When people think of Feng Shui, they often think of
Feng Shui mirrors or
Feng Shui mirror placement. That's a shame because this ancient Chinese practice is more than that, much more.
Lately though, with the down economy, and an increasing desire to find balance in our lives and in our homes, I've noticed a surge in interest in the Feng Shui way of life.
If you are not up to speed of Feng Shui, here is a brief primer. Feng Shui is a several thousand year old practice that combines both the science and art of clean living. The ancient Chinese believed that every thing has energies, both good and bad, and Feng Shui was the practice of achieving a balance of those energies.
Now that you are caught up, let's get back to the question at hand. If Feng Shui has been around for such a long time, why is it enjoying renaissance in popularity today?
One theory of its new "hot" reputation is what you see every day in the news. The war overseas, the war on drugs and violence in our own neighborhood and even stress from jobs, health and every day life in general. People are seeking solutions to make their lives easier. And because their home and decor is something they do have the power to easily change, more and more people are trying Feng Shui.
Feng Shui is not just about rearranging your home for equilibrium of harmonious energy; it is also a way of life. It's neither mysticism nor some fad religion. Feng Shui is about well-being, balance and harmony. It is actually well researched science that is used to literally shape your world so that you enjoy good health, prosperity and wealth in all areas of life. In other words, Feng Shui gives you powerful tools to accomplish those changes.
Because Feng Shui is a combination of art and science, you will find its principles carried through all areas of these subjects from architecture to astronomy to decorating and design. In fact, the same principles that define science itself also could be applied to the ancient practice of Feng Shui as well.
For example, in science, you are taught to observe, identify and describe a particular problem as well as experiment to come up with a hypothesis. In Feng Shui, you are supposed to observe and identify potential problems which could disrupt the balance of your chi (energy) using tools of the trade such as a bagua (an 8 directional map) and a Feng Shui compass. From there, you could make changes with wall color, furniture placement, mirror placement and more to redirect the energies in your home for a more pleasing chi.
At the heart of it all, Feng Shui is the art and science of helping people. Many people who have employed Feng Shui in their home, albeit grudgingly, have turned around and become proponents of this ancient practice. The reason is that Feng Shui literally changed their lives. By observing and experiencing the very essence of your home's energy and making changes in color, textures, furniture placement and more, you too can make a difference in all areas of your life.
Because Feng Shui can make such dramatic positive changes in people's lives, architecture and interior design firms are being bombarded with those who want to employ these ancient principles. After all, Feng Shui is a proven tool for rejuvenating environments. In fact, it is not just homes that are enjoying this harmonious flow of energy. These principles can be used for home offices, corporate environments, schools, hospitals, clinics and doctor's offices.
People who have had their living and work spaces designed and decorated using Feng Shui methods have reported happier relationships, raises at work, a decrease in allergies and other health problems and just overall, general well-being both physically and emotionally.
Feng Shui provides a calm port in the sea of chaos that we all call our lives. In other words, it provides sanctuary and renews the spirit. With all of the war and strife that is going on in the world, Feng Shui grounds you and basically re-charges those internal batteries that get run down.
