musicMagpie Blog

Creating a relaxing space in your home is key for your peace and wellbeing. We caught up with Jan Cisek of Feng Shui London to learn more about the benefits of feng shui and how to bring it into your home effectively. With a Master's degree in Environmental Psychology, Jan adds western science to this ancient eastern art.

"Feng shui is the Chinese art of placement that studies the relationship between people and their environments. It is related to environmental psychology, which studies concepts such as comfort, productivity, ergonomics, and environmental stresses."

---

Why do people choose to feng shui their homes?

Feng shui suggests that homes can influence people's behaviour. People (especially women) are sensitive to the power of feng shui and how it can improve their health, wealth, happiness, family life and success. We invest so much time, energy and effort into our homes, which shows that we instinctively know the impact our home environment can have on our personal and professional lives.

---

Where do we start?

First of all, de-clutter your home to create more space in each room. Your home should reflect your lifestyle, interests and personality. For example, if you'd like to travel more, hang up maps of places you'd like to visit, or places you've visited to make you feel good about those times. Any positive images, painting, statues, objects or photos of family and friends will make you feel happy.

---

Which room benefits the most from feng shui?

Our bedrooms are the most important rooms in our homes, since they are our place of refuge and represent havens of safety and comfort as well as rest and rejuvenation.

"¢ Position your bed in the power position (against the wall with a view of the door) to feel a sense of security
"¢ Make sure you have a solid headboard to offer extra support
"¢ Choose a wooden bed frame with a foam mattress "" Mattresses with metal springs and metal bed frames will amplify electromagnetic pollution
"¢ Remove electrical gadgets from around your bed as they produce unwanted electro-smog

It is important to avoid geopathic stress (Earth's negative energies). If you suspect that you may have geopathic stress or lots of electromagnetic radiation, get Helios3 – a device which will harmonise your bedroom. If you don't have much energy in the morning, you can try another device – Pimat – which will boost your sleep.

---

What are the most important elements of feng shui to consider?

Feng shui is mostly concerned with how to boost the energy of a place but anything can improve your environment, so add these feng shui essentials to your home:

"¢ Mirrors. Put them in a place where they would visually expand space and ideally reflect something nice, such as a scenic outdoor view
"¢ Cushions. They bring a sense of safety into the home so add as many as you can (without cluttering) to your living space. Wool cushions are the most beneficial as they create feelings of warmth and comfort
"¢ Colour. Feng shui is a great advocate of using colour to enhance your home. Homes should be decorated in predominantly light and warm colours to create a good yin and yang balance
"¢ Curved shapes. Make sure that your home has lots of flowing lines and objects that are round or oval as they are much more relaxing than angular shapes

---

What are the health benefits of Feng Shui?

The main benefits of feng shui are more energy and better physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health. Research from feng shui and environmental psychology suggests that when your home works for you (instead of against you) you will feel energised, healthy and happy. You will sleep better and be more productive and enthusiastic. Winston Churchill summarised it neatly:

"We shape our buildings, thereafter they shape us."

So once your spring clean is completed, it's time to feng shui your home.

Image credit: wonderleywoodworks on Flickr, via Creative Commons License