Feng Shui for Real Life

Santa Fe, New Mexico—The shape of the traditional Christmas tree is a powerful symbol of wealth in Feng Shui, and where you place your tree this year can help attract prosperity into your life.

According to Certified Feng Shui Practitioner Carol M. Olmstead, the triangular shape of a Christmas tree is considered a symbol of “fire” in Feng Shui, and the best place for this symbol is in the room that occupies the upper left hand corner of your home. “This is considered the ‘Wealth Area’ of a home where triangular shapes and objects composed of wood are especially powerful,” says Olmstead. “Placing your tree in this location will attract wealth and prosperity into the house.”

Feng Shui (pronounced “fung shway”) is the art and science of arranging your interior surroundings in harmony and balance with the natural world around you. Based on an ancient Chinese practice, modern Feng Shui offers common sense guidance for placing furniture and objects and for using color, which is especially important during the holiday season when we add new colors and shapes to our homes.

Olmstead acknowledges that not everyone can place their tree in the perfect spot, especially if a family has a tradition of displaying the tree in the same room each year. If you must place a tree in another area of your home, Olmstead recommends these Feng Shui tips to choose the best location for your tree:

—Avoid placing your tree near the front door, known as the “Work/Career Area,” because it will drain energy from your career. If you must place the tree here be sure to keep the water reservoir full. Decorate the tree with blue lights and decorations and blue/black patterned tree skirt to help bring water energy into balance.

—If your tree must be in the room to the right of the front door, known as “Helpful People Area,” choose metal ornaments, tinsel, white lights, and a silver or gold accented tree skirt.

—If your tree is in the “Love/Relationship Area” (the upper right hand corner of the house) or the “Knowledge/Wisdom Area” (the lower left hand corner of the home), use ceramic ornaments, yellow and red lights, and red skirt. Skip the tinsel and white lights here and use fiery colors instead.

—If you place the tree in the center of your home it will fill your entire house with good holiday spirit because this is the “Grounding/Balance” area of your home. Chose a yellow or gold tree skirt and a bright yellow star or angel with golden hair at the top of the tree.

Olmstead adds that it is especially important to place the tree far away from seating areas so it does not “overheat” your conversations with friends and family.

“If you have a natural tree, use ornaments in a variety of colors rather than a monochromatic color scheme,” she says. “If you choose an artificial tree, avoid decorating in an all-white, all-gold, or all-silver color scheme.”

Wherever you place the tree and regardless of whether you choose a natural or artificial tree, Olmstead recommends avoiding over decorating the tree. Many people fall into the trap of thinking they have to hang every ornament they own whether they really like them or not because of the emotional attachment, warns Olmstead.

“In Feng Shui we recommend that you surround yourself with only those objects you love, and holiday decorations are no exception. If you dislike an object don’t hang it on your tree, no matter who gave it to you or how long it has been in the family," she says.

And if you truly hate an ornament Olmstead advises you either donate it, recycle it, or throw it in the trash rather than put it back in the storage box after Christmas.

For more advice on holiday decorating, entertaining, and gift giving, see Olmstead’s article “Take Feng Shui Home for the Holidays” at www.southwestflair.com/holiday2007/fengshui.htm.