Understanding Feng Shui

Feng Shui is often misunderstood, and any interior decorator might use the term meaninglessly to describe harmony in your space. Achieving ‘harmony’ is certainly a goal of Feng Shui, but we are here to tell you a little more about the principles and methods of Feng Shui. How do you achieve harmony in your living space?

What is the defining force in Feng Shui

Feng Shui is a traditional Chinese practice. If you are aware of traditional Chinese medicine, martial arts or Taoism, then you are actually better in tune with Feng Shui then most interior designers. If you’re not aware of the principles of these other traditional Chinese methods, then here are some guidelines.

Fengshui is based off the energy flow of spaces, particularly humans in spaces. The life-force known as chi is a flowing energy. Just think about the energy as running water, or your blood circulation. You want the circulation to be even, energetic and absolutely never become stagnant. Severe consequences manifest from stagnation, just like in water, bodies, and spaces.

Harmony also means balancing different kinds of energies. The different energies are yin and yang as well as the earth elements. Yin elements are cold and dark and represent feminine qualities. Yang elements are hot and light and represent masculine qualities. Strive for a balance between the two.

How do you make a space with sound energy flow?

Place objects and yourself in rooms accordingly

Feng Shui is the art of placement, and works with the medium of space to affect change in human life. The space has no effect on you if you are not in the space, so when you design your rooms and move furniture always think of how you will be situated in that space.

For starters on placement, you want to situate yourself according to doors. Doors cannot be easily moved, so they act as the guiding force for your home. In general, you never want to be parallel with the door. Your desk, sofa or bed should not be in line with the door. However, you should be able to see the door from these points. This will add a sense of security to your spaces.

Lighting

Dependent on your lifestyle you may want more or less sunlight. For more morning sunlight, gather around windows that catch the sun rising on the east. Otherwise, choose to position yourself around windows that face west so you can enjoy the sunlight until it becomes night.

The awesome thing about Feng Shui is that it can be used to change your life and become the person you want to be. That means that if you sleep too much and live a night owl life, but want to change that aspect about you, then changing your Feng Shui can help. In that case you would want natural light to shine down on your bed easily.

Clear the clutter

The clutter represents the excess junk you are carrying in your life and mind. Most of that stuff really is garbage and keeps you stagnant in your life and energy. Do you need old photos of your ex, nope. Trash those and keep your life moving. Make space for all the new people and energies that will be flowing through your space.