Are Trees Bad Luck?

Feng Shui theories are complex yet the principles behind them are quite simple. The full face of feng shui requires years of learning but there are some basic rules which all can use. As often said if we can make things work in our favor without harm to others, why not? Even if it appears to be something mysterious which we cannot fully comprehend.

I love nature. I love trees. In feng shui, trees often are mentioned. Briefly, trees are a manifestation of nature and like other living things can be said to contain the qualities of yin yang and the five elements (of metal, wood, water, fire and earth). In other words, they contain Qi or life force.

So, are trees bad luck?

Have you heard from some feng shui pundits that trees growing in front of a house carry with it yin energy and thus, is not good for you?

If you do, you are not the first. You see them talking about it on videos and read about them in books, magazines and ezines. How far can they be believed?

I hope those who talk about them know what they are talking about. Some may have just borrowed them from somewhere. Others may have learnt it somewhere. The point is have they put some of their own thoughts into them and figured it out for themselves. Have they put what they hear or learn under the microscope? Some just ad-lipped it from somewhere.

To say whether a tree growing in front of your house is good or bad depends on so many factors like how big, how old, how near, in which direction, how it is orientated, what kind of tree, who are living there, where is the road coming from, when was the house built and some more. Often, "experts" make it look so neat and easy by outright declaring trees lining your front porch as bad luck.

But then there are a few rules we can use. As always, I prefer to look at and apply those 'no-no's as this is very practical and does not need too much study. Often, it is what we do not do rather than do that helps. This is particularly true when so many experts are recommending some form of feng shui remedy or other.

1 Trees too old should not encroach into the space of the house. Like humans, houses have a 'comfort zone' too. The branches and leaves should not overhang the eaves. Roots of most trees grow as far as the spread of the branches so it is a safe bet that if the branches do not overhang, then the roots would not have grown in under the floor. Roots can cause damage and harbor ants which is not what we want.

2 The leaves of the tree or trees should be constantly swept away and dispose of. Superficially, dead leaves are symbolic of decay. From the aspect of energy, they represent the quality of old mother. Before you misunderstand, this is just a label. The essence of feng shui is very much about energy and in application, the old mother is neither good or bad. It is just an aspect in the interplay of forces.
Experienced practitioners with a keen eye can see this interplay but for us, it is better to keep those leaves swept.

3 The tree should not be in the direct line of sight looking out from the front door. This one has some supernatural explanation to it but will not be dealt here. The feng shui label for this is 'sha' which loosely means something that can cause harm.

If you have a tree right smack at your front door, remove it. If the local council does not permit you to do so, consider relocating the front door.

On a related point, what about trees outside your window? The same rule applies. If it is a bedroom window, I have reason to say that a huge solitary tree in a direct line of sight is even more potent.

4 The roots of the tree should not be exposed in that they appear to be creeping and crawling above the surface.

5 Hanging creepers and roots are to be avoided. As was said earlier on, much depends on the nature of the tree but for the benefit of reaping more yang energy, it is better not to have a tree with creepers and hanging roots. Humans thrive on yang for the added boost in perseverance and expression. Having said this, on balance, yang is missing in most of our contemporary environment.

These are just some quick pointers. I only hope that this does not start an anti-tree crusade. I love trees and my house is surrounded by trees.

Autor: Marcus Lai

Marcus blogs on http://www.fengshui-insights.com, http://www.mixedjar.com

A curiosity nut. Spent decades, maybe too much, studying feng shui and related metaphysics. Believes the oriental sciences has lots to offer for good health and well-being. Studied wing chun kungfu and others and reckons them to be great for discipline and confidence. Reiki teacher before it became fashionable. Co-founded Inner Journey magazine covering healing and metaphysics. Published a book on feng shui. Sees travel not as visit of places but soaking in of people and cultures. A Chartered QS by profession. Hopes to make this life purposeful.

Added: December 7, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/