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Feng Shui
Feng shui, pronounced “foong swee” (Cantonese) or “fong shway” (Mandarin) is the Chinese art of arranging buildings, objects, and space in the environment in order to achieve energy harmony and balance. The English translation of Feng Shui is “the way of Wind (feng) and Water (shui)” or “the natural forces of the universe.”
Practiced in China for over a thousand years, Feng Shui is the ancient Asian art of arranging living and working space to bring physical and spiritual benefits. Derived from the same philosophy as acupuncture and other traditional Chinese therapies, it seeks to harmonize the flow of qi (”life energy”) within a room or building to enhance the health, happiness, and prosperity of those who live or work there. Feng shui has had a major impact on the development of cities such as Hong Kong and Taipei, and there is growing interest in the UK, North America, and Australasia.
Literally translated as “wind” and “water,” Feng Shui (pronounced “fung shoy”) has its roots in the ancient Chinese belief that environmental forces shape human destiny. According to legend, a Chinese ruler, Fu Hsi, saw a tortoise emerging from the Lo River and realized that the markings on its shell symbolized universal principles. He used this pattern to devise eight configurations of energetic forces, known as trigrams, which became the basis of the hugely influential work of divination, the I Ching (Book of Changes). Considered an oracle by Feng Shui masters at imperial courts, it was later used through-out China as a guide to decision making.
Feng Shui has survived the centuries and is taken so seriously in the Far East that Western companies based there are often obliged to acknowledge it when designing new offices. In this way, knowledge of the art is now spreading to the West.
Key Principles of Feng Shui
Based on the same principles as those of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Feng Shui is sometimes referred to as “space acupuncture.” In the same way that an imbalance between yin and yang in the body is believed to disrupt health, disharmony in one’s surroundings is said to have a negative effect on all aspects of life, from relationships to financial affairs.
Landscapes, buildings, rooms, even the tops of tables, are said to have their own flow of qi, or “life energy,” and Feng Shui encourages blocked or depleted qi to move freely in a given area by altering the layout. To plot the flow of qi, an octagonal “map,” known as the ba-gua, may be superimposed on the ground plan of a building or room. If one section of the ba-gua is missing, or badly arranged, problems are expected in the corresponding area of the occupants’ lives.
The Chinese concepts of the trigrams and the “five elements” - earth, fire, water, wood, and metal - are also key factors in Feng Shui. Depending on the school of Feng Shui to which the practitioner belongs, each element may be associated with a compass point, color, season, and number. The relationship between the elements is used to assess Feng Shui in the home or workplace and to create a state of harmony. The occupants’ dates of birth are often taken into account, since these too can be categorized according to the five elements. Some practitioners also use a “map” of five symbolic animals to analyze a space.
In the West, “space clearing” techniques may be used in addition to, or instead of, feng shui. Ceremonial rituals drawn from Native American, Zulu, Maori, and Balinese cultures, involving bell-ringing, incense-burning, incantations, and crystals, are used to “cleanse” and consecrate buildings.
Consulting a Feng Shui Practitioner
A Feng Shui consultation usually involves a visit to your home or workplace by a practitioner. The length of the visit depends on the size of the building, but is generally 1-2 hours. During the session, the practitioner will ask you about any areas in your life or business that you feel are in need of attention, and may also ask for the dates of birth of all the members of your household or key members of staff at your workplace.
The practitioner will make a detailed assessment of each room in the building. After the consultation, she will send you a report listing suggested changes. This may involve choosing a new color scheme, moving plants or ornaments, or avoiding certain areas altogether. For example, a washbowl in the marriage corner of your bedroom may be causing marital harmony to drain away, and the practitioner will advise that its use is discontinued. You can discuss any queries with the practitioner by telephone.
It is also possible to consult a Feng Shui practitioner by mail by sending her a floor plan of your home or workplace.
There are various simple steps you can take to improve the Feng Shui of your surroundings. To enable qi to flow freely, remove clutter from rooms and surfaces, and make sure there is plenty of space around furniture. Check that items such as clocks are in working order, and repair broken furniture. Healthy plants attract qi and can counteract the electromagnetic fields surrounding computers or televisions. Avoid sharp-leaved plants, however, which are believed to “cut” qi. Long-stemmed flowers and images of “airy” objects, such as balloons, direct the flow of qi upward. Mirrors should be used with care, as they reflect qi and can disturb energy patterns
Geomancy and Feng Shui
A form of divination, geomancy is based on various theories about ways in which the environment may have a detrimental effect on health. Practitioners who believe the problems are electromagnetic refer to this as “geopathic stress” and claim to detect these harmful energies and reverse their effects.
Societies as diverse as the Aborigines of Australia and the Chinese share a belief in the existence of invisible “energy pathways.” Feng Shui, a form of geomancy, is common in the Far East. In the West, the theory of “ley lines,” said to run through sites of spiritual significance, such as the prehistoric stone circle of Stonehenge in the UK, was put forward in the 1920s. Geomancy is arousing interest in countries where electromagnetic fields and pollution generated by industry cause concern.
Some practitioners relate energy fields in the environment to geological faults, underground streams, and manufactured features, such as power cables. Humans are now said to spend prolonged periods exposed to harmful fields in the home or workplace, especially in urban areas. A practitioner may use dowsing to detect malign energy fields, and will try to restore them to a state of harmony - for example, by moving furniture or “trapping” harmful energy with crystals
Feng Shui Resources
Geomancy, the Feng Shui Education Association 2939 Ulloa Street, San Francisco, CA 94116, (415) 753-6408
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