Feng Shui is an ancient practice that originated in China more than 3000 years ago. The aim of Feng Shui is to achieve a perfect balance of energies around us in such a way that it is beneficial to humans. The word ‘feng shui’ is an amalgamation of two words as evident, ‘feng’ which means ‘wind’ and ‘shui’ which means ‘water’ in Chinese.
Through the balance of these two elements (being the most important for our survival), this practice claims to bring about a balance of energies in the universe around us. This energy exists in the universe in the form of ‘yin’ and ‘yang’ as per the Taoist theories on Feng Shui.
‘Yin’ is the feminine energy and ‘Yang’ is the masculine energy. Together, when in balance, they help in the flow of positive ‘qi’ in our lives. ‘Qi’ is the moving force of energy in the universe which can either be ‘positive’ or ‘negative’.
The principles of Feng Shui can be applied anywhere, be it your home, office or garden. As per experts like Dr. Snehal S Deshpande, this balance will bring about good fortune into your life. This good fortune can come into your career, relationships, health or financial success or anything else. By utilising the tips provided by Feng Shui practice, you may achieve your goals in the desired areas.
In Feng Shui, an analysis is done on the basis of five elements, namely, wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Tools like the Feng Shui map called the ‘bagua’ and the compass ‘Luo Pan’ are used to understand the connection between the areas of your living space and yourself.
After a thorough analysis, a variety of cures to improve the flow of positive energy specific to the problem that you want to address is provided. For example, if you want to be more prosperous and seek better financial gains, then Feng Shui practice may suggest you use an aquarium which helps attract prosperity. Similarly, there are several other suggestions like a laughing Buddha or Feng Shui coins at the entrance.
Feng Shui has many followers perhaps due to the ease of application of the tips. However, because it does not have any empirical evidence behind it, there are several critics of this practice as well. Many of these critics harbour misconceptions about Feng Shui. Below are the top 5 misconceptions floating around this age-old practice.
Myth 1 – Feng Shui is a religion
Feng Shui experts say that many nay-sayers of the practice think that by following Feng Shui in their living spaces, they will be at odds with the religion that they follow. They believe it would be akin to following another religion. This is not true. Feng Shui is a practice that suggests you on how to improve the energy around your home or office. It does not worship any specific God in any way.
Myth 2 – Feng Shui has One Size Fits All Remedies
Since Feng Shui is a popular practice, there are several tips that are commonly heard by people routinely. It may be assumed that these tips can be deployed by anyone without seeking the help of a professional Feng Shui master. For example, placement of nine coins in a row at the entrance may lead to increase in wealth. While this practice is meant for wealth creation, it may or may not be the most suitable tip for everyone. This is so because it may not be logistically possible due to lack of space in front of the main door.
Myth 3 – Home Should Always Be Tidy
A very common confusion around Feng Shui is regarding the upkeep of the home. It is wrongly believed that the home should always be neat and tidy. While decluttering is good, Feng Shui expert Donna Stellhorn says that the objective is to make the home comfortable and not squeaky clean. There are five elements in the universe and they are working in a cycle that is both creative and destructive in nature. The world is constantly evolving. In the same way, the home also will be sometimes messy and at other times clean. That is how evolution works. Feng Shui can be good for a house in both of these states, claim these experts.
Myth 4 – Feng Shui is All About Chinese Décor
Many people believe that Feng Shui is a practice of decorating aesthetics. They mistakenly believe that by simply implementing exotic Chinese décor in your house, you can achieve a balance of energies. Such people often end up randomly decorating their homes with crystals and wind chimes. The balance of energies is required as per Feng Shui to create harmony in your home or workspace. To create that balance, experts check your house and suggest the improvements. As per Feng Shui expert Amanda Gates, it is important to fix the specific elements that are causing the blockage in positive energy. For example, a leaky faucet may be harmful to your prosperity and no amount of coins may be able to fix that.
Myth 5 – A Red Door is Auspicious in Feng Shui
It is a myth among many that a red door at the entrance will bring good luck into the house. The red colour is believed to be an ‘enhancer’ in Feng Shui. It is said that it enhances the energy of a space. Hence, if someone uses it in any random place in their house, they will only be enhancing the energy of that place. In case, the house has a problematic energy on the front entrance, the red door will only enhance it.
The ancient practice of Feng Shui may help create a desirable life for its followers by making their homes and offices more harmonious. In short, it can create a world that is more in balance for its inhabitants.
Know about the benefits of including Feng Shui in your life here.
