What is Feng Shui?
The English translation of Feng Shui is "wind-water." The ancient Chinese believe the way we feel and act is affected by our environment. How we organize our surroundings can improve our lives for a positive outcome. Feng Shui is an art form of organizing and designing our space for life's balance and harmony.
This practice was used in ancient structures to reference the natural surroundings. The Yangshao and Hongshan cultures of China provide the earliest evidence of this art.
The main goal of Feng Shui, which directly relates to astronomy, is to build upon spots of good QI (the perfect spot). QI would include the placement of a structure and its contents in a planned place with the surrounding environment. There are five life forces which include water, wood, metal, earth and fire. Each element is represented by a color. Color is the easiest way to incorporate harmony into your home with Feng Shui.
Feng Shui first gained popularity in the US after President Richard Nixon traveled to China to address complaints that western developers violated Feng Shui. After this 1972 visit, Feng Shui soared in popularity in western cultures.
There are many complex levels of Feng Shui that relate to an entire lifestyle from finding love to creating family harmony. By placing certain elements of your life in the proper place according to astrological charts, a positive force is created. For example in 2011, it is recommended that wealth is found according to an annual star from the northwest. Therefore you should store your financial papers in the northwest area of your home. Even colors are suggested for the fire element such as yellow, pink, and orange.
It has been profoundly popular with westerners only within the last twenty years whose basic principals are used in their homes.
Suggestions for your home can be found at www.fengshui.about.com. These include:
De-clutter your home.
Find the energy map of your home (Ba-Gua).
Air quality and lighting quality.
Balance the five elements in your home.
Support your personal birth element.
Your Kua Number and direction.
Know the energy of your home
There is a modern day "ying and yang" debate between traditionalists of the east and new methods of the art in the west. Western culture books are flying off the shelves with their version of Feng Shui in decorating.
Eastern traditionalists feel this popular fad is used by many as a marketing gimmick. The purest of Feng Shui are upset at the way the public perceives the art as a quick fix to everything. They feel traditional Feng Shui deserves respect.
One great resource to authentic Eastern culture of this art is the Feng Shui Research Center. It was founded to combat watered down versions of the art. Feng Shui Master Joseph Yu started the center to teach authentic Chinese metaphysics.
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