What is FENG SHUI?

It is the Chinese art of placement, and a philosophy as well. It is a method which enables a positive life, in balance and harmony with one’s surroundings, land, house, office and the objects one is living with. Common sense is the key here, and numerous observations were made regarding wind directions and water sources, before deciding where to settle. It is all about the place, the use of materials and the substances we release. In China, Feng Shui underlies other aspects of life such as Medicine, Nutrition and Arts. The T’ung Shui Almanac each year details the best times to act, move, conceive…

History

Feng Shui is a method used by the Chinese for over 3000 years. It allowed them to locate the most auspicious places to build their buildings and their cities. They are two schools, the Compass School which uses the Luo Pan compass to make calculations in order to determine the best direction to take. The Form School is more adapted to the Western world, where the position of objects to increase energy is emphasized. Principles of Feng Shui are based on Yin and Yang, Chi and the Tao.

Yin and Yang

Yin: the Feminine energy, receptive and slow,

Yang: the Masculine energy, active and fast,

Feng Shui is about finding a balance between the two. It is about creating a more comfortable environment where people feel supported.

CHI = Energy

Chi energy flows throughout the body. It is concentrated in seven areas known as Chakras, from the coccyx to the top of the head. Feng Shui helps the ‘chi’ to flow around us more easily. With good Chi in the house, plants, animals and people are happy. A bad or blocked Chi will create imbalance and sickness. Feng Shui is also based on the I CHING, a philosophical book based on 64 Trigrams. It offers us a means to connect to the natural flow of the universe. Feng Shui works with the five Elements, Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water, and the eight Directions. Each direction is associated with a shape, a color, Yin or Yang energy. The North is associated with the Tortoise, the South with the Phoenix, the East with the Tiger and the West with the Dragon. Feng Shui works with Chinese Astrology and the 12 animals of the zodiac: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. The Chinese year doesn’t start at the same time as the Western one, it varies from year to year. It is aligned with the second New Moon after the winter equinox. The Bagua or Pa Kua provides information that helps us understand our energy and where to make changes in order to increase the flow. The Magic Number is linked to your year of birth, it will determine if you are an East or West person and what are your best directions.

Practices to help the Chi flow in the body include:

Meditation

Acupuncture

Herbal Chinese medicine and more…