Feng
Shui for Man's (or Woman's!) Best Friend
Written
by Shea Lynn
Feng
Shui for Man’s (or Woman’s!) Best Friend: I have been graced
by the unconditional love and companionship of my two dogs,
Bauer and Dharma. This relationship adds to the positive energy
of my life, and in turn, optimizes the good feng shui of my
home. I can’t help but to feel a sense of tenderness and joy
when I look down at their two happy, wagging, tail nubbins;
there is no finer feng shui energy than that which is created
from displays of love. Additionally, their movement and individual
sounds help to circulate energy to every corner of my home,
and their lively presence brings positive yang energy while
I am away, which is a very yin state, helping to maintain
a proper balance in my absence.
I
whole-heartedly believe that every space needs active energy
and love, and our pets bring us both. Our loving pets are
often considered members of the family, and as such, they
should be considered when you are reviewing the feng shui
of your home.
Regardless
of the type of pet that shares your living space, there are
some simple feng shui guidelines that range from common sense
suggestions about care and feeding, to things you might not
consider, such as how our “other children” can impact our
relationships, finances or even our health.
The
following are feng shui considerations to help keep the proper
balance in your home when it is shared with pets:
Pet
Feng Shui, From Their Perspective:
We
can invigorate and enhance the chi of our pets by including
them in our daily walks, by offering them one-on-one playtime,
and by extending our love and affection to them. The best
part of all of this? Their return of happiness works to enhance
and invigorate our chi as well!
Your
pet should be clean, smell good and have its own place within
the environment. Create a “personal” space for your pet with
a bed or rug.
Set
aside a personal dining area for your pet. You can make this
area visually appealing by using bright colored bowls. Make
sure the food and water are always fresh, and the area and
containers are kept clean. Dried, smelling canned cat food
left out does not contribute to good feng shui for either
person or pet!
Do
not allow your animal’s toys to take over the house; their
environment should be free of clutter as well!
If
you own a cat, make sure the litter is hooded and kept fresh
at all times; daily cleaning is recommended. Offensive smells
are considered “shars”, or negative energy.
If
you own fish, which in feng shui represents success and wealth,
make sure the tank is maintained in pristine condition. If
you can’t see your finned friends through the muck of algae
or dirty water, your fish will not prosper, nor will you.
Pet
Feng Shui, From Our Perspective: Keeping Pets and People Balanced:
Having
a loving pet is good for you, but the pet must also be good
for the entire family and home. If it is not, this will inadvertently
affect the balance of the home, and the feng shui will be
impacted. The end result could mean that life is not as good
as it could, or should, be.
Pets
should not be allowed to sleep on the bed, and this is particularly
important for couples. Having this “third party” present will
divide the couple, getting in the way of romance, and sometimes
the relationship. This also interferes with sleep, which is
very important for personal health and wellbeing. If you simply
cannot part with your best friend during the night time hours,
then purchase them a luxurious bed of their own, allowing
them to still sleep close by (the more lavish and beautiful
the bed, the less guilt you will feel shooing them to the
floor).
Pets
should enhance a home, not dominate it. Maybe you have a dog
that barks, jumps on or scares people as soon as they enter
your home. If this is the case, you have a situation where
every time someone comes into your home, they bring fear with
them, which can impact the good feng shui of your home. It
is recommended that they be secured in another room when visitors
are expected.
Your
pets should not come above other people in your home. This
sounds quite obvious, but it is not uncommon for people to
bestow more love and affection on their pets than on their
spouse or children. Feng shui is all about striking a balance.
Keep
your environment clean and free from pet impact! If you have
to pull out the lint brush for friends and family before they
leave your home, this could prevent a return visit from them.
Clinging fur and pet dirt is very “yin” and will make your
guests feel depleted or dirty when they leave your home. This
energy emitted by visitors will in turn make your house feel
very yin as well.
A
healthy, loving pet can invigorate the chi energy of any environment
and there is an interconnection with loving and honoring your
pet and creating a greater sense of wellbeing and happiness
for yourself and your home. The simple interaction between
human and animal (and I use the word loosely!) is truly astounding
and spirit lifting. Embrace the love and nurturing that our
pets offer us, helping to enrich our lives and reward us with
their vital chi energy.
