The Blending of Feng Shui , Aromatherapy, and Essential Oils
What comes to mind when you read or hear about “Feng Shui”?
Images of flowing water features, beautiful orchids, lush Zen gardens; the sound of wind chimes, the smell of fragrant flowers, the feel of smooth stones, the energetic “vibe” of warm and inviting interiors- all tend to appear in our mind’s eye when we “visualize” Feng Shui. These images convey calming and soothing sights, sounds, aromas, and textures which allow us to relax our mind, body, & spirit.
Feng Shui, the art and study of how our external environment impacts us “internally”, actually means Wind and Water when translated. Feng Shui is about the seen (Water) and unseen (Wind) Energetic forces of Nature, and how they interact and affect our daily lives. The underlying principle in Feng Shui is that Everything in our lives- every person, every possession, every thought, every “thing” around us- is pure, unadulterated Chi Life-force Energy. Energy, like gravity, is not visible to the human eye, but it is THE force of nature which is infused in us and in everything surrounding us.
The basic premise of Feng Shui is that the spaces where we spend our time have the ability to affect us in a variety of ways-energetically, physically, emotionally, spiritually. The goal of Feng Shui is to create Environments which energetically support, nurture, and balance us on all levels. When we are “in alignment” with our spaces, we are happier, healthier, and can flow through our daily lives with more ease and less stress!
To bring our environments into positive energetic alignment, we must become more conscious of how our senses respond to what we bring into our spaces- not just what we see, but also what we hear, touch, taste, and smell…Our senses allow us to FEEL emotions, which are either positive or negative. The goal of Feng Shui is to feel only positive and happy emotions in all of our spaces!!
Interestingly, scents and aromas are often overlooked as an integral part of Feng Shui…most Feng Shui practitioners focus on the well-known Bagua Map, the Five Element Balance, and Yin Yang Balance to assess a client’s Feng Shui needs and “issues”….these are all Key tools to creating “good” Feng Shui, however they focus more on the Visual, the Seen, the physical “things” in our spaces…Yet what happens when we are in a space that is Feng Shui “balanced”, but has an unpleasant or “bad” odor, due to any number of reasons: pets, stale and stagnant air, smoking, illness/health issues? Suddenly this “balanced” space is uncomfortable, unwelcoming, and unpleasant to be in!! Welcome, AROMATHERAPY!!
I recently “discovered” how perfectly Aromatherapy and Essential Oils” blend” with Feng Shui to create even more powerfully balanced and healthy environments.
As I am personally experimenting and incorporating aromatherapy with essential oils into my home and health routine, I have realized how significant scent is in our lives… who doesn’t love the fresh aroma of lemons, oranges, grapefruits, or the memories we associate with certain “seasonal” scents such as cinnamon, peppermint, apple, vanilla, or jasmine?
A gift from Nature, essential oils are natural aromatic compounds from plants- leaves, seeds, herbs, flowers, bark, roots- all bottled up for us to enjoy as scents and healing tonics. They have been used for thousands of years in many cultures for their health-related powers, as well as for their aromas. Relating back to Feng Shui and balancing our Environments energetically, essential oils hold distinct qualities which can either calm or activate Chi, in us and around us. Some examples are:
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Bergamot Essential Oil has a calming and soothing aroma and is often used in massage therapy due to its calming benefits. It can be used in spaces such as work, school or home where stress levels may be high, and can be applied to the feet at bedtime for a sense of calm and harmony.
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Peppermint Essential Oil can work to boost energy levels when diffused into the air, and promotes feelings of clear airways and easier breathing. It can help create focus when needed, such as during study and work.
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Lavender, one of the most well-known essential oils, is widely regarded for its calming and relaxing qualities, and can be used to help ease feelings of tension, as well as to get a restful sleep by either applying to the feet or placing a few drops on your pillow.
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Tangerine Essential oil has a soothing and relaxing aroma which can boost energy and uplift mood when diffused.
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Frankincense Essential oil, one of the most precious of all oils, has a variety of uses, from helping to rejuvenate skin when applied topically, to promoting feelings of relaxation and to balance mood when diffused.
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Wild Orange Essential oil can improve and purify the air, as well as having an energizing and revitalizing effect when diffused.
Many other Essential Oils and their benefits in helping to create and promote Balance in our Environment and lives can be found here:
Essential oils can be used by themselves, or mixed together to create aromas and properties which resonate with one’s energetic “state” of being- it is fun and easy to create your own essential oil blends which help Balance your space and your “self”- those which are uplifting and full of energy, or those which are calming and relaxing!
I am now incorporating Aromatherapy with essential oils into my Feng Shui Consulting practice, as another wonderful tool in my Feng Shui tool box to help my clients create balanced, harmonious, conscious Environments which relax the mind, body, and soul! Click Below for more info on Essential Oils!