Sketch by Troy Broussard

I recently had an Asian client who rebuffed the notion of a mirror in the bedroom. When pressed on the issue he cited Feng Shui.

What ever happened to the Feng Shui craze? I can’t tell you how many presentations I did in the 1990’s followed by a question like, “But is it Feng Shui?”

Even into the 2000’s I recall taking a couple continuing education classes on Feng Shui for my design license. At some point around 2005 I showed some paintings at the Feng Shui Gallery—I hardly remember the gallery, I guess it didn’t make it…

Feng Shui (pronounced “phung schwee”, meaning “wind water”) is part of an ancient Chinese philosophy of nature.  Identified as a form of geomancy and divination by geographic feature, it is rarely practiced in western cultures.  Feng Shui concentrates on understanding the relationships between man and environment—the notion that we live with rather than against nature.

But if your “chi” (energy) is out of whack, you might not need a high priced Feng Shui master to revamp your surroundings.  Here are 10 simple tips that westerners can employ to attract health, wealth, and happiness:

1. Use the front door at least once a day.  The front door governs career and life path.  Entering through the back door or a garage can cause a person to lose sight of life’s purpose.
2. Never leave shoes or slippers outside of a door.  As the chi enters the house on the wind it can be interrupted by the smell of dirty shoes.  That can cause sickness.
3. Close the toilet lid.  Not only is an open toilet lid an invitation for the family dog, it can suck your money down the drain.  Keep the bathroom door closed too.  This doubles your protection.
4. Get rid of unwanted items.  While you cherish grandma’s memory, her old rocker might not work with your decor.  That old chair isn’t grandma and it doesn’t honor her to keep an item you dislike—unwanted items keep you mired in the past.  The same goes for Christmas gifts that were never used.
5. WD-40 squeaky hinges.  Doors that moan and groan will cause inflexibility.
6. Do the laundry.  Accumulations of dirty laundry, newspapers, or piles of clutter can weigh a person down physically and emotionally.
7. Donate old books.  Books that are not used on a regular basis should be donated so that the knowledge they contain is passed on.  Holding onto books that are not read will inhibit mental expansion.
8. Don’t exercise in the bedroom.  Bedrooms are for relaxation.  A treadmill in the bedroom can make relationships arduous.
9. Open the bedroom window.  The old adage about sleeping with a window open isn’t completely untrue—although in the south it isn’t easy to accomplish.  Opening the bedroom window once a day for 20 minutes allows fresh chi to enter.  Fresh chi will bring good fortune.
10. Wash the windows.  Windows are connected to fame and reputation.  When they are clean others will recognize and celebrate your talents.  Dirty windows repel opportunity.

Feng Shui is still around—and has been for centuries. As for my Asian client and the bedroom mirror, a mirror facing the bed is said to deplete your energy when it most need restoring.   So apparently in this day and age it is more acceptable to have a television above the dresser instead.