All you need to know about Feng Shui
Overcrowded, small and often poorly designed spaces, such as city apartments, can make life difficult for their inhabitants. Between health problems, depression and anxiety, it is not easy to live happily indoors.
This is where the ancient Chinese art of Feng Shui promises to help. Feng shui, which is not a religion although it is related to Taoism, is translated as "wind and water". It is a practice that helps people align their energies with their environment.
Of course, this may sound strange. But there is of course a science behind it. It has been shown that overcrowded living spaces have harmful effects on our health and cause stress. Research shows that the spaces we live in play an important role in the way we feel and behave. This is where Feng shui comes from.
Many Feng Shui practitioners are adamant that adopting a few simple tips to create the right environment can improve almost every aspect of life - whether it's improving your health, finding love, or earning more money.
What is really Feng Shui?
Feng shui consists in optimizing your environment. It is a set of principles to help align a person's living space with who they are and what they want. This practice has existed for thousands of years, but it is neither outdated nor outdated. In fact, it has experienced a resurgence of interest in the West in recent years, with thousands of consultants trained in Feng shui currently offering services in different countries.
In literal translation, "Feng shui" means wind (Feng) and water (shui). This term refers to two of the five elements of Chinese philosophy, the other three being fire, earth and metal.
Feng shui is a set of techniques to manipulate the Qi (or "energy") of wind and water for a built or soon to be built structure, in order to bring the occupants wealth, wealth, health and longevity.
While high ceilings, good lighting and a cozy space can help, sometimes you walk into a room and feel good. Researchers attribute this to the feng shui of that room.
According to research, this also has tangible benefits. According to an HSBC report, more than half of Australians are more likely to buy a home that follows the principles of Feng Shui. Thus, the positive energy will make the house vibrant and attract more buyers to bid on the house.
The Science of Feng Shui
Feng shui helps to harmonize the energy flow in your home. It divides the world into five elements:
• Wood: creativity and growth
• Fire: leadership and daring
• Earth: strength and stability
• Metal: focus and order
• Water: emotion and inspiration
Working to balance these five elements correctly in your home can help the corresponding traits flourish in your life.
The Chinese Feng Shui masters also designed a tool called a bagua card. The bagua card represents several areas of life such as health, wealth, and marriage, to name a few. These areas are related to different parts of a building or living space.
You can align the Bagua map with your housing plan to help determine the optimal placement of colors, artwork, objects and more. If a certain aspect of your life seems strange to you, it may be helpful to add different touches or rearrange your possessions in the corresponding living area.
It is important to balance the energies to build your space. Indeed, the balance between yin and yang energies is also part of Feng shui, and in general, one feels better in an apartment when it has both. Yin is the feminine energy, associated with: night, freshness, calm. Yang is masculine, and indicates: sunshine, sociability, warmth. Playing with these different energies will change the perception of your space.
A few tips to implement feng shui
Because everyone's living space is different, there is no single approach to Feng Shui. If you need to completely refurbish a cramped and dilapidated apartment, it might be better to take a course or hire a consultant. But if you are curious to experiment, here is what you can do.
Eliminate clutter, especially in the bedroom
One of the most important things about Feng shui is to eliminate the clutter in every part of your apartment. No matter if you are a millionaire or unemployed, the trap everyone falls into is clutter. And know that clutter is not just a matter of aesthetics - it has been proven to be harmful to your mind and the neurons in your brain. It creates stress.
It's not all that surprising, since Marie Kondo's book, "The Magic of Life-Changing Tidying up", has caused a stir in homes and with journalists.
The solution? Focus first on the entrance; that way, the first thing you'll see when you arrive home will be a positive and peaceful space. Then move on to the clutter in the center of your home and try to remove things that are not necessary.
Acting as if other people live there
If you are trying to find love, Feng shui will ask you to follow the old saying of your ancestors: "act as if".
Look at your apartment and ask yourself if this space is prepared for the next person who will come to live with you. If you have only one towel, your soul lives one life. So instead of having one towel, have two towels. Even if that person hasn't physically arrived yet, pretend they're already here.
When it comes to overcoming a failed relationship, your first task is to cut the cord with that relationship. If you have all these things from a past relationship scattered around your home, it creates an energetic connection with that person. When you have ended a relationship, it is recommended that you release, at your own pace, the things that are no longer beneficial.
