Visualize in your mind the joy of children running in a field, spinning, swinging, using their imaginations to create new worlds. What joy! But the closer we get to becoming adults, the more we move further away from remembering how to play. Once fully-grown, we lose more and more of our deep-rooted sense of play. It has been scientifically proven that having fun generates optimism and gives the immune system a boost, which all improves well-being. Play also reshapes the brain, opening imagination that leads to creativity. If you have a specific room where you do your creative work, it would be beneficial to incorporate the 5 elements of Feng Shui in that space. The five elements are Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood. In design, they can be represented by colors, shapes, and images. An easy way to achieve this is with color: Fire is red, Earth is yellow, Metal is white, Water is black, and Wood is green. You could even use one piece of art that represents all 5 Elements. Having the 5 elements together creates harmony-the perfect environment for play, creativity, and joy!
It is also important to be mindful that our lives are informed and enriched by things we cannot see. Some of those things are intangible, like love, compassion and playfulness. Others are invisible forces, like gravity or electricity. Although we cannot see these things, they are important and real. In the spiritual realm, there is much that exists beyond our physical senses and understanding. Faith, for example, is a powerful force that guides and shapes our lives. Hope is what keeps us going in the darkest of times, but we cannot see it or touch it. Play encourages good mental health. In Feng Shui, the idea of chi or energy flow is essential for creating harmonious environments. In this practice, we cannot see the energy, but we can feel its effects and purposefully direct it for our benefit. By allowing Chi to flow through our space and capture it, we can experience balance, calm, creativity, joy, and playfulness. The air we breathe is unseen, yet vitally important for sustaining life. We must remember to appreciate and take care of these invisible elements that enhance our existence. The next time you pause to take a breath, remember the importance of the unseen forces in your life. Childlike playfulness sparks the imagination and brings us closer to source aligned with the joy of the universe. Happy holidays!