All of us can benefit from a dose of positive energy to counter the constant stress of modern-day urban lifestyles. Some have resorted to feng shui principles to convert their living and working spaces into more calm and serene environments.
This ancient philosophy has been practiced in Chinese culture for thousands of years. It extends across architecture, astrology, geography, topology, and various other sciences to determine the ideal positioning and placement of objects in the built environment to infuse positivity.
If you are new to this Eastern concept, you have come to the right place. In this article, we discuss our top tips for beginners to feng shui so you can welcome better balance and success into your life.
Why Feng Shui?
Feng means wind, while shui stands for water. Combined, they are believed to direct the flow of Chi or energy that surrounds us.
Practitioners of this ancient wisdom believe that by organizing and arranging objects in a person’s environment, they can allow Chi to flow better.
What specific benefits do you stand to gain by this? According to experts, feng shui could help in the following areas.
- Improving focus for better productivity.
- Increasing creativity.
- Eliminating anxiety and stress.
- Creating a sense of calmness and relaxation.
- Boosting mood and positivity.
- Promoting happiness and joy.
- Achieving better sleep.
- Enhancing physical and mental well-being.
- Attracting success and luck in personal and professional lives.
- Strengthening relationships with greater harmony.
Top Feng Shui Tips for Beginners
Feng shui involves a variety of techniques and principles that may seem overwhelming for those new to it.
The simplest way to integrate them into your home is by seeking help from a feng shui expert. However, be careful if you search for one online. Since many scammers are lurking around, ask for the expert’s full name and run a background check on them on Nuwber to make sure they are who they claim they are. Then, find reviews about them online.
Of course, you don’t always need to hire a professional. As a beginner, there are several ways you can use to easily organize your home to achieve a balanced Chi in your life. Here are simple tips to begin with.
1. Remove Clutter
Let’s start with one of the easiest steps—decluttering.
In feng shui, clutter prevents Chi from flowing effortlessly through a space. Remember, to invite abundance, you must create room for it.
Even in Western science, clutter is known to negatively impact focus, stress, and mood.
By decluttering your home, you can achieve better mental well-being and create a relaxing environment that allows you to become more creative and productive with positive energy.
So, identify things of excess or items you no longer need. Consider selling or giving them away.
Also, remove broken items, burned light bulbs, and dead plants and flowers. These symbolize lack.
Pay particular attention to entryways and doorways. They allow positive energy into a home and its rooms and, therefore, must be left unobstructed.
Closets and under-bed areas should also be free from clutter.
2. Recognize the Commanding Position
Every room has a commanding position. This is often the place farthest away from the door.
Feng shui practitioners believe this is an excellent location to place key furniture. For instance, it is where you should position the bed in your bedroom, the desk in the office, or the stove in the kitchen.
However, avoid placing them directly in line with the doorway. Instead, they must be kept diagonally, providing a clear view of the entrance to the room.
3. Balance the Five Elements
The five elements consist of earth, metal, water, wood, and fire. In feng shui, these should be balanced and in harmony for improved Chi.
Each element has specific colors, shapes, qualities, and a season associated with it, which can impact certain areas of your life.
Earth, for example, is represented by yellow, orange, and brown tones and flat and square objects. It is linked to stability, relationships, and self-care. If you sense a lack in these areas, you may need to increase more earth-related elements in your home.
However, too much of an element could lead to negative results, too. The goal should be to achieve balance. So, make sure all elements are in perfect harmony with each other.
4. Keep Mirrors Away from Doorways
According to feng shui, energy or Chi can bounce back when you place a mirror directly facing a doorway. This prevents good energy or life force from entering a home.
Therefore, be particularly careful not to place mirrors in front of entryways.
5. Have More Plants
Plants represent the green element of wood, which is believed to enhance wealth, family, creativity, and vitality. They also require water—an element associated with spirituality and wisdom.
Overall, plants can have an uplifting effect on your mood and well-being. Money plant, pothos, philodendron, aloe vera, and peace lily are some of the best options to consider.
Keep them in a space with enough sunlight, and they could easily brighten up a space in an instant.
6. Fix Leaks
Leaks make it hard to retain abundance and positive energy. They indicate wastage and lack.
So, if there are any leaky faucets in your home, get them fixed immediately so that Chi can flow through without getting unnecessarily drained.
7. Keep Your Home Spotless
A clean home doesn’t just look pleasant, it is a must for benefiting from feng shui, too.
Practitioners believe that a clean house can attract prosperity more easily, allowing Chi to flow unhindered.
Your stove, for instance, represents wealth. So, clean it regularly to ensure it is free from dirt, oil, and grime. Check windows and tabletops as well. These are two important elements to keep clean in feng shui. The basement is another area many people miss.
To Summarize
The ancient philosophy of feng shui teaches how to organize your built environment in order to facilitate the flow of energy or Chi. This is vital for achieving balance and harmony in life and attracting positivity and abundance.
If you are new to this concept, start with the basic techniques of feng shui before you master the more complex ones.
Decluttering your home, placing key furniture in commanding positions, and balancing the five elements are critical first steps for beginners to this Eastern wisdom. Keeping mirrors away from doorways, having more plants, fixing leaks, and keeping your home spotless is equally essential.