High School is very different than when you were that age. The pressures are stronger and the stakes seem much higher. You want to help your teenagers do their best, but how?

Here’s Master Peter Reiss’ Feng Shui Guide to a Learning Friendly Kid’s Room, Part 3: 9th-12th Grade.

Your Feng Shui Master - 17 and oh, so serious

Feng Shui will help your teenager in school and in life, but here’s a surprise for you. You’re probably not going to be able to do much in his or her room. By this age you’re dealing with an (almost) adult and changing their room will be more like negotiating with a foreign country. You’ll win some discussions and lose most arguments.

Basic Facts:

• You’re not the boss. (Sorry.)
• Your teenager is the boss, but he or she stills help and guidance.
• Feng Shui changes won’t work in their room if they’re not “on board” or at least open. Forced Feng Shui changes won’t create positive results.

Don’t despair, though. There’s a lot you can do to help, even if you can’t “help” their room.

Where to start:

First, despite what I just said, try for changes in their room. Just remember the Rule of Yin and Yang: You can’t tell them what to do (Yang), but you certainly can make suggestions (Yin).

Talk with them about some important spots to open the ch’i or energy flow:

• Clear under bed
• Clear door way with nothing behind the door
• Good task lighting for their work area

OK, I’ve tried all that. Now what?

Worry not. No matter how the negotiations went about changing your teen’s room, you still have a secret Feng Shui weapon! It’s time to bring your love and Feng Shui power to the Knowledge area of your house (and that grumpy teenager never even has to know you’re helping their ch’i grow).

To find the Knowledge gua or area we use the Bagua or energy map. Stand in the door way of your house and look in. The corner to the far left of you is the Knowledge gua (if your front door is to the far left of the house, you’re already in the Knowledge area).

I found it! What do I do?

What do you do? Why, take action, of course.

• Look around. What’s in that area of the house? Is it confused with clutter? Cleaning out the clutter with the intention of opening the flow of knowledge energy for the house will definitely benefit your kids!
• Try adding the color blue (the stronger, the better) to that area. You can use art or pillows or even paint the entire space blue (here I’d go pastel).
• Bring light into the space or, as my father used to say to the teenage me, “Let’s shed a little more light on the subject.” Torchere or standing floor lamps are great tools to bring lifting “up-light” energy.

Next: What you see is what you get.

Want your student to read books? Look around. Are there books in the house? The energy from books is powerful. Keeping a library or just a shelf of favorites sends a message that learning is important.

Best place for books in the house? Of course, in the knowledge area. (Just beware of clutter – choose books that are favorites and will be re-read.)

Finally: Be patient, change is on the way.

In my years of practice I’ve observed that there are three types of change you can look for when making Feng Shui power improvements.

• Sudden and immediate shifts
• Clear changes over a brief period of time (three weeks, three months, etc.)
• Gradual change so slow and subtle that it only shows in hindsight.

Kids and pre-teens show changes much more clearly than your average teen. Teenagers are slow to show change but, if you are putting your love energy and your powerful intentions into the adjustments you are putting into place, change is happening.

In ancient Chinese tradition there are 5 factors that impact your life: Fate, Luck, Feng Shui (of course), Charity, and the most powerful, Education. I would add one more, not as a substitute but just as powerful: Love.

Always remember, the evil alien possession of your teenager isn’t permanent. Be patient. Keep giving them love and support and they will come back to human form. Keep working on their Knowledge Feng Shui and they’ll come back to human form with a good education!

Coming Next: Part 4: Feng Shui from College to the Empty Nest.

Want to use this article in your newsletter, blog or web site? You have my blessings as long as you include the following complete statement with it (including links). Please also write ©2009 Feng Shui by Peter Reiss.

Liked this article?—Then check out acclaimed Feng Shui Master Peter Reiss’ blog at http://FengShuiConsults.com. Want more tips? Sign up for Master Reiss’ Feng Shui Newsletter at http://FengShuiConsults.com and start out with Nine Tips in Nine Days: Simple Power Tips to Change Your Life.

