Make Changes Slowly

Feng Shui can have a powerful impact in our lives. Sometimes something as simple as rearranging a few things to create better flow, hanging a crystal in front of a sharp corner, or placing an important symbolic piece for support in a specific area can create powerful results. While house hunting last summer and having little success, I took a look at our current residence and realized I had forgotten to hang an important cure in the living room. I hung it, and about 2 weeks later we found our new home. Sometimes the effects are more subtle and less specific, a general feeling of ease results from a new placement, or you notice you seem to be sleeping better after making some changes in the bedroom.

Because these results can sometimes be so strong, it's important to make Feng Shui changes slowly and incrementally. When first learning about Feng Shui, there can be an impetus to make lots of changes quickly, but this can stir things up too much at times. Changing your home or work environment has been likened to making dietary changes. Too much, too fast, can send your body into fast detox, or a "healing crisis," which may be more than your body is ready to easily handle, and which can often be avoided when changes are made more gradually. The same applies to the spaces we occupy.

A good rule of thumb is to make a change, then live with it for a few days or a week or so, and see how you're feeling. If all is smooth, then continue on to the next change, and proceed in the same fashion. If things feel a bit stirred up, or the change is something you feel a bit uneasy with, live with it for a little while longer let things settle down and allow yourself to adjust to the change before continuing on to the next change.

In general, the longer you've lived in a house and with a certain arrangement, the slower your changes should be. I would advise someone who had lived into the same house for 30 years to make changes much more slowly than the person who moved into their home in the last few months.

But most of all, let your feelings and instincts guide you. Although we've been in our new home only 5 months, we are only the second owners of the 60 year old home, and my gut tells me to proceed slowly with changes, so that is what we're doing. And it feels good.

Your Energizing Colors

The colors associated with your birth or Kua number are related to the 5 Elements (more on this soon) and considered to be particularly energizing. I went into Kua numbers in depth last week.

Consider wearing your best colors if you have an important meeting or presentation or other significant event, or any time you might need a little extra boost or support. Some people choose their a color from the list of best for their cars and even the exterior of their houses.

To determine your Kua Number quickly, click HERE and enter your birth date. The calculator will give your your Personal Kua Number.

If your number is 5, and you are female, substitute 8, male substitute 2.


Kua Number 1
Water & Metal
You may find it energizing to wear clothing in shades of blue, black, true white, gray, and metallic colors.


Kua Number 2 & 8

Earth & Fire
You may find it energizing to wear clothing in shades of yellow, brown, off white, red, orange, purple and pink.


Kua Number 3 & 4
Wood & Water
You may find it energizing to wear clothing in shades of blue, black, and green.


Kua Number 6 & 7
Metal & Earth
You may find it energizing to wear clothing in true white, shades of gray, metallic colors, yellow, brown, off white and earthy golds, reds and oranges.


Kua Number 9
Fire & Wood
You may find it energizing to wear clothing in warm reds, oranges, purples, pinks and green.

Your Personal Kua Number

Did you know that each of us has a number associated with the year of our birth? Specifically, our number corresponds with the placement of our birthdays within the Chinese Lunar Year.

The formula for calculating your Personal Kua Number is fairly simple, but if you were born in late January to early February, you must know when the Chinese New began in the year of your birth to determine which year to use in your calculations, as the Chinese Lunar New Year begins on a different day each year.

For simplicity, there are many websites you use to plug in your date of birth and gender, and get your Kua Number easily. A good one is here.

One of the uses for your Kua Number, is to determine what your best sitting and sleeping directions are.

If your Kua number is 1,3,4 or 9, you're an East Group person
If your Kua number is 2,6, 7 or 8, you are a West Group person

The number 5 in classical Feng Shui is called the void number, or a number which carries no energy of it's own. Females with the number 5 can substitute an 8, and males with the number 5 can substitute 2.

The following list, by Kua Number, gives recommended best & worst directions.

For sitting, this means sit facing one of your lucky directions. This is primarily useful for places where you would d sit for a significant amount of time, such as a desk or a chair you use regularly for reading.

