Many of us feel the same way, somewhat intrigued by the idea of Feng Shui but a little unsure of what exactly it is and how you go about using it. Well the good news is that it doesn’t need to be complicated and if you understand some basics then you can even try a few things out today and get an idea of whether it is for you. I am going to outline a little bit of history, a bit of theory and then some practical tips on the types of things you can do to incorporate Feng Shui into your life.

History

Feng Shui has been around for literally thousands of years. It seems to have originated in China and is possibly a derivative of Taoism. Several different streams of Feng Shui have developed over time and this can lead to apparent contradictions between some streams of Feng Shui at times. With our faster paced, more stressed lives these days, Feng Shui has become more popular as the attraction of a home that is free of clutter and calming has a greater appeal.

What is Feng Shui?

In very simple terms Feng Shui is about getting the Chi flowing in your life and more particularly into balance. Chi is the natural energy that is flowing all around us. The theory is that by changing the position of different items, closing doors, having certain colours in the garden and so on can enhance the flow of this natural energy. Certain symbols and pictures in different locations can also help. This flow of energy will help you increase or improve your health, wealth, family unity or improve chances of great rlationships.

So, what do you have to do to get this energy flowing? While I strongly recommended a consultation specific to your own home , I thought it would be great to give you some things to try in your house, garden and the rest of your life right NOW!

In your House:

The Bedroom – this is the one room or place to do even if you don’t do anything else

• Your bed should be accessible from both sides.
• If possible it should NOT be in line with a door.
• Keep the air fresh in the room – open the window or get an air filter.
• Remove electrical equipment like TV’s and computers.
• Use candles

Living Rooms

• Keep windows clean (they are the eyes to the world)
• Try and make sure you have an even number of chairs.
• Remove the clutter.
• Have some plants in the room.

Home Office

• Avoid setting up your desk so your back is to the door
• Have a good filing and storage system for paperwork and stationary

Bathroom

• Keep it as clean as possible.
• Keep the toilet lid down.
• Use candles and music.

Garden

• Have a welcoming entrance.
• Keep it tidy.
• Add some water and somewhere to sit.
• Add Jade plants or an attractive decoration

Other

• In your car, keep it clean, remove the clutter and play harmonious music.
• Jewelry – if you have crystals wash them regularly.

So where to from here?

Obviously the points here are the real basics and are only touching the surface of what can be a very complex subject. The idea has been to give you a few things to try or give you an idea of the sorts of things that might be involved in changing your life to incorporate Feng Shui. If you have tried these and feel comfortable with the ideas and feel it is working for you then you may wish to get into the subject more deeply reading books or getting a consultant involved.

Good luck with your Feng Shui journey. I hope this has given you some basic information to help you decide if Feng Shui is something you want to incorporate into your life.

Clutter represents stagnant, confused chi. It may be difficult to make a decision in a cluttered home, or even to make positive moves toward growth and personal development. Our clutter also has our emotions tied to it. We may not want to let go of it for emotional reasons — and that leads to our feeling “stuck” in our life.

Good Feng Shui is characterized by free-flowing chi — not too fast, and not too slow. If a human being can’t walk across a room because furniture is filling the space with no wide pathways or toys, books, and random clutter blocks the path, the chi can’t flow freely either.

Clutter in Your Spare room or Garage
We tend to place objects we don’t use — or intend to some day throw away — in our garage or spare rooms. Even if we can’t see it, this clutter can weigh us down.

Clutter in the Bedroom, Kitchen and Entryway
Clutter in these three areas is the worst of all when it comes to free-flowing chi and Feng Shui, because these three areas of the home are the most important. Clutter in the bedroom can prevent a good night’s sleep.

The kitchen represents our career success and how others perceive us — getting rid of clutter in this area and always making sure appliances (especially the stove) are clean, can lead to increased wealth and career success.

Our entryway creates a first impression and affects the chi that flows through the rest of the house. If the chi is blocked by clutter at your front door, it can’t move freely through the rest of your home in a positive, life-affirming way.

How to Clear the Clutter
Begin by sorting through your belongings. Does everything serve a purpose? That purpose may simply be that it makes you happy — that’s okay. Objects that don’t serve a practical purpose or bring you joy when you see them should go. Recycle, donate or, if you truly can’t find a use for it and don’t think anyone else can, either, throw it away.

With the remaining objects, find a place for everything and put it there. Keep everyday items in easy to reach places. Store clothes and other objects used seasonally neatly in cupboards, the spare room or garage, where you can find them easily when you need them.

When you’re finished using something, put it back. It really is as simple as that to keep clutter at bay and let chi flow freely through your home.