THE ZEN OF A FIREPIT
by Carole Schwalm

When the weather outside is frightful, there is nothing as delightful and relaxing as sitting in front of a fire.

However, sometimes our fireplace sits unused. Whatever the reasons, even to the point that when you first moved in you couldn’t wait until winter to use a real wood burning fireplace you now think it is too much trouble, there it sits.

You have a faux fireplace can’t be used, for example in an older home. Once a heating unit occupied the ‘fireplace’ but now this is just a sterile but still a focal, point of the room. Possibly, you’ve been thinking about buying a faux fireplace because you need some type of decorating statement, or are inspired to hang your plasma TV over one as seen in the magazines or on TV?

An unused or ‘dead space,’ is a Feng Shui perspective that applies to doors. However, anytime the fireplace and its hole in the wall are unused, it too fits the description by inhibiting ch’i and even causing arguments between people in the room.

The fire and its lights symbolize the sun’s brightness and will bring yang to a yin area. The fire stimulates ch’i, distributing it around the room. Many people use candles in an unusable fireplace. Another beautiful option is the use of a firepot. (Three firepots are awesome!) The firepots use clean and safe, smoke-free for –indoor-use, gel fuel. Of course, as with any fire, you have to keep safety in mind.

A mirror or even shiny metal behind the firepot grouping enhances depth, adds light and dimension. In Feng Shui, a mirror draws water energy into the room (increasing your $$ money-earning possibilities). The mirror draws positive, nourishing forces back into the room.

If you do not have a fireplace, but have a deck with sliding glass, think about putting firepots outside the door. For spring and summer use, citronella gel fuel that keeps mosquitos away. This gives you a year-round usability.