Ancient Chinese Fengshui Tips for the Home Explained
The ancient chinese are concerned about balancing the natural energy flows around the house. Since we normally spend most of our lives in our houses, any disruptions in the energy flows will have a serious impact on us. Not all buildings are constructed in perfect harmony with the surrounding environment and sometimes the balance can also be destroyed when a new road or house is built recently. While we believe chinese fengshui does make some sense and has logical basic fundamentals, the interpretations of the original teachings must have gone way too wild. Furthermore, the original ancient scripts were written in chinese and most of its true meanings and contexts were probably lost in the translations to western languages. Add on the cultural differences between these worlds and you can get the idea why most fengshui sayings sound funky and contradictory.
Fengshui Tips
We now list some basic fengshui tips for the home and what we think they really mean after considering ancient fengshui as a form of symbolism to affect our psyche:
- A marble table in the house is bad for one's career since it invites work stress.
What the fish? How many marble tables have you seen so far? Do you know how heavy a table made of marble is going to weigh? We think the marble table is not good for the house as it causes additional stress to the building structure.
- A red sofa set too is often said to give rise to work obstacles and troubles.
Agree. I believe most people know that red, gold and yellow are auspicious colors favored by the chinese. For important happy festivals and ceremonies such as weddings and groundbreaking, these colors are often used. For example, the traditional costume for a chinese bride is red and gold - red dress, red shoes, red head dress, gold jewellery, gold embroidery on the costumes etc. However, these same colors are not used at other times. These are powerful colors that introduce a lot of positive yang energy and there is no need for so much yang at normal times. Otherwise, the delicate balance between yin and yang will be overwhelmed.
There have been modern studies of how colors affect our mood. We know that red causes aggression (remember the bull?) so we guess a sofa which is used for lazing and lounging around should not be causing such strong emotions.
By the way, the ancient emperors have imperial robes made from golden and yellow silk, and no other person whether they are commoners and officials are allowed to wear clothes of those colors. They are so damn special that they are only reserved for the emperor. It is a capital offense to be in possession of clothes made of golden and yellow silk - they charge you for trying to rebel against the country and become the emperor yourself. So why is the emperor not subjected to the above rules on powerful colors? Well, this is a special case...he is the son of heavens after all, and we are not going to argue with someone who is allowed to have hundreds of young maidens as concubines anyway.
- Have sufficient lighting in the rooms because light is an important source of energy. In dim places where natural sun light cannot reach, color the walls with yellow paint to represent sunlight.
Just go buy a table lamp or a hip lava lamp. Do you really want a yellow cellar?
- The bed should be placed next to a wall and not pointing towards the door.
I suppose if the bed is inline with the door, it is going to get pretty chilly at night with all the winds passing from the windows towards the door.
- Remove mirrors that show reflections of yourself lying in bed.
You may get scared and thought there was another person sleeping in the room when it was just a reflection you just seen. Well, it can happen so make sure the dressing mirror does not face the bed.
- The doorway should not be obstructed with shelves, shoes and other items such that positive energy can freely enter the house.
Ehh...it is embarrassing to show an untidy doorway to your neighbors or passersby every time you open your door.
- The seats should be arranged such that anyone inside the house can see the doorway clearly.
We think this is for security reasons; you will definitely not want people sneaking into the house without you noticing.
- Placing mirrors in the room help positive energy reach dark corners in the room and help amplify the amount of light energy.
Blah, it is really difficult to design a room with many mirrors unless its a dance hall. It is also very distracting with all those reflections moving around. Remember suspense movies with mirror room scenes? We would not want to live in such a house.
- Healthy plants represent living energy and invokes the healing and nurturing vibrations of nature while dying or withered plants attract negative yin energy.
Well, rotting plants do attract lots of pests so they should be removed as soon as possible. They look untidy and people may think that the inhabitants of the house are unkempt. That is bad for your image.
- Do not place home appliances associated with water and fire together as they do will clash badly and this will cause disagreements to arise among the family members.
Does that mean it is bad to boil tap water for safe drinking? And the stove should not be placed in the kitchen where the tap and sink are located?
- Do not let children sleep on the floor or else they will fall sick frequently. Let them sleep on proper beds with space between the floor and the mattress such that beneficial positive energy can flow underneath the bed.
The floor can be awfully cold at night and it is really hard and bad for the spine. Even adults are going to get sick by sleeping on the floor. The space between the floor and the mattress is probably for air ventilation and keeps the mattress fresh and cool.
