Health and Family – I Ching trigram – “Chen”

Arousing Thunder

Element – Wood

The foundation principle about this Gua is the importance of developing good physical, mental, emotional and spiritual strength and vitality. When you are under stress, experiencing challenges and the stormy conditions of life, your survival and resiliency depends on your strength, health and vitality. Strong physical, mental and emotional health is truly the foundation of our lives. Without it we are unable to enjoy or cultivate and participate fully in all other areas of our life. Our work, ability to earn an income, family life, spiritual path and creativity suffers. The healthier you are, the more choices you have.

This area also relates to having strong, happy, healthy relationships with our family of origin and extended family. These relationships also form a strong foundation in our lives by offering us support during challenging times. There is an emphasis on the importance of healing, forgiving and making peace with any relationships in your circle of family and friends.

Is there anyone that you need to forgive or talk to about something that has caused you to harbor resentment or anger?

Here are some ways that you can enhance this area of the Bagua:

Symbols of the Wood element, healthy plants with rounded leaves and a soft graceful appearance; artwork with trees, plants, flowers, gardens, landscapes; artwork or a collage depicting ideal health; accessorize with blues and greens and floral prints and stripes in fabrics, paint, throw pillows, art, upholstery, linens, wallpaper; objects made of wood; pillars and columns; photos of family and friends in blue, green, floral or striped frames.

Here is a great Health and Family story I heard in my Feng Shui training. There was a client of a Feng Shui colleague of mine that had been hopelessly battling trying to quit smoking. There was a collection of cactuses in her Health and Family area that had appendages that looked exactly like cigarettes. My colleague brought this to her attention and she removed the plants and was finally able to quit smoking for good! AND as a bonus – the relationship with her mother greatly improved. They had always had a very “prickly” relationship which smoothed out after the cactus plants were removed!