Proudly celebrating over 25 years |
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Feng Shui and Bathrooms
from the
International Feng Shui Guild
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“My kids always perceived the bathroom as a place where you wait it out until all the groceries are unloaded from the car."
— Erma Bombeck
Anyone else? :-)
We wanted to start off this issue with humor, because there can be a lot of stress around bathrooms. For example, when you are remodeling: we think about design choices, layout, upgrading our home and getting the biggest bang for our buck. Bathrooms are often one of the most functional rooms in the house; the sanitation is super important to maintaining health and freedom from disease. And yet, did you know that nearly 60% of the world does not have access to a safe, clean toilet to manage waste? (Source UNICEF.)
So, we are dedicating this newsletter to the issues surrounding bathrooms. What about plants? What about the lid up or down? It's all here from our experts. You might find some differing opinions - and that is absolutely ok. With the diversity in our membership, through their unique approaches and perspectives to Feng Shui - we don't worry about it. There are a lot of ways to do something in Feng Shui. Even in preparing for this newsletter, we learned a few things we didn't know before. How cool is that!
We always say, "take what resonates with you - and leave the rest." So scroll on with that in mind...it's a great collection of tips and insights into feng shui bathrooms. Enjoy!
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See what we mean about differences and ways of doing feng shui...
"In classical feng shui, bathrooms are looked at as something that presses down luck. As such, they should not be made into feng shui shrines with flowers, plants, candles, and lots of decorating. In Black Hat, bathrooms are often enhanced with all manner of activators, such as fountains and flowers.
"In classical feng shui, bathrooms are typically viewed as the place where waste is eliminated, so plants should not be placed here to symbolically “grow in waste,” and the water here is draining water that has no prosperity value. Drains are recommended to be plugged at all times in Black Hat, which is always practical, whereas classical feng shui simply recommends that the bathroom door should be closed at all times.
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Myth Buster: Bathroom in the Wealth Gua
Below photo note from Bridget: This vignette is over our en suite loo. The bathroom is not in wealth, but is designed as if it was. :-)
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Q: “I just read that a bathroom in the wealth Gua is bad Feng Shui! We can’t catch a break!”
So let’s look at this thought process and let’s be grateful that you have indoor plumbing and you are not having to run out in the middle of the night to the outhouse in minus 45 degrees celsius.
From a Feng Shui perspective there is no good place to have an indoor bathroom. But there are certain Guas that are less challenging than others. The reason that feng shui is concerned about indoor bathrooms is the effect water and plumbing has in both the environmental energy and health of the residents.
Water is seen as the flow of money and abundance. Think liquidate assets, cash flow. So, toilets and plumbing fixtures are considered potential avenues of money loss. A toilet lid that is up is best closed to stop the loss of cash. Shower curtains are best closed to mitigate the same.
I prefer toilet lids down for esthetician and cleanliness reasons. You do know what gets dumped in there right? I also prefer shower curtains drawn for design purposes. A beautiful shower curtain is much more appealing than the inside of a tub and shower unit.
A bathroom can feel opulent and the fact that a bathroom reno can cost 10,000 minimum should indicate that it’s an excellent place to apply some decadent design details.
Even a small bathroom can look and feel amazing.
- For a bathroom in the wealth Gua, choose a shower curtain that is floral, woodsy, has branches with leaves, striped or has earth tones.
- Hang artwork that coordinates with the shower curtains. Avoid matching to specifically.
- Install a beautiful light fixture. Again I love a chandelier in the bathroom.
- Add a couple of real or faux plants.
- Remember to think opulence and that your manifesting abilities starts with your alignment.
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What Bathroom Clutter Reveals
Bathroom clutter is one of the most common types there is. It’s also one of the easiest to deal with, so it’s a good place to start when clutter clearing.
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Your home is a mirror of yourself
A photo such as the one above is very revealing because it’s an external description of a person’s inner state. What’s on the inside is not always portrayed on the outside, but what’s on the outside is always a reflection of something on the inside.
The busyness of this bathroom mirrors the busyness of the owner’s life and also shows how stressful it is, with so many things to consider and cope with. It also shows how her life is running her instead of her running it. If this is how she starts her day, then much of her life will be out of control.
Simplifying the number of items she uses in her daily grooming and keeping them tidy and organized will give her a completely different approach to each day, which in turn will help her to take back control of other aspects of her life too.
What your bathroom says about you
The state of a person’s bathroom gives a very good insight into their level of self-care. So after reading this article, I invite you to walk into your bathroom and take a good look at it, as if you didn’t know whose bathroom it is. What does it say about you? If you share it with others, what does it say about you all?
***There is so much more to this story...read the whole thing and see how the transformation of this bathroom took place, more lessons learned, and how managing and being intentional with your bathroom clutter can give you a calm and ordered start to each day will make you look and feel better too. Read the full article....
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Now, let's hear from two consultants who have different thoughts and approaches on bathrooms (and toilets) and Feng Shui.
What they have in common: there is nothing to fear - nothing to stress over. :-)
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Feng Shui Bathroom Basics
Laura presents the basics of Feng Shui bathrooms from a Black Sect (BTB) Feng Shui perspective, placing the bagua, and what to look for and some adjustments you can make.
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Toilets and Feng Shui; Fact or Superstition?
Candice addresses one of the biggest questions and concerns in Feng Shui: toilet placement from a Classical Feng Shui perspective. As with most subjects in Feng Shui, the toilet is misunderstood. Can a toilet "drain your wealth" or affect your relationship? There is an origin to these beliefs that stem from ancient times!
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In the mainstream, from Realtor.com
Down the Drain: 7 Feng Shui Mistakes You’re Making in the Bathroom
Featuring consultants Ping Deters, Anjie Cho, and Kim Julen...simple tips anyone can choose to use in your bathrooms. Read the full article...
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Final Thoughts: Transforming an Office into a Glamorous Soaking Tub Room |
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Maybe you don't have the ability to transform an existing bathroom into the dream space you desire. Have you ever thought of reclaiming a space from another part of the house. Much simpler than adding on to an existing building, renovating and thinking outside the box to transform a room with one purpose into a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT purpose is a cool way to create the dream that you love.
It's also a great demonstration that as time moves on, our lives and needs change. Being open to those changes, seeing them with feng shui eyes, and then taking action - often with a delightfully creative designer like Julie Ann - can make all the difference!
BONUS: You will be inspired to look at every room (and closet) in your world in new ways.
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As a professional non-profit organization, the International Feng Shui Guild mission is to
- Advance the practice, teaching and use of Feng Shui worldwide
- Promote and serve our membership with resources, networking opportunities, publications and a content-rich website
- Unify the Feng Shui community by establishing and upholding universal standards in professional practice and education
- Inspire public confidence in the professionalism of our members as demonstrated in our by-laws, Code of Ethics and the Feng Shui Universal Topics.
Copyright © 2023 International Feng Shui Guild.
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