Adding plants (the wood element) to inspire productivity and money
To improve productivity and increase the flow of money, we suggest adding one or two plants near your desk or work area. Indeed, the wood element is related to networking, expansion, growth, increasing wealth and opportunity. Also, have your business card prominently displayed on your desk.
Get rid of broken items
We all cling to things like broken lamps or pieces of furniture, thinking that we will eventually fix them someday. Well, it's time to get rid of them. Broken objects are obstacles to vitality. They make you fall. Throw things like chipped plates, stained clothes and old vacuum cleaners away. This will free up more space in your home and invite new things that really work and have a purpose.
Transform your front door
Your front door is the front door to your home. It should be open, inviting and easy to find. You can add an arch or gate to clearly indicate which door is the front door and install a doorbell that rings loud and clear throughout the house.
Place furniture legs on carpets
Don't put all your furniture against the walls. This creates a void in the center of the room. Furniture should always be arranged to facilitate conversation and human interaction. Ignore walls and arrange your furniture, such as chairs and tables, so that at least the front legs are on the carpet. This creates a warm and inviting conversation space that people will be more likely to use.
Decorate in bold colors
Color has a strong impact on your mood. Red is a powerful and bold color - think about wearing a red suit or tie or walking on a red carpet. Purple and green are royal colors that can attract wealth. You don't have to be crazy about color to make an effect - you can paint a wall green or lavender or decorate with red blankets and pillows.
Keep your kitchen well stocked and clean
Your kitchen is directly related to your ability to attract money. Follow the principles of Feng shui and keep your kitchen clean and tidy, especially your pantry and refrigerator. They should be organized at all times and filled with fresh foods and ingredients that you use frequently. Your stove should be clean - both inside and on the stovetop. And, most importantly, never use your kitchen table as a place to put bulky items. It should be clear and uncluttered at all times.
Use the double
Many houses have single elements, but Feng shui says that you can attract love and happiness by adding other double elements to your house or apartment. Instead of having a single chair in the corner or individual works of art on the wall, try matching two objects together. Having two of the same chairs facing each other or a pair of bedside tables on either side of the bed helps to create energy around you.
Keep the windows clean
In Feng shui, your windows are your eyes on the world. You can improve the clarity in your home by maintaining your windows and keeping them clean and sparkling. They represent your home to people passing by and give a first impression of who you are. Try to clean your windows once a week and do a thorough cleaning once a month.
If you can, place a body of water
In Feng shui, water represents wealth and it is said that integrating a body of water is a key way to attract wealth into your home. But you have to keep them outside the main entrance.
Regardless of the orientation of your home, there are two places where you can install a water feature to increase wealth. Place a water feature about three metres directly in front of the main entrance and place a water feature at 45 degrees measured from the center of the main door. The water point in front of the door should not be more than 75 cm high.
This can be a diffuser, a small indoor water fountain or an aquarium. However, this is not the most important point, as not everyone has the space or ability to do this step.
Balance the five elements
The five elements - earth, wood, fire, water and metal - can be present in your home, either physically or symbolically. For example, you can bring the element fire with warm tones, such as reds and oranges, or you can have a real fire with a fireplace or a lighted candle.
The idea, is to find a balance between all the elements. For example, people with aggression problems should be careful not to have too many fire elements. Conversely, personality types who lack motivation should infuse more fire elements into their homes to give them a little boost.
Remove negative symbolism
Symbolism can be very present in our homes. Indeed, we create these intimate environments that most often represent our fears and challenges. Often, we unintentionally reinforce the challenges in our lives by having their symbols in our space.
Thus, there can be a host of emotional issues that are constantly displayed in our homes. Do you have difficulty getting clarity? Check to see if you have objects on all your surfaces. Do you have problems with self-esteem? Check to see if your mirrors are not hung too high so that you are never at their height. Are you chronically single? Assess whether you load your home with unique things - one vase, one chair, one person in one picture, etc.
Conclusion on feng shui at home
As we have seen, Feng shui can have multiple benefits on your daily life. It can even help you get results when you desperately want something (wealth, love...). It is up to you to apply some simple and basic advice that will make you feel better at home. If you can't do it on your own, it is possible to call a professional.
Are you a Feng Shui practitioner? After ordering your house, did you feel an improvement in your daily life?
