Feng Shui made simple

In recent years, the traditional Chinese art of Feng Shui (pronounced Fong Shoy) has gained a higher profile and many of its principles are being applied to contemporary living. Originally used some 3,000 years ago to decide where to build palaces, dwellings or entire villages, Feng Shui was also used to locate and build auspicious burial grounds.

Feng Shui practitioners have developed many different approaches, styles and schools, over the past 3,000 years. However the values, the principles, the approaches and even the formulae are the same; it is only the interpretation that has changed in recent years.

While it is quite easy to apply Feng Shui basics to your home, incorporating the rich and detailed approach that involves Chinese astrology to unveil and match these to your particular needs requires a Feng Shi expert or Master. At this high level, magic and miracles can happen - by just applying the basics you can still benefit generally but can miss out on specific results.

The earliest recorded style of Feng Shui is known as Form School. This is where the site’s topography is studied to find a sheltered spot with beneficial Chi energy (life force) for the property and the inhabitants. Form School also makes sure that you benefit from Chi- thinks of it as the energy of wind or water, the literal translation of Feng (wind) Shui (water). The property also needs to be protected from sharp, attacking qualities of Chi (Cutting Chi) such as angular or dominating features that face your front door. Cutting Chi can emanate from telegraph poles, utility poles, a tall tree, a busy road, or even the angle of roof opposite your home pointing towards your front door. Deflect Cutting chi with a convex mirror or an octagonal shaped Pakua mirror, available in many Chinese stores.

The more modern and sophisticated style of Feng Shui known as the Compass School evolved out of the Form School. Compass School goes several layers deeper than its antecedent by matching the horoscopes of the occupants with actual compass directions and locations within the home. The cardinal and inter cardinal directions of north, south, east, west, north east, north west , south east and south west all have a particular Chi charge. Compass School practitioners can go further and check the horoscope of the house, the year, the month and the day and line up an individual’s chart and compass direction to maximise potential in areas such as health, relationships and luck.

Here are several useful Feng Shui tips that you can safely and easily apply to your home:

FRONT DOOR

This is the "gate" or " mouth" where Chi energy enters your home.

Ideally the path to your door is meandering rather than straight and sloping upwards towards the door. At night, make sure the doorway is lit well. Make sure the door doesn’t stick or jam in the doorway and that the doorbell works!

Clear your hallway of clutter and ensure that it is brightly lit. Uplifting paintings or artwork should greet your eye rather than a pile of old shoes or bicycles. Ideally, there is not a toilet or a kitchen leading directly away from the front door. If there is, keep the doors shut to prevent the room's Chi from being drained away by the front door.

BEDROOM

Make sure there is space for Chi to circulate under the bed by clearing out shoes, old socks and other clutter. A strong, solid headboard protects your Chi while you sleep. Do not sleep under a skylight or adjacent to a window as your Chi dissipates and drains you while you sleep.

Make sure you can see the door from where you sleep. Avoid being able to see yourself in a mirror when you lie in bed. Oval shaped mirrors are best in the bedroom. Position the bed (if you have a partner) in the centre of the wall, giving equal space either side of the bed for both of you. The south west sector of your bedroom is associated with marriage and relationships. Decorate the south west corner with photographs of you and your partner. A pair of candles provides Fire Chi, which energises the south west.

KITCHEN

A vital centre for developing your health in traditional Feng Shui. Try to cook with gas (Fire) rather than electricity, and avoid positioning the cooker in the 'draught ' of Chi that exists between doors and windows. Fridges, washing machines, dishwashers and sinks represent the element Water - which in turn attacks or controls Fire - the cooker. Avoid placing these two elements next to each other.

Dining chairs are ideally high backed, providing the Mountain for support and round tables with an even number of chairs encourage positive Chi to circulate at mealtimes. Oval and rectangular tables are more authoritative and better off in the workplace..

If you would like to find out more about Feng Shui or would like a consultation, visit Jon Sandifer’s web site: www.jonsandifer.com

Jon Sandifer has studied Oriental healing systems, including Acupressure and Feng Shui astrology for 23 years. He writes for Feng Shui for Modern Living, lectures internationally and is the Chairman of the Feng Shui Society ( G.B.).

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