1 Western School of Feng Shui Presents Essential Feng Shui Basics @ Home Program Western School of Feng Shui P.O. Box 232416 Encinitas, CA 92023 (760) 633-3388 support@wsfs.com www.westernschooloffengshui.com
2 Table of Contents Our Agreement with You pg. 3 Welcome Message from Terah Kathryn Collins pg. 4 About Terah Kathryn Collins and WSFS pg. 5 How to Successfully Utilize and Complete this Course pg. 6 Session 1 pg. 8 Introduction to Essential Feng Shui Audio Program Session 2 pg. 11 Essential Feng Shui Home Tour Video Program Session 3 pg. 15 Yin and Yang as Romantic Partners: An Essential Lecture and Meditation Audio Program Session 4 pg. 18 Ch i Enhancements Audio Program Session 5 pg. 21 The Five Elements Audio Program Session 6 pg. 29 The Bagua Map Online Course Session 7 pg. 31 Essential Feng Shui Review and More Audio Program Recommended Reading List pg. 34 Evaluation Form pg. 35 The Essential Feng Shui Basics @ Home Program Final Assessment pg. 36 Project Cover Sheet & Checklist for Certificate of Completion pg. 38 Also to add to your Essential Feng Shui studies: Reflections on Feng Shui audio presentation Space Clearing with the Five Elements Online Course Essential Feng Shui Practitioner Training @ Home
3 Our Agreement with You The Western School of Feng Shui promises and agrees to offer you the Essential Feng Shui Basics @ Home Program as the best in educational training for personal home application. If you have any questions that are not answered in this program, please search our extensive Q&A archives at www.westernschooloffengshui.com or email us at support@wsfs.com. We trust that you in turn agree and promise to honor our dedication and work. If you d like to share this material as a learning tool with your friends or family, please encourage them to make the same commitment to their personal process and growth as you have, by purchasing the program for their own use. Please note that this course provides you with the Essential Feng Shui tools for personal home application and is not a practitioner-level training. For more information on our Essential Feng Shui Practitioner Training @ Home, please visit www.westernschooloffengshui.com We appreciate your help in maintaining everyone s highest moral and legal standards. Thank You! Western School of Feng Shui
4 Welcome Message from Terah Kathryn Collins Dear Friend, I am delighted to share the Essential Feng Shui Basics @ Home Program with you! Online education was a distant dream when I founded the Western School of Feng Shui in 1996. Now, Essential Feng Shui, the study of how to arrange your environment to enhance your life, can come to you! It is so exciting to know that you can enjoy learning at your own pace in the comfort of your own home. As you learn to see clearly through your Feng Shui eyes, you will discover that your surroundings and possessions make a huge impact on the quality of your life. You ll observe that your vitality, resources, and loving connections flourish and grow best in harmonious environments that intentionally meet your personal needs and express your unique preferences. And with your Feng Shui eyes open, you will be able to see how to transform your surroundings to continually improve and enrich your life. Essential Feng Shui is not an event; it s a lifestyle. I wish you a soulful journey into the extraordinary ordinary, where a whole world of deep insights, fascinating discoveries, and creative applications await you. Enjoy every moment of your Essential Feng Shui Adventures! Terah Kathryn Collins
5 About Terah Kathryn Collins and the Western School of Feng Shui Terah Kathryn Collins is a best-selling author and founder of the Western School of Feng Shui. She is also the originator of Essential Feng Shui, which focuses on the many valuable applications Feng Shui has in our Western culture while honoring the essence of its Eastern heritage. Her inspirational books on the subject have sold over a million copies worldwide. Terah s first book, The Western Guide to Feng Shui, is filled with practical suggestions and remarkable before-and-after stories. Her alphabetized Home Design with Feng Shui, A-Z provides a quick reference to Feng Shui solutions, while The Western Guide to Feng Shui, Room by Room offers more in-depth information and includes over one hundred photographs. Terah recounts the enriching experiences of Essential Feng Shui practitioners and their clients in The Western Guide to Feng Shui for Prosperity, and the connection between love and environment in The Western Guide to Feng Shui for Romance. Her newest book, The Three Sisters of the Tao explores the timeless wisdom of Chinese Medicine, the I Ching, and Feng Shui. With a passion for transformational education, Terah founded the Western School of Feng Shui in 1996. More than 1700 people from 26 countries have taken her signature course, the Essential Feng Shui Practitioner Training. This intensive course includes pre-training projects; 10 weeks of prerecorded class videos and live interactive conference calls; and a series of post-training projects to earn a Certificate of Achievement as an Essential Feng Shui Practitioner. WSFS also offers Feng Shui-related classes, advanced trainings, and online courses to cultivate and uphold the highest potential of Essential Feng Shui practitioners and their families, friends, and clients around the world. Featured on the PBS Body and Soul TV series, Terah has spoken on Essential Feng Shui at many special events, including the Magical Mastery and Today s Wisdom Tours in Australia, and the Women of Wisdom, I Can Do It Hay House, and Empowering Women Conferences throughout the United States.
