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, September 30, 2009

Feng Shui - Courses by the Masters

Those who earn the title of Master are gifted and trained in the art. They dedicate their lives to the principles and teachings of feng shui, offering guidance and expertise to those who need it. People take feng shui courses to attain guidance towards the best treatments for their homes and offices in order to improve their lives and live in harmony with their surroundings. All masters depend on the bagua-the map of the feng shui energy world. The bagua is depicted in tradition as an eight-area octagon. The eight sections surround the tai chi, the central area. Yin and Yang are represented through broken and solid lines, respectively. Each area of the Bagua corresponds to an area in your life.

In Asia, it is not uncommon for these masters to be consulted in matters of building and architectural planning and construction. The architects, planners and designers would attend special feng shui courses or request a one-on-one consultation with a master, to determine the proper positioning or orientation of rooms, doors and windows with respect to the users and the users' environment. A master does not need to know about architecture and structural engineering. He need only consult on his knowledge of Feng Shui and energy. The architects and designers would then construct their building with it in mind.

This specialization in 'the art of placement' dates back to thousands of years ago in ancient China. The Chinese are known for the careful and diligent preservation of their written texts and documents. This same care and diligence was applied in the study of feng shui. Ancient masters conducted a very precise, very empirical research on this matter, checking hundreds or thousands of houses to see if the owners have indeed applied these principles in their homes. After deducing this, they regularly checked in with the homeowners to see if indeed their lives are changing in one way or another with their efforts. Every single piece of data they came up with was then documented into huge volumes and tomes of what is now well-preserved artifact. It is on this basis, with thousands of years of knowledge and tested application, that masters would conduct their feng shui courses To get a sitting in one of these courses would be an honourable and priceless experience.

While there are tons of information on the fascinating art in the ancient Chinese language, they have yet to acquire English translation. The good thing about this is that the more Western people are getting hooked on this ancient art, the more they are trying to research and acquire valuable information about it.

Every year, there are more and more people who get so much into feng shui that their knowledge and studies qualify them to be masters. The more people look to it for their building, environment and design guidance needs, the more experts emerge and the more feng shui courses are conducted. It is important to note that it is always more advisable and practical, where possible, to seek the wisdom and guidance of a master or the right teachings when you are designing your own home. As this will lay the foundations of your environment and affect the lives of your family in your house for the time you live there. Having said that, if your house is already built, there are remedies and cures that you can use to counteract bad placements by learning this ancient art yourself.

Consulting the correct teachings will be a great start for your feng shui journey. Once everything is in order, you will soon notice the many beautiful changes that will flow into your life.



Autor: Lin Mai

Lin Mai is a Feng Shui enthusiast. For more expert advice, tips or even try her online email feng shui courses, visit http://www.waytofengshui.com and learn the secrets to start feng shui-ing your life.


Added: September 30, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Feng Shui Crystals and Stones For Wealth, Health and Well Being

Using natural stones are a popular cure to help change your life, most of which are feng shui crystals and geodes and quartz. Here are a few examples of stones that feng shui considers very powerful in achieving chi and harmony in your life:

Citrine is a powerful healing quartz. Brown citrine makes good grounding stones, while orange ones make good balance stones. Yellow citrines are supposed to be good if concentrated on the solar plexus energies. Citrine is said to be especially lucky for business.

Yitriam is a fluorite that increases mental clarity and concentration. It is a lustrous stone in either violet, gray, red-brown, green, yellow or brown. It is good for the nourishment of relationships, so that couples have a more objective viewpoint in dealing with issues. It is also good for increasing your wealth and promoting self-confidence.

Adventurine is a green healing stone made to soothe your emotions or a troubled heart. It is also said to be good for attracting money or good luck.

Obsidian brings out one's hidden talents. It brings you energy that causes you to work towards achieving worldly success and clears negative energies.

Another effective cure is to wear a feng shui crystal bracelet of small stones corresponding to each chakra point in your body. This will help especially if you have an ailment relating to one or many of the seven chakras. Use the following guide to determine what color stones are best for your chakra points:

  • The Crown - White, violet or clear
  • The Third Eye - Dark blue or indigo
  • The Throat - Light blue
  • The Heart - Green or pink
  • The Solar Plexus - Yellow
  • The Sacral - Orange
  • The Base - Red, gray or black

You can also substitute semi precious stones if you have a hard time finding crystal. These will emit the same positive energy as natural feng shui crystals.

