What makes a house a home? The answer doesn't lie in something we don't have, or in something we can buy. The feeling of being at home can't be bought. It comes from an intimate relationship between ourselves, and our most personal places, our homes. Our homes shape us just as we shape them. When we lavish our time and creativity on our homes, what they give us in return are comfort, inspiration and beauty. A home that is filled with comfort, balance and harmony is a home that resonates strongly with the energy of those living in it. It is a home that has become 'part of the family'.
How can you make your house into a home filled with comfort, balance and harmony? Begin with a conversation, taking a walk through your home. Walk slowly and mindfully, paying attention to the impressions you get as you move through your home. Walk your home during different times of day, see if your impressions change or remain the same. Notice the way your furniture is arranged. Does it welcome you into the room or does it seem to push you back out, away from the seating area? Observe how the light enters and fills your rooms. Is there a way to capture more light or use the room in a way that enables you to enjoy the beauty of the natural light as it enters the room?
Pay attention to the objects you have in your rooms. Perhaps arranging them differently, or placing them in different rooms will create spaces that will be used and appreciated more. Imagine the best usage of each object independent of the other objects you have and you just might find that moving things around creates rooms that are more interesting, friendlier, and more functional!
Taking the time to truly create a home that welcomes us with comfort and embrace isn't about spending lots of money, it's about looking at our homes from a new perspective. Feng Shui encourages us to invest of ourselves into our living spaces and care enough about ourselves to create a space that welcomes and supports us; a space that embraces us with a sense of comfort and harmony.
Choose your paint colors, your furnishings and accessories with care. Buy only those things that you really love, things that make you smile whenever you see them, things that resonate with positive energy and memories. If you have something that reminds you of an unpleasant time or person, release that item. Don't keep it in your living space where it will continue to generate negative energy.
Stay conscious of the relationship you have between your thoughts and your objects. Being conscious of this relationship enables you to release the items that no longer have positive associations and to surround yourself with things you really love. Awareness of the dynamic nature of your things and the affect they have on you allows you to begin to create a home that embraces the essence of your true spirit.
The art of Feng Shui enables you to create living spaces that truly resonate with who you are, at the core of your being. A space that embraces you with comfort and harmony, a space that aligns your outer environment with your inner being, a space that empowers you to find inspiration in your surroundings and success within yourself. A space that feeds your soul.
By Laurie Bornstein