Feng Shui: What it is and why we need more of it

Written by: Lorena Magallanes
Posted on: December 18, 2014

feng-shui-what-it-is-and-why-we-need-more-of-it

Feng What?
Many people have heard of Feng Shui but not many can say that they know what it is. It stems from Chinese traditions from over 4,000 years ago and thus, is quite a complicated concept encompassed in years of cultural and religious tradition. It is based in the idea that everything and everyone has an energy or life force. This is called “Chi” and Chi is the flow of energy between objects and beings that can move too quickly, too slowly or not at all – making a space unbalanced.

The purpose of Feng Shui is to arrange an environment that best encourages the balanced flow of Chi throughout a space which will ultimately lead to good health, good luck, prosperity, and harmonious relationships.  After Feng Shui started being used as a tool for interior decorating, practitioners developed something called a “bagua” or energy map, which pinpoints where exactly in each room adjustments must be made. The octagonal grid helps decorators understand where the connections lie between the feng shui in the home and the feng shui in day-to-day life.

There is also a second tool used in feng shui. It is a compass with rings arranged around the needle that tells of the energy and information of the building or site. The feng shui compass is used in tandem with the bagua in order to pinpoint exact areas that may consist of bad and good energies or have a connection to specific areas of people’s lives.

Get Back To Your Roots
In a time where we spend less time at home and more time on the move, some people might question why feng shui is even necessary. If you’re not home to enjoy it, what is the point? The point of feng shui is not to provide a shallow aesthetically pleasing, artistic space, it’s to bring together your inner and outside energies into one. The point is to bring you a sense of peace and intuitive correctness whenever you’re home. Who wouldn’t want to feel calm during the few hours they have to themselves?

When done right, feng shui provides no disadvantage whatsoever so you really have nothing to lose. It focuses on getting rid of things that may be irritating (unfinished projects, pockets of clutter) or dangerous (sharp objects, weapon-like decorations) and instead, promotes surrounding oneself with things that will bring us back to nature.

The more colors, objects, shapes and textures you can incorporate into your living space from the natural world, the more at peace you feel according to feng shui. Humans were not meant to live in concrete buildings, disconnected from the environment in which our ancestors thrived and felt a connectedness with. Feng shui brings us back to these roots and to that vibrant, inspiring atmosphere.

As an ancient Taoist tradition, feng shui is so much more than something an article can cover. The complexities and practices are hundredfold and every new level of understanding will push you to discover more. If the topic interests you, I encourage you to dig deeper and immerse yourself in the world of feng shui.

Don’t forget to share what you’ve learned with me at @LorenaRomano and apply what you learn to your living space!

 

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