Last week, something magical happened to me. I upgraded my desk, and within days, a reporter from Coast Magazine reached out to feature it in an upcoming article. This experience reminded me of the importance of feng shui for our desks and how it can positively impact our lives.
Why Feng Shui Your Desk?
Your desk is not just a piece of furniture; it represents your career and serves as a gateway to your life path. By applying Feng Shui principles to your desk, you can harness the power of Chi (or "Qi"), the energy that flows through all things, to amplify your business success and improve various aspects of your life.
Desk Feng Shui
The key to integrating Feng Shui into your desk lies in understanding the Bagua, the center of the Black Hat Feng Shui universe. Imagine your desk as a tic-tac-toe board, with the Career Area positioned where your chair sits. This layout ensures that the energy flows harmoniously and aligns with your career goals and life path.
As you sit at your desk, your left hand will naturally touch the Knowledge, Family, and Prosperity/Wealth areas, while your right hand will reach the Helpful People/Travel, Creativity/Children, and Love areas. The center of your desk represents the Health Area, and directly in front of you should be the Reputation/Fame area.
To create a harmonious environment, incorporate colors and elements that correspond to each area of the Bagua. Remember, the specific symbolism you use can be unique to you and your profession.
The Bagua Sections of the Desk
- Career: Positioned in front of you, this area represents your professional growth. Use water elements and black colors. Consider incorporating a picture of flowing water beneath your desk to invite new work opportunities.
- Knowledge: Located in the bottom-left corner, the Knowledge area encourages learning and concentration. Embrace blue colors and keep books related to your profession nearby.
- Family: Found in the middle-left corner, the Family area fosters harmonious relationships. Add wooden elements and green colors, and display photos of loved ones or colleagues.
- Prosperity & Wealth: In the upper-left corner, this area attracts abundance. Incorporate gold, purple, and green colors, along with symbols of wealth, such as a money plant or a picture of your dream home.
- Reputation & Fame: Positioned in the top-middle square, this area influences your reputation and success. Use fire elements and the color red, and display company awards or your nameplate.
- Love & Relationships: Located in the upper-right corner, this area promotes love and connection. Use pink colors and symbols of love, such as a photo of your spouse or a description of your ideal partner.
- Creativity & Children: Found in the middle-right area, this area stimulates creativity. Incorporate metal elements and black & white items. Display pictures of your children or something that inspires your creative energy.
- Helpful People & Travel: Positioned in the lower-right corner, this area represents support and networking. Use silver or grey objects and keep business cards or a Rolodex to connect with helpful people. Write a note describing how someone will help you achieve your goals and hide it in your desk drawer in this corner.
- Health: Located in the center square, this area influences your overall well-being. Use earth tones, especially yellow, as a representation of the earth element. Keep this area clutter-free to maintain balance.
Feng Shui Desk Shapes
Different desk shapes serve various purposes:
- Rectangle: Ideal for individual work, rectangular desks promote focus and concentration.
- Circle: Circular desks are perfect for group brainstorming sessions and fostering creativity.
- Curved: If frequent disturbances prevent you from concentrating, a curved desk can help. The concave area helps you focus, while the convex area creates a buffer zone.
Feng Shui Desk Material
The material of your desk can affect energy flow:
- Wood: Sturdy and reliable, wooden desks symbolize stability and strength, making them suitable for most job functions.
- Metal: Metal desks provide mental energy and concentration, but they can be draining to the body.
- Glass: Glass desks promote transparency, but energy flows quickly. Complement a glass desk with wooden accessories or plants to slow down energy.
- Laminate: Laminate desks have a neutral energy, neither positive nor negative.
Feng Shui Desk Colors
The choice of desk color can impact your energy levels:
- Black: Attracts inward energy for introspection and opportunities.
- Brown: Stabilizes the body but does not energize the mind.
- White: Activates the mind but may drain physical energy.
- Gray or Metallic: Enhances focus but can drain the body.
- Green: Balances the mind and body, especially useful for long-term projects.
- Earth Tones: Lighter earth tones improve mental focus and cause less physical exhaustion.
- Bright Colors: Draw attention but make the body and mind restless. Use bright desks sparingly.
- Wooden Colors: Medium-toned wood colors provide stability and strength to the body and energize the mind. Pine, ash, oak, and birch colors create a good balance.
Additional Feng Shui Desk Tips
Consider these additional tips to optimize your desk's Feng Shui:
- Proportions: Choose a desk size that matches your work requirements. Avoid clutter by ensuring everything is within reach.
- Strong Foundation: Opt for desks with sturdy legs made from durable materials, as they symbolize the foundation of your career and life path.
- Modesty Panel: Consider a desk with a modesty panel to establish boundaries and provide a sense of security.
- Face Toward the Door: Position your desk to face the room, allowing you to see the entrance without being directly in line with it.
- Windows: Avoid having your back to windows to prevent feeling overwhelmed. Use window treatments or objects to minimize the effect.
- Power Position: Place your desk in an area where you can see as much of the room as possible to enhance your command.
- Keep It Positive: Decorate your desk and office with uplifting and empowering objects.
- Feng Shui Mouse Pad: Use a Feng Shui mouse pad to boost positive Chi and align with the Bagua layout.
- Clutter: Avoid clutter on your desk, as it disrupts the flow of energy.
- Home Office or Workplace: Apply Feng Shui principles to both your home office and workplace to enhance your career and life path.
To further explore the benefits of Feng Shui and receive personalized advice, consider consulting a trusted Feng Shui expert. They can guide you in adding harmony and balance to your home or office. Start your Feng Shui journey today and experience the positive changes it can bring to your life!
Photo Credits: Jade plant photo courtesy of Steven Severinghaus via Creative Commons license. Swans photo courtesy of Fredrik Alpstedt via Creative Commons license.
