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EMF and Feng Shui: Bridging Ancient Practices with Modern Technology
While electromagnetic fields (EMF) occur naturally, they have been heightened by modern technology. Any device that runs on electricity emits EMF, whether they are wired devices or battery powered. For any of us living a modern life, electromagnetic fields are unavoidable.
We are almost always within a few feet of cell phones, computers, Bluetooth devices, smart devices, etc. That doesn’t even include the radio waves, television waves, cellular signals, and WiFi signals bombarding us from all directions. Is that necessarily a bad thing? What does Feng Shui have to say about it?
What is EMF?
EMF is a flow of energy, but it is an energy caused by a spectrum of sources that vibrate at different frequencies. These can include the Earth’s magnetic field, electrical power, radio waves, cellular technology, microwaves, sunlight, x-rays, and even radioactive sources.
We already know for certain that some of these frequencies of the spectrum are harmful. This is why those working with radioactive materials wear hazmat suits. It’s why you wear a lead apron when you get dental x-rays. It’s why it is recommended to apply sunscreen before spending time in the sun.
Extended and close exposure to at some other frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum may also have harmful effects. We just might not know it, yet. A deep dive into the differences between ionizing radiation and non-ionizing radiation aside, there have been a variety of contradictory studies about the effects of EMF on the human body. Then again, there were also several contradictory studies about the effects of smoking, asbestos, and leaded gasoline for decades before it was widely accepted that they were all bad for our health. Just maybe Mother knows best when she says not to stand too close to the TV or microwave.
Feng Shui Energy
While Feng Shui deals largely with balance, it is also concerned with the flow of an energy called Chi. In fact, Feng Shui literally translates to “wind-water”. We look for ways to guide the flow of Chi energy for our benefit. It’s like guiding river water to irrigate a farm while also preventing floods at home. While Feng Shui didn’t historically deal with today’s electrical technologies, its practices regarding Chi did interact with Earth’s magnetic field. It is only the past few centuries that humans have discovered other EMF sources, from electricity to gamma rays.
Effects of EMF
In my experience and from many clients’ experiences, electromagnetism from everyday devices can have at least an anecdotal impact. I’ve noticed that an electric alarm clock or a cell phone charging next to the bed negatively impacts sleep. In turn, that nighttime restlessness causes nervousness, fatigue, headaches, and reduced concentration during the day. Some clients are even convinced that extended exposure to wireless devices and unshielded electronics are harmful to them.
I can’t say for certain that EMF is a cause of health issues. But I can make and do recommend minor daily changes to reduce the potential risk — just in case. I don’t want to scare you or expect you to completely cut yourself off from technology. However, even minor changes may be very beneficial in the long-term. Here are some steps that I personally commit to and recommend to my clients:
Bedroom Changes
If possible, remove or significantly reduce all electronics around your sleeping area. I recommend to all of my clients that they not have a television in their bedroom, for instance. If you absolutely must have a cell phone in your bedroom, charge it during the day instead of next to you at night. Set your phone to Airplane Mode or another feature to prevent or limit wireless signals (including cellular, WiFi, and Bluetooth) from emitting while you sleep. The only electronic devices I like to see in a bedroom are soft lighting and a white noise sound machine away from the bed.
Distance Yourself From Wireless Devices
At all other times, try to reduce your proximity to wireless devices like cell phones, WiFi routers, smart devices, etc. Keep WiFi routers in the most remote area of the house that still provides a decent signal where you need it. When working, keep your cell phone at least a few feet away instead of in your pocket or bra. When you’re on a phone call, try to use earbuds (preferably wired Air Tube headphones) or the speaker function on the phone. Limit or tuck away “smart” assistants, speakers, plugs, and bulbs, as well as other Bluetooth and WiFi-enabled devices.
Make Changes to Your Computer Desk
You spend a lot of time at your desk. Use wired devices instead of wireless ones at your computer workstation. Whenever possible, opt for a wired mouse, keyboard, headset, printer, speakers, and network connection. With computer screens, keep your distance of at least a foot away, if not more.
