Feng Shui Basics and Tips to Improve your Life | Natural Health 4 Life

In just over 3000 years ago Feng Shui was the mainstay in ancient Imperial China and its practice remained within the boundaries of its walls; today this preserved art form is not only practiced by the Chinese, but other nationalities as well in differing parts of the world. The claims for its doctrine range from achieving health and wealth to longevity and self-fulfilment.

Many people, including respected celebrities are using this olden philosophy to enrich their surroundings and uplift their lives.? The applications have become more commonplace in people who believe its precepts will help improve all aspects of their life.

Oprah Winfrey applies its guiding principles, so too does Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, and Bill Gates, not to mention a host of musicians, actors, and television personalities. The point is that there is more to this Chinese art form than meets the eye; it touches on some of the brightest and creative minds around who seem to embrace the positive energy it brings.

Describing this Eastern Philosophy, Art and Science

Feng Shui (pronounced, fung shway) is defined as a body of rules ingrained in ancient art and science. These rules govern the Chinese philosophy that reveals how to balance the energies of any given space to assure the health and good fortune of people who inhabit it. For example, the locations of objects are organised, based on patterns of yin and yang and the flow of chi or positive energy that runs through its surroundings.

If you are familiar with the premise used in natural therapies such as Acupuncture, Shiatsu and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), then you are more inclined to grasp the concept of Feng Shui which appoints the theory of energy in a similar way.

Positive versus negative energy is therefore the underpinning philosophy that governs their design techniques and as previously mentioned, these guiding principles provide solutions to life?s shortcomings.

It is important to understand that there are several different schools of Feng Shui, as well as strong culturally specific aspects linked to its symbols.? Every culture has its own form of Feng Shui, and it takes a basic knowledge of the rules to apply it intelligently in your life.

The Concept Developed From Astronomy

To have a greater appreciation of this ancient guiding principle, and to better evaluate for yourself whether the theories are in harmony with your cultural and spiritual beliefs, the history of its practice is now outlined.

Feng Shui literally means wind and water. Originally, its design was widely used on orient buildings?often structures of spiritual significance, such as tombs and monuments, eventually homes and other structures were included?in an auspicious manner.? Depending on the particular structure decided upon, a favourable site was selected, determined by reference to heavenly and earthly elements such as the stars, bodies of water and landscaping.

A handy magnetic compass is often used to find the most favourable location to lay objects or erect structures, but in ancient times this instrument was not available. Practical applications therefore relied on astronomy for correlations between humans and the universe. This then began Feng Shui?s history in astronomy; rooted in natural laws of celestial objects.

Scientific knowledge of the galaxies and its evolution helped to build the belief system and its related technique, applying it to all aspects of human life.

To understand how the principles are applied to the construction of a building, the ?masters? would evaluate how many degrees east of due north, for example, a structure should be laid to best attain positive energy. The significance of the slope of a landscape and local microclimate might also be taken into consideration, according to natural laws before being approved.

More common recommendations include installing bright lights, producing pleasant sounds like wind chimes and placing fish tanks within specific locations in the home.

Polarity

Polarity is an important element in Feng Shui, and is expressed using the popular dynamic: the yin and yang theory.? These two forces push and pull in opposition, one creates an exertion and the other receives an exertion.? Yin and yang and the five phases? corollary are also intertwined in astronomy.

The five forces of yin and yang which are earth, metal, fire, water and wood, according to the Chinese, play a very important part in the perspective on the universe. All opposites that one experience?health and sickness, wealth and poverty, power and submission?can be explained in reference to the temporary dominance of yin and yang.

Bagua

Another prominent component in the Chinese belief system is known as bagua; this helps in ascertaining location and placement of objects in Feng Shui. Cardinal directions are determined by stars of the mega constellations.

In totality, this philosophy, art, science and spiritual composition is based on the observation of heavenly bodies and earthly space.

Feng Shui School of Thought

There are different schools of applications using this Chinese application, four of which can be applied today.

1. Form school.? This is the oldest of the philosophies and refers to the shape of the environment and general surroundings. The flow of the wind and water and slope of a landscape is used to find a place with ideal chi or energy. This premise also incorporates the yin and yang concept.

2. Compass School. This is a collection of more recent techniques based on the bagua or the eight cardinal directions, each of which is said to have a unique chi.

3. Traditional inheritance.? Aside from books written on the technique, in many cases masters have passed on their techniques only to selected students or relatives.

4. Current Usage of Traditional Schools. There is no contemporary agreement that one of the traditional schools is most correct. That is why modern practitioners of Feng Shui generally draw from multiple schools in their own practices. In Western practices, the technique applies simplified principles that come from traditional schools and focus mainly on the use of the bagua.

