The Background of Feng Shui: The Chinese Philosophy Used To Explain The Energies Around Us

By
Kimberly Crawford
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The art of Feng Shui is a pseudo-science which studies the energy fields in the environment. It is also a philosophy which can be adapted to any religion.

Feng Shui can be considered a complex philosophy by some students, but for most individuals it is less complicated and easy to understand as an esthetic study of the placement of articles in a room with a goal to inspire a positive change in the environment.

The main principles of feng shui provide for a better understanding of how the environment influences people, but it incorporates Chinese astrology, mathematical concepts, and the scientific study of energy or chi in nature.

What Does Feng Shui Mean?

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Feng means “wind” and Shui means “water” which is a symbol for wealth and growth. According to Gill Hale in her book The Complete Guide To Feng Shui, If you have good wind you have good water or harmony. It is important to have a smooth flow of chi in nature which works with the positive and negative forces.

Light a candle and there is an experience of warmth which changes the mood. Water can put out fire and these natural causes are carried over to the philosophical side of life.

Chinese Astrological Meanings

According to G. Hale, the Chinese astrological calendar contains 12 cycles for each year which repeat five times forming 60 years. Each of the years is associated with one of 12 animals. These animals all have special significance and characteristics.

This parade of animals include the goat, monkey, rooster, dog, pig, rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, and horse. Each of these animals have their own traits and characteristics, weaknesses, and strengths which provide helpful hints in understanding and improving the nature of persons born in different years. Feng Shui sites usually contain charts showing the years and the corresponding animals.

Elements and Color

In addition to personality traits, each animal corresponds to one of the five natural elements found on earth. A birth year and an animal sign can have an earth, water, wood, fire, or metal element associated with it. The elements correspond to everyday items found at home along with colors providing different kinds of energy.

Look at a glass vase which is an earth element corresponding to the color brown. The glass contains sand which is an earth element. The color blue is a favorite color which naturally gives off energy to promote peace and relaxation. It is a good color to place in bedrooms. These elements and their colors can be inspiring.

Energy is all around us, and it can be positive or negative. In Feng Shui numbers are assigned to these energy levels from what is called the magic square. These numbers are also found in the astrological chart along with the year of birth and other data.

Magic Numbers and Birth Year

Everyone has a magic number. G Hale recommends that the magic number can be found with the birth year along with one of the twelve animals. Each number has an energy associated with it and this energy is meaningful. The magic number for someone born in 1923 is 5, a dominant male number. According to Hale’s book the year 1923 also has another number which is female.

The male number is used to interprete how a person is viewed by others; whereas, a female number indicates what a person really feels like inside. The interpretation of the number 5 illustrates an assertative person which means the individual is not shy in pursuing projects.

In addition to the principles of astrology, According to Rodika Tchi, in her article Feng Shui Compass, What is the Feng Shui Compass, a compass called the luo pan is used to determine the different areas in the home . Are these areas giving off positive or negative energies? A blueprint can also be made of the interior and exterior of houses or specific rooms such as a living room floor plan. The goal is to find specific areas in a room which can influence every day life.

Feng Shui is elemental to the designer who incorporates various strategies in home decor and the placement of objects. Nature is orderly and by viewing nature it can teach us. It is important to have positive energy around us because of chi, or the life force. It flows around us at all times and it is at the heart of Feng Shui.