Be Careful of Larger Appliances
Sit far from TV screens, just like Mom used to tell you. Don’t stand next to cooking devices like microwaves when they are running.
Insulate Electrical Wiring
Use shielded wiring when possible and shielded wire looms to wrap several cables together. This not only blocks EMF, but also reduces the clutter.
Use House Plants
Use house plants to help absorb radiation. While specific plants should be chosen for certain areas of the home or office for Feng Shui purposes, studies have shown that there are some plants in general that have been found to best absorb radiation. These include cactuses, snake plants, stone lotus flowers, aloe vera, asparagus ferns, and mustard greens.
Take a Break
Take frequent breaks from electronic devices. Ten minutes here and there during the day certainly helps. Take some time to go on a walk, meditate, or have an electronics-free lunch or coffee break with your spouse or a coworker. Take an even bigger break by taking a vacation to a place where you can completely disconnect for a little while to allow your body to rejuvenate.
Get an EMF Reader
Get an EMF reader to check the electromagnetic readings of the various outlets and devices in your home and workspace.
For an eye-opening intro to your new device, place the reader near a microwave actively running and pull the reader back slowly until the EMF reading eventually goes away. You’ve just essentially measured the distance of the microwave’s electromagnetic field. Do the same with other devices like your WiFi router, cooking devices, computer equipment, cell phones, Bluetooth headsets, smart devices, etc. Some power outlets, fuse boxes, and wiring behind your walls may emit more EMF than others because of poor shielding around the wires and connections.
Use your findings to help you determine which devices and wiring to replace or further shield. You’ll also understand how large the electromagnetic fields are around the devices you absolutely can’t live without. This way, you can keep your distance, when possible. Note that consumer-grade EMF readers won’t be able to measure longer-range EMF like radio waves, television waves, and 5G cellular, but we all know that they exist. Otherwise, our radios, TVs, and cell phones wouldn’t work as intended.
Other Actions for Health
Besides EMF, Feng Shui deals with so many more situations that may impact your health and wellness, including homes at T-intersections, having a spiral staircase, sleep tips, and various bedroom layouts. If you are particularly interested in learning more about how to Feng Shui for better health in your home and office, be sure to read my recent blog post about health and all about the Health Area of the Feng Shui Bagua.
Next Steps
Think of your home as an energy magnet and focus on bringing in things that will bring positive, fresh energy into your life. May you and your family have a home filled with health, happiness and abundance.
If you need guidance to improve your space and your life, I’m always available to help. Learn more on my website today and book a virtual consultation. Better Feng Shui can help you in profound ways on life’s journey.
I am a 3rd generation Feng Shui expert and have helped thousands of people add harmony and balance to their homes and offices without making it look like a Chinese restaurant exploded.
I can help you attract the life that you deserve with Feng Shui. Contact me today!
Notes: I’m careful to link to products that I use myself and recommend to my clients, when those products are necessary. I earn a small commission if you purchase through these links, which enables me to produce and publish free content for you to learn from.
Health, Above All Else in Feng Shui
Have you ever studied or even looked at a Feng Shui Bagua? The basis of the Feng Shui that I practice is the Bagua. This is a tool used to analyze the energy of a space. Think of it like a map of your space. It helps show you which areas of your home are connected to specific areas of your life. It helps to think of this map as a tic-tac-toe board with nine segments.
Right at the center of this Bagua map is the Health Area. The Health Area touches every other aspect of the map: Career, Knowledge, Family, Prosperity & Wealth, Reputation & Fame, Love & Marriage, Creativity & Children, and Helpful People & Travel.
Using the colorful Bagua, we can now look at the individual areas so that we can determine how we affect and are affected by the Chi that flows through these segmented surroundings.
Your Health Area is in the middle of your home and should be the center of your life. With your good health, all other areas of your Feng Shui Bagua can be supported. Intrigued? Read on to find out how you can enhance your health with Feng Shui.
