Best-selling author Clear Englebert will present “Feng Shui for Hawaii Gardens,” a free program at five Oahu public libraries from February 21 – 26. Englebert is the author of bestseller “Feng Shui for Hawaii” and three other books – “Feng Shui Demystified,” “Bedroom Feng Shui,” and the recently-released “Feng Shui for Hawaii Gardens” on which his upcoming presentations are based on.

Englebert, a recognized feng shui expert, has practiced and taught feng shui in Hawaii and California since 1995.  He has appeared on television, radio, and in the print media. Englebert will explain chi energy, demonstrate how to attract and maximize its beneficial flow, and stress the importance of the approach to the home.  In addition, Englebert will explain which plants to select and where to place them.  The one-hour program is suitable for ages 12 and older, and will include a question-and-answer session.

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In Feng Shui, Red Color belongs to the Element of Fire – In feng shui color decorating Red always signifies richness and luxury. If used too much, though, it can bring restlessness, burst of anger and over stimulation. Better use it with caution, always easier to bring Red with details and accessories, rather than with furnishings or wall color.

The feng shui color of growth and healing, Green should be freely used in the East, Southeast and South feng shui areas of your space. From fresh spring color of the newly opened leaves to the strong Green of a mighty oak tree - there are literally hundreds of greens to choose from in your feng shui applications.

Avoid a predominant Brown color scheme in the children's bedroom , as well as in the feng shui area of Southwest of your space.  A space that has too much Brown color may lead to its inhabitants lacking the ambition and the drive to go forward in life, thus it is always a good feng shui idea to keep Brown well-balanced with other colors.

Use freely in the following feng shui areas of : North (Water), East (Wood) and Southeast (Wood). Avoid black in the South (Fire) area of your space, and use in moderation in the children's rooms, as well as in the main entry and kitchen and dining.

Gentle blue is an excellent feng shui choice for study, especially as a ceiling color. Several studies have shown that children performed better under the blue-colored ceiling then under the regular white one

Yellow brings the feng shui energy of Fire in a gentler way than Red; it is the most enchanting of all colors, as well as easier to "live with" in bigger/larger quantities.

Color researchers believe color Yellow to increase self-esteem and strengthen the overall well-being. Feng Shui-wise, use hot Yellow in moderation in the feng shui areas of East and South East areas of your home.

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Have you ever walked into a room and been immediately overcome with the desire to pull up a chair and stay? Conversely, have you ever been in a home that stifled your creativity, overwhelmed you with clutter and sparked negativity in your soul? If so, you have experienced feng shui.

"Feng shui is a way to arrange your home or business space so that it is supportive to you and your goals," feng shui practitioner Kerri Miller said. Miller works with businesses and individuals on a regular basis to raise the energy of their spaces.

"You need to ask yourself what items in your environment are working with you to achieve your goals," Miller said. "You need to answer what's working, what's not, and what do you want to create."

Clutter is a common problem in many homes and businesses, but Miller is quick to note that clutter is not bad, it is simply no longer serving you. "When I first meet a client, we often start with meditations," Miller said. "There are lots of questions to ask to determine the patterns in various spaces. Letting go of clutter often makes clients feel physically lighter."

Miller explained that if you are having a hard time with your sister, it would be wise to walk through your home and turn all of the pictures of you and your sister to face each other. "Change the energy," Miller said. "What we set up in our environment is very reflective of what's going on inside ourselves."

But what if two or more people are sharing a space and they don't agree?

"That's tough," Miller said. "There are often differing opinions in family spaces. I try to find what the family is looking to create, and then I work to make that happen. Something as simple as sitting in a different piece of furniture can change your perspective."

Color is also an important part of feng shui. "Red is traditionally abundance," Miller said. "White -peace and clarity, but when I meet with people I ask them what color means to them. It's different for each person."Miller is a true feng shui practitioner, complete with school certificates and much life experience.

"I have used this from the begining of my life," Miller said. "Back when I was a little girl rearranging my room, I was using feng shui, but I didn't know that then."Feng shui is an empowering tool that is easy to implement.

