Pronounced "fung shway",
Feng shui means wind and water. It is an ancient science, a Chinese design principle, based on common sense and observation. It consults direction and combination of wind and water to determine if a healthy breath of nature exists. Feng shui experts are called in to determine the auspicious locations for homes, offices, roads, doors, windows and desks. Good feng shui ensures good fortune and luck.
During the Chou Dynasty, three thousand years ago, they
noted that particular topography and locations were more beneficial than others. The principle of chi - life force - was the determining factor for happiness and good fortune for the dwellers of the home. A home where chi flowed was superior to a home where the flow was impeded. A good site for a home included hills behind it for protection, gently flowing water and gentle breezes around it. This maximized naturally occurring beneficial chi. People substitute "good energy" or "good vibes" for chi. Lush, healthy plants and plenty of sunlight to warm a home encourages positive chi. Inside your home it is important to keep doors and windows free of obstructions. The front door should be well lit. Mirrors around the house are good at deflecting bad energy (like toilets, drains, clutter).
Five elements symbolize the cycle of life and each has a corresponding color:
Fire - Red
Wood - Green
Water - Black
Earth - Yellow
Metal (or Gold) - White
Depending on your sex and the year you were born, you have a personal compass to determine the directions, elements and colors that are beneficial. The compass has eight points -- N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W and NW.
Each point on the compass represents an aspect - career, health, prosperity, relationships, family, travel & helpful people, wisdom, creativity and children. Superimpose your house plan over the compass to create the diagram for your feng shui chart.
It is easy using basic principles to improve your home and work environments.
If you are skeptical about feng shui, try it as an experiment in decorating. The recommendations improve the flow and feel of your home.
ORIENTATION
(Direction Your House Faces)
Residence:
1.Stand in front of the whole house. Stand on the driveway away from the car, on the lawn or curb.
2.Hold the compass level, not tilted.
3.Your body is parallel with the house and the compass is parallel with the building.
4.The compass will point to magnetic north. Turn the dial so its arrow is lined up with 0 degrees.
5.Once magnetic north is located you will know what direction your house faces. (If you are facing your house and north is pointing to your right, then your house faces east. If you are facing your house and north is pointing to your left, then your house faces.)
6.If the front does not have a straight front wall, go to the back of the house and do your compass reading there.
SPACE CLEARING:
Space clearing is ancient art. Used in every country and culture, this method of moving stagnant energy assists health improvement, relationships to flourish, and finances to increase. An important part of feng shui, in some cultures space clearing is done with smoke dispensed by the use of flicking movements with a feather or by tossing salt through out a space while praying. In others, bells and gongs are used to shift energy in an environment. The end result is that people feel better in an environment that has been cleared.
Often time spaces have stagnant energy from several things. (From an argument or an illness in the home, from the energy of the previous inhabitants, from clutter, and from entity presence.) There are simple techniques that you can do to lift energy in the environment. This is essential because an environment with good feng shui but with stagnant energy will not sparkle with light. When you an create an excellent envirionment, clearing and blessing it, it feels like the heavens have opened, dancing with light energy.
How to do space clearing:
If you are feeling dull and listless, need a jump start on life, moving into a new home or want more clarity and vitality in your life, it may be the perfect time to cleanse and clear the energies in your environment.
Anyone can do this with practice, intention and love. You can shift the energy in your home so that it sparkles. When clearing home energy, there are particular steps which are valuable to follow. The most essential components are love and compassion. If you radiate love into a space, the effects last forever.
These four steps for Space clearing:
1. Preparation
2. Purification
3. Invocation
4. Preservation
Step 1. PREPARATION
The most important step, because you establish your intention.
Intention is like the framework of a house and is established first.
Visualize the final results you want. Do not visualize the problems, just a positive outcome.
The day before:
Clean your home thoroughly. Wash windows, vacuum, etc. This will catalyse clearing and give the home a stronger energy field.
Eat lightly the day before and don't drink alcohol.
Before bed, ask for Divine guidance to work with you in preparation.
Visualize positive results desired for the clearing and blessing.
