The practice of feng shui is connected to how we move through our homes. Feng shui translates to “wind and water”; think about how each of those elements flows through a space. How do you connect with the spaces in your home?

Good places to look at are any areas that are lonely or neglected. For example, my closet has been pretty lonely lately, since I’ve been spending so much more time at home and not wearing as many of my clothes. Clothing represents how we show up in the world, so that’s something to reflect on if you also have a lonely closet: how are you showing up in the world right now? To find another layer of meaning, I can look at what area of the bagua my closet is in, and reflect on what is going on in that area of my life.

Once you’ve identified a lonely room or an area of your home that’s been neglected, notice what’s happening there. Is there dust accumulating? Are you tossing stuff randomly and using it as storage? Try personifying that area and thinking about how that room might feel given how you are treating it. You can start by recognizing that and apologizing. Also, notice if it symbolizes anything in your life. It may not be symbolic, but it’s something to look at and be curious about.

This idea also extends to the people in your life. Especially right now, a lot of people are feeling lonely. Even as an introvert, after months without contact, I’m starting to miss people! Think about who in your life may be lonely, and how you can connect with them. You may not necessarily need to apologize to them for not being in touch, but you can offer them some attention. By connecting with someone else, you’ll also receive something in return.

Even though we each have our own little bubbles of energy, we’re actually all interconnected. When you start to acknowledge and care for the lonely rooms in your home, the lonely people in your life, or the lonely aspects of yourself, the insight and joy that comes from that experience radiates. For example, if you start to pay attention to a lonely room, that joy starts to permeate the rest of your house. Then it starts to permeate your heart, and then the people in your life, and beyond. When we make a change, we don’t just affect the lives of people we know; we can also profoundly change the world.

Start with your home; that’s what feng shui is about. What can you do about the lonely rooms in your home? Notice how the energy you give to these rooms starts to resonate out to other areas of your life.

by Anjie Cho