LAMORINDA WEEKLY | The Feng Shui of Front Entrances


The inviting front entryway of this Lamorinda home is clutter free, and invites vibrant energy into the home. Photos provided

With gardens in full bloom, late summer is a good time to step back and analyze the curb appeal of our homes, and the feng shui of the "power area" of the front entrance.

The front entrance is called the "First Pillar" or power area since it is the "mouth of Qi" or "doorway to prosperity;" it plays a huge role in the overall feng shui of the entire home by bringing abundant, healthy, vibrant energy or Qi to the front entrance, and welcoming it into your home and life. If the feng shui at the front entrance is healthy then the entire home will also have ample Qi or energy throughout to nourish the nine life areas of the Feng Shui Bagua map.

First, is the front door is easily accessible? If the front door is difficult to locate, then visitors, luck, opportunities and money will also have difficulty finding us. Pretend that you are a visitor and critically analyze the ease with which you can locate your front door. Adding welcome signs with arrows pointing to your walkway leading to the front door may do the trick, or making sure house numbers are easy to see, but there are other simple, creative feng shui solutions for those homes with hard-to-find front entranceways.

The front door in the front entranceway always resides in one of the three areas along the door wall of the Feng Shui Bagua map: the far left area (Self Knowledge and Cultivation); the middle area (Career and Money); or the far right area (Helpful People). Those three front entranceway areas are ruled by the earth, water and metal elements so having a good mix of these elements near or around the front entrance is good feng shui.

Make sure the front yard and front entrance is neat and clean, free of clutter, debris and broken items, and toss your old welcome mat, replacing it with a fresh one that is functional, clean, and attractive.

Next, ensure that the front of the property is sufficiently lit, such as the walkways leading up to the front door, as well as the lights that flank the front door itself. Always make sure to replace burnt out light bulbs immediately. Lighting has obvious safety benefits but also represents the fire element in feng shui which encourages inspiration, creativity and action.

Ample healthy plants, or pots of brightly colored, flowering, and fragrant plants represent life force. Adding red or bright flowers attract positive Qi to our front entranceways. Blossoms of Myer lemon or protection orange trees, even the miniature varieties, symbolize "bearing fruit" in the specific Bagua area they are planted.

To really activate the front entranceway, consider adding a water feature; it will work to bring the healthiest life force to the First Pillar of the front entrance and encourage us to pause and reflect. While there are many options, not all fountains are good feng shui - especially if the water spout or water flow directional points downward. The feng shui water feature must include a water flow that travels upward initially and then the water cascades down over the sides of the fountain. Many local nurseries like Orchard and McDonnell are great sources for outdoor fountains, and many will deliver and set it up for you as well.

After making these changes to the front entranceway, take a moment to see if things shift in your life now that this important area of the First Pillar is addressed, adjusted and activated. Remember, feng shui isn't a one time or once a year adjustment, and tweaking is a huge part of the fun!