Feng Shui

The term 'feng shui' is composed of the Chinese words 'feng,' which means wind, and 'shui,' which means water. This concept originates from an ancient poem that describes human life as intertwined and flowing with the surrounding environment.

How can feng shui help us feel?

Foster deeper connections with your surroundings
Enhance your sense of grounding and presence
Aid in reducing anxiety and worry
Encourage improved sleep through a redesigned bedroom layout
Enable you to effectuate change.

Feng shui is an ancient Chinese practice designed to harmonize individuals with their surroundings by arranging and orienting spaces to align with energy flow. It aims to create a balanced and positive environment, potentially leading to improved sleep, lower stress levels, better relationships, and overall well-being. Feng shui's principles are rooted in Taoist views of nature, especially the belief that the land is living and filled with Chi, or energy. The practice incorporates the five elements—earth, metal, water, wood, and fire—to foster health and well-being. Within the home, Feng shui focuses on optimizing Chi flow to boost prosperity, relationships, and health.

The main rules of Feng Shui involve creating balance and harmony through the layout and design of your space. Key elements include the flow of Chi, or life force energy, the use of the Five Elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water), the Bagua map which assigns different areas of a space to aspects of life, and the concept of Yin and Yang to ensure balance. Additionally, placing objects in the commanding position is crucial for good energy circulation.

In feng shui design, there are four main principles to know:

Chi:

Chi represents the essential life force or energy and is a significant element in feng shui home design.

Commanding Position

The commanding position is the spot in a room where you should spend the majority of your time. According to basic feng shui principles, it's advisable to identify this dominant spot and, if possible, position your bed, desk, cooker or fire there.

These three areas of your home are crucial as each symbolizes a vital aspect of your life. The bed represents your personal well-being, the desk is a reflection of your professional life, and the cooker and fire signifies your financial prosperity and nourishment.

Bagua
The Bagua is an energy map in feng shui, translating to "eight areas" in Chinese. Each area corresponds to a specific aspect of life.
The simplest method to integrate the bagua into your life and apply feng shui to your home is to pinpoint one to three areas that require

immediate attention.

Avoid tackling all areas simultaneously. To enhance your energy or the flow in those areas, apply specific feng shui tips to each identified area.

Family (Zhen)
- Representing: Family, new beginnings
- Shape: Columnar, rectangular
- Colours: Green, blues, teal
- Season: Spring
- Number: 4
- Element: Yang wood

Wealth (Xun)

Representing: Wealth, abundance, prosperity
Shape: Columnar, rectangular
Colours: Purple
Season: Spring
Number: 5
Element: Yin wood

Health (Tai Qi)

Representing: Overall wellness, the centre
Shape: Flat, square
Colours: Brown, orange, yellow
Season: Transitions between the seasons
Number: 5
Element: Earth

Helpful People (Qian)

Representing: Helpful people, benefactors, travel
Shape: Circular, spherical
Colours: Grey, metallic
Season: Autumn
Number: 6
Element: Yang metal

Children (Dui)

Representing: Children, completion, joy
Shape: Circular, spherical
Colours: White, metallic
Season: Autumn
Number: 7
Element: Yin metal

Knowledge (Gen)

Representing: Knowledge, self-cultivation, skilfulness
Shape: Flat, square
Colours: Dark blue
Season: Transitions between the seasons
Number: 8
Element: Yang earth

Fame (Li)

Representing: Fame, reputation, passion, visibility
Shape: Triangle, pointy
Colours: Red
Season: Summer
Number: 9
Element: Fire

Career (Kan)

Representing: Career, path in life
Shape: Wavy, curvy
Colours: Black
Season: Winter
Number: 1
Element: Water

Partnerships (Kun)

Representing: Partnerships, marriage, self-care
Shape: Flat, square
Colours: Pink
Season: Transitions between the seasons
Number: 2
Element: Yin earth

