Feng shui (风水) is the ancient Chinese practice of arranging physical objects to attract positive energy. It is a Chinese belief that everything around us will affect our life force, or inner energy, known as ‘chi‘ (气). Those who practice feng shui strongly believe a smooth flow of chi in a room will attract or produce positive energy; inversely, having objects that disrupt the flow of chi will have a negative effect on an individual.
#1 Get Organized
The first, and most important, principle of good feng shui is getting rid of clutter and having a clean and tidy workplace. Having an uncluttered work space is important to maintain a stress-free working environment. Make sure everything on your desk is organized so that it can be easily accessed when needed, and quickly stored when not in use. Hide exposed wires or cables so that they don’t mess up your desk and obstruct the flow of chi.
#2 Face Front
Feng shui recommends you position your desk so you can see the door or entry to your office. This has the benefit of allowing you to see people coming and going (good flow of energy), thus able to see business and opportunities coming your way.
If you can’t change the position of your desk or seat, try using a small mirror that allows you a glimpse of the entrance to the office or your cubicle.
#3 Back Support
By back support, we mean not only a good ergonomic chair (something you’ll need if you’re at your desk all day), but also spiritual support. Feng shui practitioners, and most Chinese in general, will agree that having solid backing is important when working or doing business, therefore sitting with a wall behind you is ideal.
Having an open space behind your back as in most cubicles always leaves a feeling of vulnerability, which disturbs your concentration and the flow of positive energy. The same goes with having windows or a door behind you, as it the former signifies a lack of support, while the latter might indicate you are vulnerable to people ‘stabbing’ you from the back.
#4 See The Light
Lighting in the work area is important. You may have heard before that ‘yang‘ energy is positive energy, but did you know that the sun is called ‘tai yang‘? Therefore, natural light is best for good feng shui, so if you’re fortunate to have a bright sunny office or a table by the window, make good use of it as it will grow and accumulate good fortune.
On the other hand, if your workplace does not get much sunlight, try to install daylight bulbs. These will not only literally enlighten your environment but also clear out negative energies.
#5 Fresh and Green
If the air in your office feels a little stale, consider getting an air purifier for some (literal) smooth-flowing air. Healthy green plants are also a welcome addition, breathing fresh life into the environment by increasing oxygenation, filtering the air and contributing to a room’s positive energy. A small water feature or fish tank will also help to stimulate chi and create a less stressful workplace.
#6 Color Harmony
As mentioned in a previous article, certain colours will boost our moods, while other are calm and soothing. Paint office walls colors that provide supportive energy for the work being done, like light shades of blue and green for medical and dental offices; soft, earthy tones for building good relationships with clients. Places filled with high-tech electronic devices can be balanced out with soft green tones and wooden finishes.
Avoid harsh white walls that induce stressful energy, or too much hard red or black walls that radiate negative energy.
#7 No Sharp Corners
Sharp, pointy corners and objects have an innate ‘sha qi’ (杀气;killing energy) that is negative, so to combat this negative energy, avoid sitting facing sharp corners or even having sharp corners and objects facing you. Open-faced shelves are also considered to radiate negative energy, so if you can’t avoid them, just cover these sharp object or corners with a cloth or block them with a plant.
