Adding Positive Energy During the Winter Months

Welcome to your February wellness blog. I thought I’d tap into the elements of Feng Shui this month since I was inspired by a current trip I’m on and thought others could benefit from tapping into these elements.

Over the holidays I was in New Jersey, and after a few weeks in the cold (and after the first time it snowed and I had to clear off my car) I threw in the towel and decided to hibernate for the rest of the winter in Australia. I’ve never been a fan of the cold, (despite growing up in the northeast,) hence why I moved to North Carolina. After working from here the last 6 weeks and visiting both coasts, I realize that every time I am on the water I am at peace and just innately happy, no matter what is going on externally.

I am a Cancer, which is a water sign, so it’s no surprise being on the water is my happy place. But whether you follow astrology or not, this inspired me to provide some education around the different Feng Shui signs and how we can incorporate them to add more peace and positive energy into our lives.

So before we get into the elements, what is Feng Shui?

Feng Shui is an ancient practice that originated in China thousands of years ago. The words ‘feng’ and ‘shui’ literally translate to wind and water which is just a poetic way to describe the flow and containment of energy. Feng Shui is all about using the energy around us to create more balance and harmony in our lives.

There are five elements- Wood, Earth, Metal, Fire, Water.
While we may gravitate towards one more than others, it is possible to integrate a little bit of all the elements into our physical spaces in order to promote feelings of peace and tranquility.Here are some ways to do that:
Wood- This signals growth so look at adding a living being like a plant or flowers into your space, or you can incorporate something made of bamboo.

Earth– Spend time grounding by stepping barefoot on the earth (when it’s not snowing that is!) The act of standing on the earth can pull you into the present moment and help you feel more grounded. Since it’s a bit cold outside, one way to do this indoors is to add sculptures or pottery to your space.

Metal– Incorporate things made of metal into your space, as well as the different metallic colors- silver, gold and copper.
Fire– Cozy up near a fire; Light candles in your home.

Water– Drink more water; Look at pictures of the water (perhaps a phone or computer background); Be mindful when you’re using water (i.e.- shower, brushing your teeth) of how it feels on your skin.

1. Think about the elements you feel most attracted to and incorporate them into your work space (i.e.- candles, pictures of the outdoors, a framed picture of you at the beach or a water bottle next to your computer).
2. Use plants to bring in elements of nature and grounding.
3. Can you incorporate more natural light into your space? Its best to have multiple light sources of different warmth levels. Cool light is more energizing and is better for analytical thinking and work that requires concentration, while warm light is more relaxing and better for creative thinking. Warm light (overhead or lamps) is better for the morning and late afternoon while cool light is better to utilize in the middle of the day.
4. Use art to add inspiration to your space. Pick things that uplift you or make you smile.
5. Remove clutter! Clutter causes stagnation of energy in all areas of your life (and stagnation of energy leads to more clutter). Start by removing paper clutter, and spending 5 minutes at the end of the day to organize your work space so it’s clean for the following day.
6. Clear your energy- One way to do this is diffusing essential oils, just make sure they are pure oils. My recommendation is a brand like doTerra– https://www.doterra.com/US/en/site/10660239). You could also use sage or palo santo to energetically cleanse your space.

Which of these tips resonates most with you? I’d love to hear from you. Message me at georgia@dailydose-wellness.com or connect with me on Instagram @georgiahomsany.

Hope you try and add a few of these tips to bring more positive energy into your home and work space to get through the winter slump!