Practicing Feng Shui: Connecting the Mind, the Body and the Environment

In Daoist philosophy, three distinct forces - or sources of energy - shape our existence, decisions and well-being: Heaven, Earth, and Man.

Heaven represents the Source of Creation - the energy bestowed upon us at conception. Its origins are unknown and beyond human comprehension; we cannot fully grasp how or where it enters the body. This celestial force manifests as the mind, spirit, consciousness and awareness, connecting us to something greater than ourselves and is often expressed through religion, ceremony and ritual.

Earth refers to nature and the natural energies that exist around and within us. These are expressed through the Five Elements - Earth, Metal, Wood, Water, and Fire - which form the foundation of both the physical world and our own inner nature. As beings of the Earth, we share in these elemental energies, constantly influenced by the environment we live in.

Man, or the human body, serves as the rod or bridge between Heaven and Earth. It is the medium through which these two energies meet and interact, giving us both physical vitality and mental awareness.

Feng Shui is the practice of aligning and balancing these three sources of energy. By bringing Heaven, Earth, and Man into harmony, Feng Shui helps create a natural flow that supports awareness, health, clarity, and well-being, a sense of Ikigai. True Feng Shui is holistic; none of these elements can be understood or practiced in isolation.

We will begin by exploring the body, then the mind, and finally the environment, to understand how Feng Shui truly works as a holistic, intentional and goal-driven practice - one rooted in balance and awareness rather than superstition or mysticism.

The Body: Where Feng Shui Begins

As the body serves as the vessel that connects the mind and consciousness with the environment, it forms the foundation for any true Feng Shui practice. Before we can bring about change in our lives, we must first nurture our own physical well-being. When the body is weak or unbalanced, it becomes difficult to manage change or respond to life’s challenges. For this reason, physical health, regular movement, and a balanced diet are essential components of any holistic Feng Shui practice.

During our sessions - and in every in-person consultation - we include Qigong and Taichi as part of our Keiko, or intentional physical practice.

Qigong, often described as “meditation in motion,” integrates gentle, coordinated movements with mindful breathing and focused awareness. Its purpose is to cultivate and balance qi - the vital life energy that flows through the body. This practice harmonizes the body, mind, and spirit, forming the first step toward inner balance and well-being.

We teach two foundational Qigong forms:

• The Six Healing Sounds (Liu Zi Jue, 六字訣): a series of movements combined with specific sounds and breathing techniques, each linked to one of the body’s major organs. This practice helps regulate internal energy and restore balance within the body.

  
  

• The Eight Essential Movements (Ba Duan Jin, 八段錦), also known as the Eight Silken Movements: a sequence of slow, flowing exercises designed to stretch and strengthen muscles, improve posture, enhance circulation, and activate the body’s natural energy systems.

  
  

Once these foundational forms are established, we progress to Taichi (Taijiquan) - a more advanced practice that blends the principles of qigong with the mindful discipline of martial arts. Through slow, deliberate movements, controlled breathing, and deep mental focus, taichi refines the connection between body, mind, and environment - bringing all aspects of one’s being into balance and flow.

We also encourage following a diet that aligns with the Five Elements and the energetic qualities of food. Eating seasonally is an important part of this practice - it reflects nature’s rhythm and helps us stay connected to the environment and the land we live on. Seasonal foods carry the specific energy or “frequency” our bodies need at different times of the year, supporting natural balance and vitality.

As part of your personal Feng Shui and Energy Assessment, you will receive dietary recommendations based on your unique Energetic Code or Ba Zi (八字) Code, also known as a Destiny Code.

The Ba Zi is a traditional Daoist calculation that reveals your individual energetic composition and potential according to the Five Elements - Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. By understanding your personal energy profile, we can identify which foods and flavors best support your constitution and help bring your system into balance.

This personalized approach not only enhances physical health but also deepens your connection to the natural world, aligning your inner energy with the natural cycles within and around you.

The Mind: Living with Intention

When working with the mind, or the energy you were given at conception, we continue to analyze your personal Energetic or Destiny Code using your Ba Zi chart. Beyond providing guidance on diet, the chart also offers insights into your personality, career, health, relationships, and overall life path.

This chart helps you understand your energy patterns and to make better-informed decisions based on your unique energetic code. It creates an opportunity to plan and live your life with minimal resistance, to act at the right time, and to live your life to your full potential.

