The Creativity and Children gua focuses on several aspects in life: future, completion, descendants and manifestation. Our future is made up of our descendants. So, let’s talk about some tips for the kids who literally embody that limitless thinking and creative energy we hope to keep in our lives.
Pre conception: Bless and prepare your bodies: invoke that a loving, positive and creative attitude surround you at this time. If you are trying to get pregnant – slow down the ch’i in your bedroom. Avoid placing items that have movement near the bed such as fans, water features and pets until you are at least into the second trimester.
Prenatal: play classical music and dance! Prepare your child’s new sleeping area or room.
Avoid placing the crib in line with poison arrows and try to place the crib in the room where the head of the bed is to a wall and not the side of the crib. If the only orientation is to place the side of the crib against the wall, pull it out at least six inches to encourage the ch’i flow around the bed.
0-6 months: Rub your child’s head lightly and massage the body. Let them sleep to Baroque and classical sounds. Remember from my book how I placed the 9 colors of construction paper bagua shapes all around the room? Try this or be creative in your own way to add positive chi to the room. If you have a crib mobile, keep an eye out for signs that the mobile is squishing the chi in the crib. If restlessness or any head symptoms occur (ear infections, etc.), remove it at least at night, if not totally.
6- 24 months: Keep the room as clutter-free as possible. Keep the diaper pail well away from the crib – hopefully in another room. Also, sing and laugh as much as possible. Remember, sound is a traditional cure and we want “happy-chi” sounds!
2-5 years: If you are changing the decor from “baby” to “child,” be sure to include soft, non-threatening shapes (rounded) versus pointy, angular or high-contrast stripe shapes. Choose colors that are cheery – not too strong (yang) or to timid (yin). Your child will tell you by the way he or she sleeps and acts if you have colors to yin or yang. If changing from crib to bed, make sure the new bed has a headboard as well and preferably not up against the wall on one side. Try to avoid bunk beds. If necessary, at least cover the cross beam slats of the upper bed from the lower bed child’s view.
5-12 years: Make sure the school desk is appropriately placed in the room. Do not have your child face a wall. Make sure there are no poison arrows pointing towards them while they sit at the desk. Make sure the desk is big enough for them and their homework. Place a task light on the desk to help them focus. A yellow blotter help them to focus as well.
12-18 years: Talk, listen, and balance the elements. The water element may help out here as water is a transporter of both sediment, seeds and ideas. Add both water and metal element in the teenager’s room for clear communication and to intend for the best completion of their learning while under your roof. Add earth to help create the metal element and to ground them in this unsettled time.
From 18 on: Honor their decisions and love them always – and help them feng shui their new home when they move out!