Feng Shui is an ancient art, science and philosophy from Asia that observes and evaluates environments minimizing negative energies while enhancing and optimizing positive energies.
The Chinese symbols for Feng Shui is WindWater. The words Feng Shui refer to Wind (Feng) and Water (Shui) respectively. We need wind to provide circulation, cooling our buildings during the hot months and distributing the seeds from plants to grow in more areas. We also need air to breath. We need water to drink, irrigate our food-baring plants, grow vegetation for shade and to be able to cleanse ourselves. These are probably the two most essential elements we need to live on this planet.
It creates buildings that are healthy, happy and harmonious for the occupants.
Confusion arises when a person discovers potential challenges and remedies from conflicting schools. There are about a dozen different schools with only a few common qualities between them, yet the ultimate goal is to create balance, good energy, prosperity, loving relationships, interesting careers and vitality.
Here is a quick guide to some of the schools:
Landform School – The original form of Feng Shui where the land formation was most important. Generally, we want the tallest mountain behind us, two shorter mountains on either side of us and a clear view over the valley toward water like an ocean or lake. We want protection from the elements with those mountains. We also want to have a view of commerce – the train station, airport or cargo ships.
Compass Direction – Based on the geographic region, the front door should face the best direction for view, climate protection and usage. In much of China it would be a house with the front door facing South.
Flying Stars – This school looks at the date when a house was completed. That will be the “birth date” of the house. This school also breaks the years into 20-year cycles. We are currently in Period 8, which started in February 2004 and ends the day before Chinese New Year in 2024.
Four Pillars – A person’s birthdate is used in this school to determine the best colors, elements, directions and shapes to have in their bedroom and office.
Chinese Zodiac Animal – There are twelve animals in the Chinese Zodiac cycle. Most of 2015 was the Year of the Sheep/Goat/Ram. On February 8, 2016, we start the Chinese New Year – the Year of the Monkey. The characteristics of the animal play a large role in the type of year we’ll have. Some monkey qualities are: agile, mischievous, playful and easily distracted.
I’ll share more details about each of these schools and the Year of the Monkey in future posts.