Real Estate Expert Rosie West will be interview Master Reiss on her lunch hour show “Things You Should Know!”. Tune in live for an information packed 30 minutes Thursday September 10, 12:00-12:30 PM or listen on the web at www.wthe1520am.com.

Can’t make it at lunch? That’s OK – the show will rebroadcast later the same day at 10:00 PM.

My journey began at Wonderland!

It’s back-to-school time! Notebooks are ready, pencils sharpened, laptops fully charged (hey, we’re talking up-to-date Feng Shui here). Your kids are ready to learn!

But, when they head off to do their homework, are they walking into a room that will help them learn or into a room that will actually block the flow of knowledge?
In other words, does their bedroom get an “A” or an “F” in learning?

Here’s Master Peter Reiss’ Feng Shui Guide to a Learning Friendly Kid’s Room (K-4).

Getting In

First things first. If the door is blocked the ch’i or energy can’t get in. Studying without Ch’i in the room is like trying to read with the lights out. No matter how hard you try you won’t get very far in the book.

Clear out everything from behind the door. Hooks on the door? They’re invitations for piles of jackets. Hangers in the closet help keep space clear. (It’s also good to start early—hanging things up where they belong is a great life lesson.)

Placement

The best place for your child’s desk is in the Knowledge area of the room. We use the Bagua or energy map to determine the all the different areas but an easy way for now is to stand in the door looking in. Stand in the door looking in. The immediate left corner of the room is knowledge. If the door itself is in knowledge try centering the desk on the same wall (Career) or in the far left corner (Wealth).

Color

The Feng Shui Color for Knowledge and Wisdom is blue. Soft blue is a calming, supportive color for a child’s room. Soft green also works (think Spring and new growth). Raise the vibrational level for learning by adding blues of different shades and brightness. You can use sheets, furniture, art, but remember: not too bright. “Jangly” ch’i is not study ch’i. (And please, no red walls!)

Use Blue in the Knowledge to boost the ch’i level. Oh, and a blue study chair is a great idea, too.

Light

Light energy is Feng Shui Power. Make sure there’s plenty of clear bright light in the study area. It’ll help keep the study ch’i up and the sleepy ch’i down.

Adding a bright light near the Knowledge area will also be a boost. How about a blue lamp?

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous? That’s a good Feng Shui term for “all that stuff”. To create a proper environment to nurture that young mind the mantra should be “less is more”. Less stuff to move to create More room to spread out the home work projects. Less stuff to distract so there’s More concentration on the task at hand.
Less stuff to trip on as your son or daughter tries to find the desk while carrying More and More homework.

Remember, the more patterns and habits you establish now when the kids are little, the less you’ll have to battle as they grow.

Coming Next:Part 2: Feng Shui For Your Middle Schooler.

Coming Soon: Part 3: Feng Shui For Your High School Teen and Part 4: Feng Shui from College to the Empty Nest.

Want to use this article in your newsletter, blog or web site? You have my blessings as long as you include the following complete statement with it (including links). Please also write ©2009 Feng Shui by Peter Reiss.

Liked this article?—Then check out acclaimed Feng Shui Master Peter Reiss’ blog at http://FengShuiConsults.com. Want more tips? Sign up for Master Reiss’ Feng Shui Newsletter at http://FengShuiConsults.com and start out with Nine Tips in Nine Days: Simple Power Tips to Change Your Life.

You’re not alone. It’s the common plight of the modern couple. I see it all the time with my clients. It’s a scary place to be. That “loving feeling” feels gone, gone, gone and you’re afraid you’ll never get it back.

Don’t give up. You don’t have to settle for a dismal desert of love if you’re willing to make time for PLAY TIME the Feng Shui Way.

First, are you ready to PLAY?

Ask yourself the following questions:

Past: Was there a time when you couldn’t keep your hands off each other?
Lust: Do you both really, really want that old passion feeling back?
Action: Are you both ready to make changes to get it back?
Yes: Are your answers Yes, Yes, and Hell, Yes? Then, YES, you can have it back!

So you do want to PLAY! Now get ready to do the TIME.

