A Home in the Clouds: Feng Shui and High Rise Living
Are you reading this blog from somewhere within the Greater Toronto Area? If so, you are one of the 6.8 million people residing in Toronto and its surrounding neighborhoods. By the year 2046, the population is estimated to surge to 10.2 million. Although it’s difficult to imagine what the city will look like then, one thing is certain: Toronto’s unprecedented vertical growth will need to continue.
A larger proportion of residents are living in high-rises than ever before, with that number set to increase in the coming years. Toronto is not the only city where many of its residents live in high-rises; building “up” instead of out beyond the current city limits is a way to provide housing for a growing urban population. Housing residents in high-rises within a densely populated city helps to preserve or create more park space and other urban-living benefits.
Living in a high-rise apartment or condominium building becomes a choice for many people; whether out of necessity or desire. Many lifestyle and design considerations, such as how to incorporate Feng Shui, now need to be viewed differently. Feng Shui Specialists™ and Consultants need to be versed in both country and city dwellings. Assessing a detached home in a suburb of Toronto is very different from evaluating an apartment and its building within the city.
With millions of neighbors, restricted control over your setting, and a limited number of options within a building, can you implement Feng Shui into a condo or apartment? Absolutely, it just requires knowledge and consideration.
Feng Shui and High-Rise Living: The Building
When you begin considerations for a particular condo or apartment, the building and its environment are paramount; both have specific features that can promote good Chi or bad Chi (Sha Chi).
Keep in mind that the energy of the building will influence the energy of the units within it. Its characteristics cannot be altered; rather than fighting a permanent inauspicious feature, choose your building wisely.
To begin your assessment for good Feng Shui, consider the two-mile radius surrounding the building. Observe the building’s shape, the height of the surrounding buildings, the materials they are made of, and the nearby landmarks. Special attention should also be given to the building’s main entrance.
Shape of the building:
Avoid buildings that are lopsided, overly thin, wedge-shaped, or have a narrow form.
- These unbalanced silhouettes can cause Chi to become stretched or squeezed internally.
Height of surrounding buildings:
Avoid choosing a building dwarfed by others, as sharp corners from above can cause poison arrows within your unit.
- The larger the building, the stronger the Sha Chi.
- Views are also crucial; if your building is much shorter than those around it, your view will be obstructed and potentially unpleasant.
- Conversely, if your building is taller, it has no protection.
Material of surrounding buildings:
Avoid apartments or condos opposite all-glass structures.
- The light reflection from the glass can mimic multiple mirrors and promote Sha Chi.
Surrounding landmarks:
Within the two-mile radius, observe the adjacent landmarks.
- Avoid buildings across from a hospital, funeral home, cemetery, or anything else associated with negative energy.
Main entrance:
Similar to a home’s entrance, a building’s entry must be well-lit, clean, and uncluttered.
- The door should be prominently displayed and preferably not atop a staircase, as this can cause energy to leak out the front door.
- A door with a strong and balanced quality of energy will attract better Chi for the whole building.
- Additionally, the front foyer should be large enough to allow Chi to gather and be received within the building.
Feng Shui and High-Rise Living: The Unit
When considering the unit itself, its location within the building is paramount. Your assessment should begin with the residence’s position in relation to hallways, staircases, and other units.
Although the unit’s characteristics are more or less permanent, Feng Shui remedies and cures can be implemented to counteract Sha Chi.
Location in regard to hallways:
Avoid apartments at the end of a long corridor. Energy tends to rush down the hallway into your residence.
- This can be mitigated by placing plants with large, round leaves at the entrance of your unit to slow down the energy.
Location in regard to staircases:
Avoid units directly across from a staircase. Staircases can create forceful energy that enters your home.
- Placing plants in your entrance can help shield your home from this exuberant energy and slow it down upon entry.
Location in regard to other units:
Avoid selecting a unit directly across from another apartment or condo. Energy from both units can merge and promote Sha Chi, potentially causing conflict with your neighbor.
- A Feng Shui remedy is to create a “double door” effect within your dwelling: either place a screen to block the view of the door or hang a curtain over the doorway to present a second barrier. This prevents your neighbor’s energy from entering your home.
Living the high-rise life is a reality for many residents in large cities like Toronto. Incorporating Feng Shui in these non-traditional settings can be challenging.
A Certified Ultimate Feng Shui Specialist™ has the required knowledge and training to alleviate this ambiguity. They can assist you in determining which factors in both the building and unit should be avoided.