"Feng shui has huge, powerful benefits," Miller said. "People feel better, experience more success and businesses have seen growth. Changes can be so powerful and this is a simple one to make."

Miller notes that our spaces are important and need to be more reflective of who we are and who we wish to become. "Ultimately, it's all about higher vibrations and making your house a home," Miller said.

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No matter whether it's the year of the dragon, the horse, or the sheep, the philosophical principles of feng shui can add harmony to your interior design -- and even inject a new spirit of romance.

Feng shui is the Chinese art of determining the most propitious design of a room or building (and the placement of objects within) so that maximum harmony is achieved between the environment and the user. The term comes from the Chinese words "feng" (wind) and "shui" (water). A driving principle of feng shui is that there are eight pillars of happiness, including love and romance.

There is a discrepancy between feng shui fact and fiction, however. Not everything considered feng shui is suited for the bedroom, nor will it necessarily inspire romance.

Match-up debate
Designers are split over the matching nightstand issue. Some say bedside tables should be different and not look uniform. Others say matched nightstands create balance in the room. Feng shui experts fall on the side of matching nightstands. Symbolically, this look says a couple is bonded, and matching nightstands create a sentry effect that plays to the bed -- and the relationship -- making a visual statement that both are important and primary in the room.

Feng shui effects

Another critical disagreement relates to what constitutes feng shui. Some say water fountains, wind chimes and plants create great chi (energy), but not in the bedroom. In the Chinese view, water is money and hearing water running while you're in bed is listening to money drain away. In this view, plants are also a strain on relationships and should not be placed in a bedroom. While these accents might make for a delightful room, the primary importance of a couple's bedroom is rest and romance, and these elements sap both.

What to do?

If you're interested in using feng shui to revive romance or to keep the flames burning, keep in mind that the main purposes of a bedroom are sleeping and creating intimacy in the your relationship. With that in mind, it's important to remove all work-related objects, such as treadmills, computers, or desks. Clear out all photos except for images of yourselves. Mirrors should be removed because they're stimulating and can cause sleep disruption and insomnia.

Another source of concern is the television. While it's not advisable to have a TV in the bedroom, the newer flat screen versions are better than older, tube-style sets, say feng shui experts. Older TVs have shiny glass screens that reflect the bedroom when the set is off, acting much like a mirror. Flat screens, with their matte black appearance, are less stimulating.

And like TV, everything in the bedroom room exerts an influence on us during sleep, when we're most vulnerable. For that reason, under the principles of feng shui, it's important to choose artwork and symbols carefully. Flowers should be avoided because they deplete a man's yang energy, cooling off passion. If romance has faded, select artwork that features pairs, especially pairs of birds or butterflies, the Chinese symbol of renewed love. Color also exerts an influence. Selecting colors that are skin-toned, such as beige, pink, tan or brown will keep the interest going for physical touch.

Make sure your bed is sound and the mattress comfortable; a broken down mattress can create a stale love life, as can going without a headboard. In feng shui, making sure the bedroom promotes love and rest helps couples see that they have both.

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According to Debra Duneier, Feng Shui Master Practitioner and author of EcoChi: Designing the Human Experience. (http://www.ecochi.com), life in the Year of the Dragon will be lived the way it is designed. In celebration of the Chinese New Year, which starts January 23, Duneier shares the importance to prepare one’s home, mind and body, and be conscious of the environment so they can attract all the things they desire in life this year.

One’s home should be their “red bird” so that it reflects a promising future. This is a feng shui expression and it is a powerful tool that can help create abundance in all areas of one’s life. “Your mind and body should be refreshed, renewed and ready to accept opportunities” says Duneier. Do one good thing for Mother Earth and we are one step closer to a better world. Where to start? Duneier offers these simple tips to help enjoy a healthy, happy and prosperous year.

1. Clean, de-clutter and beautify your home. This changes the energy and prepares the space to celebrate the wonderful things that are about to come into your life.

