Feng Shui
for Children's Rooms
All objects and symbols that we
surround ourselves with vibrate on an energetic level and have a direct
influence on us.
Since children are especially
sensitive to their surroundings it is particularly important to apply the
practical techniques of feng shui
when planning their rooms. The following suggestions will help you take
advantage of good chi and create a balanced environment, promoting your child's
growth, development and overall well being:
Room Shape and Location:
It is preferable that the child's
room is square or rectangle. Avoid rooms with that are shaped oddly and do not
locate your child's room in the center of the house or at the back of the
kitchen.
Poisonous Arrows:
Make sure there aren't any
overhead beams above your child's bed or study table as well as any .sharp
objects such as furniture corners or exposed bookshelves pointing at your child
when they sleep. If necessary, cover sharp objects with various fabrics.
Bed Placement:
It is best to position your
child's bed or crib with a solid wall behind its back to provide the solid support and
stability that they need in their growing years. (Placing a sturdy, wooden headboard
is another means of achieving this goal). Avoid placing the bed or crib under a
window or directly in line with the door. Diagonal to the door is the best. This is considered
the "command position" and will enable your child to sit up in bed and easily see anyone coming in
or out of the room. It is also imperative to never place your child's bed on
the same wall with plumbing or running water. This can cause health problems as
the constant rush of water is too powerful for young children.
Sleeping Direction:
Since we spend the most
amount of time in our beds, the sleeping direction is crucial. The goal is to
align the child's bed so that the crown/ head of the bed is
pointed towards one of their 4 favorable compass directions. Every individual has
his/her own auspicious directions according to date of birth and gender. The charts
below will help you find your child's Kua # and best
directions:
|
Birth Year |
Solar Year Begins |
Lunar Year Begins |
Animal |
Male |
Female |
|
1996 |
|
|
Rat |
4 |
2 |
|
1997 |
|
|
Ox |
3 |
3 |
|
1988 |
|
|
Tiger |
2 |
4 |
|
1999 |
|
|
Rabbit |
1 |
5 |
|
2000 |
|
|
Dragon |
9 |
6 |
|
2001 |
|
|
Snake |
8 |
7 |
|
2002 |
|
|
Horse |
7 |
8 |
|
2003 |
|
|
Sheep |
6 |
9 |
|
2004 |
|
|
Monkey |
5 |
1 |
|
2005 |
|
|
Rooster |
4 |
2 |
|
2006 |
|
|
Dog |
3 |
3 |
|
2007 |
|
|
Boar |
2 |
4 |
|
Kua Number |
Money & Career |
Good Health |
Marriage and Family Harmony |
Wisdom & Education |
|
1 |
southeast |
East |
South |
north |
|
2 |
northeast |
West |
northwest |
southwest |
|
3 |
south |
North |
Southeast |
east |
|
4 |
north |
South |
East |
southeast |
|
5 Male |
northeast |
West |
Northwest |
southwest |
|
5 Female |
southwest |
northwest |
West |
northeast |
|
6 |
west |
northeast |
Southwest |
northwest |
|
7 |
northwest |
southwest |
Northeast |
west |
|
8 |
southwest |
northwest |
West |
northeast |
|
9 |
east |
southeast |
North |
south |
Determining what direction is
best for your child depends on your intention and the specific needs of your
child. Each direction attracts a different luck.
The
"Knowledge & Self Cultivation" as well as "Health" directions
are ideal for infants.
The
"Love" and "Career" directions are favorable as the child
gets older.
The
"Marriage & Family Harmony" direction will help decrease fighting
and arguing in the household and help your child sleep better.
Furniture:
If old enough, honor your
children by letting them take part of choosing decorations, colors and
accessories for their room since this is their sanctuary.
It is recommended to invest
in a bed made out of real wood with a solid, rounded headboard as well as a quality
mattress and frame. Do not buy a bed with shelves behind the head or underneath
the mattress board and avoid all plastic, laminate, formaldehyde and cheap particleboard
furniture.
Mirrors are not recommended in
the bedroom since these "double" the energy flow in the room and make
it harder to sleep.
Water fountains and/or fish
bowls in your child's room are also not recommended.
