What is feng shui?

Since we’re spending so much time at home lately, there’s been a lot of interest in feng shui. Because of this, I wanted to take the time to share a bit more about what exactly feng shui is.

Feng shui is an Asian modality, and like other practices that come from Asia, it’s really a lifelong practice. In the western medical world, people say: “See one, do one, teach one.” This isn’t really how it works in feng shui or in other Asian modalities. You can certainly do that, but it won’t get you very far, and approaching feng shui like that is really appropriating it. It’s important to recognize that feng shui is a really deep practice from Asia, and to respect the way that it was meant to be cultivated.

That said, there are so many cultures, and most have some way of looking at how to organize their living spaces in order to invite more harmony in the home. You can look back at your own personal cultural heritage and ask your parents or cultural elders to learn more about what your ancestors and elders did to make their homes more harmonious. I’m inspired by some of my students who are incorporating their own cultural practices into their feng shui studies.

The words “feng shui” translate to “wind” and “water.” The way I look at it is that we as humans are a part of nature, and we rely on the elements of wind and water to survive. We need our breath as well as hydration to live and to thrive. Without wind and water, there is no life. At its core, feng shui is about bringing life to a space. It’s more than just knowing where to put the TV or what color to paint the door. That’s really a superficial way of looking at feng shui. I challenge you to dive in a little bit deeper, and if feng shui is something you’re interested in, work with a practitioner who can really help and support you.

It’s also really helpful just to acknowledge that your home is something that supports you, and recognize that you can transform it to be a place of harmony and support rather than a place that drains you. Feng shui is really about how to be in harmony with your home, your environment, and all the things outside of you, because they’re really not outside of you.

My personal definition of feng shui is mindfulness for spaces. It’s about paying attention to all the details of your environment and recognizing that you are interconnected and interdependent with the world around you. That opens you up to feel true compassion, since you know you’re not separate from everything around you, from helpful people and beautiful spaces to challenging people and draining spaces. Feng shui gives us the tools to slow down and create a home that supports and nurtures us. The world around us is beautiful, and a little bit of mindfulness can really help us appreciate all the beauty in our homes and in our lives.

by Anjie Cho