Back to School Feng Shui Tips For Your Teen In High School (Grades 9-12)

Posted by Feng Shui Master On September - 8 - 2009

Do you feel like an alien creature has taken control of your sweet child? Then your kid must be a High School Teenager!

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.

You Feng Shui Master - 17 and oh, so serious

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.

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Back to School Feng Shui Tips: Part 2, Middle Schoolers Or Room Taming for the Terrible Tween– 5th -8th Grade

Posted by Feng Shui Master On September - 1 - 2009

So your baby’s growing up. He or she is at that delicate stage or what I call the Age of the Yin Yang Yo-Yo. They don’t want you too close (OMG – not in front of my friends!) but still need to make sure that you’re there.

Sometimes you’re Mom. Then, without warning, it’s “Muth-e-e-e-r-r!”

I bet their room reflects that split personality, doesn’t it? Toys of childhood mixed with whatever’s the latest tween fad.

Don’t worry. That’s what it’s supposed to be. But, you ask, won’t all that stuff interfere with their school work and hurt their grades? Possibly, sometimes even probably, if the mess is overwhelming.

What can you do? Well, a little Feng Shui never hurts.

Here’s Master Peter Reiss’ Feng Shui Guide to a Learning Friendly Kid’s Room, Part 2: 5th-8th Grade.

Your Mission: Reduce the level of Jangly, Jumpy, Gyrating Ch’i, creating a better environment for study and play.

Ground Rules:

1. You are no longer the boss. (Of course you are, but work with me here.)
2. Your child is not the boss, either, but he or she does need to feel some control.
3. Feng Shui will be most effective if your child gives you permission to make changes or, better yet, works with you to make decisions and changes.
4. Be prepared to be silly. *

Getting Started: It’s inventory time!

Time to sit down on the floor together and create three piles. One is for the really, really baby things that are now just there because they’ve always been there. This is automatic give-away. Work out together who you’re going to give these things to. It’s a great time for a lesson in giving to others.

(But don’t be too, too strict. We all have something special from those long ago days. Mine is a stuffed blue dog; nose and eyes gone but still precious to that little boy inside me.)

The next pile is for stuff that has seen better days (like games missing pieces or broken toys). This is an automatic out pile. Don’t hold on to something because the piece may show up some day or Dad will be able to fix it sometime (sorry, dads).

The last pile, hopefully the smallest, is for all the things from shelf, floor, closet and drawer that are still in good condition, still work, still fit, and still have a real reason to stay – meaning they’ll be used.

Inventory complete, now return the keepers to shelf, drawer, or closet. Not the floor and especially not under the bed!

Next: The Four Walls

Look around you. What message is being sent by the pictures on the walls. Positive energy supports positive work. Negative, angry images ooze angry ch’i.
This is an important step. If you wait until they’re teens, you’ll wind up with very little say.

Try to keep things in balance. Don’t cover every inch of the wall.
The walls are also a good place to add bright color energy. While the overall color should be soft blue or green, you can add bursts of red, pink, purple, blue. Stay away from black – that’s for adult career work.

Finally: Stuff

This is an amazing age for learning. Kids are like the proverbial sponge. Since you’ve removed the overwhelm of stuff, you now have room to add. Try maps, a fish tank (but only if your child can take care of it!), and always books, books and books.

Reading with your child is one of the greatest gifts you can give. And it’s amazing Feng Shui, raising the energy of all life areas. Help them choose from their favorites which ones are keepers to be read again and which ones will other kids like to have.

Remember, if you show your children nothing other than how to be generous and giving; how to do good deeds and help others; you’ll be teaching them the Feng Shui way to a good life.

*Oh, and about rule #4 – Take every chance you can get to be playful and act silly with your kids. It’ll help get the job done and they’ll always remember how much they laughed.

Coming Next: Part 3: Feng Shui For Your High School Teen

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

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Back-to-School Tips, Feng Shui For Kids, Feng Shui Tips, Knowledge Tips, Uncategorized

Back to School Feng Shui Tips Or What Grade Would Your Child’s Room Get? Part 1–Kindergarten through 4th Grade

Posted by Feng Shui Master On August - 24 - 2009

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.