Lesson 5: The Dao of the Environment

How to create spaces that calm your heart and nourish your spirit

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Hey there,

how are you feeling after exploring how to take care of your soul?

Did you have a chance to try any of the suggested practices in your daily routine?

I’d love to hear how you’ve put these principles into action. So, feel free to share your experience in the comments!

Now, let's talk about how a harmonious environment can greatly impact your well-being and help you cultivate balance in your life. And, of course, also explore some easy ways you can apply this knowledge for yourself.

The environment is an extension of yourself. And just like how you cultivate your inner self through practices like meditation or Qi Gong, you can also cultivate your external surroundings to create harmony and balance.

Think about it for a second:

Have you ever walked into a room and immediately felt a sense of peace and calm?

Or perhaps you've entered a space that feels chaotic and overwhelming?

Our environments have a significant impact on our mood, productivity, and overall energy levels.

And this is where Feng Shui comes in.

Feng Shui is not exactly a part of Daoism, but it's based on Daoist principles and philosophies. And I believe that cultivating balance and flowing qi in our surroundings is part of the way of the dao.

Why?

Because the idea of the dao is to find harmony and balance with all things. And that includes our external surroundings.

The dao encompasses everything—inside, outside, and all the connections and interactions between all things in the universe. So there's no real separation between inside and outside. Everything is interconnected. That's why the environment impacts us so deeply. And that's why I think that we should find harmony and balance not just within ourselves, but also in our external environments.

So, what exactly is Feng Shui?

You might have heard about it. Maybe you've even tried it before.

But here's the problem:

In today's Western societies, Feng Shui often gets simplified to just some weird and mystic style of interior design.

But it's so much more than that.

So, let's explore not the Westernized version, but the authentic essence of Feng Shui and how you can apply it to your daily life:

Feng shui (风水) translates to "wind and water". The name comes from the fact that, since ancient times, the Chinese have believed that landscapes and bodies of water guide the flow of universal qi through areas and buildings.

The idea is that everything around us is connected and has its own unique qi. And by thoughtfully arranging, organizing, and optimizing your space, you can enhance the flow of universal qi in your environment. Which in turn positively influences your own qi.

And why does this matter?

Because it directly impacts the quality of every area of your life – your health, relationships, career, personal development, spirituality. Everything.

So, how does Feng Shui make all this happen?

It includes the following dimensions:

• Astrological: Feng Shui uses Chinese astrology to map out personal energy patterns and suggest changes to your individual environment.

• Architectural: The design and layout of buildings are assessed for energy flow, focusing on proportions, entryways, and spatial arrangements to improve qi circulation.

• Geographical: Feng Shui also looks at landforms, directions, and environmental features like mountains and water bodies to understand how they affect the qi of a space.

• Astronomical: And it looks at the movement of celestial bodies like the sun, moon, and stars to tap into cosmic energies and find the best times for certain activities.

• Cosmological: Feng Shui sees the universe as interconnected, where cosmic patterns affect human life and Earth's energy, helping to create harmony across all areas.

• Topographical: It takes a good look at the terrain and nearby landscapes to see how well they can conduct or block qi, making sure the site promotes abundance and serenity.

And Feng Shui is rooted in the following core principles of Daoism:

• Qi: By now, you should already know this concept. Everything in the universe is energy. And everything has its own unique qi.

• Yin Yang: Opposites create balance. In every environment, there are active (yang) and passive (yin) areas that must be balanced for optimal flow of qi.

• 5 Elements (wu xing 五行): Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water stand for different energies found in every environment. Achieving a balance between these elements is key to creating harmony.

(If you want to learn more about Feng Shui and its practical uses, you can read my detailed article here: [Feng Shui: How to harmonize your environment with universal qi].)

So the big question is: how can you apply this knowledge to cultivate a harmonious environment for yourself?

If you’re short on time, no worries—you can always bring in a professional Feng Shui consultant to evaluate your space and give you tailored advice.

But if you’d rather dive in on your own, there’s plenty of valuable information out there to help you get started. And you don't need to be an expert in all of this to incorporate Feng Shui. Just understanding the basics and applying them to your living space can already lead to noticeable improvements.

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As I said in the last lesson, Joey Yap is a good resource for Chinese metaphysics. And Marie Diamond is another great source for Feng Shui.

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Unfortunately, I won’t be able to cover every aspect of Feng Shui in this lesson because it’s an incredibly rich and complex subject. But here are the fundamental concepts of Feng Shui to get you started:

1. Bagua Map

The Bagua (八卦, Eight Trigrams) Map is an energy blueprint that divides a space into 9 sectors. Each one corresponds to an area of your life, like wealth, health, career, and relationships. To apply it, align the bottom of the map (career sector) with the entryway to your space and note which areas need attention. For example:

• Wealth: This area connects to the Southeast and the Wood element. You can enhance it with lush plants, purple décor, or items that symbolize abundance and prosperity.

