HEALING SPACES : INCORPORATING GEMSTONE AND CHAKRA HEALING INTO ARCHITECTURE

Abstract

According to the American Institute of Stress, our society has been experiencing high levels of stress and anxiety which contribute to many health and psychological illnesses such as heart disease, chronic fatigue, anxiety attacks, high blood pressure and other illnesses. Since the built environment plays such an important role in our lives, it is important that designers explore ideas for creating places that help to counteract this unhealthy factor of contemporary life. There are many ways in which scientists have found how one can change the behavioral state described above. One of them is through the use of gemstones and applying them to the human chakra centers. It has been found by those of spiritual practices, not specific to any religion, that the utilization of gemstones and chakra rituals can contribute to both calming and healing. This thesis explores how to utilize these discoveries and to incorporate design qualities that help relieve stress through sensitive and appropriate design. By combining these concepts for architecture and incorporating gemstones and chakras, this thesis will illustrate ways to create spaces where people can come to therapeutically relax and reconnect with themselves and like-minded patrons.