Feng Shui

From a Feng Shui perspective, the Kitchen represents a place of sustenance and nourishment for the entire family. The smell and taste of freshly baked cookies and the sight of succulent fruit displayed on a Kitchen bench invoke strong feelings of nurturing and support. If a Kitchen is generally cluttered and neglected, the occupants will tend to eat out more and risk losing a vital part of the relationship dynamic that stimulates harmony when the family dines together.

The placement of the Kitchen door and oven are an important Feng Shui consideration. Ideally, you should avoid having the Kitchen or oven door facing directly towards the main door, back door, a toilet/bathroom door or a bedroom door.

You should also try not to locate the Kitchen within direct view of the main door (or most frequently used door), or food will tend to be the first thing people think of when they enter the home. A Kitchen is best located more towards the back of the home, rather than at the front.

Ideally, the stove should not be positioned beside or directly opposite the sink or fridge, in order to avoid a potential clash between the fire and water elements. When a fridge and stove are placed directly beside each other, you will often find one or both of these appliances will not function to their full capacity and you are more likely to experience problems with temperature control. If your kitchen already has this unfortunate arrangement, you can add the wood element (ie a healthy pot plant, timber divider or green mat) between them to help balance the energy flow by bridging the fire and water elements with wood.

When applying little tai chi to the Kitchen, (ie placing the xuan kong natal number chart for the entire house over the Kitchen, using the centre of the Kitchen as the centre of the chart), try to avoid placing the oven where there is a 2, 5 or 7 chor sin/mountain star energy. The 2 and 5 earth stars bring a higher probability of illness and misfortune, while the 7 chor sin can bring an increased risk of fire hazard if combined with a 2 or 9 natal, monthly or annual energy influence.

�Fire at Heaven�s Gate� can occur if the oven is placed in the Northwest sector or on the 6 chor sin/mountain star energy, and indicates a potential fire hazard, as well as a potential weakening influence over the general health and prosperity luck of the patriarch (or eldest male) living in the home. This influence is increased if your stove utilises gas cook tops (ie an open flame).

If practically possible, try to orientate the oven mouth (ie oven door) so that it faces towards a positive direction according to the Kua of the main bread winner of the home. The elements water and fire are automatically present in most Kitchens due to the sink, fridge, oven and stove top. A bridging element that can bring harmony to this combination is wood, so timber flooring and/or cupboards are generally very suitable for a Kitchen environment.

You should also endeavour to keep your Kitchen mould free and well ventilated; uncluttered and well organised. Keep the Kitchen bin out of sight and remember to empty the bin regularly and dispose of stale and out of date food.

By Derelle Ball
www.CentaineConsultants.com.au