What does the front door influence according to Feng Shui: location according to the cardinal directions. The role of the front door in Feng Shui at home

Entrance door according to Feng Shui, it is of fundamental importance: the quality of the Qi energy entering the house will be determined precisely by the location of the door.

If the basic requirements of Feng Shui are not met, the home will be filled with negative energy from the moment of construction, which will then be difficult to get rid of. If you are building a house, take into account the specific requirements of Feng Shui right away, then it will be much easier to furnish the house and fill it with positivity.

The main door through which people enter the building should be massive, large, and the more solid the better. This is required in order to bring good luck to the one who brings the main money into the house - the breadwinner. And if the owner is lucky and rich, the rest of the household will not tolerate need.

Poorly placed doors

If there is a vertical line running along the main door and window, this is not good from a Feng Shui point of view. Favorable Qi energy and good luck will not like this building. The same can be said about cases when the entrance and interior doors are located opposite each other.

To mitigate the negative effect, place a screen, a light partition, or any other obstacle in the path of the direct flow of energy - this will allow it to slow down, smoothly flow around the obstacle, and become more favorable. The unfortunate placement of a door opposite a window or opposite another door can also be corrected by bells (wind chimes).

And yet, such means of energy correction of the apartment do not eliminate the adverse consequences, but only mitigate them.

When windows and interior doors are on a wall that is perpendicular to the front door, the Feng Shui of the apartment is much better. The Qi energy will settle and spread smoothly throughout your home.

Avoid installing large floor-to-ceiling windows in the hallway - in the Feng Shui configuration they will be recognized as doors, and there is nothing worse than doors in the same wall as the main entrance to the home.

Where is the entrance directed?

The entrance to the home should not be directed towards objects with strong Yin energy (church, prison, cemetery, hospital, monastery).

You can neutralize the negative by painting the outside of the door with red paint. You should not direct the entrance towards road junctions - this leads to discord in the family. great importance. It is better to change the location of the front door so that there is a plain opposite it. Do not arrange a garbage dump in front of the main door - this entails various problems in career and financial matters.

How to paint a door?

According to Feng Shui, the front door is associated in color with the direction it faces. Find out the direction of the world in which the entrance to your house faces, and choose a suitable color for it.

The element of the east is traditionally wood. If the sun rises in front of your door, it is better to choose green and brown colors for it, and since the nourishing elements for wood are earth and water, use their colors to create excellent feng shui.

The south corresponds to the element of fire, and best color, of course, red. Others matching colors for the element of fire it is yellow, orange, pink and purple. Fire feeds on wood, which means brown and green are also suitable.

The best colors for a western door are metal colors, white and gray, while earth colors can be used, but fire and water colors should be avoided, which weaken the metal.

North is the direction of the water, so choose black and Blue colour for the door. If these colors do not match the exterior of the house, you can paint the front door white or gray, because metal is food for the water element. Do not paint the north door in the colors of wood and fire - wood feeds on water, and fire devours it.

Intermediate sectors also have color recommendations: southeast - black and blue, southwest - yellow, sand, beige, red, purple, orange. But when choosing a color, also consider your attitude towards it: if for some reason you personally don’t like a color that is suitable according to the teachings of Feng Shui, causing hostility and rejection, you should not force yourself and blindly follow the recommendations. First of all, you should feel comfortable in the house.

For a northwestern door, the colors of the west will be good, because the main element of the northwest is metal. However, using northern colors is not prohibited.

The Northeast is a place of development and spiritual growth. This is the kingdom of Earth. Use the colors of earth and fire, but beware of weakening colors - green, white, gray, blue, black.

Mirrors and doors

Location matters a lot various items in relation to the front door. Luck will run away from apartment residents if their front door can be seen in the mirror, for example.

Entrance doors located opposite the window will not be able to retain positive energy in the house; it enters the doors and goes out the window (sometimes vice versa). When buying an apartment, this is why you should pay attention to the relative position of the front door relative to the windows.

It is also impossible (according to some experts) to hang a clock on the wall in which the entrance and interior doors are located. The clock can stop or fall off the wall from constantly slamming doors - this is true. It will also not be very convenient to look at the clock above the door to the apartment.

The subconscious feeling that you need to go somewhere, or that someone is about to come, does not contribute to mental health at all.