Certain stone cures or items made of stone have special meaning in the practice of feng shui. Crystals like rose quartz are considered the stone of lovers. Use this stone to attract a partner or strengthen your relationship with a loved one. To improve marital and love relationships, decorate the southwest area of your home with small stones or pebbles.

Improve your children's health and well being by placing stones in the west corner of your living room. Earth elements like stones are most useful for this purpose.

Place small stone spheres or crystals in the northeast area of your home to improve your education, meditation and spirituality.

If you have issues relating to the past or with authority-parents, bosses, etc.-use various small stones with the following purposes: Smoky quartz releases negativity associated with the past, Azurite helps you to understand the past, Rose quartz can be used to make peace with and forgive the past.

The use of feng shui crystals and stones need not be confined with home or office decoration and ornamentation. You can also use these charms or cures as simple accessories and personal embellishments which will have the exactly same effect.



Autor: Lin Mai

Lin Mai is a Feng Shui enthusiast and author. Visit Way To Feng Shui for more expert advice advice on using feng shui crystals and many other techniques inside or outside your home to change your life!


Added: September 29, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Monday, September 28, 2009

Feng Shui Design Remedies For Enhancing Your Mind

Feng shui is not just for your surroundings and environment, but it can work wonders in bringing you peace of mind and mental well being. It can help clear your mind off negative thoughts making it more conducive to actualizing your dreams and desires. It also boosts your energy, as well as bringing out your creative juices. Mental feng shui design remedies also work great to restore balance in your life by doing small and subtle changes.

Colors are great feng shui design remedies which work well to enhance mental energy. The colors that you use should be appropriate and inductive of mental and emotional health. Orange and yellow hues for example give you feelings of security and promote intellectuality. Brown helps restore your sense of balance, and purple enhances the spirit. Applying these colors to what you wear for example can enhance those feelings throughout the day.

There are a few action steps you can take to jump-start your journey towards prime mental health. Some of these steps are: analyzing yourself and your soul to know who you really are and what you really want in life; becoming one with the universe. Meditate by closing your eyes and holding your arms out with palms out; imagining that your spiritual energy is emanating from your body and into your surroundings. Share your energy and welcome the return of increased energy from your surroundings.

By using the correct feng shui design remedies, you are preparing yourself mentally for everything that you are dreaming of and planning for. This is an essential step before deciding to change your physical environment. Mental feng shui only works if you put yourself at peace with your environment.

After you have done so, you can then employ one or two physical cures to aid in the enhancement of your mental energy. Here are a few feng shui design remedies that will do the trick. You can use any of the following: Tibetan prayer wheel, Meditation Buddha, Ben wa balls, feng shui pouches, feng shui energy chimes, Tibetan tingsha cymbals, Magnetic hematite pair, bagua/reki grid sets, fountains and Lotus chakra tree of life.

Using one or two of the above cures for decoration can integrate positive energy into your home and into your life.

Metallic colors, shapes and structures are also said to help in enhancing your mental power. It is important to use these to represent the water element-its fluidity, calming effects and free flow-to enhance not only abundance in terms of money, but abundance in terms of peace and tranquility as well.

Avoid objects or symbols that create an illusion of headiness and heaviness. These affect your emotional and mental health first, leaving you feeling very uncomfortable and anxious.

Mirrors are considered confusing and can affect your mental health. If you should use them, make sure they reflect something positive and pleasant.

Beams, especially those overhead a bed or desk, should also be avoided. They create pressure resulting to illness and discomfort.

Dead or unhealthy plants are also a no-no. There is nothing more depressing than seeing the life and energy sucked out from something that was once vibrant and fresh.

There are lots more feng shui design remedies that can be utilized for very specific purposes, be it to enhance your mental energy, romance, wealth or even travel in your life. Make sure you understand the purpose of the cures correctly, and why you're using them, and then put it into action using only pure intention of your goals for the best results.



Autor: Lin Mai

Lin Mai is a Feng Shui enthusiast. For more life-changing tips and expert advice on feng shui design remedies, cures and more, visit http://www.waytofengshui.com.


Added: September 28, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/