featured this month on Examiner.com, by Cheryl S. Grant
As we get ready to spring clean our closets, now is the perfect time to create a sense of peace and harmony within your home. Anjie Cho, architect and author of 108 Ways to Create Holistic Spaces, offers up five tips for elevating your life and living space.
General health:
The Health area of the Feng Shui Bagua is called TAI CHI, which is related to your overall health, signified by earthy colors yellow-orange-brown, the number five, square or flat shapes, and the element of earth. The energy of the center affects physical, mental and emotional health.
The health area is in the center because it affects, and is influenced by, all eight bagua areas around it. This central area touches all aspects of your life, so of course it influences your health and well being.
A yellow toned square rug in the center of your bedroom, living room or home provides centralized stability, which is a great way to support your overall health.
Relieve stress:
Your bed, desk, and stove should be positioned so that you can see the door, the expanse of the room and you have your back against the far wall. You don’t want to be directly in front of the door. Instead, across the room, diagonally from the door, is typically the most ideal position or the “commanding position.”
This helps to curb your physiological response of fear that you may experience when you cannot see the door or what may be coming your way. Even if you are not consciously aware of it, it does affect you. It is like a stone that has water dripping on it lightly for years; the stress levels begin to wear down at you, “ says Cho.
Kitchen nourishment:
The kitchen is the room where we are able to nourish our bodies with food. A kitchen with an open plan, cabinets that maintain between their tops and ceiling and white walls are ideal for promoting energy and proper nutrition.
Your refrigerator is also important so remove all expired or spoiled foods and keep it de-cluttered.
Clear the Air:
The indoor air quality of your home is essential to our health and healing. Since we spend the vast majority of our time indoors we must eliminate toxic chemicals from your living environment. These chemicals are absorbed easily through the air and skin, and are also extremely dangerous if swallowed.
Non-toxic, green cleaning products are easy to find now at your local grocery stores. It is also easy to make your own with household items like vinegar and baking soda.
Cho’s favorite DIY recipe is for an all-purpose cleaning solution is to mix 1 part white vinegar and 3 parts water, with 9 drops of essential oil. Eucalyptus and tea tree oil are good options, as they are naturally anti-bacterial and anti-microbial. Shake up all the ingredients in a spray bottle and you’ve got a homemade, non-toxic cleaner.