6 How to Successfully Utilize and Complete this Online Program Just like Wind and Water, the Essential Feng Shui Basics @ Home Program online Sessions and Workbook are synergistic partners. They each support the other in providing you with a holistic educational experience. Each Session of the Basics @ Home Program includes three questions for you to ponder, with space in your Workbook to organize your insights and answers. Taking the time to answer these questions personalizes your learning experience and helps you to develop a deeper understanding of Essential Feng Shui. By the time you complete the Basics @ Home Program, you ll have a thorough working knowledge of the fundamental Essential Feng Shui tools and how to apply them in your home and in your life. To receive a Certificate of Completion, please see the final page in this workbook for specific details and instructions.
7 Essential Feng Shui is: * The study of how to arrange your environment to enhance your life. * The capacity to observe how your surroundings can promote or diminish your health, wealth, and happiness. * The exploration of the dynamic interconnections between you and your environment. * The ability to reveal the impact your environment has on the quality of your life. * Not an event. It is a lifestyle! -- Terah Kathryn Collins When there is light in the soul, There is beauty in the person. When there is beauty in the person, There is harmony in the home. When there is harmony in the home, There is honor in the nation. When there is honor in the nation, There is peace in the world. -- Chinese Proverb
8 Listen to the Audio Program: Introduction to Essential Feng Shui 1. Everything is Alive The Three Foundational Principles of Essential Feng Shui Everything, including your home, car, and computer, is alive with the vital energy called Ch i. All of the people, places, and things that surround you are alive with the associations and memories you have about them. All of your possessions are essentially talking to you all the time. 2. Everything is Connected Like it or not, you are essentially connected to everybody and everything surrounding you. Your relationships with your home, garden, neighbors, and community are especially important due to their proximity. Also, all aspect of your life, including your health, wealth, and general happiness are all connected to each other, and directly affect each other all the time. 3. Everything is Always Changing The one constancy in our world is change. As you change, grow, and move through your life, it is important to change your environment to reflect who you are now. These changes may be small or large, from a new plant to a new home office in the old guest room. There is a Chinese saying : If you want change in your life, move 27 things in your house.
9 Three Practical Ways to Bring Essential Feng Shui Principles into Your Life: 1. Live With What You Love Imagine living exclusively with things you absolutely love. Sort your belongings by asking, Do I love this? If you don t, let it go as soon as possible! As you do this, fresh, vital Ch i flows into your life, and everything that surrounds you becomes a positive Environmental Affirmation. Your environment transforms into a place that truly nurtures and uplifts you all the time. 2. Put Safety and Comfort First Choose things that first pass the safety and comfort test, and let beauty follow. For instance, choose tables with rounded corners and chairs that are genuinely comfortable. Be sure you locate yourself in the power position with a view of the door as often as possible. 3. Express and Organize Yourself Your Ch i will expand and strengthen as you creatively express yourself. Make sure you have a place within your home where you can truly express yourself, whether it s an alcove, a room, or an entire wing of your abode. Expression is like exhalation, and organization is like inhalation. One cannot truly exist without the other. Organize your possessions, and new creative expressions and opportunities will flow into your life.
10 The Essential Feng Shui Principles Questions Please answer the following questions and submit them for Certification: 1. Name up to 10 things in your home that you currently love. 2. Currently, where in your home do you feel safe? Where, if anywhere, do you not feel safe? What changes can you make to enhance your feeling of safety? 3. Briefly describe the first place in your home you are going to organize and why. How will your creativity be expressed in this project?
11 Watch the Video: Essential Feng Shui Basics @ Home Essential Feng Shui Basics @ Home Tour I ve worked with people from all walks of life, living in all kinds of homes, and with few exceptions, they call me because they re unhappy there is something about their lives that isn t working. They may be getting divorced, have chronic health problems, or hate their jobs. They may be tormented by the past, confused by the present, or scared of the future. Whatever the challenge, I introduce them to a new way of seeing and addressing their woes. Until their Feng Shui appointment, most of my clients thought their emotional and spiritual life was completely separate from their home environment. The Feng Shui premise that happiness and environment are two forces of nature who are intimately connected is a brand new idea. The realization that their homes can literally strengthen or weaken their health, wealth, and happiness brings with it a significant shift in perception. When these individuals open their Feng Shui eyes, they can no longer view their homes as just things or their belongings as just inanimate stuff. Their homes, and all the possessions within them, suddenly come alive and are intimately connected to their quality of life. They see that their difficulties are not separate from, but actually held in place by, their homes. Thus, the vital connection between the people and the beings they call home begins. As they embrace their connection with their homes, feelings of isolation and disconnection transform into personal power and creativity. The wind of their intentions becomes purposeful as it s directed across the water of their homes. This brings the seen and the unseen forces into harmony, and as a result, life changes for the better. As a holistic art and science, Feng Shui is meant to balance and harmonize your inner and outer domains. In our culture, as Feng Shui has become more popular, so has the tendency to make it strictly an outer quick fix practice. I see all kinds of Feng Shui embellishments popping up in people s homes that are supposed to create instant cash, jobs, or love. People stand back, arms crossed over their chests, feet tapping, impatiently waiting for Santa Feng Shui to magically appear. They don t realize that they breathe the magic into the changes they want in life. Their embellishments remain like a still pool, until touched by the vital breath of intention and focus. Only then, when their purpose and clarity join forces with their enhancements, will positive and lasting changes occur.
