Better Health With Feng Shui

Since with Feng Shui, the environment is a metaphor for the body, adjustments to the physical environment can help to better health, both in general and with specific concerns.

As a Feng Shui practitioner, I often run into clients with low energy or depression as a major concern.  The first place I look is in the lighting.  Are there missing bulbs, broken fixtures? Burnt out light bulbs?  Is the lighting dark and dingy?  The quickest way to raise energy or chi is to increase the number of lamps,  open the drapes or mini blinds, and increase the wattage of current lights.

Common dark areas are hallways, laundry rooms, garages—and teenage rooms.  All benefit from an increase in wattage or additional lighting.  Since teenagers are especially prone to dark thoughts and depression, it can really help to keep the lighting bright—and ban the black lights or blackout curtains—fight this battle!

For general health, it is important to make sure that all appliances work and electrical and plumbing systems are in working order.  Since the electrical system is the "blood" of the house, frayed wires, shorts, overloaded sockets can impact the healthy blood flow as well as the lymphatic system.  Problems with the immune system can be linked to clogged toilets, drains, and leaking faucets.

In Feng Shui, heart disease and some circulatory illnesses are directly linked to pathways in the home—like hallways, doors, staircases.  Since the front door is the "mouth of chi"—the entrance of opportunity and energy into the home—it is critical that clutter and junk be removed.  Make sure the door (all doors!) are able to open fully; windows aren’t blocked with furniture and junk; and hallways aren’t blocked with packages, junk, or protruding furniture that stop the chi from circulating easily.

A special word about stairways—keep them clutter free and make sure you have pictures on the wall and possibly plants or a faceted crystal over the last step to stop the energy from moving too quickly.

Spiral staircases, especially those with open steps without solid support, are a classic Feng Shui disaster.  It is best to avoid buying homes with this feature.  A possible cure is to add a faceted crystal on a red string in 9 inch increments at the top (or add a crystal chandelier if your budget allows it).  Plants at the bottom help, possibly with leaves winding around the handrail to ground the stairs.  Spiral stairs are a complex issue and require more intense intervention.