Feng Shui According to Me

I am sure you have heard of the popular decorating method called Feng Shui. What you may not realize is that this is really not as fancy or scary as it may sound! It is a simple idea of establishing balance in your home so that there is a positive, free flow of energy throughout. Ideally this is a balance of male and female or yin and yang energy that will bring you peace and prosperity.

One of the ideas is to have elements of nature incorporated into your decorating design. The elements are wind, water, wood, fire, earth, and metal. Try to incorporate these into each room or space, and you will be surprised at the feelings of peace and balance that will result. Doing this does not have to be fancy or difficult. Objects as simple as tabletop fountains, a betta in a pretty glass bowl, an aquarium will bring in the element of water. An open window, a concealed, gently blowing fan (just enough to keep the air slightly moving) or even beautiful music will give you the sense of wind, freshness and movement. Candles, incense, a fireplace are all nice ways to add fire. A pretty view of the sunset will do it, too. Carvings of wood, a piece of driftwood, beautiful or simple wood furnishings will bring you the element of wood. The same with metal. It can be as fancy as art or as simple as a bowl of change that reminds of simple prosperity. Earth can be potted plants, a bowl of pretty rocks, one large, beautiful rock, a stone hearth (if you are so lucky!) Just remember that these are natural elements. These reminders can be as big or small as you wish. They do not have to be exotic or expensive. They are just to remind you that there is more to life than four walls and a job!

You may wish to incorporate awareness of the cardinal directions into your design as a way of reminding yourself of the cycle of seasons and life. A simple way to do this is with color. Briefly, the color and directional correspondences are:

East - Blue/Green - Spring
South - Red - Summer
West - White - Autumn
North - Black - Winter

You can incorporate these color correspondences by painting entire walls or by adding decorative touches in the cardinal direction. Let your imagination be your guide.

An aspect of Feng Shui that you might want to play with is an idea called Bagua. This is sort of a template of energy that you can overlay in your space. Imagine an octagon over your work or living space. In each section of the octagon you will want to place reminders of important areas of your life. The idea is that these reminders will bring good energy to this area in your life. Here are the areas and a few ideas for using them. Be creative. It's your space!

1.
Prosperity & Career: Reminders of your lifes' work and the fruits of your labors.
2.
Fame & Reputation: Awards, tokens of appreciation.
3.
Love, Family & Relationships: Pictures and mementos of those you love.
4.
Creativity & Children: Things that you have created, including your children!
Your musical instrument. Your hobby. This is an open and joyful area.
5.
Health: Something that will keep you focused on the idea of health and well-
being. This will be different things for different people.
6.
Knowledge & Skills: A favorite book. A poster of a wise saying.
7.
Helpful People: Those you have to thank for your blessings. The angels you have
met along the way.
8
Travel: Reminders of the places you have been and the dreams you have of going.

Again, these do not have to be big, expensive things. Just keep a few things that are dear and inspirational to you in the different areas of your space. Don't jumble everything altogether in one place. Give each its own place of honor and focus, and change them frequently. Keep the ideas fresh and alive so that they will not become so commonplace that you forget they are there.

Change, movement and remembering what it is to be alive and growing are at the heart of Feng Shui. You want the energy in your environment to provide you with variety. This is why you want this array of natural elements and carefully placed objects of your happiness. You want to be sure to have plenty of light - and dark. You want to be sure to have smooth, cool textures - and rough, warm ones. You want to be sure to have a cozy place to sit - and an open place to look.

And that is all well and good in a big, open house, right? Well, it can also be done in a small studio apartment or a rented room. Just make the most of what you have. Place your furnishings so that you allow airflow. Keep your back to the wall for security and your eyes to the window for freedom. If there is no window, use a beautiful poster or tapestry or a well-lighted aquarium. Use mirrors to create the illusion of space. Keep your mementos and energy objects small and precious: one beautiful stone, one glowing betta in a sparkling clean bowl, one beautiful scented candle, one lovely wooden box holding photos of those you love, one shining medallion that you have won or that you aspire to, and so on. And when the time is right, pass these treasures on to others and replace them with equally beautiful, small treasures. Keep it fresh, clean, and vital.

You do not need vast spaces or wealth to enjoy the benefits of Feng Shui. You only need the desire to live mindfully, keeping your space carefully to nurture yourself with peace and harmony and to remind yourself of all that you have, all that you are, and all that you can be.

Namaste!