Feng Shui Practices for Spring

"No matter how long winter is, spring is sure to follow.” This is one of my favorite proverbs that reflects the energy of the return of spring, and a time to create a new cycle in life. This is the moment where the process of planting new seeds, of shedding the sleepiness of winter and re-energizing our outlook takes place. It’s about soaking up the fragrance of Mother Earth’s aroma, creating stability in life and renewing beginnings.

        In the tradition of feng shui, we can look to the ba-gua, or nine-square grid, for information on spring. It can be placed over the floor plan of a space to identify each area and how it relates to life. The family area connects to the season of spring, and is the left center side of a home as we enter through the front door of a space. The color that influences family/spring is green, with the element of wood being an additional way to create improvement in the family area.

        Here are a few examples of items that can be used to activate the wood energy in a space—trees, stalks of bamboo, jade plants, trees with rounded leaves, upright bookshelves, armoires, vertical rectangular paintings and a tall chest of drawers are all items that can be used to increase the vibration.

        This area also represents the connection of our families. If there are any issues, conflicts or misunderstandings between members of the family, this is the place to set our intention and make a feng shui adjustment. One of those adjustments might be as simple as placing a photo of the family in happy times, with the thought of creating that bond once again.

        That is the basic part of feng shui, but, aahh, there is so much more to the meaning of the family and spring area. If we are beginning to think of a new idea or create a new business, this is the area of our home to plant the seeds of new thoughts to flourish. If the thought of beginning a family is on our mind, head on over to the family area. Let’s imagine a lotus flower resting on top of our head, with each petal representing the sprouting of a new idea. The perfect place to sit and reflect on any new possibility and watch the ideas develop is the left center of the home.

        This is an all-important area when it comes to money, too. If finances are needed to pay the rent or have enough for daily necessities, just enhance the family area. One adjustment might be to place three stalks of bamboo in a green, rectangular container with water (representing money), stones (representing the grounding earth element), and eight pennies (representing money and the metal element). Set an intention and be grateful for the abundance that will appear.

         Health can be enhanced by incorporating food that represents the wood element, which can also heighten good eating habits in preparation for the arrival of spring. Adding foods that are green in color can help perk up the wood element in the body, which includes eating plenty of young plants, fresh greens, sprouts, basil, asparagus, celery, green onions and grains such as quinoa.

        Remember that just as the roots of the trees provide the grounding, energetic force of the family/spring area, we want to balance our home and life using feng shui that allows us to sway, bend and create the feeling that it provides in our environment.

Laurie Pawli is the founder and director of The Feng Shui School of Chicago. For more information, email [email protected] or visit TheFengShuiSchoolOfChicago.com and CreateTheFeeling.com.