“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.”   Albert Schweitzer

   We’re finally done with the tumultuous year 2016 and looking forward to new beginnings! With the help of Feng Shui, the New Year can bring you the changes you yearn for.

   Is one of your resolutions for 2017 to be in a loving committed relationship? Many of my clients ask me the same question. “How can I find love?  How can I strengthen and reenergize the romance in my life?”  I answer them by explaining the direct correlation between home and the quality of their relationships. The energy in your home can help you achieve your loving relationship goals.

Love and Marriage – Bagua Review

   In the Feng Shui  Bagua (Ba-gua) Map, represented  as a grid of nine sectors, the Love and Marriage  area is located in the back right corner of your home or office. The element for this area is Fire, and the colors are red, pink or white. When in balance in your home fire enhances romance, excitement, and enthusiasm.  Representations of this element can be used inside and outside. Enhancements in this area are particularly helpful if: You want to attract a love relationship, you want to improve a relationship you are currently in, or you want to develop or improve a nurturing, healthy, happy relationship with yourself. In Feng Shui, Love and Marriage operates under the premise that loving relationships thrive on a dance of responsive yielding; each partner supporting and allowing the other to fully develop and express themselves. The same nurturing, supportive stance is taken when you fully love yourself. It is important to listen to what you need and then gladly give to yourself.  When you love yourself you become open to other loving relationships.

So with the beginning of the New Year, ask yourself – “Are your romantic relationships everything you want them to be?

If so great!  You have what we can natural Feng Shui. If not, follow along to learn simple yet effective enhancements you can do yourself to improve and kindle the fire in your romantic relationships.

In whichever room this area resides, basic Feng Shui principles can help you nurture and strengthen yourself and your relationships, and even send out the energy to help you find your perfect soul mate.

Enhancements for the Love and Marriage area inside your home or business:

* Art or photos depicting you and your significant other and/or romantic theme

* Any shade of red or pink

* Bring in the fire element through candles, red tones, and representation of people or animals

* Pairs of items (lovers, doves, hearts, candles, vases, figurines etc)

* Quotes, affirmations and sayings pertaining to love and marriage

* Items that have a personal association to love and marriage (romantic vacations/honeymoon mementos)

Enhancements for the Love and Marriage  area outside your home or business:

* Garden art representing pairs

* Items, flowers, plants in the color of the red spectrum

* Bistro table with two chairs or a loveseat for two

A Missing Love and Marriage Area:

   If this area is missing from your floor plan, you can anchor it by doing one or a combination of the following: Planting a pair of large red flowering plants at the spot of the missing corner, planting a tree and hanging a wind chime representing a pair (hearts or lovebirds), placing a table and 2 chair set, or a large sculpture representing a loving pair. My husband and I have hugging stone frogs which we purchased on a romantic trip to Hawaii. If the area outside is not accessible, you can symbolically anchor from the inside by hanging a 30 mm round faceted crystal, placing a mirror, and/or a picture of a romantic representation on the wall by the missing corner. If the missing area happens to be a parking lot, you can draw a small symbol of a heart in the exact location closing off the corner.

Bedrooms:                                                                                                                                                                                                     The ideal location for a master bedroom is the far back right corner; unfortunately not all homes are built this way. No matter in what bagua area your master bedroom is located, it is still considered the most important room for Love and Marriage. So as you decorate, declutter, and enhance based on its bagua area, it is also important to incorporate some of the red spectrum to bring in fire, pairs of items and romantic representations. Avoid filling it with stuffed animals, or pictures of your children and family. This area is dedicated to you and your significant other only.

If you are single and looking for a relationship, you should design the room as if two people are already living there. For example, make sure to use two nightstands, two lamps, and leave room in the closet. This signifies the intent that you want to share your life with your soul mate.  I even suggested to one of my clients to hang two lush burgundy robes in the adjacent bathroom.

   Walls should be any of the colors of natural skin tones; from light cream, pinks, peaches, to warm reds and dark browns. Because the feeling should evoke warmth, coziness and fire; blues, greens, whites, grey and black are too cool for bedroom walls.

Bathrooms:

   Bathrooms in this area should be treated with the same romantic enhancements stated earlier, but remember that all plumbing needs to be working (no leaks) and drains and toilets should  always remain closed when not in use. You do not want a draining of your romantic energy.

Affirmations:

   Remember that In Feng Shui, intent plays a significant role in enhancing any area of your home or business; all enhancements need to be made with intentionality; written or stated affirmations are very important. It is also important for them to be expressed as if they are already happening. Examples or affirmations for the “Love and Marriage” area:  “This year I attracted joy, love and intimacy into my life”, “I love, respect and honor myself”, “I have found my perfect love partner.”

Feng Shui on a Shoestring:

   Feng Shui enhancements do not have to cost a great deal. Just the act of writing affirmations and placing them in the back right corner of each room will begin to energize the romance in your life.

Feng Shui at Work:

   Two of my clients had this area missing, and both decided to bring in representations of the Fire Element. One anchored the missing corner with a cute red bistro table and two red chairs, placing a flowering pink azalea plant on the table. She discovered a new business opportunity along with a new relationship soon after.  The other immediately took two red camp chairs and placed them under a tree. She told me that just after that small enhancement, with her intent, she began noticing that men were acknowledging her and speaking to her more. The doors have opened for her.

   One of my clients was in an unhappy relationship that was stuck and going nowhere.  In our consultation we focused on her bedroom, which was painted a cool green and featured many pictures of landscapes and water.  Nothing signified romance, passion or warmth; all of which could be kindled by bringing in more of the fire element.  She changed the pictures to romantic art, added candles by the bedside tables, and spruced up the room with red tone accents. Shortly after, she and her boyfriend broke up.  This may sound like a bad thing but Feng Shui works at giving you what you need in life, not necessarily what you think you want. After getting out of the relationship, she was free to meet the right man. In her new house she followed the lessons she learned in our consultation. She now has a wonderful man in her life and they are expecting their first baby.  She couldn’t be happier!

   With the beginning of this New Year create a space in your home and life for a relationship with your perfect mate. Enlist the energy in your environment and the element of fire to help you achieve your goals.  Happy New Year and welcome to love!!!

   For questions or home consultations email me at mtmccull@aol.com and put “Feng Shui” on the subject line, or visit my website at www.fengshuibymaria.com, (where you can read past columns),  or Facebook “Feng Shui by Maria”, where I post pictures as examples to enhancements.

   * Check out my BLOG – Just go to the website and click on “Blog”: You can view many pictures and, I will respond to your questions quickly.

   Until then…Blessings!

Maria McCullough, a Benicia resident, is the owner / founder of Feng Shui by Maria (www.fengshuibymaria.com) and is a speaker and educator with over 20 years of experience. She specializes in residential, landscape                                                                                                       and business consultations. She is a graduate of the Western School of Feng Shui and has personally trained with