Feng Shui, pronounced Fung Shway, originated in China and can be dated back at least five thousand years. Feng Shui is the art and practice of positioning objects in just the right way to bring harmony and balance to our lives. Feng Shui is based on a belief that chi (energy) and the patterns of Yin and Yang can flow through life in a harmonious way, making life more positive and happy. The practice of Feng Shui can have both internal and external benefits.
In Chinese, Feng means wind and Shui means water. Both represent harmony and balance.
Yin is the female, or passive, principle in Chinese philosophy and Yang is the active, male principle.
Chi is the circulating life energy that in Chinese philosophy is thought to be a characteristic in all things. Positive and negative forms, balanced, are believed to be essential to good health.
In Chinese philosophy electronics such as computers and televisions can bring negative chi to our lives. This negative chi affects the mind and energy, internally and externally. There is a need to balance this negative chi with positive chi elsewhere in life.
Using water in our homes and in our gardens is a wonderful way to get this needed balance. In nature, water flows toward the ocean and follows the path with the least resistance. Water is a vital element in our lives. It carries oxygen and is essential to our health. Water refreshes, cleanses, and restores us. Care must be taken to keep water pure and not to allow it to be polluted.
Take part in water activities often, such as swimming, bathing, and walking along or wading in rivers and streams. Water is calming and soothing. It encourages willpower and ambition, mental wisdom and intelligence, and aids in reflection and meditation.
In Feng Shui it is believed that water can bring good fortune, especially in relation to our career and finances. Fountains and waterfalls cause us to feel invigorated and give renewed meaning to our lives.
When using fountains, waterfalls, or any other water feature inside or outside of our homes there are a few basic Feng Shui rules to follow.
Outside water features should always be placed on the left side (from the inside looking out) of the main door to your house. It is best to have these water features in front of a building rather than in the back.
When looking to purchase property for a home, look for a view that overlooks a body of water. In Feng Shui this is considered to be very lucky.
In Feng Shui it is believed that water features are best placed in the Southeast or Northeast. This is said to give a boost to one’s career.
All water feature energy works best if rounded or softened at the edges and not rectangle or square in shape.
The best place for an indoor water fountain is in the living room. Because fountains and waterfalls produce beneficial Yang, or active energy, they should not be used in the bedroom where Yin energy is predominant.
Whether indoors or out, all water features should be proportionate to their surroundings and should have pleasing, trickling water rather than cascading water.
