What is Feng Shui?

Feng Shui is about looking at the energy in a home or place and all the factors that affect it.

Feng shui (pronounced 'fung shway') translates literally to "wind-water". It is the art of placement and the positioning of objects and buildings in a manner that promotes the optimum flow of energy, or chi. Basic, inherent patterns in nature guide the flow of energy, and by working with these natural patterns feng shui promotes harmony, balance, prosperity and good health.


Linda Binns is the founder and executive director of the Feng Shui Success Institute and owner of Harmony Inside. She tells us, "Basically, Feng Shui is about looking at the energy of a space in a home or place where somebody works. We look at the energy that is there and how it is affecting people. Obviously, we want that to be a positive effect. We are looking at buildings or homes in terms of energy and everything that affects the energy."

Linda explains further, "There are many things that affect energy: It could be the location, what surrounds the building, what is inside, what the structure of the building is made out of, the shape of the building, the items that the people have, the placements of those items, and the colors that they use. So, there are many, many things that affect the energy. That energy has an impact on the people who live or work in these spaces. We are looking at how the energy is affecting the people and how we can make it positive."

While not a religion, feng shui utilizes both physical reality and intention. Because the foundation of feng shui and how it works is grounded in the physical world and how objects, shapes and elements affect energy, it is not necessary to believe in feng shui to experience its effects. Problems in life can often be directly traced to poor placement of objects or color choices. Sometimes a room or building will simply feel tense or uncomfortable, due to improper flow of energy. Feng shui can remedy these problems, by creating balance and harmony in a space. This balance and harmony then resonates not only within the space, but throughout a person's life. When feng shui principles are coupled with intention, the benefits are even greater.

Even small changes can have an immediate impact. Linda says, "People will start noticing changes right way. What kind of changes they experience really depends on what they want to happen and what is going on at that time. When I work with clients, the first thing I do is find out what they are looking for, what is going on right now, and what they want to change. Then I make suggestions to help bring about the changes they desire, as quickly as possible. So, once they start to incorporate the changes that I have recommended, they will start to see changes pretty much right way."

The art of feng shui is thousands of years old. Individuals can study on their own, and learn to use feng shui in their homes or hire professionally trained consultants to examine their situation and help them achieve their feng shui goals. Many corporations, real estate agencies, and architects now consult with feng shui practitioners to improve their businesses.


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