Since Feng Shui believes that the flow of chi, or energy, directly affects us, it is very important to consider within our home environments. Everything in our homes has an effect on whether chi flows freely or gets stifled and misdirected. Applying the concepts and five elements of Feng Shui may help to create a harmonious living environment by harnessing the positive energy of the universe and repelling negativity.
The overall chi of your home is the sum of all the things in your living space. Furniture, electronics, and d�cor are all made of the Feng Shui elements and are considered to have either yin or yang energies associated with them. Once you view your home through the Feng Shui lens, you may begin to learn how your surroundings may be affecting you, either positively and negatively. Once negative elements have been identified, you can take action to correct them.
Remember to proceed slowly. It takes time to understand the significance of different objects in your home and the effect they have on your life. Making too many changes at once is thought to create additional confusion and negative energy. Feng Shui requires only small changes. It's not about turning your home upside down, but rather working within your existing living environment to make easy and subtle, yet effective, changes. As you create balance in your general living environment, you will still be able to retain your style of home decor.
To achieve ideal chi in your home, evaluate the space from the viewpoint of Feng Shui. It is about giving significance to each and every object in your home. By doing so, it is believed your surroundings will encourage wonderful qualities like health, happiness, prosperity, love and contentment.
First, clear out the clutter. Get rid of everything you do not love in your home. This step is essential when beginning your Feng Shui journey. It's impossible to create a harmonious feeling and energy in your home when clutter is everywhere. Another good starting point is to maintain good air quality and good lighting. Air and lighting are considered two elements essential for good energy in your home. Use an air purifier or open windows often. Allow as much natural light as possible to enter your home.
The two most important areas in your home are the best places to address first: Your living room and your bedroom.
Living Room
The most important thing to consider in your living room is the positioning of furniture. Sofas and chairs should face the door or, at least, never have their backs toward it. Seats should be arranged in an octagonal or circular shape, so as to allow energy the ability to flow through the space among the furniture.
Corners or dark areas in the living room should be lit up through the use of lights and mirrors. Floor lamps are ideal for brightening dimly lit spaces. The thought is that these items will attract energy where it otherwise wouldn't flow. Strategically placed mirrors can also make the room look wider. Televisions and other metal objects shouldn't take center stage. The living room should invite people to have good conversation and make them feel comfortable and relaxed. The main table in the living room symbolizes health. It should be clean and neat, beckoning people to sit around or near it. Placing fresh flowers or a plant on the table is thought to send positive, healthy energy to the people around it.
Bedroom
We spend an average of one-third of our time in our bedrooms, so optimal balance of yin and yang in this room is essential. Yang energy is said to be important because it helps you stay motivated, but if there's too much yang energy, your bedroom won't feel restful.
The ideal placement for your bed is referred to as "command position". This means that you face the door from the far side of the room, preferably the part diagonally farthest from the entry. Here, you are said to benefit from the chi that enters and flows through the room, while being far enough away from the doorway so as to not be exposed to chi that is too strong. Sleeping in line with the door is believed to expose you to excessive chi, which is thought to contribute to stress, irritability and health problems.
Keep the head of your bed where there is a solid wall behind you for support. This puts you in visual command of the room, which is believed to prevent negative influences and give you control in your space and in your life. Always sleep on fresh linens and replace your pillow frequently.
Never keep your desk or computer in your bedroom, as the energy of the computer, or work energy, is considered opposite to the restful energy of your bed. The bedroom should be about passion, rest and self-nurturing. Try to have a good balance of the five elements and continue to honor the shapes and colors from the rest of your house.
Other Bedroom Tips:
While the living room and bedroom are the most important areas to address, don't forget to explore your other spaces. Finding areas in your home that need Feng Shui is nothing more than noting how you feel when you're in different rooms and what parts of your life are associated with each room. Focus on one area at a time and remember Feng Shui is all about the connections and energies between objects and people. It's the heart that is believed to allow healing energies to flow into your living environment. Try it out to see if it brings any positive effects and changes to your life!