More Details on the Health Area of your Home
When looking at the different Bagua areas of your home, it’s important to always have good health in the forefront of your mind. With good health, you can better enjoy all the other aspects of your life like relationships, creativity, travel, abundant wealth, etc.
- Primary element: Earth
- Best color: Earth tones/yellow
- Best shapes: Horizontal, flat, squared
- Complementary items: Red, fire, pointed, triangular
- Destructive items: Green, wood, tall columnar elements
First Things First, Clear the Clutter!
Good Feng Shui is all about positive energy flow throughout your home. Having clutter is a sure fire way of creating low, stagnant energy that is confusing and draining. This is why it’s important to clear the clutter and organize the space before moving forward to the next step. Sometimes that can mean just completely removing the items from the area and starting fresh. Once you have a clear space to work with, you can start fresh and create a health-friendly area.
Now Let’s Clear the Air
As mentioned above, earth is the primary element in the health area. So placing a potted plant in a ceramic pot or even a picture of a luscious mountainscape can help improve or maintain good health. Good air quality helps with good health, so air purifying plants are a great way to go!
Some great air purifying plants include a Cat Palm, Parlor Palm, Rubber Tree, English Ivy, Boston Fern, and Peace Lily, to name a few. If you are unable to have live plants, then silk plants or pictures of plants will have to do, but attempt other ways to boost the air quality in your home to enhance your health!
Complement the fresh air with a diffuser and natural essential oils to further clean the air and promote your health. Start with a purification essential oil to freshen the air and neutralize odors. Use frankincense and thieves essential oils to support your immune system.
Other Items to Include to Aid in Good Health
Everything in our surroundings carries an energy and that energy is playing a part in moving our lives forward in that direction. So it makes sense then that our décor, photos, paintings, sculptures, etc., or the things we look at each day are working on a subconscious level to bring those things that we see into reality, kind of like the law of attraction. This is why it’s important to choose objects that bring joy and fulfillment into our lives with our décor.
Look for photos of happy, healthy times with joyous memories and display them in the health area of your home. Place personal artwork such as vision boards or objects that represent what you desire to bring into your life in terms of a healthy family into this area. To create a warm feeling for your space, try something like a Himalayan pink salt lamp, as long as it fits your general interior design.
Affirm Your Health
The health area is also a good space for written affirmations about ideal health. These handwritten affirmations can be placed in a health and family box. Affirmations should be written with gratitude and written in present tense as if they are true right now.
If you are struggling to make ends meet, it could help by writing an affirmation about your ability to support yourself and your family. Affirmations should end with, “this or something better for the good of all concerned.” Remember to keep it positive and write it as a thank-you note, like it has already happened to you.
In Feng Shui, it’s believed that by working with the energy centers, you can both identify what’s going on in different areas of your life and improve it by certain practices and by putting objects in the respective Bagua area to encourage the energy to become activated.
Next Steps
Think of your home as an energy magnet and focus on bringing in things that will bring positive, fresh energy into your life. May you and your family have a home filled with health, happiness and abundance.
If you need guidance on how to improve your space and your life, I’m always available to help. Learn more on my website today and book a virtual consultation. Better Feng Shui can help you in profound ways on life’s journey.
I am a 3rd generation Feng Shui expert and have helped thousands of people add harmony and balance to their homes and offices without making it look like a Chinese restaurant exploded.
I can help you attract the life that you deserve with Feng Shui. Contact me today!
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Notes: Some essential oils should not be used around small children, certain pets, and anyone with allergies. I’m careful to link to products that I use myself and recommend to my clients, when those products are necessary. I earn a small commission if you purchase through these links, which enables me to produce and publish free content for you to learn from.
Get the Balance Right: Feng Shui Mirror Secrets
Mirrors are a powerful tool in feng shui. Using them, we have the ability to reflect energy as we want to bring balance to a space. However, it’s important to place mirrors carefully to maximize their positive effects and avoid negative consequences.