Five Elements: In feng shui, the five elements are earth, metal, wind, water, and fire. Achieving a balance of these elements is often a goal when applying feng shui principles to your home. To integrate the five elements of feng shui into your life and home, start by identifying the areas you wish to enhance. Select one to three spaces for improvement, and then amplify the energy by incorporating the recommended colours or shapes into those rooms.
Chi is the essential life force or energy that circulates through all living beings. It's a vital component in feng shui room design. A large, sparsely furnished room might result in too much chi, giving a feeling of void. On the other hand, a cluttered and small room could impede the flow of chi, causing a feeling of blockage.
Earth
- Qualities: Grounded, self-care, stable
- Shape: Flat, square
- Colours: Brown, orange, yellow
- Season: Transitions between the seasons
- Areas: Wellness, knowledge, partnerships
Metal
- Qualities: Efficient, precise, beauty
- Shape: Circular, spherical
- Colours: White, metallic
- Season: Autumn
- Areas: Helpful people, children
Water
- Qualities: Downward, flowing, shifting
- Shape: Wavy, curvy
- Colours: Black
- Season: Winter
- Area: Career
Wood
- Qualities: Expansive, vitality, upward
- Shape: Columnar, rectangular
- Colours: Green, blues
- Season: Spring
- Areas: Family, wealth
Fire
- Qualities: Passion, illuminating, brilliant
- Shape: Triangle, pointy
- Colours: Red
- Season: Summer
- Area: Fame

An example of Feng Shui in the bedroom includes positioning the bed in the command position, which is not directly in line with the door but placed in such a way that you can see the entrance. A solid headboard is recommended for stability and support, and clutter should be minimized to allow a free flow of Chi, or energy. Never have anything that reflects the bed, i.e. tv screens, mirrors etc. not unless you want 3 in your relationship!

One way to use Feng Shui to attract love is to place pairs of objects in your bedroom, such as two mandarin ducks, which symbolize a loving and faithful partnership. Additionally, ensuring your bed has a solid headboard and is positioned properly can promote a stable relationship. Decluttering your space can also help improve the flow of positive energy, potentially enhancing romance in your life.

Feng Shui can enhance your career by arranging your workspace to promote a positive flow of energy. For instance, placing your desk in the command position, facing the door, can increase your ability to attract opportunities and achieve success. Additionally, incorporating elements like water features can boost your reputation, while metal wind chimes in the helpful people sector may attract mentors and beneficial contacts.

Tips to Feng Shui Your Home

Decorating with plants: Incorporate Feng shui plants with round and soft leaves, such as the money plant, to enhance your energy.
Positioning strategy: Position your cooker, fire, desk, or bed in the commanding spot—the area farthest from the door but not directly in line with it. Also, consider the orientation of your home.
Colour harmony: Identify the bagua areas you wish to enhance and select appropriate colours to amplify that sector's energy. For instance, add green to boost family (zhen) or purple for prosperity (xun).
Decluttering: Clear out clutter to unblock chi. Dispose of unnecessary items that occupy important space.
Traffic flow: Ensure doors and hallways are unobstructed to maintain a clear path. Refrain from placing furniture near the entrance of a room
Repair Broken Items: Mending any broken items in your home can enhance the chi of the space. It is particularly crucial to fix or replace broken mirrors.
Utilize the Five Elements: Employing the five elements (earth, metal, water, wood, and fire) is an excellent method to apply feng shui in your home. Ensure a harmonious balance of each element and integrate them into the appropriate areas of your dwelling.
Strengthen Your Entryway: The entryway serves as the portal for energy to flow into your space and life. Forge an area that is inviting, well-lit, and free from clutter.
Enhance Natural Light: Rooms filled with abundant natural light promote well-being and energy. Arrange windows to welcome in sunlight or position mirrors to reflect natural light, taking care to consider the placement in relation to furniture

Position yourself inside your home with your back facing the front door. Look straight ahead. The area in the far left corner represents the wealth sector, while the far right corner corresponds to the relationship area. You can activate these zones by placing specific items—some symbolically powerful, others with a direct link to the domain. The eight-point system is complex and multifaceted.

Money: Consider placing fresh flowers or a jade plant in this area. It is also an ideal location for storing cash or precious valuables.

Reputation: This space is designated for showcasing awards, honours, and symbols of good fortune such as four-leaf clovers.

Relationships: Incorporate pairs into your space, such as lovebirds, butterflies, and cranes, or display an image of two intertwined trees. If this area includes your living room, consider adding a love seat, a set of matching pillows, or a pair of identical chairs.

Children and creativity: This space is perfect for setting up a bulletin board, crafting area, or sewing corner. If you're not catering to children, consider using this area to embrace your playful side with vibrant wallpaper or chalkboard paint.

Friends and travel: This spot is perfect for humorous, playful photos, artwork created by friends, a map that brings back memories of a cherished trip, or a vision board for a dream journey you wish to embark on.

Career: The area should be brightly lit. If it's near your entrance, consider hanging a luminous pendant or chandelier. Place an item here that reflects your passion or profession. A scientist may display an Einstein quote, while a musician might place their instrument in this space.

Knowledge: Design a reading nook or a cosy corner for intimate conversations. If meditation is part of your routine, this spot would be ideal for it.

