Let's talk Feng Shui

What is Feng Shui (pronounced fuhng shwey)? The literal meaning is Feng “wind” and Shui “water”. Feng Shui is the balancing of chi, or universal energy that is in all things. In my mind, it is the application of the same guidance of Reiki;

balancing the flow of energy, but instead of in one’s body, it is in the actual spaces we spend time in, our homes, schools and work spaces. It is the knowledge of balancing energy, chi, in any given space.  

I have studied Feng Shui for a few years and try to incorporate its principles into my home and studio. A home or space that you enter and feels peaceful and or like a hug, has good Feng Shui. The opposite is true, if you have ever entered a space and felt off or uneasy, it may be because the home’s energy is wonky, ( a very technical term…LOL). Balance requires that Yin and Yang are in flow. Yin is associated with the calm, and cool side of things, while Yang is the active and hot. We need both of these in our bodies and our homes. One is always replacing the other, a duality that exists to serve life. If there is too much Yin then things become stagnant and stale, causing lack of motivation or inspiration. If there is too much Yang, things are too fast and volatile causing anxiety and inability to concentrate. 

So, how do we balance these in our homes? I will share a few things with you to help keep things flowing. But, there are too many to put all in one post, so I will do a follow up to this with some other aspects of Feng Shui. 

For now, here you go:

• Get rid of clutter! This is the most important. Clutter leads to Yin being dominant. Energy has nowhere to go, it gets stuck in that pile of papers on your counter or the bursting shelves in your cabinets. This leads to depression and lack of focus. Clutter under the bed has been associated with poor sleep. (sometimes you need to store things under the bed, just make sure it is neatly organized). In addition, those 30 power cords that you aren’t sure what they go to, donate them, if you haven’t used them in the last 6-12 months you never will.

• Lighting! If your lights are too bright or the windows are harsh with morning light such that it causes glare, Yang is going to be in control. Try a lower wattage light bulb or a dimmer switch. Put a shade or curtain on the window. Just don’t overdo the dimming.

• Broken or damaged items: In the home these cause dormancy. If you are going to fix the item do so, if not remove it from the home.

•  Plants: If they are dying, save them, ask a gardener or a friend who has a green thumb for help, (you can always google.) If they are beyond hope, compost them and replace them with a jade plant which brings prosperity and creates harmony in the house, and is also easy to care for. Personally I don’t think you should have fake plants as they represent stagnation and often people don’t keep them dusted. Definitely do not use dried or dead plants real or fake, they tend to have a negative energy associated with them. 

• Art Work: Be sure the pictures and art work you have in your space bring about a good feeling and create peace. For example, a painting of a ship in a storm in your office area may bring about business turmoil, too much Yang! 

We spend so much time in our homes, it is important for our mental and physical health to create a balanced and supportive space for ourselves.

So, there you have it for now. I will write about some more Feng Shui tid bits again. Until then, thank you for giving this a read. If you are on social media please follow Heart Stone Energy for updates.

Be Well, Sending love and light,

Jan