How To Honor Family in Feng Shui
Laura Cerrano
Photo of Mom (Carole Provenzale), with my brother, Adam (on the right), and myself Laura Cerrano (on the left).
Feng Shui is a fascinating topic that allows you to delve deeper into the roots of who you are, let that be by reflecting upon your thoughts, habits, and behaviors, and observing the subtle cues in how your surroundings influence you. An area on the modern-day Feng Shui Bagua map we love to acknowledge is called Family and Ancestors. This is an adaptation from the I-ching.
In short, this life section of Family and Ancestors encourages us to acknowledge your most sacred inner circle. This topic is interesting because not all families are built the same. Some families come about through adoption (such as mine), or perhaps you’ve chosen to embrace your friends as your family. In any case, we invite you to think about your family’s past and present and how you consciously choose to honor them.
It’s also important to note, if you have any family members who have not anchored true support throughout your life, please do not feel pressured or obligated to highlight visual memories of them within your home. In the practice of Feng Shui, we aim to honor energy that raises your vibration vs suppressing it.
Quick Feng Shui Tips on How to Honor Family
Include living plants. Plants, according to Modern-day Feng Shui, associates to wood element (floral, living plants). Be mindful to choose plants that are not prickly. Choose smooth and rounded-edged plants when possible.
Declutter. Yes, this sounds cliché, however, if you are holding onto family items that don’t have the best of energy or emotional memories, perhaps it’s time to rethink holding onto it. Or, if the items you have are historically related to questionable energy, you could contain the contents within a box and/or closet. This also includes furniture, clothing, photos, etc.
Do you have a dining table where your family can gather to enjoy quality time? Most modern-day homeowners and renters released the idea of a formal dining room. However, in the world of Feng Shui, having a dining table is essential. Why? The table becomes a symbol of support, allowing people to open up with each other about their feelings, share stories from the day and regroup. Even in my home, we released the formal dining room idea, however, we still have a table where my husband and I, family, and friends who visit can sit to enjoy coffee, snacks, and a meal.
Display photos. Select photos of family members who truly support you and bring about happy memories.
Is there a certain amount of family photos I should or should not display? If following modern-day Feng Shui, you could display 3 framed images at a time, or allow your own intuition to guide you. If you feel your family ‘overruns’ you, you may want to edit the amount of images you choose to display. By doing this, it signals to your conscious mind to set healthy boundaries.
Is it okay to display images of deceased family members? My response is yes, however, you’ll still want to be mindful of where you choose to display those images. For example, my mother is deceased and so is my Uncle, Grandmother, and grandfather, among a few others. To honor them, I’ve selected a few key images and set them up around my home throughout the living room, dining room, and kitchen.
Can I keep Family Photos Within The bedroom? On a base spectrum, it’s recommended to keep family photos (living or deceased) out of the bedroom and typically reserve that just for you and your spouse. It allows a moment of pause and reconnect. If you're not sure about this, test the theory out and see if you notice a difference when sleeping.
Can I keep Family photos in the bathroom? Most will say no and I’ll agree with that.
How else can I honor family if I don’t want to display family photos throughout my home? Think in terms of symbols, objects they may have given you or that you associate with them, quotes (word art), books, music, certain animals, artwork, or through storytelling. If you happen to know anything about your ancestors, that is another fantastic way to honor the deep past.
Keep in mind, what you read for honoring family, could also parallel honoring friendships as well.
In all, take the time to reflect upon your family story and become more conscious of what you wish to highlight as you honor your family’s past and present. Also, think about what you would love to contribute to your family’s energy. Maybe this means, setting aside more time to visit with family, to speak with loved ones over the phone, or share a simple meal.
Embracing the practice and lifestyle of Feng Shui encourages us to participate in life vs watching it pass by.