Spring Cleaning: Feng Shui
Written by Audrey Hayward
It can’t only be me that has that chair in their room, yes that chair, the one you throw all your clothes and miscellaneous items onto. Sometimes it seems like it’s perfectly placed there just for you to throw your stuff onto… right?
In the spirit of the new season, I began to acknowledge that I needed change and that honestly, my chair deserved better. I started my search with your average cleaning steps, putting away clutter and small organization. But like most of us, in the middle of my cleaning I decided I had to rearrange my entire room, I just had to!
Since I recently moved into the room that I’m in, I didn’t really think about the design of the space too much. I tried to brainstorm ways to move my bed and desk around, but had trouble understanding what would feel best. Finally, I remembered an assignment I had to do in college, where I had to use Feng Shui in my living space and document the effects of it. That assignment truly had a lasting effect on me, so why not try it again?
What is Feng Shui?
Feng Shui literally translates to “wind” (Feng) and “water” (Shui) in Chinese. The practice of Feng Shui has roots in early Taoism but has gained worldwide popularity since its beginning. The idea of Feng Shui traces back to an ancient poem, which says that human existence and life flows and connects to the environment around it. (Cho and Khare) Essentially, bodies of water and landscapes direct the flow of energy through structures, creating a “cosmic current” (Wiki). The overall goal of Feng Shui is to create balance, harmony, and flow by arranging spaces, buildings, and objects with the environment in mind.
Five Elements of Feng Shui
At its core, Feng Shui is focused on the earth, making five elements of nature essential to the practice. If you need a refresher (I’m not judging), the five elements are: fire, water, earth, wood, and metal. Understanding how the five natural elements work together and maintain balance is critical in Taoist philosophy. (Garis)
So what do these elements mean?
Each element represents different colors, shapes, and objects. Don’t worry, I’ll do a quick crash course.
Fire
Represents: passion, inspiration, action
Colors: bright orange, red, purple, pink
Shapes: triangles, pointed, sharp
Examples: candles, electronics, fire
Helpful for: social and work spaces
Water
Represents: cleansing, movement, abundance, purification
Colors: black, dark blue
Shapes: infinite, waves
Examples: mirrors, glass, crystal
Helpful for: calming spaces
Earth
Represents: stability, security
Colors: brown, beige, yellow
Shapes: flat, broad shapes
Examples: ceramics
Helpful for: feeling grounded, safe, and secure
Wood
Represents: health, creativity, growth
Colors: green
Shapes: tall and rectangular
Examples: flowers, plants, paintings of nature
Helpful for: recovery and energy
Metal
Represents: focus, clarity
Colors: white, gold, silver
Shapes: spherical, rounded
Examples: shiny hard surfaces, metals
Helpful for: any area focus is needed (wealth, health, love, etc.)
Principles of Feng Shui
Chi
Meaning vital force or energy, chi is an extremely important factor when incorporating Feng Shui principles. For example, when seeing Alix Earle’s infamous messy room, do you feel relaxed? Or a little overwhelmed? When you see Kim Kardashians house, do you feel at peace? Or empty?
Essentially, a room and its objects in it affect chi directly. A big room with little to no furniture can inhibit an overwhelm of chi (making you feel empty or lost), where a small room with a large amount of objects can inhibit chi, causing blocks of energy (making you stuck or in a rut) (Cho and Khare)
2. Commanding position
Commanding position refers to the spot in a room that is the furthest from the door, but not in a direct line from it, but diagonal from the entryway. Whatever’s in this specific space is what is the dominant purpose of the room–where you will spend most of your time. For example, if a desk is in the commanding position, it represents a dominant force of your career. On the other hand, if your bed is in the commanding position, it is an extension and focus of you. (Cho and Khare)
How can you incorporate Feng Shui into your space?
With all of this in mind, it’s completely up to you on how you design your space. Whether your goal is to create a safe and calming bedroom or a passionate work-focused environment, you now know a little bit more on how to use the energy around you to your advantage. (Seguin) Personally, after learning more about Feng Shui, I completely understood why I felt stuck and unhappy in my room, as well as knew what decor and furniture to get to create the best energy for my room.
I hope this gave you some inspiration and a new perspective on how our spaces and the things we decide to fill them with, directly impact our life and energy.
Be well,
Audrey
References
Cho, Anjie, and Shagun Khare. “What Are the Basic Principles of Feng Shui? Everything You Need to Know.” The Spruce, The Spruce, 4 Mar. 2024, www.thespruce.com/what-is-feng-shui-1275060.
“Feng Shui.” Education, National Geographic Society, education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/feng-shui/.
“Feng Shui.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 6 Apr. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feng_shui.
Garis, Mary Grace. “How to Use the 5 Elements of Feng Shui to Bring Harmony to Your Home.” Well+Good, 8 Nov. 2022, www.wellandgood.com/elements-of-feng-shui/.
Seguin, Sarah. “The Ultimate List of Feng Shui Dos and Don’ts.” QC Design School, 11 Nov. 2022, www.qcdesignschool.com/2022/11/the-ultimate-list-of-feng-shui-dos-and-donts/.
