In many ways, our homes are reflections of our inner selves. They’re not just the physical spaces we fill with furniture and décor. They’re also expressions of our values, like health, family, security and harmony. The challenges brought by the pandemic this year have caused many of us to take a good, hard look at our homes and question whether they are working for us. Some of us have responded with decisions to move to new homes that better accommodate our new lives. Others of us have decided to stay put but improve our personal spaces and create true oases of calm.
Eastern feng shui techniques may provide us with a blueprint. Based on the idea that the energy of the universe, known as qi, is tied to harmony in your life, this 5,000-year-old Chinese art and science has never had more practical implications than it does today. After all, what could be more beneficial than inviting more health, happiness and peace into our homes at a time of chaos and when we’re spending increased time at home?
With that in mind, we spoke to Rodika Tchi, a feng shui expert in Vancouver, Canada, who has been consulting on feng shui for 21 years and practicing it for most of her life. She shared her insights on the ancient healing tradition and offered some practical advice for creating healthy and harmonious homes this year.
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
Rodika Tchi
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
Rodika Tchi
I also do long-distance sessions via Zoom and can provide everything from a new house feng shui assessment to a bagua map and a complete feng shui analysis. The results are as powerful as the in-person sessions.
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
Rodika Tchi
One area to be aware of, especially right now, is indoor air quality. Often, our indoor air quality is worse than the outdoors. Air-purifying plants are the easiest way to start cleaning the air in your home, as well as air-purifiers and ultrasonic aromatherapy diffusers with high-quality essential oils (for example, eucalyptus, peppermint or rosemary).
The quality of natural light and color are also vital nutrients for your health and well-being. If you have to spend a lot of time indoors, be sure to invest in full-spectrum lights that will nourish your energy. The use of color is also very important in feng shui, because each color is an expression of one of the five elements: wood, earth, fire, water or metal. Color can bring balance, harmony and good energy to one’s space. One of my favorite ways to bring in color is to add vibrant art or fresh flowers, but it’s whatever object naturally brings you joy throughout the day.
Each home has specific areas that are responsible for different areas of your life, according to the bagua. Your health, of course, depends on the overall energy of your home, but there are two specific areas that are connected to the state of your well-being on a deeper energy level. The first one is the center of your home, and the second one is the so-called Health and Family bagua area. There are numerous feng shui cures — both traditional and modern — that you can apply to improve your health in these areas. There’s simple use of wood and water elements. There are colors, too, or even the famous feng shui lucky bamboo plant. I encourage my clients to choose what works best for them in their space.
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
Rodika Tchi
I might pay attention first to the front door. The stronger your front door, the more positive feng shui energy it can absorb. A strong front door is proportionate to the size of the house, one that opens easily and freely, enjoys beautiful paint in the right feng shui color and has good door hardware. A strong front door is also one that is well-lit, has a good pathway leading to it, and opens up into an inviting main entry. In short, you want a door that invites both respect and admiration but also looks good and feels good.
The main entry is also very important in feng shui, as this is the space that has the ability to draw in and further invite and direct the incoming energy into your home.
Another area I pay close attention to is the kitchen, because it is connected to the health and wealth energy. It is very important to take good care of your kitchen.
As I tell all of my clients, the bedroom is the most important room of the house. Is your bedroom filled with things that make you feel loved and cared for?
Another thing to look for is whether the natural rhythms of the house are expressed visually through decor. By that I mean, does your home have a balance between areas that are busy and lively with colors, images and textures, and those areas that visually promote rest, stillness and repose? A house that is decorated for all stillness or all activity is not a good feng shui house.
You want a house that has good energy, and good energy is fresh and moving. How do you create a constant flow of fresh energy? Ensure plenty of natural light, live items such as plants or flowers, vibrant art, good sounds, etc.
But having said all that, it’s not about me; it’s how you feel when you are in your home. Do you feel at ease or happy with yourself? Do you feel good in your relationships with yourself and those around you? Are you in good health? Is there a sense of exploration and wonder in your life? Is there laugher and a sense of joy in your home? If you feel stagnant in any of these areas, it might be time to improve the flow and quality of good feng shui energy in your home.
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
Rodika Tchi
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
Rodika Tchi
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
Rodika Tchi
We need to create strong, harmonious and vital energy in our homes that can nourish, calm and protect us from the chaos of the turbulent times in which we are living.
Rodika Tchi is the author of “The Healing Power of Smudging: Cleansing Rituals to Purify Your Home, Attract Positive Energy and Bring Peace into Your Life“ (Simon and Schuster, 2017) and “Feng Shui for Healing: A Step-by-Step Guide to Improving Wellness in Your Home Sanctuary” (Rockridge Press, 2019).