Feng Shui Energy

Nowadays, we tend to use the word “energy” in casual conversations to often describe our impressions of another person. We might say, “he has great energy” or “their energy is so negative”. What we are really referring to is one’s internal character or Qi (Chinese for vital energy). Typically, and without it being completely obvious to us, our external environment, as well as the dwellings where we live or work, affect our internal energy.

Winston Churchill’s statement, “We shape our dwellings, and afterwards our dwellings shape us” may indicate some deeper level awareness and understanding of the relationship between people and their surroundings.
Homes, offices, and rooms provide varied emotional responses. When we talk about energy in terms of a room we might say, “I have difficulty concentrating in this room” or“I feel energized in this room”. Many of us might remember entering a space where we felt like we could move right in and, contrarily, we have entered spaces we couldn’t wait to leave.

Determining the tangible and intangible energies that exist within a space and how they correspond to the person occupying a space is something the Chinese figured out many years ago. Feng shui (literally translated as wind and water) refers to a complex and dynamic system that can simply be described as energies that combine movement or flow (wind) with containment (water). It is not necessarily literally translated into wind and water but the two elements are essential to achieve a healthy and nourishing environment.

On a basic level, good feng shui means creating energy within a space that feels good, looks good and works to enhance the needs and well-being of individuals who inhabit them. While feng shui does not adhere to any one particular design style, interior design plays an integral role in the balancing and harmonizing of individual spaces. It makes good sense; when there is balance and harmony in the environment one is more likely to experience a natural shift towards a happy, healthier and more prosperous and productive life.

Inspired Place’s client responses range from, “I’m now feeling inspired and motivated” to “this experience provided me with solutions that enhanced my business, creating greater success”. Approaching design from a classical feng shui perspective or by integrating its core principles places the occupants at the center of design resulting in interiors that create a tangible and measureable harmony between the two that brings about a higher quality of living.

Next time you are conscious of how you feel in a space, it’s likely the feng shui. Others who have found success by integrating feng shui principles into their homes and businesses are Donald Trump, Steven Spielberg, Donna Karan, Madonna, Oprah Winfrey, Tommy Hilfiger, Ponderosa Homes, The Wall Street Journal, MGM Grand, Bank of America, Citibank, McDonalds, Dreamworks, Virgin Airlines and the Los Angeles Zoo—and that’s just the short list!

Julia Arndt, Allied ASID, NKBA, NCGBP, is a certified Classical Feng Shui specialist.