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The Feng Shui Do’s and Don’ts of Desk Placement

Dr. Cynthia Chan specializes in customized Feng Shui analyses for home and business.
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By Dr. Cynthia Chan

Many of us spend a lot of time at our desks. Did you know that feng shui can empower you here?

Consider this example: In my hypnotherapy profession I was seated in my feng shui power position. My business grew so much that I ended up having my office at Kapiolani Medical Center. Because I was also seated in the area of fame, the newspaper would ask to interview me without my contacting them. I also ended up writing monthly magazine articles.

Whether you are working at home or in an office, it would be very useful to know how feng shui can help you succeed. Ideally, you would have a custom analysis of the energy map of your office to know your power position and face your lucky direction. Short of this, there are some do’s and don’ts that can help.

DON’T:

• Face your back toward a doorway. It is important that you see anyone who enters.
• Place your desk against the same wall as the doorway. Chi energy flowing directly toward you will cause a lack of concentration.
• Expose your back to a window. You need support (and glare from sunlight will reflect off your computer screen).

• Position your desk between two doors, two windows or a combination of both. The wind tunnel creates a lack of concentration (and need for paperweights).
• Place your desk at an angle. You need support.
• Position your desk under overhead beams. Bombardment from the hammer-like chi patterns created by the beams will negatively affect you over time.
• Set up a home office in a bedroom. This is a more practical tip: This poses the challenges of separating business life and home life, and lack of stimulating social business-related interaction.

DO:

• Place your desk so your back is supported by a wall. Make sure it is close enough so that you feel the wall’s solidity, far from chi’s direct path between windows and doors, and gives you a clear view of anyone entering.
• Clear clutter. Chi will flow more smoothly and you will feel more organized, confident and motivated.

What if you work in an office with very limited placement options? A question I frequently get is, “How can I improve the feng shui of a cubicle when I do not have the freedom to move the furniture?”

When your office setup cannot be changed, you then have to focus even more attention on your own energy. Creating and maintaining good energy throughout your day becomes vital. Check your thoughts and breathe to clear your energy and remain grounded. Remember: Thought is energy.

You may not be able to move your desk into your commanding position or to face your lucky direction, but there are still ways to improve the energy of your workspace.

• If your back is to the door, place a reflective metal object or small mirror so that you can see the entrance and what is going on behind your back.
• If your office setup has challenging feng shui and there is not much you can do about it, make the extra effort to create good feng shui in your home, especially your bedroom. This will give your personal energy the replenishment and support it needs to withstand hours in a questionable feng shui office environment.
• To inspire good thoughts, put a photo of a high-energy moment or an affirmation on your desk.
• Place an air-purifying plant on your desk. These include the African violet, draceana, areca palm, raphis palm, ficus, rubber plant, Boston fern, English ivy and spathiphyllum (peace lily).
• Clear clutter from your desk daily. Once clutter starts accumulating, your energy is sure to go into the bad feng shui office category.
• Have a clear organization system.

Focusing on creating overall good energy is an excellent way to improve your feng shui. If you would like more info, I can wholeheartedly recommend Master Joseph Yu, Elizabeth Moran and Val Biktashev’s The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Feng Shui. If you are interested in a detailed, customized consultation, I can be contacted at Cynthia@fengshuichan.com or at 808-927-7362.

Dr. Cynthia Chan is a feng shui consultant who combines her passion for interior design with more than 10 years’ experience in the ancient Chinese art of feng shui. Her practice helps people balance and harmonize the energy in their environments—ultimately improving their physical, emotional, mental, financial and spiritual health.