Like our bodies and minds, our homes are the product of the spiritual energy we pour into them. Here’s a sample of a few practices which inject light, colour and energy into every corner and space – engage the senses and combine them for a therapeutic, balanced environment.
FUNCTIONAL FENG SHUI
Based on the Taoist philosophy which aims to balance yin (female, passive and weak) and yang (male, active and strong) energies, feng shui aims to create a harmonious environment. “If yin and yang are not balanced in your environment, the imbalance can produce unwanted emotional and physical effects,” says South African master of feng shui Elaine Hosiassohn.
The flow of qi can directly affect our moods and ultimately our health, over a period of time, says Hosiassohn. “Nourishing qi circulates. It gently revolves and curves, and creates a healthy balanced environment. Strong qi [called sha qi] disturbs and can cause mental and physical illness.”
On the other hand, weak qi is as detrimental. “A stuffy airless room or a house with the same neutral colours throughout causes qi to stagnate,” says Hodiassohn.
“In classical feng shui the two most important factors to consider are the year the house was built and the compass orientation of the house.” This coupled with the five elements (fire, wood, earth, metal, water) which correspond to the occupant’s birth years give an accurate audit of your house, says Hosiassohn.
Never live in a house which faces the end of a road, or passageway, in the case of an office. Your house or office’s entrance door should be clear and free of trees or other obstacles, and should not be much bigger or smaller than your neighbours.
REFINING YOUR HOME
1. THE BEDROOM
Places of calmness and tranquillity, bedrooms require earth objects to bring relaxation. “Square shapes and pastel tones should be used. Try to avoid too many bright colours and busy patterns,” maintains Hosiassohn.
Ensure the bed is always placed against a solid wall. “This gives you a ‘command of the room’ position which is extremely important for a restful sleep. Never sleep with the bed placed in line with the door. If the room is too small and the bed cannot be moved make sure you sleep with the door closed.”
Mirrors opposite the bed are also not advisable as they disrupt the energy flow, and pictures of water can cause insomnia and attract bad luck. If can’t get rid of sharp edges pointing towards the bed, cover them or place a plant in front of them.
2. THE KITCHEN
The kitchen is one of the most active areas in the house. “This is where we cook our food to nourish our bodies. Bright colours should be used. Be careful not to keep the kitchen feeling too yin with colours of white, black and too much metal,” says Hosiassohn.
Make sure you don’t place a fridge, washing machine or sink opposite your stove – the clash of fire and water could cause disagreements in the home.
3. THE BATHROOM
Always close the bathroom door and toilet lid (when not in use) to prevent the loss of qi and a possible opportunity. Lots of good lighting, ventilation and mirrors keep chi reflecting and moving throughout the room and house. Dripping taps are a sign of wasting money. Another way to counteract opportunity and prosperity from being flushed away is to keep a bowl of pebbles or a flower arrangement on the toilet tank or on a shelf above the toilet. This element of earth helps control the water.
4. THE LOUNGE
Reserved for relaxation, conversation, interaction and relationships, the lounge needs plenty of yang energy, which is symbolized by pendulum clocks, ceiling fans, plants and TV sets.
“Colours should be warm and round objects and streamline curves – shapes which symbolize action – are suitable. Photos and paintings should be used extensively,” says Hosaissohn.
If the view from your lounge has harsh lines or angles like a neighbouring home or city skyline, break up the lines with large plants. Place furniture strategically apart to break opposing straight lines, which will allow qi to flow gently, and break up dead areas with larger items of furniture, plants or fish tanks.
ENERGY ENHANCERS
1. MOVEMENT
Enrich relationships and stir up stagnant qi with mobiles, wind chimes to flags, scarves or incense smoke. Flowing water in the form of a fountain is also a good idea.
2. LIGHT
Use mirrors to deflect unsavoury qi by pointing them outwards towards whatever is undesirable, like a factory opposite. Lighten up dark areas or corners with soft lighting. Avoid too much yin energy in the vicinity of your home, symbolized by churches, hospitals or cemeteries. Open wndows often to ensure you don’t attract too much yin energy.
3. SOUND
Harsh noises cause Chi to become inharmonious and unsettled. Use wind chimes (which double up as a movement remedy), bells or even the gurgling sounds of water features to soothe the atmosphere. A ticking clock and harmonious music also all add to flowing qi.
- SPIRITUALITY
If your house has beams that qi can flow along too quickly, use bamboo flutes, scrolls, fans or swords to deflect the qi into the room and enrich your health. To create an area for spiritual reflection, find a space for a statue like a Buddha, a piece of driftwood or an unusual stone. This will slow qi down and help purify it.
ZEN AND THE ART OF DECLUTTERING
Like feng shui, zen is an offshoot of Taoism, based on the principle of minimalism. In the home this means clean lines and clutter-free living to clear the energy flow to let calm and joy enter your heart.