For sleeping, this means lying with the top of your head pointing in one of your lucky directions. You can choose them based on what you'd like to enhance in your life, provided this works with the layout of your space.

It's important to note that although in Classical Feng Shui we consider Kua numbers to be significant, too much emphasis should not be placed on them, as they are only one factor influencing the energy in your space. In many cases, our home and business layouts do not allow for the practical use of you lucky directions, and this should not be a cause of fear or stress. Always, in Feng Shui, I seek a balanced approach, and recommend working with the elements you can, and letting go of the others. Also, trust your own feelings and instincts, and know that you'll know if something really feels off and needs changing.

Kua Number 1
Lucky Directions
Fu wei – North Growth, personal development, advancement luck
Tien yi – East Health & longevity luck
Nien yen – South Love, marriage, & family luck
Sheng Chi –South East Wealth & success luck

Directions which are considered unlucky
Ho hai – West Mild bad luck
Wu kwei – North East Troublemakers & harmful people
Lui sha – North West Bad Misfortune
Chueh ming – South West Very poor luck

Kua Number 2
Lucky Directions
Fu wei – South West Growth, personal development, advancement luck
Tien yi – West Health & longevity luck
Nien yen – North West Love, marriage, & family luck
Sheng chi – North East Wealth & success luck

Directions which are considered unlucky
Ho hai – East Mild bad luck
Wu kwei – South East Troublemakers & harmful people
Lui sha – South Bad Misfortune
Chueh ming – North Very poor luck

Kua Number 3
Lucky Directions
Fu wei – East Growth, personal development, advancement luck
Tien yi – North Health & longevity luck
Nien yen – South East Love, marriage, & family luck
Sheng chi – South Wealth & success luck

Directions which are considered unlucky
Ho hai – South West Mild bad luck
Wu kwei – North West Troublemakers & harmful people
Lui sha – North East Bad Misfortune
Chueh ming – West Very poor luck

Kua Number 4
Lucky Directions
Fu wei – South East Growth, personal development, advancement luck
Tien yi – South Health & longevity luck
Nien yen – East Love, marriage, & family luck
Sheng chi – North Wealth & success luck

Directions which are considered unlucky
Ho hai – North West Mild bad luck
Wu kwei – South West Troublemakers & harmful people
Lui sha – West Bad Misfortune
Chueh ming – North East Very poor luck

Kua Number 6
Lucky Directions
Fu wei – North West Growth, personal development, advancement luck
Tien yi – North East Health & longevity luck
Nien yen – South West Love, marriage, & family luck
Sheng chi – West Wealth & success luck

Directions which are considered unlucky
Ho hai – South East Mild bad luck
Wu kwei – East Troublemakers & harmful people
Lui sha – North Bad Misfortune
Chueh ming – South Very poor luck

Kua Number 7
Lucky Directions
Fu wei – West Growth, personal development, advancement luck
Tien yi – South West Health & longevity luck
Nien yen – North East Love, marriage, & family luck
Sheng chi – North West Wealth & success luck

Directions which are considered unlucky
Ho hai – North Mild bad luck
Wu kwei – South Troublemakers & harmful people
Lui sha – South East Bad Misfortune
Chueh ming – East Very poor luck

Kua Number 8
Lucky Directions
Fu wei – North East Growth, personal development, advancement luck
Tien yi – North West Health & longevity luck
Nien yen – West Love, marriage, & family luck
Sheng chi – South West Wealth & success luck

Directions which are considered unlucky
Ho hai – North Mild bad luck
Wu kwei – South Troublemakers & harmful people
Lui sha – South East Bad Misfortune
Chueh ming – East Very poor luck

Kua Number 9
Lucky Directions
Fu wei – South Growth, personal development, advancement luck
Tien yi – South East Health & longevity luck
Nien yen – North Love, marriage, & family luck
Sheng chi – East Wealth & success luck

Directions which are considered unlucky
Ho hai – North East Mild bad luck
Wu kwei – West Troublemakers & harmful people
Lui sha – South West Bad Misfortune
Chueh ming – North West Very poor luck