Ten ways to get feng shui wrong

Feng shui is easy to get excited about, and most of the mistakes people make come straight from that excitement. These are the ten I would warn anyone about before they move a single chair.

1. Doing feng shui on top of the clutter. Clearing clutter is the most powerful way to shift the energy in a home, and it has to come first. Skip it, and the tradition says you may end up activating the stale energy around the clutter instead of the good energy in the clear spaces.
2. Expecting instant magic. You hear about wonderful things happening to a friend the minute she put feng shui to work, and you expect the same for yourself, right now. Be patient. Some changes come quickly, others take weeks or months. Everyone has different intentions, timelines and energy to deal with. Keep the momentum going.
3. Having no goals. Feng shui works well when you know what you want. Write down specific goals, whether that is a relationship, your work or your health, and put your attention there. If you are not focused, the results will not be very focused either.
4. Refusing anything but your own plan. Sometimes you want one particular result and will not accept anything else. Feng shui works to bring you what you need, and it may not arrive the way you expected. Trust it, and accept what comes.
5. Going overboard. A little goes a long way. You do not need a dozen crystals or a whole new set of accessories. One small crystal, a bowl of still water or a picture of a sailing ship may be all it takes. Too much too soon can feel chaotic, so make small changes and watch what happens.
6. Forcing it on other people. Once you see things change you will want everyone you love to have the same. They need to be ready for it themselves. If someone does not believe in feng shui, do not make changes for them without telling them. If you are working on a room for someone else in the family, explain what you are doing. They may shrug, and that is fine, but they should know.
7. Making the house look like somebody else's. Some people fill their homes with traditional Chinese objects because they think feng shui works better that way. It does not. Decorate in your own style and bring in the elements you need. You have to love what is around you. If a spot needs metal, a beautiful round metal bowl will do the job, and you do not need Chinese coins.
8. Staying out of it. Having a professional look at your home is always a good idea, but you still have to be involved. If the advice is to change a colour or buy something, make sure you understand why, and that you agree with it. The tradition says feng shui works without your intention too. Why settle for average when you could go for bright?
9. Not following through. A big mistake most people make is changing one thing and never looking at it again. Keep a notebook. Write down what you want to change and note any small changes you see. If it is not what you want, add another enhancement or remedy. Stay with it.
10. Not learning a little. There are several schools of feng shui, among them traditional compass, form school, flying star and western. All of them can work. Do some reading, find the one you are comfortable with, and have fun with it.

If you have been collecting feng shui tips for twenty years, from books and magazines and friends, the answer to most of these is the same. Pick one room. Clear it. Start there.

From the archive. First written for my journal years ago, and rewritten for life after 50.