Feng Shui MysteryThe feng shui layout of an office has a profound impact on the company’s future development. When planning an office, we must carefully arrange the auspicious and inauspicious directions to ensure the rational use of space. At the same time, precise positioning is also required for aspects such as color matching, size selection, material application, and furniture arrangement. In addition, the placement of plants and decorations is also an indispensable part of the layout, which needs to be reasonably planned and designed. Here are some practical feng shui layout suggestions to help you create a beautiful and auspicious office environment:
I. Feng Shui of Office Location
1. Location
The office location should be one that can “control others” without being “controlled by others”. The best feng shui in the workplace is a position where one can clearly see the actions of others while also protecting one’s own privacy. This is similar to the military strategy of “being able to attack when advancing and defend when retreating”.
The position of the boss or manager is very important as it is a key factor in the success or failure of a company. Therefore, the boss’s office should be located at the back of the company, like a military commander, making it easier to manage employees, who will be more obedient and dedicated, leading to a steady flow of profits.
If the boss or manager’s position is placed near the entrance, it is like a soldier leading the charge, which can easily lead to a situation where the boss is overworked while the employees are idle. The boss will have to worry about everything, and the employees will be passive, naturally lacking a sense of identification with the company.
To have a comprehensive view of the entire situation, the company can be divided into the eight trigrams（Bagua）. If the boss is male, the boss’s office should be located in the northwest, which is the “QIAN” trigram position, symbolizing the person in charge. If the boss is female, it can be placed in the southwest, which is the “Kun” trigram position.
2. Light
The more natural the lighting is, the easier it is to stimulate the body’s functions and adjust them to the best state. If the light is too weak or too dim, it will cause insufficient solar energy and a “heavily yin” magnetic field energy phenomenon, leading to a gloomy future. Over time, it will make people lazy and negative, and they will be more prone to pessimism.
It is not good for the office to have glass windows on both sides, as too much light and transparency can easily cause fatigue and lead to neurasthenia. The best environment is one with moderate lighting.
3. Seats should not face the main entrance directly.
The main door is the gateway for air flow and energy. If a seat is directly facing the main entrance or with its back to the door, it will first violate the principle of “Six Clashes” in feng shui. It is prone to being affected by the energy entering through the door, leading to increased conflicts between employees and superiors, and causing all kinds of misfortunes. It also affects the subconscious nervous system of people, resulting in a hot temper or unexplained illnesses.
4. The boss’s position should stand out.
The interior decoration and facilities should reflect the principle of being at my service. The sofas should be arranged in a U shape, with the opening facing the boss’s desk to create a centripetal force and cohesion.
5. The office should not face the toilet door or have a beam directly above it.
The toilet is a place where foul air gathers. Facing the toilet door directly can lead to illness due to inhaling the foul air. A beam directly above the office can suppress one’s luck, making it difficult to rise in position, causing stress, being criticized by superiors, and being slandered by malicious people, as well as causing neck pain.
6. If there is a wall or cabinet behind the seat, it is fixed and immobile.
Having a wall behind indicates that one has support and a backer when doing things; if it is empty or a window, it is prone to encountering villains, making it difficult to achieve success in anything, and it is hard to get support from others for any matter. If there are people constantly walking behind, it can easily distract one’s attention, subconsciously shifting part of the focus to the back of the head. Over time, this can consume energy and affect work efficiency and health.
II. Taboos of Keeping Animals and Plants in the Office
1. Taboos of Keeping Fish in the Office
On average, people spend more than 8 hours a day in the office. “Keeping fish brings wealth” and “May you have abundance year after year”（Nián Nián Yǒu Yú） are popular beliefs. There are some feng shui considerations when keeping fish in the office:
(1) Color
It is advisable to keep fish in gold, black, white, blue and silver colors. From a color perspective, these colors can reflect harmful rays and maintain a clean space, which is beneficial to the fish’s health. It is not recommended to keep fish in red, green or purple colors as they have a strong ability to absorb rays, which is not conducive to keeping them.
(2) Round or rectangular fish tanks
A round fish tank represents the element of metal in the five elements, and metal generates water, which is considered auspicious.
A rectangular fish tank represents the element of wood, and water generates wood, which is also mutually beneficial and auspicious.
(3) Choose an odd number of fish, preferably 9
“Nine” is traditionally considered an auspicious number in China. If the office fish tank is not large enough, 3 or 6 fish can be kept.
It is recommended to keep a few black fish in the fish tank. Mixing one or two black fish can stabilize and ward off evil, helping to retain the company’s wealth.