12 The Essential Feng Shui Foundational Questions Please answer the following questions and submit them for Certification: 1. List what in your home, and in your life, is harmonious. 2. List what in your home, and in your life, is not harmonious. 3. Describe the first thing you are going to do to bring more harmony into your home and your life.
13 ESSENTIAL FENG SHUI DE-CLUTTERING GUIDELINES Clutter = Items that are disliked, unused, in excess, and/or disorganized. Choose a space that you consider cluttered, such as a closet, storeroom, cabinet, desk drawer, table top, or kitchen cupboard. Label 3 boxes or bags: 1. Throwaway 2. Giveaway 3. Stowaway Ask yourself these questions about each item, and place it in the appropriate container until the space is empty: associate with it? o, when and where is it going? When you have separated all items into one of the 3 categories: 1. Put the Throwaways in the trash immediately! 2. Prepare and label the Giveaways to go to their new home - friends, family, charity, etc. - and make sure to remove them from your space within a week. 3. Stowaway the items you are keeping to their proper places with love and gratitude. Congratulations! Watch for the helpful people, opportunities, and things that flow into your life because you have let go of the old and made room for the new.
14 The Clutter Clearing Questions Please answer the following questions and submit them for Certification: 1. Take an hour to an entire weekend to clear the clutter from an area in your home. Which area in your home did you de-clutter? 2. How did you feel during the process? How did you feel when it was complete?
15 Listen to the Audio Program: Yin and Yang as Romantic Partners: An Essential Lecture and Meditation Yin and Yang We are the Goldilocks species, meaning that we like our environments to be not too cold or hot, not too dark or light, not too small or large, but juuussst right. We like a balance between the two extremes called Yin and Yang. On one extreme, Yin is associated with curved shapes and small, cold, dark, wet, or ornate settings and items. On the other extreme, Yang is associated with angular shapes and large, light, hot, or open settings and items. Feng Shui observes that the more extreme our home designs are, the more uncomfortable they may feel to us. Most people are happiest and most comfortable with a balanced mix of Yin and Yang features in their environments. Western architecture and design is often quite Yang, with a plethora of angles, high ceilings, big pieces of furniture, huge windows, and sharp corners. In the midst of this, it s easy to see why Feng Shui practitioners often suggest softer, rounder, more Yin shapes and furnishings to balance those Yang environments. We may love high ceilings, huge white expanses, and bright lights in our art galleries, churches, and shopping malls, but at some point, we re ready to return to the cozy, comfortable place we call home where everything s just right. Although our culture tends to lean toward Yang architecture, the Yin extreme can also be found. Picture a room that is small and cave-like; with dark furniture, dim lighting, and a low ceiling. Many basements are like this. Yang components, such as additional lighting; large mirrors; and warm, light colors are needed to balance the many Yin features. Much more common is the room that is large and angular, with a high ceiling, white walls, big windows, sizeable art pieces, and light-colored furniture. Here, Yin components such as rounded tables; ornate window treatments; rugs; and dark, rich colors are needed to create balance and comfort. Each room in your home needs to be approached individually. A bedroom can be quite Yin soft duvets, ornate patterns, fluffy pillows, low lighting and still be comfortable because its function as a place to rest and rejuvenate is primarily Yin. Even so, there s always a balance. Too many pillows, too many little bottles on the bureau, and too many layers of lace and fabric can tilt the balance. On the other hand, a home office, with its Yang components such as a large desk, bright lights, and business equipment, can be just what you need to get the job done. However, too many sharp angles and hard surfaces can leave you feeling irritated and stressed out. When Yin and Yang are balanced, you experience each room in your home as comfortable and beautiful a personal paradise that nourishes and protects your health, happiness, and prosperity.
