August 18, 2005

Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese discipline that dates back to over 4000 years, and was once kept as a secret tool to ensure the good health, fortune and power of the imperial dynasties, writes Sibtain Naqvi

You’ve probably heard of Feng Shui and may have passed it off as a Chinese dish. But in reality it has nothing to with Chinese cuisine. In fact, the ancient metaphysical art of Feng Shui can bring aesthetically pleasing and beneficial changes to your home and your life. From getting a good night’s sleep to being more productive at work, Feng Shui has solutions for everyone.

Feng Shui is mostly about positioning objects in your environment, so it is basically related to decorating. However, it is more about achieving a personal balance with your surroundings rather than a specific set of colour schemes or accessories à la Martha Stewart. Feng Shui (pronounced “fung shway”), literally meaning “wind water,” is an ancient Chinese discipline that dates back to over 4000 years, and was once kept as a secret tool to ensure the good health, fortune and power of the imperial dynasties.

I will not lie and say that Feng Shui, in its purest form, is a simple practice. Many experts study their entire lives to master Feng Shui principles. Principles of geography, architecture, environmental psychology, astrology, electromagnetism, urban planning and landscape design are also employed in modern Feng Shui. Furthermore, there are many variations, or strands, but the most authentic forms use maps called baguas to orientate a home corresponding to the nine areas of one’s life which are: career, relationships, family and wisdom, creativity and children, fame, health, helpful people, travel, and prosperity.

Proponents of Feng Shui strongly believe that the right layout and attention to detail in your home can improve your business success, economic status, love life, personal and mental health, and happiness levels. If you’re really serious about Feng Shui, you may need an expert to show you how to correctly calculate your birth date and the ideal compass directions.

Specialized compasses are used to determine the orientation of the house, while the birth dates and time of the occupants determine which alignments work best for each individual and the group. You can invest a bundle and do that or purchase a good book on Feng Shui. Most of the larger bookstores carry such books; if not, Amazon.com would certainly have them.

The knick-knacks you would require for decoration are available at most decoration shops and specialty stores, and if not, the sellers will be happy to order them for you although that will cost more. However, it is certain that Feng Shui is not a cure-all, nor is it about buying cheap store products like incense, chimes or sculptures, and/or needlessly painting your home in garish colours.

And although there is no well-documented, scientific proof that Feng Shui really works, its effects might still make you feel more at ease where you live and work. It’s all a matter of belief, and while many in the upper echelons of society are raving about Feng Shui, it remains to be seen how long or how penetrating this trend really is.

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