Feng Shui, to live at home in harmony and balance

A Zen home is free from any bad influence, where you feel calm and at peace… It is the dream of most people, of course. Yes, but unless you live in a Buddhist temple or a lost house in the heart of a mountain, this ideal is often difficult to achieve. This is where feng shui comes in.

What is feng shui?

Feng Shui is an ancient practice that comes directly from China. Its origins find their place in a fascinating legend. In 4000 BC, a man named Fu Xi saw a turtle (a symbol of happiness) climbing the banks of the Lu River. Its shell was decorated with dots that, regardless of the direction in which they were added, always gave the number 15. This is the “magic square”, the basis of the doctrine of the Feng Shui schools.

Feng Shui is entirely based on energy which represents the energy that governs the universe. It also uses the concept of balance and integration between yin and yang, as well as the power of the five elements (wood, water, fire, earth, metal). Finally, you should know that “feng shui” means “wind” and “water”: water holds energy while wind distributes it.

How to apply feng shui principles at home?

In the West, Feng Shui has been used for many years as a mental technique that can be applied to find moral, physical, and spiritual peace. Thus, everyone can find a sense of satisfaction and security at home.

Feng Shui is based on several basic principles:

• Harmony with his environment.
• Simplicity and purity.
• Respect his personality;
• Patience in change;
• Searching for the perfect balance between calm and vitality;
• positive thinking;
• Ask the right questions and meditate to find the answers.

Concretely, how can I introduce Feng Shui into my daily life?

Getting rid of what burdens us

Feng Shui requires you to make space in your home. Start a big clean-out and throw out/donate all the old stuff, furniture, and things you don't use.

It is an essential step for a fresh start that fills you with good energy. Likewise, it is recommended to reduce the number of electronic devices. Keep these devices away from quiet and resting places (the bedroom, the sofa, etc.), as well as from the place where you eat your meals.

Let the qi flow

Energy is a vital breath that must be able to circulate unhindered to spread its beneficial effects throughout the home. Just like wind or water, qi needs space to move freely.

So eliminate all the narrow corners of your home, for example by “softening” them with a screen, curtain, plant… You should also eliminate places that are too narrow, too crowded or too dark. The goal is to have a spacious, airy and bright interior space.

Find harmony in everything

It is important to seek a balance between yin and yang at the heart of your family. To do this, make sure there are approximately equal amounts of Yin and Yang elements in the same room. We associate yin with the feminine, with the creative, with the cold, with the wavy, with the down, with the wet… Yang, for its part, is found in the masculine, precise, luminous, geometric, dry. The top… These are two sides of the same scale that must be measured carefully.

Give space to the five elements

Just like yin and yang, the five elements should be represented harmoniously in every room. In addition, their presence should fit the personality of the home's resident. For example, if you are already very attached to fire (an active, angry personality), avoid placing too many objects related to this element in your home.

The main criteria associated with the five elements are as follows:

Arrange the room according to Ba Kua

Finally, equip yourself with Pa Kua, a magic square made up of nine equal-sized squares. It represents the extent of your home and assigns each area a specific function. This square looks like this: Prosperity – Recognition – Human Relationships on the top line from left to right, Family, Tai Chi (middle), Children in the middle line and Knowledge – Career – Friendships on the bottom line.

Thanks to Pa Kua, you can arrange your rooms and furniture according to the influence of cardinal points and chi. Of course, it can be difficult to take it literally and not have to do major work on your home. Feng Shui is a guide, nothing is imposed.

If this topic interests you, you'll find more practical information on this dedicated website Feng shui.