Step 2. PURIFICATION
Before instilling new energy fields you must cleanse the existing energy.
1. Open to energy flowing through your body and stretch it.
Drink plenty of water before, during and after your space clearing.
2. Tune in to your space. Sense how you feel. Close your eyes and feel how your space feels. Expand awareness to fill every room. Use eyes, ears, hands, and intuition to sense the energy of the space. Stagnant energy makes a room look dull and hazy. Sounds are muffled in a stagnant room and sometimes it is difficult to breathe.
3. Ask for assistance and guidance from the Creator for the space clearing and say a prayer to bring love and light in. Hold your Intention for the clearing.
4. Start at the entrance, circle the room clockwise using the space clearing tool you have chosen. Go slowly and if concentration wavers, tune in again. Keep focused.
Feng shui has many variables and can be as simple or as complex as desired. A great new book I read recently is by Karen Rauch Carter.Move Your Stuff And Improve Your Life
Another good book is The Elements of Feng Shui by Man-Ho Kwok with Joanne O'Brien.
More Books:
Success with Feng Shui for Your Garden, Gunther Sator, Merehurst...a must-have garden book.
Office Feng Shui in a Week, Graham Gunn, Hodder & Stoughton...a practical and sensible approach to creating healthy office environments
COLOUR
Sarah Rossbach; Lin Yun
Living Color: Master Lin Yun's Guide to Feng Shui and the Art of Color Kodansha International, UK, 1994. Rating - intermediate.
NINE STAR KI
Simon Brown
Practical Feng Shui Astrology: Using the Nine Ki System to Make Important Decisions in Your Life Ward Lock, UK, 1999. Rating - intermediate.
Michio Kushi; Edward Esko
Health & Travel & Preparing for the New Millenium One Peaceful World Press, MA, USA, 1998. Rating - intermediate. Takeo Mori; Dragan Milenkovic
Gerry Thompson
Feng Shui Astrology for Lovers: The Ultimate Guide to Love and Relationships Thorsons, UK, 1998. Rating - intermediate.
Takashi Yoshikawa
The Ki: How to Make Your Dreams Come True with Feng Shui Astrology Thomas Dunne, NY, 1998. Rating - intermediate / advanced.
CHINESE ASTROLOGY AND NUMEROLOGY
Lam Kam Chuen
The Personal Feng Shui Manual: How to develop a healthy and harmonious lifestyle Gaia Books Limited, UK, 1998. Rating - simple.
Man-Ho Kwok
Chinese Astrology: Forecast Your Future from Your Chinese Horoscope Blandford, UK, 1997. Rating - intermediate.
Theodora Lau
The Chinese Horoscopes Guide to Relationships
Arrow Books, UK, 1996. Rating - intermediate.
The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes
Souvenir Press, UK, 1996. Rating - simple / intermediate.
Evelyn Lip
Chinese Numbers: Significance, Symbolism and Traditions
Heian International, Inc., USA, 1992. Rating - intermediate.
Personalise Your Feng Shui: A step-by-step guide to the Pillars of Destiny
Times Books International, Singapore, 1997. Rating - intermediate.
Raymond Lo
Feng Shui & Destiny for Managers
Times Books International, Singapore, 1996. Rating - intermediate.
Feng Shui and Destiny for Families: The Indispensible Guide for Every Home
Times Books International, Singapore, 1999. Rating - intermediate.
Feng Shui the Pillars of Destiny: Understanding Your Fate and Fortune
Times Books International, Singapore, 1995. Rating - intermediate.
Feng-shui and Destiny
Tynron Press, UK, 1992. Rating - intermediate.
Richard Webster
Chinese Numerology: The way to Prosperity & Fulfillment Llewellyn Publications, USA, 1998. Rating - simple.
Suzanne White
The New Chinese Astrology Pan Books Ltd., UK, 1994. Rating - simple / intermediate.
Hee Yin Fan
Discover Your Destiny, Your Future Revealed ! Times Books International, Singapore, 1996. Rating - intermediate.
