GEOMANCY Introductory feng shui

FENG SHUI: THE LIVING ROOM

For many of us the living room is the true heart of the home, so it’s important to get the sheng chi (beneficial energy) flowing. Samantha Wong reports

One of the reasons minimalist design schemes appeal to so many of us is that they radiate sheng chi (beneficial energy). A pared back, clutterfree room is harmonious and well-balanced; it’s calming without being dull and it has a sense of flow – all essentials for good feng shui.

So, if you are reworking your living room to improve the feng shui, start by decluttering it. Throw out what you can (that pile of old magazines on the coffee table) and find storage solutions for things you use on a regular basis. It’s worth investing in a few simple pieces that will free up space – perhaps you need a bookcase or a couple of side tables with in-built storage. out any overpowering paintings Minimalist design schemes rely

and this goes for larger pieces too – get rid of the chair you never sit in and the painting you no longer look at.

The basic elements

Paring down will immediately up the feel of any living room, as will giving some thought to furniture placement. Work with scale and proportion to create harmony between pieces of furniture, and make sure there’s enough space for chi to flow. Group chairs to promote conversation and togetherness, and put the TV in a cabinet so that you can really switch off from it every now

A word here about tech – televisions, stereos, computers and phones are all associated with yang (male energy), so you need to go big on ying (female) energy elsewhere in the living room. This is easy enough to achieve – avoid painting the walls stark white opting instead for cream or earth tones, and swap or oversized pieces of furniture.

and then. on clean lines and angular shapes but be sure to introduce a few yingboosting curves. A circular coffee table will immediately soften things up, as will curvy design motifs on your soft furnishings.

Another thing you need to ensure in the living room, as in every room in the home, is that each of the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal and water) is well represented.

We’ve talked, in previous issues, about how you can up the presence of a particular element in a room through colour use. For instance, you can invite more wood energy into a room by introducing some

green-coloured or real-wood furnishings. But note that the shapes you choose to decorate with are also important, since each shape represents a specific element. Triangles and stars are associated with fire, squares with earth, round shapes with metal, curvy shapes with water, and rectangles with wood.

Chi can’t flow in a room filled with stagnant air, so be mindful about that and open your windows regularly. You can also freshen a room by burning incense sticks or, better, using an aromatherapy diffuser. The healing power of essential oils works on many levels, making a room smell good, while purifying its energy.

Good lighting is another must. Don’t limit your living room to a single ceiling lamp because si chi (bad feng-shui energy) breeds in both harshly- and dimly-lit spaces. Layered lighting works best, meaning you have a number of fixtures – ceiling, standing and table – placed liberally around the room. Fire up some candles too.

Playing with fire

Mirrors are another great way to bounce light around a living room, while also making the space look bigger. They introduce a calm, fresh energy but they possess a lot of magic, so you need to be a little bit cautious with them.

Mirrors literally and metaphorically double what they reflect, which means they need to reflect something positive, like a beautiful view or favourite piece of furniture. A mirror above the sofa might look stylish but if it’s reflecting a neglected corner, that feeling is likely being doubled in your life.

Minimalist design relies on angular shapes but you also need a few ying-boosting curves

Mirrors are also linked to selfesteem, so stick to full-length ones in which you can see yourself completely. If your body is ‘cut’ in your reflection, your energy is cut, and you’re telling yourself that you don’t measure up.

Lastly, it’s time to throw caution to the wind and play with fire. You can brighten any space with a splash of red and in so doing you introduce the fire element of joy, warmth, love and excitement. Good feng shui is all about balance, so you’ll want a good mix of colours in your living room but pick up a rug or throw in a warm and nurturing shade of red and you’ll feel the benefit.

Enchanted Isles

Lying 1,000 kilometres off the coast of Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands are probably the most famous wildlifewatching destination on the planet. The isolated terrain, now fiercely protected, shelters an incredible diversity of plant and animal species, many found nowhere else on Earth. It’s a terrific place to visit any time of year. Temperatures range from 21°-30°C.

Heavenly wildlife

The Galapagos is made up of 13 volcanic islands, six smaller ones and more than 100 islets, and each has its own unique landscape and wildlife. One island is best known for its birdlife, another for prehistoric-looking marine iguanas and yet another for giant tortoises. However, you find many species, such as sea lions, lava lizards, turnstones and whimbrels, at most visitor sites.

Protected national park

An impressive 97% of the Galapagos is designated as national park and you can only visit specific visitor sites accompanied by certified naturalist guides. At each visitor site, you’re shown a marked trail that you must stick to – you can’t go wondering off on your own disturbing the wildlife. Some sites have wet landings (you wade to shore from skiffs) and others have dry landings (you step foot directly on dry land). The Galapagos National Park limits the number of visitors to each island and coordinates each tour ship’s itinerary.

Birds of paradise

Be sure to make it to Genovessa Island, known as Bird Island because of the many and varied bird species that nest there. You spot blue-footed boobies tapping out their bizarre mating rituals, frigate birds flaunting their red bellies and gigantic gulls snuggling up in the crook of a lava rock.

