THE FUTURE IS FENG SHUI
Most people know Feng Shui as a popular real estate and interior decorating language, but it is much more than that. It is an old Chinese philosophy that aids people in finding balance in their daily lives by coordinating their living areas with nature via spatial design.
The key concept here is qi (pronounced as "chee"), defined as the energy connecting every living thing. Using specific decorating principles that enhance good vibes, Feng Shui allows the uninhibited flow of energy between you and your surroundings, bettering the general quality of your life.
Over the last three decades, Feng Shui has gained quite a following in the world of interior design, but the concept can be traced way back to China. It stemmed from astrology, with old cultures crafting burial spaces to line up with planetary objects, such as stars. Feng means wind, while Shui means water - this phrase comes from an old poem about how human life is connected to the environment.
Feng Shui has numerous principles, from how you should never put beds under windows to specific colours to paint the front door, depending on the direction it's facing, etc.
Bagua is a very common term in Feng Shui. It means eight areas and refers to an energy map that you place over your home's floor plan. The eight categories include career, family, fame, knowledge, wealth, helpful people, love, and children. If you need improvements in any of these areas, then you will apply the applicable Feng Shui principle in that area of your home. The Eight Mansions is another school of Feng Shui, which involves calculating the auspicious qi (positive energy) and the inauspicious qi (negative energy) of a house according to which direction the house is sitting and the surrounding landforms.
The principles of Feng Shui centre on the five elements: fire, water, earth, metal, and wood. Each element can represent different things like colours, emotions, or areas on your Bagua map. For maximum qi flow, you should balance all the elements, making adjustments as your goals and needs change in life. We all need some Feng Shui in our life.
