What is Feng Shui?

Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese art of manipulating and arranging your surroundings to attract positive life energy, or chi, so that it flows smoothly, unblocking any obstructions in your body and environment. Feng Shui evolved from the theory that people are affected for better or worse by their surroundings.

Feng Shui in Chinese means wind and water. Its origins date back several thousand years to ancient China. The geography of that vast land requires careful consideration when constructing a building since the mountain winds are severe and the lower areas are prone to flooding. Hence the name, wind and water.

The United States was introduced to Feng Shui during the California gold rush of the 1840s when many men came seeking their fortunes. The Chinese immigrants brough with them a belief in Feng Shui’s principles. Now , more than 160 years later, America is being re-introduced to a much simpler Western version of Feng Shui.

Feng Shui was originally used to choose burial sites for the wealthy and palace locations for royalty. Men of that time studied the signs the earth left behind (a science known as geomancy), such as wind-worn trees, sharp protruding rocks or soft meandering streams.

Later, the I Ching (this translates to Book of Changes) was written. Fung Shui is a guide to acting with integrity, respecting the earth and working with the flow of nature.

Feng Shui guides you to look at how the placement of objects can bring harmony to the environment. It can be as simple as placing your couch in the best location in your living room or as complex as placing your house in the best location on your property.


Basic Principles

The following Feng Shui principles will enhance, energize and change your life. If you’re ready and willing, Feng Shui will catapult you right into your dreams and desires.

When you Feng Shui your home or work place, you’re telling the Universe (or God, Buddha, Allah or whatever greater power you feel connected to) exactly what you want in your life. You are making a very powerful statement, indeed.

Prepare yourself: Whenever we say the words “I am,” we are making a statement about who we are at that precise moment.

When you make statements such as “I am broke” or “I am tired” or “I am sick and tired,” you are – in effect – telling the universe about your current condition. When you say you’re sick and tired, guess what? You’ll literally become sick and tired!

You’ve heard statements like “what you think about, you bring about,” and “what you do comes back to you.” These statements are true.

We say these words and we understand them, although most of us don’t actually practice the concepts. A large part of the success of Feng Shui comes from your intention and your consistent attention. Positive energy does, in fact, attract positive energy.

Instead of being negative, say affirmations such as, “I am blessed” or “I am healthy” or “I am wealthy” or “I am happily married” or simply, “I am happy.”

These kinds of statements empower you to be something other than who you are at the moment. The power of intention and the power of faith can motivate you to your greatest potential.

If you’re ready to let go of your old negative beliefs, Feng Shui will create a method for that to happen. It will provide a way to overcome the blockage that’s keeping more positive things from happening.

Don’t allow yourself to spend any time thinking about what you don’t want to happen. Remember: Positive energy is attracted to positive energy.

For example, if you dwell on heartache and poverty, you’ll experience heartache and poverty. Spend your time being grateful, and in no time, money, gifts and treasures of all kinds will come from the most unexpected places.


Placing Your Feng Shui Objects

As you follow the Bagua set-up of your rooms you should acknowledge each room with some type of symbolic representation.

As you place your representational object in your room (or office or garden), place it with conscious intention. Be clear of mind and state aloud what this object represents to you.

If you’re looking to strengthen your marriage, for example, you can place a statue of two doves in your Love and Marriage Area, which is the back right section of your home or room. As you place the statue you’ll say out loud, “These two doves symbolize that my marriage to_______is fulfilling, nurturing, supportive and loving.”

That is what I mean by placing your object with conscious intention. You must clearly state what it is you want out of the relationship.

If you’re looking for a new career, place a wonderful letter of reference your boss wrote, for example, in your Career Area. As you place it say, “I have endless choices and I am uniquely qualified for the job.”

Acknowledge each separate Bagua areas in your home. Use as many Feng Shui enhancements as you want.

In your Wealth Area, you might want to hang a round clear crystal on a red cord (to bounce positive energy all around the room). The red cord strongly represents wealth. On a table place a bowl filled with coins. Add a few red candles here and there and perhaps a framed photo of yourself looking prosperous (maybe on your last trip to Las Vegas.)

In the Love and Marriage corner of your bedroom, place your wedding picture, some flowering plants, a book of love poems, anything that represents romance.