16 Lifestyle Balance Analysis Please score yourself 1 to 5 on both sides of the following list to determine the Yin and Yang influences in your current lifestyle. If your weekdays are very different from your weekends, score your lifestyle from a weekday perspective and then score it again from a weekend perspective to see how they compare. Please write a few sentences about what you discovered and any changes you made as a result. 1 Rarely or Never 2 Sometimes 3 About half the time 4 Often 5 Very Often or Always The way I live my life is to: Spend lots of time at home Rest/Sleep/Nap Give time to myself Work Alone Hang out alone Have quiet intimate conversations Meditate, journal, reflect Read silently Lounge Speak softly Listen more than talk Feel grounded Feel relaxed Feel calm Drink non-caffeine drinks Prepare home-cooked meals Dine leisurely Take a leisurely bath Leave plenty of time Be organized Do one thing at a time Drive at the speed limit Engage in quiet pastimes Listen to relaxing music Relax in the garden Get a full nights sleep TOTAL YIN Spend lots of time away from home Work/Be active Give time to others Work with other people Socialize and Entertain Have loud animated conversations Move, dance, exercise Read aloud Do chores Speak loudly Talk more than listen Feel spacey Feel stressed Feel excited Drink caffeine drinks Eat already prepared foods Eat on the go Take a quick shower Rush to be on time Be disorganized Do many things at one time Drive faster than the speed limit Engage in lively activities Listen to fast music Work in the garden Go to bed late and get up early YANG My favorite Activity is My favorite way to Relax is
17 Room Balance Analysis Use the following list to assess the current Yin/Yang balance of each room in your home. If you have equal amounts of a given feature, such as both small and large art, circle both. If there s a category that doesn t exist in a room, simply move to the next one. Please write a few sentences about what you discovered about one room and any changes you made as a result. Name of the Room Room size Small Large Location in House Quiet/private Noisy/busy Room s View Intimate/private Grand Room s View Natural Houses/buildings/street Ceiling Low High Natural Light Low Bright Electrical Light Dim Bright Open floor space Small Amounts Large expanses Floors Carpeting/area rugs Tile/cement/wood/stone Wall colors Medium, dark or muted Light or bright Furniture Many pieces Few pieces Furniture colors Medium, dark or muted Light or bright Furniture and décor Small Large Furniture and décor Low High Seating Soft, padded Hard, unpadded Furniture shapes Curved, rounded lines Straight, angular lines Patterns Floral Geometric Fabrics Textured Smooth/shiny Design Elaborate/layered/ornate Plain/simple/uncomplicated Displayed collections Many Few or none Art Many pieces Few or no pieces Art Small Large Pillows Many Few or none Books Many Few or none Mirrors Small Large Plants Many Few or none Storage areas & closets Organized Chaotic/disorganized TOTAL YIN YANG Consider: Where in your home is there an open invitation to relax? Where in your home is there an open invitation to be active?
18 Listen to the Audio Program: Essential Feng Shui Ch i Enhancements Essential Feng Shui Ch i Enhancements Feng Shui focuses on enhancing the harmony and vitality of your environment. Surrounding yourself with things that lift your spirits and deepen your love for life is a primary goal. So romance your home and yourself by living with things that enhance the Ch i. Surround yourself with only those items that pass the I love this! test. Some people like to fill a room with big plants and bright fabrics, while others prefer a single floral arrangement and muted colors. One couple actually chose a large model of the USS Enterprise to enhance their Wealth and Prosperity area, since Star Trek made them feel rich and powerful. This was a creative choice that I would never have imagined, but it worked for them! Ch i is always enhanced by your joy, inspiration, and creativity. Feng Shui invites you to pour your individuality into your home room by room in exactly the way you find most appealing.
19 FENG SHUI CH I ENHANCEMENTS Crystals Round and faceted to circulate Ch i Lighting Electric, candles, oil, natural sunlight Living Things Plants, flowers, animals Mirrors In general, the bigger, the better, except in bedroom Objects of Nature Rocks, shells, potpourri, seeds, pods, etc. Sound Makers Wind chimes, bells, music, instruments Water Features Fountains, waterfalls, ponds, birdbaths, etc. Wind Dancers Mobiles, whirligigs, flags, banners, weathervanes Art Paintings, sculptures, collages, collections, textiles. Colors Surround yourself with the ones you love! Elemental Associations: Wood = Blues & Greens Fire = Reds Earth = Yellows & Earth tones Metal = White & Pastels Water = Black & Dark tones Live with what you love!
20 The Ch i Enhancements Questions Please answer the following questions and submit them for Certification: 1. What are 3 of your favorite Ch i Enhancements? 2. Describe them and where they are in your home. 3. Are there additional Ch i enhancements you d like to bring into your home, as if so, what are they?
21 Listen to the Audio Program: The Five Elements The Five Elements In Feng Shui, the elements Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water are considered the basic building blocks of everything physical on the planet. They manifest in countless ways and combinations all around us. Feng Shui observes that human beings are made up of all Five Elements, and therefore, we are most comfortable when they re all present in our homes. The fastest way to learn how to work with the elements is to observe them in your home. Although many people can sense when an environment is out of balance, they often don t know exactly how to fix it. Would red or blue be good here? Should the table be round or rectangular? Is a mirror or artwork best there? Questions such as these are easily answered when you know how to read the elements, making them one of your most intriguing Feng Shui tools. Learn how to recognize and combine the Five Elements, and you ll be able to see exactly what each room needs to bring it into perfect balance. An Overall Elemental Reading To determine the elemental balance of a room, use the following Five Elements list of associations in order to take an overall reading. Note the things made out of the elements themselves, such as wooden or metal furnishings. Find those items that are associated with an element such as a marble tabletop (Metal), a mirror (Water), or plants (Wood). Look for colors associated with each element, such as red (Fire), blues and greens (Wood), or yellow (Earth). Note that the darker a color gets, the more Watery it becomes, such as black, navy blue, and dark brown; while the lighter a color gets, the more it becomes associated with Metal. Look at your artwork to see what element it portrays, such as a Fiery sunset painting or a Watery oceanscape. Take an overall reading, and note whether there are elements that dominate, are barely represented, or are missing entirely from the room. One of my clients lives in a beautiful home near the ocean. As I looked at her living room, I could see that all the elements except Earth were perfectly represented. Unlike most rooms, there were no square furnishings or decorations. Except for a book, and picture frames here and there, everything was soft and rounded, with no yellow or earthtones in sight. I asked her if she had a piece of yellow cloth. She produced a golden yellow T-shirt and we draped it around a sofa pillow. The effect was stunning. The whole room suddenly had a center, a place from which everything else pivoted and flowed. All the room needed was one simple addition to bring it into perfect balance.
