You could just as easily write a generic affirmation or request specific help for a situation, but if you include a potential helpful person’s name, you can achieve better results. It’s that ancient Chinese secret from way back—energy follows thought—that you’re tapping into here. If you think of that person being helpful in your life, you’ve given the matter that much more energy.
| The Dragon Lady |
I know a man named Clarence who has a very wealthy but extremely intolerant mother. He affectionately calls her the Dragon Lady. She called him one day to let him know she was sending him $3,000. He immediately started dreaming about the minivan he wanted to buy. Unfortunately, while he was dreaming, he didn’t hear her reason for sending the dough. He went out and bought the van on credit, knowing the money was on its way. Later he called his mother to tell her the news, when to his amazement, she exploded. “Didn’t you hear anything I said? That money was supposed to be used for the cruise I planned for the family reunion,” she screeched. She then continued, “You are coming to the reunion. I am not sending any more money. Figure it out,” and hung up.
Clarence knew he had unleashed the evil forces bubbling deep within her, and fear welled up inside him. He called his feng shui consultant posthaste. He did not want to buy the minivan with his savings. He did not want to give up the van. He did not dare think to miss the reunion. He knew his mother never went back on her word, as the sentence “I am not sending you any more money” lingered in his head.
The consultant suggested placing his mother’s name inside the silver box in his Helpful People corner. To his total amazement, his mother relented for the first time in her life and called to say she was sending him more money.
| Contractors from Hell |
If there is one group of people who usually come up in the Helpful People conversation, it’s contractors. But unfortunately, they are repeatedly being described as the antithesis of helpful. There’s nothing more aggravating than having a big hole ripped in your house and a contractor who, without warning, doesn’t show up for days. Helpless is the word most used to describe this situation. If you employ the silver box remedy to pick the best contractor, you can turn helpless to helpful. Allow it to work by opening yourself to the opportunities that start to appear before you—a friend speaks highly of her contractor, or a contractor’s truck (complete with a tailgate phone number displayed) is stuck in traffic right in front of you. These events may be your little box at work.
| The Art of Selling Houses, Cars, and Products |
If you are looking for the right person to buy your house, place the business cards of anyone involved in the sale (real estate agent, mortgage lender, appraiser, termite inspector) in the document envelope, along with any contracts, offers, sales fliers, and anything else you have associated with the home sale. Intend for them to help with whatever you need.
If you are trying to sell your car, you can simply write, “The perfect new owner for my car,” on a piece of paper and place it in your silver box.
If you sell products for a living, request perfect buyers. They are usually the ones that pay (who needs deadbeats?), like your product (who needs returns?), and tell others how great the product is (helping you sell more). Do this by writing, “I request only good customers for my business (or product),” on a paper and—you guessed it—place it in the box.
If you have sold products or services and the companies or people have not paid within the appropriate time (or worse yet, paid with rubber checks), place their names in the silver box. Because this area is about fairness—and not paying for requested products and services is unfair—this zone can improve your bottom line. If it is just a few offenders, place each of their names on a separate paper in the box. If you consistently have a long-delinquent accounts receivable report each month, you can place the entire list in the box. Don’t place names in the box unless their accounts are actually overdue—let nature take its course first. If you request only good customers as stated above, this list should dwindle away.
| Getting Even |
Remember that story awhile back about interviewing for a job with someone equally qualified? Well, what if you were interviewing for a job, had the same qualifications as another applicant, and just happened to look just like the boss’s evil cousin? Who’s going to get the job? (Another example: you have to appear in court before a judge.) Wouldn’t it be nice to know you will be treated fairly in such a situation? The well-adorned Helpful People corner of the house virtually negates all bias from individuals when they deal with you.
The Helpful People area of the home is not meant to be used to manipulate people. It is meant only to bring you what is fair. If your intention is to manipulate, the only person who will pay is you.
| A Road More or Less Traveled |
Some people want to travel more, and some less. Use this part of the house to manifest the right amount of travel for you. Simple enhancements can make this happen.
If you are traveling too much (or too little) for work, enhance your Career area as well. I have seen musicians who make their living on the road suddenly find opportunities to make a better living working in a studio at home. I also know several salespeople who, after pumping up these guas, started to travel more (as they had hoped) to sell their wares.
If you are just a person looking for adventure, use this area to get you there. Arrange a spot with the names or pictures of
the places you want to see, and then watch out for the opportunities. Say, for example, you secretly yearn to experience the Siberian high country. You could ever-so-discreetly outfit a closet in the Helpful People and Travel gua with snowshoes, thermal undies, and a book describing how to survive in whiteout weather conditions. Then you watch out for hints—either obvious or subtle—that may lead you to your destination.
In my single, more worldly days, I found a way to travel internationally three years in a row—with very little money. People often asked me how I could do it, because I was a sole proprietor without employees. I said, “You just buy a ticket.” But really, it was my Helpful People and Travel section working for me. My will (intention) provided the way. My business volunteered the time when I needed it, and my friends helped with the household upkeep while I was gone. After returning from a trip to Japan, I was called by the international courier service who flew me there (I told you I spent very little money!) to see if I could fly to Hong Kong for free. How often does this happen, I thought!
I also wanted to spend some time in Hawaii. Since I am a landscape architect, I decided to put some of my energy toward getting a license to practice there. That little bit of energy went a long way. I eventually flew over to take the licensing exam. At the testing location, I met an architect from California (also taking the test) who had a hotel project that needed a landscape architect. He said, “If you pass the test, give me a call.” Long story short—I got the job and had to go to Hawaii on business five times. Each time I was able to extend the trip a few days so I could tour the islands.
Sometimes, if you are very clear about your goal, a little initiative can go a long way—even without moving something in your home. Inventory your existing resources, intend for them to serve you in new ways, and use them in new ways as best you can.
