Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese practice of improving the flow of energy or ch’i, around you to enhance your life. Part of feng shui’s goal is to create a habitat that is enticing rather than irritating. Traditional feng shui guidelines take into account compass directions, colors, natural elements such as wood, minerals, fire, water and earth and aspirations such as wealth and prosperity. According to feng shui different parts of your home and office represent different areas of your life such as career, wealth, reputation, health and love.

Traditional feng shui experts say the southeast corner of your home is your wealth area. Other feng shui experts say the far left corner of your home and far left corner of every room are your wealth areas. Terah Kathryn Collins, the author of “The Western Guide to Feng Shui for Prosperity” says the wealth area is in the top left corner. She says to identify this area you should draw an imaginary box around the structure of your home then divide that equally into nine squares, like a tic-tac-toe board. Use the main entrance as your starting point. The farthest left corner from that is your wealth area. So who is correct? I don’t know all the texts seem to be split down the middle. Half say the left corner, half say the southeast corner. I know I need all the help I can get in the prosperity and wealth areas so I’ll be working on both areas.

The wealth area of your home may be in an area you wouldn’t think of doing anything special to like a closet, storage room or garage, but with feng shui no area is overlooked. If your wealth and prosperity section does fall into one of those strange areas you should still do all you can to enhance it according to feng shui guidelines.

Feng shui guidelines state that the first thing you should do to bring abundance and prosperity your way is to clear away all clutter. Clutter is usually negatively impacts a person. It can stop you from moving forward. It keeps you locked in the past. Clutter can stop you from creating the financial life you want. A cluttered environment doesn’t allow anything new to flow in and that directly affects your finances. You should clear the clutter everywhere in your home so wealth and abundance can enter your life. Yes, it means cleaning out your closets, storage rooms, attic, garage, basement and even those junk drawers. Not only should you get rid of all that physical clutter, you should work on the mental clutter as well. You might need to reprogram how you think and feel about abundance, wealth and prosperity. If you see money as evil you will not let yourself be wealthy. Open yourself to financial abundance. You must let go of any negative feelings you have about money. Believe that you deserve to be wealthy, that you deserve to have abundance and prosperity.

Money has a lot of power. It allows us freedom. If we don’t have enough money we constantly worry about not having enough. Instead of worrying about not having enough money you should visualize yourself having an overabundance of money, see all your pockets overflowing with money. Think it then have it.

Once you have cleared out all the mental and physical clutter you need to make sure it is clean then make it enticing by using certain elements to enhance your wealth sectors and increase the flow of positive energy to bring abundance.

You want to locate those wealth areas, whether it be the southeast corner or the far left corners of your home and the corresponding corners of every room and use feng shui elements to increase the energy there. Symbols are very important in the Chinese culture. Many things symbolically represent certain things and are taken very seriously. Feng shui incorporates the use of many things symbolically.

Water is the main element that brings wealth to your home. Water should be clear, moving and free flowing. Think peaceful and relaxing. A fish tank is one way to stimulate your wealth areas. Make sure fish are healthy and strong and always keep the tank clean. You can display pictures of water scenes, especially ones displaying abundance like a fisherman bringing in a big haul of fish. A water feature such as a fountain is one way to keep your abundance flowing. A picture of flowing water will work if you can not place a fountain in that area. Make sure you do not have vases of stagnant water and do not display photos or paintings of violent storms or other disturbing water scenes and do not use water elements in bedrooms, this will have a negative impact on your finances.

enhance your wealth corners you can hang wind chimes, have a hanging mobile, hang Chinese coins tied with red ribbon - if you do this make sure you use coins in the increments of 3, 6, or 8 with 8 being the most powerful money manifesting number. Plants with round leaves are another good way to enhance your wealth area according to feng shui guidelines. If the plants have red or purple flowers that is even better. In your wealth and prosperity area make sure to include photos or representations of things you want, goals, or representations of abundance and prosperity. Harvest scenes indicate abundance. You can put photos up of the new car or house you are working towards. Anything that represents richness to you, like a jewelry box, should be placed in your wealth areas. Other general enhancements for wealth are seashells or fish sculptures, healthy plants, Austrian crystals, and most of all colors. The best colors for the wealth area are green, red, purple, brown, black and gold, with the most effective colors being red, green and brown. Brown is said to draw wealth to you like a magnet. Another thing to do is make sure all doors open fully, you don’t want a door that will not open all the way. This could affect your ability to make a comfortable living.

There are specific things you can do in certain rooms to increase your wealth and prosperity. The kitchen is a very important room whether it is in your main wealth sector or not. You should focus on using positive feng shui elements in the wealth corner of the room and throughout the entire kitchen. First of all make sure your plumbing is in good working order, this also goes for your bathroom and anywhere else you have water fixtures. A dripping faucet is symbolically and literally money going down the drain. You should also keep your drains plugged when not in use. This keeps money in your possession. You do not want to accumulate wealth then have it go down the drain. Other things you should do in your kitchen to attract wealth are place a small bowl overflowing with fruit on a kitchen table or island to make it look like you have an excess of produce. The Chinese believe the stove has a direct connection to wealth so make sure to keep your stove and burners in good working condition and keep them very clean. You can also hang or place a mirror on your stove to double the number of burners seen and therefore increasing your prosperity. Keep a copper, silver, or brass teapot in your kitchen. Have many jars of spices and jars filled with pasta, both of these symbolize wealth.

In your kitchen, bathroom or any room that has large amounts of water you should use earth tones on the walls and floors. According to feng shui principles this will dam the water so you can hold onto your money longer. Make it a habit to always close the toilet lid when not in use so your money doesn’t get flushed away and you should keep bathroom doors closed and very clean.

Feng shui guidelines mention other things you can do to enhance your wealth and prosperity like placing a mirror in your dining room to make your table appear larger. Put a wind chime on the ceiling in your work area to attract wisdom and good ch’i. In your bedroom you should put all your valuables such as your jewelry boxes, safes, or piggy bank in the far left corner of the room. In your living room hang a round clear crystal on an 18 inch red cord in the far left corner to give your wealth a boost. Natural elements like hand woven rugs, cotton upholstery, straw baskets, galvanized metals, and earthenware products can improve your financial prospects. If you enjoy citrus scents use them in the forms of candles, potpourri, and essential oils to activate your wealth sectors. Place four pieces of peridot stones in a wooden bowl in your wealth corner or keep a vase filled with Asters or wildflowers to increase your income.

Feng shui principles can even be incorporated outside your home, in your yard to attract wealth and prosperity. A fountain can be placed in front of your home, the water should flow inward towards your home. Make sure you turn it off at night to let the energies rest. If the southeast corner of your backyard slopes down and away from the house, put a light there to shine uphill. This sends wealth up to you. Place a windmill, weathervane, or any moving, spinning object in the far left corner of your backyard to stimulate energy and attract wealth.

You have nothing to lose by incorporating the principles and guidelines of feng shui in your home. I know I’m willing to try anything and if all else fails at least I’ll have gotten rid of all that clutter I’ve been meaning to get rid of anyway and my house will be clean and organized.