Lesson 1
How do you recognise a harmonic space?
Have you ever had that experience when you visit someone's home, a restaurant, or maybe even a garden, and you felt immediately “at home”, even if it didn't look very luxurious? On the other hand, why do we sometimes feel uncomfortable in some place, even when it is nicely arranged?
The reason is that we perceive the space around us not only with the standard five senses.
Our subconscious also takes in the type of energy in space. We cannot see the flow of energy, but we can definitely feel the effects. Similarly, nobody can see gravity but based on experience no one would doubt it works.
It is not enough just to find out how energy flows, it is important to know how to manage that - to eliminate negative effects and to invite enough positive energy into your apartment or house. When your home is filled with harmony, then you will also feel comfortable, full of energy, and have a zest for life.
In the past, people were more sensitive to energies in their environment due to their closeness to the nature - their lives actually depended on this ability.
Animals still have these instincts. They know where to find a good place for sleeping and where it is not good to stay around, they know how to create a safe refuge, when to conceive their babies and when to start getting ready to create their winter-housing.
Humans, on the other hand, have lost these abilities 'thanks' to our civilisation's achievements.
We build houses in very unsuitable places, arrange beds or work areas inappropriately, and then we wonder why we have difficulties falling asleep, why we can’t concentrate on our work or have health issues.
Our bodies, though, still belong to nature and still react according to its laws even though we've lived in civilisation for centuries.
The rules of Feng Shui partially replace our long lost instincts. This helps us create a living space, where we feel comfortable and safe, and recharge energetically instead of being harmed by negative influences.
How and why is our living space influencing us?
The state of our inner world is subconsciously expressed to the 'outer world'. We reveal our mood through our facial expressions and body posture.
For example, when you are full of energy, self-assured and happy, you express that with an upright body posture, energetic movements, and a smile. If you are depressed, sad, or unhappy, the body language is completely different. Our body simply reacts automatically to our inner state.
The change of mood causes a change of body posture - it is all done subconsciously.
You may have heard about the reverse strategy – if you consciously change your body posture, movements, and gestures,you can positively influence your mood.
When you are sad, you have no self-confidence. However, a conscious adjustment in yur body posture can change this. Sitting up straight and smiling, even if it feels unnatural or forced, will change your mood. If you hold it long enough, consciously willing to change your emotions, your attitude will gradually change to be in accordance with the expressions of your body posture.
We also express our emotions with our clothing - each day, we choose the colour, type, and style of clothing that corresponds with our inner state. This works the same way - we can positively influence our mood by choosing the right type of clothing for how we would like to feel.
How does this relate to Feng Shui?
Our living space, whether it is a flat, apartment or house, is our extended body. Our body language reveals our current mood, and the same way our living space reveals our personality. How we organise our home is also an expression of our values, habits, and attitudes. In external world, we collect and keep things that are related to our inner world.
Therefore, as per the previous examples, we can influence our personality by changing the environment we live in. By arranging furniture and using a certain set of colours and shapes we can influence the flow of energy we experience in our home to support the way we want to feel.
The deliberate and focused change of space is the basic keystone to, and the meaning of, Feng Shui.
Basic rules for creating a harmonious home
It is not enough just to find out how the energy is flowing, it is important to know how to use it for reducing the negative impact and replace it with good amounts of positive energy in your living space. When you´ll fill your home with harmony, you´ll start to feel more comfortable, full of energy and zest for life.
The basic goal is to direct the flow of energy (what the Chinese call Qi or Chi) in the space so it will have a positive influence. Chi is the essence of life, the invigorating energy we need for living. The flow of Chi in our home can be seen as a river - if it flows too fast life cannot be sustained and when it stops it creates a stagnant pool.
In nature, it is ideal to have a quietly meandering river which nourishes life both on the banks and inside the water. This kind of energy flow is what we are trying to create in a home with the help of Feng Shui principles.
How do we find out where the energy is flowing, when we cannot see it?
Try to imagine a miniature version of your house or flat. Now try to imagine pouring water into the entrance door. Where would it flow? Would it reach all spaces and rooms evenly or would it swiftly run through a narrow corridor straight to the opposite window or terrace door and run outside? Would it resemble a gently meandering river or create whirlpools in some places whilst creating static swamps elsewhere?
Similarly, this represents the energy flow in your home. The position of your sofa, bed, or stove is influencing you more than you think.
This design or arrangement of your home influences your ability to feel pleasant, relaxed and well-rested or in constant subconscious tension or chronic tiredness.
Now that you understand why our space influences us, you can move to the next lesson. Lesson 2 focusses on the conscious perception of energy in space, and there are practical exercises as well 🙂