What You Should Bring With You When You Move Into A New Home, According To Feng Shui

When your mom said she moved the kitchen hutch to create a better energy flow a few years ago, you may have laughed at first. But feng shui principles have been used for centuries in China, and have steadily become more popular in the western world, says National Geographic. The term feng shui translates to "wind-water" (via Healthline), but it actually refers to the practice of balancing the qi (pronounced "chi") or energy of a physical space. Harmonized chi is obtained by the careful arrangement of objects that are complementary but contrasting, known as yin-yang. 

So while you may have dialed in the qi of your current home, you might be stressed about moving to a new place and having to work it out all over again. Feng shui isn't just about rearranging furniture and wind chimes (though there is a fair bit of that). Maintaining feng shui principles can start even before you unlock your front door for the first time. We have a few tips for what you should take to your new home and what you should leave behind. 

Purging before a move can feel great, but there are a few things you should arrive at your new home with. For instance, you'll want basic cooking staples like oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Picture Healer also notes the importance of bringing rice and a rice storage vessel like a bucket or large jar. Fill the new container with rice on moving day to symbolize abundance and prosperity.

Also, make sure to move in with the supplies you need to enjoy a meal. Plates, bowls, utensils, pots and pans, etcetera, are all useful. Cooking and eating your first meal in your new home is a significant ritual, as it's a time of nourishment. Even though moving can be stressful, try to make time to enjoy a simple but delicious meal on your first day. This can increase the positive energy in the home and help you to find pleasure and calm amidst the chaos. 

In addition to the practical elements, you should come prepared with a few objects to increase your luck. Conroy Removals urges you to never show up empty-handed on moving day. Each member of the household should have something in hand, almost like an offering to the house. Because the color red is often thought of as a symbol of good luck, red envelopes, fruit, or flowers are all good to have in hand. According to Love to Know, it represents the fire element, which holds yang energy. 

Another feng shui tradition is scattering coins on the floor of your new home, says feng shui enthusiast Bhawana Rathore (via Medium). You can pick them up throughout moving day to symbolize wealth and prosperity. If you want to enhance the qi of your house, identify your wealth corner and place a jar there to collect the coins. Some feng shui experts recommend using ancient Chinese coins that are circular with a rectangle hole in them, another symbol of the yin-yang, but any coins will work for the ritual. 

If it's grossing you out to think about loading up your old mop, broom, and toilet brush into the moving van, good news! You should actually leave them behind and buy fresh ones. They hold dirt and the messiness of your old home, resulting in murky energy. Your Chinese Astrology even recommends tying a red ribbon around a new broom and dustpan and sweeping the whole of your new home. This symbolizes the washing away of the old and the beginning of a new, fresh start. 

The other thing you should definitely leave behind? A bad mood, says Moving Solutions. You do not want your emotions to compromise the energy of the house before you've even unpacked. Moving is stressful, but keeping a level head and generous spirit will not only make you happier in the long run, but will keep your home's qi in balance. So when your little one breaks a lamp, or your partner forgot to pack toilet paper, take a deep breath, keep calm, and carry on.