The Art of Feng Shui

In recent years an ancient Eastern art has reawakened and this time it is rising in the West, not the East. The resurgence of Feng Shui (pronounced fung - shway) has taken on huge proportions as it is employed in home, business and recreation to bring harmony and energy to places where it is used.

What Is Feng-Shui?

Feng Shui is both an art and a science which was developed in China more than 3,000 years ago. It is a very intricate and complex body of knowledge which shows how to balance energy in a space to promote health and good fortune for the people living there. With the intensity of the world in which we live these days, it is little wonder Feng Shui has gained in popularity and has a serious following of devotees as well as those who use some of the methods in their environment.

The word "feng" means "wind" and the word "shui" means "water". Both elements have always been associated with good harvest and good health in the Chinese culture. To have good feng shui came to mean good livelihood and good fortune while bad feng shui meant hardship and misfortune. Based on the concept that the earth is living and filled with "Chi" or energy, the Taoist interpretation of nature believed that chi could make or break a kingdom. Some of the basic aspects of feng shui coming from Taoism are the theories of yin and yang and the five elements of feng shui.

The Tools of the Trade

There are specific tools associated with feng shui, the primary ones being the compass and the ba-gua, which is an octagonal grid containing the symbols of the I Ching, upon which Feng Shui is based. By knowing the ba-gua of your home (like an energy road map) you can understand various feng shui areas within your home which are important to your particular life.

Elements and Colors

Along with tools, there are elements associated with feng shui, each represented by color. The use of color, as guided by the ba-gua, ultimately is intended to bring harmony and balance to the home and lives of the inhabitants. Learning how these elements interface with each other and how the colors work will enable a person to create the type of environment which will best benefit their life and relationships.

The corresponding colors for each element of feng shui are as follows:

Wood: Green and Brown

Fire: Red, Strong Yellow, Orange, Purple

Earth: Light Yellow, Sandy/Earthy, Light Brown

Metal: White, Gray

Water: Blue, Black

You Can't Know it All Overnight

A proper study of the elements, colors and mapping of feng shui can add a whole new dimension to the living space. Some of the levels of understanding of feng shui are easy, others take time to learn and understand. Regardless, one can begin with a basic understanding andcreate a measure of balance and harmony with ease and joy.