2. The cleansing properties of sea salt are used to renew the chi of spaces. To cleanse one's home of old energies and create room for fresh energy follow these easy steps:
In a small bowl place 2 tablespoons of sea salt
Add 2 cups of warm water
Moisten a cotton cloth or dish towel with the solution
Wipe down the front door and all of the doorknobs in your home

3. Pay down an overdue bill. Even if it can't be paid off entirely, the intention is to begin to pay off some debt so it makes room for money to come in this year.

4. Instead of focusing on not eating to lose weight, have a healthful snack before going out to dinner. It helps to keep energy levels up and keeps stops impulse gorging on bread and butter at the restaurant.

5. Update lighting to include earth-friendly compact florescent light bulbs or LEDs. Just changing the six incandescent bulbs used most often could save over $100 a year on your energy bills.

6. Wear red to bring in the Year of the Dragon which is celebrated for 10 days. If red is not part of your wardrobe, fresh flowers or decorative pillows in this auspicious color is sure to set the atmosphere for the new energy coming in.

7. Make a list of all the things you want to come into your life this year. Light a candle and burn the list just before midnight releasing your wishes so the universe can provide them. If home when the Chinese New Year arrives, open the front door to allow this new energy to enter.

8. Start the Year of the Dragon off right by making a change. Large or small revisions help to welcome in new energy. Consider a new haircut, change the route to work, make a conscious effort to recycle or take ballroom dancing lessons for simple and fun changes.

These tips can be accomplished on any budget . The Dragon energy fills most people with energy, vitality and unbridled enthusiasm. Let go of last year, especially challenges or troubles. Let go of expectations and make room for positive energy flow. Embrace optimistic thoughts, dream, laugh and love. This will attract wonderful things into your life this New Year.

Debra Duneier is the Founder and President of EcoChi, LLC, author of EcoChi: Designing the Human Experience (http://www.ecochi.com), a Feng Shui Master Practitioner, an accredited LEED® Green Associate, Certified Eco-Designer, and a New York State licensed real estate broker. Debra currently sits on the advisory board of the Sarut Group, which includes Pylones USA and The Tea and Honey Store. She is a member of the US Green Building Council, Women Builders Council, the Real Estate Board of New York, the Retail Marketing Society, the American Management Association’s Sales and Marketing Council, the International Feng Shui Guild, The Green Finance Committee of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce and is a founding member of the Women’s Leadership Exchange’s LEXCI and the Belizean Grove.

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2011 was an eventful year. The world experienced a number of astonishing events, such as the tsunami-earthquake-nuclear triple disaster in Japan and the eurozone crisis. Surprisingly, a Hong Kong geomancer by the name of Li Nan Jiang had predicted with surprising accuracy the year before such events happening. Here’s a look at what Mr Li has predicted for this year.

Global economic downturn
According to Mr Li, the economic uncertainty will continue into 2012, with possible shocks to the global economy. Financial centres around the world may face new challenges throughout the year, especially the Hong Kong stock market.

Workers may also face retrenchment and unemployment rates may rise. Living costs may also rise in the face of natural disasters and a weaker US dollar. However, we need not be too worried as we can look forward to a more prosperous 2013, Mr Li said.

Earthquake in North America
Mr Li cautioned everyone that natural disasters such as Japan's tsunami would not just happen in Asia, but may also happen in North America. He predicted that an earthquake measuring at least seven on the Richter scale may hit North America’s west and north-west areas especially during the third, sixth, eighth, eleventh and twelfth months of the Lunar calendar.

A time of peace and stability
Although there may be natural disasters, Mr Li said 2012 would be a year of relative stability and peace, unlike 2011, which saw events like Kim Jung-il’s death and the Arab Spring.
The world will be relatively peaceful, with the exception of minor conflicts.

Illness and diseases
Mr Li said there may be a resurgence of a disease not unlike previous years’ swine flu and SARs. The disease may sweep through the world, with the situation a lot like Hong Kong’s SARs crisis.

In fact, the disease has already started spreading in the Rabbit year’s lunar 12th month. Hence, everyone should be more vigilant. Mr Li also predicted that Asia will have an outbreak of a lethal intestinal virus, so everyone should be careful of their dietary habits and not contract this virus.