FENG SHUI
Juan Alvarez
Feng Shui: The Harmony of Life Fairy's Ring, USA, 1998. Rating - intermediate.
Sarah Bartlett
Feng Shui for Entertaining
Vista, UK, 1999. Rating - simple / intermediate.
Feng Shui for Lovers: How to create harmony and energy in the spaces of your heart and home Vista, UK, 1997. Rating - simple.
Five Keys of Feng Shui
Vista, UK, 1998. Rating - simple.
George Birdsall Feng Shui the Ancient Art of Placement: The Key Concepts Feng Shui Advisory Centre, Australia, 1997. Rating - simple.
Simon Brown
Practical Feng Shui: Arrange, decorate and accessorize your home to promote health, wealth and happiness
Ward Lock, UK, 1997. Rating - simple / intermediate.
Practical Feng Shui for Business
Ward Lock, UK, 1998. Rating - intermediate.
Principles of Feng Shui
Thorsons, UK, 1996. Rating - simple.
Ian Bruce Plan Your Home with Feng Shui Foulsham, UK, 1997. Rating - simple.
R Chin; Gerald Warfield
Feng Shui Revealed: An Aesthetic Practical Approach to the Ancient Art of Space Alignment Clarkson N. Potter, Inc., NY, USA, 1998. Rating - intermediate.
Terah Kathryn Collins
Home Design with Feng Shui A-Z
Hay House, USA, 1999. Rating - simple.
The Western Guide to Feng Shui: Creating Balance, Harmony, and Prosperity in Your Environment
Hay House, USA, 1996. Rating - intermediate.
Richard Craze
Collins Gem Feng Shui
Collins, UK, 1999. Rating - simple.
Feng Shui: A Complete Guide
Headway Hodder & Stoughton, UK, 1997. Rating - simple.
Feng Shui Book and Card Pack
Thorsons, UK, 1997. Rating - intermediate.
Feng Shui Game Pack: An exciting introduction to this ancient philosophy
Thorsons, UK, 1997. Rating - intermediate.
Practical Feng Shui
Lorenz Books, UK, 1997. Rating - simple.
Richard Craze; Roni Jay Teach Yourself Feng Shui Teach Yourself Books, UK, 1998. Rating - simple / intermediate.
O Duane
The Origins of Wisdom - Feng Shui Brockhampton Press, UK, 1997. Rating - intermediate.
Ernest Eitel
Feng-Shui
Graham Brash (Pte) Ltd., Singapore, 1985. Rating - advanced.
Feng-Shui
Graham Brash (Pte) Ltd., Singapore, 1985. Rating - advanced.
Dennis Fairchild Healing Homes, Feng Shui - Here & Now WaveField Books, USA, 1996. Rating - simple / intermediate.
Hope Gerecht
Healing Design: Practical Feng Shui for Healthy and Gracious Living Journey Editions, USA, 1999. Rating - intermediate.
Johndennis Govert
Feng Shui: Art and Harmony of Place Daikakuji Publications, USA, 1993. Rating - simple / intermediate.
Derham Groves
Feng Shui and Western Building Ceremonies Tynron Press, UK, 1991. Rating - intermediate.
Graham Gunn
Harmonise Your Home
Orion Books Ltd., UK, 1999. Rating - simple.
Office Feng Shui in a Week
Hodder & Stoughton, UK, 1999. Rating - simple / intermediate.
Gill Hale
The Practical Encyclopedia of Feng Shui Lorenz Books, UK, 1999. Rating - simple / intermediate.
Ong Hean-Tatt Amazing Scientific Basis of Feng Shui: A Never Before Written Book on Feng Shui Eastern Dragon Press, Malaysia, 1997. Rating - advanced.
Belinda Henwood; Howard Choy
Feng Shui Lansdowne Publishing Pty Ltd, Sydney, Australia, 1997. Rating - simple.
Wendy Hobson
Simply Feng Shui: For Home, Office & Garden Foulsham, UK, 1998. Rating - simple.
Lam Kam Chuen The Feng Shui Handbook: How to Create a Healthier Living and Working Environment Gaia Books Limited, UK, 1996. Rating - simple.
