Last week, something extraordinary happened after I upgraded my desk. A reporter, whom I had never met before, reached out to feature my desk in an upcoming article for Coast Magazine. This unexpected recognition made me realize the power of Feng Shui in transforming not just our physical spaces but also our lives.
Why Feng Shui Your Desk?
Your desk is more than just a piece of furniture. It represents your career and serves as the gateway to your life path. By applying proper Feng Shui principles, you can harness the energy called Chi (or "Qi") to empower your desk, ultimately amplifying your business success and improving various aspects of your life.
Desk Feng Shui
The secret to incorporating Feng Shui into your desk lies in the Bagua. The Bagua acts as the center of the Black Hat Feng Shui universe, and understanding it is crucial to ensure that your desk aligns with your career goals and life path.
Imagine your desk divided into a tic-tac-toe board, with the Career Area against the side where your chair sits. As you reach across your desk, your left hand should touch the Knowledge, Family, and Prosperity/Wealth areas. Similarly, your right hand should touch the Helpful People/Travel, Creativity/Children, and Love areas. The middle of your desk represents the Health Area, while the area directly in front of you symbolizes Reputation/Fame.
The colors and elements you use should correspond to those of the respective Bagua areas. It's worth researching the Feng Shui Bagua to gain more insight into this practice. Additionally, you can incorporate symbolism that is personal to you and your profession.
The Bagua Sections of the Desk
Career
Knowledge
The bottom-left box of your tic-tac-toe board represents the knowledge area. Blue is the primary color associated with this area. Consider placing books related to your profession in the drawers or adding a small bookshelf to this corner of your desk. Having something blue here can enhance concentration and decision-making abilities.
Family
The middle-left box of the tic-tac-toe board corresponds to the family area. The primary element for this area is wood, and the ideal color is green. Display portraits of your family, friends, or colleagues in wooden frames on this side of your desk. Adding green elements here can help create a sense of ease with your family and coworkers.
Prosperity & Wealth
The upper-left corner of your desk represents prosperity and wealth. The prosperous colors associated with this area are gold, purple, and green. Consider placing elements that remind you of wealth, such as a money plant, a picture of your dream home, or golden trinkets in this corner.
Reputation & Fame
The top-middle square of your tic-tac-toe board symbolizes reputation and fame. Fire is the dominant element, represented by the color red. Candles, lights, and company awards can be placed here. Additionally, keep your business cards within this area to enhance your professional reputation.
Love & Relationships
The upper-right corner of the tic-tac-toe board signifies love and relationships. Pink and love symbols represent this area well. Consider placing a photo of your spouse or a hidden description of your ideal partner in this corner. As a personal touch, I added a pair of small turtles to symbolize me and my husband.
Creativity & Children
The middle-right area represents creativity and children. This area is associated with metal and black & white items. Display pictures of your children or items that inspire your creativity, such as the Sydney Opera House for an architect. Adding a metal pendulum or other creative symbols can infuse the area with creative energy.
Helpful People & Travel
The lower-right corner of your desk corresponds to the area of helpful people and travel. This area can be represented by silver or grey objects. Keep recent business cards or your Rolodex in this area. You can also write a handwritten note detailing how someone can assist you in achieving your goals and hide it in your desk drawer. Remember to swap it out periodically. Consider placing a small globe or pictures representing your vacation goals here.
Health
This area falls in the center square of the tic-tac-toe board. Earth is the element associated with health, and earth tones, especially yellow, represent this area. You can tape a big round yellow circle under your desk or add objects that symbolize the earth, such as a jar of decorative stones. Keep the center of your desk clutter-free to promote a healthy workspace.
Feng Shui Desk Shapes
Different desk shapes serve different purposes in Feng Shui:
- Rectangle: Ideal for individual work that requires concentration.
- Circle: Suitable for brainstorming sessions and group meetings.
- Curved: If frequent disturbances disrupt your focus, consider a curved desk. The concave area provides enhanced concentration, while the convex area prevents unnecessary interruptions.
Feng Shui Desk Material
Consider the following desk materials and their characteristics:
- Wood: Sturdy, solid, and reliable, wood desks provide a strong foundation for career and life path.
- Metal: Metal desks stimulate mental energy and concentration but can be draining to the body.
- Glass: Transparent and open, glass desks are ideal for showcasing openness. However, energy flows quickly through them, so consider adding wooden accessories or plants to slow down the energy.
- Laminate: These desks neither provide significant positive nor negative energy.
Feng Shui Desk Colors
Different colors have unique effects on the energy of your desk:
- Black: Attracts inward energy, encourages introspection, and creates opportunities.
- Brown: Stabilizes and strengthens the body but doesn't energize the mind.
- White: Activates the mind but can drain the body of energy.
- Gray or Metallic: Increases focus but drains physical energy.
- Green: Achieves a balance between body and mind, ideal for long-term projects.
- Earth Tones: Lighter earth tones enhance mental focus and drain less physical energy compared to gray.
- Bright Colors: Attention-drawing colors like yellow, orange, and pink can be restless for both the body and mind. Reserve their use for specific circumstances, such as reception areas.
- Wooden Colors: Medium-toned wood colors provide stability and strength to the body. Lighter tones energize the mind. Consider using pine, ash, oak, or birch colors for a balanced contrast with white paper, reducing visual strain.
Additional Feng Shui Desk Tips
Here are some additional tips to optimize your desk's Feng Shui:
- Proportions: Choose a desk size appropriate for your work requirements. Ensure that you can reach everything without cluttering the surface.
- Strong Foundation: Opt for desks with strong legs made of reliable materials. The legs represent the foundation of your career and life path.
- Modesty Panel: Consider adding a modesty panel to maintain boundaries and establish a sense of security. While an open front may feel more intimate, a modesty panel creates a professional atmosphere.
- Face Toward the Door: If possible, position your desk to face the doorway. This arrangement reduces stress and allows you to have a clear view of the room while avoiding alignment with the doorway.
- Windows: Avoid having your back towards windows to prevent overwhelming energy. If unavoidable, explore Feng Shui cures to minimize the effect.
- Power Position: Place your desk in an area where you can see as much of the room as possible, providing a sense of control and awareness.
- Keep It Positive: Surround your desk and office with objects that uplift and empower you.
- Feng Shui Mouse Pad: Consider using a Feng Shui mouse pad for a boost of positive Chi and a helpful reminder of the Bagua layout on your desk.
- Clutter: Embrace a clutter-free environment on and around your desk, as clutter disrupts positive energy flow.
- Home Office or Workplace: Apply Feng Shui principles to both your home office and workplace. Both environments represent your overall career and life path.
Now that you have a better understanding of how to Feng Shui your desk, consider implementing these practices to create a harmonious and empowering workspace. Remember, the energy we surround ourselves with can significantly impact our journey towards success and personal fulfillment.
Photo Credits: Jade plant photo courtesy of Steven Severinghaus via Creative Commons license. Swans photo courtesy of Fredrik Alpstedt via Creative Commons license.