The Feng Shui Anatomy of Doors

Years ago while working with clients to help them gain insights into their subconscious mind specifically in relationship to their life path and the root cause of any fear and doubt around making an important decisions, I’d walk them through a guided meditation where they were faced with a hallway of doors. It was in this meditation that they would be asked to follow their heart to the door which held the most appropriate opportunities that would support their highest good and the desires they wished to achieve. Settling into the feeling of the outcome they desired to achieve they would enter the heart chosen door. It was on the other side of the door that they were able to move beyond their perceived fears, doubts and anxiety while feeling and seeing the potential opportunities found in making a soul guided decision.

Life is always offering us an abundance of opportunities. Sometimes many arrive at the same time, sometimes singularly. It’s how we interpret them that makes the difference in how we receive and accept them. From a Feng Shui perspective doors are considered the voices of the elders who offer wisdom and insights to various paths of opportunities. The front door represents the mouth of chi, the place in which your home inhales a deep and cleansing breath. A bright colourful exterior front door that opens wide and free of any obstacles invites all kinds of groovy opportunities. A front door that is dark, recessed, hidden and blocked will stop the flow of any opportunities for growth and self-fulfillment while creating feelings of frustration, doubt, fear and unnecessary anxiety.

It is important that every door in the home be in perfect working condition and that the hinges and door knobs do not stick or squeak. How well the door knobs work tells you how well you have a handle the areas of your life which are associated to the correlating gua in which the troubled door aligns. Hinges that buckle or squeak indicate where joints are holding stress and tension resulting in pain and limited mobility.

The back door should be in perfect working order and the path to it should be free of any and all obstacles, both on the interior and exterior in order to provide a path for exhaling stale and stagnant chi.

So often I see back doors where on the exterior there is a collection of garbage cans and abandoned household and yard paraphernalia. All this “stuff” is forgotten and left to rot as many people do not take advantage of their backyards making them into little oasis but creating personal landfills full. When considering the guas in which most back doors fall into, Wealth & Prosperity, Fame & Reputation, and Love, Marriage and Relationship it would serve everyone well to be mindful of how their “habits” contribute to the health of these associated guas.

Whatever the door, wherever the location make sure that it in perfect working condition and that it is free of all obstacles.

When choosing a front door consider the overall feel and outcome you wish to attain while taking into account the exterior elements such as siding, brick, stucco, soffit, fascia and roof. I recommend choosing a complimentary colour to these elements while considering the gua in which the front door aligns. For instance a black door is perfect for the Career & Life Path Gua as the colour represents the Water Element while an Amethyst colour is excellent for the Knowledge & Self-Cultivation Gua as it represent the 6th Chakra that of the 3rd Eye Chakra supporting integrated knowledge. I’ll have more on door colours in a later p0st. Stay tuned.

Storm Doors

Although I don’t see a lot of storm doors or screen doors in North America I am a fan and will often recommend that clients install one to offer the opportunity to invite fresh air into the house during warm seasons. In northern Canada we don’t get many opportunities to invite the outdoors in as we have cold, long winters. There are many styles to choose from. As a pet owner I prefer the top down screens as the bottom glass panel creates a more secure barrier from outside keeping my gang off the street and reduces the costly expense of repairing the screen should they “lose their noodle” while barking at my neighbour walking her Border Collies.

Composition

There are various choices when purchasing a front door. Consider the safety, durability and then aesthetics.

Wood

Often found in older homes wood doors have a tendency to warp and although wood doors are making a comeback in more modern homes they are not the most energy efficient and best used in dry, warm climates.

Steel

Not overly stylish but most economical, durable and energy efficient steal doors can be dressed up to create a beautiful and graceful welcome while offering the most protection from the outside world and the elements. For a paint job that with stands all weather conditions take your door to a body shop and have it painted with auto body paint. You will love the impact and depth the finish has.

Fiberglass or Composite

If you love the look of a wood door without all the upkeep and the durability of the steel door you may have a winner with Fibreglass or Composite doors. Visually appealing these doors have a stain-able wood grain making it hard to tell the difference between the real thing. If you’ve got the budget and you are looking for a natural, organic look these doors might be the answer to your design details.

Safety and Security

In addition to the front door of the house being the mouth of chi it is also the most compromised barrier between you and the outside world. Although windowed front doors offer additional light into a foyer the glass does create a sense of vulnerability and makes it much easier for a forced entry.

While bevelled, glazed glass and sidelights are beautiful they do reduce privacy and expose you to the would-be-caller before you have made a conscious informed decision to answer the door. If you’re tip-toeing to the kitchen in the morning with just a towel on to get your morning latte you might be showing the neighbours kid more than you wanted. He’ll never look at you the same again.

If you choose a to have a window in your front door it is best from a Feng Shui perspective to make sure that the glazing is opaque. An opaque window will give you time to sensor the need to answer the door while saving you some un-necessary embarrassment.

Don’t drop your towel!