• Health: This area connects to the East and the Wood element. You can enhance it with greenery, wooden furniture, or natural accents.

• Relationships: This area connects to the Southwest and the Earth element. You can enhance it with earthy colors, pottery, or paired objects (e.g., two candles).

• Career: This area connects to the North and Water element. You can enhance it with black or blue items, water features, or reflective surfaces.

2. The Five Elements (Wu Xing)

The Five Elements—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water—represent different types of energy (qi) in the environment. Each element is associated with specific qualities, colors, shapes, and materials:

• Wood: Growth, vitality (green, tall shapes, wooden objects/plants)

• Fire: Passion, energy (red, triangular shapes, candles, lights)

• Earth: Stability, nourishment (yellow, square shapes, ceramics, stones)

• Metal: Clarity, precision (white, round shapes, metallic objects)

• Water: Flow, abundance (black/blue, wavy shapes, water features)

To create harmony in a space, balance these elements based on the energy you’re going for. For example:

• Add Earth elements to your living areas for a grounded, stable vibe

• Bring in Wood to inspire growth and creativity in your workspace

• Use Water in entryways to encourage abundance

3. Yin Yang Balance

Yin and Yang represent the dual forces of nature: Yin (passive, dark, soft) and Yang (active, bright, hard). A harmonious space balances these opposites. For example:

• Too much Yin (e.g., overly dark rooms) can create a feeling of stagnation. You can balance the space by introducing Yang elements, such as brighter lighting or vivid colors.

• Too much Yang (e.g., overly stimulating spaces) can feel overwhelming. You can balance the space by adding Yin elements, such as soft fabrics or calming tones.

Unfortunately, we can't dive into how to apply Feng Shui to every part of your life and every room in this course as it would take way more time than we have.

But we can take a single room and one area of life as an example:

Your workspace and your career.

Why?

Because most people spend a significant amount of their time in their workspace. And it directly affects our careers and overall success. Your career is an important part of your life. That's why having a balanced, harmonious workspace can make a big difference.

So, let's take a quick look at how Feng Shui principles can be applied to your workspace.

• Desk Placement: Try the "Command Position". That's when you face the door from your desk, but don’t sit directly in line with it. This helps boost your focus and gives you a sense of authority.

• Declutter: Clutter can block the flow of qi. Clear your desk and keep only essential items within reach. You can also use organizers and avoid piling objects too high.

• Lighting: You can use task lighting for Fire energy to boost productivity.

• Plants: Introducing plants into your workspace brings in the Wood element, which symbolizes growth and creativity. Plus, plants improve air quality and create a sense of calm.

• Water: Placing a water feature (like a small fountain) or adding blue accents in the North can bring in the Water element, which symbolizes abundance and flow.

• Color: Consider adding pops of color to stimulate energy and productivity. For example, red for passion or purple for abundance.

And don’t forget, Feng Shui isn't just for your desk or office. It can help create harmony in any space. Which impacts the harmony in your relationships, personal growth, and pretty much every area of your life!

Here are a few more easy tips to help you bring Feng Shui into your life:

• Check your favorable directions: In Feng Shui, there are 8 main directions (gua 卦) that represent different parts of your life. Your favorable directions depend on your birth date. Find out yours and adjust your desk, chair, and seating position accordingly for optimal energy flow.

• Furniture Arrangement: Don’t place furniture with its back to the door—it can make the space feel uncomfortable. Keep things open so qi can flow freely.

• Natural Elements: You can integrate wood, stone, and plants for vitality and grounding. And use mirrors wisely. They can make a space feel bigger and reflect positive energy. Just avoid placing them directly across from doors or beds.

• Color Choices: Go for colors that match the bagua sectors. For example, green for the East (health) and red for the South (fame). You can also stick to calming shades in bedrooms and more energizing ones for offices.

Don't be afraid to experiment with Feng Shui in different areas of your living space. The key is to find the right balance and apply it consistently.

Feng Shui isn’t about strict rules.

It’s about creating harmony in your space to support your goals and well-being. You can start small by focusing on one room or principle at a time, and see how the energy starts to shift. If you don’t see results right away, don’t worry. Sometimes Feng Shui takes a little time to show its effects. It works steadily and consistently, making it perfect if you’re planning to stay in one place long-term.

Just trust the process, and don’t worry if things don’t change overnight.

I can't wait to hear about your experiences with Feng Shui.

See you tomorrow for lesson 6, where we’ll dive into ways to bring balance and harmony to your relationships.

Until then, stay in harmony.

– Zhenya

P.S. If you missed our last lesson on enhancing your soul, you can catch up here: The Dao of the soul. Make sure you're up to speed before we dive into the dao of relationships.