- Positive energy flows can be disrupted by clutter and mess in the house. Positive energy should be allowed to flow freely in the house from one room to the other.
We think it is awkward to walk around in the house if it is messy and there are a lot of unwanted stuff lying around. You just feel uneasy if your room resembles a pig sty rather than a living quarter fit for humans.
- Keep the bathroom clean and its door should be closed all the time in order to avoid its negative energy to flow into the rest of the house.
We serious believe funky smells to be a form of negative energy so this rule should be strictly complied with. Just in case, make sure everyone in the house flush properly after using the bathroom.
- All the doors in the house should be closed and locked during night time as you sleep such that domestic relationships are benign and no health problems will arise.
Anyone will be seriously worried and unable to sleep if the main door is missing and cannot be closed or locked. How can there be privacy if your bedroom door is not closed while you sleep?
There you go, some common sense interpretation of the arcane fengshui arts. Do not expect a sudden windfall after applying the above rules and you should do just fine.
Source-- http://hubpages.com/hub/Ancient-Chinese-Fengshui-Tips-for-the-Home-Explained
Enhancing Your Life with Feng shui
To apply this practice means having to recognize the relationship between man and the environment he lives in. The key to this practice is locating the all important qi by arranging objects inside or outside of your home or even your office space so that qi continuously flows freely in the space thereby producing a positive impact in different aspects of your life. This ancient practice and belief is still being applied today and here are some methods where the art of balance and harmony can make a difference in a person’s life.
Using the Five Phases Method
The five phases method relies in the five elements or phases of fire, earth, metal, water and wood. These elements interrelate with each other through a creation cycle where fire produces earth, earth produces metal, metal produces water and water produces wood. Each element also corresponds to a particular direction where water is placed in the north, fire is the south, east is wood, west is metal and earth is the center.
The best way to apply this method is to make sure that your room or the space you live in has a balance of all these elements to produce good qi otherwise too much of a particular element might go against the other elements and produce harmful qi instead.
Using the Flying Stars Method
Probably the most difficult method to apply Feng shui is the flying star method which takes into account the date your house or office was built, a detailed floor plan and the outside environment of the place. It is similar to having a birth sign in astrology only this time it’s your property’s birth sign.
Although this method can be complex, it is the most accurate of methods and usually done by master practitioners of the craft. What this method aims to achieve is to harmonize your space by finding out the best elements to enhance it and the elements that need to be avoided.
Using the Eight Mansions Method
The most popular application of Feng shui is the eight mansions method or the Ba Zhai. This method requires you to calculate your kua number based on your birth date. This will help you determine your auspicious direction because each kua number corresponds to a particular direction.
This method aims to find out which directions are good for you and which to avoid. It also helps you find out if you are compatible with that particular area you’re living or staying in. Finding out the best direction for you and enhancing that space can help you become more productive in terms of career, relationships, health and luck.
Feng shui-Proof Your Life
Testimonies of the benefits of this ancient practice are many and its effectiveness can be traced from ancient times otherwise this practice would not have survived today. The concept is simple and everyone can benefit with some semblance of balance and harmony in their lives. It’s just a matter of recognizing the value of qi and making sure everything in your surroundings brings you peace.
Clutter and Feng Shui
Anti-Clutter Feng Shui Tip 1: Sort your mail as it comes in
Incoming mail is one of the top sources of clutter. All those bills are not just stressful if mismanaged and stashed somewhere in your home, but it is also contributory to clutter in your home. If you are really serious about getting good Feng Shui, make sure that you are able to screen your mail. Establish a system for sorting all your mail. And this also holds true for other papers you may be keeping in your home. If you neatly categorize them and throw away the ones you no longer need, you will be much better off.
Anti-Clutter Feng Shui Tip 2: Opt for daily cleanings than reliance on major general cleanings
A general cleaning schedule is good, but if you are still not in the habit of cleaning on a regular basis, you may still find yourself filled with a clutter problem. So the best thing to do when you are trying to apply good Feng Shui is by exercising your cleaning powers on a daily basis, not just on a schedule. It does not have to be too rigorous if done on a daily basis. You can just start with the cleaning per day one area at a time to accomplish it effectively.
Anti-Clutter Feng Shui Tip 3: Clean as you work
While working on a project, clean as you go. This means that you will not just leave stuff lying around on the table as you do your work. This ensures that the work space remains clean, and this also implies that you are open for more productive work in the future since the space is wiped free of any traces from previously done work.
