One minute Feng Shui

Nothing can replace a survey by a qualified consultant to give you a unique insight of how you relate to your home or work environment. However, there are some simple things that anyone can apply to bring about improvements to their environment. Here are a few:

Make it easy for good chi to find you

Imagine a stranger visiting your house for the first time. Is it easy to get to the front door? Is the house number clear? Does the door bell or knocker work?

If you make it physically difficult for anyone to find you then good chi will have the same problem. So, mend the doorbell, clean up the house numbers (or replace them with big, bold clear ones) and clear the front path.

A generation ago women cleaned their front door steps regularly. It's a tradition that we could update and use to our advantage.

Open your door to opportunity

Your front door is the mouth that feeds energy into your home. Does your door open properly or does it creak and stick? Do people feel welcome when they step over the threshold? Or are they happier to leave than to arrive?

The experience of our front door reflects our relationship with the outside world. If you feel distant and shut off from people, or are missing out on opportunities, have a look at your front door and hallway.

Is your hallway dark and dingy? Is it cluttered? What does it feel like when you walk into your home at the end of the day?

Making your hallway light and airy is not just dependent on its physical size. Using colour, light, artwork and minimising furniture or clutter in your hallway will open it up.

Also remember your doormat. It's where people wipe their feet and it's where they drop off their ‘stuff' energetically too. So change the doormat regularly.

Focus on the centre

The centre of your home, and any room, is known as the T'ai Chi. This is the pivotal point around which chi flows and is considered of great importance in Feng Shui practise.

Always keep this area clear and clutter free.

Reflections are important

Do your mirrors work for you? Check out each mirror you have to see exactly what it reflects. Mirrors oppo-site doors, especially the front door, will bounce chi back out again so should be repositioned.

Some decorative mirrors are made up of more than one piece such as mirror tiles and bathroom cabinet doors. Be wary of mirrors that break up your reflection. A fractured image can have a fracturing effect on your energy.

What mirrors do you check your appearance in? Are they small and show only a part of you or large and visual? The way you see yourself in a mirror is the way you present yourself to the world. Use a large mirror that's well lit and in an easy position to use. You'll be amazed at how much it boosts your confidence.

What's going on in your bedroom?

The bedroom is a key area of focus in Feng Shui because it represents relationships, you spend a lot of time there and you are also at your most vulnerable when you're sleeping and need to feel secure.

Key things to consider are:

A solid headboard. This is classic Form School Feng Shui. The headboard acts as a Mountain to support your back giving a traditional sense of security.

Also part of Form School, position your bed in the middle of the wall where possible so there is space on either side. These areas represent the Tiger and Dragon, again providing a feeling of security.

If possible position your bed so you can see the door, or anybody coming through the door.

What do you see when you wake up in the morning? Is it a pleasant view through a window or an inspiring piece of artwork? Whatever you see will set the tone of the day for you.

If you begin a new relationship change your mattress for a fresh start.

Keep the area under the bed free of clutter. Do you really want to sleep on a load of junk?

Remove as many electrical items as possible. Not only are these stimulating in what should be a relaxing environment, they also emit electromagnetic frequencies (EMFs) which have been shown to be harmful to health.

Behind closed doors

The amount of water and water systems present in a bathroom can be very draining to the house's energy and yours. Build the habit of keeping bathroom doors closed. This is especially important if you sleep in a room with an ensuite.

I have seen some houses with door-less ensuites so, if this is you, consider adding a door to close the area off. I have also seen houses with master suites that have a bath in the bedroom! I'm not even going to go there….

What is your artwork saying to you and about you?

Look at the pictures, paintings and posters that adorn your walls. What do they do for you? If what you're looking at doesn't inspire you, uplift you or make you smile then you shouldn't have them on your wall.

Don't worry about upsetting whoever gave it to you, take it down and replace it.

Another way to consider your artwork is the message it is saying to the world about you. For example, do the paintings of battles on the wall have anything to do with the constant arguing that goes on in your house?

Or, if you're looking for a partner, do the pictures of single people really say you want to be alone? Think about it.

Clutter, clutter, clutter

Without doubt, levels of clutter are a personal choice. Few of us feel comfortable in a Zen like minimalist home and often the effort required to keep a house or room in that state is so stressful that it negates any energetic benefits.

However, clutter can quickly get out of hand so review your space regularly. If things have been lying around for a while and you're not using them then consider storing them. After all, if you are holding onto things from the past you'll have no room for new opportunities to come along.

And finally…

…your home is an expression of you: your desires, your opinions of both the world and yourself. So, take care in what your house is saying about you.