The dragon is a powerful symbol that can benefit you and your home in a number of ways according to feng shui. Feng shui is the ancient Chinese art/science of balancing and arranging the elements of yin and yang in a given space to foster success and happiness. The dragon is a yang or male energy that represents power, ambition and good fortune. The pearl that is often found in or near the dragon’s claw is a sign of wisdom and abundance. The color of the dragon is often important. Most Chinese dragons are either green or gold. A green dragon in your home is said to promote good health. A gold dragon in the home is often used to attract wealth and increase business.

Forms of dragons that can be used in your home are Chinese dragon statues, dragon scroll paintings, dragon wall fans or even lamps with dragon designs. The dragon carries with it a powerful energy, so be careful not to place it too close to your bed, where it may disturb your sleep. Also, allow the dragon to have some space and try not to clutter the area where it is displayed. This will allow it to best radiate and attract beneficial energy. You can use the dragon for any of the following intentions: to bless a new home, to increase health and wealth, as a means for protection or just to add a beautiful element of Asian decor to any room.

In the science of Chinese feng shui, the color black is a “yin” color and an “element of water.” It is viewed as a passive color with a feminine or soft energy. Although it can project a strong or heavy emotional feeling if used in excess, the color black is an essential element in adding stability to any decorative scheme. If used sparingly, black can compliment all the other colors in the spectrum and add an air of sophistication to a room, giving it definition and depth as well. Using black in a decorative setting will encourage communication, according to feng shui experts, and helps to make people more flexible in their thinking. Black decor is especially good to use in the living room, where communication is important. Try avoiding using too much black in the kitchen, children’s rooms and the main entry way of your home. Adding black decorative items in the north part of your home is said to attract career opportunities.

Unless one travels to the Orient or studies the culture, one may not be aware of all the unique and rich holidays that are part of its tradition. In this article, we are going to talk about a Japanese holiday called “setsubun.” Setsubun in Japan is celebrated the day before each new season, but is traditionally celebrated on February 3 for the spring season.

Each year, on February 3, the Japanese perform a special ritual called “mamemaki” to cleanse and drive away evil. Mamemaki typically involves throwing roasted soybeans (called “irimame”) out the door of a house. Sometimes the beans are thrown at a household member instead, who wears an “oni” (ogre or demon) mask that symbolizes evil. The soybeans are said to purify the spot or home where they are thrown. The person throwing the soybeans recites the words, “Demons go away! Luck come in!” After this is done, the Japanese typically sit down and eat the irimame - one bean for each year of their life plus one for the coming year. Households, temples and shrines across the land of Japan will perform this fascinating ritual on February 3.

Every January on the 15th day of the first lunar month, the Chinese celebrate with a spectacular Lantern Festival (or Yuan Xiao Festival in Chinese). The 15th day of the month also marks the full moon. At that time, thousands of Chinese will head outside with brightly lit lanterns and display them proudly in honor of the festival. An atmosphere of joy usually permeates the celebrations as families reunite and lovers meet. The Chinese Lantern Festival has been a part of Chinese culture for the last 2,100 years and has an interesting legend behind its start. Most historians believe that the lantern ceremony is a tribute to the God of Heaven, called Taiyi. Many in ancient China believed Taiyi controlled the world and could inflict damage through famine, storms and drought. To appease Taiyi, an emperor named Qinshihuang initiated the Lantern Festival. Perhaps it worked, because year after year, the emperors supported the festival and deemed it one of the most significant celebrations of the year. Today, craftsmen from around China construct large, multicolored paper lanterns. These Chinese lanterns are made to resemble dragons, birds, butterflies and dragonflies to name some of the most common animals. Spherical lanterns, especially in red, can be seen everywhere and parks are lit up at night and resemble a vast ocean of bright lanterns. Young and old marvel at the spectacle, as tourists and curious spectators flock to the Chinese Lantern Festival, all to witness a truly amazing and unique display.

Lucky bamboo bonsai trees are extremely popular in the science of feng shui. It is believed that these bamboo bonsais bring luck and abundance to those who display them in their homes. Besides being a beautiful tree to look at, bamboo trees can teach us a significant lesson about life.

