Bring Black Back!

Feng Shui is an art that has been designed to create a sense of balance and harmony in your life. It classifies colours into five distinct groups, each representing different elements – Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood. Each element is associated with a different colour.

Black is an expression for water and makes an excellent colour choice for a front door facing north as it governs the north sector, strengthening the energy of the house. You can also choose black for a front door facing east or south-east. If your door is facing south or west, it is best to avoid painting it black.

When designing your interiors, the balance of yin and yang and your favourable colours based on your birth element must also be considered. Do remember not to place a colour in the zone of an opposing element. For example, never place black in the fire zone as it is a colour associated with water.

A house, and every room within, has eight directions, each with an element and colour that can be energized to activate the luck of those corners. The right colours can be used on the walls of the room, or objects placed in these corners. Black helps create calm and reduces anxiety, acting like a powerful shield. Since it absorbs all colours, using black can bring things into focus. You just need to find the right spot for this mysterious, yet powerful colour.

If painting the wall or floor black doesn't sound appealing to you, you can consider adding a couple of design elements in black. You can use black in candleholders, benches, tables or chairs. Another interesting way to use black is by highlighting architectural features in a room. This can be something as simple as painting the window casing, shelves or crown moulding black. If you have been reluctant to decorate your house with black accessories, this is the right moment to rethink!

Enhance Your Kitchen with Vaastu!

Reiki is pronounced 'Ray Key' and it is an energy that is omnipresent. It is a Japanese word, and is spelt 'Leiki' in Chinese. Reiki has not only been used for healing but also to reach enlightenment for thousands of years in ancient Tibet. When the Reiki energy flows, both the person giving and receiving are healed and purified on several levels. Another technique, known as colour healing, has been used since the earliest times in the healing temples of China, Ancient Egypt and Atlantis.

The energy of unconditional love is the energy used for healing ourselves and others. Pure and selfless love is the highest energy for us. The colour pink is the colour of universal love. Like a prayer, the colour's energy can be sent to the whole world or to a particular region for healing. It is a good tool to use when channelling healing energy. It comprises of both fire and air elements. It constitutes emotional love of self and others, friendship, affection, harmony and inner peace.

Reiki can be combined with light to bring about physical healing. We can use lights of different colours for the process of healing. The law of nature states, "Where there is light, there is energy and colour. Where there is colour, there is light." Based on this Law of Nature, the active healing colours of the Reiki Symbols were found.

Pink light has a very high vibration and represents the energy of love. It can bring a sense of lightness, comfort and ease. Reiki and pink light are both soft energies and can bring about gentle, yet powerful healing. All that you need to do is connect with the energy of the pink light and visualise it surrounding you, your family and places around you. To put yourself in a space of love and calm before you get back to the daily grind, use pink light alongside Reiki.

Pink light is specific to the upper chakra, which is your spirit side. Thoughts become more focused and intuition increases, especially telepathic communication. It is a powerful tool to cleanse the chakras and balance them. It can also activate the energy-channelling ability and accelerate the process of spiritual development.

Enhance Your Kitchen with Vaastu!

The kitchen plays a vital part in the health of your family. According to Vaastu, it should be placed in the 'agni' corner of your house or restaurant. The 'agni' corner means the southeast direction, which is considered the best for kitchens as the element of fire governs in this direction. Therefore, it is the best option for your kitchen. If this placement is not possible, another great option is the northwest corner of the house.

Is your refrigerator, sink, stove and counter jammed into one wall? Your crammed kitchen could extinguish the joy associated with cooking. Vaastu states that kitchen appliances are also linked to different elements and each appliance belongs to a location that is governed by its element. The stove is almost as essential as the placement of the kitchen. Hence, it too should be in the south-east direction. It is also advised that the person cooking shouldn't face the south.

Sinks and taps in the kitchen represent the flow of water. They should be placed in the north-east direction and away from the cooking stove since fire and water are opposite elements that repel each other.

If the kitchen has a refrigerator, then it should be placed in the south-west direction. Avoid keeping it close to the corner and avoid placing it in the north-east direction.

Windows are important for the kitchen. Imagine standing in the kitchen with no view, simply staring at a dead space! An exhaust should be placed in the east. Windows, be it large or small, should be in the east. If there are ventilators, it should be placed in the south.

The modern kitchen is incomplete without electronic appliances such as microwaves, ovens and heaters. These should be placed in the south or the south-east direction of the kitchen. Remember never to place them in the north-east direction. Storage cupboards should be kept in the southern or western walls of the kitchen. It is best to avoid the north and east side walls while placing storage units. Drinking water vessels like earthen pots, filters, RO and pitchers should be placed in the north-east side.

Bear in mind these tips for a Vaastu-friendly kitchen that brings positive vibes!