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Feng Shui: The basics

During the past decade, Realtors, have become familiar with the term Feng Shui – the ancient Chinese art of placement and design.

Feng Shui, (pronounced “fung shwoy”) is the art of creating an environment of harmony and balance, both inside and out. It has been practiced for thousands of years in China and is rapidly gaining recognition in western culture as a tool for creating the ideal living and working environment.

Feng Shui Principles

Everything, including a home, has its own Qi, (pronounced “chee”) or vital energy that must be protected and nurtured to promote continuous growth. Each room in a house has its own unique Qi centre that determines the areas of good or bad energies. A life filled with peacefulness and harmony will follow if the Feng Shui principles are applied to one's environment.

Feng Shui Practitioners

Feng Shui practitioners are highly trained professionals who specialize in assisting homeowners to create a positive home environment. Qualified practitioners use the five basic elemental forces of wood, fire, earth, metal and water to bring a home into balance.

When making recommendations, practitioners will first review the location and orientation of the house. Then they will determine the nature of the Qi or energy in the home, taking into account the location of entrance, the bedrooms and other key areas. Paint colours, environmental influences and characteristics of the individuals living in the home are also considered in the evaluation.

While a Feng Shui analysis of a home requires careful calculations of over sixty factors, some fundamental knowledge can be helpful.

The External Environment:

• “Mountains surround and water embraces.” The best position is to have mountains behind the house protecting it with a river running in front for prosperity. Flowing water represents wealth.
• Buildings should be constructed on high ground, rather than a valley.
• Avoid sharp and pointed objects facing the front door, such as, telephone polls, tree trunks, mountains, high rise buildings or a church steeple. These objects can cast shadows over the roof of the house and are called "secret arrows." They have the affect of cutting the house in half.

The Interior Environment

• Symbolically, the front door brings in the Qi and must be given careful attention. There should be a winding path to the main entrance similar to a meandering stream. The foyer should be clear, open and without clutter or debris.
• The front door should not be directly aligned with the back door or window (allowing the Qi to leak). Many recommend a screen or plant be placed in its path to reserved the Qi.
• Staircases that are directly aligned with the main entrance will bring conflict and financial instability to the occupants of the house.