Anti-Clutter Feng Shui Tip 4: Be generous about your stuff
Give away the stuff you don’t need. This is a rule of thumb when it comes to cleaning up and freeing from clutter. Being generous involves giving away stuff you don’t really get to use. What you won’t use for a long time and collect dust may actually be an answer to somebody else’s problems. Just make sure that you are not transferring clutter but something that can really be of use to the person you are giving it to.
Anti-Clutter Feng Shui Tip 5: Dust frequently
Dusting frequently helps keep your place clean. Dust, when accumulated also forms the clutter which we are really trying to avoid in Feng Shui.
Anti-Clutter Feng Shui Tip 6: Evaluate your stuff brutally
If at all possible, have a peer to help you evaluate your stuff at home. What you may hold dear and refuse to part with is not just a sign of bad Feng Shui but may also be a sign of a hoarding problem. Aside from addressing your Feng Shui issues, the mindset on clutter ma also have to be dealt with accordingly.
What is Feng Shui ?
Feng Shui is made of two words. The first is wind while the second is earth. Its teachings are based on Taoist vision and understanding of nature on the belief that the land is alive and is filled with energy. This in turn could make a kingdom successful or bring it to its downfall.
Aside from the water and the wind, Feng Shui is influenced by the theory of 3 other elements namely wood, fire and metal. It is this that also guides Chinese astrological sciences including the times, dates of birth and years as well as colors, seasons, directions and the planets.
The main tools for Feng Shui are the compass and the Ba-Gua. The Ba-Gua is an octagonal shaped grid containing the symbols of the I Ching which is the ancient oracle on which this is based.
Those who believe in Feng Shui say that those who know the Bagua of their home will be able to understand specific areas of their life.
The feng shui compass is also called lo-pan. This is used to access deeper information about a site or a building. It consists of bands of concentric rings arranged around the magnetic needle. "Lo" means "everything" and "pan" means "bowl", which can be interpreted as the key to the mysteries of the universe.
Through the years, several different schools of feng shui have emerged. If you are able to master the basic level, it is said that you will start to see powerful results which could be to your advantage both at home and in business.
Those who practice Feng Shui see it as a double edged sword because it can be mutually productive and also destructive.
In a productive cycle, fire produces earth which produces metal which produces water which produces wood and the fire again. In a destructive cycle, wood destroys earth which destroys water which destroys fire which destroys metal and then destroys wood.
To give you an idea what this all means, let’s say you were born on a fire year. Too much water in the home is not good because water destroys fire. On the other hand, if you put a lot of wooden décor into your home, then things will be good because wood produces fire. Aside from that, experts say that you will more likely prosper if you sleep on the south side of the house or apartment.
But the ordinary Joe does not have time to understand that. This is why many people these days consult Feng Shui experts when they are building an office or their home. By being able to have someone who understands these cycles, harmony and productivity is achieved.
So what is Feng Shui? For those who don’t believe in it, simply one way of making sure that you will get good fortune. As for those who take it seriously, it is what creates the essence of life around us. There must always be a harmonious balance between these elements so that you can live a healthy and meaningful life.
Simple Feng Shui Tips for the Home
Many modern aficionados assert that feng shui is the practice of arranging objects, such as in the home, to help attract positive energy. The following are a few basic feng shui tips for the home:
1. A marble table in the house is not good for the career since it attracts work stress. A red sofa set too is often said to give rise to work obstacles and troubles. Replace that marble table with a wooden one, and that red sofa with any other color.
2. Have enough lighting in the rooms because light is an important source of energy. In dull spaces where natural light from the window is limited, paint the walls with yellow, which represents sunlight.
3. The bed should be placed next to a wall. You must not also sleep in a way where your feet are pointed towards the door, as this has negative connotation. A mirror where you can see yourself in as you are lying in bed has to be removed, or covered with a blanket as you sleep.
4. The doorway should not be obstructed with anything, such as shoes and other items. A clear entrance allows the positive energy to freely enter the room. It is also advised that the seating is so arranged that anyone inside the room will be able to see the door.
5. Placing mirrors in the room help positive energy dart through the area. They amplify the amount of light inside the room. Mirrors also make the room appear much larger than it actually is, giving a cozy vibe.
6. Plants represent nature, and having your self surrounded by them evokes the healing and nurturing vibrations of nature right into your room. However, dying or dead plants attract negative energy, so take them out immediately.
7. Make sure that there is no refrigerator, washing machine, dishwasher and even sink placed opposite the stove. Fire and water clash; this might stir up negative energies that may cause the family members to have disagreements with one another.
