Feng shui is a Chinese science, enableing the energetic co-existence between man and nature. The urgent need to care for the health of our planet, nature and it’s cycles have encouraged modern man to dive again into this ancient science. The word ‘Feng’ means ‘wind’, and ‘Shui’ means ‘water’.
In China the cosmic breath of energy that flows through everything that exists is called ‘Chi’, in Japan ‘Ki’, and in India it is called ‘Prana’. Feng Shui teaches us how to balance out and direct ‘Chi’, in order to create balance and harmony in the space.
eng Shui is rich in symbolism. Mountains symbolically represent ‘Dragons of protection’ and mountain water streams are the vein, through which the ‘Chi’ or ‘breath of Dragon’ flows. In Feng Shui the ideal landscape for living has the shape of a horseshoe; at the back is a mountain (‘shell of a turtle’), protected by a hill to the west (‘white tiger’) and a hill to the east (‘blue dragon’). At the front there are lower hills or flatter slopes, that represent the point of a Phoenix bird. In the center is a coiled snake, protected by four other animals. The snake feels and directs the action around it. Water is considered to be alive and is a symbol of abundance, which is why living next to rivers, lakes and seas is healthy, inspiring, and a source of prana or life force.
Another important characteristics of Feng Shui living is natural sunlight, accompanied by green environment, away from busy and dirty streets. Unfortunately many of our modern homes are urban concrete structures in polluted cities and this is suspected in the development of many illnesses. Plastic partitions, asbestos, concrete floors, insulation foams, impermeable layers of synthetic colors and glues embrace the house so tightly, that it cannot breathe. We spend day after day in these artificial, and potentially dangerous and stressful environments, far away from nature.
In addition to the physical location of the built structure, the method of building carries the same level of importance. Natural materials like wood, stone, bricks, reeds, soil etc., bring positive Chi to the space. Our first choice is clay walls, and floors, wall coverings, closets and doors made from wood; we pave the floor with ceramics, terraco, stone, wood block floor, parquete or bricks.
A Feng Shui architect spends much time on research of the personal profile of the customer, before designing a new living area. From the view of ‘healing architecture’ (Feng Shui), therapy and design are both part of the building process. The concept of natural homes isn’t new, and was actually the norm with people always instinctively building in a natural way, until the modern era drew us away from this intuitive understanding.
Our surroundings influence us and we influence our surroundings. A room is alive and it connects with every part of our life, regardless of what kind of room we live, work, create or love in. Feng Shui is a knowledge, that helps us to bring back balance and to adjust it to ourselves to the way we are – unique and special.
