Feng Shui and its Role in the Healing Process
When you are sick, be it physical or psychological illness, you typically turn to the medical profession to be “cured”. By whatever means you approach it, either traditional or alternative therapies, there are many other influences that have significant impact on your health that should be explored in addition to your medical treatment.
Your environment, one of those influences, has a powerful effect on you. In Places of the Soul: Architecture and Environmental Design as Healing Art by Christopher Day, AIA, the author explains how humans respond to their environment. “Animals unvaryingly respond to environmental stimuli, whereas humans have the ability transcend the situation. To rise above the level of automatic reaction requires, however, that we consciously direct our lives.” Living consciously is what humans aspire to, although we are not very good at it. We tend to live our lives unconsciously, reactively and therefore, stressed. Architecture has a profound subliminal, albeit unconscious, effect on us.
A principle of Feng Shui is that what is inside of us is expressed in our surroundings. For example, if you are stressed, lack clarity, energy, and motivation, you will probably have a home that is filled with clutter. After months of psychotherapy, you may gain some understanding and strength, however, you would be much better-supported with an environment that is calming and welcoming. Stepping over piles of belongings while trying to get to the front door certainly isn’t going to help you feel any better. A therapist-colleague of mine who is now practicing Feng Shui said that he was amazed at how simple psychotherapy would be if only the therapist was able to visit their clients’ homes!
Of course, stress, when unchecked, can lead to many physical ailments. You may ignore the migraine headaches, back aches, and insomnia until you develop a tumor or have a heart attack. Once under the care of a traditional or alternative doctor, you can consider bringing in a Feng Shui consultant who specializes in health concerns to create a more nurturing environment for recuperation.
By bringing in the five elements in Feng Shui (water, wood, fire, earth and metal), you connect to nature’s powerful influence. For instance, a water fountain in your family room will do wonders to provide a nurturing atmosphere through sound and the production of negative ions, known to provide uplifting energy. Avoid rushing chi, by placing a rug in a long narrow hallway, helps keep you in the flow of positive energy.
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Maureen K. Calamia is a Feng Shui Consultant and Teacher and is the author of ‘Luminous Spaces’, her FREE monthly ezine filled with great Feng Shui and Green Lifestyle tips and articles inspiring and empowering you to live and work in harmonious spaces. Visit http://www.luminous-spaces.com to learn more.
