 Feng Shui Principles With an understanding of feng shui principles, you can instinctively create a beautiful, harmonious space in your home, your yard and your life. Finding effective enhancements and applying them properly is central to the practice of feng shui. What do you do to improve your chances of getting a job, selling a house or finding romance? Sometimes the remedies are simple and uncomplicated and involve only moving a piece of furniture or repositioning a picture on a wall. At other times, and when the budget permits, new construction, landscaping or even demolition is necessary. Most of the time, however, people want to make as few alterations to their home as possible, so an enhancement must be introduced. An enhancement involves bringing in an object that will alter the energy of a space and create new and beneficial associations in the mind of the occupant.
There are two distant aspects to an enhancement: the tangible (or objective) and the intangible (or subjective). The tangible is the logical aspect of the enhancement. The intangible part of the enhancement is the belief that this change will have an effect. How many times have we taken a logical step, knowing in our heart that it would do no good, and sure enough we were right? On the other hand, taking an intangible or subjective action requires a leap of faith, an assertion of will. That belief, that assertiveness, is very important to the success of a cure.
A word of caution is due here. Faith that a feng shui enhancement will work should stimulate action. Simply hanging a symbol for money in the wealth and power corner will not make you rich and famous without further effort on your part. Some people, for whom the faith part of the cure is easy, develop this passive, easy-way-out attitude that will more than likely produce disappointment. If your belief stimulates you to action, then you have psyched yourself into a winning picture and your chances for success are greatly enhanced.
Through many centuries of experience, feng shui practitioners have developed tools to aid in the practice of their craft. Our toolbox is full of enhancements, old and new, to bring about changes of one sort or another. Many of my tools are traditional or have definite associations with Chinese philosophies. But, though the Chinese seem preoccupied with symbols, they by no means have the market cornered. Symbols from other cultures are just as valid, more so depending on the client\'s background. For example, Western symbols, such as a cornucopia for plenty or a laurel wreath for victory, may be used as cures just as easily as a Bagua mirror for protection or bamboo flutes for strength or peace.
The nine enhancements
Bright or light-refracting objects
Mirrors, crystal balls, lights, etc. Reflective objects, lights, mirrors and faceted leaded-glass crystals increase or reflect light (energy). Great energy is thought to reside in earth crystals, yet as a product of the earth, they signify stability. Any area that needs energizing will benefit from the addition of crystals, particularly if located in places where they can refract natural light. Compared to a man-made crystal, natural crystals are considered subtler, complex and in the long run, stronger.
Sounds
Wind chimes, bells, drums and musical instruments The vibrations of music, wind chimes and bells move and circulate Ch\'i. Create soothing sounds in your home and garden.
Living objects and plants
Flowers, plants (real or artificial), bonsai and aquariums have a strong life force that raises the overall chi in a room; they may also be used to augment one of the eight positions of the Bagua.
Moving objects
Mobiles, windmills, fountains, windsocks and whirling weather vanes. It is easy to understand how water fountains, mobiles and other objects with motion encourage the movement of Ch\'i.
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See Listings for:Home Décor
POSTED:
Friday Jan. 23rd, 2004
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