Family and health: Maintaining cleanliness in this area is crucial. Additionally, it serves as an ideal location for a family photo wall.

*This map is applicable to every floor and room of your home. Position yourself in the doorway to orientate and determine each corner. Should your room have multiple doorways, opt for the primary entrance.

What is bad feng shui for a house?

Poor feng shui arises from obstructing doorways or entrances, as this impedes the flow of chi. Similarly, a cluttered space leads to stagnation. In the bedroom, positioning your bed away from the door or directly in line with it, instead of in the commanding position, constitutes poor feng shui.

For instance, a staircase aligned with the front door may signify resource depletion. Feng shui emphasizes awareness and insight; such an arrangement encourages individuals to consider their energy usage and financial expenditures. By making changes at home, one can cultivate mindfulness and alter their perspective. To rectify the Qi flow, one might add a rug, position an entryway table strategically, or suspend a feng shui crystal (a specialized crystal prism ball to modulate Qi) between the front door and the staircase's base.

In interior design, feng shui is utilized by avoiding certain practices such as keeping unhealthy or dead plants, using pointed plants, decorating with damaged or obscured mirrors, employing under-the-bed storage, and having a bed without a headboard or with blocked doors.

Positive feng shui practices include maintaining a clutter-free home, integrating appropriate colours, utilizing suitable materials like bamboo, crystal, and glass, maximizing natural light, and cultivating feng shui-friendly plants.

The aim of feng shui is to foster harmony between an individual and their surroundings. It promotes balance and flow in both the design of your home and in life overall.

Here are some do's and don'ts

1. Never Hang Mirrors Across from the Front Door

The reason? Any positive energy entering your home could be immediately deflected back outside. "It's true that mirrors can reflect energy away, but they also have the ability to expand, shift, and draw in energy. Placing a mirror at your front entrance or opposite the front door can effectively broaden a narrow entryway or counteract a 'blocking wall' that may affect your Qi," "It's crucial to be mindful of what your mirror reflects or amplifies. For instance, if your front door faces a busy highway, you likely wouldn't want to invite that hectic energy inside your home. Conversely, if you're situated opposite a lush forest, you could harness that abundant Qi."

2. Never Put a Bedroom Over a Garage

Garages are often associated with heavy, chaotic energy, which is the opposite of what you want in a restful space. According to feng shui, while a garage can symbolize the influx of resources into a home, having a bedroom above it is not ideal. The garage's large, open, and lifeless space lacks vital energy. If it's possible to avoid this setup, that's best. However, if you find yourself with a bedroom over a garage and moving isn't an option, consider introducing grounding elements such as a brightly coloured rug—red or green are good choices—to enhance the room's energy.

3. Treat Your Cooker Like Your Most Prized Possession

In Feng Shui, cookers are considered to be money makers, symbolizing good fortune and prosperity. "The cooker is extremely important as it represents the wealth of the household,. Even if you don't cook and often order in, make an effort to use it and all its burners occasionally. You could boil water or even just an egg. It's essential to keep it clean and free of grease.

4. Ban Electronics in the Bedroom

Electronics stimulate the brain into a state of alertness. Consider the content you last engaged with; the last thing you want is for your boss's frantic demands to seep into your dreams. In feng shui, the bedroom, like the cooker, is crucial for your success and productivity. To be your best self every day, you need a good night's sleep. Electronics embody active Qi, or energy, which contrasts with the slow, tranquil Qi desired in a bedroom.

5. Never Place Beds in Direct Alignment with Doors

To avoid being overwhelmed by energy while resting, it's best not to place your bed directly in line with the bedroom door. Aligning your bed according to Feng Shui principles, where you can see the door without being directly opposite to it, is considered optimal. This position promotes a sense of ease and restfulness, as it allows you to anticipate incoming energies. Moreover, this arrangement is beneficial not only for your physical space but also for preparing you to face life's forthcoming challenges.

6. Declutter Your Entryway

Clutter can be incredibly destructive to a home and its occupants, particularly when it's the first thing you encounter upon entering. In our modern lives, clutter has become a significant issue, yet it was not a concept when feng shui originated. According to feng shui, clutter acts as an obstacle, preventing the proper flow of Qi. The front door, known as the 'mouth of Qi,' is where energy predominantly enters a home, symbolizing opportunities. Clearing clutter can help energy flow, particularly if you're feeling stagnant. Utilize smart storage solutions like trunks and coat closets to maintain a zen-like foyer—and mindset.

