The feng shui that I work with expanded for my own practice- Pyramid School Feng Shui- is very specific to every individual.
Every once and a while I get an awesome question from a diligent feng shui love who has read a bunch of “cures” in books and on the internet and so believes that things are just one way in feng shui.
I hear things like:
“I know I need to put a mirror over my stove” or ” I have to hang a crystal in the middle of my room.”
Or I get an email with the header: HELP! and when I open it it explains how a house is full of contruction that breaks rules so… does this mean doom?!
None of these things are rules in feng shui that works.
Today I want to talk about avoiding superficiality and superstition…!
Superstition. The Merriam Webster dictionary definition #1:
“a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation.”
When you blindly trust in any object or anything simply because you are told it is powerful you give away your power.
Why would anyone want to do that?
Well, we all have done it to one degree or another because in many ways we’ve been taught that we aren’t that powerful to make changes ourselves.
You know the limiting beliefs like:
People don’t change.
It’s us against them.
Luck is never on my side.
And NONE of that is true!
How does this superstition work in some forms of feng shui feng?
Ok, without killing you with boredom, first lets talk about the fact that there are many schools of feng shui. Most of them, sadly, were mixed with a form of Tibetan Buddhist mysticism (BTB/ Black Hat) that is not only esoteric but its also historically, if you read Buddhist texts, completely ineffective in this time period we live in known as The Age Of Mappo. So, that stuff is not in my repertoire. Its not even relevant. No red strings and blessings and totems and coins and other stuff. None.
Now, there’s also a lot of feng shui that deals with compass directions. There are some schools that incorporate Chinese astrology and an esoterica form of numerology. Same deal. Not workable, not for this era, and, let’s face it, do you really want to hear that 2017 might be a year of “bad fortune” and that you might fail in certain areas on your life due to the direction your home faces, which you can not change?
NO! You don’t.
But if someone told you that and you were having a bad day or feeling like they were an expert, you might flip out and own that horrible thinking for yourself, living it as a self-fulfilling prophesy.
Bad deal.
I get lots of people contacting me in a panic because they were told such things. If that’s you, please relax and remind yourself daily that you are not the victim of anyone else’s prophesy!
Some of the ancient tools of feng shui are actually based- or being proven- by science.
Traditional Chinese Medicine and element theory are used by acupuncturists. Element theory is something I use in homes. The bagua map was a tool designed to enhance survival. If you kept certain things in certain areas of your home in ancient days you’d have a better chance of survival.
Minds were molded off of these concepts. We feel the stability or instability of a space. There is a field of neuroarchitecture that is now studying these actual mind connections to one’s home.
I never use the bagua map on it’s own that identifies things like Love & Money corners. It’s just a single tool of many.
When I work one on one with clients we go over a whole lot of information and get very personal with a space to make it work for them.
Feng shui my way is not a math formula. There is no “one way.” Certain principles hold true across the boards in feng shui (i.e., clutter is bad news) but… a creative mess is engaging for many people.
No totems or “lucky” items being sold to you as “lucky” are actually lucky unless you invest them with power.
If you feel something brings you luck, thats personal. Believing something because you were told to believe it= supersition.
Your home is your fabulous and unique expression. If you’ve wondered why it takes me a year or more to finish an e-book, it’s because each one is an adventure to test, try, apply and use section by section to make sure that you can get specific and awesome results in your home in your own ways.
Please do the same with feng shui tips you read: make them your own.
I encourage you to do the same with everything in your life.
I’m not perfect by any stretch, but I can help you make your home feel better, which does make your life work and flow better.
And, in the process, you get to keep your power and feel even more awesome- I hope- about your style, your talents and the beauty of the world!
Now… If you are wondering how feng shui does work, THIS post can illuminate things further!
My two cents on superstition for the day!
Trust yourself and make your own magic happen!!!
xoxo Dana
********************
And, if you want to dive in to your own personalized feng shui in a modern, practical way, Say hello to Feng Shui 101. Its the guide I made for you to create your own personalized feng shui at home, in the office, wherever you may be… in 8 weeks. It’s not filled with strict rules or what you “must” do. Its filled with information, questions, exercises and even videos and classes to help you confidently create amazing spaces with killer feng shui and live with more flow. Learn more about the 8-week feng shui adventure & grab your copy to get started right HERE… And, as always, please let me know what happens! xoxo Dana
I love reading your articles.. I can’t wait to learn more about the different tools of fung shui- I am looking forward to getting your book in my hands 🙂
Such a great post, thank you Dana!
I have a large collection of African Masks hanging on my walls in different rooms of my home. I was told to get rid of them because they do not represent good energy. What do you say? Also, my bed is south to north and against a solid wall, my only option is to place in front of a large window west to east with the entrance door to the far right of room, the foot board will not be opposite of the door.
you might want to concentrate the masks in one area in a way that you love them. if YOU love them, thats important good energy…! Think about the reactions other people will have to them and perhaps position them so that YOU will experience them the most if possible. for instance, you might want to put them in your office, etc. as for your bed, its hard for me to tell you conversationally and give you advice i can stand behind!
I Love Your Post!!
A test would be to get a slew of identical interiors, for a group of interior dwellers. See how they have different outcomes regardless. This would not be due to astrological profiles seeing natal astrology has been successfully debunked. Pity that as I was into it.
Something sorta similar was done on the Penn & Teller show. It was really funny and interesting. I think the whole thing with debunking is interesting. People have debunked even basic truths like drinking water is important for a healthy life. I actually had a famous TV doctor come up to me and tell me I would drown if I drank 1.5 liters of water, since water drinking was debunked by someone recently. So, there’s “debunking” for the sport of it (like a debate tournament) and then “no basis in anything proven, experienced or otherwise.” Or something like that… 😉
Hi. I’m glad that I finally found a new article like this. I understand the flow of energies & how it affects a person (eg.bed below a window & other basic feng shui) but when I started reading more articles in different sites, there were lots of superstitions w/c paralizes the mind of the reader in fear of following certain instructions just to play safe & to not have negative effects in life. Personally I look at feng shui as guide for a good flow of energy at home, harmony of elements, I look at it as a science w/right rationales that make sense for a better life. Glad I found someone with the same principle. 🙂 thanks.
yay that makes me super happy!!!