Feng Shui for Business Success by Simon Brown Simon G Brown has studied macrobiotics since 1980 and authored many books, including Modern Day Macrobiotics, Macrobiotics for Life and Practical Wabi Sabi. In past issues of the magazine Simon has introduced us to Macrobiotics, Wabi Sabi, Meditation and more. This month Simon tells us all about Feng Shui for Business Success FENG SHUI FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS Business success comes about from having every part of our business working to its full potential. If we can keep every aspect of our business at its peak then we can compete, increase our appeal and keep our staff happy. One of the factors that can make a difference is the building itself. Where we work will have subtle influence on how we work. A happy, healthy building can increase productivity, reduce staff turnover and reduce absenteeism. More than that, in my experience of feng shui, a healthy office can increase creativity, improve team working and help concentration. In this situation the people working there will often feel less stressed helping reduce the risk of many illnesses. ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS FOR POSITIVE BUSINESS FENG SHUI I have described six areas of a business that can make a difference in terms of positive feng shui. These are introducing indoor plants, working at least one metre from sources of EMF, sitting with a good view of the room, having a view out of a window, surrounding yourself with positive imagery and creating a supportive atmosphere. They represent practical modifications that are often easy to implement. PLANTS Indoor plants have been found in numerous studies to help reduce stress. They bring their own living energy to a building and help create a more natural atmosphere. There is some evidence that plants can help reduce electro magnetic fields (EMF) in a building. In addition growing, healthy plants helps clean the air. More than this plants are a very effective way to reduce sound in an open space. As sound waves pass through the leaves, the leaves vibrate taking the energy of the sound out of the air, muffling the sound. Generally a room with lots of healthy plants will feel fresher, more alive and vibrant. Plants can be of all varieties and sizes, including bushes, cacti, peace lilies, ivy, spider plants, money plants or small fig trees. They can grow in pots, from hanging baskets, up a trellis or in trays. IMAGERY The images we surround ourselves with can have a subtle influence on the way we feel. A recent study suggested people felt happier after looking at an image of the Mona Lisa. When choosing images pay particular attention to the way you feel about them. You might find images of people, landscapes, water, plants, creatures or the sky especially relaxing, inspiring or motivating. Sometimes colours can help change our mood. Modern art provides a rich canvas for strong colours and you may find that a particular shade of colour brightens up your day. EMF Electro magnetic fields are created by most electrical equipment that uses a mains 240v ac supply. In an office this could apply to the older cathode ray screens, fax machines, copiers, CPU, fluorescent lighting, wireless phones and air conditioning units. Research suggests that long term exposure may increase the risk of headaches, migraines, poor concentration, fatigue and in extreme cases even cancer. The easiest way to reduce our exposure to EMF is to sit at least one metre from the source. So at a typical desk a keyboard, wired phone and flat screen are not of concern but it would be helpful to move other items like CPU, fax or copier away. In addition it is likely that earthing ourselves help free ourselves of the free electron accumulated from exposure to EMF. Try walking bare foot, gardening, showers, baths or swimming regularly. In addition eating food high in anti-oxidants will increase our bodies ability to heal the influence of EMF. More fruit, vegetables and herb teas will help here. SEATING Sitting with our back to a room can leave us feeling less secure as the activity of in the room takes place behind us. In addition sitting facing a wall can feel claustrophobic as though we cannot expand forwards. Sitting facing into a room with our back to a wall can feel more natural, empowering and secure. If arranging an open plan office allows staff to face into the room and see each other it will in theory help team working. WINDOWS Research suggests that being able to look out of a window with a view of nature, or at least the sky, helps us feel less stressed. Big windows and office layouts that place people with a view of the outside can benefit the people working there and ultimately help the business succeed. ATMOSPHERE Colours, materials, shapes, plants, sounds, natural light, lighting, furniture, layout, organisation, tidiness all combine to create an atmosphere in a place. Attention and awareness of these factors can combine to create a work space that will help the business succeed. Simon Brown will be speaking on Corperate Feng Shui at the World Feng Shui Day on February 4th in Manchester. For full details visit - http://www.thebarefootfoundation.co.uk/ This is a fantastic opportunity to listen to a range of people with extraordinary experience of feng shui, all on one day. Simon Brown is the chair of the Feng Shui Society and best selling author of numerous books on feng shui. Simon has worked on large scale projects for companies like British Airways, The Body Shop and the new Paris T2G terminal. Recent feng shui books include The Feng Shui Bible and The Feng Shui Life Coach (both published by Godsfield Press). For more on business feng shui visit http://www.businessfengshui.co.uk/ Simon G. Brown 22 Belsize Square London NW3 4HT +44 (0) 20 7431 9897 simon@chienergy.co.uk http://www.chienergy.co.uk/ FENG SHUI LIFE COACH by SIMON BROWN EDITORIAL REVIEW: The ancient art of feng shui has long been used to maximise the energy of homes and living spaces. Now expert author Simon Brown shows you how to use the same principles to heal and transform your inner space, just as it works on the rooms in which you live and work. Featuring step-by-step instructions and guidance on defining your goals and becoming sensitive to the energies around you, this indespensible guide also features detailed decor plans for the key rooms in your home - everything you need to maximise the potential of feng shui. Simon Brown's latest book is Macrobiotics For Life and published by North Atlantic. Here you will find more meditation and healing. MACROBIOTICS FOR LIFE by SIMON BROWN EDITORIAL REVIEW: This comprehensive guide to natural living is perfection. Simon Brown gives readers a great place to begin their transformation, with understanding and clear, gentle examination of the theories that are the foundation of macrobiotics. He has left the dogma behind and placed his focus on the beautiful wisdom that makes macrobiotics one of the most powerful life journeys you can imagine. This book is for anyone and everyone with an interest in creating their best life. Christina Pirello, Emmy Award-winning host of Christina Cooks, best selling cookbook author, and macrobiotics teacher MODERN DAY MACROBIOTICS by SIMON BROWN As you eat different foods you take in their energies and these in turn interact with your own internal energies. The resulting new energy may make you feel different emotionally; it may help you to think differently; or it may help lift your spirits. The longer you eat foods with similar energy the deeper and onger lasting this influence will be. Eating macrobiotic foods - primarily whole, living, unprocessed foods, all naturally low on the glycaemic index - can make improvements to health and state of mind. This book presents how to take advantage of this diet, with a range of eating programmes that target specific needs from a one day tone up, to a 4 month healing plan. PRACTICAL WABI SABI by SIMON BROWN AMAZON CUTOMER REVIEW: When I read Practical Wabi Sabi by Simon G. Brown out of a budding interest in the subject, I KNEW that I had found a major key to help deal with the constant buzz in our heads, eyes and and ears in this electronic, microwaves, satallite-connected world. Simon offers a way to handle the insanity of modern life in a way other than stuffing ourselves with high corn fructose foods, or other drugs of choice, including 'retail therapy', in a desperate attempt to handle the mounting stresses in our lives. I LOVE this book which truly is practical, enjoyable and even gives a sense of spirituality no matter what your religious background. Simon's novel The Healer is also now available. This book is a great way to learn more about healing whilst reading an engaging, insightful and thought provoking story. THE HEALER by SIMON BROWN "The Healer" presents a life changing philosophy that incorporates Zen Buddhism within a romantic story. It is a new age novel that openly explores the disappointments, excesses and arrogance that can befall a guru as well as the heart warming, healing interactions and profound, positive thoughts that are found within new age movements. This is a thought-provoking story about a young man's transformation from a mundane life to that of a healer and ultimately his starting a new religion. Yet, at the pinnacle of his success, his life is shattered through arrogance and personal tragedy precipitating the painful rebuilding of his new life and new self.   THIS ARTICLE IS THE LATEST IN SIMON's  FASCINATING SERIES..... ACID or ALKALINE An overly acid condition is associated with headaches, arthritis, indigestion and even an increased risk of cancer. There is much speculation that our immune system is less effective when we our too acidic. If you feel unwell and you are also acidic the obvious remedy is make yourself more alkaline. THE EFFECTS OF THE LUNAR CYCLE ON HUMAN LIFE There has long been a fascination with the moon and its possible influence on our lives. It may be that rather like waiting for the best tide and winds before sailing across the sea, waiting for the ideal phase of the moon can make our journey in life a little easier sometimes. THE HUMAN SOUL The soul can be described as the essence we are born with.In my experience it is our source of love, It is though our soul that we can experience a divine connection. This is where I think some of my interesting insights come from. JAPANESE TEA CEREMONY The tea ceremony was used in Japan as part of a ritual that helped both the provider and receiver reach a meditative, contemplative state. The process engages our senses in a way that we can become totally absorbed in the sensation of drinking tea. WABI SABI Look no further for the ultimate in stress free, green, spiritual, healthy living. This amazing subject is simply a new way of seeing the world and requires no extra time or special practices. You can enjoy your wabi sabi living whilst enjoying any kind of life. MEDITATION One way to overcome this is to calm our mind for a while with meditation. The meditation can be very simple and only needs to take a minute. I find that after a short meditation my mind can be calm for an hour or more after. It is almost like restarting a computer © CORTEX MEDIA 2009