Guest Author - Diane Kern

Is your home well connected? Well connected to the ground that is. To benefit from the earth's energy it is important to be in touch with the ground.

Mobile homes are an affordable form of primary housing as well as popular for vacation homes. By their very nature they are designed to be moved and are not permanently in contact with the ground. Although most mobile homes are placed on a lot and stay there, there is a gap of several feet under the structure. This may be enclosed by skirting but the gap still exists.

Some homes are built on piers and have a crawl space underneath them instead of being built on a full foundation. In this case the gap under the house may be smaller than in a mobile home. Hence the name crawl space. But the home is still essentially floating.

Some homes near the water or on steep hill sides also use piers or pillars. Perhaps part of the home has a foundation and the front or back is suspended out over the water or hill side. I have seen several boathouses converted into residences where the water comes into the lower level of part of the house. Many homes in California are built out over a steep slope.

In more urban areas an apartment building may be built over a parking lot. Or a home may have a lower level garage with a bedroom or other living area above it. Even in this case although there may be a full foundation, the effect is still of a large open space under the living area.

So what, you say. Why are you writing about this? Think about the above situations. Mobile homes are subject to wild winds. They are often the first to be damaged during tornados and hurricanes. Crawl spaces are difficult to keep clean. They tend to collect debris and animals often use them as a comfy home. Homes on stilts, may take advantage of natural features such as a spectacular view or the sound of waves on the water. But they are subject to mudslides and floods. And in the final case of urban areas, exhaust fumes and the constant in and out of vehicles creates a problem.

Beyond those considerable concerns you have the wind tunnel effect that can be created by narrow spaces. This fast moving qi can affect your health and mental focus. It does not create a calm and nurturing environment for your well being.

So what can you do? Mobile homes can be built on a slab. This full connection to the earth creates a much more satisfactory feng shui environment. It can also reduce the number of steps you have to go up into the house. Remember qi flows like water and water does not go uphill. The same holds true for crawl spaces. Although the problem here is less challenging, because at least the piers are sunk in the ground, I would try to avoid this configuration. Choose a home with a slab if you can. In a building over a parking lot, try to avoid being on the floor directly above. Choose a floor at least one story higher. As for living over water or hung out over the side of a mountain...this can raise so many other issues the view isn’t worth it. If you have a garage under your living space try to adjust the use of this room. Make it a space you use less frequently. We spend a third of our lives sleeping so a bedroom would not be a good choice for this area.

Take a look around your town to find buildings that are not well connected. Try to imagine what it would be like to live there.

Remember to stay grounded!