22
23 The Wood Element Energetically, the Wood element fosters your intuition, creativity, flexibility, and expansion. When there s too much Wood in an environment, it can promote a sense of being overwhelmed and a feeling of overcommitment, while too little Wood can stagnate growth and impede intuitive and creative flow. The Wood element is found in: wooden furniture, paneling, and accessories. all plants and flowers, including silk, plastic, and dried plant material. plant-based cloth and textiles such as cotton and rayon. floral upholstery, wall coverings, draperies, and linens. art portraying landscapes, gardens, plants, and flowers. columnar shapes, such as pillars, pedestals, and poles. stripes. blue and green tones The Fire Element The Fire element activates leadership qualities and kindles healthy emotional interactions between people. Too much Fire in an environment stimulates or amplifies aggression, impatience, and impulsive behavior, while too little Fire can promote emotional darkness or coldness. The Fire element is found in: lighting, including electric, oil, candles, fireplaces, and natural sunlight. items from animals, such as fur, suede, leather, bone, feathers, silk, and wool pets and wildlife. art portraying people or animals. art depicting sunshine, fire, or other illumination. triangles, pyramids, and cone shapes. all red tones, including pink, red orange, magenta, and maroon. The Earth Element The Earth element enhances physical strength, sensuality, order, practicality, and stability. Too much Earth in a home creates an atmosphere that is heavy, serious, or conservative, while too little of the Earth element promotes instability, clutter, and chaos. The Earth element is found in: adobe, brick, and tile. ceramics and earthenware objects. square and rectangular shapes. art portraying earthy landscapes, such as deserts or fertile fields. yellow and all earth tones.
24 The Metal Element The Metal element enhances mental acuity and independence, and strengthens presence of mind, even in times of stress. Too much Metal creates mental rigidity, stubbornness, lack of teamwork, and the inability to compromise; while too little Metal promotes indecisiveness, procrastination, and confusion. The Metal element is found in: all metals, including stainless steel, copper, brass, iron, silver, aluminum, and gold. cement, rocks, and stones including marble, granite, and flagstone. natural crystals and gemstones. art and sculpture made from metal or stone. circular, oval, and arched shapes. white and light pastel colors. The Water Element The Water element enhances spirituality, inspiration, relaxation, and the ability to go with the flow. Too much Water in an environment can promote spaciness and diminish productivity, while too little Water encourages stress, rivalry, anxiety, pettiness, and sarcasm. The Water element is found in: streams, pools, fountains, and water features of all kinds. reflective surfaces such as cut crystal, glass, and mirrors. flowing, free-form, and asymmetrical shapes. art portraying bodies of water. black and all dark tones, such as charcoal gray and navy blue. Artful Elemental Combinations As you are learning to identify the Five Elements, you ll notice that there are many things that combine several, or all of them. An aquarium, traditionally favored in Feng Shui for its Ch i-enhancing qualities, gathers all the elements together in one pleasing combination. Aquariums are one of countless ways in which you can harmoniously bring all the elements together. Figures 3B and 3C show examples of how you can create Five Element groupings in your home by working with your own favorite colors, cherishables, and furnishings As you can see, the Five Elements can really help you decide what colors and shapes to choose when creating beautiful arrangements anywhere in your home. Five Element arrangements can be made in any room and can be any size that s appropriate for the space. I often suggest that people put together an elemental arrangement of objects in areas that need energizing, such as a garage, spare bedroom, or basement. This positive action marks the beginning of change and stimulates the Ch i so that it s easier for people to organize these areas.
