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QI—The Journal of Traditional Eastern Health & Fitness16
QI—The Journal of Traditional Eastern Health & Fitness
A Feng Shui Perspective
In this article, we are going to exam-ine how negative or stagnant ener-gy
can infiltrate your home spe-cifically from
the perspective of the discipline of feng shui. But
first, we need to understand the concept of qi, a basic tenant of Chinese philosophy. Qi is the vital force or life energy. A place with much qi radiates freshness and vitality,
and is invigorating for the person. There is a lot of qi
evi-dent in nature, such as near an ocean or around a mountain, and we often vacation
in such places to
recharge our batteries and replenish sagging qi levels.
While it is true that qi can be found everywhere on
this planet, it
is not necessarily plentiful or obvious in cer-tain places. There are settings where
the flow of qi is thin or depleted. This would not be a problem
if we were only occasionally exposed to such places—but our
lifestyles, and
the ways most cities, neighborhoods, and buildings are designed, are not con-ducive for the free flow of qi. Many settings we frequent are energetically anemic.
In environments where the qi seems thinner, negative
energy will also likely predominate. In feng shui, pools of
stagnant energy that accu-mulate because qi cannot
circulate freely are called si
qi. I use the terms negative or stagnant energy through-out
this article to describe si
qi, but in a way “stagnant energy” is a mis-nomer, or at least a contradiction in terms, since energy by its very defini-tion is not stagnant.
In large urban areas, this negative energy pervades not only the streets, but
crowded and enclosed
places, such as malls, bus or train terminals, sports arenas,
taverns, and night-clubs. The sensitive person can feel it
immediately as an oppressive or stagnant quality
in the atmosphere. In fact, you will encounter si
qi wher-ever humans are active: in workplac-es, shopping areas, or entertainment venues. Negative or stagnant energy is all around us, particularly in a big city environment.
Si Qi in the HomeStagnant energy also likely exists
in your home, perhaps because you do not sufficiently air out your place and it has become quite stuffy; or if the
rooms are cluttered, if there is accumulated dust, if there
is moldy growth clinging to the walls, if
the plumbing is faulty, and so on. It may be most apparent after an
illness
in the home, or if the odor of sweat or heavy cooking permeates the prem-ises.
There are so many ways in which si qi can proliferate. For instance, areas blocked by heavy furniture, long and narrow hallways, and untidy or clut-tered
areas cause the development
of stagnant pools of energy.1 So do any plumbing faults,
smelly toilets, and the buildup of mold. Parts
of the house that are unfinished, or are damaged and require renovation, are also places where negative energy can accumulate.
Ant or bedbug infestations will siphon off qi. According
to Parker and Susani, ant infestations are often indicators of
excessive dark energy.2
Pests and parasitic creatures generally not only promote
stagnant energy, but are attracted to it as well.
Since I practice nonviolence, or what
the Buddhists and Hindus call “ahimsa,” I always have an ethical dilemma when dealing with
such
creatures. When-ever possible I try not to harm them, but rather to displace them. However, they can profoundly erode the ener-getic disposition of your home if left unchecked.
The Twenty FactorsThe following are twenty important
suggestions to avoid
the buildup of stagnant energy in your home. If you follow even a few of these suggestions, the disposition of qi in your home will surely improve, and the vital energy will have a chance to circulate more freely. •
The central areas of rooms should be
kept clear of furniture and clutter.•
Change the configuration of your
furniture every once in a while to maintain a fresh atmosphere.
•
Avoid buying used furniture or carpets that look worn or grimy.
•
Do not clog up your hallways, but keep them as clear as possible.
•
Avoid using the major rooms in your home as storage areas — for instance, by piling up boxes.
• A very dusty place is rife with si
qi. Dusting, sweeping, and vacuuming are very important.
•
Keep the windows clean, to allow as much sunlight to enter as possible.
•
Keep the doors between rooms open so that qi can freely circulate. (However, there are exceptions — see below.)
Department: Feng Shui
TwenTy wAyS To PrevenT negATIve QI In your HomeBy Charles
Shahar
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WINTER 2019-2020 QI—17
• A narrow staircase between floors will obstruct the flow of
qi. Make sure the upper floor is aired out regularly.
• Windowless rooms are particularly prone to stagnant energy.
They should be dusted and cleaned regularly.
• Bad smells are a sign of si qi accumulation and should be
dealt with promptly.
• Do not leave garbage in your home any longer than
necessary.
