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I recently went on a cruise trip to Southern Caribbean. I have never been on a cruise before, the idea of crowded spaces wasn’t really appealing, but I really wanted to experience being in the open ocean, so I finally did it. Our room had a balcony and for ten days, like a sponge, I was absorbing an infinite and powerful expanse of water, the sunsets and sunrises over the ocean. The gentle rocking of the ship was immensely relaxing to my system, and I’ve discovered that the best way to see the beauty of the islands is to approach them from the top deck of a 15-story ship. Altogether it all had a strong destressing effect on me. Even a week since I am back, I still feel the gentle rocking when I close my eyes. I feel relaxed, nourished, and rebooted. My meditations are deeper now, and I am getting a flow of creative ideas. I really needed it to wash off the intensity and stress of 2022! The Water Element does it for me.
A few days ago, my friend who is a doctor told me how she used images of ocean sunsets for the group of her patients to tune into before she guided them into meditation. The main topic of her talk was how to deal with stress. Her research indicated that images of water can put people from sympathetic (fight-or-flight) into parasympathetic (relaxed) states of the nervous system in a matter of seconds.
In my book The Soulful Home Design Guide I have a chapter on art where I talk about the significance of surrounding ourselves with beautiful images that are meaningful to us. They have a power to positively influence our mood and wellbeing. I have always been a big proponent of using Water images in our homes. Water Element is the most significant Element in Feng Shui. The two words “Feng” and “Shui” mean “Wind” and “Water”. On a large scale these two forces, Wind and Water, shape landscapes and human destiny. On a smaller scale water for many is associated with relaxation, vacation, and happiness.
A quote from my book:
“The most fascinating thing is that images can change our state of mind. During the last few decades, numerous studies have confirmed this, although it was already known to feng shui masters centuries ago. A large percentage of our brain is dedicated to image processing, and it happens very fast, in a fraction of a second. The studies concluded that, for the brain, it doesn’t matter whether it is a real thing or an image. We get similar responses. A beautiful image of a beach and water, especially if the image reminds you of your favorite vacation spot or a place you want to go, can bring instant happiness and relaxation. The stronger the emotional response you get from the image, the better it will work for you. If an image of a house on the beach represents your wealth dream and you place it in an area where you see it often, it will serve as a subconscious reminder of what you want.”
The three pictures above the couch in my family room are from our favorite vacation moments. Although we may not consciously admire them every day, but our subconscious mind knows they are there and the whole area emanates peace, beauty, and joy. We are glad we had a chance to experience these places!
I would love to hear your experiences with art and images in your home. Please write in a comment section and I will reply.