1st image. Family Duplex: Poor alignment can be a hazard.
Bad feng shui: Is there such a thing?
Simply put: if anything is out-of-square, out-of-line, or in-the-way, it is bad feng shui.
I hate using the word ‘bad’; but often, that is what it is – bad feng shui.
If a space feels good to you, then don’t worry. If it doesn’t feel good: look around and see if there is something you can change.
I’m happy when people are empowered to make a change! I think it is great when people want to expand their space! So…
Why is it so hard to line things up?
In feng shui, these ‘odd points’ jutting out spearing space, are nick-named poison arrows. Poison arrows are just that; full of surprise, force and aggression.
Inside the house, they could be subtle, but they are there: a coffee table that is too large, a bookshelf overlapping the window, or a chair that backs into a door. When was the last time you were ‘squeezed’ into a corner at a table?
I’ll bet it didn’t feel quite right, and with a point at your chest -you didn’t stay long. Chances are, if something looks ‘weird’ or feels out-of-sorts, look around for a poison arrow. These arrows can cause nausea and dizziness in many cases.
Outside, poison arrows are easier to spot; they can be very aggressive. An oversized building can intimidate a smaller one by pointing or overshadowing the living room across the street. Or, it could be a garden feature, not lined up with the walkway. Even a sharp bend in the driveway can appear to be aggressive. When you are off-balance, that is when accidents can occur.
Below, I’ve described two other examples of poison arrows:
1st image. Duplex family home: This is potentially a big hazard. General ergonomics and traffic flow into the house; this is as a no-no; this is an accident waiting to happen for both furniture and people.
If you try to move furniture or groceries into this place, you’ll hit a post. And, when you walk out of the house, you’ll hit post again!
I see many doorways that are not lined up with the posts; poor planning.
Best solution: If this was originally built as a duplex, I’d ask the contractors to either move the banister or the door. If this is a planned renovation, chances are, they have sliced-and-diced the inside as well.
Some owners/builders spend so much time renovating by maxing out a space; they forget the big picture.
Yes, you need swing-room for the door and a banister, so let’s design it and make it work.
Safety rule in Feng Shui: Main doorways should be clear of obstacles.
Look closely at this back deck; is this an accident waiting to happen?
- 2nd Image. Deck addition off the back porch: Do you have a headache yet? This extension is crazy; I wonder if they had a permit to do this.
Perhaps the clearance is high enough for someone to walk under, but really, this deck unbalances the whole house. It divides the window and cantilevers over the driveway.
Chances are that the boat storage they’d hoped for doesn’t work out either. At least, it is in the back of the house off the laneway.
(Now that the leaves are abundanct, it is harder to find the back door.)
Does this seem to make any sense to you?
Best solution: Start over. Look for options to extend the deck on the other side of the back door, rather than over the driveway.
Please do not purchase homes with obvious ‘weirdness’ or poison arrows! These homes can become (or already are) unbalanced and can perpetuate increased accidents and health issues.
Feng Shui professionals can offer ‘cures’ for many of these situations, but the question is: Why would you bring extra stress and expense into your life tryin gto fix this?
Walk through life with awareness: If something feel out-of-line, it probably is.
Ride the journey through life with ease and without this type of stress.
Warmth, Kathryn
Wish to have a chat with kathryn? No charge for 30 minutes. No pressure. Just insight to help you BE the best in life.
Email me a note: kathryn@kathrynwilking.com
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Kathryn Wilking is an Author, Stager and Feng Shui Consultant. She discovered feng shui 15 yrs ago and found it to be a perfect match with her experience in the Decorating and Home Improvements sector. Kathryn is available for site consultations, innovative talks and Lunch ‘n Learn programs in the Vancouver area. She delivers ‘Practical Solutions for Life!’
See more at: kathrynwilking.com
Her recent book; Practical Feng Shui for the Office, is available in e-book and paperback. www.practicalfengshuifortheoffice.com or www.amazon.com
