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What is Feng Shui, and How Does It Work?
By
Stephanie Roberts
eng shui (say "fung shway"), often called the art
of placement, could just as accurately be called "the art of flow." This ancient
Chinese practice, literally translated as "wind" and "water," aims to maximize
the beneficial movement of chi--the universal life force present in all
things--through an environment.
Just as fresh air and clean water nourish our
bodies, so does fresh, clean chi nourish our homes and our lives. When the
flow of chi through our space is blocked,
weak, or misdirected, our relationships, cash flow, creativity, health, and
career can suffer. Chi wants to meander gracefully through a space, like a
gentle breeze or a winding stream. When it flows too strongly, it becomes like a
hurricane or flood. We are likely to feel tossed about by winds of change,
unstable, prone to crises, struggling to "keep our heads above water." Where chi
is blocked it becomes stale and stagnant,
like a pond choked with algae and fallen leaves. We may feel tired, run down,
depressed, unable to focus, hampered in our efforts to move forward in our
lives.
In a corporate environment, poor feng shui can
result in miscommunication between managers and employees, conflicts among team
members, and lack of support for key initiatives. Individuals may be overlooked
for promotions or deserved raises, suffer damage to their reputation in the
company, or even lose their job. The company may have difficulty attracting or
keeping key customers.
In a retail store, feng shui problems can block
the flow of customers
into and through the store, contribute to theft and staffing problems, and have
a negative effect on the amount and size of sales.
Feng shui provides tools and guidelines for
analyzing and correcting the flow of energy into and through our space. It uses
the arrangement of rooms and the placement of furniture to create a smooth
pathway for chi through a home, office, or retail location. Blockages and other
forms of negative chi are removed or counteracted in order to welcome in
opportunities and encourage progress. Colors and shapes associated with the five
elements-wood, fire, earth, metal, and water-are used to create movement,
balance, or protection, depending
on the needs of the client. Imagery and objects such as paintings, photographs,
statuary and other accessories are chosen and placed
to enhance and reinforce the client's intention.
Feng Shui reminds us that everything is
connected, and that our physical surroundings have a significant impact on our
mind, body, and spirit. It teaches us to be mindful caretakers of our
environments, so that we may be mindful caretakers of our lives.
Copyright © 2005 Stephanie Roberts
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Stephanie Roberts is a feng shui consultant in Maui, Hawaii, and the
author of the best-selling "Fast Feng Shui" books (rated 5-stars by
Amazon.com readers). To find out how you can use contemporary Western feng
shui to help you achieve greater success and happiness in your life, please
visit
http://www.fastfengshui.com or subscribe to the Fast Feng Shui
newsletter at
mailto:subscribe@fastfengshui.com and receive free feng shui tips by
email.
stephanie@fastfengshui.com |
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