But stories that watches are of great importance in Feng Shui and are interconnected with the location of the door are stories that should not be believed.

Taking into account all the nuances and requirements of Feng Shui, you can ensure your luck and material wealth forever.

How to effectively correct defects?

Defects associated with the position of the front door, interior doors and windows should be taken into account during construction, because correcting them is virtually impossible or very difficult to achieve in practice. If you live in an apartment, just use bells, lanterns, screens and other Feng Shui paraphernalia, which helps smooth out the consequences of violations and retain positive energy in the house, without blocking the free exit of negative energy.

Input feng shui doors play vital role in the general atmosphere of the house. There should be no obstacles to the full movement of energy flows.

Some of them have positive influence on a person, others, on the contrary, carry complete negativity. It is important that the energy channels are not cluttered, otherwise stagnation occurs.

Content:

Entrance doors serve as a link to the outside world in every residential building. It is through this place that all energy circulates – both external and internal.

Following the advice of Feng Shui experts, you can choose the right doors - this will help solve many current problems.

• In no case should sharp corners be directed towards the doorway. It is better to place tables, unusual wall designs, figurines with sharp corners away from this place. And in general, to attract positive energy into a living space, it is recommended to choose interior items with rounded corners.

• According to Feng Shui, the front door should always be clean: without stains or dirty marks. From her appearance depends on the nature of the attracted energy. Harmony will forever settle in your home if you hang a symbolic sign on the door eastern sign(for example, a horseshoe).

• Small pendant lanterns perfectly ward off evil spirits and negative Sha energy. Besides protective function lighting accessories will significantly decorate the front entrance to your home. Remember that damaged light bulbs need to be replaced on time - like all broken things, they negatively affect a person and his condition.

• According to Feng Shui, the door must be durable: glass is not suitable as a manufacturing material here. Lubricate the hinges in a timely manner to avoid squeaking.

• By eastern traditions the door must open into the house. Only under this condition favorable energy will not encounter obstacles on its way.

• Do not allow windows near the front entrance. All energy flows, not having time to penetrate inside, will evaporate. But the problem is completely solvable: you can fix this planning error yourself. Place a houseplant on the windowsill - choose your favorite one.

• The size of the door must also meet certain criteria. It is desirable that it be medium in size. If the doorway is wide, this will create financial difficulties in your family. If, on the contrary, the passage is very narrow, conflict situations can't be avoided.

What should not be in front of the front door?

1) Bathroom

If you are planning to purchase a home, keep in mind that the front entrance is not located opposite the bathroom or toilet - constant water leakage takes away all the energy - both positive and negative. This will cause a lot of trouble.

First of all, the health of all family members will suffer. You will constantly feel tired, unhappy, and apathetic.

The next problem is the shortage Money. Energy that favors financial matters will also be washed away with the bathwater.

What to do if the bathtub (toilet) is opposite the door?

Of course, if you are just planning to build your own home or are engaged in its arrangement and repair, then these tips will make your task much easier.

If it is not possible to change the layout, then a couple of secrets that experts in Eastern sciences talk about will help.

• Hang a wind chime on the door leading to the bathroom. It is desirable that it be large, bright and shiny. This will create a reflector effect - the energy tending to the water will not be able to penetrate inside the bathroom. It will spread throughout the house.

• Also a good solution could be a horseshoe pointing downwards, a small rock crystal ball suspended from the ceiling or a crystal chandelier.

• Various bells or crystals will perfectly protect and protect from troubles. Their reflective surface and pleasant melody will drive away all the bad and invite prosperity, happiness and mutual understanding into your home.

In this short video (02:28), the most famous Feng Shui master Natalya Pravdina will tell you what to do if the toilet door is opposite the front door.

2) Mirror

The mirror has big influence for a person's life. This is mainly due to the fact that the mirror surface is capable of changing the direction of the energy flow and giving it the right impetus. This piece of furniture copes well with stagnant energy and normalizes circulation.

Remember: hanging a mirror in the hallway opposite the front door is strictly prohibited!

Positive energy will not be able to get inside the house. All family members will suffer. This will affect health, relationships, and financial well-being. Luck will simply turn around and leave the house.

The best solution is if the mirror hangs in the hallway on the wall to the right of the front door.

