By Caroline Kotterer

When most people think of feng shui, their mind associates with architecture and interior design; however, it can be applied to almost any aspect of life.

The literal translation of feng shui is wind and water. The art of feng shui has been around for about 6,000 years, originating in Ancient China. It focuses on the art of balancing different elements to achieve harmony and “qi.” Qi, which is pronounced as ‘chee’, represents life force energy and is a part of the shared principles of feng shui. The overarching goal of feng shui is to allow forces to flow freely and create balance in a space or in life; it is a way in which we view the world in terms of cosmic energy.

There are four other shared principles being: the Bagua, five elements, yin and yang, and orientation. The Bagua is an energy map used to see where energy is distributed in different parts of your life, such as spirituality, creativity, and wealth. There are five different elements which each belong to a specific season:

•  Wood is with Spring

•  Fire is with Summer

• Earth is with Late Summer 

• Metal is with Autumn

• Water is with Winter

All of these elements can be brought into a space during their corresponding season to balance the flow of energy and complement the natural environmental patterns. Yin and yang is one of the most well-known principles, and it regards balance. Yin represents feminine energy being calm and soothing, while yang is the masculine energy made to be vibrant and strong.  It is rare to find equal amounts of yin and yang in every space, but throughout the space as a whole, it should be balanced. The last key element of this art is orientation, which deals with direction and astronomical constellations. This is used to achieve proper placement and orientation of objects in the home along with your personal aesthetic. Altogether, these elements create a harmonious balance with free-flowing Qi.

When trying to incorporate feng shui into your home, it is important to follow a few basic guidelines. 

1. Separate work and rest areas. You don’t want to perform stressful activities in the bedroom as it may disturb the good chi and disturb the energy.

2. Organization is key. Disorganized spaces are a perfect environment for stress to manifest in.

3. Use the Bagua Map wisely. Familiarize yourself with the map in order to achieve the best energy in every room of your home. 

All in all, the goal of feng shui is to achieve balance in your life and your space. With energy also present in our world, we can find ways to manipulate and use it to our advantage for maximum health, wealth, and prosperity.