Peaceful, Prosperous Spaces with Feng Shui
Have you ever walked into a building and felt immediately comfortable? Whether it was a welcoming home or a well-run business, you are likely noticing the Feng Shui of the place. The ancient Chinese art and science of placement, Feng Shui literally means “wind water” two of the avenues energy or ch’i takes on its journey around the universe. The origins of Feng Shui may be thousands of years old, but the benefits are current and timeless.
From a Feng Shui perspective, buildings hold the energy of the people who design, build and inhabit them. Surrounding landforms such as waterways, roads, hills and other buildings determine the amount and quality of ch’i that enters a space. For example, dead end roads and cul de sacs are considered yin spaces, while busy highways are considered yang. Once inside a building, the location of windows, doors, corridors and drains all impact the functionality of a space. Wall color, artwork, furnishings, textures and lighting also contribute to energy flow, and the human activity within should dictate these choices. Successful businesses and happy people dwell in places where either by design or by accident, these features conspire to nurture.
Creating peaceful and prosperous spaces for work and living has always been the objective of Feng Shui. While every situation is unique and requires specific attention, there are many ways to incorporate good Feng Shui into your surroundings, regardless of your personal objectives. Here are a few tips to help you on your way:
- The first step to bringing harmony in your life is to evaluate where you are now. Are you pleased with your current career, relationships, prosperity and health? Are you happy about the direction your business is taking? If not, it’s possible your environment is preventing you from moving forward. In Feng Shui, we use a map or bagua of eight life areas to illuminate what’s right and wrong in our spaces. It’s not unusual for history to repeat itself in buildings where a reversal of fortune such as bankruptcy or divorce has taken place, but you can change the course of that history with Feng Shui adjustments.
- Once you have determined where you are now and where you are going, there are specific things you can do to achieve those goals. For example, if you are trying to write a book or launch a new business, it is helpful to illuminate the path to your front door. If a strong relationship is on your wish list, why not organize your bedroom so there is room for a partner? Has business slowed since you moved locations or rearranged your workspace? Perhaps an adjustment is necessary.
- If you tend to dwell in the past and have trouble making changes, clear your clutter. The interval between seasons is a wonderful time to take inventory of your belongings and remove, repair or replace anything that is broken or that no longer serves a purpose. Donate, sell or dispose of anything that you don’t love. By doing so, you’ll make room for new opportunities to find you.
- Is your life too hectic – or too quiet? We engender chaos with disorganization, confusing room layouts and loud, noisy spaces. Alternately, dark, gloomy, still spaces can be overly yin and sap motivation or lead to depression. The ideal environment inspires creativity and rejuvenation at once. Living and work spaces should encourage conversation, exploration and stimulation, while bedrooms and study areas are best left quiet for restful rejuvenation. Business logos and signs should accurately convey the type of work you do and entice others to trust and engage you.
- It helps to know your personal element. The five elements – water, wood, fire, earth and metal – that we use in Feng Shui to help bring balance to an environment, also imprints us at birth and determines quite a bit about our traits, tendencies and life path. Whether you are the strategist, nurturer, inventor, philosopher or leader, fulfillment comes when we follow our own path. Knowing your element puts you in control of your destiny and I can help you with that.
Feng Shui has stood the test of time because it makes perfect sense. Tap into the wisdom of this ancient tradition and you may discover what has been missing.
Wishing you peace, prosperity and good ch’i,
Diane Gallin, CFSC