• Air out your home to prevent cooking smells from lingering,
including those that waft in from neighboring apartments. Light
incense to counter such heavy smells.
• The toilet lid should always be kept shut.
• It is best if the door to the bathroom is kept closed as much
as possible. An exception is after bathing or showering, to avoid
the buildup of mildew.
• Keep the doors to storage areas, basements, and garages
closed.
• If someone is ill for a prolonged time in your home, make sure
to air the place out and change the linens regularly.
• Place the cat litter box in the basement or bathroom, rather
than in any major room. Clean it regularly.
• Any issues with plumbing, particularly in the bathroom, should
be fixed as quickly as possible.
• Paint the interior of your home as often as convenience
allows.
Detecting Si QiHow do you know whether there is
a buildup of negative energy in your home or in a particular
room? Denise Linn suggests that people register stagnant energy
differently. Some feel it’s sticky, whereas others get a fuzzy
feeling, and still others get chills that run through their body.3
I sense it as a heaviness or denseness in the space. Irrespective
of lighting, rooms that are rife with stagnant energy will look
dimmer, and colors in them will look dull and lifeless.4 You can
actually notice this quality if you pay special attention to the
atmosphere in each room.
It does not necessarily take clairvoy-ant vision to assess such
a situation. For instance, there may be a room that you avoid more
often; or perhaps you unconsciously hold your breath, or breathe
more shallowly, whenever you enter it. Detecting negative ener-gy
in your home is ultimately a ques-tion of alertness. You may feel
more nervous or sluggish in certain areas. This may just be a
subtle feeling, but if you trust your instincts the impact will
become more obvious. The well-known feng shui practitioner Lillian
Too has reached a similar conclusion. She remarks:
If you make a real effort, you can eventually develop a sense
for nega-tive energy. This sense arises at first as a feeling of
detached unease, which eventually expands into a broader awareness.
Relatively quickly, you will be able to differentiate between
differ-ent types of negativity and whether it may be hostile,
lethargic, or sick.5
I have to be particularly careful about the buildup of negative
ener-gy, as I like my home to have a dim and cave-like atmosphere;
I prefer a darker space. I am even guilty of generally keeping the
window blinds closed, and regularly closing the doors between rooms
to focus the energy within them. It is a matter of personal
comfort. To counteract the buildup of stagnant energy, I often
light incense
Department: Feng Shui
The.M.S.C.P.-.Mental.Screen.Conditioning.Process
A low impact 16-exercise Routine to regu-late the mind stillness
to develop Shen. It reveals and attunes vital energy to essence
(Jing), developing a vibrant Qi intertwined to the void of the Tao.
The practitioner will “flow” within Original Energy (Yuan Qi)—the
unalienable right from birth—beyond time and space to rediscover
how positive emotions resonate with their own negative value within
a measurement scale, without ever having intended.
Please.visit.www.thespokenqiantao.comor more information:
[email protected]
Clean cluttered areas
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18 QI—The Journal of Traditional Eastern Health &
Fitness
Feng Shui
and candles. I have someone who reg-ularly cleans my place, but
I am very fussy about personal vibrations when choosing which
cleaner to hire.
The young cleaner who is current-ly looking after my home has a
very refined disposition, and a pleasant, effervescent air about
her. She only uses natural cleaning products, such as vinegar.
Although she may not be as thorough as some of the more sea-soned
cleaners that my mother used to use, her light disposition means
that my place will be “cleaned” on a level beyond the strictly
physical aspects. She will also unconsciously charge my place with
her qi as she goes about her chores. n
References1. Hobson, Wendy. Simply Feng
Shui: For Home, Office and Garden. Foulsham, London, 1998, p.
84.
2. Parker, Anne Z., and Susani, Domi-nique. Earth Alchemy:
Aligning Your Home With Nature’s Energies. Find-horn Press,
Scotland, 2011, p. 61.
3. Linn, Denise. Sacred Space: Clear-ing and Enhancing the
Energy of Your Home. Ballantine Books, New York, 1995, pp.
122-123.
4. Linn, op. cit., p. 31.5. Too, Lillian. Lillian Too’s 168
Feng
Shui Ways to Declutter Your Home. Cico Books Ltd., London, 2002,
p. 63.
————————Charles Shahar is a clinical psychologist by training.
He has studied vedanta philosophy in India, and
has taught yoga and meditation for almost twenty years. Please
visit his website: www.lightfigures.com
Twenty Ways... (continued from page 17)
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