Example of correct mirror placement

Door direction according to cardinal directions

In the works of Feng Shui specialists, the front door has a special name - the Qi Gate. The direction of the front entrance also has an impact on the nature of the incoming energy.

• The eastern part of the world is considered the most favorable for the location of the door. This guarantees the owner of the house success in all areas of life, constant professional growth, and financial well-being.

• The southeast helps eliminate financial problems. Slowly but surely the money will return to your home - you just have to wait a little.

• According to Feng Shui, an entrance door that faces north will provide a calm and quiet home atmosphere. A small crystal on the wall in the hallway will perfectly complement the symbolism. Relationship married couple will improve the brown color of the door.

• To ensure that your children always have a thirst for knowledge and new things, the door should be directed to the northeast. Information will be absorbed very easily and quickly.

• If the front door is located in the northwest direction, respect and tolerance will always reign in the family.

• Encourages activity and a desire to take initiative South part Sveta. Thanks to a special flow of energy, residents receive a charge that increases internal strength.

• Love and eternal romance will definitely settle in your home if the door is directed to the southwest according to Feng Shui. You will understand your loved one perfectly and will find agreement.

• Western direction contributes to development creativity, so this option is perfect for young people looking for themselves, families, as well as those who have small children.

But everything should be in moderation - excessive amounts of unnecessary energy sometimes have a negative impact on emotional condition person. Water symbols that can be hung on the door or placed on a shelf in the hallway will help reduce the effect a little.

Feng Shui door color

Feng Shui experts say that the color of a door is directly related to the geographical direction. Therefore, before deciding on this issue, you should find out which direction of the world your front entrance faces.

The red color of the front door is suitable for the south side of the house

• The northern direction harmonizes well with white or black. Available in blue shades. But green tones should be avoided - they do not go well with the cold part of the world.

• Gold or silver (or any other metal color) are suitable for doors facing west or northwest. Red and blue options are not recommended in this case.

• White color is not suitable for the east and southeast directions. Here it is better to give preference to doors in black or blue shades.

• The southern part of the world is combined with green, which represents flowering and growth. The red option works well. But don't use black tones.

• Northeast or southwest harmonizes with brown. It is believed that this color option will bring prosperity and stability to your family. But white doors are not suitable for these geographical areas.

Live according to Feng Shui!

Alexandra Kalashnik, especially for the site ""

Interesting

It is considered unfavorable according to Feng Shui when the door opens not into the house, but outward - this deprives you of the opportunity to consolidate your success, since the flows will always rush outward, and any of your achievements will be short-lived.

Desirable:

• so that the front door leads to the hall or hallway. Here beneficial qi accumulates and is subsequently evenly distributed throughout the house. If unfavorable energy enters the house, the hallway absorbs and dissipates it to some extent.

• so that from the threshold of the front door you can see the living room, dining room or family room.

Undesirable:

• to front door was located opposite the back door - because of this, a powerful flow qi, as if permeating the whole house. To avoid negative impact for feng shui at home, you can install various kinds barriers to the movement of energy - mirrors, screens, decorative grilles, plants or curtains.

• if the front door opens to the stairs going up. In this situation, the flow of qi becomes sharp and excessively mobile. To slow it down, you can use bells or ornamental plants.

• if from the threshold of the front door you run into a wall located only 2 meters from you. The sight of a close wall blocks the advancement of bodily qi and more powerful energy flows in space. This can cause indecision, lack of initiative, dullness of perception and slowness of reactions. The situation will be corrected by a mirror placed on the wall opposite the entrance, or plants, photographs and images of wildlife.

• if a door opening inward blocks the view into the interior at that moment. Each time the person entering finds himself in a confined space, and this subconsciously affects his psyche - depression, a feeling of hopelessness and alienation, and loss of contact with others may occur.

• if you can see the kitchen or bathroom from the threshold. Their proximity to the front door adversely affects the well-being of the family, especially in the kitchen. In traditional beliefs, the wealth that food symbolizes will be easily lost. To remedy the situation to some extent, keep the doors to these rooms closed at all times.

Feng Shui design of the front door

The best option for a residential building, according to Feng Shui experts, is a single-leaf wooden door. It is strong enough to create an obstacle to negative energies rushing towards the house when any external objects are unfavorably located. Your well-being is thus protected at a basic level.

