| Feng Shui - The Art of Placement
By Karen Havenor
http://FQHouse.com
The ancient body of knowledge that feng shui contains has
been formally used in China for many centuries, but the
term has only become a commonly heard in the West in recent
times. Is feng shui just another fad in the West, or does
it have an enduring quality that can inform us about living
well anytime, anywhere? To begin to answer the question, a
definition is useful.
Feng shui originated in China, and is essentially an
environmental science that is applied to create a proper
flow of energy. The philosophy and practice of feng shui is
to contribute to the well-being of individuals and
communities through the art of placement, for balanced
energy flow. All societies possess in some form or another
the knowledge that feng shui contains.
As practiced today in the West, feng shui can guide us in
creating environments in which we feel comfortable and
supported - at home, at work, and in our communities. Some
of the practices of feng shui are common sense. For
example, fresh air, natural light, and a clean environment
contribute to the well being of our minds and bodies.
There are other environmental considerations that don't
usually occur to us as being so obviously beneficial. And,
there are yet others that are harmful, but go unnoticed
until we recognize problem areas in our lives and take
steps to make improvements. When our surroundings are
properly re-arranged, we can connect to the energy in the
spaces around us, allowing changes for the better to occur.
Have you ever noticed that some spaces instinctively feel
right? Whether they were created by intentional design or
by someone with a subconscious gift for placement and flow,
there are feng shui principles at work bringing the place
into harmony.
According to feng shui, two opposite forces - yin and yang
- always act together to create energy. When these positive
and negative forces are balanced, we experience well-being.
When one dominates, the imbalance can be harmful to well-
being. While yin and yang are opposites, they are
nevertheless inter-connected. Without the concept of
'soft,' we wouldn't be able to truly understand 'hard.'
More examples of yin-yang forces include still-moving, high-
low, hot-cold. At extremes, the opposites change into each
other: ice can cause burning, and sunstroke can cause
shivering. The object in feng shui is to bring these
opposites into balance.
The idea of Chi is another principle of feng shui at work
in spaces that instinctively feel right. Although the
concept of Chi has no precise Western equivalent, it can be
understood with animate things as life force, and with
inanimate things as power, such as the power of weather.
Energy is commonly used as a Western term for Chi. When the
flow of Chi is disturbed in our bodies, it can be restored
with acupuncture. When the flow of Chi is disturbed in our
surroundings, it can be brought back into balance through
feng shui. Proper arrangements help Chi flow smoothly and
gently so that the occupants experience peace and harmony.
To improve the balance of yin and yang, as well as the
proper flow of Chi, you could find very detailed
instructions in the plethora of books on the subject. These
two principles are an excellent beginning point for
applying feng shui to your surroundings. However, you need
not refer to another source at all to begin right now with
the simplest and most powerful thing you can do to affect
the quality of your life for the better. Put simply, clear
your clutter.
Pick a place to begin that will give you momentum. In
other words, start small and complete the job. Organize a
drawer, empty a closet, clear a table top. Toss or give
away what you deep down know you should, and then neatly
put away the rest. Now, notice how you feel around that
clear and clean place. If you like the feeling, continue.
Over time, de-clutter everywhere. When that's complete, if
you like the feeling of uplift and renewal that results,
you've reached the point when it's time to get the
resources and books. Use them to delve into the fascinating
art and science of feng shui.
Karen Havenor writes on topics related to houses. Her
articles are published in The
News at FQ House, the single on-line resource for a
world of news about houses. Be sure to refer to all Karen's
articles at http://www.fqHouse.com/ |