Tips to Feng Shui your Life

The most important element in this philosophy as it relates to your home is how you can work towards creating a smooth flow of chi or positive energy through your personal space.? For now, that is all it requires, a basic understanding of the principles which will allow you to take a fresh perspective of the interior design of your environment and reposition objects that supports the life you wish to live.

Start small, changing only one area of the home at a time. Gradually you will want to extend the flow of chi to other parts especially after experiencing improvements in your life. Subtle feelings like enhanced feelings of well-being, satisfaction, a more mellow mood or an upbeat attitude are some of the benefits you can look forward to.

Here are a few tips to try:

Tip No. 1. ?Positive Emotions- Cleaning up your bedroom

Let the flow of chi meander through your bedroom as though it were soft ripples in a stream. ?A cluttered bedroom stifles energy and hinders enthusiasm for matters of the heart.

Assess the space in your room and aim for a balance layout. ?Start clearing items if you are filled to capacity with your own stuff.? Include your cupboard, shelves and drawers in your overhaul activities and attempt to invite passion and positive emotions within your sleeping quarters. Aim to free up at least 25 per cent of the space in your room.

Tip No. 2.? Cosy and Sociable ? Reorganising your Living Room

The living room presents one of the largest amounts of traffic, it is one of the first places people use to enter your home and is the main area for entertainment, yet it should represent balance and order, even with children around.

Balancing yin and yang in the living room is about finding the right placement for objects, especially furniture and accessories, so that the right element (there are 5 elements) is represented in the right place. Visualise the energy of water flowing in your room. Would it get stuck among congested areas?? Find out more about the bagua or energy map of your home to create warm, cosy, sociable Feng Shui energy.

Tip No. 3.? To your Good Health ? Kitchen

Your kitchen is the heart of your home and should always be clean and as tidy as possible, reflecting good health and providing clear space for creative, fruitful thoughts.

Experiment with more luminesce in the kitchen, warm up the colours on the walls, invite the energy of potted herbs, display fresh fruits, and select special shapes of counter top objects all of which are deeply connected to the quality of your overall health. So is adding healthy organic food to your diet for harmony and healing.

Tip No. 4.? Cleanse the Spirit and Increase Prosperity ? Uplifting your Bathroom

The bathroom is a very important space with big influence on the rest of the house and the harmony within it. The bathroom is connected to prosperity and can have a negative effect on luck, health and wealth for all members in the household.

Some suggestions to prevent prosperity from flowing out of your home include:

• Placing a full length mirror on the outside of the bathroom door to give the illusion that the bathroom is not there. Discrete locations of the bathroom are ideal for prosperity
• Closing bathroom doors and ensuring toilet lids are down should be done to minimise energy loss
• Everything should be in good working order and clean. Filth, noxious odours or broken items accentuate negative chi
• Tie a red ribbon or tape around outgoing pipes. This will help keep the energy from flowing out
• Open the window whenever possible and place growing bamboo plants in the bathroom
• Use gold-coloured towels to attract abundance
• Use earthy objects, a pottery vase for example for balancing the water energy in the bathroom

Tip No. 5. ?Water will Increase your Wealth ? Invest in an Aquarium

Apart from water that drains from taps, toilets and baths, common in most dwellings, a home that generates water such as found in fountains, aquariums and swimming pools are uncommon to find.

Flowing water signifies wealth and an aquarium can be modestly maintained while possessing one of the best activators for wealth. Here are some suggestions on getting the flow of affluence into your life.

• Create a beautiful bubbling aquarium; ensure it has a good oxygenation system and energises the water
• Add beautiful plants, stones and embellishments to enhance wealth
• Select beautiful fish for the same reason as plants and embellishments
• Place your aquarium correctly; water is best placed at the front of the house; seeing water at the front door is a wonderful wealth prompter

It is essential in Feng Shui to unleash the power of chi. When the chi force is blocked, the energy that should move freely becomes stagnant, just like an unkempt pool, green with impurities, you too will likely feel inhibited in life.

Perspectives from Sceptics

Feng Shui has a number of sceptics who liken its teachings to voodoo practices, Taoism, or witchcraft.? Many regard this Chinese belief system as a doctrine against Christianity which is the most pressing concern critics have about its representations.

Some believe that not only is it inconsistent with Christianity, but its manipulations of nature and metaphysical energies is in keeping with sorcery practices and is therefore demonic.

Some critics simply find its philosophical base governing the harnessing of energy, ludicrous and confusing, and sha, which is negative energy emitted from sharp and pointed objects, incredulous.

Once you know the basic origins and doctrines that encompasses this philosophy, determine for yourself whether they are what you want to embrace in your life; the concept is clearly not for everyone.?

Those who have seen perhaps the ephemeral impact on their friends and family, may want to explore it teachings. Once you master the basic level of Feng Shui you should start seeing powerful results.