Feng Shui For Beginners

Feng shui may be a complex practice but if you start with its simplest form, you will still reap its benefits in the long run. The first and most basic thing you need to understand is that feng shui concerns the balance and harmony of natural energies in our surroundings. Following simple steps to achieve this goal can help make our home a sacred and comfortable place for our families. 

Feng shui entails the positioning of homes and buildings as well as furniture and accessories to achieve a smooth flow of energy or the so-called ?chi.? Be careful though where you get your information on such practice to be sure you are following the right step. 

In the book, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Feng Shui, authors Elizabeth Moran and Val Biktashev say beginners to this ancient Chinese practice only need their brain, integrity, a compass, a good pair of walking shoes, a clipboard, a tape measure, a ruler and colored pencils. Others recommend hanging crystals, animal statues, mirrors and wind chimes. But then again, you don't really need to spend much if you don't feel the need to. 

In practicing feng shui, one important thing you must keep in mind is to avoid clutter in your home. Clutter represents stuck energy. Remember, too, that your surroundings reflect your inner self so taking away clutter can surely bring positive change into your life. 

Stuck energy is mainly caused by three factors: physical grime such as dirt, dust and grease; predecessor energy or energy left by previous occupants in your home or office; and clutter which hinders the smooth flow of energy resulting in depression and procrastination. 

Clutter, meanwhile, refers to things you no longer use (old magazines, keepsakes), things that are scattered or disorganized, too many things in a crowded area or any thing that is not finished. Before you start clearing your clutter, you should make a list of specific areas in your home. Begin with the small spaces and finish clearing them on the same day, if possible. You may start with your drawers, closets desks, cars or dressing tables. Tidy and organize the things stored in those areas. Donate your old clothes and buy new ones that fit you well. 

In the succeeding days, move to the bigger rooms like the bedroom, kitchen, living room and dining room. The major rooms should be made inviting, a place where you and your family as well as guests can feel comfortable. Space is key to a sacred self and home because it attracts positive things to our life. 

It is also great to perform a simple ceremony when putting feng shui accessories such as mirrors and wind chimes, according to William Spear, author of "Feng Shui Made Easy." A ceremony is just the time you take to focus on what you are doing. Spear recommends lighting a candle and spending a short quiet time or burning incense or a sage smudge stick and spreading the smoke around the room. Or you may simply close your eyes and say a little prayer to guardian spirits for positive things to come into your life.