Feng Shui

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Author: C. Bailey-Lloyd

Article source: http://www.holisticjunction.com/. Used with author's permission.

What is Feng Shui? Feng Shui translates into "Wind and Water" in the Chinese language. Commonly, Feng Shui is also known as "geomancy." For centuries, Feng Shui has been used in deeming proper locations for buildings, structures and the like. Feng Shui enables geomancers to find surroundings that are more suitable than others to improve the quality of life. Moreover, Feng Shui is also utilized to amplify overall well-being and success in achieving goals through means of modifying layouts and orientation of homes and places of employment.

The ultimate goal of Feng Shui is create an environment that is beneficially advantageous to one's health and well-being. There are many different schools of Feng Shui, and while all share many common principles, they differ in practical approach. Some of the common approaches include traditional Chinese Feng Shui (such as Form School and Compass School), and contemporary, western feng shui (such as Black Hat Sect, and Pyramid School). Both Eastern and Western approaches are valid because each responds to the culture it serves. No matter which school one prefers, there are certain principles of Feng Shui that all schools agree upon. These philosophical underpinnings never change. The basics are:

*Tao Living in "The Tao" means that we should never go against the laws of nature; instead, we should attempt to live in harmony with them. It also means recognizing our interconnections to the natural world, our families, friends, communities, the universe, and a higher power.

*Yin/Yang - is the theory of how complementary opposites compose a whole. Just as daylight (yang) and nighttime (yin) are opposites, both are needed to compose a twenty-four hour day. In our environments, it is important to have aspects of both. Yin is described as dark, quiet, still and small; yang is light, with sound, active and big.

*Chi (or Qi) - is referred to as the " breath of life" or vitality. Some refer to chi/qi as a feeling that permeates throughout a space. It is also defined as any influence that can be experienced through the five senses. By creating an environment with good Chi, there are many beneficial health advantages. For example, good Chi means that a building has healthy air flow and no stagnant air.

*Five Elements - Feng Shui relies heavily upon the Five Elements (water, metal, wood, earth, fire). Each element has its own influence and identifying features.

The following information contains more detailed information on some of the different approaches:

Traditional Chinese Feng Shui approaches often rely on symbolism and superstition, which is very relevant to the Chinese culture. Feng Shui practitioners employ the use of the Luo Shu Square ( a 3x3 grid ) or the "Flying Star Theory" (Xuan Kong Fei Xing - a nine sectoral compass). In conjunction with Feng Shui, these devices are used to analyze a site, house, apartment, office or even entire building. Unlocking the time dimensions of Feng Shui by means of these tools allows the practitioner to calculate when the best time would be to make alterations to any given site.

Traditional Feng Shui also employs the Yin and Yang concept according to Chinese cosmology. (Yin = Moon, Summer and Spring. Yang = Sun, Autumn and Winter.) The "Qi," or "life giving force" of this combination is further used in Feng Shui placement. The "Twelve Earthly Branches," and the "Ten Heavenly Stems" (all derived from the Five Elements) that can shape and stimulate one's daily life and routine. This method, along with the "Eight Trigrams," (a total of 64 hexagrams), provide essential interpretational skills for those using Feng Shui. Those who practice traditional feng shui believe that one can improve his or her luck (Earth Luck or "Di Cai") through one's environmental surroundings. Both an art and a science, traditional Feng Shui can be best understood through its methodical approach of proper placement. As in the Ming Dynasty, tombs can still be seen today based on Feng Shui principles.

Using symbolical animal spirits, every potential site or home should maintain balance among these spirits in Feng Shui. (The four spirits being that of the Tortise, the Dragon, the Tiger, and the Bird.) A prime example of Feng Shui would be for the Tortise (protective barrier), to be behind a home; the second step to Feng Shui would be for the Bird (open space) to be in front of the building; the third principle of Feng Shui is for the Dragon to stay to the East and the Tiger to stay to the west. All should harmonize with one another.

Western Feng Shui synthesizes wisdom and knowledge from all schools, while filtering out cultural and geographical proclivities. The individual is at the center of the process, as opposed to the place. The individual?s beliefs, traditions and values are reflected in the recommendations by using symbols and objects that may already be in the home. Recommendations are also substantiated with already proven research in the social and physical sciences, rather than attributing success to luck or superstition. Ancillary fields such as biology, cultural anthropology, psychology, and environmental health are fundamental to the western approach.

Feng Shui uses many means of devising adequate locations of homes, building sites, room layouts and interiors. To see if your home or workplace is beneficial to you and your health, feel free to peruse our business member directory for a Feng Shui practitioner today.

Feng Shui
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by C. Bailey-Lloyd/LadyCamelot in conjunction with HolisticJunction.com

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