Living with Poison Arrows...... can Harm Your Health

Bad feng shui: Is there such a thing?

Simply put: if anything is out-of-square, out-of-line, or in-the-way, it is bad feng shui.
I hate using the word ‘bad’; but often, that is what it is, bad feng shui.

If a space feels good to you, then don’t worry. If it doesn’t feel good: look around and see if there is something you can change.

I’m happy when people are empowered to make a change! I think it is great when people want to expand their space! So…

Why is it so hard to line things up?

In feng shui, these ‘odd points’ jutting out spearing space, are nick-named poison arrows. Poison arrows are just that; full of surprise, force and aggression.

Inside the house, they could be subtle, but they are there: a large coffee table, a bookshelf overlapping the window, or a chair that backs into the back door. When was the last time you were ‘squeezed’ into a corner at a table? I’ll bet it didn’t feel quite right, and with a point at your chest -you didn’t stay long. Chances are, if something looks ‘weird’ or feels out-of-sorts, look around for a poison arrow. These arrows can cause nausea and dizziness in many cases.

Outside, poison arrows are easier to spot; they can be very aggressive. An oversized building can intimidate a smaller one by pointing or overshadowing the living room across the street. Or, it could be a garden feature, not lined up with the walkway. Even a sharp bend in the driveway can appear to be aggressive. When you are off-balance, that is when accidents can occur.

Below, I’ve described two other examples of poison arrows:

* Duplex family home: This is potentially a big hazard. General ergonomics and traffic flow all declare this is as a no-no. I see many doorways not lined up with the posts; they are all over the place.

If you try to move furniture or groceries into this place, you’ll hit a post. And, when you walk out of the house, you’ll hit the post again!

Best solution: If this was built as a duplex, I’d ask the contractors to either move the banister or the door. If this is a renovation, chances are, they have sliced-and-diced the inside as well. Some owners/builders spend so much time maxing out a space; they forget the big picture. Yes, you need swing-room for the door and a banister, so let’s design it and make it work.

Number 1 rule in feng shui: Main doorways should be clear of obstacles.

Look closely at this back deck; is this an accident waiting to happen?

• Deck addition off the back porch: Do you have a headache yet? This extension is crazy; I wonder if they had a permit to do this. Perhaps the clearance is high enough for someone to walk under, but really, this deck unbalances the whole house. It divides the window and cantilevers over the driveway. At least, it is in the back of the house off the laneway. (Now that the trees are out, it is harder to find the back door.)

Best solution: Start over. Look for options to extend the deck on the other side of the back door, rather than over the driveway.

Please do not purchase homes with obvious ‘weirdness’ or poison arrows! These homes can become (or already are) unbalanced and can perpetuate increased accidents and health issues. Feng Shui professionals can offer ‘cures’ for these situations, but the question is: Why would you bring extra stress into your life?

Walk through life with awareness: If something feel out-of-line, it probably is.