Feng Shui - An Introduction

Written by: Ginger Red Hawk
Published on: June 4, 2011
Category: Feng Shui

Feng Shui, pronounced as Fung Shway, is the Chinese art of directing your 'chi' into positive channels. Feng Shui is often called the 'art of placement' or the 'art of flow'. Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese practice and literally translates into 'wind' and 'water'. It aims to maximize the benefits generated from the movement of chi (the universal life force present in all things) through an environment.

While Feng Shui is commonly thought to be the arrangement of one's living and working environments to optimize social and financial success and wellbeing, it's not quite so simple. The arrangement of a wind chime, a crystal ball or an aquarium or mirror in a strategic location does not guarantee good fortune. Feng Shui is all about chi. Chi is the living essence of the Universe. It pervades every aspect of our lives - large or small and creates an opportunity everywhere it exists. These opportunities - good or bad - ultimately shape our lives and our destiny. Simply, if something does not have chi, it cannot exist!

Chi is all about nourishment and freshness. Just as fresh air cleanses our home, fresh chi is required to cleanse our souls. Chi is the 'wind' which moves freely and gracefully. When chi is blocked it can become still like 'water' and stagnate. Chi likes to meander through space. Feng Shui is the study which teaches us how to keep chi moving freely.

The internal energy system or chi within ourselves (nature) can be called our 'chakras' (circles) and the external energies or chi of our environment (nurture) can be called Feng Shui. Understanding and working with Feng Shui is all about learning to harness the power of the chi in a way that will support and benefit all.

Feng Shui is not just a strong support system but it can also act as a strong and powerful medicine. All illnesses can be cured by channeling our internal and external energies or chi. This dual vibration approach often helps by altering the nature of the disease so we are more receptive to medicines and therapy.

Feng Shui uses several tools to encourage the free movement of chi. Wind chimes and bamboo shoots are just two of these. Mirrors, crystals and water fountains are other popular Feng Shui tools.

Wind Chimes & Feng Shui
When chi moves too strongly or fast, you may feel buffeted by emotions or feelings or tasks. It may become too much for you to handle. The sound waves created by a wind chime slow down chi that is moving too fast.

If the path from the street to your front door is long and straight, the chi will move unobstructed towards your home. It may gain speed and strength. Hang a wind chime on your front porch to act as a chi speed breaker. The chi will then enter your home gently and help resolve your feelings or organize your tasks rather than create chaos.

Wind chimes are also great for lifting the energy of dead places. If there is a nook or corner in your house rarely used, chi may settle there. It often becomes difficult for us to put such a nook into good use. Try hanging a small wind chime there and make sure it sounds often for a few days. Then try clearing up the space and putting it to good use. You will feel lighter and do a faster job of making new useful space! Let the chime stay there so that it keeps stirring the chi and keeps the energy levels high.

Smaller wind chimes can be used anywhere in the house where you feel the chi is too fast or stagnating and silent. Wind chimes come in many shapes, sizes and designs. Choose one which appeals to you and is suitable for the place you want to hang it. It is always advisable to identify the corner where you want the chime and then buy a suitable chime rather than buying a chime and then finding a corner for it. Remember, the most important aspect is that the sound must appeal to you.

Bamboo Shoots and Feng Shui

According to Feng Shui experts, bamboos are one of the hardiest plants which is not only are they decorative, but are symbols of good health. In order to bring health and happiness into the home, the bamboo needs to be placed in the East direction for health, and in the South-East direction for wealth.

It is also believed that a bamboo with three stalks brings happiness; five stalks are for wealth, seven get you good health and twenty one stalks offer a very powerful all-purpose blessing! Bamboos require very little maintenance and have some great benefits so what better way to decorate your home?