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The five elements of Feng Shui

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Flame God: Portrait in Wood
Image by cobalt123 via Flickr

There are five elements according to Feng Shui lore. Each has its own set of characteristics and its own role.

Wood

The energy of wood flows upwards. It is active and full of hope. It is akin to the enthusiasm and optimism you might feel on a sunny morning. The Feng Shui element of wood represents the sun rising in the east.

Fire

Fire energy is outward and colourful. Fire is expressive and akin to the determination you may feel during a hot but successful summer’s day The fire element represents the midday sun in the south.

Earth

The energy of earth flows down the way. It is a secure and settled. In Feng Shui the element of earth is used to present the setting of a south-western sun.

Metal

The element of metal is used to represent chi flowing inwards and becoming narrower and contained. Metal is completion. The element is aligned to the sunset in the west.

Water

Water energy is flexible and healing. The element is symbolic of night and the northern midwinter horizon.

In Pure Spirit

Which of the five elements do you tend to work with more often?  Or do you keep the elements  in balance?

The Lo Shu Square realignment for 2009 brings changes to your feng shui

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The feng shui nine ki system uses the solar calendar. As a result, the Lo Shu Square (or magic square) realigns itself on either the 3rd, 4th or 5th of February every year to map the new flow of chi.

The new Lo Shu square, this year, starts on Feburary the 4th.

We see a dramatic change with Water (North, number 1) being replaced in the centre of the square by Fire (South, number 9).

In Pure Spirit

Are you ready and prepared to make the necessary adjustments to your home and place of work? The change in the Lo Shu square means that changes to the elemental layout of your furniture and belongs may be necessary.

How to arrange your feng shui animals

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The phoenix from the Aberdeen Bestiary.
Image via Wikipedia

There are five animals used to represent the energy field of your chi according to feng shui teaching.

  • The phoenix
  • The dragon
  • The tiger
  • The snake
  • The tortoise

Feng shui teaches that your chi flow will be at its most healthy if you can sit or even rest with the five animals arranged correctly around you.

The phoenix should be in front of you. Try to sit so that there is as much of an open space in front of you as possible. This will allow the phoenix to spread out and rise up. Sitting facing a wall is the very oposite of what you should do.

The tiger is there to defend you and move with you. It should be positioned to your right (even if you’re left handed). This means you want something solid and squat be to your right. Feng shui books often suggest a low wall should be on your right and whereas this may be possible in cafes this can position can be challenge in the office place. One tactic is to have a half sized filing cabinet. In the home a bedside cabinet* can be used.

The tortoise should be behind you. It represents protection. You should have something large and solid behind you – a wall is ideal.

The dragon represents new opportunities and is positioned to your left. The dragon is a lighter form of chi than the tiger so rather than a cabinet something like a small table is ideal. The best place for a water fountain (bagua map depending) is to your left.

The snake – rather interestingly – represents you. It stays in the centre where you are.

In Pure Spirit

Do you work, rest and play in a feng shui ideal environment? DO you think many of us do or can expect to?

Disclaimer: Links marked with stars* are revenue links.

How to add more yin to your life for the Chinese New Year

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We first looked at the possible problems of having too much yin and ways to add more yang to mark the start of 2009. This article is timed for the start of the Chinese New Year – the year of the Ox.

The first thing to note is that it is entirely healthy and common for people to be either more yin or more yang. Each is a different type of chi. Yin (the shady side of the mountain) is a cooler, slower and more dispersed chi. Yang (the sunny side of the mountain) is warmer, swifter and more compressed chi.

There are many positive benefits of being particularly yang in nature. People who have natural yang qualities tend to be more focused and precise. If you have a lot of yang then you’re likely to active and lead a more dynamic lifestyle than those people with an abundance of yin over yang.

Far too much yang, however, can be bad as these attributes become negative. How can you tell if you’ve too much yang? Compare yourself to the following list of symptoms;

  • You often feel stiff or your limbs feel tight
  • You or your body is often too tense
  • You suffer from dry skin
  • You are often coping with stress
  • You are quick to angry
  • You may suffer from constipation
  • You have a need to always be in control

Feng shui is one long term solution to these symptoms as it may be improving the flow of chi through your home will help you accentuate and boost your natural yin qualities. After all; too much yang is just the same as not enough yin.

There are also a number of steps you can take to directly give your natural yin a boost. In many ways, these steps echo the natural qualities of yin – the cooler, more disperse of the two types of chi.

  • Find some time to meditate
  • Try to eat more fresh fruit and salads
  • Drink more juices and still water
  • Wear pastel coloured clothes
  • Wear loose and comfortable clothes
  • Try stretching exercises
  • Spend time outside and with nature
  • Listen to calming and relaxing music
  • Make use of softer lightings and candles

In Pure Spirit

Did you find this short collection of tips and tricks useless? Please feel free to share any tips of your own for boosting yin and coping with a naturally high amount of yang.

