I still tap into my holistic training with my writing. It’s a theme throughout my novels because the healing power of Love is incredibly profound. I’m constantly in awe of the mind, body, and spirit connection especially when our environment is involved. I’m talking about Feng Shui, one of the eight modalities of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

Feng Shui is the enhancement of the energy (Qi) in your surroundings to attract prosperity. Flowing through all living things, Qi is the spirit or vital force that carries your body—the way you appear, act, move, talk. When you’re healthy, your Qi flows gently within your body. Problems occur when the Qi is blocked or moves too swiftly along its pathways.

Your environment affects your Personal Qi. Has someone’s mean comment ever soured your mood? Qi becomes blocked. How did you feel after receiving praise from your boss? Your positive energy increases. Your Home Qi also affects you. When stressed do you ever reach for your favorite warm blanket, put on your favorite sweatshirt, or fix a cup of tea using your favorite mug? The things that surround you can either comfort you or stress you.

Are you skeptical? Is it too New Agey for you? Let me put it in another context. Professional sports teams rely on Feng Shui, paying millions of dollars to make improvements. What? I’m talking about Home Field Advantage. “The energy of the crowd …” “The cheers energizing the players …” If you’ve ever been to a home game for any sport, you know what I’m talking about. How do you explain it?

Well, with Feng Shui, you surround yourself with the things that make you feel good. Your favorite chair overlooking the backyard full of trees is calming and relaxing. Your child’s artwork on the refrigerator puts a smile on your face. On the other hand, do you still have a piece of furniture you bought with your ex? How do you feel when you see it? If you remember the good times, keep it. If it brings up feelings of bitterness and resentment, get rid of it, and then see how you feel. There’s an intangible reason we shove all our ex’s things into a box to give back. Negativity does not attract abundance.

You don’t have to rearrange your whole house or dangle chimes at an angle from your southeast corner. Surrounding yourself with those favorite things creates positive energy.

Look around. What do you see? How does it make you feel?