What is Feng Shui?

Feng Shui is the art and science of harmonizing the individual with the environment, also considering the natural heavenly influence. 

Literally translated to “wind water”, Feng Shui is a traditional Chinese system and study of interpreting energies of an environment, and making adjustments to improve harmony and support to those who occupy that environment or space. Water represents the seen, the obvious and wind represents the unseen and the subtle. These are the two elements that are vital to life and have incredible influence.  

Feng Shui principles come from the I-Ching, an ancient text and guide to the universe consulted for thousands of years in China, across East Asia, and around the world.

Foundational Principles of Feng Shui: 

Below are the basic foundational principles of Feng Shui and are woven through everything that I interpret, analyze, and share with you in your readings and sessions.

Everything is Energy

In Feng Shui we understand that everything is made up of energy, or chi / qi. For example,  we can feel movement, temperature, and density in a space. This can be when a breeze is blowing through a window, the warmth of the sun when we walk out into a sunny room, the tension (which can be exhausting) in an extremely cluttered space. 

There are also natural energies with us, within our relationships with others, and within how we move through the world and our environment. When you walk into a room, you can feel if the mood is light or has tension; when you talk to people you may be able to sense their mood at that moment, if they are anxious or tired, or excited and engaged. 

Since qi is in everything around us, it has the potential to affect our well-being. It affects our thoughts, emotions, physical energy, and thus - can impact the direction of our lives.

Yin and Yang

Yin and Yang is a concept from the I-Ching, that energy has polarities. This idea unites opposite forces as interconnected and complimentary. Yin represents a feminine manifestation of energy: receptive, introverted, quiet, passive, dark, moon. Yang represents a masculine manifestation of energy: active, outward, loud, light, sun. This is not about gender but more about the nature of energies that we all have. For harmony to exist, these forces need to be balanced. 

Ultimately, the goal is to bring us back to harmony and wholeness.

5 Elements

Just as everything is made of energy with qualities of yin and yang, there are five natural elements:

Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood

These symbolic elements help us understand the quality of the energy around us as well as within us. 

These elements are associated with different seasons and directions, and have different relationships with each other. In Feng Shui, we seek to understand how these elements are present and interacting within you and your environment, and then work to find balance and harmony. 

If you would like to understand the energies that you are working with and how to align yourself and your space to your goals, book a reading or a discovery call with me!