The symbolism of Feng Shui can be applied to your vehicle. Your car, truck, van or SUV is your "home" when you are out in the world. Its size, shape, and even its name have meaning. We, in Feng Shui, know that our environment affects us. And we know that our environment includes not only our home and our business office, but also our vehicle.

So let's talk a little about our personal form of transportation. While you might think that all cars are ruled by the metal element, actually it is the shape of the vehicle that indicates the true element of a vehicle. The more square your vehicle is, the more earth element influence there is; while a more rounded shape would indicate a water influence. Earth is about stability, practicality (slow and deliberate action), where water is about fluidity, movement and speed. Most people acquire their car, truck, van or SUV because they are attracted to its shape and style.

The color of the vehicle may also indicate the element it represents. A bright red Corvette, for example, is a good representative of the element of fire. Fire is about expressing lots of energy and attracting attention. A lime green truck would would express the energy of wood, i.e., growth and strength, as would a hunter green Jag. That gold Mercedes reflects the energy of the metal element, and represents wealth and a smooth journey.

To determine whether your vehicle is more influenced by it's shape or color, consider how it compares with other vehicles when it sits in the lot with many others. Do you first notice the color, or do you see the shape? A PT Cruiser has such a distinctive triangular shape (fire); while with an electric blue F150, color (water) would be the most noticeable attribute.

There is also a basic difference between a car, and a truck, van or SUV. If we think back to times past, back to the time before the internal combustion engine, people had a choice of two types of "vehicles"; a horse or a horse/ox-drawn wagon. The horse was an ideal vehicle to transport a single person from one place to another very quickly. On the other hand, a horse or oxen drawn wagon was effective for carrying a person, their family and all of their belongings from one location to another, slowly but safely. This energy difference in modes of transportation persists between cars and trucks, vans or SUV's today. Many people chose a vehicle without perhaps consciously knowing why, yet a Feng Shui practitioner knows that the person makes such choices based on the influence of the energies present in their lives. If the vehicle you drive is a car, you mainly want to convey yourself (and perhaps a very few passengers or a minimal amount of stuff) from one destination to another. You want freedom to change direction quickly, and you want to be independent. On the other hand, if a truck, van or SUV is your vehicle of choice, you may have the restless spirit of our forefathers, curious about finding out what is around that next bend or on the other side of that mountain (or at least what is holding up traffic!), while making sure you have room for the people and things you need when you arrive at your new destination. You may feel responsible for moving your people or your stuff from one place to another; and you want to be sure that if a better opportunity presents itself in some other location, you will be ready to move--bringing with you your loved ones and all of your belongings.

Vehicles also have names. I don't mean the nickname that we give our car or truck (for instance, I named my beloved Ford Bronco "The Apartment" because , frankly, it was larger than my first apartment), I mean the name that the manufacturer has given your vehicle. Let's consider a few vehicle names: The Mustang was very aptly named after a fast horse; it was built for both speed and for beauty. The Armada is a gigantic SUV named not just for a single ship, but for a fleet of ships, giving the impression that nothing will be left behind. There is the Impala for people who want to be nimble and graceful, the Tahoe for people who want to be on perpetual vacation, or the La Crosse for the sports-minded person. There is the reliable Camry (from "cam", a gear that makes a larger mechanism move), or the Odyssey for those seeking an adventurous journey in life, or a whole line of Acura's, for those who drawn to the energy of accuracy.

You may have thought that the name of the vehicle actually doesn't make a difference, but in truth the name represents an energy which affects the person and their satisfaction with their vehicle. If you are currently thinking of getting a new vehicle, and before letting go of your current one, consider the name your vehicle has, and whether you have incorporated that energy and lesson into your life. Until you figure out the energy your old vehicle (it's type, name, color, and style) represented in your life, you may find it very hard to let it go.

From a Feng Shui perspective, there are multiple additional factors to consider in relation to your vehicle, such as the condition of your vehicle, whether it's neat inside and undamaged on the outside; or whether any persistent mechanical problems exist, etc. These are also symbols of the energy flow in your life. If you would like more information about Feng Shui and your car, please email me at donna@fengshuiform.com. I will be happy to share my insight.

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Sometimes a home or office just starts to feel "wrong". Maybe you can't quite put your finger on it, but you know the energy of the space is affecting you. Or, maybe you know exactly when the energy changed, but you are unsure what to do about it. Then again, perhaps you've bought a new place and don't know the previous residents; so you just don't know what kind of energy they left in the place. You don't know whether they enjoyed great success, or if they were facing a lot of difficulties in their lives. All you are concerned about at this moment is that you simply know your house or office just doesn't feel right. And you know it's time to do something about it.

Negativity in a space can affect your energy, your vitality, your relationships, and even your prosperity. Negativity can enter a home in several ways. It could have been there all along, before you ever moved in. Someone else might have sent it to you (someone you have a history with). Perhaps it was brought in unknowingly by you or a family member (a ghost or entity that is attached itself to you and taken up residence in your house). Or, the presence of the negative energy could be the result of difficulty you've been having (or have had in the past) with loved ones, inside the four walls of your home.

Once negativity is in the home or office, it can get trapped and start to build. You can actually see the physical results of this negative energy build up. There are actually physical signs that show this negative energy within a home or office.

One of the signs that negativity is trapped in a space is an accumulation of clutter; and no matter how you try, you just can't seem to get rid of it. But there are other signs as well: arguing, or in some cases even violence, can be a sign of negative energy trapped in a space; luck changes from good to bad; objects seem to get broken easily; or things have just stopped working. You might find that more repairs are needed on the house now than previously. And it is even possible that intruders start coming into the house-- anything from burglars to bug infestations.

Clearing a house energetically can help you fall in love with your house once again. It can help you get back on track emotionally; help you regain your interest in life and the future. It can help clear the way for prosperity and productivity in your business. Or, if it is time to move, than clearing residual negativity can help the house sell more quickly.

If you'd like more information on clearing your home or office space, or you would like to arrange an appointment for a Space Clearing, send an e-mail to donna@fengshuiform.com.

This service is available in Phoenix, AZ and Reno, NV with more cities coming soon. And if you are interested in making money helping people clear their homes of negativity let me know and I will email information on our training programs.