Feng Shui brings peace to your home, say designers

By Rachel Fox

December 23, 2004 | In this fast-paced world of ever-changing fashion and reality TV shows, another home and self improvement fad steals the spotlight as the number one quick fix of health, fortune and fame. Feng shui is an ancient Chinese design philosophy in which the positioning and physical characteristics of the home are believed to affect the fortunes of the owner.

Feng Shui, literally meaning "wind" and "water", is the Chinese art of placement. A Feng Shui practitioner arranges building sites, living spaces, furniture, and other objects to create a harmonious flow of energy or chi . Properly adjusted spaces is believed to greatly enhance career, prosperity, happiness, relationships, success, personal fulfillment, and many other aspects of life.

The Taoist practice of harmonious and balanced juxtaposition of objects, furniture, buildings, etc., not in the Western sense of visual symmetry or aesthetics, but as a means of attaining a cosmic equilibrium with the movements and paths of natural rhythms and ancestral spirits. Familial stress or personal anxiety, for example, can be indications that one's physical environment is out of balance with the rhythms of the cosmic whole. Feng Shui balances the chi in one's surroundings. Because a persons' home and workplace expresses their physical, psychological and spiritual condition, understanding how the qualities and the flow of energy, or lack thereof, in personal spaces affects your mood and mental state can lead to creating a more harmonious, nurturing environment.

Although the art of Feng Shui dates back to ancient times, the modern practice is used in almost every aspect of a person's life. From daily words of wisdom, to astrological signs, to following exact rules of how to choose the right house, Feng Shui is taking over the world, one designer bedroom at a time. On home decorating shows such as TLC's Trading Spaces, Vern Yip's sleek designs and Feng Shui rooms bring serenity and tranquility to its inhabitants.

The guidelines of Feng Shui are determined by the angle and positions of the room, where the door is located, how the bed sits facing the doorway, where the lights are located, and many other coordinating details. Colors and fabric all play a part in the room's attitude. What colors you choose to use in your home and office will have a deep and powerful impact on you. Surrounding yourself with a wide variety of colors is a good way to balance the chi - or energy - in your home.

"The colors and positioning of your home is critical. You live in it and you spend most of your time there, so make it a place of peace and harmony. You should feel happy at home," said interior designer Julie Braden.

Aside from designer tactics, the belief of Feng Shui is rooted deep into the spiritual and religious aspects of life. Feng Shui empowers the mind and causes a person's feelings and beliefs about themselves to come true. For example, when you make statements such as "I am tired" or "I am sick", you literally become sick and tired. Feng Shui centers on the belief that what you think about, you bring about. Positive energy attracts positive energy. Positive statements are believed to come true if you make yourself think them. Feng Shui centers on the statement that the power of intention and the power of faith can motivate you to your greatest potential.

Many famous icons and celebrities believe in the power of Feng Shui. Donald Trump, Madonna, Prince Charles, Tim Allen and many more celebrities believe the new craze of Feng Shui which has become popular through magazine articles, TV shows and books.

It is important not to overwhelm yourself in the process of creating a positive Feng Shui environment. If you bring about change gradually you have a much better chance of success. Once you have reached your goals either environmentally or spiritually, it will be easier to apply them other places in your life.

Ashlee Stevenson, 22, said she started following the guidelines of Feng Shui because she believes it does create a positive environment to live in. "I don't say that I practice Feng Shui because I am not immersed in it's rules or anything, I just believe that some of the ideas and theories behind Feng Shui are actually true and can create a good mood in your home."

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