Feng Shui and the Art of Sacred Balance

by Sharda Chaitanya

Feng Shui is about much more than intentionally arranging furniture or fixtures or decorations in a particular way.  Those things are important, certainly, and are not to be overlooked.  But what happens when the room or house is finally done, when all the prescribed Feng Shui work has been applied and now you have a new place?

Let's go back and begin with the inception of the idea, the initial desire, to make a change using the art of Feng Shui.  The simple idea of wanting change is kind of a big deal.  This is where you finally decided that what you have is not working, or needs improvement.  Initiating change is the first movement toward a better situation, and it is that seed of an idea that keeps you motivated throughout the process, remembering why you are doing this.

I want to emphasize here that Feng Shui is not this huge undertaking.  The huge undertaking is more in the mind - you will have to change how you see something, particularly if that something is dysfunctional.  What we have grown accustomed to has become comfortable, familiar, and therefore reliable - you don't have to think about it. But what is happening on another level when the Chi is off balance, is that the subconsciousness is perceiving disharmony in the energy of the space, which is in turn taxing on the general well-being of those who occupy that space.  Any resistance to change, or doing something positive like Feng Shui, is ego which doesn't want to let go of the very thing it created. Sometimes we so buried our unhappiness about something that we've actually forgotten about it.  Feng Shui can unearth those feelings and help you come to terms with the cause of your negative emotions.


Our environment is a direct reflection of what we are thinking and feeling internally.  One instance that illustrates that is a client whose staircase was split.  When you walked through the front door and stood on the landing, there were stairs that lead to the main portion of the house, and stairs that lead to the downstairs family room.  I found it interesting to note that the married couple had a significant issues that could have easily "divided" the marriage, and through which they continually struggled.  The difference was so fundamental that it was nearly impossible to get past.  So it was no coincidence to find "dual directions" placed at all-important entrance of the front door!  I knew something was going on in their relationship and I could not bring up such a delicate and personal issue.  But eventually we were able to talk about it and use Feng Shui cures to great;y alleviate the problem.

In another home of a client who was having long-standing issues with her mother, I found a correlative indication in the mother/relationship gua of the house.  The mother/relationship gua was the location of an enormous hot water/heating boiler.  Needless to say, the thing was a monstrosity, and the room was dank and dirty.  In order to make a change in the relationship with the Mom, we had to clear out the energy of the boiler room.  Tricky stuff, since the energy coming off the boiler is so intense.  As was their conflict.  I am quite please to say that after implementing 3 Feng Shui cures, there were notable improvements in their relationship.  They were then free to work on things together that really mattered.  It took a little while, however, because a lifetime of energy had to shift!

Peach blossoms ~ an auspicious symbol

One's home should be a sanctuary.  One's office or business should be regarded as that which makes everything else possible, and given it's due respect.  When we work to improve the Chi (life-sustaining, universal energy) of our home, office/business or even our car, then we are sending out the signal that those things matter.  Everything is important, everything is a gift.  By doing Feng Shui, we are exhibiting self-love and self-worth.  It is not merely a trite exercise in redecorating, it is a proactive effort to make your world a better one.  When you do that, you cause a ripple effect that goes out into the universe that allows for identical energy to latch onto the positive energy that you have created.  Because things are cyclical, the energy returns back to you in kind.

Everything in the world can be regarded as sacred - you, your home, your clothes, your family, your friends, job, community, etc.  When we apply Feng Shui, we clear out stagnation and create a balance within and between ourselves and the so-called inanimate objects that surround us.  And create harmony with the people and institutions that are important in our life.  Everything is sacred and should be considered as such, and Feng Shui is the method that best exemplifies why this is so.  It is very reasonable and logical, and it is very etheric and mysterious.  When we approach our Feng Shui from the heart, and desire to derive more from what we already have, then we are intuitively acknowledging the sacredness of our material gifts.  In turn, we are setting ourselves up to receive peace of mind because sacred balance has been restored.  Here we are relaxed and operating our daily lives without the friction that was present before doing Feng Shui.  With a new found peace and harmony, there is no telling what we can achieve.