As the pressures of 21st century survival increase, it is our homes
that can offer the perfect antidote.
But, in many cases, it seems that the very place we think of
as a sanctuary, could be implicated in causing physical ill-health and
impairment.
Holistic design consultant and complementary health
therapist Maxine Fox believes the answer is to `refocus our attention
on the interaction that occurs between our physical, emotional and
spiritual selves and the living environment we call home’.
She explains: `The sad fact is that, despite our society
enjoying a higher standard of living than at any time in our history,
rather than being well off, as a nation we are chronically unwell.
`Improvements to housing and sanitation, in
conjunction with the discovery of antibiotics, may have afforded a
temporary victory over some of the killers of yesteryear, but in the
meantime we have managed to generate a whole catalog of diseases that
were simply not prevalent a few generations ago.’
Maxine, who is based in south-west London, spent
many years working in family care before retraining in the field of
complementary health.
In her view, the truly holistic home allows
healing to manifest on all levels: the physical, the emotional and the
spiritual.
And this ideal balance would provide us with a
home which would:
Work to support out physical health, rather than
causing us harm as many do at present
Encourage awareness and harmony within our
relationships
Allow us to re-connect to our selves, to each
other, and to nature.
The Physical Home:
Maxine is seriously concerned that many of the
health problems manifesting today are a result of the `sudden and
enormous burden of new and highly-toxic chemicals that are being
unleashed into our homes and straight into our bodies’.
She explains: `Just at the very time
when our lives are becoming increasingly stressful, these chemicals are
impairing the normal, healthy functioning of our immune
systems.’
Her solution? To reintroduce
some of the old and valid ways of keeping house, re-connecting
ourselves to the wisdom of our grandmothers.
Maxine suggests using
essential oils to deodorize and disinfect your home, and provide
natural antibacterial action where needed.
In the kitchen for instance, you can mix one or
two drops of a citrus essential oil (lime, orange, grapefruit or lemon)
with hot water and a dash of vegetable-based detergent to hygienically
wipe down the sink, fridge or work surface. Or you could use dry baking
soda as a scouring powder.
With beauty products, turning to nature
is Maxine’s answer – proper nutrition, drinking
plenty of water, getting plenty of sleep and relaxation, and using the
food cupboard to make a wealth of products.
The Emotional Home:
Society is at last, according to Maxine, beginning
to re-acknowledge the notion that emotional happiness can influence
physical wellbeing.
And she suggests simple and practical
changes to our living environment which can bring a wealth of
difference to our lives.
Design – for those with hectic
schedules, the clean lines of a simple scheme can bring reprieve from
the busy-ness of the day. Limit the amount of contrasts within a room,
choose plain finishes and keep the room uncluttered but not cold and
minimalist. Use un-fussy but warm textures such as wood, cork,
linoleum, sisal or wool, offset by the richness of velvet, chenille and
deep pile rugs.
Color – rooms that are color conscious
become active therapy. In terms of interior design, it is the
biggest single design statement that you can make.
Sitting rooms – the most communal room
in the house – colors should be warm and comforting without
being overpowering
Kitchens – the freshness of green can enhance our
connection with nature and bring a lightness to the room and to
patterns of cooking and eating
Dining rooms – choose the colors of gold, red or
orange to invite energy in. The colors of fire as your table setting
can recreate the feel of the campfire
Bathrooms – if it is in any way cold or uninviting,
create a soft scheme using warmer colors associated with the sea
– the richness of coral, the pinks and yellow of sand or the
petty opalescence of shell
Home offices/computer rooms – the brain perceives
greens, blues and purples as safe to ignore, which helps to minimize
the eyestrain caused by the computerized words and images
Lighting – do all
you can to make full use of natural daylight available, often with good
use of mirrors. Use appropriate levels of artificial lighting to
prevent eye-strain but, beyond that, less is most definitely more.
The Spiritual Home:
Not only should the home provide the
individual with a place in which to rest and re-fuel, it should also
form a loving embrace that encompasses the entire family group.
Maxine goes on: `The aim is to
create a home which actively encourages inclusion, one which
respects each member of the household and engages them in family
life.’
She recommends good and
flexible use of living space, taking into account the changing needs of
the growing family, and even placement of furniture to encourage better
interaction and involvement.
She adds: `When
children are fully engaged within a harmonious and loving home, they
learn they have rights and value as individuals.’
Instead of our obsession with
anti-social or annoying neighbors, Maxine believes we should look at
how to be better neighbors ourselves. That includes taking the trouble
to get to know people around you, treating them with courtesy in terms
of noise and space, taking a pride in our own property, and becoming
involved in the community.
But our responsibility towards our
fellow human beings far exceeds, it seems, the immediate family and
community.
As inhabitants of the global village, she calls on
us to:
buy and support Fair trade products
cut our energy consumption
revise our attitude towards water use
recycle and be responsible for our waste disposal.
She concludes: `It is imperative that we
recognize our collective responsibility for our home planet and the
people, fauna and flora we share it with.
`Our survival depends upon it.’
A copy of `Holistic Home – the
Homemaker’s Guide to Health and Happiness’ by
Maxine Fox is available by contacting Findhorn Press, 305a The Park,
Findhorn, Forres IV36 3TE, Scotland (tel 01309 690582; fax 01309
690036;
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
; Findhorn Press)
