10 Science-Backed Benefits of Incense for a Calm Mind | MonianLife

Hey everyone, Chris here. As the cofounder of MonianLife, I spend a lot of time thinking about how our environment affects our well-being. We often talk about creating a space that feels good, but what if we could create a space that actively invites prosperity into our lives?

It might sound a little 'out there,' but stick with me. We're going to explore Feng Shui, not as a set of rigid, mystical rules, but as a practical art of intention. Specifically, we'll dive into how a simple, ancient tool—incense—can become a powerful ally in shifting the energy around your finances. This isn't about magic; it's about mindfulness, psychology, and aligning your space with your goals. Let's get started.

Understanding the Flow: What is Feng Shui and 'Qi'?

At its heart, Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese practice focused on harmonizing individuals with their environment. The name literally translates to 'wind-water,' which beautifully describes the flow of universal energy, or 'Qi' (pronounced 'chee').

Think of Qi as the life force that flows through everything. You've felt it before. It's that 'good vibe' in a favorite coffee shop or that heavy, stagnant feeling in a cluttered room. Feng Shui is simply the art of arranging your space to encourage the smooth, gentle flow of positive Qi.

Before we can invite wealth in, we have to clear the path. The number one rule in creating good energy flow is to declutter. Clutter creates blockages, and energetically, it can prevent new opportunities from finding their way to you. So, the first step in any prosperity practice is always to create a clean, organized foundation.

Finding Your Power Spot: How to Locate the Feng Shui Wealth Corner

Now for the fun part. According to Feng Shui principles, there's a specific area in your home that is directly connected to your wealth and abundance. This is often called the 'Wealth Corner.' The easiest way to find it, especially for modern homes and apartments, is using the 'Front Door Method.'

Here's how it works: Stand at your main front door, looking into your home. The far-left corner of your home's floor plan is your primary Wealth Corner.

You can apply this same principle to any room. Stand in the doorway of your office or bedroom, and the far-left corner of that room is its own mini-wealth corner. Once you've found it, take a look. Is it cluttered? Empty? A little neglected? What's happening in that corner can be a powerful metaphor for what's happening in your financial life.

Activating Your Wealth Corner with Key Elements

Activating this corner is about intentionally placing items that resonate with the energy of growth and abundance. The Wealth Corner is associated with the Wood element, which symbolizes growth, expansion, and vitality. Here are a few simple ways to bring it to life:

• Add Healthy Plants: A vibrant, thriving green plant is the perfect representation of the Wood element. Plants with round, coin-like leaves are especially popular.
• Bring in the Water Element: In the five-element system, Water nourishes Wood. You can represent this with a small, clean fountain or even artwork that depicts clear, flowing water. A black picture frame can also symbolize the water element.
• Decorate with Purposeful Colors: The primary color for the Wealth Corner is purple, a hue long associated with royalty and prosperity. You don't need to paint the whole wall; a few accents like a cushion, a vase, or a piece of art can be incredibly effective. Green and blue, the colors of the Wood element, are also excellent choices.

The Scent of Success: Choosing Feng Shui Incense for Wealth

This is where we bring in our key tool: incense. Scent has a powerful, direct link to the parts of our brain that control emotion and memory.By burning specific incense with a clear intention, we can create a powerful sensory anchor for our financial goals. The aroma becomes a signal to our brain to focus on abundance.

Certain scents have historical and cultural associations with wealth that make them particularly potent for this work:

Cinnamon: The Spice of High Value

For centuries, cinnamon was a rare and precious commodity, sometimes considered more valuable than gold.It was imported to Egypt as early as 2000 BC and was regarded as a gift fit for monarchs.Burning cinnamon taps into this ancient energy of high value and swift action, helping to energize your financial goals.

Sandalwood: The Scent of Grounded Stability

This sacred wood has been used for thousands of years in spiritual rituals across Hinduism and Buddhism to purify temples and anoint deities.Its grounding, calming aroma helps create a stable, sacred foundation for wealth to grow. It calms the mind, allowing for clearer financial decisions.

Frankincense and Myrrh: The Resins of Royalty

These aromatic resins are famously known as two of the three gifts brought to the infant Jesus by the Magi, offerings befitting a king.Their history is steeped in immense value, controlled by ancient kingdoms and used in the most sacred of ceremonies. Burning them helps to clear negative energy around money and connects you to a sense of divine, luxurious abundance.

A Simple Ritual to Attract Prosperity

A ritual is more than just a routine; it's a series of intentional actions that give meaning to our goals.Research has shown that performing rituals can reduce anxiety and give us a greater sense of control, which is incredibly helpful when dealing with the uncertainties of finances.

Here is a simple ritual you can perform weekly, or whenever you want to refocus your financial energy:

1. Prepare Your Space: Go to your Wealth Corner. Make sure it's clean and tidy. Open a window to allow for ventilation and to let old, stagnant energy out.
2. Set Your Intention: Get crystal clear on what you want to attract. Is it a specific amount of money for a bill? A new job opportunity? A feeling of financial security? Write it down on a small piece of paper.
3. Light the Incense: Choose your wealth-attracting incense (like Cinnamon or Sandalwood). As you light the tip, state your intention aloud. For example: 'I welcome new opportunities for abundance into my life.'
4. Activate the Space: Gently blow out the flame and place the smoldering stick in a proper holder. Carry the holder carefully to your Wealth Corner. Allow the smoke to gently waft into the corner, visualizing it clearing away any blocks and filling the space with the energy of your intention.
5. Meditate and Visualize: Spend a few minutes in the space. Hold your crystal or your written intention. Close your eyes and visualize your goal as if it has already happened. Feel the gratitude and relief of achieving it. The aroma of the incense will help anchor this feeling in your mind.
6. Express Gratitude: When you're finished, thank the universe (and yourself) for this time. Let the incense finish burning safely in its holder.

A Note on Safety and Well-being

Your health is the ultimate wealth, so it's important to be mindful when burning anything indoors. Incense smoke releases particulate matter into the air, which can be an irritant, especially for those with respiratory conditions like asthma. Always burn incense in a well-ventilated area, preferably with a window open. Choose high-quality, all-natural incense to minimize exposure to synthetic chemicals. And, of course, never leave burning incense unattended.

Final Thoughts

Using Feng Shui incense for wealth isn't about wishing for money to appear out of thin air. It's a beautiful, proactive practice of mindfulness. It's about taking the time to define your goals, clear your space of physical and energetic clutter, and use ancient tools to focus your mind on the abundance you want to create. By aligning your environment with your intentions, you create a powerful feedback loop that supports you in taking confident, inspired action in the world.

Give it a try. You might be surprised at the opportunities that start to flow your way.

Chris Chen, Cofounder of MonianLife