Feng Shui Wisdom Room for Happy Growth
By Qing Qian & Nary Chea
It is every parent’s wish for their children to grow up healthy and happy. Good bedroom feng shui may help support them as they strive toward dreams and goals.
Location and Size
Applying the five elements
In determining the right location and ideal orientation of your child’s bedroom, besides good lighting and ventilation, parents can base their choice on numerology books or websites that use the child’s birthdate to ascertain their five elements.
Locating the bedroom in the south or west will help children lacking in the metal element. For those lacking in the wood element, the bedroom can be located in the east and southeast direction. The north placement may assist those lacking in the water element, while the south is beneficial for those lacking in the fire element. As for those lacking in the earth element, southeast and northeast directions are most suitable.
The northwest location in a house signifies power, and thus should be reserved for the parents’ bedroom. If a child’s room is located in this section of the house, their health and the family’s luck would be negatively affected.
Limit the bedroom size
Many parents believe that in addition to the bed, wardrobe and study table, a child’s room should contain play space. As such, they end up providing a bigger space to accommodate all.
From the perspective of feng shui, large rooms lack yang qi or life energy, causing the body to lose energy. Big spaces may make one feel lonely and lost. For children under 10 years old, the room size should be kept within approximately 150 square feet (about 15 square meters). For children who were born physically weak, their rooms should be even smaller at around 100 square feet (10 square meters).
Placement of the Bed
Children’s beds should be placed against a wall, or yet better, against two adjoining walls, similar in manner to the placement of adults’ beds. From the standpoint of feng shui, this signifies the backing of a mountain with a strong sense of security, promoting sound sleep for the child. Do not place children’s beds under structural beams to avoid the feeling of being under stressful pressure. Avoid situating a child’s bed facing the sun to protect them from damaging glare.
Direction of Study Table
In feng shui, Wen Chang is the academic star that exercises control over the fate of literacy. Thus, there exists a strong correlation between the Wen Chang study position and your child’s aptitude in studying.
Simply place the child’s study table in the Wen Chang orientation, which is based on the last digit of the year the child was born,as tabulated on the left. For example, if the child was born in the year 2009, the last digit 9 indicates the west direction. Place the table such that the child is facing west. If it is not possible to do so, the alternative is to locate the table in the west.
Use Furnishings for Better Wen Chang Luck
When it is not possible to place the bed and study table in the desired directions and locations, use appropriate furnishings to enhance the feng shui in order to improve the child’s Wen Chang luck.
Placement of computers
A computer is considered a fire element. When placing a computer on the child’s study table, it is good to base its location on the five elements of feng shui. In general, children born between the 5th of May and the 8th of August and between the 9th of October and the 8th of November should avoid the fire element. To overcome this, place a glass of water or a vase filled with water next to the computer to counter fatigue or lack of vitality.
Using auspicious feng shui items
What does “One Four with Palace” mean? The “Four” refers to “Four Greens,” which signify the Wen Chang literary god. The “One” signifies “One White,” which is the location of the palace star that controls literary subjects. The pairing of “One White” with “Four Greens” signifies the consolidation of one’s ability to perform well in examinations and get good results, thus it can help with the child’s studies.
To create a supportive environment for studying, place a vase containing four bamboo stalks on the child’s bedside table. In place of bamboo, you can use four calligraphy brushes which are placed in water to accord with the concept of water giving life to plants. Alternatively, you may prefer to hang the brushes on a stand with a glass of water placed next to it.
The Bodhisattva of Wisdom
Manjushri Bodhisattva represents extreme intelligence and is the bodhisattva of wisdom. He is often portrayed as wielding a flaming sword — the “Vajra Sword of Discriminating Light or Wisdom” — in his right hand, and rides on the back of a lion. The sword is believed to eradicate all ignorance and signify a sharp mind, while the lion’s roar signifies driving away all evils and resentment.
Paintings and blessed items by some enlightened meditation masters hold positive energy. Hanging or placing them at home may inspire children in their studies and encourage the development of wisdom. In addition, placing the Wen Chang pagoda on the study table or hanging an auspicious painting of “Kuixing kicking the Big Dipper” (Kuixing is the god worshiped for success in examinations) can bless students as they tap into their talents and pursue success.
Creating a Warm and Harmonious Environment
Parents who wish for their children to read more should set a good example themselves. Those who hope for their children to be warm and compassionate should first respect others around them, love animals, and treasure all living things including plants.
If they wish for their children to be bright and hardworking, then parents should be optimistic and have mutual respect for each other, and instill in their children positive values and kindness from a young age.
If they wish their children to be magnanimous and responsible, parents should teach them to do good deeds and accumulate merits by demonstrating such behavior.
Good feng shui accumulates positive energy which can enliven and boost a child’s physical and mental wellbeing, as well as uplift their intelligence. In the course of a child’s growth, the efforts put in by the parents in creating a warm, harmonious, and supportive family environment are the best feng shui. The heart of feng shui is love and compassion, two values which every child needs for nourishment and growth.
