Feng Shui
Feng Shui is
an ancient Chinese technique which aims to ensure that all things
are in harmony with their surroundings.
What the
people in the Western world might refer to as the “feel” of
a place (good
or bad) is called the Feng Shui by the Chinese. Feng Shui
is a complex combination of sound commonsense, fine aesthetics,
and ancient mystical Chinese philosophy. Feng Shui applications
range from the planning of entire cities to the
planning and design of a single house or room. The placement of
furniture, plants, or decor may impact the Feng Shui in the environment;
the correct or incorrect placement of a flower in a vase may increase
or disturb
the Feng
Shui of
a building
or
people
occupying it.
Unlike
Westerners who cannot give sound reasons why an environment may
feel good or bad, the Chinese system of Feng Shui will often
be able to give sound
reasons why
a particular place or spot projects an impression of peace
or unease. Having the correct Feng Shui in the office environment
may
enhance work flow and bring great prosperity. In the home,
good Feng
Shui will enhance the family members happiness and create prosperity
in their chosen profession.
There
can be no exact translation of the words Feng Shui (Chinese to
English) since there is no true equivalent
in Western terms.
Feng is the Chinese word for "wind" and Shui is the word
for "water".
Both the wind and water flow and may offer some insight to nature
of Feng Shui. Prior to the discovery of the Earth's magnetism and
"lines of force", Feng Shui described a theory that there
were currents of invisible energy that flowed in different directions.
In Feng Shui these lines of force are called "Chi" and "Sha".
Chi currents are understood to meander gently along irregular paths
while Sha strike viciously in straight lines. Curved surfaces (Chi)
are are good while sharp edges (Sha) are harmful. The term "Feng
Shui" is somewhat modern. The original Chinese characters
for feng shui were "Ham" (receiving energy from the heavens)
and "Yu" (connecting
earth to the rest of heavenly bodies).
Feng
Shui and Chi
Chi is the universal life force and the most important
component to achieving ideal feng shui. The Chinese word "Chi"
translated to "breath" and is an ever present force. Good or bad
Chi circulates within everything. For people, Chi is the energy
that
links the mind to the
heart to the body to our surrounding world. A feng shui practitioner
channels and enhances Chi in ones surroundings. Within the body,
a Chinese acupuncturist can channel the flow of Chi for better
health.
Feng
Shui and Yin and Yang
Yin and
Yang are the two opposites in the universe. These two force must
be in balance in our environment to achieve ideal feng shui. Examples
of Yin and Yang are male and female, short and tall, night and day,
black
and
white.
Everything in the universe is composed of yin and yang energies that
are always interacting with each other. Feng Shui techniques are
used to balance these two forces.
Feng
Shui and the Five Elements or Energies
The Chinese
believe that everything in the universe belong to one of five
elements; wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. These elements or
energies are the manifestations of Chi and move in five
directions; radiating outwards,concentrations inwards, rising and
descending, and rotating.
Feng
Shui and Sha (Sharp Energy)
Sha is known as "poison arrows" or "sharp
energy" and are created by straight lines or angles in or outside
the house
or building.
Straight lined paths such as walkways to your front door or
straight
driveways
to
your
home
are
shas and create poor feng shui. Sha can easily be corrected
by breaking up the straight line. Shas
on a straight path or driveway could be fixed with shrubs,
bushes, and fences. The most common way to correct indoor sha
is
with mirrors.
25
Feng Shui Tips
1.
Water flowing to the front of a building promises good Feng Shui.
2.
Large trees
in front of a house are inauspicious while trees in the back
of a house offer good Chi.
3.
Inauspicious
influences of Sha may originate from such features as telegraph
poles, pointed roofs
or roadways.
4.
A curved roadway
to a house or building is favored therefore avoiding a sharp
arrow to the building. More formal
building
may have a straight roadway to its entrance but should
use steps to block the unfavorable Sha.
5. A house
and its front door should face south.
6. Doors should
open inwards to allow good Chi to enter.
7. Kitchens
should face east.
8. Seeing
the kitchen from the main entrance way of a house may project the
image of greedy
homeowners.
9. In the kitchen, the cook should be able to see who's coming in.
Mirrors can be used to if necessary.
10. A kitchen should have a spacious and welcoming feeling.
11. Dining room table should have rounded corners.
12.Having a large mirror in the dining room as it symbolically doubles the amount
of food on the table.
13. In the living room, the backs of chairs and sofas should not face the entrance.
14.
In the
bedroom, a bed should not be next to the window. If it is unavoidable,
space should be left between
the window and bed
for a chair or desk. To create a good flow of Chi,
the bed should not be visible from the open doorway.
15. Beds should not be placed under ceiling beams.
16.
Bedrooms
should not open directly onto the kitchen.
17. A live plant can stimulate the energy in the bedroom but too
many plants can use up all the valuable Chi.
18. A round mirror in the bedroom will enhance relationships.
19. The bed should be accessible from both sides if you want to attract
a partner.
20. Long, straight
hallways create poor feng shui.
21. There should
not be three or more doorways in a straight line.
22. The toilet should be as inconspicuous as possible.
23. Bathroom doors should always be kept closed.
24. A toilet should not be close to the front door because the
negative chi it causes will clash with the positive chi coming
in the
front door.
25. A bathroom should not be located at the end of a long hallway.
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