Feng Shui Mirrors
A Look Into Feng Shui Mirrors
What is the meaning behind looking into feng shui mirrors? The answer to that question, and what it may mean to you, requires taking a look at the concept of feng shui itself, and then at the elements of feng shui. As a concept, the purpose of feng shui, an ancient Chinese art, is to utilize the laws of nature in a way best designed to give us a better life, one filled with harmony, and one making the most efficient use of the energy that exists within us and around us.
The elements of feng shui are those the ancients believed made up all things in the universe, and are fire, water, earth, metal, and wood. Each of these elements has certain attributes, including having special colors assigned to them. The principles of feng shui established not only where objects should best be placed, but in what orientation, and what colors should be assigned to them, all in the interests of promoting harmony and promoting the flow of energy, or Qi as it is called, that is so much a part of our existence. A natural expression of the principles of feng shui can be in the home, or in the workplace. Many practitioners of the art make their living as feng shui consultants and interior decorators.
So where do feng shui mirrors come in? Each of the five feng shui elements contains energy, and of the elements mentioned above, it is the energy associated with water where mirrors come into the picture. Mirrors have been a part of the civilized world for many centuries, and before mirrors, or any item with mirror-like attributes came into being, we found out a little bit about what we looked at by staring into calm waters. Just as water contains energy, the mirror brings with it its own kinds of energy. Through reflection, mirrors can redirect energy, and, when properly placed, can expand a space, and in doing so provide us with a different experience. The mirror can bring with it a sense of relaxation and calmness.
The shape of a mirror, and the style of its frame, can add much to the interior of a home designed with the principles of feng shui in mind. Feng shui mirrors will often be typical flat mirrors, but can also be concave or convex. One example of a convex mirror, used as a part of outdoors landscaping, is the so-called gazing ball.
Just placing a mirror on a wall isn't necessarily going to promote harmony and peace, and if placed incorrectly, could result in an incorrect redirection of the flow of energy. You don't always have to have a deep understanding of feng shui principles to know what is good and what isn't. A mirror in the wrong place often just won't seem right. For example, a full length mirror facing a bed will often make people uncomfortable, most people anyway. We normally don't have a mirror facing a door. People can become uncomfortable when opening a door and seeing their reflection. The purpose of feng shui mirrors is not to make people uncomfortable, but exactly the opposite. You usually don't have a mirror next to your desk, or in the kitchen where you are cooking. It's a distraction. The mirror is redirecting energy in the wrong direction. Creating "bad vibes" can be one expression for this.
Using feng shui mirrors in your home really boils down to selecting mirrors with designs that go with the surrounding furnishings, are placed where they will be of practical value, or placed so that they add to the elegance or coziness of the room. Although we are talking ancient wisdom and practice here, a little modern common sense has its role in the placement of feng shui mirrors as well.