How to Feng Shui your kitchen
Just as there is Chi around us, so is Chi energy present in our bodies. Nutrition impacts our well-being and so it is needless to say, that the kitchen is an important part of our home. An inspiring and nourishing kitchen is the starting point for a healthy lifestyle.
In the cycle of elements, the kitchen is connected to the earth element, which resembles health, relationships and knowledge. In this blog, I will share some tips to add a little more Feng Shui to your kitchen.
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Start decluttering
It's tempting to keep a lot of stuff in the kitchen. Of course we need certain items in preparing and storing food, but we can easily overdo this. The kitchen is connected to the earth element. This element wants to consolidate and preserve things. That’s exactly what we’re doing in the kitchen. But storing stuff actually takes away our freedom to move around. How do you feel spending your time in a kitchen where the cabinets are bursting with storage containers, dishes and pans? Do you need all of it? Take a critical look at your kitchen cabinets and drawers. Surely those items you haven't used for over 3 months can be given away.
Also, get rid of broken or chipped items. Either repair them or simply throw them away. Broken items will influence the energy, Chi, in your home. That is because everything that is broken demands attention, as it needs to be fixed or taken care of and therefore it is a “to-do”. In addition, broken thing represent broken energy and will not help in creating a nourishing and harmonious vibe in your home.
When you’re repairing broken items, you may want to check out “kintsugi”, the Japanese art of repairing broken ceramics with gold or silver lacquer. According to Japanese theory, the marks of breakage and repair contribute to the beauty of an object.
Image by Riho Kitagawa
Create an inspiring space.
Preparing a healthy meal takes time and preparation, which is a challenge sometimes in our busy society. Every action starts with an intention. If you want to take good care of yourself, make sure it takes as little effort as possible.
Give yourself a helping hand by designing your kitchen to meet your desire to take good care of yourself. The kitchen is a place where we prepare and store our food. Does your kitchen inspire you to make the right choices? Does it invite you to eat healthy, or is it faster and simpler to grab something unhealthy? Make sure fresh fruits and vegetables are in sight. Store them in a nice bowl outside the fridge so that you feel invited to create something healthy.
How do you feel when you spend time in the kitchen? Do you like to be there? If you’re thinking of applying some color to the kitchen, chose warming, earthy tones. As these are the colors of the earth element, they will work beautiful in your kitchen. Something to avoid is a kitchen that is too dark, meaning it is too yin and does not stimulate to actively create a nourishing meal.
Allow yourself to make a mess.
Cooking is a creative process that often involves a little mess. Therefore, a kitchen that is too sterile or minimal may not inspire to get cooking. It does not help when ingredients and supplies have to be searched for. Make sure everything is at hand and you do not experience any barriers in preparing your meal. A perfectly styled and organized kitchen is nice, but does it allow you to make a little mess or do you walk on your toes?
Image by Georgia de Lotz via Unsplash
What to avoid
Now as you might know, I work with modern Feng Shui, which is more simple and less traditional. As a result, modern Feng Shui does not provide you with a strict regime and list of rules to follow, but inspires you to become more aware of your environment and create a balanced and harmonious space. That being said, there are a few things you might want to take care of in your kitchen, in order to create a nourishing energy.
The first one, is to make sure knives and sharp objects are safely stored away. Traditional Feng Shui says exposed knives will bring bad luck. Now, without being superstitious, you can easily imagine how visible knives are not a welcoming sight in your kitchen. Knives are associated with danger, as they can simply harm us. So store them away, in a drawer or cabinet.
Second, make sure you feel relaxed when spending time in the kitchen. It is known that the energy of the cook will make its way into the food. Now you do not want feelings of stress or discomfort to get into the food you're preparing for yourself and your loved ones. One way to make sure you feel good, is by taking the commanding position. The commanding position means you’re in control and you have a clear view of what is happening in the room. So do not stand with your back against a door, preferably position the stove in a way that allows you to have an overview of the rest of the kitchen.
If this blog inspired you to Feng Shui your house, make sure to download your free copy of my ebook and start creating a home that makes you happy.
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