Man-Ho Kwok; Joanne O'Brien
The Elements of Feng Shui Element Books Limited, UK, 1996. Rating - simple.
Kirsten Lagatree
Feng Shui: Arranging Your Home to Change Your Life
Pan Books Ltd., UK, 1996. Rating - simple / intermediate.
Feng Shui at Work: Arranging Your Work Space for Peak Performance and Maximum Profit
Villard Books, NY, USA, 1998. Rating - simple / intermediate.
Kwan Lau
Feng Shui for Today: Arranging Your Life for Wealth & Health Tengu Books, USA, 1996. Rating - simple / intermediate.
Gina Lazenby
The Feng Shui House Book: A New Approach to Interior Design Conran Octopus Limited, UK, 1998. Rating - simple / intermediate.
Robin Lennon; Karen Plunkett-Powell
Home Design from the Inside Out: Feng Shui, Color Therapy and Self-Awareness Arkana, USA, 1997. Rating - intermediate / advanced.
Pak-Tin Li; Helen Yeap
Change Your Life with Feng Shui Foulsham, UK, 1996. Rating - simple.
Jami Lin
Contemporary Earth Design: A Feng Shui Anthology
Earth Design, USA, 1997. Rating - intermediate.
Earth Design The Added Dimension: Nature's Beneficial Secrets for Today's Interiors Proven to Enhance Abundance and Well-Being
Earth Design, USA, 1995. Rating - intermediate.
The Essence of Feng Shui: Balancing Your Body, Home, and Life with Fragrance
Hay House, USA, 1998. Rating - simple.
Penelope Lindsay
Placement Art: A Beginner's Guide to Feng Shui Tengu Books, USA, 1998. Rating - simple / intermediate.
Evelyn Lip
Chinese Geomancy: A Layman's Guide to Feng Shui / Feng Shui - A Layman's Guide to Chinese Geomancy.
Times Books International, Singapore, 1979. Rating - intermediate.
Feng Shui - Environments of Power: A Study of Chinese Architecture. The Architecture of Feng Shui.
Academy Editions, UK, 1995. Rating - intermediate / advanced.
Feng Shui for Business
Times Books International, Singapore, 1989. Rating - intermediate.
Feng Shui for the Home
Times Books International, Singapore, 1992. Rating - intermediate.
The Design & Feng Shui of Logos, Trademarks & Signboards
Prentice Hall, UK, 1995. Rating - intermediate.
What is Feng Shui?
Academy Editions, UK, 1997. Rating - intermediate.
Albert Low
Feng Shui: The Way to Harmony
Pelanduk Publications, Malaysia, 1993. Rating - simple.
Modern Living with Feng Shui
Pelanduk Publications, Malaysia, 1998. Rating - simple.
Practical Feng Shui for the Home: Applying feng shui for prosperity, health and happiness
Pelanduk Publications, Malaysia, 1995. Rating - simple.
Mark Marfori
Feng Shui: Discover Money, Health and Love Dragon Publishing, USA, 1993. Rating - simple / intermediate.
Elizabeth Miles
The Feng Shui Cookbook: Creating Health and Harmony in Your Kitchen Birch Lane Press, USA, 1998. Rating - intermediate.
Sara Noble
Feng Shui in Singapore Graham Brash (Pte) Ltd., Singapore, 1994. Rating - intermediate / advanced.
Sarah Rossbach
Feng Shui: Ancient Chinese wisdom on arranging a harmonious living environment(aka Feng Shui: The Art of Chinese Placement) Rider, UK, 1988. Rating - intermediate.
Interior Design with Feng Shui: How to apply the ancient Chinese art of placement
Century Publishing Company, UK, 1988. Rating - simple/intermediate.
Sarah Rossbach; Lin Yun
Feng Shui Design Sidgwick & Jackson, UK, 1998. Rating - intermediate / advanced.
Jon Sandifer
Feng Shui Piatkus, UK, 1999. Rating - simple.
Feng Shui Journey: Achieving health and happiness through your mind, spirit and environment Piatkus, UK, 1999. Rating - intermediate.
