Feng Shui At
Home
by Terah Kathryn
Collins
"In the end, all that really
matters is that we approach wherever we live with full attention and an open
heart ... a bouquet of flowers, a song, the smell of freshly baked bread, an
affectionate embrace, such things can trans- form any place into a happy,
heartwarming abode."
- Thomas Bender
Feng Shui focuses on enhancing the
harmony and vitality of your environment. Surrounding yourself with things that
lift your spirits and deepen your love for life is a primary goal. So romance
your home -- and yourself -- by living with things that enhance the
Ch'i.
Surround yourself with only those
items that pass the "I love this!" test. Some people like to fill a room with
big plants and bright fabrics, while others prefer a single floral arrangement
and muted colors. One couple actually chose a large model of the USS Enterprise
to enhance their Wealth and Prosperity area, since Star Trek made them
feel rich and powerful. This was a creative choice that I would never have
imagined, but it worked for them!
Ch'i is always enhanced by your
joy, inspiration, and creativity. Feng Shui invites you to pour your
individuality into your home -- room by room -- in exactly the way you find most
appealing.
Art
The colors and images in your art
reflect aspects of yourself that can build you up or tear you down. Ideally,
your artwork elicits positive feelings and acts as an environmental affirmation
throughout your home. Art depicting violent, emotionally upsetting, contorted,
or dead subject matter is not recommended.
I often see a certain phenomenon I
call Therapy Art. This is art that reflects a person's inner journey at a
particular time, often long since past. In one case, I worked with a woman who
had collected several pen-and-ink drawings by one artist. Each drawing was of a
naked woman in a compromised position. In one of the pieces, the woman was being
auctioned off from a slave block. In another, she was the only naked person in a
large crowd. When I asked my client how she felt about her art, she said she had
collected it while she was in therapy ten years ago. They had symbolized her
healing journey, one she was now completing. She realized that the drawings kept
her visually anchored to her past pain, and that it was time to let them go.
When she did, she noticed that her whole self-image improved.
Letting go of the past
Therapy Art is not necessarily
bad, but like medicine, it serves its purpose and then is no longer needed. To
continue to take it is unnecessary and often detrimental. Give yourself
permission to let go of any art that you don't like, or that drags you back to a
place you'd rather leave behind. Your art should be an accurate reflection of
your inspired self -- a window into an uplifting, heavenly
experience.
Frequently, clients have art that
they've never liked, but because it's something that's been in the family for
years, they feel obliged to live with it. There's a prime example of this in my
own family. My mother has a large portrait of a great-aunt hanging over the
mantel in the living room. The aunt's expression is stern, and her eyes appear
to stare at people no matter where they sit. Throughout my childhood, we never
used that room, and I believe it's because of the unsettling portrait. When I
asked my mother if she liked this painting, her answer was an immediate no, but
she had tolerated it over the years because it was an heirloom. Generations had
suffered under my old aunt's glower. My mother added that she was planning on
giving it to me! I told her I'd be happy to donate it to a historic home, where
visitors could enjoy those eyes for a brief moment or two, then move on. If you
have an heirloom you don't like or want, it's time to let it go -- to a family
member who does want it, an antique dealer, or a charity. Reminders of the past
are only good when they take you to a place you want to go.
Your art can also be matched with
the function of the room and the Bagua Map, to create a dynamic Ch'i
enhancement. This kind of "layering" doubly encourages and supports specific
aspects of your life. For instance, when your Health and Family area is in your
living room, choose art that represents health and vitality to you, and is also
appropriate for your living room area. If your Health and Family area happens to
fall in your bedroom, you may pick an entirely different piece, as in the figure
below.
Spiritual art
that is meaningful to you is also a potent way to attract and uplift Ch'i. This
includes images of angels, saints, great teachers, gods, goddesses, and mystics.
A hand-painted Tibetan mandala is located in the Career area of a couple's
living room, reminding them to remain purposeful in their work. Here again, the
key is to choose symbols that have personal, inspirational meaning for you.
Place spiritual art in any Bagua area where you seek improvement.
Your creativity and artistry
should be an integral part of your home. Whether it's watercolors, photographs,
ceramics, weavings, or collages, any art that you or your family have made and
are proud of is powerful. Surround yourself with it, and feel the energy that
flows through your home as a result. Original art, touched directly by the
artist's hand, also carries a concentrated amount of Ch'i. When you buy local
artists' works, you are benefiting from their creativity while supporting your
community. Although only a few of us can afford the original art of the great
masters, most of us can afford the creative works of our local
artists.
Take a few moments to look into
the art you have collected. What part of you does each piece represent? Do
you like what you see? If not, make it a priority to let it go and replace it
with art that you really love. Your art, like everything else that surrounds
you, is meant to lift and nurture you on a daily basis. Enjoy collecting art
that reflects your goals and dreams. Express yourself, and relish the process of
creating a home that is, in itself, an "original".
 This article was excerpted
from
The Western Guide to Feng Shui - Room by
Room by Terah Kathryn Collins.
Excerpted with permission from the publisher. Published by Hay House. www.hayhouse.com
Info/Order this book
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About The
Author
Terah Kathryn Collins is an
internationally recognized Feng Shui consultant, speaker, teacher, and the
bestselling author of The Western Guide to Feng Shui and Home Design
with Feng Shui A-Z. She is the founder of the Western School of Feng Shui,
which offers Essential Feng Shui Practitioner Training programs, as well as
one-day workshops, consultations services, a speakers' bureau, and related
products. For more information on this author visit the Hay House website at www.hayhouse.com or the author's own
website at www.wsfs.com
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