These are some of the do’s and don’ts regarding mirror placement that I advise my clients:
Do:
- Use mirrors to reflect positive energy. Use mirrors to reflect positive energy, such as natural light, plants, or other uplifting elements. This helps bring balance and harmony to your space.
- Use mirrors to create the illusion of more space. Use mirrors to make a room feel larger and more open. This is especially useful in small rooms, apartments, or in spaces with limited natural light.
- Place mirrors at the right height. The shortest and tallest people in a household should each be able to see themselves from at least their chests to above their heads in the mirror.
Don’t:
- Don’t place mirrors opposite each other. It’s bad feng shui to place mirrors opposite each other because this creates a feeling of instability or imbalance.
- Don’t place mirrors in areas with negative energy. Mirrors have the ability to reflect energy, so it’s important to avoid placing them in areas with negative energy. This includes areas with sharp corners, clutter, or other negative influences.
- Don’t place mirrors in the bedroom. In feng shui, it’s generally not recommended to place mirrors in the bedroom, as they can create a feeling of restlessness or disturbance. If you do need a mirror in the bedroom, it’s best to place it in a location where it won’t be directly reflected in the bed.
Types of Mirrors
Learn more about these types of mirrors, in particular, by following their links to specific blog posts:
Next Steps
By following these do’s and don’ts, you can effectively use mirrors in your home to bring balance and harmony, and avoid any negative consequences. Whether you’re looking to create the illusion of more space, reflect positive energy, or simply add a touch of style to your home, mirrors can be a powerful tool in feng shui.
If you need more specific and custom guidance to improve your space and your life, I’m available to help. Learn more on my website today and book a virtual consultation. Better feng shui can help you in profound ways on life’s journey.
I am a 3rd generation feng shui expert and have helped thousands of people add harmony and balance to their homes and offices without making it look like a Chinese restaurant exploded.
I can help you attract the life that you deserve with feng shui. Contact me today!
The Benefits of Adding Plants to Your Home or Office with Feng Shui
Plants are important in Feng Shui, as they attract energy to your space. Here are some great reasons to consider adding plants to your home or office with Feng Shui:
- Improve air quality: Plants are natural air purifiers, as they convert carbon dioxide to oxygen. When you add plants to your space, the cleaner air will improve your health.
- Reduce stress: Studies show that being around plants can improve your mood. Add plants to your space to create a calm environment.
- Increase productivity: Plants improve concentration and productivity. Add plants to your workspace to create a more positive environment that encourages you to concentrate to get more done.
- Enhance the energy of your space: In Feng Shui, plants are associated with the wood element. This represents growth, expansion, and new beginnings. Add plants to your space to bring about positive change in your life.
Adding plants to your space is a simple way to improve your well-being in feng shui. Choose plants that are appropriate for your space and care for them regularly to enjoy the many benefits they bring.
If you need more specific and custom guidance to improve your space and your life, I’m available to help. Learn more on my website today and book a virtual consultation. Better feng shui can help you in profound ways on life’s journey.
I am a 3rd generation feng shui expert and have helped thousands of people add harmony and balance to their homes and offices without making it look like a Chinese restaurant exploded.
I can help you attract the life that you deserve with feng shui. Contact me today!
Feng Shui Cures for Unemployment
Let’s be honest: unemployment sucks. Being out of work is stressful and it can be challenging to stay positively motivated while looking for a new job. Feng shui can help to create a better environment so you can better navigate this difficult time.
Here are six feng shui tips I give to my individual consulting clients that have been out of work for a while:
- Declutter your space: I can’t stress enough that you need to get rid of clutter because it blocks the flow of positive energy. It’s important to keep your space organized to give you a better feeling of focus. Get rid of items that you no longer use and ensure your space looks well-organized.
- Check your doors: Make sure that all doors and cabinets – inside and out – open and close easily. No squeaks or other noises. No cobwebs or dust. Ensure that your front door and the area around it is clean and clutter-free and that you have a clear path from your front door to the street.