Ba Zi analysis incorporates the Five Elements and their interactions, allowing a deeper understanding of the dynamic interplay within a person’s destiny and purpose in life - your ikigai.

As part of this process, you will also reflect on your goals, aspirations, and reasons for initiating change in your life. We will explore your ikigai - your personal reason for being - and intentionally reinforce these through your home’s energetic blueprint using the Ba Gua.

The ba gua is an octagonal diagram that represents the fundamental principles of existence according to Daoist philosophy. It reflects the eight trigrams, which are combinations of broken and unbroken lines symbolizing yin and yang, the Five Elements, and the main life aspirations as applied in Feng Shui. By mapping your goals and energy onto this blueprint, you create a purposeful and intentional connection between your mind, your life intentions, and the environment you inhabit.

The Earth: Reinforcing our Aspirations

Finally, we will use the blueprint created earlier to integrate your goals and intentions into the floor plan of your space. Through mindful furniture placement, color, shapes, and the Five Elements, we design your living space, workspace, or garden to intentionally reinforce your aspirations. This process reconnects you with the higher-mind and natural energies of the environment, brings harmony into your daily life, and becomes a supportive extension of your personal energy.

We also work with the directional energies of the Earth. Using your Ba Zi, we identify your favorable directions, which can guide furniture placement, meditation, and keiko practice. At the same time, we locate sources of positive and negative energies, including man-made influences such as electrosmog and indoor air pollution - principles central to building biology - to ensure your space supports your goals, aspirations and well-being.

In the design and décor of your home, we prioritize natural, environmentally friendly materials, products, and furniture, leaving a lighter footprint on the planet. Energy efficiency is also a key consideration, creating spaces that consume less energy and support sustainable living.

We strongly advocate for minimalism as the purest expression of environmental consciousness. True Feng Shui, living to your full potential, and discovering your ikigai require removing what does not serve you or the environment. Every item in your home is a source of energy. The more possessions you have, the more scattered that energy becomes, making it harder to live intentionally. Your home - or at least one dedicated space - should be stripped to the essentials, creating a mindful sanctuary rather than a distraction.

Possessions should be functional, aesthetically pleasing, and supportive of your well-being, whether energetically, physically, or mentally. This focus allows you to stay aligned with your goals and aspirations, live with intent, and embrace action and change with minimal resistance.

Finally, we emphasize reconnecting with nature. By incorporating the Five Elements, spending more time in nature, and bringing natural elements into your home through plants, open spaces, natural furnishings and textiles, and using chemical free and organic products, you harmonize your living environment with the rhythms of the natural world.

Spending time in nature is essential for restoring balance - both physically and mentally. In our fast-paced, technology-driven lives, nature offers a powerful counterbalance: it slows us down, grounds our nervous system, and reconnects us with something greater than ourselves. Simply walking through a forest, sitting by the ocean, or listening to birdsong can reduce stress, improve focus, and uplift our mood. On a deeper level, nature reminds us of the rhythms and cycles that govern all life - birth, growth, decay, renewal - and helps us feel more connected, calm, and alive. It's not just leisure; it's medicine for the soul.

Summary: Connecting the Mind, the Body and the Environment

Feng Shui is a holistic practice that reminds us that our well-being arises from the balance between mind, body, and environment. By nurturing the body through mindful movement such as qigong and taichi, and a diet aligned with the five elements, we cultivate physical health and energy. By understanding our personal Energetic Code and reflecting on our goals and ikigai, we strengthen the mind, clarifying our intentions and purpose in life.

The environment, as an extension of our energy, becomes a tool for support and harmony. Through intentional design, minimalism, and sustainable choices - careful placement of furniture, colors, shapes, and incorporation of natural elements - we align our living and working spaces with the higher-mind and the natural cycles around us. This connection deepens our awareness, reduces mental and material clutter, and reinforces our goals with purpose.

Together, these practices form an integrated path: the body channels energy, the mind directs intention, and the environment supports both. Living this way allows us to move through life with ease, purpose, and joy - aware of the energies that shape us and in tune with the world around us. In embracing this balance, we are not just practicing Feng Shui; we are creating a life that is truly aligned, meaningful, and worth living. A life that flows like Wind and Water.