8. Never allow your children to sleep on the floor because it may cause them to get sick often. Ideally, positive energy flowing underneath the bed is beneficial. So it is advised for your children to sleep in beds with space beneath them. However, it is not recommended for them to use double bunk beds because the child sleeping beneath will get sickly.
9. The flowing of positive energy is generally interrupted by disorder or clutter in the room. Positive energy should be allowed to flow freely in the room, and from one space to the other. Clutter has to be removed especially from the center of your house, which is considered the heart of the house.
10. Keep your bathroom clean and the bathroom door closed at all times since you don’t want the negative energy inside it flow outside. You might also want to close all doors in the home as you sleep as it helps provide health domestic relationships and promotes health.
For beginners, feng shui does not have to mean using particular tools to come up with a harmonious home. Sticking to the basic aspects is enough to attract the right energies into your home.
Feng Shui Tips for Business
When it comes to your store, how you design and arrange interiors as well as its exterior may affect the flow of good chi. First off, you should start by looking at your store's facade. In order to achieve good feng shui, your store's name, design and display should stand out. This is the result of good chi flowing into your store. The strong flow of the energy can be created by a strong and clear presence in the environment. In terms of your store, it should catch the attention of a passer by through its attractive display clean store name and good lighting.
After you have made well with your store exterior, you then need to check on your interiors. When you come inside, try to take note of what part of the room that instantly take your attention. Are you attracted to look towards the right or towards the left? The location to where you are drawn is considered to be the flow of chi inside your store. You can then make use of this idea to determine how you should make the good chi flow through your store. For this you may need to create some pathways for the energy to flow in the same way that you would want your customers to explore and see the items that you are selling.
The way you arrange your office space can also affect your business. This goes with how you place your office tables and chairs. It is good feng shui advice to always sit with a solid wall behind your back. It is not good feng shui practice to sit with your back to the window for long periods of time. In the same way, you should not be sitting with your face front on a solid wall while working.
And because light and air flow greatly affects the flow of chi in the practice of feng shui, you should also try to make good use of it in your office. Try to make sure that air has a means of going inside your office by trying to open windows. Try also to let as much natural light as possible into your office in order to create an area where good chi might flow constantly. The positioning of your office furniture should also be considered so as not to impede this flow of energy into your office surroundings.
Since most offices today exists in a sea of polluted environments. This would not be a good area for chi to flow in. Air pollution in particular must be resolved by making use of different feng shui items that may aid in clearing the air for the good energy to flow in. air purifying plants can be used in order to help clean the air inside the office.
Other feng shui items such as essential oils, crystals and water fountains can also be used to cleanse or raise the energy levels in the office.
Feng Shui History
The astronomical history of Feng Shui is evident in the ancient instruments that were developed in its practice. The earliest known Feng Shui instrument may have been what is known as the gnomon. This instrument was used along with trying to circumpolar the stars in order to determine the north and south axis. This was basically used in laying down early Chinese settlements.
The ancient Yangshao and Hongshan cultures in China provide the earliest evidences of the practice of feng shui. As early as 4000 BCE, doors from Banpo dwellings were aligned to the star called Yingshi just right after the winter solstice. This allowed the homes to be sited for better solar gain. During the Zhou era, the star Yingshi was known as Ding and had a great influence in trying to determine the appropriate time to build their capital city. This is according to records on the Shijing.
Another example of the practice of ancient feng shui can also be found from the grave at Puyang that dates back to about 3000 BCE. This particular grave contains mosaics of the stars called Dragon and Tiger along with the Beidou, known in the Western world as the Big Dipper constellation. The mosaics seem to be oriented along the north to south axis. The presence of round and square shapes were also found at the Puyang tomb as well as at the Hongshan cultural ceremonial centers and the former Longshan settlement. These evidences suggest that the practice of gaitian astronomy (belief in a round earth and a square earth) was already present in the ancient Chinese society.
One of the oldest instruments used in ancient feng shui were the liuren astrolabes. These ancient instruments consist of a lacquered, two-sided board equipped with astronomical sightlines. The oldest of the liuren astrolabes have been found and discovered from tombs dating from 278 BCE and 209 BCE. These ancient astrolabes show the cord-hook diagram and some those found even include the magic square of three. The markings on these instruments remained unchanged, from the ancient astrolabe down to the first magnetic compasses.
The practice of astronomy that bears a striking resemblance to many modern feng shui devices and theories were also discovered on a jade artifact found in Hanshan that dated at around 3000 BCE. Ancient structures in China which included its palaces in the capital cities are all influenced by feng shui in their design and layout. The rules that were followed were written during the Zhou era on the "Kaogong ji", or the "Manual of Crafts".
