Feng shui (traditional Chinese: 風水; simplified Chinese: 风水; pinyin: fēng shuǐ; pronounced /ˈfəŋˌʃueɪ/ foong-shoy in Chinese Mandarin, "fheng-schway" in American English) is an ancient Chinese system of aesthetics believed to utilize the Laws of both heaven (astronomy) and Earth (geography) to help one improve life by receiving positive Qi. The original designation for the discipline is Kan Yu (traditional Chinese: 堪輿; simplified Chinese: 堪舆; pinyin: kānyú; literally: Tao of heaven and earth).

The words feng shui literally translate as "wind-water" in English. This is a cultural shorthand taken from the following passage of the Zhangshu (Book of Burial) by Guo Pu of the Jin Dynasty:

Qi rides the wind and scatters, but is retained when encountering water.

Traditional Feng Shui practice always requires an extremely accurate Chinese compass, or Luo Pan, in order to determine the directions in finding any auspicious sector in a desired location.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Let Chi Flow Smoothly in Your Garden

In every good Feng Shui design, careful planning and following the principles of this ancient Chinese system is necessary. And with the right effort that you put in it, you will have love, luck, health and wealth.

Many people who want to capture the right harmony in their homes, unfortunately, are wrong to believe that creating a good harmony and balance in their life is only a one time event. Proper maintenance and continued effort will do people a great help in applying the Feng Shui principle in their homes and lives.

The Feng Shui is a principle which believes that the right flow of chi (life energy) in homes, offices, and in the environment will bring prosperity and best accord in a man's life.

When we say environment, we mean our surroundings, your surroundings which includes your garden.

Imbalance of chi in your garden will negatively affect your own energy and your own life. Therefore, you must apply good Feng Shui in your garden to bring the best out of your existence.

Let chi flow smoothly in your garden, and to do this to make sure that nothing blocks in its way or else, it will affect your life badly. To start with it, you need to imagine the chi as like a river that flows in your garden. And with this, look out for possible chi-blocking elements in your garden. You will be guided by your instincts as what the principle of Feng Shui believes.

Some places are trouble spots-meaning they block the easy, free and smooth flow of chi. Look out for these possible trouble spots like clumps of trees and undergrowth or concrete solid gates and fences. Empty corners in your garden will cause chi to concentrate in just one place, preventing the positive energy to develop well in every part of the place.

Too fast flow of chi in the garden is also not good in Feng Shui. Life energy that moves to quickly does not let positive energy to stay and settle in the place. Avoid allowing your garden to have too many flat spots.

To help more in establishing the right harmony and balance in your garden, you can follow these do-it-yourself ways.

Clear Out

Clear out your garden that will distract the smooth flow of chi in it. Clear clutters that cause distraction such as debris, fallen and dried leaves, grass clippings, and other organic matters. You also need to cut down undergrowth and overgrowth and other ways of maintaining and cleaning your garden.

Make sure that the trashes blown into your yard are also cleaned up. Dispose the wastes of your pets regularly. Mow the grass and pull the weeds. You need to maintain your garden by making sure that your plants are very well taken care off. Cut deadhead blossoms, pull up annuals, and dig bulbs up if the cleaning requires. You many also hire someone, perhaps, a kid to do some of these tasks if you do not have any sufficient time.

Put Colors

Not only pleasing to the eye, but having a colorful garden can help in the smooth flow of chi. The passive (yin) and active (yang) energy in the garden can be enhanced or slowed down through the use of some colors.

The yin energy causes chi to slow down while the yang energy causes it to speed up. So depending on how you see the flow problem of chi in your garden, should you concentrate on either of the both.

Yang energy are activated by the use of bright colors, while energy are activated by the use of bright colors, while yin is activated by the use of darker ones or earth one colors.

Your imagination is the only limit you will have in doing this task since flowers and leaves come in different colors. Pastel colors can enhance passive or active energy depending on its brightness.

You can also us colors in order to bring the Five Elements of Feng Shui in your garden. White and pastel colors can bring in Metal element, green colors on the other hand bring in the Wood element. You may also use the blossoms and coloring of plants to symbolize other elements.

Let Life Come In

Letting life come into your garden is also a way of letting in Feng Shui. Chi is increased with the presence and activities of living things like plants, animals, and even your children.

Invite other life forms into your garden by attracting them. You may attract butterflies and birds by planting flowering plants and trees. There are specific animal and birds that are attracted to a kind of plant or two. By having these plants into your garden, you are actually raising the possibility of more living forms to dwell in it.

Let Water Flow

A good flow of water means a good flow of life energy in your garden. Water is the ultimate doctor for curing chi problems, especially flowing water. By adding a water feature in your garden, you are increasing the flow of positive life energy in it.

Put in simple fountains or a small waterfall. Make sure that the flow in these water features is moving towards the direction of your house and not opposite it. The water also adds a soothing sound that attracts more life energy.

Fish, like goldfish, can raise the flow of chi in your garden.

Scent up

The fragrances and scents in your garden also help for the good flow of chi. Certain aromatic features in your garden may increase the possibility of better chi-flow as well as inviting in other positive energies. Plants and flowers carry scents that are very attractive for the good flow of life energy. Try the following plants in your garden to pick-up the right chi.

Chi- awakening plants:

Citrus Orange, Jasmine, Basil, Cardamom

Chi-relaxing plants:

Rosemary, Marjoram, Lavender, Pine

Move Around

Chi is also attracted with moving things, thus, movements in your garden increases the smooth flow of energy in it. Movements or moving things hinders chi to be still and stagnant.

Put moving objects in your garden such as pinwheels, flags, banners, whirligigs, and running water. You can also increase the smooth flow of chi with the use of materials whose shapes seem to be moving like objects made of round shapes, circular and curves.

Soothing Sounds

There are certain sounds that increase the activity of chi. These sounds are generally soothing and pleasing to the ears and not noisy, irritating and annoying. These sounds can be created through the use of inexpensive and high maintenance cost systems. You can use the objects below to bring good music into your garden:

Running Water, Wind Chime, Nesting Birds.



Autor: Adrianne Kee Kennedy

Adrianna is an avid feng shui follower. Years ago she was introduced to Feng Shui and has followed it. Because Adrianna is a certified fanatic, she had to share her experience in a free report. Her years of research and practicing the art make her an expert. For more information on her new must have book: http://www.HowToDoFengShui.com Be sure to visit the site right away to take advantage of the special Free Report today!


Added: May 6, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

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