West Meets East©

By Caroline Patrick

Placement of Art Using Feng Shui

How are The Art of Placement and the placement of art connected? The Art of Placement is a term used to describe the way Feng Shui or unseen energies nurture spaces. Artwork is a powerful visual stimulant which can enhance any place. Using pictures to change a space is a valuable tool which brings good Chi to a room, home or business. Having disturbing objects or wall hangings lowers the vibration of a place. Arrangement of objects inside and outside a home, business or community can affect the growth and success of a structure or city. The placement of art is equally important in dwellings such as outside sculpture, stonework, murals and store signs. So the placement of artwork and objects when used properly according to Feng Shui or The Art of Placement, “Wind and Water,” supports your surroundings.

Wind and Water is the literal translation for Feng Shui. There are five Elements that are needed for balanced spaces. Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water are the magic five energies that make the world go around. Each is needed to make the other one work. A perfect formula for harmony. When one element such as Fire is overused, imagine dressing in red clothing, sitting in a red chair by a fireplace with a red painting of a cone-shaped object above a mantel flanked by burning red candles, drinking ginger tea and eating a bowl of chili after a hot bath, with a red coverlet over your body, arguing with a sister or brother-in-law on the phone. All of these examples can be toned down or balanced by adding several green up-growing plants, a green rug and walls, a green chair and maybe green colored curtains.

The excess red in this room is the color of the Fire Element and green is the color of the Wood Element. The rules of Feng Shui would explain the situation in this way: Placing green or the Wood Element in the setting balances the excess Fire colors and objects. So adding more green to this area gives the Fire “something to burn,” which adds calmness to the space, as spring green is a cooling color and represents new up-growing plants and trees of the Earth. To create even more peacefulness, adding a gentle flowing Water scene to the room tames the overabundant Fire Element. To use this painting as a “cure,” place the Water picture above the fireplace.

Now, with that being said, yes, please feel free to use the colors which make you happy, but also remember other people are usually living in the same house. What if they have a favorite color also? Overuse of any color could cause cranky Chi, especially if you are pushing your loved ones over the edge with your happy color. I have witnessed pink houses with pink furniture, walls, kitchens, flowers, curtains, rugs, paintings, and hearts hanging everywhere and being greeted by the lady of the house in a pink outfit with a pink car in the garage. Dressing children in your favorite color may not work for them. Each person has their own Element. Take this into consideration when planning your home’s decor.

The confusion comes from too many Feng Shui books with conflicting information. So to set the record straight, place the Bagua or eight-sided template with all eight Guas containing all the nine aspects of life over your floor plan. Center it with the Center of your house plan. Line up the front door side of the house with the aspects marked Knowledge, Career and Helpful People and Travel.

You can now visually see which rooms are in which sections of the Bagua. If your template doesn’t seem to fit, remember the Bagua will stretch both horizontally or vertically to accompany your floor plan.

It is now easier to find the right room or hallway for the best painting. Place a Water picture near the front door, as this is the natural “home” for the Water Element. Water brings money and job opportunities. The middle left side of the house is called Family. Green is the color and artwork depicting a new forest of up-growing trees or bamboo will enhance this Family Wood sector. The middle back of the home contains Fire Energy. Paintings of wild animals, birds or red sunset scenes bring life to the eyes of the home. Consider a fun pastel rendering or picture of round lanterns in gold and silver in the middle right area of the house. Children and Creativity is the Metal Element. Last but not least is the middle of the house. Woven rugs or paintings containing the subject of Earth are needed for the Health of the home. Use yellow and Earth colors in square designs to ground the Tai Chi of the dwelling. The other four Guas or sections known as Knowledge, Wealth, Partnership and Helpful People have related Elements and colors which I describe in my painting classes, The Power of Color, Painting With Chi, and Lost and Found Spaces using Yin Vision.

Intermix shapes, colors, textures and Elements to finish your Art of Placement. Remove excess, open windows and doors to clear stale energy. Open spaces by pulling back closed in couches and blocking end tables. Give away, sell, donate, recycle. Hang or place artwork. Showcase the objects with lighting and feel the flow of “Wind and Water” enter your space.

Call for more information about painting classes and Placing Art Using Feng Shui Methods.

CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS 2006------sign up now------

1. ART classes and workshops ---- from 6 weeks to Saturday All Day Workshops!

2. FENG SHUI ISLAND TOUR---- on site evaluations in the San Juan Islands, WASHINGTON STATE

Where is the entrance or “Mouth of Chi” to the Island?

Please email caroline@fengshuiartistry.com for more information on classes or to purchase her greeting cards.

These sites are great. GO TO www.harmonydesigns.net, ask for Shelly; www.fengshuishopper.com, ask for Marina; www.fengshuifusions.com for all of your Feng Shui shopping needs, ask for Amanda and tell her Caroline sent you. She has great energy and that is important........ or order by phone, 1-800-792-9927.

Caroline Patrick Caroline's Feng Shui Concepts Mt. Vernon, WA 360-424-1501

caroline@fengshuiartistry.com www.fengshuiartistry.com www.moongateschool.com

Caroline Patrick, Feng Shui consultant/practitioner, teacher/speaker, Feng Shui artist and writer, lives in the San Juan Islands, off the coast of Washington. Her weekly newspaper article called WEST MEETS EAST is a popular Feng Shui advice column. She enjoys answering your questions, when possible. Some questions will be chosen for publication with the permission from the reader. Enjoy her new 5 Element attached-folding cards which can be used as a Feng Shui enhancement or correction in any space. Larger prints of several selected paintings are also available. For consultations, speaking/teaching engagements and art evaluations contact her at caroline@fengshuiartistry.com or visit her websites at www.fengshuiartistry.com and www.moongateschool.com.

Any suggestions given in this column are only for entertainment. Please contact your physician for any medical or herbal advice or diagnosis. Caroline Patrick is not responsible for any misuse of her advice or suggestions.