Boost your health and happiness by optimizing the positive energy in your home. Feng
shui, an ancient Chinese practice, involves arranging elements in a space to encourage the optimal flow of positive energy, known as chi. This philosophy suggests that by creating a harmonious environment where chi can flow freely, you can boost your abundance, vitality, and happiness.
Feng shui consultant Susan M. Chu explains it as “an energetic approach to designing
your spaces to maximize, optimize, and support your health and happiness.” According to this ancient philosophy, every object, space, and living being possesses life energy called chi, which you can harness to enhance your well-being. The higher the quality of chi flowing through your home, the healthier and more vibrant it becomes, positively impacting your emotional and physical health.
Smart Storage
Clutter can cause energetic blocks that result in stagnation, according to Chu, and feng shui expert Maureen Calamia, author of Creating Luminous Spaces, believes that this is what contributes most to poor health. The excess stuff causes a great imbalance, and it contributes to stagnant energy, which makes us feel drained. It can even have a negative impact on our immune systems by making us feel overwhelmed. Plus, paper clutter can collect dust and mold, making the air we breathe unhealthy and junk on the floor is a tripping hazard. Create a safe healthy space by decluttering and donating and disposing of what you don’t need; then use smart storage solutions to organize the rest. One great idea: a storage ottoman, which keeps items accessible but out of sight.
Good Lighting
The right light can have a huge effect on your mood and overall well-being. One of the
best ways to do that is to let in more natural light—opening shades and curtains
whenever possible. As Chu explains, “natural lighting is always recommended over
artificial.” Of course, that’s not always possible, so Calamia suggests getting a
Himalayan salt lamp, which she uses in her own home. As the low heat of the lamp’s
bulb warms the salt, the lamp releases negative ions into the air. These negative ions
clean the air, promote healing, and emit positive feng shui energy in your home. Overall, make sure you have great lighting where you work or spend most of your time. But, Calamia cautions, the one room to avoid bright, energizing light is in the bedroom, as this space is meant for rest.
Plants
Thriving green plants are the one thing that’s an absolute must in any space, according
to Calamia “Plants are a way of staying connected to nature while spending time
indoors,” she says, adding that they also remind you of nature’s rejuvenating powers.
Plus, they offer myriad health benefits by lowering carbon dioxide levels indoors and
even potentially reducing the concentration of certain pollutants. Remember: Only
flourishing plants provide good feng shui, not withered or brown ones.
Herbs
Herbs quite literally represent the spice of life, and tending to a small, indoor herb
garden can bring health and vitality to your kitchen and food preparation, says Calamia. She adds that nourishing your body with healthy nutrients provides “great energy” and emphasizes the point that feng shui is multidimensional. The aromatic, herbaceous smells alone can be beneficial—think calming lavender or uplifting rosemary. Herbs also happen to be some of the easiest things to grow at home.
Flowers
Chu loves having flowers in the home because “they add a touch of color, sunshine,
and happiness into a space.” And they provide a positive multisensory experience: They look pretty and smell great, and both of those things can make us happy. Calamia
recommends placing vases of fresh, cut flowers in the rooms where you spend the most time.
Windchimes
Calamia says there is a great benefit to using all five senses in feng shui, so don’t forget about sound when you’re optimizing your home’s energy. Research has shown that the sounds of nature—like a breeze moving through the trees or water trickling down a stream—actually help us relax. Try hanging wind chimes to capture the energy of a breeze and represent it in sound. Although metal wind chimes are lovely, bamboo or wood chimes may be more soothing, says Calamia, because of their lower tones.
If you would like help implementing these feng shui tips or any other organizing project, please don’t hesitate to reach out! I’d love to help.
Gretchen Watson – www.OrganizationTransformation.com
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