The Power of Three
Finding Harmony in Faith and Feng Shui
Trinity Sunday is a day that invites us to reflect on one of the most beautiful and great mysteries of faith: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Three distinct expressions, yet one unified, divine presence.
My faith in Christ is the steady anchor of my life. At the same time, my professional work at Enlivened Spaces is rooted deeply in ancient Chinese philosophy. I believe we are incredibly blessed to live in a world and a time where there is so much acceptance, shared knowledge, and an open-minded willingness to learn from one another. By noticing the overlapping patterns across different traditions, we don't dilute our own beliefs; instead, we grow in wisdom and awareness of how interconnected we all truly are.
We are here on this earth to learn, grow, and experience our individual life lessons. In my journey, I have come to see that finding harmony is everything. Peace always begins within us, but there is a profound, symbiotic relationship between our internal state and the external environment of our homes.
When we look closely at the tapestry of creation, the power of three constantly reveals itself as a sacred architecture, a universal pattern that invites us into a deeper experience of alignment. We see it everywhere in nature, spirituality, and human experience:
Beginning, Middle, End
Birth, Life, Death
Mind, Body, Spirit
Past, Present, Future
Even the triangle, one of the most stable structures in existence, uses three points to create strength, balance, and connection.
The Holy Trinity
For many years I have been fascinated by patterns, cycles, and the unseen forces that influence our lives. As my faith has deepened over recent years, the Holy Trinity has become a beautiful reminder that life, at its highest level, is relational rather than isolated. It provides a magnificent framework for how we experience God's presence in our daily lives:
The Father: The Creator, the ultimate source of all life, and the intentional origin of everything that exists.
The Son: God's love made visible, walking among us in history, anchoring our reality, and showing us a tangible way to lead our lives with love.
The Holy Spirit: The breath of God still moving through the world today, guiding, comforting, teaching, and transforming human hearts from the inside out.
Three distinct expressions. One divine presence. The importance of relationship, rather than isolation, is a theme that appears across many traditions.
The Three Pillars of Luck
Through Feng Shui, I learned that life is not shaped by one thing alone, but by the relationship between multiple influences working together. A similar rhythm of relationship echoes through ancient Chinese philosophy in what classical Feng Shui calls the Three Pillars of Luck. It is the dance between these three forces that helps determine the direction and success of our lives:
Heaven Luck: What we are born into. Our gifts, challenges, talents, opportunities, and circumstances associated in classical Feng Shui with the time of our birth.
Human Luck: Our choices. The actions we take, the habits we create, the thoughts we cultivate, and the way we respond to life's circumstances.
Earth Luck: The environments that shape us. The homes we live in, the spaces we work in, the energy we surround ourselves with, and the way our environment either supports or drains us.
Nothing exists entirely on its own. We are influenced by what is above us, what surrounds us, and what we choose.
The Trigrams of the I Ching
When we look at the actual mechanics of Feng Shui, this vertical relationship between Heaven, Humanity, and Earth is literally woven into the tools of the practice. At the heart of the Bagua, a nine-square grid used as an energetic map of a space, are the Eight Trigrams of the I Ching, one of the world's oldest books of wisdom.
Each trigram is formed from exactly three lines. Some lines are solid (Yang), representing active, masculine, creative energy. Others are broken (Yin), representing receptive, feminine, nurturing energy. The very anatomy and position of a single trigram reflects our human journey:
The Top Line: Represents higher influences, spiritual understanding, and what is unfolding beyond us (Heaven).
The Middle Line: Speaks directly to our immediate human experience, choices, and development (Human).
The Bottom Line: Represents our foundations, roots, and earthly beginnings (Earth).
From just three lines emerge eight unique patterns, each describing different qualities found in nature and within ourselves.
The Bagua Home Energy Map
When we map these principles onto our homes using the Bagua, the directions and symbolism speak directly to questions humanity has asked for centuries: Where do we come from? What guides us? How do we live wisely? What legacy are we creating?
