Feng Shui

Feng Shui is an art of ancient Chinese culture. The literal meaning of Feng Shui is “Wind and Water.” The practice of Feng Shui aims to create a space for Chi – the energy of the universe to flow naturally.

Feng Shui is the Chinese philosophy that everyone should be harmonized with their surrounding environment. With Feng Shui, families and children grow in healthier, clear environments that enable them to flourish, live in harmony and develop their gifts with comfort and balance. Feng Shui is also trending in business offices with the facilitation to help them grow and succeed with the flow of designated energy that allows for prosperity.

The process of Feng Shui entails examining the placement of objects and furniture within a space or environment, followed by design of placement for proper energy flow.

With the proper alignment of Feng shui, the results are a sense of feeling better, performing better and living a more abundant life.

I remember being curious about Feng Shui years ago when it was first trending with celebrities like Donna Karan, Madonna and Sting. I was enticed to hire a Feng Shui expert to come to my home and evaluate the flow of energy, but since I had just renovated my home with a decorator, I realized my husband would not be too enthusiastic with the idea. After doing some research, I started playing around with my own DIY Feng Shui. Here’s what you need to know:

ELEMENTS:

There are five elements that represent balance in the atmosphere. They are wood, fire, earth, water and metal.

Wood

Represents natural growth and vibrant health

The shape representing wood is a rectangle

Objects can be wooden bowls, raw wood materials or even branches

Fire

Promotes higher energy levels, fuels passion, fosters creativity

Hues of fire element are oranges, reds, yellows, pinks and purples

Objects are candles and fireplaces. Burning many candles at once is very powerful

Shapes are stars and triangles

Earth

Generates nourishment, knowledge and stability

Hues of earth elements are sandy colors like light yellow and light brown

Harness stones and crystals create designs with therapeutic modalities and meditation

Objects include rocks and terracotta planters

Water

Symbolizes wealth, abundance and fluidity

Represented by fluid shapes

Hues of water are shades of blue and black colors

Objects to promote the water element include mirrors and fountains

Metal

Cultivates strength, focus and independence

Hues of metal are shades of whites and grey

Objects are sculptures and wind chimes

Shapes feature circles and mandalas

Here is a guide to DIY Feng shui:

Create zones around your space that represent the five elements, such as:

Wealth and Prosperity Zone:

This area should be decorated with elements, such as colorful plants, flowers and fountains or pictures of moving water. The best colors for this area are purples and reds.

Love and Relationship Zone:

Implement colors of red and pink. Implement tall light fixtures. Artwork should express love and relationship-inspired elements. The bedroom should have few distractions, like a television or a desk for work. Clear all clutter from under the bed.

Home Zone:

The center of the home should maintain harmony of all five elements. An example of  combining elements would be displaying a small bamboo fountain, decorative stones, metal coins and a red ribbon tied around bamboo.

Health and Family Zone:

This should be a harmonious, peaceful and calming place. Decorate this area with vibrant greens and blues combined with earthy tones and display objects, such as a mirror and a rug.

How to Feng Shui your Business

To incorporate Feng Shui to your office space, start with decluttering your desk. Remove everything and simply put back only what is necessary. Use filing cabinets and drawers to store paperwork and whatever else you might need handy but not on your desk.
Have your desk positioned facing a window or door (but not directly straight to a door, diagonal in position). Since water is the symbol of money, incorporate fountains, a fish tank, or photographs of moving water into your office space.

If You feel more eager and inspired to incorporate Feng Shui to your home or business but feel like you need more help, consult a Feng Shui expert:

William Brison  ( NY)

Thumbtack (LA)