Geomancing the Throne
THIERRY CHOW, a feng shui practioner who learned the ropes from her renowned father, gives FLORENCE TSAI some pointers on getting qi enery flowing through your home
With travel restrictions and social-distancing rules still in place, many of us are staying at home much more than usual, which inevitably forces us to be more present within our living spaces. This has certain consequences – whether you begin to feel uninspired within your home or become victim to the redecorating itch, it’s easy to feel trapped or fatigued when you spend too much time confined indoors.
Although some may deem the Chinese practice of NenO sPui to be ancient and outdated, Thierry Chow insists that it’s still largely relevant to our contemporary world. “.enO sPui is all about raising awareness with ourselves and our environment – to remind ourselves that we are closely affected by our surroundings,º she says. “Now more so than ever, as we stay at home more often we’ll find that our physical and mental wellness can depend on the wellness of our space. This can affect our moods, emotions, perceptions, body and even our energy levels.º
The daughter of NenO sPui master Chow Hon Ming, Chow spent years as his apprentice before branching out to consult her own clients on how they should use and organise their spaces. She streamlined her approach into eight steps – which she calls the Go Lucky method – to transform the home into a place that’s more comfortable, efficient and enjoyable. The simple steps include intuitive but often-overlooked touches, such as incorporating cheerful and fun colours to brighten up the home, as well as displaying decorative objects that spark elation.
Aside from joyful colours such as yellow and orange, Chow advises that green is calming and reminiscent of nature, and thus suitable for living rooms or other places where one might choose to lounge, relax and unwind.
It’s also important, Chow adds, to be intentional and select a style for your home that reflects your true self. 0aving different styles within one space can be Rarring and make it difficult to focus or concentrate. So, whether it’s Scandinavian, Bohemian, urban modern or shabby chic, it’s best to stick to one. The placement of your furniture also makes a difference. 7bstructions or obRects that Rut out can interrupt your space.
In NenO sPui, qi is a type of energy that can affect us physically and mentally. Ensuring that qi can move through freely within your home allows it to flow into the right directions of your life. 1n this vein, Chow also advises incorporating elements from nature, such as plants, metals and water in the form of fountains or fish tanks that can also make your home feel more comfortable. Humans aren’t separate from nature and we shouldn’t underestimate the latter’s powerful healing properties – plants, for example, are proven to reduce stress, and metals such as copper or bronze are known to kill bacteria.
According to Chow, it’s also a good idea to invest in diversified lighting. “Aou see a lot of fluorescent white lights in 0ong Kong, which make a space rather clinical,º she says. “1nstead, you should opt for a variety of lighting that can reach every dark corner. It should also have a good balance of yin and yang – neither too bright nor too dark, neither overly warm nor cold.º
This enables you to alter the lighting according to your mood and the time of day. For instance, it can be brightened in the morning, softened in the afternoon and made ambient in the evening. It’s also important to remember to incorporate natural sunlight into your home, as it can do wonders for your mood.
Chow stresses the importance of being mindful of your space, as it affects your wellbeing" “Aour home should be your refuge, a place that doesn’t drain you. Whether you want to rejuvenate, relax or focus, your space should allow you to connect with yourself immediately and effortlessly.º
As an avid fashion lover, Chow has an impressive wardrobe. However, as a way of decluttering, she often donates clothing and advocates sustainable shopping. In fact, many of her clothes come from thrift and vintage stores, as she believes this is a good way to source unique garments that enable her to stand out from others, and allows her to responsibly recycle while being kinder to the environment.
Along with other fashion influencers, Chow recently Roined a project with sustainable fashion brand The R Collective and the denim brand Levi’s, in which she found new uses for denim trimmings from their inventories to create her own denim pieces.
7ur space reflects our mind, Chow says, so getting rid of things that are no longer useful makes us feel less burdened. Make time to purge and declutter, she advises" “1t’s natural for us to collect emotional debris. That’s why we feel better after letting go of old, unused items and clothing, to make room for something new.º