The magnetic compass was initially invented for the practice of feng shui and has been in use since its invention. Traditional feng shui instruments include the Luopan or the earlier south-pointing spoon or the zhinan zhen. This shows the extent of feng shui history and its long standing practice in ancient Chinese history.
Feng Shui Basics
Light, Air and Feng Shui
In order to fill your home with good chi, you may need to have good quality air as well as lighting. In feng shui, it is believed that chi flows through with the help of air as well as natural light. Because of this, it is essential to make use of these two elements to ensure that the home flows with good chi. To allow the good energy into your home, you would need to open your windows often to let natural air into the home.
You can also use air purifying plants or an air purifier at home to make sure that the air remains clean and pure. Also try to allow as much natural light into your home to allow good chi to fill your home.
Unclutter Your Home
Clutter is a known obstacle to the flow of chi. It can have an effect on health as well as the overall energy levels and quality of life. Too much clutter can drain your energy as well as impede good energy from flowing into your home or life. Getting rid of the clutter can also help get rid of the negative load that affects your life. By clearing clutter, you are creating a harmonious environment in your home flowing with good energy.
Know Your Feng Shui Birth Element
In order to understand better how you can use feng shui to achieve a certain balance in your life and home, you might need to know your own birth element. There is a certain element that corresponds to your birth year. Knowing what element your are born with can help you decide on what is the best approach to achieve that certain balance in feng shui. You can use your feng shui birth element to introduce the different expressions of the element into your home through the use of colors and the balance of the other complementary elements in your life and home.
Know Your Kua Number
According to feng shui, each person has his or her own kua number that corresponds to one's date of birth and gender. The kua number also tells of each person's energy needs. In the school of feng shui called the Flying Stars, people may belong in either one of two energy groups- the East or the West. For the East Group, their kua numbers may either be 1, 3, 4 or 9.
For those on the West group, their kua numbers can either be 2,6,7 or 8. you can use your kua number to determine directions and orientation of structures such as your home or where you face when working in order to ensure good positive energy to flow through. These feng shui basics can help you start off in making your life and home flow with good chi.
Concepts Behind Feng Shui
Nonetheless, it is still a point of view that among other things, require careful consideration and thought. So what are the thoughts that prevail on the onset of Feng Shui? Here are just some of these prevalent concepts that a Feng Shui enthusiast or researcher may find useful.
Sense of Balance
The number one thing that Feng Shui promotes is balance. This balance comes in many forms, in the color arrangement, in the spatial factors up to the numbers that concern your working space or environment. The balance is more promoted by the five Earth elements of Feng Shui and the bagua, which is designed symmetrically and with complete reference to the different elements of the earth by Feng Shui standards. The standards of Feng Shui is made customized in every person, but it all boils down to having the right sets of things that complement and balance each other out.
Sense of Positivity
A sense of positivity is also what Feng Shui promotes. Positive energy is the thing most sought after by people who try to get the services of Feng Shui consultants. This positivism needs to be maintained. Conversely, it wards off all the forms of negative energy that may come in a given space. This is why there are charms that help cure the bad luck in a given place, especially those which have been established without guidance of Feng Shui.
A Natural Inclination for Beauty and the things that Promote It
Beauty in symmetry and symmetry in beauty is one of the core concepts of Feng Shui. It appeals to the physically inviting, and also adheres to fighting for beauty and balance in things. Feng Shui, in some ways, is a celebration of beauty in design and other physical elements of the space being designed.
Love for Your Environment
Feng Shui promotes the careful consideration of the environment before establishing places. Good Feng Shui respects the elements of the earth and makes the Feng Shui enthusiast more mindful of their surroundings. They don’t just work instantly in any oppressive place, but strive to remove any existing negativities in the environment.
Love for Self
The love for self is also promoted by Feng Shui. You will detect energy based on what generally feels good to you. Love for self involves not subjecting yourself to oppressive places or harboring negative energies that can be counter-productive to your different activities.
Dreaming big and making the environment jive with that dream
Finally, Feng Shui is more anchored on the greater scheme of things. When you have a dream and you intend to fulfill it in numerous ways, the best way to start is to have an environment that embraces those dreams. If you dream big and work hard, but your environment cancels all the things that you are striving for, it will be a very difficult task for you.
Feng Shui ensures that there is alignment between the things you want and the things that are manifested in the objects you see everyday.