1. Feng Shui, pronounced “foong schway,” is a Chinese philosophy that teaches us how to bring
harmony into our lives by rearranging, adding or discarding the objects around us. In studying
Feng Shui we learn that every object holds energy, as does the space around it. This energy
called Chi can be positive or negative and depending on the placement of the object, can affect
our lives in either direction.
There are Feng Shui consultants that will come to your home or office and assess the energy of
your space, but it is rather easy to do the assessment yourself with a few simple steps. Take your
own home, for instance. There is a template called a Bagua. It is a Feng Shui map of the areas
in every home and office. You draw or print a Bagua and lay it over the floor plan of your
house. The top left area of the Bagua, for example, is the “wealth” area. If you are having
money troubles, you need to cleanse the energy in that room. The top right area is the
“relationship” area. If you are quarreling with your spouse, there is bad energy there that needs to
be improved. This can be done in several ways: de-cluttering is the easiest and most effective
way to clear stagnant energy in a space. Another way to improve the flow of positive energy in a
room is to rearrange the furniture so that there is a clear path around which the energy can flow
freely. Clear things out from under a bed or remove a piece of bulky furniture. You will literally
feel the weight of negativity lift from your spirit.
Another “cure” used in the art of Feng Shui is the use of crystal prisms. It is said that the prisms
diffract energy much like they do light, turning a single pulse of energy into many. You place the
prism where it will diffract and multiply good energy; the result is more positivity in your home
and in your life. People become more agreeable. Children become calmer. You will notice your
ability to focus increases. Money becomes easier to handle and come by. You can even hang
one in your car as a means of warding off negative things like accidents or crazy drivers. The
traditional way to hang a prism is from a red silk string, but a simple red ribbon works as well.
Keep your prism free from dust or finger prints, as this distorts the flow of energy through it.
There are many cures and traditions to learn in Feng Shui, all of which are very positive and
meant to be helpful to those who use it. It takes no special skill to practice the art, just an open
heart and mind and the willingness to let go of things that are weighing you down in life. The art
of Feng Shui is not a religion; it is simply a philosophy that can be applied to any person, in any
lifestyle. Take some time to look into it further. You will likely be glad you did.