Feng shui is the art of channelling your environment and the universe to add balance to a person’s mind and their life.
Mental health is a serious subject that should be looked at by a medical professional, however, there is evidence that shows by improving a person’s surroundings their mindset and emotions can also transform; in a way, this is what feng shui strives to achieve.
1) A good night’s sleep
While this may be a technique used beyond feng shui, as a good night’s sleep is linked to a positive mood, when speaking in reference to the Chinese artform, a good sleep goes beyond just getting eight hours.
In feng shui, the placement of your bed is paramount. Something that is often avoided is the coffin position which is where your bed is in-line with the door, this is because it makes you vulnerable to anyone who may walk in.
Another way to promote a healthy sleep routine is to ensure electrical items are cleared from your bedroom. This because they have an energetic qi/chi or energy about them, therefore, distracting you from achieving a calm and peaceful rest.
2) Colour mapping and emotions
By looking to the Bagua map, we can see which parts of your home you can focus your health onto.
The element that represents health is wood, to utilise multiple energies it may be worth exploring ways to bring in the element water, too, as this nourishes wood and creates balance.
The closest associated colours with wood and water are brown and green, and blue and black.
While that doesn’t mean you need to paint each wall these particular colours, you can keep colour theory in mind when you’re selecting schemes for your home. Alternatively, bring in decorations or artwork that evoke the same feelings as wood and water does. By mindfully mapping, you can manifest energies into your home that help improve your health and mindset.
3) A social environment enjoyed by all
If one follows feng shui principles, then you’ll notice the emphasis on a balance of energy.
Energy is contagious – in people and places. By creating a space that is filled with positivity and enlightenment, the people in this space will absorb this energy and feel its effects.
4) A space for nature
According to HealthLine – and numerous other sources – plants have the power to detoxify the air and clear the space around you. Depending on the plants that you buy, the rewards you reap may differ.
Although, in feng shui practice, plants represent wood and green which projects an energy of growth and healing that will be attracted to your home – however, this will only work if the plants are properly taken care of. While all plants are beneficial, some of the most popular to be used are:
· Jade plant
· Bamboo
· Peace Lily
· Snake plant
5) Light energy
Another popular feng shui practice is the belief of light energy. Something as simple as opening the windows of your home is often followed due to the good energy, light, and sunshine it welcomes.
A different avenue to explore of this ilk is to fill your home with as much as light as you can, the feng shui belief being that there should be a minimum of three light sources within each room and this will allow you to tap into a strong source of energy.
6) Cluttered space, cluttered mind
Science has found that clutter has a profound impact on our mental – and physical – health. An abundance of aimless stuff diverts our visual stimuli and demands our attention, this means we’re far more suspectable to procrastination, a lack of focus, and generally feeling more depressed.
Feng shui encourages a minimalist lifestyle. One that promotes space to allow natural energy to flow through. Decluttering can also allow us to feel as though we’ve shed unnecessary baggage or parts of ourselves that we didn’t need, it can lift us up and let us welcome new and more fulfilling parts of ourselves.
7) Incorporate artwork
You don’t need to fill your home with pieces akin to Picasso to find joy in them. Art is an individual exploration of the self, and finding the pieces right for you can evoke a wide arrangement of feelings and memories.
It’s been shown that the colours in particular pieces have the power to lift moods, this is the same methodology used in feng shui.
When following these practices, it’s important to address your Bagua map to utilise the placement of your artworks so to achieve the best results.
8) Feng Shui items
There are a few symbols that are sacred to the feng shui ethos, by introducing these into your home you will be able to surround yourself with positive light and energy, and with time, these will contribute to your overall mood.
The key here is to find something that calls to you, it may be a particular crystal, coin, or statue, but find something that you can form an emotion connection with. By forming these connections, you’ll be able create safe spaces within your home that hold positive meanings to you.
9) Connecting to chi
Overall, the belief in feng shui is that by installing certain changes to your home and behaviour, you’ll be able to tap into a more balanced chi. This has the possibly to help improve your physical and mental health, as well as many other important factors in life that may be taking a toll on your wellbeing.
Feng shui is a way of life, and while it may not cure all ailments or mindsets, it is a proactive way to change your surroundings for now – and in the future.
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