A double door is only good for a large mansion, since for an ordinary house, and even more so for a city apartment, it is disproportionately large. This upsets the balance and destabilizes the incoming ones. Problems caused by an imbalance of yin and yang can range from constant ailments to complete fiasco in all important areas of your life.

A revolving door is an unacceptable solution for a home from a Feng Shui point of view. We most often see this type of door design in hotels, restaurants, casinos and similar establishments. They are placed in order to accelerate the movement of qi and thereby stimulate money turnover and customer flows. The entrance door of the described design gives the impression that the house every time swallows those who enter it. In your affairs, this can provoke failures that follow the rapid and uncontrollable development of the situation.

Orientation of the entrance door to the cardinal points

Door facing northwest

Element Metal

With this placement of the door, success is on the side of the father or the eldest man in the house. Promotes the manifestation of leadership qualities, makes possible successful career advancement and ensures a stable position in society, universal respect and honor. Additional stability can be provided by a door whose shape corresponds to the Metal element.

North facing door

Element Water

This position of the door is favorable in the case when the battles for success have already died down, and now you have a need for a calm and measured life - you want, so to speak, to peacefully rest on your laurels. In another situation, lethargy, apathy and a desire to go with the flow may appear; there is a high probability that for family members this will result in mutual alienation. If such symptoms have already appeared, the situation will be changed by the activation of the opposite element (Earth). To do this, the door is painted brown, ocher or yellow. To enhance the purification of chi when entering your home, use a door shape that corresponds to the element Water.

Door facing northeast

Element Earth

It is good when the Feng Shui of the entire area is favorable. In general, the northeast direction of the door makes residents more susceptible to influence external forces, which introduces some chaos and excessive activity into their actions and aspirations. A door made in accordance with the element Earth will have a stabilizing effect - strong, even massive, with square sections.

Door facing east

tree element

Perfect for those who are at the very beginning of the path to success and have sufficient perseverance and ambition to complete it with dignity. Helps to do brilliant career, gaining the patronage of influential people. This direction especially favorable for achieving success in the field of commerce and business. The shape of the door in accordance with the Wood element (tall, with rectangular or oblong fragments) will contribute to the growth of wealth and the acquisition of promising acquaintances.

To strengthen achieved successes you can add the Earth element - paint the door a brownish ocher or yellow color, or use a door shape that matches this element - with square details or sections. White color is unacceptable for door decoration.

Door facing southeast

Wood element

This direction provides a decent opportunity to improve your financial situation. Things will progress slowly but surely, and ultimately a stable result will not be long in coming. To be able to always keep up with the times, constantly updating your views and working methods, use the shape of the door in accordance with the element Earth.

To activate the possibility of growth (a quality associated with the Wood element), paint your doors in green color or any shade of it, or use floral ornaments in the design. The direction is also favorable for long-term projects and long-term cooperation, that is, in those areas where there is prospect for further growth.

South facing door

Element Fire

The direction is favorable for those who strive to be active social life, take a prominent place in society, gain recognition and win fame and glory. A door made taking into account the shapes inherent in the Fire element (pointed and triangular) will promote good spirits and optimism. The Fire element can create certain problems that may arise due to self-indulgence and fleeting desires, as well as short temper and excessive irritability. You can moderate the “fiery” characteristics by introducing the element of Water into the design of the door, for example, by painting it black or dark blue.

Door facing southwest

Element Earth

This direction is considered the most favorable for the mother or the eldest woman of the family and brings prosperity and harmony to family affairs. If the management of all affairs is concentrated in the hands of the mother, then her personality can become authoritarian and domineering. To prevent or correct feng shui disharmony of this kind, if it has already appeared, it is necessary to introduce the Wood element into the design of the doors: use green color scheme and choose a shape in accordance with this element - tall, with rectangular sections.

In general, if the mother of the family is not too powerful and does not have authoritarian tendencies, then green color in the design of the door is undesirable; preference should be given to yellow and brown flowers, as well as their various shades. Door shape in in this case must correspond to the element Fire - have triangular or pointed elements.

Door facing west

Metal element

The direction provides truly unlimited opportunities for creative growth for young children, so future success lies with them. Children are your most promising investment in this case, so take care of their education, all-round development, etc. The Western direction is also associated with hobbies and romantic feelings, and in this regard, you will have to ensure that they do not become an obstacle to your life. your path to success, or vice versa, so that the zealous conquest of social heights does not deprive you of heartfelt, unforgettable moments. Stability will be brought by details associated with the element Earth - a crystal or an image of some earthly landscape suspended in the hallway, as well as ceramic objects or plants in ceramic pots placed at the front door. Doors whose shape was chosen in accordance with the Metal element will have special strength.