All the best for the year of the Ox.

An introduction to five Feng Shui schools

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Research suggests that Feng Shui is around 6,000 years old, it started in China, then became popular in surrounding countries and latterly the world. It is perhaps not surprising that there are different schools and techniques within Feng Shui. This post looks at five of the most popular Feng Shui schools still used today.

The Eight Directions School

The Eight Directions School uses the Bagua map to calculate and orientate the eight directions over the home’s floor plan. Each direction carries a different energy variant which can either be calmed or enhanced depending on the need. This Japanese technique suggests that both your sleeping and sitting position can influence how much energy you absorb.

The Eight Mansions School

Your date of birth is used to calculate your Kua number (the amount of chi you were born with) and whether you belong to the east or west-life group. Homes facing in one of four directions are a benefit to people belonging to the east-life group and ones homes facing in one of four different directions are beneficial to people from the west-life group. Furthermore, the Eight Mansions School suggests that one half of your home can be positive to you but the other half can actually be negative.

The Flying Star School

This Feng Shui school works in close conjunction with an astrology chart and the date in which the building was constructed.  The Bagua map is orientated by the building’s structure and surroundings. A special lo pan compass is then used to help interpret readings.

The Form School

There are four mystic animals in Feng Shui; the dragon, phoenix, tiger and tortoise. The Form School studies the surroundings and landscape to identify the presence of these animals. An ideal home would be able to position some low, solid protection or wall on the right (the tiger) and a lighter but taller structure on the left (the dragon). There should be an open area at the front (the phoenix) and a sturdy area, mountains, trees or hills (the tortoise) behind.

The Three-gate School

The Three-gate School makes significant use of the Bagua map. The Three-gate school uses the front door to centre the Bagua map and uses the life areas on the map to study how chi will flow around the home. The Three-gate school is a relatively new technique and was developed in the 1970s in New York.

Compass and non-compass schools

Feng Shui schools traditionally fit into two different types; compass and non-compass. Compass schools originate from flat plains of China and focus on the movement of the sun. Non-compass schools originate from the mountainous regions of China and focus more on surroundings and shape.

  • The Eight Directions School is a compass Feng Shui school.
  • The Eight Mansions School is a compass school.
  • The Flying Star School is a compass-based school.
  • The Form School is a non-compass school.
  • The Three-gate School is a compass Feng Shui school.

In Pure Spirit

Have you any experience in the different schools in Feng Shui? Which of the schools has worked best for you?

Poster: Feng Shui

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Feng Shui

Living in harmony with your home.

Feng Shui: Living in harmony with your home

In Pure Spirit

This photograph was uploaded to Flickr under the Creative Commons license by Matt Grommes.

The real Swarovski rainbow maker

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Rainbow makers are becoming very fashionable. The concept is simple; an appropriately shaped crystal is hung in the window and when the sunlight catches it the beams of light are refracted into rainbows.

Some Feng Shui practioners use the crystal rainbow makers to help the flow of chi by windows. Feng Shui teaches it is best to sit or sleep facing an open area or window – as represented by the phoenix – and some practioners believe that the rainbow makers can accentuate the benefit of a small windows.

Rainbow makers are also simply but effectively used to add light or interest to a room.

In particular, a set of rather fetching designs by the inventor David Dear of Kikkerland have proven to be especially popular. It is these designs that are most commonly sold by shops offering rainbow makers for sale.

David Dear Rainbow Makers
The David Dear designs are solar powered. They stick to the window and when the solar panels have enough energy a motor turns the crystal. It is this turning that not only maximises the ability of the cryrstal to produce rainbows but which allows the little spots of rainbows to dance across the walls.

The crystal used in the David Dear design are Swarovksi crystals. Swarovksi do not sell the product themselves but they do allow design companies like Kikkerland to use their crystals provided quality standards and assurance are met.

Swarovski do produce a charming window ornament* which is a clear crystal disc with an amethyst heart in the middle. The crystal is suspended by a string decorated with coloured and clear crystal beads. The ornament (currently in their New Year sale*) can also refract the light and produce rainbows.

In Pure Spirit

Do you have a rainbow maker? Is it one of the David Dear designs? What tips do you have for helping the chi flow in flats or apartments with small windows?

Disclaimer: Links  marked with the star* are revenue links.

How to add more yang to your life in 2009

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Yin yang
Image by exfordy via Flickr

Yin and yang are different forms of chi. Yang is a faster moving chi than yin, it is more compressed and hotter. The literal interpretation of yin and yang is that of the shady side of the mountain (yin) and the sunny side of the mountain (yang).

