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History
Originating in China almost 6,000 years ago, Feng Shui literally means “wind”(Feng)
and “water”(Shui). It is an ancient method of constructing and optimizing residences to bring about happiness,
abundance and harmony. It includes garden design, interior decorating, and placement of objects in our environment. It also
involves the layout, framework, materials and colors of building structures. These rules of thumb allow us to make the most
ideal arrangement in any given situation. About 1,600 years ago, the Chinese had already determined that there were invisible
forces at work beneath the earth. These were later confirmed to be the magnetic forces of the earth. The Chinese believed
these forces were positive (Yang) and negative (Yin) and developed a luopan compass to measure them.
The Chinese also
believed there were energy forces (Chi) in the body as well as the universe. They believed that there must be a balance between
the Yin and Yang aspects of this energy in the body, for perfect health, and in the earth, for growth. Feng Shui is the art
of detecting the Chi in a room, building, or site, and regulating it for results. The benefits of Feng Shui were once restricted
only to the rich and powerful in China, but are now becoming widely available.
Simply put, proper Feng Shui will make
you feel fabulous in your home or office. It’s largely common sense. For example, it just feels better to have your
back to a wall and see the door in your office. To have your back to the door, you tend to feel anxious that someone will
sneak up on you. This makes you less productive. This is also why in a restaurant, men prefer to take the seat against the
wall, looking out, with a view of the widest expanse of the room. They instinctually feel more able to protect their partners
in this position. They are also safe from attack, which undoubtedly hearkens back to hunting and gathering days. Feng Shui
intuition runs very deep, and we all feel it. Knowing how to manipulate it is another matter. It is about taking care of a
myriad of rules and details like this, in your home or office, which all add up. The overall effect can be improved dramatically
by using these rules to adjust your furniture, objects, colors and materials. Once you learn about Feng Shui, you will never
see the world the same way again.
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Architect Hale's manifesto describes the grace that old buildings possess and contemporary architecture lacks, along with
his ideas for how this older ideal can be reclaimed. A "must-read" for people interested in Feng Shui.
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Trigrams
Another part of the equation is your personal Trigram, which is taken from the 8 sections or "Trigrams" of the I-Ching (“The
Book of Changes”). This is a classical Chinese text previously reserved for those seeking high positions in China. It
has always been one of the central components of the study of Feng Shui, and is now widely available – in English.
There are also what I call “mundane solutions”. In other words, if you wanted to be wealthier, a mundane solution
might be to read up on the stock market, save a certain amount of money every month, or look for a new job. A Feng Shui solution
might be to add a large purple flowering plant to your wealth corner. That way, when you entered your house, you would see
the purple plant and it would be like a visual reminder that you were attracting wealth.
Combining Feng Shui with ‘mundane solutions’ produces the best results. For instance, you wouldn’t “pump
up” your relationship corner, and then sit home every night. How would you ever meet anyone? Feeling great in your home
has a profound affect on how you feel in general, when you’re out in the world, and consequently explains why people
have such marvelous results after doing a consultation. You give off very attractive “vibes” when your house has
proper Feng Shui.
Finally, there is luck (heavenly and earthly), and fate. Some combination of all of this will determine how your life unfolds.
There is no such thing as “perfect” Feng Shui, so it is not something to obsess over. You may implement changes
quickly, or slowly, and watch what happens. It is a fascinating blend of art and science, and many people become enraptured
with it as they embark on the journey.
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Schools of Feng Shui
Because the topography in China was so different from place to place many schools of Feng Shui sprang up. For example, in
Mongolia, the cold north wind often blew a yellow dust into people’s homes. Therefore, Feng Shui masters would tell
people not to have their entrances face north. In North America, obviously that is not a problem. The modern schools of Feng
Shui are less militant, and have been adapted to fit our western topography.
Feng Shui uses an octagonal template
called the Bagua to determine the areas of the dwelling. (Relationship corner, Wealth corner, etc.) The Bagua is based on
the I-Ching. These areas are determined by compass directions, and each of the Bagua Trigrams have elements and colors associated
with them. Establishing the Bagua helps you balance your space. For example, you wouldn’t want to live in a house where
everything was metal – it would feel very cold. By superimposing the Bagua’s octagonal shape over each room and
the whole dwelling, you can assure a balance of elements and colors throughout. I use a modified Compass School Feng Shui,
as well as the Form School to determine the advantages (or disadvantages) of the surrounding topography. The Form School is
primarily concerned with topography, such as mountains, hills, bodies of water, etc. It is complementary to the Compass School,
and can be used in conjunction quite nicely.
Feng Shui and Business
When the flow of energy is blocked, our relationships, cash flow, creativity, health, and career can suffer. Normally, Chi
meanders gracefully through a space, like a winding stream. When it flows too strongly, it can become damaging - like a hurricane.
In this case, we are likely to feel unstable, prone to crises, struggling to "keep our heads above water." We may feel tired,
run down, depressed, unable to focus, and "stuck".
In a corporate environment, poor Feng Shui can result in miscommunication,
conflicts, and lack of support. Individuals may be overlooked for promotions or raises, suffer damage to their reputation,
or even lose their jobs. The company may have difficulty attracting or keeping key customers or hiring employees.
In
a retail store, Feng Shui problems can block the flow of customers into the store, contribute to theft and staffing problems,
and have a negative effect on the amount and size of sales.
We can provide tools and guidelines for analyzing and correcting
the flow of energy throughout a space. Blockages are "cured" and opportunities are welcomed. Colors and shapes associated
with the five elements - wood, fire, earth, metal, and water - are used to create movement, balance, or protection, depending
on the needs of the client. Imagery and objects such as paintings, photographs, statuary and other accessories are chosen
and placed to enhance and reinforce the client's intention.
Feng Shui reminds us that everything is connected, and
that our physical surroundings have a significant impact on our mind, body, and spirit. It teaches us to be mindful caretakers
of our environments, as well as our lives.
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