Ford Recommends Feng Shui for Your Car

Of course, Ford is tying in the news release on Feng Shui into a promotion for the new Ford Fusion with a customized bagua for the sedan. In many Western practices of feng shui, a “bagua” is used. A bagua is a template or map, that shows how ch’i, or energy, flows in our lives. Each area of that environment – whether it’s a home, a room or a workspace – relates to an area on the map.

Catherine Hilker, a feng shui practitioner from Detroit and owner of Creating Sanctuary, has advice for turning your vehicle into a Feng Shui environment. They have presented in order of interest and not necessarily importance.

Hilker says, "When you have a connection to something, you’ll take better care of it. Giving a name to your car is one way to encourage a strong connection to your vehicle. Using decals and vanity plates are other ways to encourage that connection." Just don't name your car "Christine." That may not turn out well.

There's advice about color, too, from Hilker. "In feng shui, color is very important. Choose a car color that balances your personality. For example, fiery Type A individuals can choose a water element color like black to calm down (and perhaps avoid tickets). Type B individuals can choose fire and wood element colors like reds and greens to create more liveliness," she says. Wait a minute. Where's white? That's the number one color followed by silver.

Even Ford should wonder why white isn't mentioned. As TorqueNews.com writer Don Bain reported in April 2011, "A study of car color preferences performed by Ford revealed, despite the availability of bright, vibrant colors, U.S. customers on both coasts and buyers in most European countries prefer the core classic colors – white, black, silver and gray."

And here's some additional Feng Shui advice from Hilker. “Using symbols is also important in feng shui. For example, add a little icon – like a statue or a medal or a picture – as a reminder to drive safely, to be courteous, or to reduce stress. It doesn’t even have to be something visual – just something the driver knows is there. It can even be something tucked in the glove box,” she said. However, we can warn you to advance that no cop in the world is going to believe that the crack pipe in your glove compartment is a Feng Shui symbol.

Try the Feng Shui out and report back. Inquiring TorqueNews readers want to know if it can work in your car.

Keith Griffin has been writing continuously about new cars since 2002. He used to be the guide to used cars at former About.com as well as a contributor to The Boston Globe and Automotive Traveler. He is the founder and president of The Internet Car and Truck of the Year, where "Internet Pros and Average Joes" pick the car and truck of the year. Currently, Keith is the managing editor for American Business Media. Follow Keith at @indepthauto on Twitter.