Feng Shui Fundamentals for Magical Spells & Rituals

“He was a specialist in Feng Shui; that is to say, he was consulted as to the correct ubication and orientation of houses and temples, in relation to the spirits of wind and water.”
– Daniele Vare

One of the wonderful aspects of Neo-Paganism is the fact that we can use various spiritual systems to enhance our own efforts. When something is meaningful and makes sense, there is no harm in trying it out respectfully. Feng Shui is one of those systems that’s very adaptable and not overly difficult to learn and then add to spell or ritual constructs.

Feng Shui Background

Feng Shui started thousands of years ago in China as a form of Geomancy. The basic goal of Feng Shui is that of optimizing the flow of life energy (called Qi) in our personal spaces. By arranging things in specific manners and adding symbolic colors and decorations, we end up with a framework that encourages happiness, harmony, health, wealth and one that also supports magical practices. This article reviews some simple Feng Shui tips that can improve the overall vibrations in our spells and rituals.

Feng Shui for the Sacred Circle

Wherever you work magic is a special place. You want it to be different, inspiring, uplifting, and resonating with positive energy. Feng Shui gives us some tips for making any area feel just like that.

Creating Peace and Positivity

Practitioners of Feng Shui first review a space and then determine what needs to be done. For example, fresh air and natural lighting are very important for healthy Qi. Open those windows (when practicable) and draw back the curtains. You will probably discern a shift in your home nearly immediately. Other suggestions from the Feng Shui philosophy include:

• Leave your troubles behind you: When you enter a magical space find a way to delineate the mundane from the magical. Taking off your shoes is a perfect example. You gather all kinds of energy every day including worry and stress. When you mindfully remove your shoes at the door, you are also symbolically leaving those things outside your sacred space.

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• Keep it clean and organized. Clutter is one of the things that disrupts the flow of energy in any room or home. When you de-clutter effectively there becomes a place for everything and everything has a place. Believe it or not that releases stuck energy and deters complications in family relationships, work dynamics and on-going projects. As you de-clutter remember to get rid of those things you have not thought about in a year. Those represent ties to the past, and if you’re not using it why keep it? You can always donate it or gift it to someone.
• Bring living plants into your space. Plants are “living earth” in the same manner that creeks are “living water”. Plants produce oxygen and create a splash of beauty. For the clever Kitchen Witch, you could consider multitasking by having small magical herb pots.
• Honor the space. Be it an office, a bedroom or a whole house this means having ground rules. If someone goes barging into your room without asking, correct them. If people start having a fight in your home, ask them to go outside. You want your sacred circle filled with love, respect and gratitude.
• Add symbolic touches. For Witches and Wiccans these could be items that mark the four quarters – seasons, directions, energies. These items are also ones we see regularly and reminds us of the constant flow of magic in and around our lives.
• Color your world! While the Elemental correspondences for Feng Shui are a little different than those in magic, they still offer potential. The Fire Element is located in the Northwest and South of your home, nurturing energy, passion and active effort for success. Use reds, oranges and yellows to stress those vibrations. The Earth Element supporting stability resides in the Northeast and Southwest. Use beige, brown, and some black (go easy on this one – use it as an accent only). The Metal Element is in the West and Northwest of a space and corresponds to precision, focus and skill. Use grey, white or metallics here. The Water Element is in the North primarily. This element refreshes and calms. Use various shades of blue or blue-green. Las of all we have the Wood Element in the Southeast for growth and vitality. Use brown or green in this region.
• Sound out. Give your space sounds of nature. A small indoor water fountain is one example. Or, perhaps you can create a list of music with waves, breezes, birds etc. that plays throughout your day (or when you wish). This has a soothing effect on your spirit.

As you can see, the ideas behind Feng Shui are pragmatic and represent a focus on inner and outer tranquillity. While there will always be times that our spiritual pursuits become chaotic, having a space filled with good vibrations provides that “ahhhh” feeling. That’s how you want to feel before enacting spells and rituals – safe, comfortable and positive.

Timing Counts

Many Witches and Pagans like to choose auspicious timing for enacting Magick. Choosing this timing correctly supports the overall theme of the spell, ritual, or whatever. There are similar ideas in Eastern philosophies. They, too, suggested specific times as being beneficial to similarly specific types of energy. To understand this better, just think of it like adding another leg to the “table” of will and focus, making the whole thing more stable and defined.

Elements, Directions and Hours

So how do you use Feng Shui timing effectively? Say you were planning to cast a spell that will improve your overall efforts on a beloved project. That would be the Fire Element which is emphasized during the hours of Noon to 3 pm. So, you might try enacting that spell during this timeframe. To go one step further, you could stand in the Southern region of your sacred circle, which also corresponds to the Fire element.

North: Water element. Hours of 12 a.m. – 3 a.m.
Northeast: Earth Element. Hours of 3 a.m. – 6 a.m.
East: Wood Element. Hours of 6 a.m. – 9 a.m.
Southeast: Wood Element. Hours of 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
South: Fire Element. Hours of 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Southwest: Earth Element. Hours of 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.
West: Metal Element. Hours of 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Northwest: Metal Element. Hours of 9 p.m. – 12 p.m.

Inbetween Hours

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Since one region’s energies end and another begins at the same time (such as Fire ending at 3 p.m. and Earth beginning just moments after that) the actual hour points represent in between times when the two energies mix and mingle. Just as the yin-yang symbol blends masculine and feminine attributes into balance, these points on the clock blend elemental and directional energies. In this manner, Feng Shui reminds us of how all things are connected—even things that seem opposite!

Magical Tip of the Day

Just a reminder: timing colors, and organization all help with manifestation but they’re not the be-all and end-all of magickal practices. If you can’t roll these activities into your effort, don’t sweat it. Just add the Feng Shui concepts to those occasions when you can do so without turning everything else upside down.

Adapted from the Teen Book of Shadows all Rights Reserved