Ancient Secrets Revealed

Feng shui is an Eastern tradition of controlling or trying to control the flow of energy to produce a positive atmosphere or environment.  Feng shui can be applied to almost anything from the way you dress to how you arrange furniture. 

Feng shui is probably best known for its use in decorating or arranging a room or home.  Feng shui involves both the positioning of items in a room and the actual types of items used in a room.

At the heart of feng shui is the idea of controlling energy to allow it to provide a positive effect.  The idea of yin and yang comes into play, along with other oriental ideals.

Yin and yang are the dark and light side of life.  It is about balance.  You need to have balance to allow for a positive energy flow. 

Feng shui also involves the elements.  There are five main elements – earth, fire, water, wood and metal.  Each element holds its own characteristics.  It has an effect on the room and the people in the room.

It is thought in feng shui that by using items representing certain elements you are able to adjust the energy in a room.

There are many different concepts and ideas in feng shui which can be confusing to a beginner.  The ideas of yin yang and the elements are a great starting point.

There are some great general guidelines that feng shui experts offer for each room of the house and they are a good first step.  Here are some examples:

Bedroom: The bed should be placed so that anyone sitting on it can see the door.  The colors used should compliment the personal element of the bedroom occupant.

Kitchen: Stove should be placed where whoever is using it can see the door.  The stove should not face the front door, bathroom, master bedroom, stair case or be in the corner.

Living Room: Round furniture should be used when possible.  The room should be made into as square of a shape as possible through arranging the furniture and décor.  It should also be well lit.

The main concepts in Feng Shui revolve around direction and the ancient concepts of the elements and energy flow.  It can be difficult to learn all the aspects of feng shui, but there are many ways to incorporate feng shui without having to go into a detailed study of the practice.

There are several forms of feng shui that place importance on different things. If you decide to study feng shui more in detail, there are traditional and non-traditional forms of feng shui to choose from.

You can, however, feng shui with just some general knowledge.  You can apply concepts like using water to help make the energy flow in a room or using metal to conduct energy into a room.  Feng shui is really about making yourself feel the energy, so if you feel good about your feng shui efforts then you are doing a good job.