Feng Shui, gives clear recommendations regarding placement front door and pays great attention to this issue. This is connected, not with a whim, but with real practice, showing the importance of the front door in a favorable Feng Shui at home or apartments. Many Feng Shui Masters They believe that the creation of harmonious Feng Shui in a house should begin with the front door, with an analysis of its location and the location of all other interior elements in the house relative to the front door.

Let's look at unfavorable examples of the location of the front door and the general layout of a house or apartment.

In the layouts of old Soviet apartments, there is often a bathroom or toilet opposite the front door, and in three or four room apartments there is also a long corridor between them. A toilet or bathroom should never be located opposite the front door. The flow of beneficial energy, entering the house, immediately goes into the toilet, and in the case of a long corridor, without even slowing down the Qi, it instantly evaporates. If this happens, and you live in such an apartment, keep the door to the toilet closed, and install a barrier in the corridor - a light screen. If the toilet is opposite, but not in line with front door, then just hang a mirror on the toilet, such manipulation will rid the apartment’s Feng Shui of its influence. In houses with several floors, toilets and bathrooms should not be located on the floors directly above the front door.

Implies - The wall on which the front door faces should not have windows, it is advisable to place them on the left or right walls from it. To smooth out this arrangement, the window can be made blank, flowers can be placed on the windowsill, and the Crystal Talisman can be hung on the window. Along with windows, the rear doors of houses also fall under this location rule - it is not advisable for them to be located opposite the front door.

IN Big houses or estates, there is a fashion for huge staircases inside. The staircase to the second floor should also not face the front door. Typically, Feng Shui of such a layout can be improved by placing a small fountain in the corridor, or a barrier near the front door, which, when entering the house, will visually hide the beginning of the stairs, that is, upon entering the house, you should not see the first steps of the stairs.

Pay special attention to mirrors in the house; they should not reflect the front door. Even small mirror, which the reflection of the front door accidentally caught, will contribute to the outflow of Qi Energy.

Sleeping rooms should be located as far as possible from the front door, on the left or right side.

The most destructive is the placement of several more doors or openings in line with the front door, and even worse at the end of such a sequence, the presence of a window or back door. In this case, determine the middle door or opening, install a barrier in the form of a screen, or an automatically closing door. All doors on this line must not be allowed to open simultaneously.

In old apartments, a layout is also popular when there is an entrance door and immediately after it two doors on the left and right. This arrangement forms a kind of triangle, and brings constant quarrels into the house. Triangles can be formed not only with the front door, but also with other doors in the house, for example, the door to the living room, followed by two opposite doors to the bedrooms. The influence of such triangles can be minimized by placing an airy bell and a lamp with a bright but soft light in the center of the room. It is believed that two opposite doors facing each other also cause antagonism between the occupants of the rooms. In this case, you can place one mirror near each door, but on different sides.

Long corridors behind the front door help increase the speed of Qi flow, we need to achieve its smooth flow, flowers on the walls and talismans do this well.

Deadly Sha-Qi emanating from sharp corners on the street can enter the house through the front door. To repel destructive energy, a barrier is hung in front of the front door, or a barrier is installed inside the house; wind chimes or simply bamboo sticks can be placed.

Don’t be disheartened if, after reading this article, you discovered in the layout of your home unfavorable location of the front door. Practical recommendations will help to minimize Negative influence. Good Feng Shui for your home, begins with you and your desire for positive changes.

Useful tips

Everyone is familiar with the ancient Chinese teachings of Feng Shui. It helps you make the space at home harmonious and organize it correctly. To save your home from negative energy, observe the basic prohibitions of the teaching so that your home becomes the place where you restore your strength and energy.

Space in the home is extremely important for a person’s emotional health, for his sense of security and for living in harmony with his household and with himself. Feng Shui knowledge that has been accumulated over centuries will help you organize it correctly.

