THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE MOST popular decorating styles today: the serene minimalism of a Japanese interior; the stylish simplicity of the Shaker house; the cosy homeliness of country chic; the rustic warmth of a woodland cabin. At first sight they are worlds apart, but look closer and you will notice one thing they all share: a deep love and abundant use of natural materials.
If your home still feels soulless and barren, it’s worth checking the materials you have used. Plastics and synthetics may look good and be easy to clean but they are fundamentally dead materials. You don’t find your hand softly folding around a plastic knob the way it does around a wooden one. You would hardly lie down and stretch voluptuously on a vinyl floor the way you might on a pure wool rug or beautiful beech boards. And while plastic flowers may bring a dash of Colour, they lack the life and subtle energy of a vase of real blooms.
Bringing nature into your home means surrounding yourself with the healing and blessing of the outside world. It blurs the distinctions between us and the rest of creation. It puts us in touch, in the tiniest of ways, with Mother Earth and Father Sky, with the old sacred pull of the planet. It also welcomes in all the old gods and goddesses, spirits and angels of the wild and forgotten places.
WOOD
Let’s start to bring the natural world into our homes by looking at wood. The traditional Japanese house is a home of wood and bamboo; its floors are laid with fragrant tatami mats; screens are filled with scented cedar wood. The Shaker home revels in wood too: it may be left clear or painted in those gorgeous subtle shades but it is always wood, carefully and exquisitely turned and carved. The farmhouse, too, will use wood where it can: wide, generous floorboards and exposed beams; solid farmhouse scrub-top tables and chairs; oak linen chests and softly rounded handrails worn by generations of stroking hands. And the log cabin? What can I say? It is the very heart and soul of wood in its natural unblemished state: a headily fragrant paean to the forests.
Wood is a living, breathing entity with a myriad colours, scents and textures. Most tribal peoples believe that each tree has its own soul. The Maori of New Zealand are said to despair when each tree is cut down as its soul will have nowhere to go on earth and so will return to the stars: we will be poorer for its loss. The Celts honoured trees as having spirits and being great friends or dangerous foes. There are heroic tales of the souls of trees going into battle for their human friends and often dying because they stayed away from their tree too long.
When wood is young and green it exudes energy and enthusiasm. As it get older and more seasoned, it is imbued with wisdom and a warm, protective energy. Wood is embracing, nurturing, loving and healing. Use it where you can but be sure not to plunder the forests in doing so. Always pick recycled or old wood if you can or, if it must be new, make absolutely sure it comes from sustainable, environmentally sensitive sources. Shun like the plague endangered tropical hardwoods such as teak, mahogany and lauan.
If you are decorating, consider leaving natural woods bare, or gently polished with linseed oil to bring out the beauty of their grains. Wooden floorboards can look wonderful when stripped of old paint and varnish; they add warmth and a clear, uncluttered style to any room. If you would like more warmth, or a splash of colour, add a vibrant rug. Wood isn’t just for floors either. You might think about installing wooden panelling for an inviting dining room; a contemplative study; a stylish den. Can’t decide which colour to paint your woodwork, windows, skirting boards, doors? Leave them in the nude, with just a coat of natural sealant or varnish.
Wood is not the only natural material for decorating – far from it. You can bring the strength and solidity of the earth itself into your home with natural flagstones and marble; with the warmth of terracotta (literally ‘baked earth’) and brick. Explore the quiet power and presence of stone. Think about natural pigments in earthy hues if you decide to paint. It all looks wonderful but has a more esoteric purpose as well. As healer Denise Linn says:
Elementally the earth is grounding and strengthening. The Earth Spirit brings stability, ancient wisdom and power. Calling the Earth Element into your home will generate an energy that is serene and stable. Your home will become a fortress in times of change.
How else can we bring the earth into our homes? I could fill a whole book but we have just one chapter so let’s pick the most obvious.
