Feng Shui is a Chinese system of arranging buildings and objects to create balance and harmony. The term literally means “wind water” and it is based on the idea that unseen forces drive the world, and that arranging objects and space can unblock those forces, so that they can flow freely.
Some important Feng Shui concepts are
1. Declutter your Home
Decluttering allows positive energy to flow freely in your home, it promotes a sense of calm. Doing this can improve your well being, because decluttering can help you feel more focused, energetic and content. You can also realize positive changes, decluttering can help you reach goals faster. We should avoid clutter because it can create stagnant energy that can make you feel stuck, overwhelmed, and stressed. Clutter can drain you of energy and keep you stuck in the past. If you are still curious to know more about decluttering through Feng Shui, you can try the book “clear your clutter with feng shui” written by Karen Kingston, it is a good read.
2. Let in Air and Light
At home, make sure to open windows whenever possible to allow fresh air to circulate. Keep in mind to avoid heavy, thick curtains that block too much light, and use sheer curtains or blinds that can be adjusted to control the amount of light coming in. We should also keep the windows clean to maximize natural light intake. In feng shui, natural light is seen as a source of positive “chi” (energy) that can flow freely throughout a space. Doing proper Feng shui can enhance well being, because good ventilation and access to sunlight are associated with improved mood and overall health. A well lit space can promote clarity of thought and feeling of openness.
3. Use Plants for Adding Good Energy
Some plants are considered to bring good energy into a space by promoting positive energy flow and cleansing negative energy vibes. Strategically placing them in different areas of your home based on Bagua maps can further enhance their effect. And try not to forget to set clear intentions when choosing and placing plants to focus on desired energy.
Good Feng Shui Plants are…
a. Jade Plant: Represents good luck and fortune due to its round leaves, placed at a sunny spot for better effects.
b. Peace Lily: Considered a plant for spirituality, enhancing overall energy flow in a room.
c. Lucky Bamboo: This plant with three stems signifies happiness, health and longevity.
d. Snake Plant: It is known for its ability to cleanse negative energy and promote a sense of calm.
e. Pothos: It represents new beginnings and growth. Great for hanging or cascading in specific areas.
f. Orchids: Symbolizes spiritual growth and attracts positive energy.
g. Chinese Money Plant: It is considered a lucky plant for attracting wealth and prosperity.
f. Philodendron: This plant adds warmth and balances yin and yang energy with its leaf shape.
h. Spider Plant: It represents wealth and abundance with its long, arching leaves.
4. Keep the Path to the Front Door Clear
In Feng Shui it means, ensuring a clutter free and unobstructed entry way, as this allows positive energy (“QI”) to flow freely into your home without hindrance, creating a welcoming and prosperous atmosphere. Essentially the front door is considered the “mouth of chi” so a clear path is crucial for good feng shui. Bear in mind to remove any clutter like shoes, bags, or furniture that might block the direct path to the door. Ensure adequate lighting at the entrance to brighten the space and invite positive energy. Trim overgrown plants or trees that could visually obstruct the doorway from the outside. Always keep the doormat clean and in good condition. Depending on your specific home layout, certain directions might be considered more auspicious for the front door in Feng Shui.
5. Mirrors Matter a Lot
Mirrors are considered very important in Feng Shui as they can significantly influence the flow of energy within a space, acting as a tool to both enhance positive and deflect negative energy. When placed strategically, mirrors can reflect positive elements like beautiful view, artwork, or a well organized area, effectively multiplying their positive energy within a room. In particular, they can “reflect” positive aspects of a room while minimizing the negative ones. Mirrors clearly can make a room feel larger and brighter than it actually is, by reflecting light and creating the illusion of more space. At all cost, avoid mirrors facing each other because this can create a chaotic energy flow, bouncing chi back and forth between the reflections. Try not to place a mirror directly opposite to a clutter or negative areas, as it will amplify those aspects.
6. Choose the Correct Bed Location
According to Feng Shui, the best place for a bed is diagonally across from the door, in the far corner of the room, it is called the “Command Position”.
Feng Shui bed placement tips are
- Another position for bed is, to position the bed centrally in the room against a wall.
- Sleep with your head facing south.
- Place bedside tables closer to and on either side of your bed.
- Always Avoid placing the bed directly in a straight line with the door.
- Ensure equal space on either side of the bed, if you are placing it centrally.
Some popular Feng Shui principles are…
1. There should be a balance between the Yin and Yang
The principles of “Yin and Yang“ signifies the need for a balance between opposite forces, where “Yin“ represents feminine, passive, and receptive energy, while “Yang“ represents masculine, active, and dynamic energy. Achieving harmony in a space requires a proper balance between these two forces to create a positive flow of energy. Although considered opposites, yin and yang are interdependent and need each other to exist in balance. Examples of yin elements are, dark colors, soft textures, quiet spaces, water features. And examples of yang elements are, bright colors, sharp lines, open spaces and sunlight.
- A bedroom should lean more towards yin with a soft lighting and calming colors, while a kitchen should have more yang energy with bright colors and open layouts.
- Mix soft, rounded furniture (Yin) with structured angular pieces (Yang)
- For decoration, Incorporate both natural elements like plants (Yin) and metallic accents (Yang)
2. For energy to flow, you need open pathways
It is the idea of keeping the space free from clutter and obstacles, allowing the positive energy to circulate freely throughout your home by creating clear paths for it to travel through, it is a crucial aspect of this principle. It essentially means you should arrange furniture and décor in a way that doesn’t block doorways or create congested areas and this promotes a sense of openness and harmony.
3. Use the five elements
This principle mainly uses the elements of wood, fire, earth, metal and water to balance the energy within a space. Each element represents specific qualities and characteristics that can be incorporated through design choices like colors, shapes, and materials to create harmony and positive chi flow in a room or home.
a. Wood: Represents growth, creativity, flexibility and new beginnings (associated with green colors and plant life)
b. Fire: Embodies passion, energy, transformation, and motivation (linked to red and orange colors, candles)
c. Earth: Represents stability, grounding, support, and reliability (associated with brown, yellow and earthy materials)
d. Metal: It represents clarity, focus, organization and power (mainly linked to metallic colors, sharp shapes)
e. Water: This element represents fluidity, adaptability, intuition, and calmness (clearly associated with blue colors, flowing shapes, and water features)
Some example applications are
- Living Room : Adding a wooden coffee table ( wood element ) to balance the energy of a fireplace ( fire element )
- Bed Room: Using soft, earthy tones and natural materials (earth element) to promote relaxation.
- Office: Incorporating metallic accents (metal element) to enhance focus and clarity.
4. Know the Bagua Map
The word “Bagua” translates to “eight trigrams” referring to the eight symbolic figures that represent the different aspects of life. While called “Bagua” the map is divided into nine sections because the center area represents overall balance and is considered the most important part. To use the Bagua, practitioners overlay the map onto the floor plan of a space to identify which areas correspond to specific life aspects.
Some main Bagua areas and their life aspects are
- Career: The back center area, representing professional success.
- Wealth: The bottom right corner, associated with financial abundance.
- Relationships: The bottom center area, related to love and partnerships.
- Family: The left center area, signifying family harmony and connections.
- Health: The right center area, focused on physical well- being.
- Knowledge / Wisdom: The top left corner, representing learning and intellectual pursuits.