Make Your Home a Feng Shui Space Right Now!

So, what exactly is Feng Shui? According to TheSpruce, “the philosophy of feng shui is a practice of arranging the pieces in living spaces to create balance with the natural world. The goal is to harness energy forces and establish harmony between an individual and their environment.” In Asian culture, this philosophy is called the Tao, which translates to mean “the way.” Taoism is the way of nature and all the basic principles of feng shui reflect nature.

The practice of feng shui is intensely soaked in mindfulness, in slowing down and noticing the details in your life so that you can actually experience the present moment. The words “feng shui” are Chinese and translate to “wind” and “water.” The wind is our breath, and humans are nearly 60 percent water. Wind and water are vital elements for life, as is feng shui! Historically, feng shui has roots in Taoism and Buddhism. However, elements of feng shui are palpable in every culture across time. For instance, these days we can all feel the difference between a Karachi City apartment and a quiet hidden cabin on the top of the Northern Mountains, and we understand that our environments greatly affect our energy.

To understand Feng Shui better, we recommend you go through this article. It lets you know all about the five elements of feng shui that are wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. There is also a concept of Bagua Areas that can be explored in this link too.

Let’s talk about the basic principles of creating “Feng Shui” spaces in homes for now.

The Commanding Position

This is the first and most rudimentary principle of feng shui. This fundamentally means that there should be certain objects in your house that should be facing the door. The bed, desk, and stove are to be kept in a position where they are facing the door because they are the most important items in the house.

The main door to the room or space is termed the “mouth of chi,” and it is said to be the gateway through which energy comes into your home and life. When you are cooking at the stove (or slumbering in bed, or sitting at a desk in your office), it’s best if you can see the door but not be directly in line with it. It’s best to be diagonal from the door, while still facing it. Understandably, this is not always possible, so you can make adjustments e.g. placing a mirror such that you can see the door in the reflection while cooking at the stove (or sleeping in bed, or sitting at your desk).

Here’s a more in-depth briefing on how you can position your stuff in a way that aligns with the principles of Feng Shui:

 

“Manifest” your front door

It is believed that the entry area of your house is where the good energy flows in or enters. On a special occasion (like your birthday etc.) is when this good, wholesome energy creeps in the most. It is a Chinese thought that if you write down nine things while stepping into your house on a special day, fold that paper and enclose it in a red envelope, and stick it on your front door, it brings good energy every time you walk in. Invoking this energy may also manifest in your life, giving you a positive outlook to view it with.

Re-arrange your Bedroom

Following the philosophy of feng shui, your bedroom characterizes and is a clear reflection of who you are. The position of your bed is the most important here, and hence, has to be in the commanding position. Once that is sorted, make sure that there are vacant spaces on either side of your bed. There should be at least 2 feet of walking space on the left and right sides.

Next comes the headboard. Yeah, it’s important! More than you think it is. There are some guidelines that you need to follow. It should be against the wall and made out of a super-solid material. Most certainly, it shouldn’t have any bars or holes. It should be sturdy, fastened tightly to the bed to safeguard harmony and stability. Also, the most important bit is to make your bed every morning. The good energy would keep lingering with you throughout the day and bring you feelings of joy, order, and peace.

Here is a picture of what your bed placement should ideally look like:

Choose your Colours with Consciousness

Choice of colors in feng shui is fundamental. They relate to the five elements discussed earlier. These elements are drawn from nature and are used to manifest energy to create peace and harmony. When choosing colors for your room, keep these things in mind:

• If you’re missing self-care and stability, add more of the earth element. The colors for earth include earthy tones of yellow, orange, and brown. A camel-colored headboard can be used for grounding purposes.
• The metal element (greys, whites, off-whites, and metallic tones) is said to provide more clarity and precision, and a silver metal frame for your vision board can help direct and accelerate your goals.
• To invite more flow or wisdom into your spaces, accents of black denote the element of water. Try sitting in a black or dark blue chair when you study or work.
• Wood energy can help to jump-start new beginnings and bring life energy into space, and cyan blue pillows on your sofa can jazz things up when you want to entertain and host a party.
• Finally, the red color of fire energy charms you and draws you in, and can illuminate you when you need more passion or recognition. Try incorporating red flowers in a white vase on the top of your center table. Or use burgundy accents on your wall for that creative energy to flow in.

 

Here are the DON’TS

According to Anjie Cho, a Feng Shui educator, here are seven things that you should totally avoid at home.

• Blocked doors: Doors are gateways for energies to enter. Cho says, “Take a close look at each door in your home to see if there are any that cannot open a minimum of 90 degrees due to surrounding clutter or furniture. When doors cannot open, it means that the positive energy coming into your life is being compressed and your full potential is not available to you”
• Broken Objects: These become obstacles in your house and your ways. They also contribute to stress and keep holding you back from establishing positive energies in your life. Better to throw broken objects away. Keeping them would only add to the clutter.
• Dusty Corners and Objects: Cho states that dusty areas in your house “symbolize areas of your life that are stagnant and ignored.” Keep them clean.
• Overstuffed Wardrobes: Time to reorganize your closet. Play the notorious Marie Kondo’s “Does this spark joy?!” game. It works wonders.
• Dirty/Misty Windows: Cho states, “windows represent the eyes of the inhabitants in the home. When we have dirty windows, we can’t see the world around us clearly and can get caught up in our perceptions.” Keep your windows clean and clear to let the sunshine in. Sunshine= Happiness!
• A Crooked/Low-Hanging Artwork: Most people with depression and stumpy energy levels tend to have pictures, mirrors, paintings, etc. in their houses hung too low. This can make your “chi” lower down. Rise them up!
• Storage under the Bed: For energies to easily flow in and out, it needs open spaces. However, if you dump your stuff under the bed for storage, it inhibits the flow of energy thereby limiting your chances of positive one to flow. Keep that in mind. Do not store stuff under your bed. And not just your bed, this rule goes for everything. Remember energy needs open spaces to flow. Clean any hindrances. Create free room for them to flow with ease.

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