By Paymaneh Ritchie
As a mother of one, I often find myself exhausted and short in time; which then leads to asking my mother how on earth she managed with three children! My mother tells me even though she had it easier than I, she still asked her mother: “how did YOU mange with four children?”
It appears that with the passage of time and our advancement in technology, we invite more and more into our lives without paying attention to the harmony and balance of our surroundings.
Where children used to spend hours outdoors playing with all sorts of natural objects (twigs, stones, water etc.), enjoy sun light and have a restful sleep at the night, these days most of our children are cooped up indoors, consuming processed foods, play with manmade materials and feel the exposure to electromagnetic radiations through our surroundings. This of course does not limit itself to our children as we, as adults, take in all that with our eyes, skin, ears and subconscious as well!
As a result of our way of life, we now have children who are easily frustrated, have lower tolerance thresholds, expect instant gratification and feel the pressure of competing with others! As adults, we feel restless, stressed, fatigued, confused, depressed and overwhelmed with our weekly schedules. Whilst most of that is a part of living in the 21st century, some can be managed and corrected!
Holistic Interior Design is about creating harmonious spaces where our emotional, mental and physical needs are met and where we can replenish our energy and find gratification in its most basic forms!
For example, in most modern homes the best part of the house, furniture, dishes and decorations are saved for the “visitors”. We go through great lengths to ensure our children don’t destroy the “living room” furniture, stain the cushions, chip the plates or run around the “good room”. In reality, we restrict ourselves and other inhabitants of the space so that we may make a great impression on visitor whose presence in our lives will not be felt but for a very short time! Some of our homes are designed to make grand entrances and yet produce smaller bedrooms with little natural light and even smaller backyards. We are forever trying to imitate nature to make advancements in our technology and yet ignore the natural cycles and harmony with which all natural elements coexist.
Realising the importance of the space we come back to every day, or the work space we visit more than any other place, it is important to pay attention to the impact of the colour (colour vibration is also absorbed through our skin, which is a property that colour therapists use!) around us, the sounds, views, objects we collect and materials with which our homes and furniture are built. It is a great surprise to notice how our physical, emotional and mental wellbeing improves as we tackle each element in our home knowing that the overall vibration of the collective objects in our home contributes to the “feel” of the space we live in.
So, next time you take a moment to look at your home or office pay attention to how the objects, shapes and colours around you make you feel and if you can feel the energy flow in your space. When in harmony, the space just simply feels good! There is a wealth of knowledge behind: “simple is beautiful”!
In self-respect and love we come to understand the importance of our inner balance and our connectedness to everything else around us. So next time you are in your favourite space and feel “good” just being there, ask yourself what about that space creates that feeling and nourish that within you and the rest of your surroundings. You would be surprised by how far that feeling penetrates within you and impacts others around you!
To learn more about Paymaneh Ritchie, visit her website www.aclectica.com/
