11 Home Energy Enhancers

By the author of Small Changes, Dynamic Results! Feng Shui for the Western World

When our homes and gardens are alive with energy our lives follow suit.The goal of Feng Shui is to have our homes filled with vibrant chi (energy) all of the time. Here are eleven energy enhancers that will help pep us stagnant chi both inside and outside the home and either keep your life moving or get your life moving in a positive direction.

Colors

Surround yourself with the colors you personally love. (See my article on the Power of Color) . You can effectively use the Five Elements to quickly balance an area that needs attention, or to work with health issues that need improving. Attract chi to your yard with colorful lanterns and garden art. (For my readers who are buried under with snow, dream of the summer!) (see my article on the Five Elements).

Mirrors

Mirrors, candles and flowers are all wonderful chi generators

Mirrors are considered “activators” and are usually very positive chi enhancers. Generally the bigger the better except in bedrooms or dining rooms where we want a calming more ‘yin’ energy. Divided mirrors, smokey mirrors or those where you cannot see your face are not considered good in Feng Shui. We want to be able to see ourselves without distortions. Use mirrors to pep up a dead area, fill in a missing area of the Bagua (see my article on the Home Energy Centers), expand a small room or area or behind stoves and desks when you cannot see the action behind you .

Lighting

Use candles for meditation and romance

Lighting will always bring in more chi (energy) so make sure your home is well-lit. Dimmer switches are wonderful for cranking up the light when you need it for study and reading purposes, and provide dimmer lighting for mood and ambiance. Use spot lighting to illuminate a favorite piece of art, up-light a plant to warm up a dark corner, or add warm ambient lighting in more Yin areas such as bedrooms, dining rooms and living rooms. Use solar lighting or outdoor lighting to illuminate the garden and create a sense of magic. Use up lighting in low ceiling rooms and down lighting in high ceiling rooms- up lighting to create the illusion of more spaciousness and down lighting to create a more cozy space. Candles can be magical chi generators as well and can set the mood for meditation or romance.

Next: 8 More Energy Enhancers

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Dale O.

5:34PM PDT on Apr 5, 2012

Nothing like a pleasing and balanced atmosphere in the home where one can feel relaxed and refreshed.

send a green star

Erica S.

2:44PM PST on Feb 6, 2012

Thank you all for the comments.Rachel, don't worry about a incorporating a water feature in a limited space, it can be too overpowering. Using the other chi enhancers will suffice. Thanks again all for your ideas and comments!

Rachael M.

12:07AM PST on Feb 2, 2012

I have most of these things in my room already, but I don't know how to incorporate a water feature easily indoors in a limited space.

Kathy G.

1:59PM PST on Jan 24, 2012

Thanks Erica. Yes, it is the more traditional, superstitious form of Feng Shui that I had started with. I have a picture of water and a beach above the fire, a peaceful, happy setting. (plus the water that could supposedly put the fire out! lol) I have nice arrangements around the fire, along with my little water fountain, so I feel like I've made it very visually appealing and it makes me feel good. Main purpose, right? I close the flue as soon as it is safe, in winter to ensure the heat I'm paying for doesn't go flying up there, but I keep it open in summer, to me, it feels like I'm helping to air out the house. I love open windows, and I feel like the open flue is yet another chance for air movement and freshness. I like the idea of sand with candles in the summer.. that sounds really appealing. Thanks so much for your reply, sometimes all the info one reads can be confusing! :)

1:23PM PST on Jan 24, 2012

Dear Kathy,
My feeling is that nothing is bad. This comes from more Classical Feng Shui that has a lot of cultural superstition in it as well. I teach and use a more Western version of Feng Shui were we leave out the superstition, or we explain why it is not considered an optimal thing to have. I love fireplaces and would indeed want to buy a home that had one as well. The thing is that fireplaces have huge tunnels where the chi or energy escapes through the chimney. They are also a lot of the fire element. You can calm the fire by putting a mirror over the fireplace, hence balancing the elements. You can also stop the chi from coming and going down and up the chimney by having a fireplace screen where you can completely seal it off. It is just better because they can also be drafty and you can lose heat through them. When not using them, as in the summer, put a plant in them or sand with candles so that it does not look like the 'black hole' when it does not have a fire going. Hope this helps and enjoy your fireplace!

11:42AM PST on Jan 24, 2012

This is yet another great article, Erica. I thoroughly enjoy everything you write and teach. One of these items is confusing though. The fireplace. According to another form of Feng Shui I've been following, ( I can't remember the specific name at the moment, but it works the Octagon Bagua), says that fireplaces are bad things. I LOVE my fireplace and, when moving, specifically search for houses with fireplaces. You say they aren't a bad thing. I'm hoping you read this and can offer some more insight into this. While I know that Feng Shui is mostly about feeling good about what is surrounding us, I have felt somewhat guilty about loving my fireplace. I've placed water art around it and frequently have the water fountain going by it, hoping that would counter the negative chi. On top of that, the fireplace is (according to your Bagua), in my home/family section, leading one to believe that the fire is burning any possible positive family relationships. Anyway.. thanks so much for your help!

Nicole G.

10:58AM PST on Jan 6, 2012

Thank you!!! Will definitely be adding some of these to my home.

Hana B.

2:59PM PDT on Oct 28, 2011

beautiful pics, thank you for the inspiration how to live better!

Beverly G.

5:38PM PDT on Oct 15, 2011

THK U

Julija S.

2:29AM PDT on Oct 11, 2011