As I looked at the directions associated with today's reflection, several stood out:
The Northwest (Qian / The Father Trigram ☰): Made of three unbroken Yang lines, this is pure Heaven energy. Known traditionally as Heaven’s Gate, it represents leadership, guidance, strength, and divine inspiration. It reminds us of our connection to something greater than ourselves, mirroring the immense support we receive from our faith.
The Northeast (Gen / The Youngest Son Trigram ☶): Symbolised by the Mountain, this area represents absolute stillness, contemplation, study, and spiritual cultivation. It is a place where growth happens quietly before becoming visible—a place of reflection and listening.
The East (Zhen / The Eldest Son Trigram ☳): Carrying the energetic movement of Thunder, this sector signifies action, awakening, and the first rumble that signals change is coming. It gives us the courage to step forward and act upon what we know, rooted deeply in our family, ancestry, and community.
As a Christian, I see these as symbolic reflections rather than direct equivalents to the Holy Trinity. Yet, I find beauty in how they invite similar questions: What wisdom am I receiving? How am I being guided? And what action am I called to take?
The Ripple Effect: From Heart to Home
A well-known proverb beautifully captures how our internal state ripples outward into our environments, and eventually, into the wider world:
“If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character. If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home. If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nations. When there is order in the nations, there will be peace in the world.”
Another well-loved variation of this proverb shifts the language slightly, speaking to the "person" and to "honor," yet carrying the exact same truth:
“Where there is light in the soul, there will be beauty in the person. Where there is beauty in the person, there will be harmony in the home. Where there is harmony in the home, there will be honor in the nation. Where there is honor in the nation, there will be peace in the world.”
This ancient blueprint of cultivating a balanced environment to support our soul's journey is a truth that transcends boundaries. In my own path, I am constantly reminded that God cares deeply about the places we inhabit.
Scripture tells us, "By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established" (Proverbs 24:3). Jesus also instructed his followers that when entering a home, they should first speak a blessing over it: "Peace be to this house" (Luke 10:5).
These verses remind me that our homes are more than shelters. They are places where peace is cultivated, character is formed, relationships are nurtured, and faith is lived out in everyday life.
In both traditions, the home can be seen as a microcosm of the wider world. The atmosphere we create within our own four walls often ripples outward into our families, communities, and beyond. While no home will ever be perfect, the care we give to our immediate surroundings helps create the foundation from which we live, serve, and contribute to the world around us. For me, Feng Shui is not a belief system that replaces faith, but a practical framework for caring for the environments in which we live our lives before God.
Looking Deeper
The older I get, the more I realise that while I deeply appreciate the wisdom found in observing nature, energy, seasons, and environment, my greatest peace comes from knowing that behind all creation stands a Creator.
Behind every sunrise is the One who spoke light into existence.
Behind every breath is the Spirit who sustains life.
Behind every act of love is the example of Christ.
Perhaps true alignment is not simply arranging our homes. Perhaps it is also aligning our hearts, our thoughts, and our actions with something greater than ourselves. Taking care of our homes, creating physical order, and balancing the energy that surrounds us is not an alternative religion; it is a beautiful, supportive lifestyle practice. Our homes are the containers for our earthly lives. When we purposefully cultivate harmony within our four walls, we create a soft place to land that supports our health, nurtures our intuition, and lets our spirits rest.
Today, as sunlight breaks through cloud, and another day unfolds beneath the same sky that has sheltered generations before us, I am grateful for both the questions and the mystery. For Heaven. For Earth. For the gift of being human. And for God who holds all three together. And whatever your faith, I hope these words arrive in the way they were intended: with love, without judgement, and with gratitude for the path we each walk.
May your home be filled with peace.
May your mind be filled with wisdom.
May your heart be filled with grace.
As you move through the week ahead, perhaps take a moment to reflect on the spaces you inhabit every day. What is supporting you? What is draining you? And what small change might help create more peace, balance, and harmony within your home?
If you'd like support creating a home that truly nurtures and uplifts you, I'd love to help through my work at Enlivened Spaces.