2. Office Feng Shui Plants
Feng Shui Plants are important items that form a “vital energy” aura; they promote the financial fortune of a company or organization and add vitality to it in an intangible way.
Cactus: The stems, leaves, and flowers of cacti all have high ornamental value. They can absorb electromagnetic radiation, act as natural air purifiers, and also have the ability to adsorb dust and purify the air. They are regarded as artistic masterpieces of water-cultivated flowers.
Haworthia fasciata: Haworthia fasciata can absorb formaldehyde, reducing its harm to human health. This effect is particularly significant in newly renovated houses or offices and after purchasing new furniture.
3. Place evergreen plants in the wealth position.
Plants with large, thick or round leaves such as golden pothos, rubber trees, money trees and Brazilian iron trees are most suitable. Cacti should not be placed in the wealth position as they are used to ward off evil and may instead harm the wealth position. Vines, due to their overly twisted shapes, are also best not placed in the wealth position.
III. Office Feng Shui Layout
A good office feng shui is of vital and decisive significance to work and career. It not only brings a pleasant mood but also ensures a prosperous financial situation and smooth progress. Feng shui is not superstition; it is a science.
1.Feng Shui Office Taboos
For business performance to thrive and employees to be dedicated, dim and gloomy conditions often lead to obstacles and setbacks, with underhanded individuals causing low morale among staff. If the beams in an office are exposed, it is prone to being slandered by malicious people, and the flow of luck is blocked. It is better to have the Azure Dragon (left side) rise high rather than the White Tiger (right side) be unruly.
The Ming Tang position, which is the front of the office, belongs to the Li position. In the Eight Trigrams, the Li Trigram symbolizes career. If the Ming Tang of an office is narrow and blocked, it indicates numerous obstacles, limited prospects, and difficulties in development. When both the inner and outer Ming Tang of an office are spacious and serene, the company’s future is promising, smooth, and successful. When looking out from the office, it is best for the left side (Azure Dragon) to be higher than the right side (White Tiger); the building in the left front should be slightly higher than that in the right front. This ensures that the office’s luck flows positively towards the front, leading to a smooth future.
2. Taboos in Feng Shui Office Layout
The placement of the office desk should not be arbitrary. It should be based on one’s birth data for astrological purposes(Ba-Zi). If one’s auspicious direction is east, the desk should face east; if it is west, the desk should face west.
The desk should not be too large or too small. A desk that is too large fails to gather energy, while one that is too small is not convenient for movement. The desk should not be placed against the window, as the prosperous energy will be dispersed. This can affect the boss’s thinking and lead to business misjudgments and being taken advantage of. There is a tendency of financial loss and damage.
The height of the office window is important. If the window is small and high, more than two meters from the ground, the wealth position in the room will be dim and lackluster. It is advisable to move out of this room for office use. The office layout should be simple and elegant. Do not place artificial flowers or artificial mountains, as they lack vitality and can affect the prosperity of people’s energy.
IV. Office Desk Feng Shui Layout
1. Principles of Office Desk Layout
The office desk does not have to be expensive or luxurious: being overly greedy and impractical is not advisable. A moderate height is best, and the color should match the indoor lighting. It should not face the wall. It should not be directly in front of or behind the toilet door, as this may cause instability. The seat should not be under a beam. There should be as much space as possible, and the area in front of the desk should be wide.
The desk should not be too messy: the desktop should be clean and comfortable, and there should be no screens. Do not place a wine cabinet in front of the desk. Put the awards in a cabinet. Do not hang a mirror – it may cause restlessness and disputes. The desk should not be directly above or below the toilet or kitchen stove. It should not be directly above or below the computer room. It should not be next to a garbage incineration site.
The White Tiger (west) side of the office desk should be lower. There should be no vibrating machines or motors. The office desk’s Azure Dragon (east) side can be slightly higher. It is auspicious to place the phone and lamps on the Azure Dragon side. Do not place an aquarium, photocopier, air conditioner, or exhaust fan on the right side of the desk.
For salespeople and those who travel frequently, it is acceptable to have people moving around behind their desks. However, for accountants and financial personnel, there should be no people moving around behind their desks.
2. Six Do-Nots for Office Desks
(1) Do not face the flagpole or electric pole directly outside the front window.
(2) Do not sit under a beam.
(3) Do not face the main entrance, face the toilet door, or be close to the toilet door.
(4) Do not have the right side against the wall as it makes it hard to distinguish between host and guest; it is better to have the left side against the wall for a clear distinction.
(5) Do not place white paper under the desk surface as it may cause restlessness.
(6) Do not sit directly below a shrine.
