How I Practice Feng Shui After 15+ Years: Energy-Based, Not Rule-Based
When Feng Shui First Entered My Life
It was well over a decade ago when Feng Shui quietly entered my life, closer to fifteen, maybe even closer to twenty years now. It was a few years before Krish was born, during a period when I was deeply curious about how environments shape us, often without us realizing it.
At the time, I was reading everything I could get my hands on. Traditional Feng Shui books. Diagrams. The Bagua map. The five elements. The nine life areas. The philosophy behind placement, direction, balance, and flow. I loved the structure of it all — the idea that our homes weren’t neutral containers, but living systems constantly exchanging energy with us.
Around the same time, I also read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Something about those two philosophies, Feng Shui and conscious decluttering, clicked instantly. One spoke about energy. The other spoke about release. Together, they made undeniable sense.
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So I began.
I didn’t start small.
I had a large home at the time, and I cleaned it thoroughly. Not just surface-level cleaning, but deep clearing, closets, storage, forgotten corners, and emotional clutter disguised as “just in case” items. I organized, edited, and intentionally put things back in place.
And here’s the part people often don’t want to hear because it sounds too simple, too intangible, too inconvenient to explain away:
It worked.
My energy shifted. My focus sharpened. My career began to move. Opportunities appeared. Life felt lighter, clearer, more responsive. I wasn’t forcing anything; things were flowing.
That was my first real lesson in Feng Shui:
You don’t need to believe in it for it to work.
You don’t need to believe in it for it to work.
What 15+ Years of Practicing Feng Shui Taught Me
Over the years, I continued studying Feng Shui. I followed the rules closely at first: mirror placements, bed positions, entryway flow, wealth corners, element balance. I deeply respected the tradition, and I still do.
But something interesting happened over time.
I stopped needing the rules as much.
Not because they were wrong, but because I had internalized the language of energy.
When you practice Feng Shui consistently for years, your home starts talking back to you. You know when something feels off. You sense stagnation before it shows up externally. You feel when energy is leaking, blocked, or overly active.
And most importantly, you start trusting yourself.
Why I No Longer Practice Feng Shui ” Strictly by the Book”
Let me be clear:
There are Feng Shui principles I still follow.
There are Feng Shui principles I still follow.
I don’t place mirrors directly facing the bed.
I pay attention to energy flow at entrances.
I’m mindful of sharp corners, blocked pathways, and neglected spaces.
I pay attention to energy flow at entrances.
I’m mindful of sharp corners, blocked pathways, and neglected spaces.
These rules exist for a reason; they’re rooted in observation, psychology, and centuries of energetic flow.
Feng Shui works best when it remains flexible, not rigid.
It was never meant to override intuition.
Modern life looks very different from the environments in which Feng Shui was originally developed. Open-concept homes. Apartments. Multifunctional spaces. Work-from-home lifestyles. Creative studios doubling as living rooms. Kitchens that are also social hubs.
If we applied every rule literally without adaptation, most modern homes would feel anxious, restricted, and overly controlled, which ironically creates bad energy.
I focus on the energy in my home rather than rigidly following prescribed steps.
How I Practice Energy-Based Feng Shui Today
I Listen to MySpace
If my creativity feels blocked, I don’t intellectualize it; I clean.
Not out of discipline, but instinct.
I’ll suddenly feel the urge to organize a drawer, reset my kitchen counters, clear a surface, or finally put away things that have been sitting “temporarily” for weeks. Sometimes it’s as small as aligning books. Other times it’s reworking a closet or editing décor.
And every single time, without exception, my creativity returns.
Ideas flow. Writing becomes easier. Decisions feel clearer.
It sounds strange until you experience it yourself. But once you do, you stop questioning it.
I Adjust Energy, Not Just Objects
If something feels off, I ask myself:
- Is the energy too heavy?
- Is it too chaotic?
- Is it visually noisy?
- Is there an imbalance between softness and structure?
- Is a color overwhelming or missing?
Sometimes the solution is as simple as changing a pillow cover.
Sometimes it’s moving a chair.
Sometimes it’s removing something entirely.
Sometimes it’s moving a chair.
Sometimes it’s removing something entirely.
Feng Shui doesn’t always require adding.
Often, it requires subtracting.
Often, it requires subtracting.
I Bend Rules When Energy Demands It
There are moments when I knowingly bend a Feng Shui “rule”, and I’m completely at peace with it.
Why?
Because Feng Shui is not about obedience.
It’s about resonance.
It’s about resonance.
If something technically breaks a rule but makes your nervous system calm, your mind focused, and your body relaxed, that is good Feng Shui for you.
Energy responds to authenticity, not perfection.
What Happens When You Practice Feng Shui Long Enough
This is rarely discussed.
After many years of practicing Feng Shui, something shifts internally.
You no longer decorate solely for aesthetics.
You stop organizing just for cleanliness.
You stop following rules just for tradition.
You stop organizing just for cleanliness.
You stop following rules just for tradition.
You begin designing your space as an extension of your inner state.
You know:
- Which rooms need grounding
- Which spaces need movement
- Which corners need warmth
- Which areas need rest
You feel it before you see it.
And at that point, Feng Shui becomes less about charts and more about relationships.
A relationship with your home.
A dialogue with your environment.
A feedback loop between your energy and your surroundings.
A dialogue with your environment.
A feedback loop between your energy and your surroundings.
Feng Shui Was Never Meant to Be Fear-Based
One of the biggest misunderstandings about Feng Shui today is that it’s often presented as something you can “get wrong.”
Wrong mirror.
Wrong direction.
Wrong placement.
Wrong energy.
Wrong direction.
Wrong placement.
Wrong energy.
But true Feng Shui isn’t fear-based.
It’s awareness-based.
Your home is not punishing you.
It’s responding to you.
It’s responding to you.
When something feels heavy, it’s an invitation — not a warning.
The Modern Way to Practice Feng Shui
In modern life, Feng Shui must be adaptable.
What matters most is:
- Flow — Can energy move freely?
- Clarity — Does your space support mental calm?
- Intention — Is your home aligned with the life you’re building?
- Emotional Response — How do you feel when you walk in?
If you can answer those honestly, you’re already practicing Feng Shui, whether you realize it or not. The essential takeaways: tune into energy flow, ensure your environment supports your well-being, and align your space with your intentions.
Important Take Away: Trust the Energy You Live In
After more than fifteen years of practicing Feng Shui, this is what I know with certainty: Your home reflects you before you realize you’ve changed. It resists you when you’re ready to evolve. Key takeaways: Trust your own energy, focus on awareness rather than rigid rules, use intuition to guide change, and remember that Feng Shui works best when it supports personal freedom and authenticity.
Feng Shui isn’t about controlling energy.
It’s about listening to it.
It’s about listening to it.
When you stop forcing rules and start responding intuitively, your home becomes a partner, not a project.
And that’s when the real magic begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Feng Shui about strict rules?
Traditional Feng Shui includes placement guidelines, but modern practice often focuses on energy flow, intuition, and emotional response within a space.
Can you practice Feng Shui intuitively?
Yes. After understanding foundational principles, many people adapt Feng Shui to their lifestyle by focusing on flow, balance, and how their home feels energetically.
Does Feng Shui really work?
Many practitioners report increased clarity, productivity, and emotional balance after adjusting their environment intentionally.
