simple shui | 5 ways feng shui will help you feel better now

your home (and office) possesses enormous potential to help you feel better now. yet, we often think about our surroundings in terms of style. i LOVE a pretty room as much as you, but have you considered what is possible if YOU were the focus? with a few informed choices, feng shui can help you deliberately and deliciously feel better now.

our environments influence us because we are in constant interaction with them. so, rather than thinking about them visually, lean into how your space feels right now. is it a few good vibrations short of harmony? if so, this post explores 5 ways feng shui guarantees you hit those high notes. and the best part? this won’t require sage or anything smoky, and it can all be done with what you have right in front of you!

start here.

• minimize the clutter around you, especially in a smaller room or space. i know clearing the clutter feels hard. it also requires (at least) twice as much effort to maintain our own peace and productivity with it. clutter saps energy, which means anything we aspire to accomplish is immediately contaminated by it. clutter runs interference with our intuition and clarity. how often do you start out with one goal and end up somewhere else? whoa, right? it’s time to prioritize the purge. keep in mind, too, that sometimes clutter emanates from what we can’t see – dust and spaces that never receive any use/attention.

• double up your radiance. sunlight is (usually) on tap every day. its only requirement: open the blinds / curtains so its beams can light up your home. another way to bring in the sun’s cleansing superpower? focus on one positive thought when you wake up. this practice dates back to meditation masters, so don’t discard it as new-age hype. cultivate this morning ritual, and you become the light that purifies and brightens your space.

feeling better? add these next.

• get vertical. tall plants pull energy up, and tall trees lift our energy to a higher plane. however, don’t feel limited to your home or yard to harness this second wind. find a tall tree somewhere, and sit under it for a while. and if you aren’t near tall trees, bring home a bundle of leggy fresh flowers or a tall plant. don’t have a green thumb? incorporate expressions of wood décor or furniture. both emit living chi. go for bare hardwood floors. bring out the wood salad bowl and tongs. let the coffee table breathe. sleep in high-quality linens, or stack the towel shelf with plush cotton towels.

• build yourself an altar. devote a space to a few talismans you LOVE, and it becomes a place to derive peace. a home altar invites us to think freely and objectively. it also serves as a connection to our intentions and reinforces our life’s purpose. as you build one, keep in mind an altar clears and balances out a home’s energy, too. maintain this space with affection and intention. in traditional shui, a wealth vase is kept on an altar in a private room, so consider building one for yours!

• yang it up! yang rooms and homes exude an energizing vitality. think: bright colors, happy sounds (like music, laughter, or outdoor nature sounds), and a pleasing balance of spatial and people energy. when a space is heavily dark due to decor or dim lighting, yang energy gets suppressed. this squelches our health and relationships (romantic, social, and professional). even more problematic? when the yin/yang are out of balance, opportunities and success feel more out of reach. so, yank that cosmic energy in your lap and feel good vibes will stay on tap! xo