We all have a vague idea of what feng shui involves but perhaps this only stretches to an idea of rearranging furniture to give us better luck. While this holds some element of truth, the reality is much more complex, as Sam Pope discovers…
What is feng shui?
Feng shui literally means ‘wind, water’ and, as is the case with most Chinese philosophies, it involves balance in the environment in which we live. The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as, “a system of laws considered to govern spatial arrangement and orientation in relation to the flow of energy, and whose effects are taken into account when sitting and designing buildings.” This flow of energy is called ‘chi’ and it sustains everything in life.
That said, it is also very fragile and can become either trapped or
stagnant if conditions are not optimum. However, a feng shui practitioner
can help to redress the balance to make living conditions more conducive
to better well-being, as Kathryn Weber, feng shui consultant and publisher,
explains. “Feng shui proposes that, by arranging and aligning the room
correctly, energy will flow better in the room and that all who reside
in the room will flourish and prosper better than if the energy is the
room was not harmonious.”
Feng shui consultants are trained in recognising where chi might be
trapped or stagnant in buildings and use this knowledge to recommend ways
in which it can be released, beginning at the very simplest level by rearranging
furniture, adding or removing objects from a room and giving advice on
colour schemes and other décor. Significant further changes follow from
identification of electromagnetic fields, geopathic stress and other environmental
risks. Improvement continues by setting the whole property harmoniously
in its garden or landscape through design that collects and enhances natural
energy.
If this all sounds a bit airy-fairy to you, it may interest or surprise you to know that brainiac Carol Vorderman endorsed feng shui in one of her regular columns in the Mirror – and not for financial remuneration either. (The question is where to put those vowels and consonants for
optimum chance of success…) to feng shui is that, whereas we adults are influenced by the feng shui whilst we’re in it, and mostly leave the effects behind soon after we move, children gradually incorporate the influences into their make-up, taking it with them when they move.” This, therefore, helps to form their profile and, accordingly, can have a huge impact on their health, wealth and lifestyle in later years.
Raymond Catchpole, chairman of The Feng Shui Society, agrees, adding, ”Feng shui facilitates holistic development of all individuals and it is valuable that these influences should be appreciated in youth when the child is receptive and developing. Good fortune and increase energy will accompany proper implementation.”
Kathryn also adds, “To maximise the energy in baby’s room, there are several important factors to consider, such as room location, safety, colours, and furniture arrangement. These make up the foundation of good feng shui in the nursery. Plus, using feng shui will help to make babies less fussy, make them feel more comfortable in their surroundings, and
will promote their health and well-being.”
Coo-chi-coo! Nursery basics
Creating perfect feng shui will depend on each individual’s living space
so to make sure you get it absolutely right, you’d probably need the help
of an expert. However, there are some basics to bear in mind when designing
(or redecorating) a nursery.
The first is to do with timing. The Chinese are very superstitious and
therefore believe it’s best to leave decorating the nursery until the
last few weeks leading up to the birth – so mischievous spirits are not
tempted to do damage to the baby. However, we don’t think that leaving
the heavy-duty decorating is the best idea for a heavily pregnant woman!
Maybe it’s best to sit in a comfortable chair and give instructions to
your partner…
The very basic principles for a harmonious nursery space include the
following points.
Position of room within the house
Ideally, a child’s room should be in the middle, or the ‘bosom’ of the
house, as Raymond calls it, to induce feelings of security in the child.
Kathryn also advises, “A new baby should have a bedroom that is not over
a garage or has an empty space below. The bedroom also shouldn’t be located
where there is excessive noise that might keep the baby from sleeping,
such as close to a living room where the TV is on or close to a noisy
street or neighbour.”
Position of the cot/crib
Position your child so his or her feet are not pointing straight out
of the doorway and avoid placing their beds or cots underneath beams and
overhead cupboards. Ideally, the crib or Moses Basket should be protected
on two sides by walls. Kathryn offers the following tips.
