Feng Shui popularity is the western world has increased tremendously over the years. Interior Design Courses offer Feng Shui as an added study. Yet learning Feng Shui without understanding the origin and concept confuses the beginner than enlightens him. The proper use of Feng Shui has powerful results.
Feng shui is an art at the same time a science that attempts to balance the energy found in a given space and time giving good health and fortune to its inhabitants. Feng is the Chinese term meaning wind and Shui is the Chinese term for water. The blend of both in the Chinese culture is associated with anything good from health to fortune to luck.
They say Feng Shui started about 2,000 to 5,000 years ago and was practiced even during the Tang Dynasty. The Chinese include this art in imperial exams going as far back as the 888 A.D. in the time of Emperor Hi Tsang. Master Yang Yun Sang had writings explaining and emphasizing sites with the dragon’s energy or breath. CHI or the vital energy is contained in this locations as is the reason why finding the dragon’s lair is very important. Natural formations like mountains, hills, and water formations are seen as symbolic shapes of animals and energy.
A hundred years later Wang Chih, a master of this art during the Song dynasty introduced in his teachings calculations and directions. I-Ching trigrams were used to make the energy map known as the BAGUA. It was in this era that the 5 elements theory of Feng Shui was also handed down. Since calculations were being made, this correlates to the best time for specifying when and where activities can best take place.
In the late nineteenth century, these two concepts merged providing Feng Shui as a body of knowledge that reads energy in any space including the home, garden or office. Confusion arises not with the understanding of its history and its application but with the symbols used to encourage the energy. This is often called the symbolic level.
The most popular of these symbols include: the sign for Double Happiness, the Dragon and the Phoenix, Peony Flowers and Mandarin Ducks for Love and Marriage. The Koi Fish or Gold Arrowana, the Toad with three legs, Chinese Coins, Money frog, Wealth vase, Sailing Ship, Crystal tree or Gem Tree are symbols uses for Wealth. Chi Lin, or the Chinese Unicorn, Fu Dogs, the Tortoise, The Golden Cicada, The Red Bat, The Mystic knot and flower are symbols used for Good Fortune and Protection. The Butterfly, Wu-Lou Gourd, the Lucky Bamboo, Birds like Peacocks and cranes, Sau or the God of Longevity, Buddha, and Fruits like Apples and Peaches are symbols uses for Health, Longevity and Happiness.
In order for Feng Shui to work for you and your home, you do not have to use traditional Chinese or cultural symbols. The idea is to choose a specific symbol that resonates with your subconscious. The stronger your connection is with the symbol the more the symbol would work for you. This connection is used to harness the Chi or energy provided by the Feng Shui teachings. You don’t have to put symbols that you dislike in your home only for the purpose of inviting energy. Feng Shui does not work like that. If the symbol you have does not resonate nor do you find a connection with it, change it, and find one that you have a connection with. Expressing the energy you need when the connection has been established with bring powerful energy and good feng shui to you and your home.
Earlier we mentioned the Bagua or the octagonal compass. This is the main tool used for analysis in Feng Shui. Understanding the Bagua will help you understand the areas in your house that connects with you and specific areas of your life.
The next theory you need to understand is that of the Yin Yang. The Yin meaning the feminine force and the Yang meaning the masculine force are symbolized by the circle with black and white designs. This is sometimes referred to as the Night and Day. It symbolized that the universe is composed mainly of two opposing forces. And like the chop sticks that lose their function when not in a pair, it represents the harmonious relationship of co-existence. Life is bounded by forces co-existing for deep support and nourishment. Yin which is symbolized by the color black is passive energy for relaxation like the bathroom. Yang is symbolized by the color white is active energy for areas like the kitchen.
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