Crystal & Feng Shui
How can you use crystals and feng shui to maximize the energy of a space?
Feng shui dates back to around 960 B.C. and encompasses many different meanings. There are numerous ways to apply feng shui in the home, office, or home office. Feng Shui translates to “wind and water.” These are the two fundamental elements necessary for sustaining life. All areas of the Earth contain wind and water that circulate “qi”—known as life energy. Feng Shui is often referred to as the art of arrangement, as it circulates and balances your personal energy. You can use crystals to enhance or reduce the energy you need.
To get started with Feng Shui, it’s important to clear your space of clutter so that “qi” can flow freely throughout the room. This doesn’t mean you need to throw everything away, but rather that you should remove any obstacles or items blocking the flow of energy. Pay special attention to items blocking doorways and windows, as these are the points where energy enters and exits. Clutter in your home should be viewed as clogged arteries or tumors within the body.
Objects send subconscious messages. If you have anything broken in your home, either repair it or throw it away immediately to avoid creating obstacles for yourself. If you find that a broken item is still beautiful, you don’t need to discard it. However, just like wall hangings, if a friend has given you a gift that drains your energy or reminds you of negative experiences, it’s best to donate or discard it. It’s also a good idea to place wall hangings and items on shelves at eye level or lower, so you don’t convey the message that your goals and desires are out of reach. Similarly, you don’t want items placed so low that you have to look down at them, as this may send a subconscious message that limits yourself.
Next, you need to understand the five elements of Feng Shui: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water.
Generally speaking, it’s best to keep all Feng Shui elements in balance or to use 3–5 Feng Shui elements in each space. Feng Shui elements provide unique energies on their own and interact with one another to produce either enhancing or weakening effects. Before we delve into how Feng Shui elements interact, it’s important to understand the basic principles of each element.
Wood
In Feng Shui, Wood energy has a nourishing effect, promoting physical and mental growth, and is highly beneficial for new beginnings. The symbols of Wood energy in Feng Shui are green and brown (think of the colors of living things, such as flowers and plants), and may also include light blue and medium blue, as well as rectangular shapes. It is well known that Wood energy is essential to our health and can enhance dining areas, children’s rooms, and project spaces.
Crystals associated with Wood energy include: green Dongling jade, green calcite, peridot, chrysoberyl, grape stone, jade, green opal, malachite, chicken-blood stone, and green apatite, among others.
Fire
In Feng Shui, fire energy is vibrant, warm, passionate, inspiring, intense, and powerful. It is important to use fire energy in moderation, as it can also be destructive. It is represented by shades of red (including orange and purple) and the triangle. Fire energy in Feng Shui is suitable for spaces that require high energy, and it can be used during the winter months—when sunlight is scarce—to enhance the energy of the sun.
Red, orange, and purple crystals bring this energy into a space, such as red jasper, rhodonite, red garnet, goldstone, red agate, calcite (pink, red, and orange), rose quartz, and amethyst.
Earth
In Feng Shui, Earth energy represents grounding, balance, and stability. The symbols of Earth energy are light brown, reddish-brown, and square shapes. Any earth-toned crystal helps enhance serene spaces that require calming energy. If you are seeking control and protection, you can also utilize this Feng Shui energy.
Examples of such crystals include: brown garnet, brown agate, mahogany obsidian, bumblebee jasper, ocean jasper, multicolored jasper, sunstone, citrine, and tiger’s eye, among others.
Metal
In Feng Shui, the energy of Metal embodies the qualities of wisdom, healing, and creativity. Metal brings us focus, determination, and organizational skills. It is an excellent Feng Shui element for your home office or workspace. Metal is sharp and hard, and therefore has a protective quality. The symbolic colors of Metal are white, gray, silver, gold, copper, and metallic sheen, and its symbolic shape is the circle.
Crystals with these characteristics can infuse a space with Metal energy. They include garnet, rutile quartz, chalcopyrite, pyrite, and goldstone.
Water
In Feng Shui, the energy of water possesses the power to purify, nourish, and calm. Water is symbolized by water itself, the colors blue and black, reflective surfaces, and wavy lines. In Feng Shui, the energy of water is well-suited for spaces dedicated to relaxation and reflection.
Crystals associated with water energy include Angel Halo Quartz, Blue Lace Agate, Lapis Lazuli, Blue Calcite, Sodalite, Angelite, Lapis Lazuli, Smoky Quartz, Black Tourmaline, Black Agate, Hematite, and Obsidian, among others.
You might be wondering, “How do I know what my space needs?”
People often instinctively find items that contain the energy they need without even thinking about it—and end up surprising themselves! When you start working with Feng Shui energy, it can be helpful to do the following:
Walk into a space, look around, and think about the activities you do or want to do there. Do you want this space to be yin or yang?
Yin = stability, vitality, introspection, cool colors
Yang = change, expression, socializing, warm colors
What emotions am I currently feeling in this space? What is causing me to feel this way? Pay special attention to the things that bring you joy or the energy you want to feel.
Make a note of which items need to be removed from the space that no longer serve you. Once you’ve made a plan for your space, begin removing the items you’ve marked for removal. Then assess the flow of the space. Imagine energy and your gaze moving easily and calmly through the space. Remove anything around the space that blocks the flow, then organize and tidy up the space.
*Holding a grape stone while doing this exercise can help you see what’s cluttering the space and assist you in letting go of what you no longer need. The grape stone can also help you organize the items you wish to keep.
For example: hot/cold, masculine/feminine, light/dark, birth/death.
Yang personalities are extroverted, impulsive, proactive, and focused on the big picture.
Yin personalities are introverted, introspective, thoughtful, and detail-oriented.
Yang elements—Earth, Wood, Fire
Yin elements—Earth, Water, Metal
Earth is a balanced element, so it can be either Yin or Yang.
Wood gives rise to Fire
Fire gives rise to Earth
Earth gives rise to Metal
Metal overcomes Water
Water gives rise to Wood
In Feng Shui, the energy/support relationships mean that if you want to enhance the energy of a particular element, locate it on this chart and move counterclockwise to see the associated elements. Fire is fueled by the energy of Wood. For example, pairing carnelian (or other “Fire” stones) with jade (or other “Wood” stones) can enhance the energy of Fire.
The inhibitory relationships among Feng Shui elements are:
Wood inhibits Earth
Earth inhibits Water
Water inhibits Fire
Fire melts Metal
Metal inhibits Wood
Weakening relationships are best applied in rooms where it is impossible to remove the element you wish to weaken (such as wood paneling on the walls) without costly renovations, or where the layout of the space cannot be altered (e.g., in apartment living). Let’s take wooden paneling as an example. Since there is too much Wood element on the walls, you need to use items with the Metal element to reduce the influence of the Wood element. You can place crystals with the Metal element in this space, such as pyrite or any other metal-element crystal of your choice.
Let’s look at where to place the crystals:
Place black tourmaline at the outdoor entrance to protect yourself.
Place amethyst in the living room to relieve anxiety and promote self-control.
Place celestite in gathering spaces to facilitate communication.
Place clear gypsum (selenite) under your bed or pillow to bring positive energy.
Rose quartz placed in the bedroom brings the energy of love
Citrine placed in the office helps with concentration
Place graphite near electronic devices to shield against electromagnetic radiation
