In feng shui teachings the kitchen represents nourishment and prosperity. This makes sense, considering that it's human nature to associate food and nutrition with nurturing and sustenance. This is why feng shui training teaches students that the way you design and decorate your kitchen can affect the way you and your family receive nourishment, influencing your prosperity and health.
Feng shui is a complex practice and practitioners who received their feng shui certification from different schools may have different ideas about the best design for your kitchen, but there are basics that are consistent across the different feng shui training spectrum, which are the tips we'll discuss in this article.
If you're working with an architect on designing a new home, the ideal feng shui placement of a kitchen is in the rear of the house. This is because it's best if the kitchen isn't the first thing residents and visitors to the house see when entering it because this can lead to digestive and nutritional problems. For example, a kitchen at the front of the house could encourage guests to eat and leave soon after, or for residents of your home to eat too often. If your kitchen is at the front of the house, however, there are feng shui remedies that can help. A consultant with a feng shui certification will be able to determine the bagua of your home and offer some specific, individualized feng shui cures, but some general ideas are hanging a sheer or beaded curtain in the doorway of the kitchen or a piece of art across from the kitchen that distracts attention away from the kitchen.
As far as the layout of your home's kitchen is concerned, the contemporary kitchen design trend that supports group cooking tends to be feng shui friendly, too. A cooking island in the center of the kitchen, for example, allows the person cooking to be able to see the whole room, while guests and family members can comfortably participate in the preparation of the meal. A center island is especially helpful if the kitchen is open to the living room or family room, allowing you to cook dinner while you talk with your spouse about their day or moderate squabbles between your children as they work on their homework.
If you're not designing a new home or willing to seriously renovate your kitchen, a consultant with a feng shui certification can advise you on the best ways to make your kitchen more feng shui friendly. You can also take some feng shui classes to learn more about making these shifts yourself. These changes can be as simple as installing a mirror or a piece of reflective aluminum above the stove to allow you to see the doorway in the reflection as you cook.
The holiday season does not need to be hectic, harried nor harassing. Ideally you should be able to enjoy the hustle and bustle while being in complete control of yourself and your surroundings. If just the thought of the holiday season leaves you annoyed, aggravated and stressed out, Feng Shui just might be your answer.
7 Steps to Help You Reduce Holiday Stress
STEP 1. Stop procrastinating, worrying and fretting: begin now! In the world of Feng Shui this would fall into the category of uncluttering your world. Now is the time to organize your thinking, develop your plans and get the process rolling. Temporarily put aside things that can wait until after the holidays so they don't silently nag you for attention while you are busy doing those things that are necessary for you to have a happy, successful holiday season.
STEP 2. Make lists today or this weekend to get you on track and keep you there. Create a gift list and carry it with you at all times so you can refer to it at a moments notice and purchase items as you see them. You will save time. You will also save money because you will be less likely to do impulse shopping which is costly. As you check off each purchase your stress level will turn into a smile. Make a food list and buy those extra things that are not perishable over the next several weeks. Place perishables on a "buy when needed" list that includes the date item needed.
STEP 3. Unclutter your home now so there is ample room for holiday flowers, garland and decorations. Get rid of all of the stacks of stuff you've accumulated over the last 12 months - don't just move it but actually look at it and either file it, store it or get rid of it. If you haven't used it in 12 months do you really need to keep it? The more clutter free your home is the more enjoyable and calm your holidays will be.
STEP 4. Determine today, right now, what the single most important thing is you want to do or person you want to see during the holidays that will make your holidays perfect. Put this one thing at the very top of your to-do list, and then do it first. Everything else should take second place to that one thing. If you do just that one thing and accomplish few others you will feel your holiday season was a complete success and filled with joy.
STEP 5. Fill your kitchen with aromas and scents that fondly remind you of Christmas's Past such as home baked goods and mulled cider or wine. They will provide you a sense of love and security through your past memories of family and friends gathered together. It doesn't matter whether you are a gourmet chef or never set foot in the kitchen. What matters are the feelings evoked by the fragrances. Use scented candles if necessary to create the feelings of abundance and cheer. Burn those candles daily in a safe container.
STEP 6. Play the music of the season. Begin today if you like. The holiday season is filled with some of the most joyous uplifting and encouraging music ever composed yet it is relegated to a short few 30 days in our calendar year. Play it while making your lists, while uncluttering your home, wrapping gifts, calling friends, entertaining and preparing those special foods. Allow those wonderful sounds to permeate your heart and soul. Stress is nowhere to be found when the heart is joyful.
STEP 7. Do something kind for yourself. So often you think of everyone else during this season but forget to take care of yourself. You need to be nurtured and receive love right along with all of those other special people in your life. Buy yourself a gift, spend one day at a day spa, sit down and watch a favorite holiday movie, read old time holiday classic stories to the children, take a long hot shower. Do something that will bring you joy while the hectic holiday season races by. Reflect on the goodness of your life, meditate, and be grateful for all things present and past. Look to the future and dare to dream.
Stress abounds during such a busy time of the year. Everyone is in a hurry and tends to have a short fuse including family members, friends and your boss so stress levels go up and up.
Eliminate stress for good making this a hassle-free season for you by uncluttering both your surroundings and thinking. Then make lists so you can be organized, efficient and utilize your time and money very effectively. Following these few steps will make your holidays less stressful and much more joyful.
Both Xdavid & Pat Heydlauff are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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Pat Heydlauff has sinced written about articles on various topics from Kitchen Home Improvement. Pat Heydlauff, President of Energy-by-Design ( and Feng Shui expert, is a consultant, speaker, columnist and award-winning art. Pat Heydlauff's top article generates over 720 views. to your Favourites.