Relationships August 10, 2016
The ancient art of Feng Shui (pronounced “fung-shway”) is something that a lot of men and women assume is only for the Eastern half of the world or those new-age neighbors who live down the street. Sure, maybe the very idea of taking the time to enhance your home’s “energy” may seem highly dismissible if you’re in your twenties and are still trying to figure out how to even do your taxes, but pause right there.
Feng Shui, the ancient art of placement originating in Chinese culture, has a boatload of benefits in terms of clearing your space and your mind. Feeling overwhelmed by some serious quarter-life disorganization? Here is a basic guide to taking ownership of your home’s energy and your own mental clarity.
THE BASICS:
Feng Shui in the Chinese language translates directly to wind and water – two worldly elements that represent a state of harmonious flow. Good Feng Shui is tied to prosperity, productivity and good health while bad Feng Shui is associated with misfortune, bad luck, and inactivity. There is a belief in the practice of Feng Shui that everything in life – people, animals, inanimate objects – possess an individual and unique energy, otherwise known as chi.
Energy itself is thought to be in a constant state of flow, so the ideal arrangement of a space should allow and promote natural movement. The ultimate goal of Feng Shui is to achieve balance, similar to the way that Yin and Yang represent the perfect harmony of feminine and masculine energy.
How does this apply to you and that bag you still haven’t unpacked from that trip back in 2009? Well, lucky for you, Feng Shui is actually fairly easy to apply to anyone’s living circumstance. What’s more, it’s basically free.
The whole idea of this practice if to alter how your home feels in order to change what you attract into your life and how you choose to live each day. Every inch of your home can benefit from Feng Shui, but first, you must do a quick assessment of the space you’re dealing with.
Your primary focus should be on the entrance to your home, the kitchen and the bedroom. Here are the steps you can take to welcome more positive energy into your home (and your life) throughout these spaces.
This is the absolute best way to begin clearing your space and your mind. Though it may seem like the most daunting part of the process, give yourself a day to focus on decluttering your home. Less physical clutter directly promotes less mental clutter. And who knows? Maybe once you take the plunge and throw on some funky tunes, you might be surprised at how entertaining purging your messy collections can be.
One way to do this would be to make a trash pile, a reorganization pile, and a donate pile. Don’t try to reorganize as you go, just make a quick evaluation of each object before tossing it into its designated pile. Save the real organization for the next step.
Conduct an evaluation of your space, beginning with where you enter and exit your living space each day. In Feng Shui, the entrance to your home is considered the place where all new energy must first pass through. If you pay close attention to this vital area, you can greatly increase your chances of attracting positive energy flow into your home.
You’re going to want to be able to open your front door to at least 90 degrees without anything blocking it. No garbage cans barricading the way! Your doorway should feel spacious and welcoming so that positive chi can find its way into your home. This will also help people feel at ease and welcomed when they enter your abode.
Furthermore, don’t leave your front door naked! A simple or artistic welcome mat along with one or two trendy potted succulents at your doorstep promotes growth and vitality within your home. If you’re able to, paint your front door a lovely color of your choosing. If this isn’t possible, try crafting fun and festive decor to adorn your door.
Whether you’re a single lady, one-half of a lovebird duo, or a guy finally looking for some commitment, know that the layout of your bedroom plays a pretty big role in your real-life relationship status. There is strong proof that if you’re seeking a soulmate, rearranging your bedroom with the help of Feng Shui significantly raises your chances of getting coupled up. What’s the harm in giving it a try?
HGTV suggests that your first step is to make sure the back of your bed is snugly against a wall. This is believed to promote a sense of restfulness and security. Also, you’re going to want to make sure that you can access your bed from both sides. Make sure your bed is not positioned directly in a line with the door to the room. Furthermore, keep all doors leading into and within the room (including the closet door) completely closed at night. This allows the flow of existing positive energy in the room to strengthen your life’s existing relationships and promote new ones.
Even if you are currently living on your own, it is ideal that your bed is framed with two identical nightstands. This type of symmetry is believed to be a grounding force that will create an energy of partnership. In contrast, a single nightstand and other solitary pieces of furniture or artwork in the room represent an energy of singularity, one not likely to invite another person into your space or life.
Your bedroom, in essence, is a very sacred space – one where you lie down each night to rest and recharge at the end of the day. Ideally, this should mean that it should be free of distractions, namely all the electronics that you own. However, in the age of iPhones, this isn’t a step many people are willing to make (who doesn’t use their phone as an alarm?). To compromise, make sure to place your phone as far away from you and your bed as possible while you sleep.
All in all, making some simple changes to your environment can have a positive affect on your health and quality of life. Give it a try and see how much positive energy you feel flowing your way.
