It Starts at the Entrance

When is the last time you took a good objective look at your entrance? In feng shui, the entrance is a vital key to bringing positive energy flow into your home. The entrance is considered the “mouth” of the property from which life force enters allowing those living in the home to thrive with new opportunities.

Basic entrance feng shui

Basic Feng Shui says that an entrance should be inviting, attractive, comfortable and unobstructed. It’s often advised that you have a welcome mat and portray life force in the form of color or plants. Items that block energy flow and create obstacles such as shoes and dead plants should be removed.

In addition, it is important to have your address in plain view, and your home easy to find. Having your name and address in multiple locations is favorable — on the building, the door, the mailbox, etc. The easier it is to find your home, the better of a job you are doing to direct the flow of energy to your entrance.

All of these are basic “entrance rules” and can be found in any simple feng shui book. However, I’d like to go one step further and explain why symbolically and energetically it is so important to pay attention to our entrances.

It marks a threshold

The entrance of a property (the entrance is considered the architectural front door versus the garage door entrance) denotes the threshold between the outer world and the inner world. It marks the transition from that which is considered public, to that which is private and unknown. Making the entrance comfortable eases the subtle, yet very real discomfort in transition on a subconscious level.

Entryways that are stark and empty create discomfort. Mystery at the entrance does not invite positive inward energy flow. The items and furnishings you place at the entrance need to create a link to the people within in order to establish comfort and familiarity. By taking steps to do so you will “entrance” the energy to more easily cross the threshold.

Create an identity

Since the entrance is the first clue a visitor has of what lies beyond the door, it is important to create a clearly-defined identity. You can do this by using items that hint about the personality and uniqueness of those living within. It can be a distinctive welcome plaque, a unique fixture, blooming plants, or friendly figurines of items that represent you or your family — be creative!

Supportive entryway

Use hip-height items around the entryway to offer stable energetic support. Why? Because hip-high items energetically represent “cane” energy — what people use when they are unsteady on their feet to support them as they move from one location to another. Items and furnishings at hip height promote stability and offer a subtle sense of safety. Entrance ways that have the feeling of support are less stressful to cross.

Making changes to invite energy

If you follow these concepts when creating your entrance, you are not only establishing a sense of safety and connectivity for those who walk through it, you are issuing an invitation for beneficial energy to enter. Imagine yourself in the shoes of a first-time visitor when you look at your entrance. What do they feel as they are walking towards your front door — like they can’t wait to go in or like they feel like running away? Brainstorm for ways to create an inviting entrance so everyone in your home can benefit from the positive energy. It’s worth it!

Feng shui expert and life guide Alice Inoue offers books, DVDs, workshops and private consultations. For more information, visit www.aliceinoue.com.