The Science of Feng Shui – can it really help your wellbeing?
The Chinese practice of Feng Shui has been around for thousands of years, but what actually is it? How do you use it? And can it really help improve your wellbeing?
Feng shui’s literal meaning translates to "wind" (feng) and water ("shui"). The term relates to the art of arranging objects and space to achieve harmony and balance within your home. Feng shui works on the assumption that the world is driven by unseen forces, so the idea behind it is to "unblock" the way, so the forces may flow freely to create a calm and serene space.
The main aim of Feng Shui is to find balance and harmony in your life through your surroundings and it is believed that certain tweaks in your living space can result in good “chi” (that’s energy to you and I) which apparently does wonders for your wellbeing.
So, how do you do it? Here’s a few tips from the experts.
No clutter
Chi energy stagnates whenever there's clutter. Messy, overcrowded wardrobes, chests of drawers, stacks of papers and books, and piles of clothes are the worst culprits for negative chi to fester. Free up this trapped energy by sorting, removing or giving away forgotten items of clothing and organizing your living space so it’s free from jumbled items. Need some help? Marie Kondo is your girl.
Clean your windows
The windows symbolize your eyes to the world and it’s important to be able to see and experience everything that the universe has to offer. Therefore, to ensure positive energy flow, and good chi, within your home, clean your windows regularly. Find some old newspaper, grab a bottle of vinegar and water and clean away the grime.
Decorate with mirrors
When placing mirrors around the house, be mindful of where you put them. In Feng Shui, it’s said that mirrors reflect energy, so you want to ensure you do not hang mirrors where negative energy may be present. Try and use mirrors in places where you would like to increase energy flow, this could be in your bathroom or living room however not the bedroom as it is believed this could disturb your sleep pattern.
Keep bathroom doors closed and toilet lids down
According to Feng Shui, bathrooms must always have the door closed and the toilet seat down, as water is related to wealth and it is said that open spaces within your WC may drain away your finances (and nobody wants that!) You could perhaps try adding in some plants as they naturally soak up water, therefore ,according to the practise, will help you to retain your wealth.
Ok, so does it actually work?
There is currently no scientific evidence to support that following Feng Shui will have any drastic effect on your wellbeing - the main issue is that there is no factual proof that “chi” exists, and without chi, or active energy flow, there can be no Feng Shui.
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t adhere to the principles of Feng Shui. Designing your home to create attractive, inviting, open spaces in line with the practise, can result in a harmonious and calm living space. Plus it can help inject a bit of fun into the decorating process—and really, what’s the harm in that?
Have you ever given Feng Shui a try within your home? We’d love to hear about it. Let us know your stories via our social media channels:
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