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We’ve heard a lot about Feng Shui lately, but you may not fully understand what it means unless it is something you practice. Before we get into the full explanation, let’s start at the beginning. “Feng” and “shui” are Chinese words that translate to “wind” and “water.” Initially, the concept comes from an old poem that talks about how our lives are connected and flow with our environment.

Another term for this philosophy of Feng Shui is “Tao,” which means “the way.” Basically, it is the way of nature, and now Feng Shui works with nature. Now that you know what the words translate to let’s learn more about what they actually mean.

Feng Shui: The Basic Principle

Feng Shui (pronounced “fung shway”) is how humans interact with their environment. You’ve probably heard a lot about Feng Shui when it comes to decorating a home. People use Feng Shui to interact with the energies in their environments, fostering improvements in their lives and overall well-being.

This is achieved by creating harmony in your surroundings, working with the natural flow of energy. It allows you to create harmony and balance between yourself and your surroundings. This is a very practical philosophy, and it helps you to stay grounded. You can use this philosophy both at home and at the workplace.

Some people refer to Feng Shui as the “art of placement.” Think about how you decorate your home: the way you place every item, from furniture to ornaments to other possessions, and yourself helps determine life experiences at all levels. This is a unique way to see how you and your environment work together to create the whole and bring about harmony and balance.

Feng Shui has been practiced by the Chinese for centuries to design their own environments. This helps enhance conditions that will allow them to be successful in all areas of their lives.

How does Feng Shui Work?

Don’t think that you can control the entire world with Feng Shui. But you can manage your own little corner of the world by using this concept in your home and where you work. You can create a better balance in your life by using the principles of Feng Shui. We all love to live in a comfortable environment that makes us happy and relaxed. Using Feng Shui can help you achieve this.

Remember that Feng Shui isn’t necessarily about what you have, but how you use it. It is not just about material things, but also your health (mental and physical), relationships, and how successful you are in life. This doesn’t necessarily mean your career. There are many ways to be successful. If you are happy, you can consider your life to be a success.

Did you know that how you place things around your home or workspace affects the flow of energy within your environment? These objects can directly interact and influence you and your own flow of energy. Whether it is positive or negative, your energy affects every aspect of your life. So, why not use Feng Shui to ensure that you have harmony and balance in your life?

Even if you don’t realize it, Feng Shui affects every aspect of your life. Think about it: Your personal energy affects everything you do. So, it makes sense to do things to bring about that harmony and balance, and in the end, it will make you more of a success in everything you do.

The more you learn about Feng Shui, the better you will be to use it to your own advantage. Like anything else that is a mystery to us in the West, you just need to keep an open mind and believe that it will work for you.

The Truth About Feng Shui Myths

You may have heard myths about Feng Shui, and these myths may cause some confusion. Many people who don’t understand Feng Shui may have misconceptions and fear it. After all, humans often fear the unknown. Let’s take a look at some of the myths surrounding Feng Shui.

• Feng Shui is not something that guarantees a good life merely by rearranging your furniture.
• Feng Shui is not a New Age fad, nor is it superstition or magic. It is simply a way to create balance and harmony in your surroundings.
• Feng Shui is not a makeover for your home, office, or garden.
• Feng Shui is not something you can achieve in a few hours.
• Feng Shui is not something that is meant only for those who can afford a luxurious lifestyle.

The Feng Shui Elements

Five elements comprise Feng Shui philosophy: fire, water, earth, wood, and metal. Let’s take a closer look at how each of these elements works when using Feng Shui.

Fire Element

Fire is associated with heat. It is also associated with energy and movement. If it wasn’t for fire or combustion, our cars wouldn’t work, and we wouldn’t be able to heat our homes. When it comes to Feng Shui, the fire element is associated with the color red and a triangle or pyramid shape.

Nearly every electronic device we use is associated with fire, particularly when it comes to kitchen appliances. This is why the kitchen is often closely associated with the fire element of Feng Shui. The fire element can represent the sun, candles, and pyramids or triangles, and some of the things it can correspond to include:

• Moving upwards
• South (magnetic direction)
• Summer
• The number 9
• All colors in the red spectrum, including reds, violets, oranges, and pinks
• The heart and the small intestine

Water Element

Every living creature needs water to survive, so it makes sense that water is one of the main elements of Feng Shui. In fact, it is one of the most potent elements. It is associated with dark colors such as dark blue and black and with shapes that look like waves. It is also associated with intelligence; it is the element that helps us overcome obstacles in our lives.

Negatively speaking, it can also be related to fear, particularly a fear of the ocean or other large bodies of water. Some of the things that the water element corresponds to include:

• Ascending movement
• Waves and ripples
• North (magnetic direction)
• Winter
• The number 1
• The kidneys and bladder

Earth Element

The earth element represents solidity and stability. It helps us to feel grounded. Think about gravity and how it works. It keeps us grounded to the planet and gives the feeling of weight.

Negatively speaking, the earth element can also elicit a feeling of heaviness that can slow things down. Some of the things associated with the earth element include:

• Horizontal movement
• Squares and cubes
• Northeast and southwest (magnetic directions)
• Tai Chi (centered)
• Changing of the seasons
• The numbers 2, 5, and 8
• Yellow, ocher, terracotta, and brown
• The stomach, pancreas, and spleen

Wood Element

The wood element corresponds with energy in growth when talking about Feng Shui. It is most often associated with blues and greens, and when it comes to shapes, rectangles. The wood element can be related to creativity and movement, as well as renewal.

Negatively speaking, the wood element can represent the creation of discord and even competition when it is used in excess. It is seen as the creator of fire and can destroy the earth and eliminate water. At the same time, it is created by water, can be inhibited by the fire element, and can be destroyed by the metal element.  Some of the things associated with the wood element include:

• Expansion and growth movements
• East and southeast (magnetic directions)
• Spring
• The numbers 3 and 4
• The liver and gallbladder
• Thunder and wind

Metal Element

Finally, we come to the metal element of Feng Shui. This element is about density and compactness. Metal energy is directed towards the center of the earth, also referred to as centripetal metal energy. This generally depends on the correspondence with circles and spheres.

The metal element is associated with early evening or dusk and represents a significant concentration of thought, depth, and energy (and wealth). The energy from this element comes shining through with mirrors or surfaces that are white or metallic. It is associated with concentration and introspection due to the inward directional flow, justice, honesty, and strength. Some of the things related to the metal element include:

• Gold, silver, white, and grey
• The heavens
• Autumn
• The lungs and breathing
• Organization of the home
• Beauty

Conclusion

Now that you have a better understanding of the concept of Feng Shui, you can start to use it in your life. This doesn’t mean you need to rush out and buy all new furniture and decorations. You can use what you already have and set things up in a way that creates an atmosphere of Feng Shui for your own betterment and self-enrichment.

This post was originally published on March 11, 2021.