With the Amazon forests burning and the ice caps prematurely melting, we need to honour Mother Nature. I am trying to reduce my use of plastic – not easy and I think before I buy that t-shirt and recycle where I can. Considering that a fundamental rule of Feng Shui is to declutter, it is also about our throw-away society, something I have also been guilty of. One friend is teaching us about non-plastic alternatives, another about re-using fashion and avoiding non-biodegradable fabrics. It may seem like the latest fad but it aligns with the harmony of yin and yang and our life energy – Chi.
Feng Shui practice loves using natural products to bring nature in to your inner space to create inner harmony. I am a city girl at heart; it can be a big, glamorous metal city like New York or an ancient stone town in the south of France. There is a vibrancy of life and people that gives a buzz. However; I find inner peace sitting on sand with the sun setting and the sound of waves gently approaching and receding. Others find this balance in the mountains, lakes or the woods. Let’s look at how we can bring that inner balance in to our interior space.
Light
Whenever I have bought a place, a sense of light and space, real or perceived, is top of the list. In the Northern Hemisphere, we live in the dark for at least three months of the year and it can be depressing with people buying sun lamps and gulping down Vitamin D. For most of us, we crave light early mornings. Create a feeling of light with soft curtains and lamps around the rooms in those dark corners. Look at the areas that feel dark and dingy, check the Bagua map and see if you can paint them white or a brighter colour. If you are renting, ask your owner if you can paint a wall – many will agree as long as you return it to the original colour when you leave.
Wood
In feng shui, wood is considered yin (feminine) and is seen as a symbol of growth. We have a lovely old French farmhouse fruitwood table that has travelled with us. This, and a lovely old Chinese elm money chest, are two of the few remaining pieces that we have kept. They ground us and the table has seen many dinners and people gather around it. Wood adds warmth to a room whether it is a soft, honey pine in the Health and Wealth sectors or a rich, red mahogany in the Fame area. If you are on a budget, add wood with accessories such as wooden fruit, a bowl or kitchen tools. The partner colour for Wood is green which is all about new life and growth, consider buying bed linen with leaves or flowers or art work with growing trees to add to your space.
Stone
Stone is seen as yang (masculine) and a symbol of the earth and grounding. If you have read my posts on bathrooms, I often recommend adding ceramics and stone to a bathroom to ground the water and avoid the energy in that room draining out. Choose the right tiles and colours according to the Bagua map and look to the gentle Japanese baths where soft pebbles and earth tones are used. We have a tendency in the West to add more water using the sea, fish ornaments and tones of blue. This is generally not recommended in Feng Shui as you are doubling the water element. If you are renting and can’t do much, add earth colour towels and accessories, paint a wall a soft caffe latte colour. Don’t overdo the candles as that can add too much fire.
Water
Aside from the bathroom, the sound of water is a lovely sound. If you have a garden, consider placing a gentle fountain in the right place. Check the Bagua map and make sure it is located in the right spot. Clean it regularly and avoid having lights in it as this adds the Fire element. I have a gentle stone fountain in my Wealth sector that my cats love to drink from! I clean it regularly and make sure it is full. A note of caution, Feng Shui doesn’t recommend water in the overall centre of your space or in the bedroom. Check out other posts that discuss this.
Plants and Flowers
The ultimate symbols of life and nature. The number one rule is avoid dried plants. I recently went in to a lovely interior shop and noticed lost of dried reeds and grasses. When the store manager saw how interested I was in her displays, we talked about interior design and I mentioned Feng Shui. She asked what I would change, and I immediately said, ditch the dried plants, they symbolise death. We talked about alternatives which are paper or silk flowers. I add pots of annuals that give a lovely colour all year. Others have bulbs suspended in vases. All add to a sense of interior harmony.