Perhaps, if you are not traveling enough for your taste, you should also add a little something to your Creativity area because you may just need to think more creatively about travel.
If you are planning to move (say, because you sold your house or got a new job), activate the Travel gua for a safe trip. You should know the routine by now.
| Wishing You the Best |
If you can’t think of anything specific that you need help with, or you have already employed the above wisdom and no longer have any complaints, you can simply reinforce this spot with an affirmation to keep the helpful energies invigorated. Write something like “I am always in the right place at the right time” or “I travel the perfect amount” or “There is always someone there to help when I need them” on pieces of paper and place them in your silver box. You can change the affirmations, or just read them every once in a while to reinforce them.
| First Class Taste on Coach Budget |
If you want to upgrade yourself into traveling first class, enhance the gua opposite Helpful People and Travel—the Prosperity gua (see Figure 30). With the right stuff placed with the right intention, you can say good-bye to motor lodges and peanuts and say hello to the Ritz and chocolate soufflé.
Headin’ Out
* * *
The body part connected to the Helpful People and Travel area of the home is the head. If your noggin needs repair, give this corner a little care.
Five Countries in a Day
* * *
The Helpful People and Travel part of the house is connected to the 5 vibration. Like your fingers, 5 is a handful. If you are up to globe-trotting and are looking forward to what tomorrow may bring, a 5 home is for you. If you are not up to spontaneous parties or unusual adventures and you live in a 5 house, pack your bags.
Immediate Action Items for Helpful People and Travel
* * *
1. Create a place to house your requests for helpful people (with aluminum foil or silver containers).
2. Add enhancements as necessary.
FIGURE 30
| Helpful People and Travel in Summary |
Power Tools: silver containers, gray, symbols of helpful beings, religious objects, bells, water, hands, symbols of favorite places.
Hazardous Materials: junk, drains, dirt and dust, broken items, trash cans, toilets, reminders of broke and bad times.
Opposite Gua: Prosperity
Body Part: head
Associated Number: 5
chapter 7
* * *
At the Intersection of Possibility and Potential—Career and Life Path
Following the feng shui path in the Career area of the home can create results. You can
get a job
get a new, better, or more meaningful job
enjoy your work
have business pick up
make more money in business
figure out what you want to do with your life and do it—as in “Follow your heart”
Did you win the lottery or that big, million-dollar sweepstakes this week? Well, if not, then you are probably still going to work every day. Hey, we all have to work, but we also have the luxury of choice. You have the freedom to choose something else if you aren’t really into what you’re currently doing. Choice equals change. And change is the only thing that’s certain in life.
When it comes to traveling on your life path, are you stopped at a red light? Is your life path filled with potholes? Are you stuck in gridlock and there’s no exit in sight? Well, pull over and read on, because this is your twenty-four-hour roadside assistance program.
Career location in bagua.
FIGURE 31
Take the first step on your life path by going immediately to the front door. As you walk through, find the center of the wall plane that the door is on, because the Career section is front and center in the home (see Figure 31). It is directly opposite the Fame and Reputation gua in the rear of the home. Now that you know where it is, it’s easy to bring about change. Both kinds—cha ching!
Power Tools for Career and Life Path
* * *
Plug in some of these tools in the Career area of your home:
Water Although most people think the only qualified water for this section is a fountain, an aquarium, or a river, it really can be any kind of water (as long as it’s not smelly toilet water). That’s why so many Chinese restaurants have aquariums near the entry. A vase of good clean water will do—you don’t need to run the old Slip N’ Slide down the hallway.
Symbolic water can work too. A snowy scene in a picture, or even a watercolor of just about anything, invites change (except earth pictures).
Items connected to water also work well here, like starfish or seashells.
Black Not only is this color just downright cool, it is also the feng shui symbol for water. Throw that black briefcase over there and make it work for you. Or grab that Men in Black poster and hang it in the Career section.
Undulating Shapes The shape or form for the element of water is free-form or undulating. Since water can take on any shape, any shape will do to describe it. The only shape that would be least appropriate would be squares. Square shapes relate to the element of earth, and once again, we don’t want earth symbols in this area damming our water.
Mirrors They also equal water and they let you see how fabulous you look dressed for your new career. In addition, they bounce the light, which keeps energy flowing in this area of the home. Always be careful how you hang a mirror. Make sure it is placed at a level where you can look yourself in the eye and see your entire head. That way you’ll get ahead in business.
Mirrors not recommended: those found in fun houses.
Glass Glass is considered a water element in feng shui. Glass is also used quite extensively in containers for water—vases, aquariums, fish bowls, stemware—so it is usually quite easy to make glass work for your career.
Forget what you’ve heard about seven years of bad luck—if a mirror breaks, it just means you need a bigger mirror.
Metal If you remember from the Creative Cycle in Chapter 1 (Figure 3), metal “creates” water. So, if you hav
e anything made of metal that would aesthetically work in this area, put it here. Metal of any kind will do, from a brass doorknob to a copper fish fountain. Dig out that photo of yourself wearing braces in the seventh grade and proudly display it here (just kidding).
White Stuff The color white symbolizes the metal that creates water. Anything that is white will attract good vibes for your life path. Since black and white are the two best colors here, try to find a way to incorporate them into something that makes meaningful sense about what you want to do in life. Books have black-and-white pages, so if you have a book that talks about your career path, try placing it here and see what happens. Race car drivers—a black-and-white checker flag would be awesome here.
Round Stuff Since round is metal in feng shui, it works well here for your career. Use round metal stuff and cover both bases—coins, bells, plant pots, light fixtures. Handcuffs, medieval weapons, and helmets—probably not.
Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life Page 11