About Feng Shui

Feng Shui, the ancient art of placement, is founded in traditional beliefs about the oneness and interrelatedness of all things. Its origins stretch back over 4000 years with its originators believing that to live a harmonious life, one must first embrace this universality.)

The underpinnings of Feng Shui, which means wind and water, are chi, yin and yang, and the five elements: earth, fire, metal, water and wood, and use of the Bagua.

Chi refers to the fundamental energy of the universe. Some would call it the life force or spirit of the universe, but it is critical to remember that inanimate objects contain chi just as living creatures do. In short: chi is everywhere.

Despite its omnipresence, chi is not stagnant. It flows and shifts constantly thanks to the never-ending interaction of opposites: yin and yang. These two aspects represent an infinite number of opposing elements: hot and cold, high and low, active and passive.

Enhancing the flow of chi is the very essence of Feng Shui. Practitioners use their skills to place, move or remove objects that block the flow of chi through structures and landscapes. Through training and increased sensitivity they become deeply aware of the chi of the environment around them.

Feng Shui uses the symbols on the Bagua to enhance clarity, direction and changes that encourage “thinking outside the box” in all areas of your life. There are nine areas of the Bagua: Health, Career/The Path, Knowledge/Wisdom, Community/Family, Abundance/Prosperity, Fame/Recognition, Relationships/Partnerships, Creativity/Children, Helpful people/Travel.
While there is an undeniably mystical element to Feng Shui, it does not require adherence to any specific religious beliefs. In fact, its goals rarely contradict mere common sense. For example, Feng Shui practitioners dislike clutter--largely because it impedes the movement of chi--but on a primal level, we all understand that clutter is distracting, annoying, and in many ways, wasteful.

When chi is flowing properly within a space, then there will likely be water, good lighting, and an otherwise nourishing environment that can support healthy plants and animals. Relatedly, if chi is allowed and even encouraged to move freely, the surrounding land should become more prosperous, nourishing, and energizing.

Blocked chi, however, often manifests as feelings of frustration, lack of focus or motivation, lack of enthusiasm or an inability to succeed. But when the flow of chi is encouraged and improved, health, happiness, and prosperity follow in due course.

A skilled Feng Shui practitioner will use a broad palette. Their tools may include the placement of art, furniture and accessories, as well as home structural features, colors, shapes, lighting, textural and sound characteristics. The very foundation of Feng Shui is the belief that chi can be delicately adjusted in these ways in order to restore positivity and natural vitality to places where stagnation has (or could) cause negative effects.