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Serenity and stability of spirit

By on October 31, 2009

Photo © Elena Derevstova

 

One of the qualities of traditional Asian art and culture is serenity. The practice of Feng Shui has a reputation of creating tranquil living environments that bring a breath of fresh air to one’s inner being. Even without traditionally Asian decor, you can bring serenity and stability to your experience of self through conscious placement of appropriate objects in your home environment. 

 

The first order of business is clutter. Quite simply, it is a form of visual noise that creates mental dissonance, since it is a physical manifestation of things not quite fitting in our inner being. Clear surfaces and storage spaces, including closets and drawers, help provide easy access to what we need, and the more that stands in your way physically, the more thoughts (and circumstances) will stand between you and what you want. Clean, organized spaces are like the unobstructed neuronal pathways of clear thinking that exist when we peacefully bridge where we are and where we wish to be. While there is no problem having rich displays of your favourite objects, having them well ordered and minimizing their volume will add to your inner sense of calm. If clearing your space is challenging – and clutter management can be – at least give yourself the gift of having one clear surface, or one clear room, or even just one part of one room, so that you can have a space that supports that inner sense of balance and proportion.

 

Next on the agenda: Locate the geographical center of your home, which represents your own center. It is suggested that there be no large furniture or items in the center in order not to weigh down or obstruct your access to your own center. The same applies to each room. If you must have furniture in the center of the room, earth tones and square or cube forms help to add to the sense of grounding in that area. 

 

Artwork that depicts tranquil and contemplative themes can support inner stability, particularly when located in the front-left sector of a room (when looking into the room from the door). A butterfly, a mountain, a bouquet of flowers, and a lovely natural setting are all ideal images. The rose is a symbol of the soul’s essence in Western spiritual traditions, while Eastern practices use the lotus flower – depictions of these say ‘hello’ to your inner being in a profound way. Asian art also has a tradition of showing mankind within the context of larger forces – people are less the focus than the expansive natural setting in which they are located – and such images can help restore a balanced sense of proportion lacking from modern culture’s ego-driven perspective. 

 

May your surroundings reflect the true peaceful nature of your deepest inner being.

 

Mark Ainley is a contemporary Feng Shui consultant based in Vancouver. A former resident of Tokyo, he consults internationally for home and business owners. To contact him, write him at markainley@gmail.com or visit www.markainley.com

About Mark Ainley

Mark Ainley is a Contemporary Feng Shui Consultant and Emotional Stress Consultant living in Vancouver. A former 5-year resident of Tokyo, Mark consults with clients internationally to help them design living and work spaces in alignment with their goals. He also provides consulting in emotional stress management, as well as in the connection between facial structure and innate behavioural and communication patterns. He can be reached through his website: www.senseofspace.com and www.markainley.com.