by Paul Linsell

Created on: November 23, 2007

The bathroom is a very important room when it comes to feng shui as it is often the end of the chi flowing process. Obviously bathrooms are driven by the element of water, but this can actually be a bad thing as the waters are not pure and clean and instead are associated with the elimination of waste. This is a big deal for feng shui as water is associated with wealth, health and prosperity - perhaps the bottom of the toilet is not where you want these things to go!

So the first principle of feng shui with bathrooms is to play down the water element by avoiding deep blue colors, underwater patterns and chrome/metal objects. Instead try to introduce as many earth elements as possible as these will control the water elements and limit their negative impacts. Earth elements can be introduced through colors such as pale greens, creams and light grays. Also try growing bamboo in the bathroom and reflecting it in mirrors to enhance it's impact. A final way of introducing earth is to place pebbles on a shelf above the toilet, or directly on the cistern itself.

The location of the bathroom is also an issue in feng shui and there are certain locations that are more desirable than others. Firstly, do not place the bathroom near, or above, the kitchen as this will cause the fire energies of the kitchen to clash with the water elements of the bathroom, creating negative chi. The bathroom should also not be near, or facing, the main door to the house as the doorway is the mouth of the home that attracts energy in - if the bathroom is nearby then that energy will simply flow straight out again. Finally, and most importantly, do not locate the bathroom in the very center of the house such as under the stairs. The center of the house (the T'ai Chi) is best left open to allow energy to flow around it, placing a bathroom here could be disastrous for the health and finances of the occupants.

No matter where the bathroom is, there are a few simple tips for improving chi and limiting negative energies:

* Keep the toilet lid down and door closed to keep energy in the house
* Open windows as much as possible to air out the negative energies
* Use gold colored towels to attract abundance and counteract the "down-the-drain" effects
* Place a big mirror behind the basin so that when you look at yourself in the morning you have a big, bright and clear vision of yourself which provides a positive energy to your day
* Use mirrors on the door to reflect energy and seal off the bathroom from the rest of the house

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