Apparently, green is the important colour for interiors this
year. Green symbolises nature and psychologically it calms us,
as does blue.
It’s all about tranquil living, and as my photographs are often
described as such, it got me thinking about the time I had a Feng
Shui Consultation, and the consultant recommended that I used my
own framed photographic prints as Feng Shui ‘Cures’. So I did!
Having now moved in my new studio I have been thinking more and
more about Feng Shui - the study of how to arrange your space to
enhance your life once again.
It is possible for a print or photograph to move us, to have an
emotional impact, to stir our senses. In Feng Shui art serves
many purposes - it can bring positive energy to a blocked entry,
enliven a dead space, add the colour needed to balance energy and
generally makes us feel better.
When we love the piece of art we are looking at, is when it is
an effective Feng Shui cure - art can change the energy in any
space. If you are living with a piece of art that doesn’t appeal
to you, then it will have the opposite effect. It may be a piece
of art you bought when you were at a different stage of your
life, and now you have moved on. Or it may represent the opposite
of your goals.
Over time I confess I’ve tried most of the enhancements or cures,
for example placed crystals, wind chimes & plants in certain
locations. As well as using my own prints, I’ve decluttered,
practised affirmations and generally cleared my space to
encourage energy to flow.
Feng shui has undoubtedly inspired some of my compositions, even
though I only have a general understanding of it. I compose and
shoot in weather conditions which for me results in an image
which I have seen, but which an untrained eye may have looked
at, but not seen.
I often have movement in my pictures for example, which is a
result of a long exposure time rather than fiddling on the
computer. I often shoot at first light, for the clear light
and wonderful colours - perhaps that’s why my photographs are
regarded as relaxing and tranquil, because that’s typically
how I feel at that time of the day.
Feng shui, in Chinese, literally translates to ‘wind water’.
Wind, the unseen force of natures - your inner world of thoughts
and feelings. Water, a visible force of nature - represents your
outer world. The relationship between the two is key.
Feng Shui observes your environment and is talking to you all the
time, although sometimes we are blind to our surroundings and to
what it is telling our subconscious mind, and then we find what
we don’t want or need manifesting in our lives.
There are many ways to enhance your environment and inspirational
art featuring water and moods is just one.
How a piece of art makes you feel is one thing - if the feeling
is good then the Feng Shui should be good as a result. However it
also works on other levels too - for example if the photograph is
predominately one colour, then it will emanate the element
associated with that colour.
There are five elements; water (black & dark colours), wood
(greens & blues), metal (white & pastels), fire (reds) & earth
(yellows & earth tones) if one element dominates you then it’s
not good - balance is essential.
When you review the contents of your living space you have to
consider things that are made out of the elements themselves,
plus the colours associated with each element, as well as what
your artwork is portraying - such as ‘watery’ seascape and then
figure out what is hardly represented or dominating your living
space before you can even think about where things are placed in
the room.
It isn’t about a one off tidy up, get rid of everything you
don’t need anymore approach. To be effective it needs to be
an intentional, ongoing observation and enhancement of your
surroundings.
It is sometimes spooky just how the problems & challenges that we
face in life can correlate with the way our homes are laid out.
And this actually applies as much to your inner world - your
attitude and character, as it does your outer environment.
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