Color on a large scale can represent an element.
On a “large scale” means an entire room or wall or large area rug.
When a color defines a room, then for sure you know the vibrations from that color will affect the energy field of the space.
What is an element? Elements are both literal and symbolic. In all of Chinese Metaphysics, which includes feng shui, Chinese Astrology, Chinese medicine, and martial arts, we have something called Five-Element Theory.

The Five Elements are Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal. These elements have distinct relationships with eachother which are considered either harmonious or destructive. For instance, water destroys fire. But Wood nurtures or feeds a fire.

Water is best represented by real water, but large surface areas of blue or black can vibrate some of the water element.

Wood is best represented by a live plant, but an entire green wall or green carpeting can also work as the wood element.

Fire is the one element where using real fire could be dangerous, although a stove or oven positioned in the right location can work as fire literally. Fire is the one element where the color is usually substituted and that is any shade of red.

Earth is best represented by real earthen objects made of stone or soil, clay, granite, or concrete. Earth colors range from light to dark tones of yellow, orange or brown.

Metal is often represented with decor or furnishings made of copper, brass, bronze, iron or steel. Metal colors are gold, silver, white or gray.

Some colors, like faint pastels, can go virtually anywhere in a house and not have a negative influence. But a large maroon area rug or a burgundy bed spread could qualify as fire. You would want to enlist the services of a highly trained Flying Star feng shui practitioner in order to know where the extreme colors can be a benefit, or at least not cause harm.

As an example, red color in the right location can actually help diminish a legal problem or vulnerability toward theft. But fire put in the wrong location could trigger a miscarriage or sickness.

Colors can also be seen as a bit subjective and a good feng shui consultant will never insist that a person use a color that the client does not personally like. Whenever we have to see something that we don’t like, it can make us constrict and eventually depress the immune system.

So, there are no hard and fast rules about good colors or bad colors. They all serve a purpose and play off of eachother. It is the groupings of colors that can create a feeling or mood just as much as an individual color. For example, olive green is a nice color, but most people would find it “ruined” if placed next to hot pink. Olive green placed next to brown or gray can be very warm and relaxing however.

The eye sees certain colors faster than others, such as yellow or red. This is exactly why our “slow down” and “stop” lights are yellow and red. Some of the biggest companies use yellow or orange in their signage and logos because they know there is a universal comfort level with earthy colors. Americans also like blue in particular. It can emotionally represent trust, something stable, and cleanliness. Check out the color of your Tide detergent box and you will see both earth and water colors used in the marketing of that product. Or a big furniture company like IKEA uses the yellow and blue color for their company logo.

Color can also be used to change the yin/yang ratio of a room. If a room is very dark it is categorized as yin. The occupants of that room can become depressed or have low energy. Bringing in more cheerful colors is just one way to remedy that room.
For a room that is too bright or overly active, the colors can be brought in to cool off the room and make it more mellow.

Kartar Diamond is a feng shui expert, based in Southern California, with thousands of clients world-wide. She can be reached at http://www.FengShuiSolutions.net and is happy to answer any questions she can over the Net and take suggestions for future ezine articles. Her books can be found at the same website, through Barnes & Noble, Borders, and Amazon.com

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The Feng shui decorating style of design has become increasingly popular and somewhat trendy in the past decade, with millions of Americans embracing its less-is-more, our-energy-is-our-soul-is-our-mind-is-our-mood-is-our-life philosophy.

While that is a simplified definition, at the heart of Feng shui decorating is simplicity and a conscious attempt to embrace the subconscious in a space.

Pronounced “fung shway,” (literally means “wind, water”) it is the Chinese practice of positioning objects, especially graves, buildings, and furniture, based on a belief in patterns of yin and yang and the flow of chi that have positive and negative effects.

It is an ancient rule in Chinese philosophy that spatial arrangement and orientation in relation to patterns of yin and yang and the flow of energy is crucial to mental, physical and spiritual health and well-being. The favorable or unfavorable effects are taken into consideration in designing and sitting furniture and rooms in a home. The practice has been embraced by countless designers in the States. A lot of this is driven by a new-found American appreciation for oriental art, food, and decoration.

Simplify! Simplify! Simplify!

While harnessing your chi and getting in touch with the yin to your yang is not simply a matter of painting a room red, there are some basic tenants of feng shui decorating that, when applied, have made millions happier, and, they would argue, healthier.

*Clear the clutter. Get rid of everything that is useless, evokes negative feelings or responses, or serves no purpose. The goal here is, as Thoreau said, Simplify! Simplify! Simplify!

*Pay attention to the energy in your room. No, this does not mean stare at the light or put a fork in a socket, this means be cognizant of the feelings evoked by items, different areas in the room, different furniture positions, and different lighting. Having positive energy flow is crucial. If something is having a positive or soothing effect in a certain place, leave it.

*Clean the room from top to bottom. And that means everything; walls, windows, doors, closets, baseboards, heating elements, fixtureseverything.

*In the bedroom, where feng sui is most commonly applied, bed placement is very important. Make sure your bed is placed to provide greatest visibility to your doorway and also provide a feeling of protection and safety. If this is not possible, a mirror on the wall opposite the bed can reflect the negative energy. Your bedroom is your haven, a place of safety and serenity.

*Sleeping areas should not be too dark. Reds, light greens and blues and yellows are positive colors that have beneficial effects on the mind and spirit.

*Avoid overusing whites, which, according to feng shui, deliver “cold energy.” If white is unavoidable, flowers, plants and splashes of well-placed color can counteract.

While feng shui decorating is most commonly applied in the home, many have embraced it in the workplace and are using the same principles to guide the layout of their desks and offices. When applied, feng shui decorating in the workplace encourages productivity, better work, and, ultimately, financial and professional success.

© 2005, Kathy Burns-Millyard, Visit The Do It Yourself Home Decorating Network - http://www.diyhomedecorating.com - for wonderful home decorating tips, decorating styles, pictures, photos and more.

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