Where Energy Flows

“I have come back again to where I belong; not an enchanted place, but the walls are strong.” — Dorothy H. Rath.

When I did my Interior Alignment^TM and Feng Shui training in California in 2001, I learned Synchro Alignment, which is a system that synchronises and aligns a person’s energy and Intention with their home. It can also tell us how our home affects us on a subconscious level.

The first time we practiced this technique, we had to lead each other through the rooms of our home through guided visualization beginning at our front doors. When my partner led me, the first thing that I noticed is that my front door really bothered me. The screen door squeaked and the spring was too tight so that the door smacked me in the back as I was unlocking the front door.

I knew both things in my waking consciousness, but until I did this exercise I didn’t realise how much irritation was involved. Basically every single time I went into my house the first thing I felt was irritation. This is significant. The front door is where all the energy for your home enters. Terah Kathryn Collins in Feng Shui Room by Room, calls the front door the “avenue of good fortune that attracts helpful people and opportunities into your home.” The front door is the place you and everyone who comes to your home, makes lasting impressions about who you are.

Good feng shui for front doors is common sense. We know it reflects poorly on us if the finish on our front doors is damaged, or if the paint is chipped and peeling. We know lighting over the door is important, and that it should be replaced promptly when bulbs burnt out. Obstacles on the path or steps leading to your front door can be dangerous, so we know already they should be moved out of the way. We do a good job on the ‘big’ front door issues already. It is sometimes the more subtle things that give pause for thought.

When we neglect things like squeaky hinges, doorknobs that wobble, or doors that do not fully open because of items stored behind them, this can indicate a degree of neglect for ourselves. We might fix the problem for someone else, but not for ourselves.

The first thing I did when I came home from California was oil the hinges. And I loosened the spring on the screen door. I painted the cement pathway a gorgeous eggplant colour and stencilled some stars in a meandering pattern with metallic paint. The screen door is painted in the same shade of purple and the inner door is painted is a softer lavender. Now it looks so pretty, like a much-loved old pair of blue jeans, and it is part of the Energy of my home. It is comfortable and accepting. It is a place where I can be myself. And I now when I come home I feel welcomed. 

© Deborah Redfern, 2008. All rights reserved.

There are a few colours in the spectrum that are stimulating and relaxing at the same time. Green is one of them and purple is the other: from the lightest lilac and lavender, to sweet violet and plums, vivacious magenta, and the deep earthy shades of wine, burgundy and eggplant.

There are a few symbols connected with purple, namely wealth, spirituality and power. The connection with wealth is because obtaining purple dye from natural sources is costly and difficult. Historically only those in high positions could afford it, such as royalty and the head of religious orders (for example the Pope of the Catholic religion.) These are of course, positions of power in society.

In feng shui, purple is one of the colours, along with blue and red that represents abundance and prosperity. Although I believe originally purple signified material wealth, the association it has with spirituality and insight can mean the inner wealth that comes from spiritual growth. Purple represents the crown chakra which connects us to our higher source and life path on earth. It is associated with psychic awareness and intuition and can be used to lift you into a higher spiritual plane.

Some of the uses of purple are:

• It is relaxing and at the same time mentally uplifting
• Stimulates creativity and motivation
• Balances the right and left brain (yin and yang)
• Opens consciousness of the higher planes of existence
• Can be used for inner purification and protection
• To assist in going on an inner journey for spiritual growth

However, purple can be…

• depressing in large doses or over large areas
• not a good colour to wear if you are feeling oversensitive and vulnerable.

In the Home: A lot depends on the shade but generally purple is a yin colour and best used for areas that have quiet or restful activities. As well, some shades of purple such as deep violet, eggplant or royal purple can feel cold and stark, and the message this gives out could be ‘unapproachable or ‘keep back’ both of which would tend to put distance between people. For this reason it is not a good colour to use in areas that you want to be highly social, so I wouldn’t recommend it for the family room, living room, dining room or kitchen.

However some shades such as lavender, lilac and magenta are warmer in tone and in home decorating I recommend these lighter shades; keep the deeper shades of purple as accents. Green also works very well as an accent for purple.

Purple is a great colour choice for bedrooms and the shade of lavender (and also the herb or essential oil) is useful for people who have insomnia. The lighter shades of purple are also suitable for a meditation or healing room.

Copyright ©2007 Deborah Redfern. All rights reserved.