FENG
SHUI 101
Feng
Shui is a design system based on the flow of energy, ch'i, throughout
your home, office or environment. It differs from the principles of traditional
interior design, which bases its concepts mainly on function, form and
aesthetics. This ancient Chinese art of placement has been practiced for
over 4,000 years, evolving from a long journey beginning in India, then
moving through Tibet, and into China. Until recent history, this sacred
knowledge was only passed down verbally. Master Lin Yun brought Feng Shui
to the United States in the 1980's; only becoming mainstream in the 1990's.
The primary objective of Feng Shui is always to create home and working
environments that are in alignment with the healing forces of nature,
creating spaces that naturally support and nurture the individuals that
occupy them.
Most of us are naturally attracted to the energy that is inherent in beauty,
comfort and safety. In our Western culture, many of us are expected to
put up with working or living environments that are aesthetically unappealling,
uncomfortable, and unsafe. We endure these conditions because most of
us do not realize how our environments have a direct connection to each
and every area of our lives. These negative condtitions can negatively
affect us in many ways.
In feng shui, because everything is made out of energy, and everything
is alive and interconnected; it is viewed that our environments have a
direct connection to all of the areas in our lives. The Bagua map is a
tool which is used to determine location, and shows us which part of our
home or office corresponds to the different aspects of our life.
Feng Shui observes that everything physical on earth, including our bodies,
are made up of a combination of the Five Elements: Water, Fire, Earth,
Metal and Wood. The Five Elements, emerging from the opposite exchanges
of Yin and Yang (feminine and masculine, dark and light, hot and cold,
etc.), manifest in endless ways and combinations around us. Therefore,
people typically are most comfortable when all of the elements are represented
in their homes or workplace.
The Feng Shui of a home or office is determined by first accessing the
ch’i (energy) of the neighborhood, land and surrounding areas, and then
the interior itself. Then it is important to define the five elements
in the environment. Once this is done, the need for elemental and ch’i
additions or corrections is determined. After the energy flow, and the
balance of the five elements is accessed, then specific recommendations
are made to achieve energetic and elemental balance.
Overall, Feng Shui has evolved as a product of Taoism, Buddhism, the yin-yang
theory of balance and oneness with nature, common sense, superstition,
and good taste. In addition to the many feng shui tools, an expert’s intuition,
imagination and interpretation of the environment are combined to create
the most harmonious and life affirming home or office.
Today, in modern society, many people and corporations in powerful positions
take advantage of the use of feng shui to ensure productivity, harmonious
relationships, and business expansion. Businessmen, including Donald Trump,
decorators, architects, home builders, restauranteurs, and strong international
corporations such as Citibank and Chase Manhattan Bank, are known to call
upon Feng Shui experts. Feng shui's longetivity can be attributed to it's
ability to create and sustain good relationships, happy marriage, good
health, career success, and prosperity.
CONTACT
LAURIE LEVIN:
laurie@laurielevin.com
713.446.1371
