Can changing your environment improve your health? Of course,says Feng Shui consultant Lydia Mitchell, Ph.D., who has spent eight yearshelping individuals bring more harmony into their lives and guiding businessesto clear obstacles to success.
“Creating surroundings that make you feel alive and youthful willmake a younger, healthier person out of you,” she says. “Partof the appeal of Feng Shui is that for nearly every design problem thereexists a cure.”
Feng Shui, the ancient Chinese art of placement, has evolved into a moderndesign practice used extensively in the East and gaining growing supportin the West. In Chinese medicine the doctor or acupuncturist looks forobstacles to the flow of ch’i, or energy, to cure patients. In FengShui the practitioner analyzes the exterior and interior of a buildingto see how best to channel and enhance environmental energy, thus to improvethe ch’i of the occupants.
“Interpreted correctly,” says Dr. Mitchell, “the FengShui of your environment will reflect back to you all the emotional, conscious,and unconscious issues that are contributing to many aspects of a disease.Although many factors govern why and how an individual gets sick, workingwith the Feng Shui of a space can support the process of health and healing.”
Feng Shui deals with how we visually, emotionally, and intellectuallyrespond to our surroundings. By analyzing earth ch’i, the shapeand layout of buildings, door and window alignment, and furniture placement,the Feng Shui expert can interpret how surroundings affect the occupant.
Dr. Mitchell, a native Australian who now lives in Fort Madison, Iowa,obtained her doctorate in chemistry at Carnegie-Mellon University inPittsburgh and worked in the educational and corporate world for 20years. She studied with nationally known Feng Shui expert Louis Audetfor eight years, learning a form that uses the front door as a referencefor the Feng Shui “map” ofthe house. She regularly visits clients in California, Illinois, and Iowaas well as Spain and South America.
Below are three Feng Shui principles from Dr. Mitchell that you can easilyapply in your own home.
Fix All Those Doors
Energy comes in through the door—if it cannot get in easily, youare in trouble. Check for doors that do not open all the way, close improperly,get jammed, or have hinges that are broken. A common fallout from doorsremaining in disrepair is joint trouble in elbows, wrists, neck, knees,and ankles, as well as aggravation of all joint diseases, such as arthritis.Wobbly doorknobs affect our ability to “get a handle on things.”
Clear Away Clutter
When hallways, stairways, and entrance ways are blocked with clutter,it’s like having high amounts of cholesterol in your blood blockingthe arteries. In this case, however, it affects the “arteries” thatservice your home and life. Aside from this, clutter in the home reducesour ability to think clearly.
Check Electrical Circuits
The electrical system in your home can be compared to your nervous system.When the electrical system in your home is in disrepair, it affects yourlevel of energy and ability to stay directed, focused, clear, and calm.It can amplify your “short fuse,” eventually causing burnoutand malaise for people living there. Check for frayed wires, unfinishedelectrical work, broken outlets, switches, and sockets—and fix them.