In just about every workshop and lecture that I do, I ask the participants if they use their front door. Typically half of the audience raises their hands – just half! Does that amaze you? Not me!
The reason for this is due to the architecture of our homes. So many of our suburban homes channel traffic to a side door and enter into the kitchen or mud room. The front door and foyer/living room are saved for guests. This may be convenient – transporting piles of Costco boxes directly into the kitchen – but are we missing out on something?
According to Feng Shui, the front door represents our connection to the world. The world (being everything outside of our house) is yang energy. Yang is the creator, stimulating, energizing, and all possibilities. Our homes are yin. Yin is the receptor, quiet, rejuvinating, and limited possibilities.
The front door is our portal to the yang energy of the cosmos. It connects, or bridges, our inner world to the outer world. For this reason, the front door has tremendous significance in our lives, furthering our careers, community connection, wealth, health and relationships. All opportunities come to us through the front door.
So which door do you use? I know the side door is convenient, but make it your point to use your front door daily; to get the mail, walk the dog, or just open it to let in the sun and the wind to replenish your home.
Sheri says
The front of my house faces the west and there is a highway that runs past our house. We have a 2 story house that we built. There is a front door on bottom and on top.
We have porches that are across the front of the house on the top and the bottom.
We have just a single door on top and on bottom. They look too small. Our house is big. Please advise.
Maureen says
Hi Sheri, I would love to see a photo. You can email me at maureen@luminous-spaces.com. My suggestion would be to add side lights on either side of the front door on the first floor. That will give a better proportion to the front door (there is really only one front door and that is the one accessible to the street.) The roadway is another issue. There sounds like there could be too much “rushing chi” to your home that can contribute to a rather chaotic household. How long have you been there? What is your sense about your lives there?