Electrical Appliances /
EMF Exposure:
Electromagnetic frequencies
are harsh energies emitted by electronic devices such as
TV's, computer monitors, vcr's, stereo system's,
lamps and other electronic appliances. Many tests have linked these
fields to cancer and other illnesses. It has also been proven that EMF exposure
decreases the body's production of melatonin, which helps prevent sleep
problems, moodiness, anger and depression. Keep electrical appliances to a
minimum and move all essential items as far from your child's sleeping /working
/ playing area as possible. The further away from these areas,
the less damaging the field. It is also recommended to invest in a
wooden bed since electromagnetic fields do not ground themselves to wood as
they tend to with metal items.
Color:
Today, even hospitals pay
much attention to the colors painted on their walls, acknowledging their
healing ability.
All though every child is
different, it is usually recommended to use soft, cooler and calmer wall paint
colors (yellows, light salmon and pale greens) with children over two years old
as their energy tends to be very active. Keep in mind that feng
shui is all about balance, so it is important to
incorporate the various colors to enhance one another.
Blue
symbolizes water and represents a softer energy, which promotes calmness and
peacefulness. This color is recommended for hyperactive, energetic children as
well as for endorsing their self expression. Be careful not to use too much blue! This can
seem overwhelming like drowning.
Green
will promote growth and development but too much of this color may lead to
restlessness.
Pinks
and reds promote a livelier and more powerful energy, usually activating or
increasing children's energy.
Pictures + Decorations:
Try to look at the pictures
and photo's in your child's room threw their eyes and understand the meanings
behind them when choosing them and deciding on what height or location to
situate them. A happy family photo is comforting to see before your child falls
asleep and as they awaken. It reminds them they are part of a happy family when
they are alone in the room. Also, incorporate vibrant, beautiful artwork that
provides fun and fantasy such as images of children, kittens, puppies,
dolphins, mermaids, angels, fairies and favorite non threatening cartoon
characters. This is a great way to stimulate your child's imagination. Avoid displaying any sharp objects like swords
or toy's related to war in your child's room as well as violent images,
monsters, TV characters, marketing posters, bright neon colors and always ask
yourself what you want to draw into your child's life. Think peaceful, soothing
and tranquil. Hanging prismatic crystals from the windows will help draw in
vibrant chi and beautiful rainbows. (Clear, clean cut 20 – 30 mm size are recommended). You may prefer hanging mobiles of
starfish, shell's, fish and hearts, which is also fantastic. Be creative!
Fabrics:
It is important to use 100%
cotton for your child's bed sheets and natural fibers like wool for the pillow.
Do not use polyester! The linen should be a solid, soft color or have a simple print,
avoiding action cartoon figures or moving train's, motorcycles, car's or jets. These,
as well as triangle shapes (fire energy) are activating and will make it harder
for your child to sleep. Round patterns are recommended since they promote
wholeness and completeness.
Clutter:
Less is more!
It is important to keep the
room clean and uncluttered, though at times, this may
seem like an impossible task. Remember that a messy room with objects piled on
the floor will keep the chi from flowing in the room and ultimately make it
difficult for a child to sleep soundly. Make sure there are enough storage
systems to keep the room organized and limit the number of toys. Natural
material baskets are an excellent way of storing toy's and books A thorough
cleaning once a month can include burning white sage and spraying all-natural
orange essential oil as well as placing a small cup of sea salt in all 4
corners of the room for 3 days to purify the space. If your child suffers from
nightmares, keep 4 small cups of sea salt under his/her bed, changing the salt
every 4 days. Do NOT reuse the salt – rinse it down the sink. Also open windows
daily to let in fresh air and vibrant life force.
General Well Being:
Have fun when incorporating feng shui in the design of your child's
room. Remember that using your love and conscious intention is a powerful way
of creating a nurturing and balanced environment, in which your child can thrive.
I want to thank my unborn son
for inspiring me to write this article. All though you haven't been born yet,
you are already influencing me in great ways. I only hope that the influence I
have on you, once you are born, is as positive and constructive as the effect
you have had on me.
Wishing us a wonderful journey
together – may we grow together and learn from one another.