People tend to have a mix of yin and yang and it is common for someone to be more yin than yang or more yang than yin. Most of the time this is healthy and good but sometimes you can become too yin. Too yin can be unpleasant and unhealthy.

If you are a natural yin then you’ll have many positive qualities; you’re likely to be creative and imaginative. You’re likely to be sensitive and gentle. People who are a very yin are flexible and easy-going. These attributes are very much inline with the aspects of yin itself. Yin is a slower chi than yang; it is more dispersed and cooler.

If you have too much yin – not enough yang – then these attributes begin to turn negative. Here’s a quick check list of symptoms;

  • You often feel cold
  • You often find yourself fighting of infectious illness
  • You often have cold and clammy skin
  • You find yourself suffering from lethargy
  • You find yourself feeling depressed
  • You find yourself suffering diarrhoea
  • You have a victim mentality

If one or more of these symptoms seem to fit you then you may find benefit in applying some feng shui to your life and home.

There are a number of steps you can take to become more yang. These tend to involve becoming more active – just as yang is a more active chi than yin – adding heat, speed and neatness to your life.

  • Try martial arts
  • Have a go at competitive sports
  • Wear bright colours
  • Favour smart clothes over loose clothes
  • Socialise and meet people, face to face contact is best
  • Eat cooked foods and warm drinks
  • Eat more root vegetables, grains and fish
  • Have a tidy up and try and get rid of household clutter
  • Exercise and stretch

In Pure Spirit

We hope this short collection of tips and tricks are useful. Do you have any tips of your own for ways to become more yang?

Bagua map – feng shui

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The coloured, octagonal map is a fundamental feng shui tool. It is used to evaluate the work space or living area and their contents.

Credit: Wikipedia

Every part of your home is related to different aspects of your life. The bagua map is used to display these nine life aspects so that they may be properly harmonised. By using the bagua map to help coordinate the buaga areas of your home you are also helping to harmonise the same aspects of your life.

The bagua map depicts; prosperity, fame and reputation, relationships and love, family, health, creativity and children, skills and knowledge, helpful people and travel, and career. Each area is coloured and associated with one or more elements. Indoor water fountains, for example, are used by feng shui students to add the element of water to the area in the home where water is needed.

If you wish to bring more harmony to your personal finance then it is the prosperity section of the bagua map. It is coloured purple and characteristic elements are wood and water.

Coloured red and with the characteristic elements of fire and wood the fame and reputation area of the feng shui bagua map allows you to try and improve the fame and reputation aspects of your life.

The relationship and love section of the bagua map, pink in colour and with the elements of earth and fire associated with it, can be used to improve your current relationships or encourage new ones.

The family life area on the bagua map is coloured green, black and blue and mainly associated with the element of water. It is used to bring harmony to your family.

The life area coloured yellow, brown and orange is for health. It is associated with the elements of earth and fire.

The creativity and children life area can be used to you are wishing to have children or whether you are interested in helping and assisting the children in the family. It can also be used to improve your creativity and is used by some as a counter to writers’ block. It coloured yellow and brown and has metal as its characteristic element.

Skills and knowledge are represented by the green and black life area on the feng shui bagua map and connected to the earth element.

Coloured white and black, associated with water and metal, the helpful people and travel section of the map allows you to harmonise these aspects of your life.

Finally, the career section of the map is coloured white and blue and is connected to the element of metal.

In Pure Spirit

Is the bagua map the most important assistant tool in Feng Shui? What do you think?

Indoor water fountains – feng shui

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Feng Shui

Feng Shui looks at the blance of elements in your life, work space and home. Through the harmonous arrangement of items, furnture and possessions within the home one can hope to use feng shui’s wisdom to bring harmony to life.

Feng Shui students will use tools like a bagua map to identify which areas of a home corrospond to areas of the inhabitants’ lives.

Water fountains

Indoor water fountains are used by feng shui students to bring the water element to the correct area of the house. The bagua map is then used to identify the area of the house the fountain should go.

Harmonise prosperity: place the water fountain in the south-east

Harmonise relationships and love: place the water fountain in the south-west

Harmonise careeer: place the water fountain in the north

Incourage helpful friends and travel: place the water fountain in the west

Incourage health and family: place the water fountain in the east

Incourage skills and knowledge: place the water fountain in the north-east

Water

Water fountains are sometimes used in favour of still water as flowing water increases the positive chi (qi) in the room. There are also the direct benefits of helping to increase the humidity levels of homes with central heating and reducing dust.

In Pure Spirit

Do you have an indoor water fountain at home or at work? Have you felt its positive influence?

Creative Commons credit: Flickr.

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