Feng Shui Savvy - Mirrors

We all have mirrors in our homes, don’t we? And whether you follow feng shui or not, mirrors affect the energy in the room, so it’s nice to know just how the energy is being affected.

In feng shui, mirrors are one of the 10 Basic Cures. This is because they activate and circulate Chi (energy).  When something activates energy, it’s placement is one of the first things we address.

Mirrors are associated with the Water element. The shape of the mirror adds another element – rectangular = Wood, circular or oval = Metal. Then the frame adds another element. You can read more about Elements here.

Mirrors are often termed the ‘aspirin’ of feng shui. This is because they usually dramatically affect the energy in the room. Just from a design standpoint, this holds true. We use mirrors to enlarge spaces, to bring in more light, as well as simple functional usage. All of this works in feng shui, too.

The Basics


First & foremost you want to be able to see your whole head & shoulders when looking in a mirror. The above grouping, while aesthetically pleasing, actually fragments the body. After a period of time, you might subconsciously notice your energy being fragmented.

I don’t know about you, but I have enough issues with being fragmented without adding to my house energy.

The mirror should be hung so all house occupants can see themselves fully in the mirror. This can pose an issue, I know. My Hubs is 6’4” & I’m 5’6” so our mirrors have to be large enough so we both can see our reflected images.

If you have little ones, though, they might not be able to see themselves. As long as the mirror is placed high enough where it’s not chopping the top of their head off, you’re fine. You might consider hanging a mirror or two just for them. Just remember to check what the mirror reflects at that lower level.

Since a mirror will activate energy, it follows that you’d want to place them in rooms where you want energy to move – and not so much in rooms where you want to relax.

Bedrooms


Since we often get dressed in the bedroom, we usually have a mirror there. If you can see the mirror while lying in bed, it can potentially disrupt your sleep. There’s something startling about waking up and seeing ‘another person’ in the room. It’s recommended to simply cover mirrors with scarves or other fabric in the bedroom.

I had a student once who clearly was dragged to my class by her friend. Her body language was all closed up and she didn’t ask any questions. When it was her turn for her floorplan review, I asked her what her main issue was. Neither her or her husband were sleeping well.
My first question was if they had mirrors in the bedroom. Yes, they had mirrored closet doors. Big ones. When I told her to try covering them up for a couple of weeks, she thought I was nuts. (I’m kinda used to this reaction, though.)
Months later she dropped in to the store where I was working. I didn’t recognize her at first. She then came clean and told me she thought I was crazy when I told her to cover the mirrors. But she did so the same night as the class and she and her husband had slept soundly ever since.

Mirrors in the Bathroom


Another tricky one, but we all have them. Tricky because mirrors are the Water element and there is already a lot of Water in any bathroom. Too much of a good thing. Plus, what is the mirror reflecting in the bathroom? If possible, put up a pleasant picture or artwork to see in the mirror. Keep in mind that mirrors enlarge what they reflect.

Mirrors in Offices


When we talked about Power Spots, I mentioned how you want to sit in a position where you can see the doorway. In workspaces, you can’t always do this. Even small mirrors help here. Placed next to your computer, or wherever you’re putting most of your attention, a mirror will reflect someone’s presence before they actually arrive in your cubicle – thus giving you a feeling of security rather than being startled.

Mirrors in the Kitchen


Your cooktop is also a Power Spot and if you can’t see the doorway when standing in front of your stove, you want to add a mirror, or some other reflective element, for the same reason as the office.

Use a Mirror to deflect Negative Energy

Got a neighbor that’s driving you nuts? Put a small mirror on the side of your house facing their house – the outside of your house. I get asked about this with apartments & it won’t work to place a mirror inside your house. This will only reflect the room’s energy.

Have a one-story house & there’s a two-story next to you? Same thing – a mirror facing the 2 story house.

These are just a few ways to use mirrors. As always, when I try & write a feng shui blog post, I realize there’s just too much material to cover here. But it’s just my intention to help you open your ‘feng shui eyes,’ and bring some balance into your home.

Have a great Saturday!

Colleen