- Clean your windows: Make sure you can see your opportunities clearly by cleaning your windows. Again, get rid of the dust and cobwebs and make sure the glass itself is adequately clear. If your windows are generally covered, open them up during the day to let in some natural light to improve your mood.
- Activate the Career Area: The Career Area of your home or office is located just as you walk through the front door. Again, make sure this area is clean and clutter-free. Because water is the element of the Career Area, you could add a fountain or artwork that shows water calmly flowing in towards the interior of your home.
- Practice daily affirmations: Positive affirmations will help you shift your mindset so that you can focus on your goals. Write down your affirmations that relate to your job search, such as “I am confident and capable in my job search” or “I am open to receiving new opportunities.” Read them aloud to yourself twice daily.
- De-clutter your friends: The people around you can have a significant impact on your job search and career success. Surround yourself with supportive friends and family that will help you stay motivated and focused on your goals. If you’re having trouble here, you may want to de-clutter your friends.
Feng shui can be a helpful tool to support your job search and create a positive environment. Follow the above steps so you can create an energy flow that supports your success and well-being. Good luck on your career journey!
If you need more specific and custom guidance to improve your space and your life, I’m available to help. Learn more on my website today and book a virtual consultation. Better feng shui can help you in profound ways on life’s journey.
I am a 3rd generation feng shui expert and have helped thousands of people add harmony and balance to their homes and offices without making it look like a Chinese restaurant exploded.
I can help you attract the life that you deserve with feng shui. Contact me today!
How to Feng Shui Your Bedroom
The bedroom is a key space in the home and can have a big impact on your sleep and overall well-being. When I consult with my clients, we typically focus a lot of attention to this area. By incorporating the principles of feng shui into your bedroom design, you can create a peaceful and harmonious space that promotes relaxation and rest. Here are some tips for feng shui-ing your bedroom:
- Choose a calm and neutral color palette. Soft, neutral colors such as white, beige, and pale blue can create a sense of tranquility and relaxation in the bedroom. Avoid bright, bold colors that can be stimulating and overwhelming.
- Incorporate natural elements. Nature has a calming and grounding effect, so incorporating natural elements such as plants, stones, and wood can help create a sense of balance and harmony in your bedroom.
- Use soft lighting. Bright, harsh lighting can be jarring and stressful, so it’s best to use soft, indirect lighting in the bedroom. You can use candles, dimmer switches, or low-wattage bulbs to create a soothing ambiance. Use blackout curtains, as well.
- Keep the bedroom clutter-free. Clutter can create a sense of chaos and disrupt the flow of energy, so it’s important to keep the bedroom clean and organized. Make sure to regularly declutter the space and remove any unnecessary items to maintain a sense of calm and order.
- Choose comfortable and relaxing materials. The materials you use in your bedroom can have a big impact on the energy of the space. Soft, comfortable materials such as plush blankets and pillows can create a sense of relaxation and comfort. Avoid hard, cold materials such as marble or concrete that can feel uninviting.
- Position the bed in a commanding position. In feng shui, it’s important to position the bed in a “commanding position,” which means that it should be placed in a spot where you can see the door but not directly in line with it. This helps to create a sense of protection and security in the bedroom.
- Reduce electronics. EMF devices like televisions and cell phones should be removed from the bedroom, if at all possible. The only electronic devices I like to see are a white noise sound machine and soft lighting.
By following these tips and using the principles of feng shui in your bedroom design, you can create a peaceful and harmonious space that promotes relaxation and rest.
If you need guidance to improve your space and your life, I’m always available to help. Learn more on my website today and book a virtual consultation. Better feng shui can help you in profound ways on life’s journey.
I am a 3rd generation feng shui expert and have helped thousands of people add harmony and balance to their homes and offices without making it look like a Chinese restaurant exploded.
I can help you attract the life that you deserve with feng shui. Contact me today!