25 The Nourishing Cycle of the Five Elements When you bring the Five Elements into a room, you are tapping into their Nourishing Cycle, where each element feeds and sustains the other in perfect harmony. Water sustains Wood; Wood feeds Fire; Fire makes Earth; Earth creates Metal; and Metal holds Water. The Nourishing Cycle shows us how the elements strengthen and nurture each other in an endless regenerating sequence. When all five are present in an environment, a natural balance is achieved. The Controlling Cycle of the Five Elements In the Controlling Cycle, we see how the elements dominate and control each other. In this cycle, Wood consumes Earth; Earth dams Water; Water extinguishes Fire; Fire melts Metal; and Metal cuts Wood. The Controlling Cycle is regarded as a powerful guide for establishing elemental harmony, and is present in many of the places we consider the most beautiful. A palm tree oasis in the desert is a perfect example of Wood consuming Earth, while a tropical island in crystal-clear water is essentially Earth damming Water. Nature constantly provides us with examples of how the Controlling Cycle of the elements can create harmony and beauty. It s also very useful to be aware of the Controlling Cycle when you re balancing the elements in your home. When one element is especially dominant, the Controlling Cycle will show you the element that can quickly balance the Ch i. Once you have balanced the dominant element with its controlling partner, you can turn to the Nourishing Cycle and further refine your elemental work. I worked with a home where the living room was dominated by Earth. The decor included square tile floors, stucco walls, dark beige-checked couches, brown chairs, small square area rugs in various earthtones, and many small earthenware accessories. The furniture was arranged in a tight square around a large rectangular table made up of ceramic tiles. On the wall behind the sofa hung a painting of the desert. So much Earth gave the space a heavy, boxed-in feeling, which matched the way the owners felt in their home. To balance the Earth, they needed to first introduce the element that controlled Earth, which is Wood. They added turquoise pillows to the sofa, a large textured rug in blues and greens beneath the coffee table, and several large plants. Turning to the Nourishing Cycle, they fed the Wood element with Water by replacing their desert painting with a large mirror and adding a small tabletop waterfall. They also introduced the Metal element by framing that mirror in a gilt frame and arranging the plants in round metal pots. Lamplight, natural light, and touches of coral painted on their ceramics brought in plenty of Fire, which by nature strengthens Earth. They also opened up the boxy Earthy furniture arrangement by turning the two brown chairs at a diagonal, giving them a peripheral view of the door. As a finishing touch,
26 they ran a turquoise table runner diagonally across the coffee table to soften two of the corners. With these changes, their once-constricted living room became very comfortable, inviting a more spontaneous and enjoyable lifestyle. Elemental extremes abound in our architecture and rooms. Monochromatic motifs, and the constant repeating of one shape, are two things I often see in people s homes. Although the effect may be perceived as quite trendy or dramatic, most people will not find comfort there, because on the elemental level, one is dominating while the others are missing. Remember, your ultimate goal is to bring all Five Elements into balance in every room. It s remarkable to witness the difference this makes in the perceived comfort of a room. Elemental Fluency Practice identifying the Five Elements, and study their interplay in your home, your friends homes, restaurants, stores, and in your workplace. As you do, you are learning an important part of Feng Shui alchemy. There is a magical moment when you realize that you have become fluent in a language that benefits you and everyone around you. And from that point forward, you ll be able to create environments that are balanced and vibrant in every way.
27 A QUICK REFERENCE FOR WORKING WITH THE CONTROLLING CYCLE OF THE FIVE ELEMENTS When the dominating element is Wood: Bring in the Controlling element of Metal, Highlight with Earth and Fire, Refine as needed with touches of Water. When the dominant element is Fire: Bring in the Controlling element of Water, Highlight with Metal and Earth, Refine as needed with touches of Wood. When the dominant element is Earth: Bring in the Controlling element of Wood, Highlight with Metal and Water, Refine as needed with touches of Fire. When the dominant element is Metal: Bring in the Controlling element of Fire, Highlight with Water and Wood, Refine as needed with touches of Earth. When the dominant element is Water: Bring in the Controlling element of Earth, Highlight with Wood and Fire, Refine as needed with touches of Metal.
28 The Five Element Questions Please answer the following questions and submit them for Certification: 1. Choose any room in your home. Using the list of each element s associations in this Workbook, make note of the elements that are currently present in the room. 2. Are there one or more elements that dominate the room? 3. What changes, if any, would you make for it to be more elementally balanced?
29 Attend the Bagua Map Online Course The Bagua Map Online Course Arranging an environment to hold happiness in place is the primary goal of Essential Feng Shui, and one of the most intriguing tools we utilize is the Bagua Map. Many people discover that their challenges in life are directly related to the Bagua areas in their homes that they dislike, don t use, or are cluttered. It s also a very useful tool when building or remodeling a home. Print and insert your Bagua Map Online Course Workbook alongside this Workbook. For a Certificate of Completion, submit the Bagua Map Online Course Final Assessments prior to or in addition to the Basics @ Home Assessment.
30
31 Listen to the Audio Program: Essential Feng Shui Walk Essential Feng Shui Review and More As you open your Feng Shui Eyes, you may see many things that you can do to enhance your environment. However, in almost every case, there are one or two glaring challenges that need to be worked with first. When these primary challenges are balanced, the flow of Ch'i is enhanced and your ability to accomplish other suggestions is strengthened. Therefore, it's important to prioritize your Feng Shui tasks, knowing what to do first, and then how to proceed from there. 1. Address and enhance Bagua areas of the structure. Make sure a whole shape is in some way anchored, using indoor, outdoor, or transcendental enhancements. Pay special attention to Bagua areas corresponding to your challenges or problems. 2. Enhance the Bagua in each room. As above, pay special attention to Bagua areas corresponding to your issues. Choosing personalized enhancements. 3. Balance extremes and put safety and comfort first - look for sharp objects, angles and corners, too much/too little/uncomfortable furniture and lighting, seats and beds with no view of the door, blocked entries, pathways and hallways, heavy overhead objects, etc. 4. Balance the Elements. Ideally, there are yin and yang representatives of all five elements in all spaces, reflecting your own style and taste. 5. Question room usage. Are all rooms being used to your satisfaction? Are there rooms that would function better for you (i.e. turning a guestroom into a home office, etc.)? 6. Thoroughly organize every indoor and outdoor space. Closets, garage, kitchen, storage areas, basements, attics, drawers and jewelry boxes - there's no place to hide from "Feng Shui Eyes!
