 The House As A Metaphor
In Feng Shui
by Mary Swick
Using the interpretive skills of Western Feng Shui, the house provides an endless source of information about the individual. From experience, we know the location or address of a home gives clues to the outer image of the occupants. The address may project an image reflecting financial income, social status or choice of lifestyle. These clues are somewhat obvious and easy to read.
However, the inside of the home is a harder read as it reflects the inner being or the soul path of the individual. Similar to the adage that if two people live together long enough they start looking like each other, the interior of the home reflects the owner's approach to life.
Reflecting on oneself can be complex and overwhelming when viewed in psychological terms, but when presented through interior furnishings the message can come through loud and clear. Consider the following scenario:
A man kept his spare bedroom, located in his fame and reputation gua, (center back) in total darkness, keeping the door closed and the blackout drapes drawn 24/7. He admitted he never went into the room.
When he learned the location of the room reflected his reputation, he realized how he had been "almost hiding out" in his profession - shunning all social and networking opportunities. He also admitted he was very uncomfortable with praise or attention. As a first step to enhancing his reputation he agreed to keep the door open to the spare bedroom.
A homeowner had an outside door blocked by a large trunk located in the career gua (center front) of her
floor plan.
As she understood the significance of the career gua, she realized how she had been stubbornly blocking and resisting changes in her job.
A business owner hung a picture in her office, of a house precariously perched at the edge of a cliff.
When we discussed the inherent symbolism, she quickly admitted that every day she was motivated by the fear of losing her business. She was instantly motivated to take the picture down and replace it with a picture suggesting stability and success.
A medical doctor featured a print of a dead-end road in the wealth gua (back left corner) of the office.
Quickly, the doctor saw the placement of the "dead-end" road as mirroring his struggling practice. He removed the print and hung a print of a large vista.
A corporation, which had recently moved into their new office, featured a turbulent ocean scene in the CFO's financial gua (back left corner).
This CFO immediately saw the symbolic correlation between the turbulent ocean picture and newly churned up financial issues. Immediately the turbulent ocean scene was exchanged with a beautifully framed treasure map.
A home featured a relief sculpture of a nude man amorously flanked by two women in the relationship gua ( back right corner)?
When the husband and the wife realized the implications of the sculpture in their relationship gua, thankfully the husband immediately took it down. They both agreed other women continually challenged their marriage in both business and social settings.
A homeowner made everyone laugh in a recent workshop at Becker Community School when she stood up and announced that a car had run into her house the previous month.
After the laughter subsided, we discussed the symbolism of a car running into her wealth gua. Sure enough her finances had been in a "symbolic wreck" involving a sudden resignation from a job and other complicating factors.
A man had a beautiful tie collection openly displayed in his (back right corner) relationship gua.
When prodded, he admitted he was involved with a woman who kept him on a short leash. He further described the relationship as having a stranglehold on him. When he realized his words were describing the ties as well as his relationship he immediately made plans to move the tie collection.
In all of these cases, once the homeowners realized the significance of the house and the placement of objects in relation to the guas of their floor plan, little discussion was required. The inherent symbolism was so obvious to the individuals they were instantly motivated to take charge of the situation.
By studying their personal spaces, these individuals gained clarity about how they were living their life and conducting their business. They easily saw how their personal spaces were mirroring their lives. These revelations motivated them to move specific furniture and pictures, triggering new developments in their life.
Using the very basic principles of Feng Shui, these clients were able to learn about themselves and enhance their home and work space…What is your personal space saying about yourself?
Mary Swick is available for home and business consultations and offers Feng Shui workshops. Contact her at 702-451-2855 or email to
thefengshuilady@msn.com
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