I’m sure you’ve heard of Feng Shui at some stage in your life. Perhaps you heard it from TV, social media, interior magazines or maybe you’re really interested in ancient China and find it fascinating (like me). A lot of the time, people have a generalised view of what feng shui is, and even more of the time, it is incorrect. This blog aims to iron out these misunderstandings to give you a more well-rounded understanding of what feng shui is, as opposed to what you’ve heard. To do this, examples for your home will be given!
Hopefully, you will find it useful – and if you make any of these changes and notice anything different about the energy in your home, do let us know!
What is feng shui?
Feng shui aims to harmonise individuals with their environment through the arrangement of space objects and natural elements, in other words, by arranging pieces in living spaces like the bedroom, living room or bathroom, aim to create balance in the natural world! It is based on the idea that energy, or Qi/Chi (pronounced /chee/) flows through everything, and by optimising this flow people can experience better health, prosperity, and well-being. Sounds lovely doesn’t it?
Chi and the 5 Elements
Chi, as mentioned before, flows through everything. Think of it as a vital life force or energy! The central concept of chi is that energy flows through the environment and should circulate freely to support balance and vitality. So, blocked or stagnant chi is considered harmful in feng shui.
Chi is connected to the 5 elements; wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Each of the 5 elements represents different qualities and is associated with specific shapes, colours and materials to enhance chi. Balancing these elements can enhance harmony in a space. Have you ever walked into someone’s home and it just felt right? Maybe there was good feng shui at play in their home – intentional or not!
But what are the specifications for each element? Let us talk you though it!
- Wood is for growth and vitality, and uses the colour green and rectangular shapes, specifically in areas of family or wealth. Think dining room or study!
- Fire is for passion and energy, which is quite fitting. Think reds and triangular shapes, mainly in areas where fame or success is at the forefront. Again, an office or study is ideal for this, but also the living room with the fireplace.
- Earth is for stability and nourishment. The earth is all around us and some times we need to reconnect with the earth – to ground ourselves – in order to find that stability we seek. Think square shapes and yellow, brown and orange tones. Ideally, in places that promote health, knowledge or partnership!
- Water ebbs and flows, just like our careers, we have ups and downs! So water promotes your career in the eyes of feng shui. Think of movement, like moving downward, flowing or shifting in a particular direction. The colours at play here are predominantly black and some blue, in wavy and curvy shapes – just like water!
- Metal highlights precision and clarity through circular or spherical shapes. This is to highlight the qualities of efficiency, precision and beauty! To emphasise metal in your home the best colours would be white and metallic colours – in other words in your have a metal-backed white mirror, you’re all good to go for this one!
Image source: https://openspacesfengshui.com/blogs/feng-shui/how-to-use-the-feng-shui-bagua-map
The Flow of Energy and the Bagua Map
These two sections have been put together because they connect greatly. When talking about the flow of energy, it is important to understand that this mainly comes down to the placement of your furniture. Objects should be arranged in a way that encourages smooth, unobstructed chi. For example, avoid placing furniture where it blocks doorways, and arrange rooms so that energy can flow in a way that promotes wellbeing. How do you know if energy flows? Can you walk into a room without dodging furniture that is jutting out or in your way? Is there space for you to flow around? If not, then energy cannot flow either!
Now, the Bagua map is more complex but it makes sense – trust me. This is an energy map used to analyse and divide a space into 9 sectors, each one represents a different aspect of life! Each sector is linked to one of the 5 elements we mentioned before. If you are moving into a new house or building your home (good on you), maybe the Bagua map could help you decide which rooms are designated for what! The 9 sections are: 1. wealth and prosperity, 2. fame and reputation, 3. love and relationships, 4. family and health, 5. health and centre, 6. creativity and children, 7. knowledge and self-cultivation, 8. career and life path, and finally, 9. helpful people and travel.
How to Implement Feng Shui into Your Life!
There’s some common feng shui practices that are easy to implement and can be easily obtainable!
1: Declutter. A clear space is a clear mind, and a clear mind means you can think effectively and calmly. This allows energy to flow without disruption, so maybe that collection of Quality Street wrappers from last Christmas might be better off in the bin.
2: Mouth of Chi, also known as the front door. The entrance to your home is crucial as it is where energy enters the home. Keeping the front door clean, visible, and unobstructed helps invite good energy.
3: Mirrors. Of course, this is good for light but it is also used to reflect energy, expand space and redirect flow. However, mirrors should be placed thoughtfully, as they can double energy or reflect away positive chi if not positioned properly!
4: Water features. Water is associated with wealth and abundance. Water elements like fountains and aquariums should be places in the areas e home related to prosperity. In other words, yes, your child’s goldfish does belong in the living room.
5: Plants. Living plants bring wood energy, symbolising growth and vitality! They are commonly places in areas where increased growth is desired. Not only do some plants like succulents cleanse the air, they also promote growth in the room!