32 7. Highlight the importance of living with what you love, and letting go of the rest. Make sure all your material possessions, including furniture and art, are enhancing the Ch'i and have pleasant memories or feelings attached to them. Each item is essentially an "environmental affirmation" in your life. Letting go of the old attracts the new. 8. Creatively express yourself in your environment. Play music, dance, arrange flowers, make art, create blessings, cook, entertain, decorate for the seasons, enjoy hobbies of all kinds. Once you are organized, creativity and self-expression can blossom. Keep in mind the basic philosophy of Essential Feng Shui - That everything is alive, connected and always changing, to live with what they love, address safety and comfort in all rooms, and get organized. Give yourself positive feedback and encouragement as possible, and receive praise and compliments with gratitude!
33 The Essential Feng Shui Review and More Questions Please answer the following questions and submit them for Certification: 1. Return to your list of harmonious areas in your home and life. Use your Essential Feng Shui tools (Ch i Enhancements, Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, and the Bagua Map) and make note of the correlations between these harmonious areas of your home and your life. 2. Return to your list of inharmonious areas in your home and life. Use your Essential Feng Shui tools (Ch i Enhancements, Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, and the Bagua Map) and make note of the correlations between these inharmonious areas of your home and your life. 3. What is the first step you have taken or will take to bring about more harmony? How will it look and feel when it is harmonious?
34 Essential Feng Shui Basics @ Home Program Evaluation Form Please use an additional page if more space is needed. 1. Thoughts and feelings about the topics covered in this Program: Rate on a scale, 10 being the highest: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 2. Thoughts and feelings about the usefulness of this Program: Rate on a scale, 10 being the highest: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 3. Thoughts, feelings, or reflections about my overall experience of this Program: 4. I suggest these enhancements be made in future Programs: 5. Here are comments that you may quote in future promotional materials: 6. If the above quotation is used, you may attribute it to me by name or initial:
35 Western School of Feng Shui Recommended Reading List 7. Books by Terah Kathryn Collins: The Three Sisters of the Tao; Essential Conversations with Chinese Medicine, I Ching and Feng Shui Terah Kathryn Collins. Hay House Publishing The Western Guide to Feng Shui for Romance Terah Kathryn Collins. The Western Guide to Feng Shui for Prosperity Terah Kathryn Collins. Hay House Publishing The Western Guide to Feng Shui; Room by Room Terah Kathryn Collins. Hay House Publishing Home Design with Feng Shui A-Z Terah Kathryn Collins. Hay House Publishing The Western Guide to Feng Shui; Creating Balance, Harmony, and Prosperity in Your Environment Terah Kathryn Collins. Hay House Publishing The Architecture of Happiness Alain de Botton. Pantheon Ask and It Is Given Jerry and Esther Hicks. Hay House Publishing Attracting Perfect Customers, The Power of Strategic Synchronicity Stacey Hall & Jan Brogniez. Berrett Koehler The Code of the Goddess, Sacred Earth Feng Shui Oracle Carol Bridges. Earth Nation Publishing The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity Catherine Ponder. DeVorss & Co. Feng Shui at Home Carol Soucek King. St. Martin s Press Feng Shui Chic Sharon Stasney. Sterling Publishers Feng Shui Design Sarah Rossbach and Lin Yun. Viking Feng Shui Directory Jane Butler-Biggs. Watson-Guptill Feng Shui For the Soul Denise Linn. Hay House Inc. Publishing Feng Shui Made Easy William Spear. HarperCollins Publishers The Five Spirits, Alchemical Acupuncture for Psychological & Spiritual Healing Lorie Eve Dechar. Lantern Books A Guide to the I Ching Carol K. Anthony. Anthony Publishing The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes, Theodora Lau. Harper & Row Healing Yourself the Cosmic Way, Based on the I Ching Carol K. Anthony & Hanna Moog. Anthony Publishing The Healthy Home Workbook Kimberly Rider. Chronicle Books Hidden Messages in Water Masaru Emoto. Beyond Words Publishing A Home for the Soul Anthony Lawlor. Clarkson N. Potter Publishers House Thinking, A Room-by-Room Look at How We Live Winifred Gallagher. Harper Collins How to Grow Fresh Air Dr. B.C. Wolverton. Penguin Books I Ching The Oracle of the Cosmic Way Carol K. Anthony & Hanna Moog. Anthony Publishing Interior Design with Feng Shui Sarah Rossbach. Arkana Books A Pattern Language Christopher Alexander. Oxford University The Philosophy of the I Ching Carol K. Anthony. Anthony Publishing The Re-Enchantment of Everyday Life Thomas Moore. Harper Perennial Sacred Space Denise Linn. Ballantine Books The Secret Life of Inanimate Objects Lyall Watson. Destiny Books Sell Your House Faster with Feng Shui Holly Ziegler. Wiley Press A Soul in Place Carol Bridges. Earth Nation Publishing Space Clearing Denise Linn, Contemporary Books Space Clearing A-Z Denise Linn. Hay House Publishing Spirit Gardens: Rekindling our Nature Connection Minnie Kansman. Devas Publishing The Timeless Way of Building Christopher Alexander. Oxford University Press Traditional Acupuncture: The Law of the Five Elements Diane M. Connelly, Ph.D., M.Ac., T.A.I. Inst. What Color is Your Slipcover? How Discovering Your Design Personality Can Help You Create the Home of Your Dreams Denny Daikeler. Rodale Publishing
