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Basic Concepts of Feng Shui
by: Amy Toplikar
Feng Shui is the Chinese art of placement that is thousands of years
old. In Feng Shui, your surroundings or environment can be a reflection
of your life. You can thus influence your life in positive ways by
making appropriate changes in your environment and surroundings. Below
is an outline of several things you can do to start applying Feng Shui
principles to your home.
Evaluate your home using the bagua: The bagua is the map of life’s
valuable qualities. Your experiences, at any given moment, can fit into
one these nine areas of the bagua. These areas include: Wealth and
Prosperity, Fame and Reputation, Love and Marriage, Family, Health,
Creativity and Children, Knowledge and Self Cultivation, Career, Helpful
People and Travel.
The bagua (map of qualities) is overlayed onto your home. Then it is
possible to evaluate and analyze your home in relation to the areas of
the bagua. Are there areas in your life that you would like to improve?
Use the bagua to work on the areas of your home that correlate with
areas of your life you would like to improve.
Clutter: One basic and important principle in Feng Shui is clearing your
clutter. Clutter is our home symbolizes clutter in our lives. It can
present itself as procrastination, feeling overburdened, or avoiding
things or tasks that need to be addressed. It can also drain your
energy, and leave your feeling fatigued.
By cleaning our clutter, we are making room for new experiences in our
lives. For example, by cleaning your desk, getting rid of old papers,
organizing the drawers; you are making way for new experiences in your
business life.
Chi Enhancers: After evaluating your homes life areas using the bagua
and then cleaning your clutter, you may consider using items known as
chi enhancers. Chi enhancers are items to place in your home that will
attract chi. Chi is the vital life energy. We want to attract more chi
in our homes to provide harmony and balance in our lives.
Crystals are beautiful chi enhancers that can be used anywhere in your
home. By placing the chi enhancer in a certain bagua area of your home
that needs uplifting, it will contribute to bringing harmony and balance
to that area of your life and home.
Water features are another type of chi enhancer. Water features include
fountains, fish tanks, birdbaths, etc. In Feng Shui, water brings good
luck and wealth. Wealth can be financial wealth, or spiritual and
emotional wealth or fulfillment.
Water features can be placed inside or outside the home and can
contribute to a soothing and relaxing environment. One key point, the
water features, of course, must be kept clean to promote positive chi.
Plants are also good chi enhancers for the home. Plants must be kept
healthy and in good shape for chi enhancement. Silk or real plants both
work well. Avoid dried flowers. Since the plants have already died, they
will not attract chi.
Animals and pets are also good chi enhancers. Their life and presence is
a powerful attraction for chi. The animals must be well looked after and
their homes or special areas kept clean and cared for.
Anything moving and flowing also contributes to bringing chi into our
homes. Wind sculptures, wind chimes, flags, etc are examples of some
items that can be used to encourage chi. Placed on the front porch or
entrance attracts the chi though the door and into the home.
As you can see, there are many things you can do to begin applying Feng
Shui principles to your home. Consider Feng Shui as a way to improve
your home and life.
About The Author
Amy Toplikar is the developer of
http://alternative-stress-management.com. This website offers
information about Feng Shui, Qigong, aromatherapy, and meditation.
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