“Like any habit, it takes just six weeks to break the desire to hoard and collect clutter,” says Sue Kay, author of No More Clutter (Hodder Mobius) and Hoarder to Order (Hodder Arnold). “In the first two weeks, find at least one item a day you don’t need and put it in the rubbish bin or give it away to charity.” Whether it’s a holey pair of socks or a frying pan you never use, it will only take up space if you keep it. Up your bin additions to two items a day in weeks three and four, and four items in the last two weeks. “Now you should be ready to tackle the bigger jobs and up your decluttering process to an hour a day.”
The best place to start, says Kay, is in the linen cupboard. “I’ve yet to meet anyone who doesn’t have loads of tatty towels and tired sheets. So dump them. Recycle if possible. Then decide how many sets of bedlinen you need for every room in the house and for guests. Usually two sets is enough per bed. Similarly with towels – 2-3 sets per person is enough,” says Kay. Then get really crisp and invest in white duvet covers and towels.
To keep the flow in your house free, sort out all the rubbish on your desk and keep the floor clear. To maintain the zen atmosphere, stick to the principle of one-in, one-out. “It’s an essential tool of any clutter-free home and balances the flow of things entering and leaving the home.”
CREATIVE COLOUR THERAPY
For fine artist and colour therapist Tiziana Giardini, colours perform the same role in the home as instruments in an orchestra. “For example, indigo and violet which are at the top of the spectrum are equivalent to a violin and red, at the bottom, is similar to the sound of a drum.”
“Your home is the reflection of your inner self,” says Giardini, who uses her finely developed sense of colour to act as a colour filter for her clients. “Colour creates moods. Whether you opt for bright strong vibrant colour or more subtle hues that reflect nature, colour makes you feel alive and evokes memories. I often use flowers, leaves and stones as a starting point.”
A good starting point is to create a mood board in combination with a colour wheel. Gather samples of your favourite materials and pictures of inspirational room designs, create a board for each room and lay out according to order, ie carpet samples at the bottom.
For each room, choose your main base colour. If it’s one that’s dictated by what you already have and can’t change, like a grey carpet or pink tiles, use the colour wheel to see what colours will go with it and decide whether you want a tonal, harmonious or complementary scheme.
To avoid colour pollution, says Giardini, use neutrals as a base and visually declutter. For example, adding just a touch of colour to a white paint will give the neutral the vibration it requires, and works brilliantly when offset against a more solidly coloured wall. Another important aspect to consider is to zone colour according to the lighting in the environment. For example, a house with a sea view has very different possibilities to one in a leafy suburb, says Giardini.
VIOLET: Purifying, calming for the body and mind, enhances purpose and dignity, heightens awareness. Purple, the colour of sex, is also perfect for bedrooms.
INDIGO: Sedative. Helps to open up our intuition. The colour of divine knowledge and the higher mind. Not suitable for areas for entertainment but for quieter places, like bedrooms, treatment rooms, libraries or studies.
BLUE: Calming, relaxing and healing, promotes intellectual thought and communication. Not as sedating as indigo, but good in bedrooms, bathrooms or studies. Choose a blue with a warm undertone to avoid a chilly reception.
GREEN: Balancing, harmonising and encourages tolerance and understanding. Depending upon the shade, can be used for most areas. Too much green can make you too complacent or indecisive – add a dash of red or orange to counteract this.
YELLOW: Stimulates mental activity, promotes feeling of confidence, energy. Great in a study as it helps one to stay alert. Also good in activity rooms, entrance halls, kitchens and north-facing rooms. Not restful for bedrooms as it can enhance feelings of emotional distress.
ORANGE: Warming, energizing and reassuring. The colour of fun and sociability, orange stimulates creativity and is great for activity areas or living rooms. Not ideal for bedrooms or areas of possible stress, as it can overstimulate.
RED: Energizing, adventurous, passionate, warm. A good bet for dining rooms as it promotes sociability and stimulates the appetite. Take care with the use of tone as it can make a space look smaller by being claustrophobic or oppressive.
AERATING AROMATHERAPY
Create a fragrant ambience in your home by burning aromatherapy oils or placing candles fragranced with essential oil around the home. Add 6-8 drops of your favourite scent to water in a diffuser or place the drops directly into a bowl of boiling water. Use lemon, lime, bergamont or grapefruit for entrance halls. Combine with uplifting lavender or calming geranium, depending on the time of day.
Give your linen cupboard a fresh fragrance by adding a few drops of essential oil to water in a spray bottle and spray on garments before ironing. Create an air freshener by adding six to eight drops of your oil of choice to 600ml water. To rid a room of stale tobacco or cooking smells use cinnamon, eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, orange, tea tree, rosemary or lime. Saturate cotton wool balls and place in the corners of a room, in cupboards or hidden places throughout the house.
(Published in Aquarius, Dubai. Copyright Sharon Marshall 2007.)
