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Feng Shui Your Home

Spring is a wonderful time to shake things up, start new projects and change habits. Making small bite sized changes can have a huge impact on your health & wellbeing.

Feng Shui is a powerful way to make some positive changes. Feng Shui literally means "wind and water". It is a 4000 year old system of analysing and altering the flow of Qi (energy) to bring about positive change. Every object in our environment has an energy and by altering how the Qi flows around and through your surroundings, you can promote happiness, prosperity and good health and feel energised and positive about life.

The front door is the “mouth” of our house—it sets the stage for family members, visitors, and beneficial energy to enter. To encourage positive energy to come inside, the front door needs to be good condition and function smoothly. Remove empty flowerpots, wilted plants, and clutter from the front porch so that energy can flow in smoothly. Positive energy needs space once inside as well, so organise and tidy up the entry hallway, tuck shoes away, and hang jackets up neatly.

The living room is a public area and it is important to keep it clear of excessive amounts of furniture to allow positive energy to circulate. To support family cohesion, every member of the household needs a comfortable place to sit and seating needs to be arranged in a way that encourages conversation and interaction. Windows are the "eyes" of your house, so keep them clean and sparkling. Open the windows every so often to vent stale energy out and select window coverings that are airy to bring light into the room.

The dining room represents the Earth Element, the stomach, and the spleen—they are related to nourishment and digestion. Decorate the dining room table with candles and a plant, or an attractive centrepiece, even when it is not being used. Float the table in the space rather than push it up against a wall, to increase the possibility of having guests in the future. Light and space encourage positive energy to enter, so hang a large mirror on the wall to reflect light into the room and make it appear larger and brighter.

The kitchen is the heart of the home—it represents harmony. In classic Feng Shui theory, arguments can be avoided if fire and water are not situated directly across from one another. The stove top is related to fire, so it should not be on a wall opposite the sink, which represents water. Likewise, a red and black colour scheme could invite conflict in your home, because fire and water are clashing energies. If you have a choice, go with gas for your cooktop because gas is alive and preferable to electric coils, and the more burners you have, the better.

The bedroom would be a good choice if you can only apply Feng Shui principals to one room—it is the space where you spend the most time. Choose a neutral decor and cozy bedding to encourage restful sleep. A bed needs a headboard—it represents stability and support. Place the head of the bed on a solid wall and allow clear space all the way around it. Two nightstands are better than one because two nightstands represent equal support for both partners. If you are single, nightstands on both sides of the bed increase the potential for a new partner in the future.

There is a powerful energy connection between the three major Feng Shui areas in your home: the bedroom, the bathroom, and the kitchen. Make your bathroom as spa-like as possible and commit to keeping it tidy and scrupulously clean. Your bathroom houses the Water Element, which is responsible for your wealth as well as the circulation of bodily fluids. Keep the toilet seat and lid closed to avoid flushing prosperity down the drain and close the bathroom door to keep Earth energy from leaking out.

And there you have it; some interesting ways to invite positive energy into your home that will keep everyone inside healthy, safe, and happy.