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Today marks the start of the Chinese New Year, and ethnic Chinese around the world will be taking part in celebrations to mark the Year of the Dragon. But according to Feng Shui master Raymond Lo, there is not much to look forward to. He spoke to the BBC in Hong Kong and warned to expect floods, earthquakes and more economic trouble in the year ahead.

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As the Year of the Rabbit hops away, this Monday we usher in the Year of the Water Dragon, which according to World of Feng Shui boutique director Liew Shaw Pin will be a transformative and improved year compared to the past two years. “Last year’s predictions revealed there were a lot of conflicts, so you could see a lot of riots occurring around the world,” says Liew. “But by February, the presence of ‘lap chun’ or spring denotes that everything will start to cool down and recover this year.”

Based on this year’s Paht Chee Chart which reveals the element chi map that describes the year, the overall outlook for the year indicates that there will be good growth energy during the spring and summer but these energies decline in winter, namely towards the end of the year.

“This year, only three pillars are clashing with one productive pillar as opposed to last year’s drastic clashes of the four pillars,” explains Liew of the chart comprising of four heavenly stem elements and four earthly branch animal signs which also have their own intrinsic elements. “Water is present, which produces wood and this brings growth that will lead to a real economic turnaround, however the fire element is missing in the chart, which suggests a lack of creativity and intelligence,” he adds.

According to Liew, the four Celestial Guardians is important and significant in feng shui and in 2012, the presence of the three Celestial Guardians in the chart brings strength and improvement. “We have the mighty water dragon in the year pillar, the tiger in the month pillar and the phoenix in its rooster incarnation in the hour pillar,” he says, adding that the only celestial guardian missing here is the black tortoise.

“Therefore, in order to take opportunity of this formation, it is beneficial to make up for its absence in the chart by inviting the tortoise image into your house.”Liew suggests rearing tortoises as pets or placing the four-legged figurines in the north corner of the residence.

“The tortoise is a welcome symbol in any home at any time, but it has become especially relevant this year as it provides the vital link to complete the celestial set of energies, ensuring that we are protected from all four directions and there is good fortune.”

Meanwhile, the Dragon year also contains the External Flower of Romance Star, which Liew says there is infidelity energy floating around this year that may lead to sex-related scandals and affairs. “The romance stars can be good or bad. For instance, if you’re married, marriages could come under emotional strain but on the other hand, it is also a great year for singles and newlyweds as the chances of falling in love will be very high,” he says and also remarks that 2012 is also an excellent year to have a baby.

On the business forecast, Liew points out that wealth luck is good especially for certain animal signs such as Rat, Ox, Tiger, Horse, Sheep, Rooster and Boar. “The banking and financial sectors will recover this year and it is also a good year for real estate and property,” he reveals, adding that the stock market will rise in March before slowing down in the fourth half of 2012.

“Those who invest in the stock market can take advantage of the growing market but they must be out by October,” advises Liew. “We also have the presence of the Aggressive Sword Star which indicates the emergence of powerful rebel leaders or of highly influential opposition to established leaders as well as the Powerful Mentors Star indicating the power of hidden warlords and powerful behind-the-scene scenario.

“At the personal level, this brings the help of someone influential in one’s career,” Liew explains but also points out that with the missing fire in the chart, this meant that there would be a lack of creativity at work.
“In order to counter this, we need fire energy to bring creative solutions at the workplace.”Apart from that, Liew also discloses that health concerns will be on the rise this year pertaining to injuries associated with the waist and ear as well as kidney and urinary problems. “It is advisable to eat healthy and avoid retiring to bed late at nights.”

“But the most important things to remember about 2012 are the need to wear personal amulet protection and display house amulet as this ensures good security and a chance to grow and take fullest advantage of the year,” says Liew.

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One might expect the Year of the Dragon, which kicks off next week, to be a lucky time for investments. But that’s not necessarily the case, according to this year’s edition of the Feng Shui Index released by Hong Kong-based brokerage firm CLSA.

