Feng shui, pronounced "fung-shway," literally means 'wind' and 'water.' It is the Chinese art of placement and living in harmony with the environment by balancing the positive and negative forces of nature. Contrary to popular belief, it deals with logic, not religion or superstition. Feng shui adopts the principles of balances (Yin Yang).
Feng shui is centered around the phases of qi (pronounced "chee"), the fundamental but invisible energy force that drives all aspects of life.
There are two schools of feng shui, classical and traditional. The Bagua School, or Compass School, is considered to be faux feng shui, where the home is divided into eight sections including wealth, health and family.
It is also not a Daoist art. Feng shui predates Daoism, Buddhism and Confucianism by several thousand years. Originally used in medieval China, feng shui was permitted to be practiced only by the privileged elite who believed that by keeping it a secret they would never lose their stately positions. When Asians moved west so did feng shui, as did other Asian traditions such as Oriental cuisine and medicine.
The first step to practicing feng shui is to be open-minded and motivated to change life for the better. Feng shui is designed to balance not only your home's space, but also your space, mind and body. It can only be used to improve your situation.
Interested in learning more about feng shui? Check out these books that target the novice to the expert:
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Feng Shui (2nd ed.) by Elizabeth Moran
Practical Feng Shui, Simon Brown The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Feng Shui, Lillian Too.
Are you Feng Shui savvy?
1. What is feng shui?
a. A speciality of Chinese cuisine
b. The study of time and space
c. A belief system of warding off evil spirits using mirrors
2. Which instruments are used by a feng shui
practitioner?
a. A smudge stick
b. Crystals
c. Compass
d. All of the above
3. You're practicing good feng shui when you:
a. Open the window to let fresh air in
b. Hang a mirror in a small room
c. Hang a wind chime in your entrance
d. All of the above
4. Feng shui can help you:
a. Find love and romance
b. Increase your earning potential
c. Gain fame and respect
d. All of the above
5. Feng shui is practiced by
a. Individuals like yourself
b. Major corporations
c. The asian population
d. All of the above
Source: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Feng Shui
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
