How to Welcome Opportunities

The ancient Chinese Practice of Feng Shui puts a great deal of emphasis on the entryway to the home. It is considered the “mouth of chi” where all of our opportunities come to us. This may seem like a bit of a stretch to westerners, however, in recently reviewing my old Interior Design textbook from years ago, I saw that it presented some of the exact same concepts as this 3,000 year old practice.

It stated that choosing the right entryway was the most important part of the design of the building and should be chosen after a great deal of study and care. A poorly designed entryway would hamper the success of the business and/or negatively affect the occupants of the home, which is also a primary Feng Shui teaching.

It went on to say the entry should be strongly differentiated from the immediate surroundings making it easily identifiable from the street, and should make a graceful transition between the street and the inside. If it was not easy to see and people had a hard time finding it, they would arrive grumpy and out of sorts which would negatively impact the occupants.

It talked about how people need 15 feet to adjust from the outer to the inner domains. How the experience of arriving at a front door after enjoying a fragrant and attractive garden was considerably more enjoyable and helped make the transition. If the transition was too abrupt there would be no feeling of arrival and the inside of the home would fail to be an inner sanctum.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Lauren S.

2:30PM PST on Feb 19, 2012

Must decorate outside more!

send a green star

Carol H.

7:23AM PST on Feb 19, 2012

Good tips. It's hard in the winter to have lovely plants and flowers outside, I suppose a windsock or flag will help. Thanks!

Hana B.

3:04PM PDT on Oct 19, 2011

thank you very much for this inspiring article. i am working on it, at our flat. looking for a small fountain :o)

ii q.

6:08PM PDT on Sep 15, 2011

good articles, as always. TY

Jennifer F.

9:44AM PDT on Aug 19, 2011

Thanks, Erica. I'm looking through several of your articles. Funny note: My business had been sluggish. When I de-cluttered the office and set the fountain up and turned it on, lots more people called and came in. (In your articles you mention that fountains in the business/money areas can get the money flowing.) Just when I really needed it. How 'bout that.... --Jenny

Tanyaisa P.

7:46AM PDT on Jul 15, 2011

this is quite interesting.....especially the animal feng shui...great ideas

Melanie C.

2:13PM PDT on Apr 22, 2011

This sounds very easy. When I do finally move into my own home and away from where I'm at now, I will do just this. Thanks so much!

6:45AM PST on Feb 23, 2011

feng shuiing points for the animals ...

Mrs M.

6:06AM PST on Feb 19, 2011

I wish I had the time. Most decorating involves choosing from the few items in stores and trying to be happy with that.