Have you ever walked into a home and felt like it just wasn't right? Maybe you were on a home search, and the property checked all the boxes, but when you walked inside, you could feel that something was off. Even if it might have been a lovely house in the perfect location that fits your budget, if you felt that the energy wasn't quite right, you would likely have moved on and not been interested in this home. The reason this is so is because every house has a particular energy. When we look at our own homes, we want the spaces to be welcoming and comfortable and welcome good energy so that we feel better in our spaces. This is why many interior designers and even real estate agents are beginning to use Feng Shui principles to provide more value to their clients.

What is Feng Shui?
Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese philosophy that helps people in achieving life balance by harmonizing their living spaces. Feng Shui translates to "wind and water," and it is focused on the connection between human life and the environment, as well as how we can live in harmony with our surroundings. It’s essentially a tool that helps people reach wellness and makes them feel good about their spaces. The Chinese have a deep belief in chi, a hidden life force that permeates everywhere, including our homes. This energy can later be divided into negative chi or positive chi. Feng shui allows you to tap into beneficial chi energy to disperse, disrupt, or even remove negative obstructions to maintain a balance and flowing chi.
So how can we find and welcome this energy?
How to Bring Balance
We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Feng Shui expert and wellness realtor El Larson in one of our recent episodes of Blooming- A Healthy Home by Design podcast. El Larson is also a design consultant, sound practitioner, and a well-accredited professional and fit-well ambassador. Whether you are looking, renovating, or building, El helps clients by using evidence-based design strategies with metaphysical practices, one of which is feng shui. She considers the landscape, object placement, elements, colors, materials, and the health of those who occupy the home in question. During the podcast interview, El talks about looking at our home with "feng shui eyes". Recognizing what types of things obstruct our homes' overall energy and how those things (negative chi) can affect our health, careers, partnerships, reputation, and so much more—and understanding the metaphorical implications of those blocks.
Some things are easier to spot, for example, is there a tree blocking the entrance to your home? If yes, then what are the metaphorical implications of something blocking your door? If you or guests are having a hard time entering your home, then the beneficial energy (positive chi) will have a hard time entering through your door as well. While other types of blocking energy might not be as physical, for example, your landlord. Is your landlord helpful, easy going, did they answer all your questions when moving in? etc. Ultimately, everyone will have a different interpretation of what these things surrounding your homes mean to you.

El assists clients in entering a deep state of relaxation by using Himalayan singing bowls and other instruments of sound healing. From stress and pain relief to other levels of healing like better sleep, energy balancing, and emotional blocks, sound can be therapeutic. Through private or group sessions, she aims to create enhanced environments and spaces with a purpose.
Here are three tips from El Larson : Using Feng Shui Eyes For A Balanced Home
1. Be mindful of mirrors
A mirror doubles everything, it can double lighting, and expand the space which are all good things. However, it can also double clutter, and double the things you don’t want to see. So just take in mind of where you are placing the mirrors.
Also ensure your mirror are correctly hung at an appropriate height for everyone in your household, if possible. For example, let’s say you have a growing teenager who is now all the sudden shot up 6 inches and suddenly his image is being cut off on the mirror. This could symbolize that they are not worthy of being reflected on that mirror they once were able to use. They are now being pushed out. Be mindful of where you place your mirrors.
2. Is it simple to gain access through the front door?
• Is the doorknob functional?
• Is your paint chipped?
• Is it simple for you and your guests to enter?
This is significant because first impressions matter not only for your guests but also for the energy that enters your home. If guests have difficulty entering, so will the positive energy. It is also applicable to clutter. If you are constantly confronted with dirty dishes, unfolded laundry, and garbage when you enter your house, you are constantly confronted with an unwelcoming view. Be mindful of your entrance obstructing the positive energy.
3. The meaning behind elements
Consider the natural elements of wood, fire, water, earth, and metal and how they make you feel. How do they support you through metaphor in your house? Let’s say you are a person who feels at ease with water, think about what water represents for you and how can you incorporate it into your home. Water can be represented by the blue, black, glass, fabrics that flow, etc. Use qualities that reflect that specific element.
If you want to add more fire, you can add more lighting, candles, artwork with stars, sunrises, sunsets, maybe adding a fire feature to your home, etc.
If you want to add more earth, add more colors of brown, green, and sand, adding low horizontal furniture, low flat surfaces, etc.
If you want to add more metal, you can use more round or oval shapes, rocks and stones, fine art and metallic fixtures, etc.
If you want to add more wood, add things that are upright and vertical, more plants, wood furniture, cotton, and other natural fabrics etc.
Thank you El for assisting others in finding balance through feng shui and for having such an enlightening conversation with us! If you want to bring positive energy into your home or simply learn more about El's work, visit www.heare.la.

By Sabrina Aguilar
In-house writer and Marketing Strategist for WellnessRE™ and HealthyHOME™ Magazines
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