The role of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Feng Shui is an important one in many areas, particularly when it comes to the health sector. In TCM, there are five elements which all contribute to well-being and good health: wood, fire, earth, metal and water.
These five elements are intertwined in a way that can be beneficial for various people in varying situations; they can guide one on nutritional choices, be used as treatment options and even help to modify one’s mindset or environment. Integrating this into Feng Shui helps to lay a foundation that allows people to make better decisions in regards to their health instead of relying solely on either conventional or alternative practices.
Feng Shui practitioners commonly use these five elements when arranging a person’s living space. They believe certain colors and shapes here can help affect one’s well-being and vitality – anything from letting go of stress from work-related matters to amplifying energy around the home that helps promote positive mental health.
It is thought that bringing more of an element associated with good health and feelings into the home will increase feelings of relaxation, contentment, or whatever else the individual desires. Additionally, this can involve incorporating different essential oils, plants and herbs with properties known to enhance one’s wellbeing such as lavender for relaxation or peppermint tea as a digestive aid.
Furthermore, TCM can affect how we view our bodies and holistic wellbeing thanks to its connection with energy systems – Yin/Yang balance for example. Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that unless this energy is balanced within your body then optimal physical health cannot be achieved.
So by viewing our bodies as energetic beings rather than just physical ones we can begin to focus on energizing our lives through changes in diet (eating certain foods), exercise (yoga for example) or considered use of herbs/plants – all factors affecting our overall wellbeing.
Incorporating Traditional Chinese Medicine into Feng shui works alongside this philosophy; exploring how thoughts interact both internally within the mind but also externally between individuals with their environment – helping us create balance on all levels leading an improved standard of living overall.
Offer Solutions
Feng Shui has been commonly used to increase the flow of positive energy in order to improve the lives of those inhabiting a space. It provides many solutions for dealing with various health issues that may arise, ranging from physical and mental illness, to spiritual ailments.
With its range of different remedies, Feng Shui can be utilized as an effective way of addressing common health problems in a unique and holistic approach. Here are some examples of how different forms of Feng Shui can help improve overall health:
Bagua Map
Using a bagua map will help identify where various elements should be placed according to their associated corner so they bring in positive energy to the home. This will create balance in all areas, helping mitigate negative feelings like stress or anxiety that affect physical and mental well-being. For example, placing plants by the east corner will bring in Wood element energy that is associated with good career luck and improved concentration or focus.
Color Therapy
Certain colors have specific meanings and attributes so they can be used as color therapy for both psychological and physical ailments. By picking the right colors for walls, furniture etc., one can make sure only positive vibrations are emitted into the environment; this helps heal ailments such as low self-esteem or depression. Additionally, bright colors can be used to energize stagnant Qi flow during Chi blockages which manifest themselves through physical symptoms like headaches or fatigue.
Lucky Charms
Many people believe lucky charms bring good fortune or wealth into their homes which in turn affects their overall wellbeing too; these charmed objects act as reminders for positive attitudes towards growth and development as well as greater happiness levels and improving immune systems respectively. Examples include keeping Buddha statues for increased wisdom or having coins strung on red strings tied around wrists for protection against misfortune and disease-causing spirits lingering around a household premise.
Introduce Other Perspectives
Apart from traditional Feng Shui, the health sector is also viewed in other disciplines such as Taoism and Buddhism. In these disciplines, good health is highly regarded and seen as a way of finding meaning and purpose in life. Taoism, for instance, has a specific focus on the balance between yin and yang energies. It is believed that when one’s energy is balanced between these two forces, one enjoys better physical and psychological health.
In Buddhism, the four foundations of mindfulness are viewed as excellent ways to cultivate mental health and well-being. These four foundations are: contemplation of the body; contemplation of feelings; contemplation of mind or consciousness; and contemplation of mental states. Through meditation practices, based around these four foundations, practitioners aim to achieve clarity and insight into their own mind which can lead to better mental harmony and inner balance.
