Energy is our most precious gift from the cosmos. Ever since mankind’s existence began in the churning of the great oceans, the spark that gives us life is the energy within us. It is from our own energy source that the essence of our being is derived, enabling us to take pleasure from our relationships—both in giving and in receiving—and is what causes us to benefit from our work and our ambitions. It is the source from which we draw our spiritual strength, improve our physical appearance and actualize all our aims and desires, in the process benefiting both others and ourselves.

It is when we become conscious of our energy, knowing how we can nurture and tap into it, that life becomes meaningful. As we become aware of its great potency, we start to feel our invisible auras (radiating energy).

When the aura around you is robust, your home will vibrate with your personal energy. Human abodes resonate in tandem with the humans that live within them, and especially those residents whose auras reflect their vibrant personas. Thus, the auras of homes are powerful and strong when residents are energized, but are weak when residents are listless and down. If your aura vibrates with happiness and confidence, your home gives out the same energy, and this is a source of good luck and good fortune. Good-energy homes and people are incredibly potent in manifesting feelings of satisfaction, in fulfilling needs, and in actualizing goals. In short…in manifesting happiness.

In recent years, energy has become much more understood. There is an enthusiasm to discover how this energy can be tapped, enhanced and strengthened...so you will enhance your personal charisma, increase your effectiveness, and be like a magnet to wealth, health and fabulous relationships. Feng shui as a living skill is about improving the energy around us. It is about clarifying the energy inside homes and getting rid of the stale or imported negatives that cause suffering from bad luck, create unhappy vibrations and, worst of all, the sudden reversals of fortune.

When you energize yourself and your space, all dimensions of the self improve. All work done on improving the self has spillover effects in all areas of your life. Having plentiful, positive energy in your home is vital to your well-being. Energy levels are affected by the combination of yin and yang (complementary and opposite forces that make up the life force), the inclusion of positive elements, and the beneficial use of color. If you can follow the simple rules governing their use, you will be well on the way to receiving their positive benefits.

Always remember that chi energy (the circulating life force that is inherent in all things) is around us and our homes all the time, so it is essential to learn to harness it and make it work for you. If you have a good understanding of the positive power of space and realize the importance of keeping your main rooms clear of the clutter of life, you will successfully enhance the energy of your home.

Good-energy homes are those where both the space itself and everything in it, including the people who occupy it, exude balanced and vibrant energy. Feng shui offers guidelines for creating this harmony of spatial and human energy, and for ensuring a good mix of male and female energies.

A harmony of yin and yang, female and male energy, in the home is desirable. The secret lies in understanding the essence of yin and yang, as harmony does not necessarily rely on equal amounts of both. For vitality, action, and success in our pursuits, we need yang energy, but for rest, spirituality, and inner power, we need yin energy. A good-energy home reflects this balance of yin and yang.

• Good energy in a room gets insidiously corrupted when clutter builds up over time. Storage space is vital because clutter creates instant obstacles. It blocks the flow of energy in the living space without you realizing it. Clear away clutter every week. Common offenders are old newspapers and magazines, as well as pairs of shoes.
• The act of bringing in a new piece to your home should be accompanied by the removal of another piece. This could be an old sofa, table or a vase. This causes the chi to be symbolically replenished. In this way, the energy of the room rejuvenates from year to year. The new object you bring into your home need not be expensive—it could be a simple bowl in a shape and color that enhances the energy of the room.
• Creating an accumulation of good energy on both sides of the main front door is incredibly beneficial. If you have French doors leading from your living room into a garden, consider what is directly outside the door. Dead plants or clutter outside affects the feng shui inside, so keep both areas clean and fresh.
• Your bedroom signifies a place of security and sanctuary. It’s best to choose soothing colors rather than stimulating ones. Neutral colors work a lot better than primary ones. Bedroom lighting also should be muted. Keep decorative objects to a minimum. The aim is to create a tranquil environment that soothes the mind, allowing deep and restful sleep.
• Once a year, move every piece of furniture in each room away from its usual spot. Vacuum and clean the exposed spaces thoroughly. Either move the furniture back to its previous position or seize the opportunity to rearrange it. Not only does this start energy moving, but it is an efficient way to re-energize all the rooms in your home.
• Red apples combine the power of red with the power of peace. If you come from a large family where constant bickering is a problem, try this simple cure. Place a bowl of red apples in the room where disagreements most often occur. Change the apples regularly, as sour or bad fruit gives out harmful chi, causing energy to stagnate.
• Any lane or path leading to your main door should be curved and preferably winding. A straight path sends slivers of killing energy directly into the home. The width of the path should stay constant, neither narrowing toward the house nor away from it. Placing lights on the pathway is auspicious.
• Creating good energy around and near the main door is the first step in ensuring that only good energy enters the home. Usually the presence of metal energy in the form of celestial guardians, such as brass Fu dogs flanking the door, offers strong protection against afflictive energies.
• When your mind is positive, everything you do to improve the feng shui of your space will be strengthened and made a thousand times more effective. Thus, something as simple as placing a symbolic object in a certain corner of your home is sure to take on greater power to bring you new success when accompanied with a powerful inner intention, helping empower something that is already cosmically correct.
• A common problem for many who live in suburbia is the bad vibes that are caused by neighbors. One of the most effective cures to calm down noisy and quarrelsome vibes from the residence next to you, opposite you or behind you, is to place water in an urn with a large surface area. The water should ideally be still rather than bubbling. This is called “yin water.” Then place a light (perhaps a floating candle) in the center of the water. This creates a “dot” of yang energy that makes your yin water more powerful. Place this water near the wall that you share with the neighbor; it will absorb whatever hostile vibes may be coming through the walls before they can hurt you.