36 Essential Feng Shui Basics @ Home Program Final Assessment, pg. 1 Please mark the correct answer and submit for a Certification of Completion. 1) The ideal setting for a home includes: a) A hill that drops away behind the house b) A hill that rises up behind the house c) A clear view into the neighbors side yards 2) When architecture includes sharp corners and angles, it is best to: a) Accentuate them in some way b) Repeat the same sharp lines in the landscape design c) Introduce soft, round shapes into the landscape design 3) When choosing tables, look for those with: a) Sharp corners b) Rounded corners c) Metal braces 4) A front gate helps to: a) Delineate public and private space b) Prevent vital energy from flowing to the front door c) Reroute people away from the house 5) The front entrance area can be enhanced with a) A water feature that flows away from the house b) Healthy plants c) Any kind of wind chime 6) Front doors are best: a) Painted bright red b) Painted the same color as the house c) Painted any favorite color 7) A foyer area can be defined with: a) The back of a sofa b) A large plant just inside the door c) Shelves or cabinets 8) Televisions are best placed: a) Inside a cabinet b) Out in the open c) On top of a bookshelf 9) An inviting dining room includes: a) A large mirror b) Comfortable seating for everyone at the table c) Comfortable seating for the head of the household 10) A mirror used for grooming is correctly hung when it: a) Reflects at least your head and above b) Reflects your forehead and below c) Reflects your shoulders and below 11) A kitchen counter is a good place for: a) All of your kitchen appliances b) The appliances you use on a daily basis c) Your knives 12) A kitchen stove is best placed: a) Where the cook has an excellent view of the room b) Anywhere that s close to the sink c) Against a wall 13) The dining experience can be enhanced with: a) Padded chairs b) Bright lighting c) Art depicting activity 14) The best place for a desk is: a) Against a wall b) As an island or peninsula in the room c) Behind the door into the room 15) A bathroom can be immediately improved by: a) Leaving the light on b) Putting a water feature on the counter c) Keeping the toilet lid closed 16) Another way to enhance a bathroom is to: a) Paint it a favorite color b) Add white towels c) Display a large selection of shampoo bottles
37 Essential Feng Shui Basics @ Home Final Assessment, pg. 2 17) A master bedroom can be made more inviting by: a) Changing the bed linen to grey tones b) Installing mirrored closet doors c) Displaying romantic art 18) Single people can make room for a new partner by: a) Including exercise equipment in the bedroom b) Putting a nightstand on both sides of the bed c) Switching to pure white bed linens 19) Children s bedrooms are best when they have: a) An action-figure motif b) Neon red, blue, or yellow bed linens c) Predominantly soft teddy bear colors 20) Beds are best placed: a) Against a wall b) Under a window c) So that you can t see the door from it 21) Closets and storage areas require organization when: a) The seasons change b) They irritate, confuse, or overwhelm you c) After a vacation 22) A garage is best when it is: a) The most beautiful place in your home b) Organized and functional c) A storage area for giveaways 23) Ideally, your environment reflects: a) Your unique preferences and interests b) The latest home design styles c) How other people think it should be 24) Ch i enhancements: a) Enhance the harmony of your environment b) Must be received as gifts from others c) Work the best when they are expensive 25) The best Ch i enhancements: a) Are purchased b) Express your unique tastes and preferences c) Are heirlooms 26) The Essential Feng Shui Five Elements include: a) Earth, Air, and Water b) Wood, Ether, and Metal c) Fire, Water, and Earth 27) The Wood element is associated with: a) Circles b) Pillars c) Squares 28) Symbols of the Metal Element are: a) Stone b) Mirrors c) Garden art 29) The Fire Element is associated with: a) Black b) Wavy patterns c) Animals 30) The Water Element is symbolized by: a) People s faces b) Glass c) Turquoise
38 PROJECT COVER SHEET Essential Feng Shui Basics @ Home Program Certificate of Completion Name (As you would like it to appear on your Certificate of Completion. Please print clearly.) Address City State Zip Phone Website Email Certification Requirements: Principles Questions, pg. 10 Foundational Questions, pg. 12 Lifestyle Balance Analysis, pg. 16 Room Balance Analysis, pg. 17, pg. 20 ons, pg. 28 which must be completed and submitted in order to earn a Certificate for the Basics @ Home Program. Please submit the Bagua requirements first or simultaneously. Essential Feng Shui Review and More Questions, pg. 33 Basics @ Home Program Final Assessment, pg. 36 Please scan the originals altogether into a single pdf and email as an attachment to: support@wsfs.com Subject Line: Basics Certificate Upon review and successful completion of your materials, your Certificate of Completion will be emailed to you within 30 days of receipt. We look forward to providing you with the best in Essential Feng Shui Educational Programs! Many Blessings, Western School of Feng Shui For Reviewer only, please: Reviewed by Feedback/Questions/Comments: Certification date