Take stock:
• Stand in your bedroom door and look in. The far right corner is your love area. What’s there?
• What pictures do you have on the walls and dressers?

Initiate change
• Make sure the love area is uncluttered. Get rid of any “stuff.”
• If the bathroom is in that corner keep the door closed.
• Add items of love: pairs of love birds, pink roses, mauve sheets.
• Remove pictures that aren’t happy ones of you and yours. Pics of the kids, pets or “grands” out. The bedroom is for loving couples only!

Make the time
Commit to weekly “love time.” Just the two of you. Always include three elements: food, activity and contact. (And no cheating: the activity and the contact are two separate things.) Try a picnic with a walk holding hands or a movie with dinner and a good night kiss. Of course, if the mood is right, you don’t have to stop there.

Enjoy the process:
The most important step. Smiles and laughter, giggles and groans are the real aphrodisiacs.

Loving isn’t about being the world’s greatest lovers; loving is about being truly connected; lovemaking is the glue that helps keep always lovers together. And the loving never has to stop if you make time for Feng Shui PLAY TIME.

Do you know that little place matched the Feng Shui energy patterns of the house she and I bought together almost two years later?! (Of course, both had very strong love areas or guas).

So, the more things change, the more they remain the same, right?

The answer is…yes. Yes things do remain the same. Knowing nothing about Feng Shui, I instinctively created one space after another that showed what was most important in my life – Love. I changed  locations, size, and more, but the Feng Shui emphasis on Love Power remained. Love was the constant.

And the answer is …no. Things don’t have to remain the same. I’ll let you in on a secret – along with the strengths I also created and then re-created blockages,  breakdown spots. Everyone does this.  But you don’t have to leave things that way.

You can use the power of the

S.D.B. Method

1. See the block

2. Do something (like Feng Shui cures) to remove it

3. Believe in the power of positive change

First: See

Where are your blocks? How do you know if that dead tree is in Love or Wealth? Use the Bagua, the Feng Shui energy map. The basics are simple. Use this drawing as a guide. Just remember that you always stand looking in (see the doors).

Since I love LOVE, let’s use your bedroom as a model. Stand in the doorway and look in. The left corner of the far wall is the Wealth area or gua, the right corner is the Love area and the center part of the wall is where we look for Fame issues.

Now that you’ve identified your guas look closely. What’s going on in them is what’s going on in your life. Is there a pile of laundry in your love area? Dying plants in Wealth?

Now use the map and look at what’s going on in your house and on your property. You may see the same conditions repeated on every level. (If you’d like more detailed help using the Bagua take a look at my DVD on the store page.)

Remember, TO SEE is the first step to Feng Shui Power. Open your eyes, be honest, and you’ll be amazed at what you uncover.

Next time, Step 2:
DO – Getting Into Action!

Life is all about Change. Bob Dylan wrote, the times they are a-changin’ and they certainly are. We live in a world where, according to a 17th century French writer, the only thing constant in life is change.

Anyone who disagrees please raise your hand. Anyone? Nope, I didn’t think so. We all know, and most of us accept, that change can’t be stopped. What gives us a problem is the fear that we are powerless, helpless to control our destiny.

Well, fear not! I’m here to tell you that you can change your destiny! You can CHOOSE to. Try out the simple

3 Step S.D.B. Method!

S.D.B.= See – Do – Believe

1. SEE what’s going on.

   Find the physical reflection of the problem. (Trouble with love? Maybe there’s a pile of dirty laundry in your love corner?) You might have to look around the corner because human beings are very creative in hiding their “stuff”, but don’t worry, it’s there. Ask a trusted adviser or guide for help. It’s always easier to see someone else’s stuff.

2. DO something.

   Get into ACTION. Starting is the key. Want to increase the flow of love in your life? Start today to remove the blocks and add the enhancers.

3. Now – BELIEVE!

   Believe that the changes you’re making will create changes in your life. Hold that belief as you build momentum. See yourself creating a new reality for yourself.

Remember – belief without action is wishing, wanting, and wondering. Action with belief is winning, wonderful, and WOW producing.