Seeds for Change Wellness
5 Simple Feng Shui Tips for the Home
5 Simple Feng Shui Tips for the Home
Source Author: Angela Bartelotte
Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese science. Some use this science in conjunction with a more New Age approach
which centers on obtaining a good flow of chi in your home or office. This has become a popular way of making
our homes and other surroundings a positive place to spend our time and to live in harmony with our environment.
There are many interesting but complicated factors that are part of the Feng Shui way of living. There are also
some good health ideas that are easier to incorporate into our lives and our homes.
1. GET RID OF CLUTTER
Most clutter is negative. It disrupts the flow of chi, which is life energy. It is especially important to remove clutter
from the center of your house. This area is considered the heart and/or center of the house. Other areas of the
"bagua" (which is a Feng Shui map which divides your house into nine sections) are all touched by the center
health area. This means all areas of your house are affected by what is in your health area and visa versa. This
principle then applies to your life, as in all areas of your life are affected by your health, and your health affects all
parts of your life. Therefore, it is important to keep the center of your home clutter free to allow positive energy,
"qi," to flow throughout your home. Do not place any heavy objects in this area. Also, your home center is a good
place for happy pictures of loved ones, harmonious bells or chimes, a fountain, or any items that mean something
special to you.
2. USE YOUR SENSES TO YOUR ADVANTAGE
Balance and harmony in your home will stabilize and energize you and your family. Use colors to create the
appropriate mood. Red will keep you going--it's bright and full of energy--but do not use it in bedrooms if you want
rest. Orange is refreshing and revitalizing. Use it in the kitchen or playrooms. Its softer shades can be used in
family rooms where it promotes fun and relaxing. Yellow is a happy color that promotes creativity and vitality. Use it
in a kitchen or office. Green is a healing and calming color. It is great for living rooms or bedrooms. It renews and
keeps us in balance. Blue is also a healing color as well as a mentally relaxing color. Add blue to a room when
someone is sick. Blue will keep the room's occupants calm. Indigo is not only relaxing but is also to keep good
health in your home. Purple is the color of transformation. It is great for any spiritual room or to put here and there
for wealth and abundance.
Use natural lighting when possible, and use dimmer switches to change the atmosphere from bright and energizing
to low and calming as needed. Remember that touch is an important and often over-looked sense. Softness and
warmth can be used to relax. Rough textures and coolness will energize. Aromas are another way to vary or
change the atmosphere or feeling of a room or a home. Essential oils, quality scented candles and fresh air all
promote the change of energy in your home. Use lemon for a light, refreshing energy and lavender for a calming,
relaxing energy in your home.
3. IMPROVE THE CENTER OF YOUR HOME
As stated earlier, the middle or heart of your house is associated with health. By adding live plants to this area, you
will improve the energies for health and balance. Add yellow and earth tones to give your health chi a boost. This
can be accomplished by things like a pot of yellow mums on a table in the center of your home. Adding something
that makes you laugh is another way to promote good health for you and your family. By adding square shapes
and flat items to this area, you will allow energetic movement, which is an aid to good health. For example, square
coffee table made of stone would be perfect for this area. You can also add religious objects.
Reminders of the higher powers in the universe, no matter the style or symbol, will be of benefit to health. What
matters is the intention of the person who placed the symbol. If it has meaning, it is positive for you. A symbol made
of stone is even better when placed in the center area of the house.
Remove any wooden furniture or objects from the center. In Feng Shui, wood "uproots" earth. Since health is
associated with the element wood, keep these objects out of the center of your home. Also remove any column or
tree-like shapes. Items shaped like tree trunks have an upward movement of energy and this is not helpful in your
health sector. Examples of negative, column-shaped objects would be columns, tall curio cabinets and spiral
staircases.
4. MAKE CHANGES OR ADDITIONS TO YOUR BEDROOM
The bedroom is you spend a great deal of your time, so it's an important room for your health. Reducing
electromagnetic fields is one of the best things you can do for better health. Remove all electrical appliances from
the bedroom if possible. If not, place them at least 8 feet from the bed. Things like electric blankets or waterbeds
are the worst offenders, due to the proximity to your body.
Metal objects should also be removed from the bedroom since they conduct electricity. Don't sleep with your feet
pointed out your bedroom door. This position is called the "pine box" or "coffin" position and should be avoided due
to its negative connotation. Don't face a mirror while sleeping. If you can see in the mirror from your bed, this is like
having another person-one who never sleeps-in the room with you. Also, the water element of the mirror could
cause ill health. Mirrors, if not easily moved, can be covered with material hung on a cord or rod. This would allow
for use of the mirror when needed, but would keep it covered while you are sleeping. The bed should always be
position against a solid wall. This is to symbolize support. If your bed is in front of a window, close the blinds or
curtains to give that feeling of solid support.
5. PLACEMENT OF SPECIFIC OBJECTS
Place objects in certain areas of your home for good health and for energizing you and your family. The dragon is
a good health symbol but do not place it in the bedroom. He has too much energy, and would make the bedroom
restless rather than restive. Potted plants or wind chimes around your home will disperse negative "chi," which is
called "sha." The dragon-headed tortoise is a symbol of steadiness and longevity. If placed at the back of the
house, he will symbolize support for you and your family. Rabbits and tortoises are both symbols of improved
health, luck and long life. They both should be placed in your health area. The type of material they are made of is
important and depends on your "kua" number and your element. An example would be a kua number of three that
means the element is wood. If your element is wood, you would place a wooden rabbit and a wooden tortoise in
your health area. To find your kua number and element, search the internet or books on Feng Shui.
These five simple home Feng Shui tips for good health are just the beginning. If you are interested in Feng Shui,
there are many helpful books on the subject. Some are specific to health, some give helpful charts and diagrams
concerning the elements, kua numbers, etc. Others are filled with information on furniture arranging to achieve a
perfect flow of "chi." Feng Shui is growing in popularity and may help you gain better health and happiness.