This weekend, I went on my very first solo-camping trip up to Red Feather Lakes, CO. I found a dispersed camp site in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest, parked my car and proceeded to scout out the best location for my tent and hammock. This site was fairly large, so I had my choice of areas. One of the many definitions for Feng Shui is the art of placement, so I feel that the art of tent placement fits in here nicely.
As I walked all over the site, I found the area with the best view of the mountains, but it was also very exposed and didn’t have any trees large enough for my hammock. I walked to the back of the site and found an area that felt magical with baby Aspen trees waving their silver dollar leaves, and curious chipmunks zipping everywhere. It also had a lot of human trash including used toilet paper, plastic grocery bags and a half full plastic bottle of what I can only hope was apple juice, so I eliminated that spot from my options. The number one rule of camping is to leave no trace, and to leave a place better than you receive it. If you wouldn’t leave a pile of used toilet paper in the corner of your living room, then don’t do it in Mother Nature’s living room. (steps off soapbox, and kicks it under the table.)
Once I found two trees for my hammock, I set about the task of tent placement. Placing a tent using Feng Shui is not any different than placing your bed or desk in the proper place. In fact, your tent is essentially your bed anyway so it makes perfect sense. Luckily, I had internet access, though I’m still not sure how I managed that one, and I was able to look up my best directions.
When dealing with placement in Feng Shui, it is ideal to know your most favorable directions. This can easily be determined by using one of my favorite Feng Shui websites: http://www.wofs.com. Select the option for “Feng Shui Tools” and scroll down to the “Kua Number Calculator”. Plug in your month, day and year of birth, and you will receive your kua number, your four best and your four worst compass directions, so be sure to avoid those!
Since I am still new to this whole outdoorsy life, I cheat and use the compass option on my iPhone. Don’t judge. The area that provided me with some support at my back and a view of the driveway entrance to the site was South/Southeast. My kua numbers for that area relate to success and health. Score! How not to die in your tent? Choose the health and success direction.
As I watched the sun set on one side and the almost full moon rise on the other, I could feel a little fear rising up my spine. I wasn’t afraid of the potential visits from wild animals as much as I was simply very aware of the fact that I was a single woman, camping alone in the woods. Also, I had spent the entire day listing to someone playing with their guns by shooting untold amounts of ammunition at nothing in particular, so I was a little on edge. I could also hear my Mom’s always worried voice in my head, reciting all the worst case scenarios of my situation.
In spite of all this, I am happy to report that I did more than survive, I had a major breakthrough. I stood my ground and I did it with a certain amount of defiance. These are the type of experiences that change us and define us, and when we do them with the intention of creating a safe space, we win.
While I now know that I am totally capable of camping alone, I can say with confidence that it is not something I plan to do regularly. Being that alone with no distractions, was a type of shadow work that gets to the heart of our deepest fears. Once we shine the light on these shadows, they lose their power over us. I use Feng Shui to create safe spaces everywhere I go, and I welcome you to learn how to do the same.
I was inspired to create a little video of my tent placement experiences, so follow me on Instagram @logynnbnorthrhip or @fengshuidesignconcepts to watch them in my stories. I might even share some of my outtakes!
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