STONE
There are certain stones you just have to pick up and touch. Whether you find them, lying on the bed of a fast-moving stream, in a rock pool or simply huddled amongst the millions on a pebble-clad beach, there is always one which somehow finds its way into your pocket. Most magical of all are the so-called ‘witch’ stones, pebbles with natural holes in them which are supposedly protective and magical. Use them all over your house. Here are some more suggestions:
CRYSTALS
Crystals are the earth’s treasure chest uncovered; a dragon’s hoard brought into our homes. There is a whole healing art devoted to the use of crystals but even if you find that hard to take, you should think about bringing them into your home if just for their beauty.
Denise Linn suggests choosing one particular crystal as your ‘house’ crystal. Cleanse it by mixing together a solution of one cup of spring water and half a cup of salt. Bury your crystal in the mixture and allow it to soak for at least 24 hours. Then you can dedicate your crystal to the energy you would like in your house. Simply hold it and focus your energy and intention into it. Then keep it safe somewhere in the heart of the house. Denise suggests you do not leave it on display as crystals can easily pick up the energy of people passing through the house.
Another stone Denise uses a lot in houses is the lingham; a river stone smoothed into a pillar-like shape. Of course, this is the phallic symbol of Indian religion and the same protective herm of Mercury/Hermes which was kept in Greek and Roman houses as the guardian of the threshold. Denise calls the lingham a ‘ferocious protector’ and explains they can be very useful for bringing rather airy-fairy spiritual types down to earth. They also provide a good balance if your house has a very feminine energy. There is no doubt that the lingham is all male; it’s the ultimate yang symbol. You could follow the Greeks and Romans and keep your lingham in the hallway to protect the house. You could also follow the Indian tradition and regularly anoint ‘him’ with sandalwood oil and lay a ring of flowers around the base.
There are so many kinds of crystals they are too numerous to mention. If this area intrigues you I would suggest you check out the books on crystals listed in the Bibliography. However, the following is a list of some of the most common and their attributes:
Amethyst
Calming, soothing and cleansing; will help you meditate and give you a good night’s sleep. Good for your bedroom or meditation room.
Bloodstone
Detoxifying, purifying, strengthening. Said to improve decision-making and clairvoyant abilities. Keep in your study or kitchen.
Focuses and motivates, stimulates and increases energy and power. Great for get-up-and-go places: hallways, work rooms, teenager’s study areas.
Citrine
Clears thoughts; gives confidence and optimism; encourages friendship and dispels fear. Believed to help accumulate or keep wealth. Keep in your living room, in the family money-box, in the room of anyone going for an interview or exam.
Jade
Increases vitality; healing and harmonizing; protective; said to help prolong life and put things in perspective. Keep in a living room or family room; or your bedroom.
Lapis Lazuli
A very spiritual stone, said to protect against evil spirits; also guards against depression, helps you express yourself creatively and artistically, boosts mental clarity and promotes spiritual awakening. Keep one by your bed, in your study or wherever you practise art or hobbies.
Moonstone
A stone to calm turbulent emotions, to heighten intuition and open up the subconscious. A very feminine stone, it can bring a gentle yin quality to over-masculine houses. Keep in a bedroom for useful dreams; in the bathroom; in your meditation room or retreat space.
The most versatile of all crystals, commonly used by American Indians as a source of power and divination. Balancing and amplifying: aids meditation. Rock crystals make good ‘house’ crystals and can be used all around the home.
Rose Quartz
A beautiful symbol of love, beauty, the family, children and creativity. Also promotes peace and self-esteem. Lovely for babies’ and children’s rooms; in bedrooms; in the heart of the house, in the kitchen or central meeting place.
Sodalite
A positive, balancing stone. It promotes physical endurance and spiritual awareness; helps you become objective and opens up new horizons. Keep it on a window seat; by a door; or by your writing desk.
Tiger’s Eye
A grounding, focusing stone which can help concentration and give the courage to meet new challenges. It brings optimism, balances energy and can boost creativity. Keep in the hallway for strength as you go out into the world, or in the study. Very useful for school-leavers.
