What is Feng Shui: What does it mean and why do we need it?
If you are new to Feng shui, or you have heard the word and it has made you curious, you are going to want to read this! Find out what Feng Shui means, how you can apply it, and how it can help you, right here ✨
If you have ever walked into a room and have felt calm and at ease, or walked into a space and felt uncomfortable, you have already experienced Feng Shui even if you didn’t know it.
But what is Feng Shui and how does it really work?
Let me break it down for you.
What is Feng Shui?
Feng Shui (pronounced “Fung Shway”) is an ancient Chinese system of design that focuses on how your environment affects your energy, your mood, and life outcomes.
It translates to:
Feng = Wind
Shui = Water
These are the two natural forces that represent the flow of fortune.
At it’s core, Feng Shui is about rearranging your home so that energy, known as Chi, can move smoothly throughout your space and support your life.
It is environmental psychology backed with strong intentions.
The core principles of Feng Shui
These are the foundations that every beginner should understand:
Energy (Chi)
Everything carries energy. That includes every single thing in your home. Clutter blocks Chi, light, order, and balance improve it.
2. The Bagua map
The Bagua map helps you achieve this order by splitting your home into 9 key sections. Each section is connected to an area of life. You place it over your home’s floor plan to find your areas.
These areas are:
Wealth and prosperity
Love and relationships
Career and work success
Knowledge and Self
Travel and Helpful people
Fame and Reputation
Creativity and Children
Health and wellbeing
Family and new beginnings
Each area is connected to specific elements, colors, and decor.
3. The 5 elements
Feng Shui works with 5 natural elements.
Wood (growth)
Fire (passion)
Earth (stability)
Metal (clarity)
Water (flow)
The goal, in Feng Shui, is a natural balance.
4. The command position
This is one of the most powerful concepts.
Your bed, your desk, and stove, should be where you can see the door, without being directly inline with it.
This is because subconsciously, seeing the entrance makes you feel safe and in control. Having your back to it can create feelings of anxiety and not being able to see things coming.
Is Feng Shui religious?
No. I have had so many people ask me this!
Feng Shui originated in ancient China, but it is not tied to any religion. It is a design philosophy, that observes how your environment affects your wellbeing.
Modern Feng Shui blends:
Interior design
Spatial awareness
Energy flow
Psychology
Anyone can practice it, it doesn’t matter what religion you follow.
Does Feng Shui really work?
I would be lying if i told you that simply moving things in your home will transform your luck tomorrow. Feng Shui will also not magically drop money onto your lap because you bought a gold frog statue.
It works because:
Your environment affects your behavior.
Your behavior affects your results.
Your nervous system responds to what it sees and what it feels.
Clutter increases stress hormones.
Light increases mood.
Organization increases productivity.
So this means that if your bedroom feels chaotic, you will have bad sleep. Bad sleep has a negative effect on health, resulting in health issues.
Similarly, if your desk isn’t in the command position, your creativity and productivity is compromised, resulting in poor work that affects your income.
This is energy is motion.
Feng Shui works by aligning your home with your goals.
The science behind it (for my practical readers ❤️)
Research in environmental psychology shows:
Clutter raises cortisol levels.
Natural light improves focus and happiness.
Organized spaces increase motivation.
Visual symbolism influences the way we think.
Feng Shui understood this thousands of years ago, just using a different language. In fact, thousands of years ago, it was illegal for common people in China to practice it. It was only used by the rich and successful. But today, we are lucky enough to be able to learn and apply it, and you have me to guide you 🙂
Feng Shui is actually practical when you strip away the superstitions that some experts teach.
Why Feng Shui is so powerful for women
I wanted to include this because i know the majority of my readers are women and i believe Feng Shui can really help.
Many of us are:
Work from home powerhouses.
Raising families and taking care of the home.
Trying to heal generational patterns.
Stressed and overwhelmed.
Trying to build businesses while looking after children.
Hold onto so much emotion, not just ours, but our families.
I want women to know that the home isn’t just a place to sleep, eat, and repeat, it is there to support you.
Simple beginner steps to try today
If you are brand new, start here:
Clear visible clutter one room at a time.
Move your bed and desk into the command position.
Add one living plant for wood energy.
Repair things that are broken.
Set clear intentions about what you want.
What Feng Shui is not
I just want to clear this up!
It is not about filling your home with lucky trinkets
It is not painting your home red for more money and luck.
It is not instant manifestation, it is a tool for manifestation.
It should not make you feel fear, or scared to move things around your home.
If you would like more help, my service, The Goddess home reset, may be perfect for you.
Feng Shui bedroom color guide ✨