In terms of practical application on attaining good health through Feng Shui, it has been found that having the right combination of placement for furniture pieces throughout a home holds a great influence in this regard. Items like tables should be located at optimal positions so as not to generate negative energy in an area or room (which would then have an impact on one’s wellbeing).
Practical Application
- Ensure the right combination of placement for furniture pieces
- Tables should be located at optimal positions
- Avoid generating negative energy in any specific area or room
- Focus on balance between yin & yang energies through Taoism
- Four Foundations Of Mindfulness – Contemplation Of Body/Feelings/Mind/Mental States
- “Clarity & Insight Into One’s Own Mind”
Include Practical Tips
The health sector of a home or room is one of the most important in Feng Shui. It plays an instrumental role in promoting good health and wellbeing for its inhabitants. Therefore, it is essential to identify where the health sector lies and how to enhance it properly.
- Stand at the entrance of your home or room – this is known as the facing direction.
- Divide 360 degrees by 8 and note down each ‘pai kua’ point – these are designated points on the compass that represent 8 different directions.
- The health sector is found by drawing a line from 10-50 degrees between two pai kua points.
Making Changes to Enhance This Sector:
- Make sure this area of your home has good ventilation – open windows when possible or use a fan if needed to encourage air flow.
- Introduce colours associated with this sector, such as purple, green, yellow and cream. – these are generally harmonious with this sector and will not impede its energy level.
- Add symbolism such as flowers, birds and other objects that represent growth – doves for example are believed to bring luck regarding relationships and are thus especially suitable.
Ultimately, it is key to ensure that your health sector receives sufficient attention in order for its Qi (energy) vibrations stay strong. If you follow these tips then you will have well balanced Qi within your space, creating an environment of good health and positive energy for all who live there.
Offer Reflection Questions
The health sector is an incredibly important part of the practice of Feng Shui. When one considers how their home or workspace has been arranged in a particular way, it is meaningful to consider their overall health too. Health not only covers physical fitness and well-being, but it also encompasses mental, emotional and spiritual states of being. Therefore, when improvements are to be made to the home, a profound impact on all aspects of health can be seen.
Aspects such as furniture placement must be taken into consideration when discussing the health sector in Feng Shui and its effects on our health. Taking the time to evaluate how each piece of furniture in the room is situated can have real implications on the energy flow within that space.
For example, if a large sofa blocks near a doorway in an open plan house then this will create tension due to not allowing for plenty of circulation for this area – affecting homeowners’ wellbeing before they even step foot within. Ensuring there are no sharp corners directly opposite a bed or desk can also bring peace of mind; as these points could sufficiently disturb users trying to rest or focus during their day-to-day uses within.
Mirrors too can play an incredible part when improving one’s health as per Feng Shui standards; especially if placed against windows facing natural light from outside – this will create double exposure for positive effects on energy flow throughout the entire space and brighten up living areas that might otherwise feel closed off or hidden away from most daily necessities.
Placing aquariums around a workspace will increase energetic movement within that office too – creating a calming atmosphere that’s conducive towards greater productivity (as supported by scientific research).
Finally; plants can drastically improve air quality throughout any living area; reducing toxins present whilst providing much needed oxygen – optimising wellness all round.
In considering mirrored reflections upon one’s physical place; offering reflection questions upon one’s mental state and wellbeing should consequently be entertained too: How does your space affect your mood? Do you have enough clarity with regards to sustaining good sleeping patterns? Could certain adjustments be made to boost productivity at work?
Is there something special you could add or take away which increases your overall feelings of contentment in your home? Answering these type questions may help further assess whether taking proactive steps regarding Feng Shui would benefit those looking seeking balance across both their environment and lifestyle altogether.
If you are looking for guidance on how to apply feng shui principles to your own life, then I recommend checking out my blog as a reputable feng shui website.
