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BASIC FENG SHUI by Agatha Yau INTRODUCTION Feng shui is an ancient science that has its roots in the Chinese way of viewing the universe, where all things on Earth are categorized into 5 basic elements, and take on a positive or negative energy. This is termed "chi", and it can have either yin or yang attributes, meaning male or female. Feng shui is literally translated "Wind and Water". Feng shui is also an art – which is a skill borne of experience and common sense – the skill of arranging ones immediate living and working space to strengthen the vital balance and harmony. Feng shui is believed to be a powerful spirit and world phenomenon, and should be treated with the utmost respect. It is fundamentally the flow of nature leading to the ultimate reality, and depicts walking the path home. Feng shui at its simplest is said to resemble the meandering of a river or stream, and it is this meandering movement we try to access and gain increasing health, wealth, happiness, and prosperity in the form of the life force chi. The key to a successful garden enviroment is to create a garden that balances the yin and the yang aspect, meaning female/ldark and yang male/light using the five elements. Yang meaning to open the bright parts of the garden or home that release activity and are then balanced by the yin, that encourages retreat and meditation. THE FIVE NATURAL ELEMENTS These include the natural elements of water, fire, metal, earth and wood which all in turn facilitate and nourish a growing cycle, encouraging a positive movement into the future from a flourishing present, at peace with the past. The goal of feng shui is to encourage everyone to aspire to experience and express the beauty of simplicity and communion with the natural world in balance and harmony and peace. Most traditional feng shui gardens encourage one to stroll and meander, using a variety of shapes, and colours, and textures, throughout the garden. Of course in feng shui it is necessary to always maintain your garden, keeping it free of weeds, raking regulary, and watering regulary, in order to maintain a good flow of chi. Keep in mind that it is good to always maintain a sense of mystery in your garden, by creating secret places to explore, as this strolling or meandering will cause one to connect with the earth and by doing so, releasing all the stress of the day and negativity, leaving one with the sense of calmness and a relaxed state of mind. ‘Bring the fortunate blessings of feng shui home through your garden’
THE FIVE ELEMENTS By using the five elements correctly in your garden, can help achieve the balance that is required for good chi flow, and thereby enhancing your life…
WATER By introducing water in the North of your garden will bring about good career luck. It is however advisable that the water you bring into your garden should face the front door as this represents good wealth passing into your home.
WOOD Wood is good placed in the East as this symbolizes the waxing moon thereby gathering strength and radiance which is said to increase happiness and good growth materially, this could be in the form of a woodern structure, or even bamboo chimes. It is also advisable to never place cactus’s in your home or office. In the South it is good to place flowers as this represents wealth. EARTH Earth is probably the core of feng shui, and by placing crystals in the South East or North EAST helps aid in romance and luck, clay objects can also be used instead of crystals. METAL This represents West and North West of your garden or home. Many Chinese like to use the 3 chinese coins joined by a red thread in the garden or home, as it is believed that the red thread releases the energies needed for wealth and material possession. FIRE Fire is found in the South and therefore it is good to place in the South of your garden, lights, which stimulate the chi flow, bringing about success in all aspects of your life. It is also important to remember the balance, because when the moon is full this energy is very strong – people with koi ponds will notice, that most koi spawn on the full moon, as the energies are at its strongest.
FENG SHUI AND KOI The number 8 is thought to be a very lucky number, also the number 9. The smooth circular movements of the fish apparently attract good energy into your home and garden. Very often the 8 colourful koi can be found in paintings. Some believe the number 9 too is lucky. Having a black koi in your pond is thought to be very lucky as they absorb any bad luck that is left. For good feng shui it is best to hang a painting of koi in the entrance to your home or office. |
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