An ancient Chinese system of harmonizing human existence with our
surrounding environment, Feng Shui is both
art and science. It is a goal–oriented practice which developed over 3,000
years ago. According
to the Taoist vision and understanding of
nature, particularly the idea that the land is alive and filled with Qi (Chi
i.e. energy), Feng Shui practice was created so humans can work with the Qi, as it is the
force which binds the Universe, Earth, and man together.
Feng means wind and Shui means water. In
Chinese culture, wind and water are associated with good health, thus good Feng
Shui came to mean good fortune. The goal of Feng Shui is to help individuals design,
modify or structure their living environment to ensure harmony with the universe
and thereby generate positive energy within their personal lives.
While Feng Shui became a huge fad around the mid-90s, generating a lot of
hype that turned off many people, several of its guiding principles are quite
useful and are grounded in basic common sense. We came across some practical Feng Shui tips which can help
reduce stress in our daily lives and get us back onto the right path:-
1.
Reduce clutter.
Start
working on getting rid of the clutter in your home and office, yes, today. You
will feel lighter and less distracted, you will have greater focus and clarity,
and perhaps you might start seeing some relief from those stress-related minor aches
and pains in the process.
2.
Get plants.
Now
this is a given – bring the garden indoors with plants! Plants are nature, growth, creativity and even air purification all in
one beautiful package, just make sure to get plants that are manageable, lush
and wonderful, and you'll feel the difference immediately.
3.
Keep your toilet lid down.
Why?
Well for obvious health reasons, because a toilet leads to the sewer. Also there's nothing inviting about an open
toilet. The traditional Feng Shui perspective is that the toilet is a drain,
and by leaving it open you allow good energy (and money) to literally drain out
of your home.
4.
Get two nightstands.
This
is not necessarily about bringing that special someone into your life (but it
could be!). Two nightstands create a more supported and balanced look within a
room and thereby greater harmony. In fact, these nightstands do not need to
match, and they don’t need to be traditional nightstands: you can substitute chairs,
stools, benches and card tables, anything that creates balance can work in this
regard.
Working
with your back to a door puts you in a compromising position (based on old
warrior philosophy no doubt), but it’s also impractical because you have to
constantly turn to interact with people who enter the room. According to Feng
Shui principles, if you reposition your desk and work facing a door, you may be
surprised to feel how much more powerful that position is in space. If there is
no way to adjust the desk position, put a mirror above your desk or a
reflective surface on your desk that enables you to see the door in the
reflection.
6. If
it’s broken, fix it …
Broken
things do nothing good for your home. All those small broken or incomplete
items e.g. wonky door handles, old appliances, stuck doors and windows, squeaky
gates, missing light bulbs, loose towel racks, etc., can accumulate over time
and create the feeling of an unstable environment. Your space reflects you and
in turn influences you, so don’t let things stay broken for extended periods of
time. Perhaps while fixing things in your home, this may be the first step to
confront and fix other lingering issues in your life.
