What is Feng Shui
What is Feng Shui? This is a simple question that can be difficult to answer as the term represents a complex system of beliefs. Feng Shui is an ancient art and science developed over 3,000 years ago in China. Within it's huge body of knowledge lies the secrets of how to balance the energies of any given space to ensure the health and good fortune of those who inhabit it.
"Feng" means "wind" and "shui" means "water" (pronounced fung-shway). In Chinese culture gentle wind and clear water have always been associated with good harvest and good health, so "good feng shui" came to mean good livelihood and fortune, while "bad feng shui" came to mean hardship and misfortune.
Feng Shui is based on the Taoist vision and understanding of nature, particularly on the idea that the land is alive and filled with 'Chi', or energy. The ancient Chinese believed that the land's energy could either make or break their homeland. The theories of yin and yang, as well as the five feng shui elements, are some of the basic parts of a feng shui analysis that come from Taoism.
The main tools used in a feng shui analysis are the Compass and the Ba-Gua. The Ba-Gua is an octagonal grid containing the symbols of the I Ching, the ancient oracle on which Feng Shui is based. Knowing the Bagua of your home will help you understand the connection of specific feng shui areas of your home to specific areas of your life.
Posted on Wed 15th Jul 2009 11:37:00