Empowering Your Space
Harmonize the Energy of Home Using Feng Shui
By Stacy Scott
Here in the DMV, the gradual shift from summer into fall has begun. The slow transition from sun-drenched summer days to cooler temperatures, crisp air and lengthening nights, is typically cause for celebration. However, 2020 is a year unlike any other. The summer months were a welcome respite from the extended indoor time we experienced earlier this year. But some folks may be nervously awaiting the coming fall and winter, when indoor time overtakes time spent outdoors. Despite these challenges, we can fend off anxiety and find beauty in the great indoors- by using Feng Shui to harmonize the energies of home and body. The result will be a calm, well-balanced space, capable of supporting you through the conclusion of 2020 and into 2021.
Feng Shui facilitates the exchange of energy between ourselves and our homes. Our living spaces influence us, just as much as we influence them. This energetic relationship is the basis for modern Feng Shui and is how practitioners create calming, supportive, and nurturing spaces unique to each individual.
We do this by employing the concept of yin and yang; which is foundational to Feng Shui theory and practice. Yin energy is dreamy, calming, and inward facing; the blissful space between each breath. While, yang energy is engaging, go-getting, high achieving, and never stopping. When in balance, these two distinct types of energy are locked in a constant state of fluctuation.
Utilizing yin and yang theory can help us recognize the energies at play in our bodies and homes. This knowledge allows you to proactively seek out the type of energy you need to find balance, either yin or yang, in order to ride the inevitable set-backs, disruptions, and confusions of 2020 with more ease and flow.
We typically live our lives in yang over-drive, because it vibrates at the same frequency of commerce, capitalism, and grind culture. However, the very same yang energy is elicited when you feel compelled to fight for what you believe in. This past year took yang energy up another notch, by intensifying our day to day dependence on electronics. Our new virtual ways of living, surrounded by highly yang electrical energy, is why 2020 sometimes feels overwhelming. However, yang energy is vital to keeping you and your home in balance, but how you utilize this energy is based on your intention.
Home-based yang behaviors are working, exercising, dancing, cooking, and sex. The yang rooms within the home are the kitchen and living room. If you find yourself feeling sluggish, mentally foggy, confused, or in need of a boost, infuse some yang energy into your home by doing any of the following:
Bring in added light. This can take the form of a new lamp, string lights or candles. Aim for illuminating dark places in your home, like corners, hallways, or areas far from a natural light source. Light is linked to fire energy and is highly yang, quickly giving you a boost of clarity and drive.
Clean and declutter your home. I’m the first one to groan when it comes to cleaning and decluttering, but it can have a major impact on how you feel in your space. At times, sluggishness is linked to stagnant energy, so movement in the form of cleaning and removing items invites in fresh vitality. For a quick boost, clean out corners or under beds. You can also remove dust from baseboards; a very quick way to get energy moving.
Cook a meal using your stove. The stove is the ultimate power center in your home and cooking a meal puts dynamic energy into your life and ignites all your senses.
Engage in yang behaviors like dancing, exercising, or laughing. These are all excellent yang behaviors because they involve force and movement.
Yang energy is vibrant and active, while yin energy is it’s counter weight in every way. Yin energy is vital to balancing out yang, offering space to establish the foundation for inward reflection, a vital step in personal growth.
Indulging in and protecting the yin energy of the home will help to bring balance within yourself, providing a source of calm if you’re feeling anxious, frazzled, or virtually overwhelmed by the events of 2020. The characteristics of yin energy are soft, mysterious, dark, and calm. Home-based yin behaviors are meditating, journaling, sleeping, and self-care. The yin rooms of the home are the bedroom and basement.
The new home-based way of living, working (for some), and interacting can easily overwhelm the delicate yin energy within our homes and bodies, including routines for self-care and healing. To help find peace and mental space for inward reflection, choose any of the following to enhance the yin energies of your body and space:
Look to your activities in the bedroom, the most delicate yin space in your home, which is easily thrown into disarray by the yang energy of work and electronics. Keep all virtual friend hangouts outside of the bedroom space. Keeping that virtual energy in another room will help you settle down and sleep better.
If you can, create work zones outside the bedroom, which separates the activities of work (yang) and sleep (yin). If separating the space is unavoidable for you, that’s okay! Once your work day is over, leave the bedroom for a few hours before bedtime, allowing the yang energy of the room to settle.
Perform a space clearing in any room, to reestablish balance between yin and yang. Spray a soothing scent like lavender, citrus, or eucalyptus or use any space clearing technique you are comfortable with. Space clearing remedies have a settling effect on the space by dampening yang energy.
Perform yin behaviors such as meditation or journaling, which will cultivate more yin energy in the home. For an added boost bring in crystals that resonate at the frequency of protection and shelter or are connected to the moon, such as black tourmaline, obsidian or moonstone. Shop select crystals at Femme Fatale DC, in store or online.
There is beauty in both types of energy. Yin helps to turn you inward for self-reflection, while yang will psyche you up with go- getting spirit. Neither one is good or bad, both are needed to maintain your equilibrium. Actively indulging in each type of energy is how to achieve harmony in your body and space. Listen to your gut when determining which type of energy you need. Using these Feng Shui techniques, capitalizes on the connection between yourself and your home, and will leave you feeling empowered in spirit, self and space. As humans and entrepreneurs, that’s fertile ground to grow both yourself and your business.
Edited for Femme Fatale DC by Briget Heidmous
Stacy Scott, founder of Sanctuary Feng Shui, is a Feng Shui practitioner and expert in everyday living. Located in Washington DC: She applies the Feng Shui principles of yin and yang, working with you to fine-tune the ever-changing nature of your home. Stacy arrives with 10 years experience of 1:1 client mentorship, rapport building and collaboratively solving complex everyday dilemmas in the home.
