Feng Shui for Beginners!

Well readers, it’s a new year and that means that it’s time for new beginnings! I’m sure you all have made some wonderful resolutions, but why not make time for a resolution that can not only benefit your home, but also your mental health? That’s right; I’m talking about Feng Shui! Feng Shui is a Chinese philosophical system that can take years to fully understand and get straight; but there are basic rules and guidelines that just about everybody can follow with only a little bit of knowledge. Why is it even worth knowing about? When we balance human existence with our surrounding environment, the result is a harmonious feel…how blissful!

The first step of a “Feng Shui attack” as I like to call it, is to de-clutter your home. I’ve talked about the importance of organization before, but now I’m talking about actually getting rid of the items that you don’t love or need. The more minimalistic you can be…the better. Do you really need that set of unused furniture you’ve been storing in the basement for the past ten years, or how about that extra toaster? Free yourself of the items that are weighing you down! If you’re holding onto something that you don’t love because you once paid a lot of money for it, think of it this way: you could sell it to someone else who would actually love it, and use that money for something you love today instead of something you loved ten years ago.

The next step is to have good quality elements. No, I’m not talking about your pieces of furniture; I’m talking about actual elements such as air and light! These are things that most of us don’t think to notice, but trust me, you notice when they’re not around. Having the right balance of these elements can do great things for your energy, or Chi if you will. How can we increase the quality in our own homes? When the weather starts to get nicer, open those windows, there is nothing quite like fresh air! In the meantime, think about an air purifier or using some essential oils. When it comes to the oils however, be aware of the scents that you’re choosing for each space; something soothing like rose or jasmine can be great for a bedroom while lemongrass or sage can help improve clarity, great for a home office. Last but not least, let’s not forget that live plants also help to purify the air!

As for the light, open your shades and try to get as much natural light as possible. It has been said that light is the medicine of the future; it’s our number one nutrient. The closer we can get to full spectrum light, the better. Those compact fluorescent lights (those twisty lights) may save you on your energy bills, but they don’t compare to what an incandescent bulb can do for your mental health. The incandescent bulb is the closest we can get to natural light.

Speaking of elements, let’s talk about the five basic Feng Shui elements; wood, fire, earth, metal and water. There are SO many way that these elements can be represented in your home, with color and shapes being the most used technique. I personally like to bring the actual elements in as much as possible. Think about a nice hand scraped wood floor or bringing out the wood rafters in your home. Fire can be represented by glass, or how about an eco friendly bio-fuel fireplace from ecosmartfire? I love using natural elements to represent earth, like river rock stones or even just a natural stone surface for a countertop. With countertops in mind, the new trend of stainless steel countertops can also help to bring in that metal element! Water is probably my favorite of the elements; there are so many neat water features and fountains that can built in to your home now with the right care and maintenance. Everyone feels relaxed around the sound of running water!

There are of course, so many different facets to Feng Shui and you can get as in depth as you want to. I haven’t even brought up Kua numbers and lucky directions, or defining the energy map of your house. Like I said before, this is a way of life and that means that there is always something new to learn. However, if you apply these basic steps and always be mindful of the feel of your home, you will see how Feng Shui can positively impact your life!