HOME & GARDEN CONSUMER GUIDE
Feng Shui Helps Achieve Well-Being
A few simple changes in your home can revitalize your spirit
(ARA) - You've probably heard of feng shui, the ancient Chinese art that says the way your home is arranged can affect your life energy and well-being. According to feng shui principles, different areas of your home affect different areas of your life. The bagua, a feng shui map, divides your home into nine sections called guas.
Perhaps no gua is more important than the health gua, which is located in the center, or heart, of your home. It is the only gua that touches the other eight on the bagua, meaning it influences every other part of your life.
If you're looking to improve your health gua, there are a few simple steps you can take. First, add a plant, which can improve your energies for health and balance. Paint the area in your home that corresponds to your health gua in yellow or earth tones to improve your health ch'i (energy). Add something that tickles your funny bone in the center of your space to hold a light-hearted energy for your health. Remove wooden objects, anything tall and columnar, and the color green (with the exception of plants) from this space.
You may be skeptical, but feng shui for the home has caught on rapidly over the past few years. Karen Rauch Carter, a feng shui consultant and author of the best-selling book "Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life," says there is a good reason for the popularity of this ancient Chinese art. "Feng shui is a way to mindfully organize your environment so that it fully supports you in life," she explains. "It brings harmony into people's lives, and in today's hectic world, we can all benefit from that."
Nature plays an important role in the five elements of feng shui (wood, earth, metal, fire and water). "Patterns found in nature have a positive influence on human general well being," says Carter. "At a minimum, we respond to them on a cellular and unconscious level. At most, it could consciously and visibly change our whole attitude, state of health and physical well-being. By simply looking at and admiring a leaf or a flower, you have helped yourself whether you know it or not."
Whether we spend the bulk of our day in an office or at home, we live in rooms with four square walls. "Most homes and offices are built with 90 degree corners and slick, hard surfaces," says Carter. "These forms and surfaces would be considered a rare find in nature," she says ironically. She notes that by simply offsetting these stark forms with natural shapes and symbols, people can start to bring balance to these spaces.
Environmental Graphics has helped bridge the gap between nature and modern architecture by creating wall murals that bring these natural patterns inside. "From an energetic standpoint, their influence will resonate throughout the home," says Carter. "For optimal results my advice is to place a mural that supports both you and your home by following feng shui rules."
"We are finding that people are growing more concerned about their well being as it relates to their homes," says Todd Imholte, president of the mural company. "Murals are providing a way to bring nature indoors and peace and harmony to any room without spending a fortune."
The murals, at more than 13 feet by 8 feet, transform a room into an oasis of serenity for about $100. Whether you opt for a garden scene, a beautiful forest or a crystalline lake, your room will promote relaxation and a calmer state of mind. Best of all, the murals are easy to install and won't damage your walls -- a great feature especially for those living in apartments.
Courtesy of ARA Content
For a full-color brochure of the murals by Environmental Graphics, call (888) 205-0914. To purchase murals visit Sherwin Williams, Lowe's or Home Depot or order online at www.primoproducts.com. To order Karen Rauch Carter's book or to learn more about feng shui, visit www.fengshuipalace.com
