I went squirreling along this week thinking about why some places just feel good when you walk into them. Something about energy or a visual in some places can center you or knock you clean off balance. Feng shui is the ancient Chinese art of placement, yet many principles are rooted in common sense designs. Feng shui often uses “cures”—called such because they remedy a problem in your home and your life. So today:
Three quick feng shui cures
Inspired by and adapted from 10-Minute Feng Shui by Skye Alexander, 2002 & 2019
These cures are meant to increase, disperse, modulate, or otherwise alter the movement of ch’I through your space. Ch’i is a vital energy that animates all life, and the goal is to direct it through your environment so that its movement resembles a gently flowing stream or a pleasant breeze.
Cure #1: Light
Electric lights are like artificial sunshine. Simply turn on a light and you can “extend” daylight. You can use light, whether it’s electric, candles, or even gas lamps, to control the amount of light you shine into your living and workspace.
Light is one of the most frequently used feng shui cures, as it brings warmth (physically or psychologically) into a cold or dark room. This helps to stimulate or activate sluggish ch’i.
Cure #2: Living Things
Feng shui is, in part, meant to improve our connection with nature. Therefore, bringing nature indoors in the form of plants, fish, birds, and water is common. Living things symbolize growth. Plants also provide an additional benefit by absorbing carbon dioxide in the air, helping us breathe better. Water nurtures all life, so cures involving water—fountains, bird baths, aquariums, etc.—are used symbolically to attract or strengthen the life-giving power of ch’i.
Cure #3: Moving Objects
Moving objects activate and stir up ch’I, preventing it from getting “stuck”. These remedies can be used indoors or out, helping direct the flow of ch’i inward or deflect unwanted energies away. These cures might be something like a mobile, fan, fountain, whirligig, or wind chime.