Nancy SantoPietro
Feng Shui: Harmony by Design Perigee Books, USA, 1996. Rating - intermediate.
T Simons
Feng Shui Step by Step: Arranging Your Home for Health and Happiness - with Personalized Astrological Charts
Rider, UK, 1996. Rating - simple.
Feng Shui Strategies for Business Success: With Personalized Astrological Charts and Forecasts
Rider, UK, 1998. Rating - intermediate.
Stephen Skinner
Feng Shui: The traditional oriental way to enhance your life Paragon, UK, 1997. Rating - simple.
Angel Thompson
Feng Shui: How to Achieve the Most Harmonious Arrangement of Your Home and Office St. Martin's Griffin, NY, USA, 1996. Rating - intermediate.
Derek Walters
The Feng Shui Handbook: A Practical Guide to Chinese Geomancy The Aquarian Press, UK, 1991. Rating - intermediate / advanced.
Philippa Waring
The Way of Feng Shui: Harmony, Health, Wealth and Happiness Souvenir Press, UK, 1993. Rating - simple.
Richard Webster
101 Feng Shui Tips for the Home
Llewellyn Publications, USA, 1998. Rating - simple.
Feng Shui for Apartment Living
Llewellyn Publications, USA, 1998. Rating - simple /intermediate.
Feng Shui for Beginners: Successful Living by Design
Llewellyn Publications, USA, 1997. Rating - simple.
Feng Shui for Love & Romance
Llewellyn Publications, USA, 1999. Rating - simple.
Feng Shui for the Workplace
Llewellyn Publications, USA, 1998. Rating - simple.
Eva Wong
Feng-Shui: The Ancient Wisdom of Harmonious Living for Modern Times Shambhala Publications, Inc., Boston, USA, 1996. Rating - intermediate.
Nancilee Wydra
Designing Your Happiness, A Contemporary Look at Feng Shui(aka Feng Shui: Designing Your Future: A Contemporary Look at Feng Shui) Heian International, Inc., USA, 1995. Rating - simple / intermediate.
Feng Shui: The Book of Cures
Contemporary Books, USA, 1996. Rating - simple / intermediate.
Look Before You Love: Feng Shui Techniques for Revealing Anyone's True Nature
Contemporary Books, USA, 1998. Rating - intermediate.
SPACE CLEARING AND SACRED SPACE
Karen Kingston
Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui
Piatkus, UK, 1998. Rating - simple / intermediate.
Creating Sacred Space with Feng Shui
Piatkus, UK, 1996. Rating - simple / intermediate.
Denise Linn
Sacred Space: Clearing and Enhancing the Energy of Your Home Rider, UK, 1995. Rating - simple / intermediate.
HOME AND ENVIRONMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
Jane Alexander
Spirit of the Home: How to Make Your Home a Sanctuary Thorsons, UK, 1998. Rating - intermediate.
Sydney Baggs; Joan Baggs
The Healthy House: Creating a safe, healthy and environmentally friendly home Thames and Hudson Ltd., UK, 1996. Rating -intermediate / advanced.
Jennifer Dent
Healing Homes Capall Bann Publishing, UK, 1995. Rating - simple / intermediate.
GARDENING
Gill Hale
The Feng Shui Garden: Design your garden for health, wealth and happiness Aurum Press Ltd., UK, 1998. Rating - simple / intermediate.
Peter Harper; Jeremy Light; Chris Madsen
The Natural Garden Book: Gardening in harmony with nature Gaia Books Limited, UK, 1995. Rating - simple / intermediate.
Roni Jay
Feng Shui in Your Garden: How to Create Harmony in Your Garden Thorsons, UK, 1998. Rating - intermediate.
Gunther Sator
Success with Feng Shui for Your Garden Merehurst Limited, UK, 1999. Rating - simple.
Philippa Waring
The Feng Shui of Gardening Souvenir Press, UK, 1998. Rating - simple / intermediate.
Nancilee Wydra
Feng Shui in the Garden Contemporary Books, USA, 1997. Rating - intermediate.