Turquoise
Protecting and strengthening, turquoise ushers in strength, success, fulfilment and a strong sense of spirit. Beloved of many Native American tribes, it encourages clear communication, good relationships and greater self-awareness. Keep in living rooms, dining rooms and studies.
PLANTS AND FLOWERS
What easier and more delightful way is there to bring the spirit of the garden, of the wild, into your home than with a vase brimming with blooms or a radiantly healthy pot plant? Psychics say that each plant has its own attendant spirit: the logic-defying gardens at Findhorn in Scotland were supposedly cultivated by lovingly contacting these elemental spirits and asking for their aid. With this in mind, pay careful attention to the plants you invite into your house: make sure you feel a living bond with them. Discover their likes and dislikes: ferns will adore the steamy atmosphere of your bathroom; a cactus would loathe it, much preferring a hot, dry window ledge. An aspidistra or mother-in-law’s tongue will put up with a darkish hall where a geranium would soon show its displeasure. In feng shui terms, plants with soft rounded leaves are good for chi; spiky plants are trickier and need plenty of room if they are not to cause disputes.
Flowers can instantly shift the mood of a room. Passionate reds, crimsons, purples and puce make for a spicy, exotic feel. Yellows and oranges are upbeat, friendly and cheering: how can you feel miserable with a sunflower smiling at you? Softer shades of blue, pink, mauve and white give a gentle, soft, healing energy.
GARDENING IDEAS
There are a million and one ways with plants and flowers – check out your bookshop for literally hundreds of books. In the meantime, try these ideas for inspiration:
So far we have looked only at bringing the spirit of the earth into the home. Although earth is perhaps the most important for the home with its power s of grounding, safety and stability, the three other elements in nature all bring wonderful benefits to the natural home. Let’s look at them in turn, and how we can bring their spirit and nature into our living spaces.
Fire
We have already seen the importance of fire in the hearth, the sacred fire that keeps the very spirit of the home alive. Fire brings energy into the home; it makes a home feel alive and gives a boost to everyone in it. It is also very protecting. A lighted candle on your desk will help you work with focus and without flagging. A nightlight in a child’s bedroom will keep all those scary monsters at bay. A fire burning in the hearth will provide a natural focus for a family get-together or a wonderful opportunity for some solitary musing.
Always remember, however, that fire can be dangerous. Never leave a fire or candle unattended. If you are using nightlights or long-lasting candles make sure they are secure in their holder and put the holder in a bowl of water or sand large enough so that, were the candle to fall over, it would be extinguished by the water or sand.
Candle Magic
Candles are the most common way we bring the element of fire into our homes. The colour of candle you choose might simply match or provide a contrast for your decorating scheme or it could signify an inner purpose. If you like the idea of some candle magic try using these colours:
Concentrate on your purpose before and while you light the candle. You could also use it for meditation to strengthen your desire.
Other Fiery Ideas
If you really want to bring the fire element from the sun directly into your house, take a magnifying glass and a piece of paper out into the sunlight – shine the glass onto the paper until it smoulders and then use the paper to light your candle.
Another lovely idea is to have a ‘fire dedication ceremony’. Write on a piece of paper all you desire for your home or, if you prefer, draw or paint it instead. Now dedicate it to the fire, putting it into the flames and watching it burn. As it burns imagine the fire taking your dream and turning it into reality.
Water
Water soothes and calms the soul; it is purifying and healing. Think how we use it even today in modern christenings and baptisms. To bring the energy of water into your house, particularly if your house is lacking humidity, have plenty of bowls of clean, fresh water around the house. You could transform them into ornaments in their own right by choosing attractive bowls and adding beautiful pebbles, shells and rocks to the bottom or floating petals or whole flower heads on top.
WATER IN THE HOME
There are also plenty of other ways of bringing water into the home:
Air
Air is all around us but it can easily become stagnant and heavy in a house. Think of the fresh, invigorating air of a mountain, a forest, a seaside cliff-top. Now follow these steps to bring the full power of the element of air into your home.
AIR YOUR HOME