7. Keep the Kitchen Table Spotless

This space embodies family and love—we envision it as a welcoming hub where people can gather. It should be kept immaculately clean, with a distinct area designated for children to complete homework and engage in craft projects. The kitchen serves as the heart of the home, a vital area for family gatherings. It's essential to keep it accessible for such purposes. However, the practical use of your kitchen table may extend to serving as a workspace for homework or work-from-home activities. Consider harmonizing the kitchen's energy with a lively green plant or a bowl of oranges, symbolizing prosperity.

8. No Bright Colours for Kids' Rooms

While bright colours are splendid for various areas of the home, they may be too vibrant to encourage rest in children's spaces. Intense hues can be excessively stimulating and may hinder sleep. It's crucial to identify which colour best supports a child's well-being. In Feng Shui, different colours correspond to distinct energies. Incorporating colour to enhance your Qi can be achieved subtly, such as adding a rug, throw pillow, or piece of artwork that introduces just the right touch of the needed hue.

9. Toss (or Fix) Any Broken Furniture

This suggests that another aspect of your life is, or will soon be, in disrepair—symbolizing deficiency, hardship, and a sense of unworthiness. The presence of broken items in your home reflects a feeling of scarcity. The nature of the broken item can provide insights into what might be impeding your progress.

10. Close Bathroom Doors When They’re Not in Use

The energy in bathrooms can be unpleasant and it's not something you'd want permeating your home. A simple and swift solution is to confine the draining energy of a bathroom. Despite the abundance of water that flows out, bathrooms can also serve as tranquil sanctuaries for rejuvenation. Devoting a bit of time to pamper your bathroom and introducing a plant, if feasible, can enhance the ambiance.

11. Fix Leaky Faucets ASAP

A leaky faucet is considered very bad luck, as it signifies the draining away of abundance and happiness. It's important to address drips promptly. Leaky faucets symbolize the loss of resources and finances. Indeed, leaking water can be quite costly and wasteful. In Feng Shui, it's advised to rectify such everyday issues before making more elaborate adjustments.

12. Ditto Dead Light Bulbs

A burnt-out light bulb is often symbolic of burnout, as well as stress, financial difficulties, and poor health. A bright, shining light is crucial for attracting your desires in life. Just as broken furniture in your home signifies scarcity, a non-functioning light represents deficiency. Lighting is associated with the fire element, which pertains to visibility, being noticed, and inspiration. Replace your burnt-out bulbs to ensure that both you and your ideas are visible to the world.

13. Fill Forlorn Spots with Plants

Whether it's a corner or a dim hallway, look for areas that seem lifeless and infuse them with the vibrant energy of greenery. Plants are remarkable! They carry the vitality of wood and can elevate the stagnant, stale Qi within a home. However, plants require sunlight (even if it's just a little), so for particularly dark corners or hallways, consider using lights, mirrors, or a Feng Shui crystal to begin raising the Qi.

14. Keep the Basement and Attic Tidy and Bright

Storing items in the attic or basement, which are the literal foundations of your home, can affect the entire house's ambiance. Therefore, avoid using these areas as dumping grounds and strive to keep them well-lit and dry. Often overlooked, the basement is the cornerstone of your home and life. If cluttered, it can hinder progress and the flow of new ideas. Examine what you're storing there; holding onto old and unnecessary items may prevent you from moving beyond the past.

15. Repaint Often

Dealing with old, grimy walls? It's clear how that can affect your mood. A fresh coat of paint not only revitalizes your home's appearance but also resets its energy. In feng shui, there's a concept known as 'predecessor Qi'—the energy left by previous inhabitants. Painting is an effective method to cleanse this energy. If repainting isn't an option, consider washing your walls or performing a space clearing by spraying a mixture of water and orange peels or essential oil around your home.

To enhance feng shui in your house using crystals, consider the following options:

Place protective crystals such as tiger’s eye, black tourmaline, shungite, hematite, or smoky quartz near the front door to ground and clear incoming energy.
Amethyst aids in stress relief and encourages peaceful sleep.
Clear Quartz enhances mental clarity.
Selenite symbolizes liquid light.
Pyrite serves as a shield.
Rose Quartz is known to attract love.
Fluorite helps maintain energy balance.
In the family area, green and earth element crystals are believed to fortify relationships.

What are the feng shui colours?

In Feng Shui, distinct colours represent the five elements. Earth is symbolized by brown, orange, and yellow. Metal is associated with white and metallic colours. Water is represented by black. Wood corresponds to green and blue. Lastly, fire is symbolized by red.

Tip

To assess whether feng shui is effective for you, observe your feelings in the newly arranged space. If you experience happiness, lightness, peace, and calmness, then it indicates that feng shui is having a positive impact.

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