Feng Shui rules

Prohibition No. 1

Do not hang a mirror opposite the front door or in the bedroom

This way you can protect your home from unnecessary energy entering. Mirrors in the bedroom have a negative impact on family life. They attract homewreckers into your life. Mirrors in any other room are not dangerous, but it is important to remember that if a chip or crack appears on the mirror, it must be thrown away immediately. It is desirable that the existing mirror reflects the person at full height, without breaking him into pieces.

Prohibition No. 2

The trash can should not be located opposite the front door

Any unnecessary trash, dust and dirt negatively affect the energy of the space, and the health and energy of all residents suffer. Immediately get rid of old, unnecessary things, make room for beautiful and useful acquisitions that will definitely appear in your home after the old items disappear.

Prohibition No. 3

Do not use or store broken items

Any broken items that you plan to continue using need to be repaired. Throw away what cannot be restored without regret. This way you will get rid of negative energy and attract joy and abundance into your life. Moreover, broken objects lead to quarrels and conflicts.

According to Feng Shui, every faulty item takes away one problem from a person’s life, and by throwing away this thing, a person also throws out the problem. Please pay Special attention on leaking taps and pipes. Any leak requires immediate repair, as a constant flow of water does not contribute to increasing the joy in your home.

Prohibition No. 4

Don't make multi-level floors

Floors different levels– this is a real stumbling block for the free flow of positive energy in the house. Such floors split your destiny into parts, which leads to failures and troubles both in your personal life and in business.

Prohibition No. 5

Sharp corners in the house are a danger

Furniture with protruding sharp corners must be placed so that the tip of the corner looks into an empty space, where your resting place will not be located. Think about what to do with hanging shelves, since they are the cause of negative energy. Round and disguise their corners, for example, with some kind of amulet made of coins or beads.

Prohibitions in Feng Shui

Prohibition No. 6

Do not start cleaning the bathroom and toilet

It is more important to maintain cleanliness in these two rooms than others. Close doors and clean promptly to keep your home comfortable. If an animal lives with you in the house, and there is a place for it in the bathroom, then still do not leave the doors open or use built-in doors.

Prohibition No. 7

We must not forget about regular ventilation of premises

How large quantity As time goes on, the windows and vents in your home are open, the more often energy renewal occurs in the space. And in order to avoid catching a cold, ventilate your home while you are away.

Prohibition No. 8

Don't work in an improperly organized space

It is very important to pay attention proper organization workspace to complete tasks much more efficiently. Make sure you sit with your back to a solid wall that has no doors or windows. As a last resort, block all openings to avoid the outflow of energy. Arrange items on your desk wisely, and the absence of unnecessary items will give you the opportunity to concentrate on important matters without being distracted by nonsense.

Prohibition No. 9

Do not block the area adjacent to the house

The area adjacent to the house should be open to the maximum. Trees and cars that block the passage prevent positive energy from entering your home. The exception is plantings that fence off the entrance to the house from the roadway. The same must be said regarding the space in the corridor. Shoes should be kept in a specially designated place for them, and piled-up items should be disposed of.

Prohibition No. 10

Don't buy a home next to "bad" buildings

The best location for housing is near a fountain, park or square; dangerous neighbors are a prison, a cemetery and a hospital. This “neighborhood” carries a huge charge negative energy, which can have a bad impact on your life in general.

Thus, by changing the space of your home, you change your life for the better. Just remember that harmony in the home is easy to achieve, you just need to follow the recommendations to make your home a repository of positive energy.

- the bathroom should not be located in the center of your home

The center of the house is not the place for the toilet, bathroom and kitchen, places where a lot of dirt collects. When the bathroom is located in the center of the house, the bad energy that we wash away with water spreads to other rooms, provoking the development of various diseases among household members. If a bathroom located in the center of the house is already a fait accompli, then the only option is to remodel it.

- the bathroom and toilet should not be located opposite the front door

If this is so, then luck will leave the house, and the owners will be constantly haunted by unforeseen expenses, which will certainly complicate the process of saving money for large purchases.

- the bathroom door should not open close to the door to the living room

Try to avoid this, otherwise a restless and nervous atmosphere will be created in the house. If there is a stove on the same line with the toilet, the health of the residents may suffer because of this.

- the toilet should not be located opposite the bedroom

People become more vulnerable during sleep, so at night the influence of negative energy is especially strong. If the head of the bed is in contact with the wall of the bathroom or toilet, then the person sleeping on that bed can become seriously ill.