Sea lions cavorting on the sand

View from the top of Bartolomé Island

Tourism is strictly controlled

Befriending sharks

Diving and snorkelling are a must in the Galapagos, bringing you nose to nose with fabulous tropical fish and rays. On land, visitors are asked to keep a 2-metre distance from the wildlife but this is not the case underwater. Even the sharks are friendly – they have no interest in eating people thanks to the great abundance of tasty fish.

Relaxing with iguanas

One of the most surprising things about the Galapagos is just how fearless the wildlife is. The birds and animals give you no more than a cursory glance. And the absence of natural predators on many of the islands means that those that have made it all the way to this remote spot can live and breed in safety and without restriction.

Getting around

The best way to see as much as possible is to book a cabin on a liveaboard boat. The tour ships vary in size and each has accommodation to fit most budgets. Visitors enjoy packed itineraries, with activities ranging from snorkelling to hiking. In the evening, the ships up anchor and sail to another location, so that each day brings a new island to explore.

Hunkering down

If you want a day or two to get back your land legs, you can opt to stay ashore on the islands of Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, Floreana or Isabela. A short kayak away you might find a sheltered cove where oversized plovers nest in the cliffs. And wading into the sea, you might experience the thrill of seeing a penguin dive off a rock and dart past you, before circling back for another look.

Diving with whale shark

Marine iguanas are found only on the Galapagos Islands

Tour ships accommodate some 170,000 tourists a year

Wherever you stay, you’re bang in the heart of paradise

The time is ripe

These classic fruit puddings have been reinvented with a modern twist – try strawberries in your rhubarb crumble, ginger in your pear cake and sour cream in your apple pie

Rhubarb and strawberry crumble

Serves 4

• 1tbsp cornflour • 185g golden caster sugar • 450g strawberries, hulled and halved* • 450g rhubarb, cut into chunky lengths* • 140g plain flour • 50g ground almonds • 100g butter, chopped* • 25g flaked almonds

Preheat the oven to 190°C. Combine the cornflour and 85g caster sugar in a large bowl, then toss in the strawberries and rhubarb until well coated. Cook over a gentle heat, stirring until the fruit softens and the released juices thicken. Tip the fruit mixture into a 750ml ovenproof dish, scraping in the juice. To make the crumble, mix the flour, ground almonds and remaining sugar in a bowl, then rub in the butter to form a crumbly mixture. Add the flaked almonds, then scatter the crumble mixture over the fruit. Bake for 35 minutes until the fruit is tender and the crumble golden. Serve with clotted or sour cream.

Pear and ginger loaf cake

Serves 8

• 200g unsalted butter* • 100g caster sugar • 100g soft brown sugar • 2 large eggs, beaten* • 1tsp vanilla extract • 200g self-raising flour • 1tsp baking powder • 2 balls stem ginger in syrup, drained and chopped • 2 pears, peeled, cored and roughly chopped* • 3tbsp syrup from the ginger jar • 3tbsp granulated sugar

Heat the oven to 160°C. Beat the butter, caster sugar and brown sugar together, then gradually stir in the eggs and vanilla extract. Fold the flour, baking powder and a pinch of salt into the mix, then stir in the stem ginger and pears. Pour the mixture into a lined, 1,200ml loaf tin. Smooth the surface, then bake for about 1 hour until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Leave to cool. To make the glaze, mix the syrup with the granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon of water. Poke the surface of the loaf all over with a skewer, then pour on the syrup. Serve hot or cold. 

Eat The Kiwi delivers fresh and frozen fruit direct to your door

FIND IT

• Eat The Kiwi, 9785 5706 (WhatsApp), hello@eatthekiwi.com, store.eatthekiwi.com Eat The Kiwi delivers high quality New Zealand groceries* to DB on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 12pm and 6pm (order by 10am,

Serves 6

• 310g all-purpose flour • 120g sugar • 285g unsalted butter, cubed* • 115ml sour cream • 3lbs cooking apples, sliced thin* • ¼tsp each allspice, nutmeg and cinnamon • 1tsp vanilla extract • 1 large egg yolk* Combine 285g flour, 8g sugar and a pinch of salt. Using your hands, work the butter into the flour until the mixture is shaggy. Make a well in the centre and pour in the sour cream; mix until the dough begins to clump. Separate the dough into two equal disks, sprinkle with flour, wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour. Toss the sliced apples with 25g flour, 112g sugar, the spices and vanilla extract. Roll out one disk of dough to a 12-inch circle. Place on a 9-inch pie plate, and arrange the apples on top. Roll out the top crust and place over the apples, pressing the top and bottom dough rounds together at the edges. Brush with egg yolk, Monday/ Wednesday). Delivery is free for orders over HK$1,000,

Apple pie

and costs HK$120 for orders under HK$1,000. and cut slits in the top. Bake at 190°C for an hour, until the crust is golden and the juices are bubbling. Serve with vanilla ice cream.