Basic cures and remedies

A quick guide to bringing harmony into your home with Feng Shui
by Palma Bellardoni

Now that you have assessed the overall energy of the space, remember that your goal is to guide and direct the Chi, or flow of energy, throughout the house.

It is a game of delicate balance. You want the energy to flow in and fill the space in a gradual manner, so that the raw, unrefined stream has time to adjust and blend in.

Fresh, incoming Chi brings vital new energy, but just like water, you don’t want it to flood in and rush out again, washing away new opportunities.

You want the flow to be active and revitalizing, but slow and gentle enough to sink in and recharge your home vibrationally.

Similarly, you want the stream to be always clear and moving, without blocking the Chi, like a stagnant pool. Your living space should vibrationally “breathe” in and out freely.

If you look at natural patterns, you will notice that energy streams tend to move in curves, rather than straight lines.

Chi pointing in a straight line is like an arrow reaching the target at high speed. Examples are a straight pathway to the house, or a long hallway. You may gently want to break the line and guide the Chi around a plant or some furniture.

Also, keep in mind that the stream is two-directional. Energy is incoming and outgoing. Sharp angles from furniture and walls, spikes and straight edges are also radiating vibrational arrows.

Let’s now take a look at various ways to direct this energy and create a smooth, spiralling flow!

The Remedies

Plants

Live, green energy brings vitality and freshness to your environment. Select plants with more rounded leaves, rather than a spikey one.

It is important that the plants be healthy and lush, radiating vital energy. It is better to have no plants at all, than a dying or whilted one.

If a specific corner of your home is too dark for a live plant, the second best option is to place an artificial one, the kind with silk leaves, which will act as a symbolic representation.

Light

You can bring more energy to dark corners with the use of light.

Properly placed floor and table lamps add warmth and life. The brightness will depend on the purpose of the room. The bedroom - more yin in nature - should be soothing, relaxing, and not too bright. The living room and other daytime areas, more yang in nature, should be brighter for proper activity.

It is also very important to let natural sunlight (and fresh air!) in. If the drapes of the living room are always pulled, the room has too much yin energy and will drain your vital energy.

Another way to pull light in and disperse it in the room is by reflecting it. You can do this by hanging a man-made crystal pendant (the Swarowsky type) onto the window. The crystal will catch the sun rays and reflect the light as a rainbow.

Sound

Sound waves also symbolize moving energy.

Wind chimes are perfect for both outdoor and indoor use. When hung outdoors on your patio, they will emit a soothing sound and energize your home. When indoors, they will act as a symbol even if they make no sound, and disperse stagnation. A chime hung in the middle of a long hallway will slow down the arrow of Chi

Other musical instruments used as decoration, such as guitars and flutes hanging on the wall, or a piano in your living room, have also a similar beneficial effect.

Listen to the soothing sound of a wind chime here!

Water

Moving fresh water is revitalizing and life-giving.

This is a very powerful element and it should be used appropriately. Stagnant water is putrid and has a detrimental Chi. Ideally, water should be fresh, clear, and running gently.

If you have a pool in your backyard, or a fish tank, make sure they are always clean!

Water represents money and you can activate your financial corner with a small water fountain, images and paintings of running water, such as waterfalls, or a fish bowl.

Mirrors

Mirrors are also very powerful and should be used correctly. There are two main effects, depending on how they are used. On one hand, mirrors absorb the Chi, doubling the space to recreate a missing area.

On the other hand, mirrors deflect the Chi, acting as a protective barrier.

Crystals, rocks, metal

Earth and metal elements have a grounding and stabilizing effect and are great when you need to slow down the energy. You recharge the area by letting it soak in the heavier and slower Chi from the Earth.

You can use pure natural rocks, or metal and stone sculptures and statues to reach the effect.

Your home is a living space, vibrating and radiating energy all times. It has its own “magnetic field” and you mold this field to your liking. When you direct the energy in a way that supports you at all levels, you have become a master at creating “Sacred Space”.

Congratulations! You’ve made it through all five lessons and have now a better understanding of how the place we live in can affect our energy field.