Feng Shui (say "fung shway") associates the
kitchen with both health and prosperity. Couple this perspective with the
role of the kitchen as "the heart of the home," and you can see that any
feng shui problems in this room can have a significant impact on your
family. Here are some quick tips for improving the feng shui of this
important area of the home.
- Good housekeeping is good feng shui!
Keep your kitchen shiny and clean for the best possible energy. A
cluttered, dirty kitchen will have stagnant, dirty energy, which
interferes with your ability to cook and enjoy healthy, nourishing food.
When you are poorly nourished, your ability to work hard and earn a good
income will suffer.
-
Hidden clutter counts. An excess of stored food in the pantry or freezer
can become clutter if it far exceeds a reasonable amount for your family.
Old, stale food has old, stale energy, even if the expiration date is
still months (or even years) away. Clean out your food cupboards and
refrigerator regularly.
-
Good nutrition is also good feng shui, so try to add more healthy, organic
foods to your diet, especially fresh fruits and vegetables. Start thinking
of junk food as clutter that you are putting into your body, and maybe
you'll be able to resist that next cookie or donut.
- A
stove that is not in good working order implies a problem with financial
resources. If any part of the stove (burners, oven light, fan, etc.) does
not work, get it fixed as soon as possible.
- An
unused stove implies untapped resources or ignored opportunities. Even if
all you do is boil water for tea, rotate which burner you set the kettle
on so that all of them get regular use! And use the oven, too, from time
to time, instead of always relying on the microwave.
- If
you stand facing the wall while you cook, this leaves your back exposed, a
position that is considered weak in feng shui. Hang a mirror on the wall
over the stove so that you can see what's going on behind you while you
cook.
-
Hanging a mirror so it reflects the stove burners visually doubles the
number of burners. This symbolizes doubling of your income; more good food
= better health and strength = ability to earn a good income.
-
Fire and water fight each other, so the placement of the stove and sink is
important. If they are directly opposite each other, this can lead to
arguments and conflict within the family. Fix this by placing something
green between them, such as a green rug on the floor or a living plant on
a table in the center of the room. (A sink and stove that are side by side
also weaken the energy of the kitchen. Again, place something green
between them.)
-
The stove is symbolic of wealth, so it is important to keep its fire
energy strong. Wood feeds fire, so plants or plant imagery (or again, the
color green) are all good to have around and near the stove.
-
Fresh flowers bring beautiful uplifting energy to the kitchen. Place a
bowl of fruit, a vase of flowers, or a living plant on your kitchen table,
windowsill, or wherever the layout of your kitchen allows. (In feng shui,
dried flowers have no life energy in them, so they are not recommended. If
real plants are impossible, you can use very lifelike fake ones, but the
effect will not be as strong.)
-
Since nine is a feng shui power number, and oranges symbolize good luck,
you can bring good luck energy into the kitchen by placing nine of the
biggest, roundest, most perfectly orange oranges you can find in a bowl in
the center of the room, on top of the stove (yes, you can move them while
you are cooking!), or in the far left corner of the room. Always keep some
oranges on hand, so each time you take one from the bowl you can add
another to keep the total number at nine. Be sure to use the older oranges
first, so none of them rot or dry out; if it's not good to eat, it's not
good feng shui!
When your
kitchen is clean, bright, and welcoming, the heart of your home is filled
with good feng shui. The care and attention you give to enhancing this
important area of the home creates a powerful, positive energy that supports
the health and prosperity of your family.
Stephanie Roberts is a feng shui
consultant and writer in Maui, Hawaii. She is the author of the popular
"Fast Feng Shui" book series and the "Clutter Free Forever!" Home Coaching
Program. For more tips and information, visit her websites at
www.fastfengshui.com
and
www.clutterfreeforever.com. |
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