FENG SHUI: the Chinese study of naturally occurring energies (invisible forces known as qi) surrounding everything and binding the universe, earth, and humanity together. Feng Shui masters claim you can use these forces to better live in harmony with your surrounding environment. A yin-yang balance of positive energies between your environment (outer life) and your body, mind, and spirit (inner life) to create peace and harmony in your daily life.
The term “feng-shui” literally translates as “wind-water” in English. The “Five Phases” are: Wood (木 mù); Fire (火 huǒ); Earth (土 tǔ); Metal (金 jīn); and Water (水 shuǐ); slightly different from the “Five Elements” in Buddhism which are Fire, Earth, Water, Air (or Wind), and Chi (or Spirit/quintessential creative energy of the world).
How to create good Feng Shui in your home:
• Goldfish represent wealth and bring luck into a home, but never place them in the kitchen or the bedroom.
• If your staircase faces a door, put a wind chime between the door and the staircase to disrupt the flow of energy, causing general dispersion of energy and keeping most of the good energy inside your home.
• In a living space, rounded corners create harmony, sharp corners disrupt energy flow.
• Avoid hanging items on the back of doors, this will add more struggle to your life.
• Rooms filled with light have good energy. Dimly-lit rooms are full of gloom and create sluggish energy.
• Placing your bed under a window will cause you to listen for intruders all night long and prevent you from sleeping.
• Electromagnetic fields from televisions, electric clocks, phones, computers, and all electronic devices disrupt positive energy, you must have a free space in your house, without any electromagnetic fields as a refuge for relief.
• Place photos of your children in rooms where people gather, this creates joy and happiness.
• Household pets generate good Feng Shui, they are always on the move, keeping the good energy flowing throughout the home.
• A bowl of fruit creates good energy and signify’s abundance.
• Food must always be available in the house to ensure abundance and a good love life. Rice is essential and provides supernatural nourishment.
• Pour hot tea and other hot beverages away from other people, the spout sends out hostile energy and can create disagreements. Never serve any beverage in a chipped cup or glass, it will cause very bad luck.
• Put fresh flowers where you spend the most time and dispose of them as soon as they fade. This keeps a home vital and alive. Never use dried flowers to decorate, they drain positive energy. Remove thorns from roses and never keep plants with thorns (like cactus) inside your home, these give off bad energy and cause arguments. Upward shooting rounded leaf house plants increase oxygen and lift all good energies in the home.
• Waterfalls or fountains near the entrance create very positive energy in a home, but must be kept clean with pure water constantly flowing.
• Always keep your toilet lid down and your bathroom door closed, protecting the drain of energy from the many water drains. Water flowing out of the house drains good energy from the home.
• Keep a glass of water by your head while you sleep and throw it away in the morning. The water will absorb bad energy near you during the night.
• Keep windows clean, mirrors framed (no edges showing) and clean. Replace broken mirrors or glass immediately, they fragment your life. Never put mirrors opposite each other, energy will bounce around in a confused state. Very large mirrors also cause energy chaos.
• Avoid fluorescent lights in your home, they give off negative ions.
• Stay clean and well dressed in clean natural fiber clothes, free from rips tears or missing buttons. Being poorly groomed brings bad luck.
• Essential oils, pleasantly scented candles, and some incense will enhance the flow of energy. Keep in mind to not burn them near fabrics/combustibles, or places pet and children can get to them.
• Colors: Green for growth and love; terra-cotta, deep golden yellow and rose for warm feelings and energy; mint green and ice blue for calm; red for passion and bonding; white for creativity; purple for spiritual awareness; shiny gold for a feeling of well-being; blue for security and protection and to feel calm and peaceful.
• Crystals absorb negative energy (remember in jewelry, gems are colored crystals too). Soak crystals in lightly salted water, then rinse well to remove the bad energy and refresh the crystals.
(Source: Feng Sui – the art of living ISBN 0-88088-333-2)
