Every space needs active energy and love. Pets give us both. And pets also allow us to express our love. Pets are often considered members of the family and as such should be considered when reviewing the feng shui of your home.
Regardless of the type of pet, there are some simple feng shui guidelines for pet ownership that range from common-sense suggestions about care and feeding to things you might not consider, such as the impact of pets on your relationships, finances, or health.
PETS ARE GOOD FENG SHUI
This is the most important thing to remember. Their energy and vibrancy means we have an active home even when we’re not there, making our homes more “yang.” Dogs, for example, also provide protective energy for our homes and help us feel safer and more secure.
When dogs bark and wag their tails happily, they bring us a lot of exuberant joy. And petting and caring for any animal gives us and them great feng shui energy, and displays of love are always wonderful feng shui. This is the best case. But when are pets not good feng shui? There are some cases where the feng shui of your home is disturbed by pets.
GOOD FENG SHUI MEANS THAT PETS ARE PROPERLY CARED FOR
The worst case scenario is when pets do not receive proper care. If the tank isn’t clean and uncluttered, the fish aren’t doing so well, and neither are you. Fish represents success in feng shui and wealth, and if the water is dirty, both can elude you.
Also, in feng shui, dirty water can also lead to health problems. One of the worst situations I saw was a fish tank so dirty you couldn’t even see the fish. The couple who lived in this house were broke and divorced after a short time. He couldn’t feel anything but pity for those poor, poor creatures.
What must other visitors have thought, and what did this nasty tank do to the psyche of everyone in the house? Or, what was the message for the child who saw parents who cared so little for these fish that they didn’t even give them clean water?
So while it’s nice to have a pet, the first priority should always be the health, safety, and care of the pet. If you don’t have the space or time to take care of the pet, then it’s better not to have it because, simply put, keeping animals in poor condition is very bad feng shui.
GOOD FENG SHUI KEEPS THE BALANCE OF PETS AND PEOPLE
If the animals live in the house, it is important to ensure that the proper hierarchy is observed. I can’t tell you how many pet horror stories I see ranging from romantic difficulties to health problems because pets dominate people. Remember, you are the owner of your domain and must remain so. Also, good feng shui is all about balance.
Although there are cases in which animals do not receive adequate care, that is, they do not receive the appropriate conditions, treatment, very little interaction, stimulation or care, it is very common that pets are in a superior position to people in home. This means that the house is out of balance, and if this is the case, the feng shui is affected. The end result means that life is not as good as it could or should be.
Try to observe some simple pet feng shui rules.
1. ANIMALS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED ON THE FURNITURE
– unless it is furniture specifically for them. This puts them on an equal footing with people.
2. ANIMALS SHOULD NOT BE IN THE BED, especially in pairs. This divides the couple and gets in the way of romance and sometimes the relationship. It would be better if the animals weren’t in a couple’s bedroom, but when it comes to choosing between pets sleeping in the room on the bed or on the floor, go with the floor, never the bed.
3. PETS SHOULD NOT BE THE FIRST THING SOMEONE SEES IN YOUR HOUSE.
Pets should enhance a home, not dominate it. If your cat litter box is the first thing you see — or smell — when you walk into someone’s home, then there’s a problem, and it’s not just the smell. If this is the case, you will find that this is a house where the occupants are generally fighting.
Maybe you have a dog that barks, jumps, scares or threatens people as soon as they enter your house. Well then, you have a situation where every time someone walks in, fear comes with them. Is this the kind of environment you want to live in?
If this sounds like your pet(s), then at the very least they should be secured in another room when someone comes to visit. The fear they inspire will create a yin environment. If this is your situation, then you have a home where your energy is running low and motivation is low.
A homeowner has a very large aggressive dog that he thinks is sweet and wonderful. However, this dog scares visitors. This dog definitely rules the roost and he knows it.
What’s worse is when a pet is given complete reign of the house and is thought to be “cute” by its owner. One such owner struggles on multiple fronts, particularly with relationships. This is definitely a situation where the animal comes before the person, and it makes one wonder if the dog scares away potential love relationships. Authority must be restored with this pet so that the house can attract people (or a new love interest?).
4.YOUR DOG/CAT/BIRD/ETC. SHOULD NOT COME BEFORE ANYONE.
If Fido or Fluffy do it, this is also a problem. Feng shui is all about balance. If the pets are completely superior, then the balance does not exist. For example, one woman had photos of her dog all over her house. She struggled to find a romantic partner and was very upset about being in her forties with no prospect of love in sight. She even had an expensive oil painting of the dog on her bed.
Well, how could a romantic couple come to the house when 1) the dog barked and jumped on everyone who came through the door; and 2) was the dog the “superior dog” insofar as he symbolically slept on his mistress every night?
Despite being advised to move the image and make other improvements to help her love life, she would not part with the image and remains single to this day. Pets should not come between people.
5. YOUR HEALTH SHOULD NOT SUFFER FROM HAVING PETS.
I am constantly amazed at people who suffer from all sorts of health problems and yet have eight indoor cats and they use outside pollen which bothers them. The cats are all over the furniture and countertops in the kitchen. This is not healthy, not to mention puts off visitors. Cats, in particular, are yin animals. Balance its yin energy by keeping the lights on and playing music to keep your home active and full of energy.
6. DO NOT MAKE YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AVOID YOUR HOME.
If you have to use a lint brush on friends and family before they leave your house, it could cause others to avoid coming. The fur that sticks to them is very “yin” and will make them feel run down or dirty when they leave your house. This energy also makes your home feel yin.
If your home isn’t sociable, visitors rarely come, or people leave right away, then consider livening up your surroundings with bright colors, sunlight, music, or other active enhancements. It may be that the environment is too yin.
7. USE YOUR PETS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE WITH FENG SHUI.
Just having a loving pet is good for you. But, the pet should also be good for the whole house as long as the pet is friendly, clean and does not disturb your relations or visitors to your home.
Dogs are wonderful for infusing a home with living energy, fish bring success, turtles symbolize longevity, and cats are symbols of financial luck (ie lucky cats seen in Asian businesses). So, as difficult as it may be, take a close look at your pet’s situation to make sure your pets aren’t hurting your feng shui and making your life better.
