How do I apply feng shui to a dorm room? All of the books I've read don't mention this kind of living arrangement. Here's a little description of the room (I have no control over the furniture placement). The room is perfectly symmetrical. The door faces the window and air conditioner on the opposite side of the room. On each side of the window is a desk with a book shelf, and when seated at the desk, my back faces the head of my bed. The beds run parallel with the side walls. If this is a bad placement, what can I do to remedy it?

Frankly, there are `limited' Feng Shui theories that can be applied to a dorm room.

Other than some of the following:-

1. Ideally, your dorm room should not be situated at the West or have your study desk on the West wall for two reasons:-
- If there is no shade for the west wall, the room can be quite hot (Particularly, under a country with hot climate or no air conditioning).
- West location under the bagua is considered a Yin location more for sleeping. If you do not need to study late in the evening in this room, this is acceptable.

2. Under Feng Shui, books act like `cutting' knives or blades so best is not to have books facing your body or face both during sleep or study. But if this is not possible, then limit this to the study area. As you usually spent more time sleeping.

3. For sharp corners e.g. study table pointing towards your bed, you can buy those `rounded' protectors or child protections. Here in Singapore, I can get it at Ikea, furniture store.

4. For `normal bedrooms' we prefer to create more of a `yin' environment, but in a dorm where you may spent time studying, depending on your studying technique, you can create more of a yang environment e.g. if you cannot paint the walls, you can place posters in this room or anything bright to enhance the room. It is good to place a photo of your loved ones on a shelf or table in the room.

Keep away, scissors or any `sharp' objects or placing a display of e.g. double swords, in the dorm room as this is not auspicious.

5. It is not practical to do a Eight House or a Flying Star chart simply because the room is too small. One point is because such theories take into account the centre of the house and the dorm is simply too small.

Cecil Lee
Center for Feng Shui Research
March 1999