The Chinese were among the first people to carefully observe bamboo. They noticed several things about the tree that can impart wisdom. The first lesson is to be flexible like bamboo. It bends with the wind and does not snap. We too, should be flexible in life and adjust to difficult situations. The second lesson is that bamboo is hollow and allows air inside it. This translates into meaning that we too should be hollow, or open-minded, and allow ideas and energy to flow inside of us to renew and heal us. Having a bamboo bonsai tree as decor in our homes reminds us of this wisdom on a daily basis. An indoor bamboo plant is said to be ultra lucky when it embodies the five elements associated with feng shui. These elements are:

• Wood (the bamboo tree)
• Earth (rocks and soil that support the tree)
• Water (given to the bamboo tree)
• Fire (usually associated with a red or orange decoration on the tree)
• Metal (any lucky coins or metal figurines that are positioned with the tree)

The number of bamboo stalks is also significant. Two is for love, three is for happiness, five is for health, eight is for wealth and nine is considered an overall lucky number. Try placing a bamboo tree in your home and see if your luck doesn’t change.

Chinese New Year is fast approaching and will begin on January 26 of this year, 2009. The most important of all Chinese holidays, Chinese New Year begins on the new moon and ends 15 days later during the full moon. For the Chinese, the year will be number 4707 and this annum will be associated with the ox of the Chinese zodiac. Babies who are born during the year of the ox are said to exhibit the traits of an ox throughout their life. On the positive side, ox people are well organized, dependable, loyal, head-strong, reliable, logical, and creative. On the negative side, ox people can be stubborn, narrow-minded, unemotional, and unsociable at times.

For the Chinese, the mark of the New Year is much more profound than just a night of partying. Festivities for the Chinese during the time of the New Year include family reunions, time off from work to reflect, religious ceremonies, honoring ancestors, and of course, celebrating. During the celebrations, red envelopes are given to children with lucky money coins inside. It is customary to wear red clothing too, which is said to drive away bad luck. The fireworks that are so customary during Chinese New Year were originally used to frighten away negative forces, but today are seen more as a joyous display. During the fifteenth and last day of Chinese New Year, people eat rice dumplings and candles are lit outside homes. The candles are said to help guide lost spirits back home. The last day is also known as the “Lantern Festival” and many children and their parents walk through the streets carrying beautiful and colorful Chinese lanterns. Sometimes competitions are held to see who created the most attractive lanterns. This festival marks the end of Chinese New Year. If you are not Chinese, try going to a Chinatown in your city to experience Chinese New Year. It is truly a special time and can be a richly rewarding cultural experience.

Purple is excellent for healing the mind and body, but should be used sparingly in your home. For example, it is not recommended by feng shui experts that an entire room be painted with purple, unless it is being strictly used as a meditation or healing room. This is because purple carries a very strong vibration and can often evoke connections to the spiritual realm and 7th chakra.

It is therefore not well advised to make it a central color throughout your house. There are many better colors to use instead. But as a healing component, few colors can compare. Each color has its own frequency and affects our brains and moods in a certain way. A purple decorative object, such as a painting or wall fan, is absolutely fine on a wall of another color, and can even help stimulate or facilitate a healing response when viewed. Purple is also known as a catalyst for encouraging excitement, passion and motivation, and for that reason, purple decor is a good idea for the bedroom. Try it out and see what purple can do for you.

While many Chinese consider the foo dog or dragon to be the best source for luck and protection, most feng shui experts think the elephant is just as good, if not more effective in fortifying a household. India and Thailand hold the elephant to be almost sacred, and elephant statues and paintings are very prevalent in those countries. Simply by placing an elephant statue or painting near your front door, you may be able to ward off danger and bless your home. Elephants that have an upward pointing trunk are said to represent good luck, prosperity and success. Elephants with a downward pointing trunk and said to symbolize conception and longevity. A good way to solidify faithfulness and love between two people, according to the principles of feng shui, is to place a pair of elephant statues in the bedroom. In an office, an elephant statue placed on a desk, or an elephant painting hung on a wall, is said to bring business and financial achievement. In a study, it is thought to produce academic success. If you are down on your luck, try adding an elephant or two to your life. After all, there must be a reason so many Asian people swear by their elephants!

Lighting is an important component in feng shui, as it regulates the flow of chi or energy in your home and in your body. The bedroom in particular has a stronger influence on chi than any other room, as most of our time is spent there at night when there is no natural light. We therefore must rely mostly on artificial light sources in our bedrooms. In general, feng shui experts believe one should keep lighting soft and indirect in a bedroom to create a relaxed and romantic mood. This is usually the mood most people strive for in their bedrooms anyway.

Lamps with diffused paper shades and low wattage light bulbs work best. And lamps made from natural materials, such as wood and rice paper work very well. Avoid fluorescent bulbs if possible, as they tend to emit a cold blue light and oscillate very quickly, thus disturbing the retina and brain. Full spectrum lighting with a low wattage and colored bulbs are excellent for the bedroom: pink for calming, yellow to feel settled and purple for passion. Try these tips and see what works best for you. Experiment with different lighting until you find something works best. The author prefers an adjustable light, where the brightness can be turned up or down.