| Feeling
Good in One Space & Unsettled in Another?
Check the Energy Flow With Feng Shui
by Katherine Czerlau-Lima
Feng Shui (pronounced “fung shway”), which translates
into “wind and water,” dates back 3000 years to
China. It is the art of arranging your surroundings in order
to create greater harmony in your life. The energy we create,
through placement and intention, determines how our environment
affects us. Though we cannot see energy we certainly can feel
its effects. Have you ever been to visit some friends and
could not wait to leave their home? Perhaps it had a cold
feeling that made you uncomfortable. Then, as soon as you
were out the door, you breathed a sigh of relief. Or perhaps
you’ve been in someone’s house that uplifted you
and you felt very relaxed and at home. In fact, your hosts
had to kick you out! These are good examples of the workings
and wonders of Feng Shui.
There are a number of schools of Feng Shui, and so many
books on this subject are now available that confusion is
inevitable. I will be discussing the “Form” school
of Feng Shui, which is a practical approach, or what I call,
“common sense” approach, which makes sense to
who we are and where we are now in the Western Hemisphere.
We want to create a harmonious environment which speaks to
us, nurtures us, and supports us. We do this by creating a
balance. An important principle is the yin/yang theory - two
opposing forces, which, when brought together form a dance
of harmony. Examples of “yin energy” are: dark,
soft, female, passive. Examples of “yang energy”
are: light, hard, male, and active. If we apply this principle
to our environment we can use the example of a room that has
white walls, a high ceiling, a metal table and chairs, and
a hard floor. This room is not in balance as there is too
much “yang energy.” If we soften the room by adding
a rug in an earth tone, some plants, and soft lighting, we
are bringing in the “yin energy.” The room is
now in balance and makes us feel warmer and more comfortable.
When I do a consultation I use the bagua map as a tool.
The bagua map is a map of eight trigrams originating from
the I Ching (Book of Changes). Each trigram is a blessing,
such as: wealth, health, career, creativity, and relationships.
This map can be laid over the floor plan of your home to determine
which area is located where, and what enhancement can be made
in that area in order to bring about the changes you desire
in your life. For example, let us suppose your front door
is located in the “career” area of the bagua -
this area of your home is cluttered and in disarray and you
can barely open your front door because of the shoes, umbrellas,
and whatever else is piled high behind it. Do you think it
is just a coincidence that you are not happy at work, or that
you cannot keep a job?
Now speaking of clutter! This is one of the most important
concepts of Feng Shui. Before we can make any changes or add
any enhancements it is essential that we have made our surroundings
clutter free. When we have papers and magazines scattered
everywhere, clothes in piles all over the house, dirty dishes
that needed washing last week, it just seems all too overwhelming.
If it is your intention to find a new job, where are you going
to find your resume as you are rushing off to an interview
wearing mismatched socks? I think you can see the point.
One client of mine had a clutter scenario going on in her
home. She was out of work and wanting a job but was unmotivated
to do anything about it. She felt stuck in her life - things
were the same as they always had been. She wanted a change
but did not know where to start. When I walked into her home
it was easy to understand where her lack of motivation came
from. Every room was cluttered. The basement was piled so
thick and high with boxes it was like walking through a maze
trying to locate the washer and dryer. To add to that, the
house was dark and gloomy. There was a big window but the
curtains were always closed. I was told that it was too bothersome
to open them every day because the TV, furniture, and other
objects were blocking the access to it.
At the other extreme, another client of mine leads a very
organized life! Her bills are paid on time, her debts have
been paid off, and she has a real sense of direction. She
knows what she wants and she knows how to go about getting
it. In her home everything is in its place. She makes lists,
the cups and glasses in the cupboards are arranged according
to size, the CDs are in alphabetical order, and the clothes
in her closet are colour coordinated. Now she is working on
her husband who tends to put Supertramp under “A”
in their CD collection.
Though it is not necessary to go to the extreme of the last
example, you can see that a little clutter clearing can go
a long way. You will feel more focused, less tired (looking
at clutter all day can be very draining), and safer in your
home without worrying about tripping over something. If you
find difficulty getting started with your clutter clearing
begin with something small. Start with a drawer and tackle
something else the next day, a closet perhaps. Next time work
on the attic, or the basement, and so on. Once you get started
the motivation should kick in. It will feel good and things
will start to become clearer. It would be helpful when going
through your possessions to designate three categories:
- Do I love the object?
- Am I not sure?
- Is the object broken or in disrepair?
Try to let go of the thought that you may “need”
the object again one day, even though it has been sitting
in a box untouched for the past 10 years. Let go of anything
that holds negative energy for you. For example, a gift from
an ex-partner. Objects hold energy and if they hold negative
energy it can affect certain aspects of your life. Anything
that is broken, either get it fixed or get rid of it. Be ruthless!
As soon as you start clearing out your clutter a path will
be paved for new things to come into your life that represent
who you are now!
When looking at these aspects of Feng Shui it all seems
to make sense. We all know when we feel good in one environment
and unsettled in another. This has to do with the flow of
energy in that space. A Feng Shui consultation will guide
you towards shifting the energy in your space so that you
may be fulfilled in various aspects of your life. Along with
shifting the energy it is important to define your intentions.
If you state your intention along with shifting energy there
is a lot of power involved in manifesting a wonderful outcome!
Katherine Czerlau-Lima is a Feng
Shui Consultant who is available for consultations in your
home. She also offers distance consultations and Feng Shui
workshops. She can be reached at (306) 729-2907 or by email:
kczerlau@look.ca
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