“Whenever you enter a bedroom, the bed is placed in the proper position
for an adult: you’d expect to see the head of the bed against the furthest
wall. This is a command-type of position. However, so many people put
cribs in odd ways. Cribs are lined up with the door (for the parent’s
convenience) which is disastrous in feng shui as this attracts harsh energy,
or they are placed along side a wall, but rarely, if ever, is a crib placed
like it should be: with the head against the wall.”
Tom Coxon has seen at first hand how placing a cot or crib correctly
can make the world of difference. “Babies can be very sensitive to energy
and move to the good chi. I was once asked why one baby always curled
up under the covers at the bottom of the cot, no matter how often her
parents tried to move her to the pillow end. When I worked out the feng
shui of that room, the answer became apparent: the top of the cot was
in harmful energy and the bottom was in beneficial energy. The baby knew
instinctively which position provided the good energy to sleep.”
Choosing appropriate colours
Some experts advise that babies’ rooms should be in soft ‘yin’ colours
- pastels such as blues and greens, peach and light buttercup – as these
induce serenity and rest. Primary colours are not ideal as they can be
quite stimulating and, therefore, not restful in a sleeping place, as
Annabel Treacher told us, “My newborn son was unsettled the moment he
moved into his nursery. We had painted it bright green, with little monsters
and animals everywhere – what we thought was a typical boy’s bedroom and
would inspire his creativity! Unfortunately, every time we laid him in
there, he would fuss and it would take ages for him to fall asleep, especially
when he woke in the night. Our feng shui consultant advised us to make
the room less ‘busy’ in terms of design and to paint the walls a softer
green. As soon as we had done this, we noticed a real improvement in Noah’s
sleeping and behaviour.”
However, older children can benefit from stronger colours, as Raymond
explains, “Colours in the room should be specifically advised by a feng
shui expert to suit the personal development of the child. However, for
overall stimulation and creativity, the bedroom should have some representation
of the primary elemental colours of Water, Tree, Fire, Earth and Metal,
which will bring specific benefits to the child if enhanced properly.”
Clutter vs clean spaces
Keeping clutter to a minimum is common sense if nothing else. In feng
shui, the argument against clutter is the same as in any other way of
thinking. “Clutter is the first and most important rule of feng shui -
get rid of it. Now!” urges Raymond Catchpole. “Clutter makes it difficult
for the child to think and see clearly. Encourage the child to give away
and pass on things to others. Make this a regular, fun process. In feng
shui, something has to go before something new can enter.” The additional
benefit of this is that it teaches your child to give to others, so it’s
character-building stuff all round!
Dawn Redcoat found de-cluttering her daughter Claire’s room a lifesaver.
“We had taken all her toys upstairs and they ended up scattered all over
the floor of her bedroom. Each night, she would leap out of bed and play
with them as soon as we had left her room and her sleep patterns went
out the window. Just by investing in some cheap storage boxes, and making
sure her toys were put away from sight for the day, helped her wind down
and sleep well.”
Delightful decorations
It’s nice to personalise a room and carefully selected items can do this.
Framed family pictures are ideal as they provide security and happiness.
A green plant is essential as it cleans the atmosphere – but make sure
it is out of reach of little hands! Lighting should be soft and keep electrical
goods to a minimum to reduce the amount of electromagnetic radiation.
Curtains are apparently better than blinds too, and often white is the
preferred colour, although this may lead to early mornings in the summer!
Decorations can also help with the movement of chi, as Kathryn explains,
“A room that is too still becomes stagnant and this is not beneficial
for the growth of the child. To create good but soft energy and movement,
hang mobiles close to a window to move gently in the breeze and keep soft
music playing in the room. You can also place a small fan on a dresser
turned on low to keep air moving in the room. Avoid placing the baby under
a ceiling fan as these disrupt their body energy.”
Our thanks to the following people for their help with this article:
Raymond Catchpole, chairman of The Feng Shui Society www.fengshuisociety.org.uk
Tom Coxon, Feng Shui consultant www.fengshui-consultants.co.uk Kathryn Weber,
feng shui consultant and publisher of The Red Lotus Letter Feng Shui E-Zine:
www.redlotusletter.com