The index, which applies traditional Chinese astrology to market forecasting, predicts a volatile year (pdf). Though the Year of the Dragon is traditionally considered auspicious, there are likely to be countervailing forces at work, CLSA says. The reason: This particular dragon year is associated with water, which is far less lucky for investing than other elements like fire and metal.

The index predicts a positive end to the year, especially in October and November, when the metal element dominates. CLSA is clear that their Feng Shui Index is meant to be “tongue-in-cheek,” and issues several disclaimers such as this one: “To be fair, feng shui’s original purpose was to locate auspicious burial spots, not call the twists and turns of the equity markets or individual sectors.”

The authors of the report also admit that they got last year badly wrong. The Year of The Rabbit was supposed to be especially good for playing the markets. “Lots of luck, if the Rabbit’s reputation is any guide,” they wrote a year ago (pdf). “And best of all for investors, indirect wealth such as market-made moolah will be the order of day.”

It didn’t turn out that way. The S&P 500 in the U.S. was essentially flat in 2011, while Hong Kong’s benchmark stock index, the Hang Seng, fell by over 19%. At least one prediction from last year turned out well: CLSA said that Kim Jung-un, based on his “water dog” astrological sign, would have a great year. That’s true, if you consider stepping into his father’s shoes to lead North Korea to be positive for him.

This year, Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, a “water snake,” is tipped by CLSA to have just a “fair” year, but his horoscope apparently calls for a “job opening” in autumn. That seems like a shoe-in: Mr. Xi is universally expected to become China’s next top ruler during the Communist Party Congress in October or November.

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When you create a bathroom with good Feng Shui, you enhance and improve your life in important ways. In fact bathrooms are a major topic in Feng Shui. As a Feng Shui consultant I've found that some of the biggest challenges my clients face are connected to the bathroom: where it's located, how it's furnished and decorated, and how it feels to spend time there.

The bathroom has special significance in Feng Shui because this is where you clean yourself, inside and out.  Here you flush away internal toxins while cleansing and caring for your external self.  In the bathroom you have a most intimate relationship with your body so it is excellent Feng Shui to feel supported and nourished there.

In ancient China, where Feng Shui originated, bathrooms were located outside the confines of the home because they were so difficult to keep truly clean.  But nowadays we have modern plumbing contractors and bathroom fixtures. It's much easier now to give your bathroom a spa-like feel that adds a sense of luxurious sanctuary to your life, which is always good Feng Shui.
 
So, what are the keys to creating good bathroom Feng Shui?

1. A bathroom with good Feng Shui is always spotlessly clean and clutter-free.  Here is one place in your home where you definitely don't want your Chi energy to get stuck! Clear everything from your closet and medicine cabinet. Put back only the things you love and use; discard the rest – especially items whose use-by date has expired! Clean your bathroom thoroughly once a week, always use clean towels and washcloths, and provide guests with high-quality linens when they visit.

2. Balance the Five Elements for good bathroom Feng Shui.  Bathrooms are associated with Feng Shui's Water element, symbolizing spirituality, truth and reflection.  Water's movement is downward and in fact your bathroom contains the most powerful drains in your home in the bathtub, sink and toilet.  To counteract this downward flow, balance Water with Wood, the element of upward movement and growth.

Here are a few ways to bring Wood into your bathroom: a healthy live plant or beautiful silk one; items in the color green; wood accessories (a wooden toilet seat perhaps?); and artwork with verticality: a photo of trees, columns, tall buildings or New York City rooftops, for instance.

3. Now that your bathroom is in great Feng Shui shape, enhance your life by activating the Bagua area in which it's located.

Let's look at two key areas as good examples of how to do this. Is your bathroom located in your Relationship area?  I once had a client who lived in a house where all three of her bathrooms were located in this key area!  We placed a pair of candlesticks on the back of the toilet in each one, and she reported the glow of a wonderful relationship shortly thereafter.

If your bathroom is in your Wealth area, decorate it with the most luxurious artwork you can find, evoking a feeling of abundance and reminding you of the blessings in your life. Finally, don't forget to keep your toilet lid down to keep your Wealth from flushing away!

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