The soul is always yearning to expand and grow they say. This could be one of the reasons why we are subconsciously drawn to environments that can give us what we need as human beings at a particular point in time. In the words of Feng Shui Grand Master Raymond Lo of Hong Kong, “we are often drawn to homes that reflect our destiny”. The home is not only a reflection of you, but in its deepest sense from a Feng Shui point of view, it also has the power to shape your future. When you implement changes in your home, you will notice that your life can also be transformed; sometimes instantly, and occasionally dramatically. Also, the home can be one of your greatest support structures in helping you to achieve your full potential. As Winston Churchill once said, “We shape our dwelling and afterwards, our dwelling shapes us”. From a physical perspective, the home fulfils many functions in your life. It provides protection and shelter from the elements and affords you some privacy from the world at large. It is also a place where you are yourself, where you relax and socialise with family and friends. From a creative perspective, it can serve as a canvas for your self-expression - an outward manifestation of your inner being, and on a very profound level it is also a place where you can take the quiet time needed to grow spiritually. The home is also the connecting point between heaven and earth, your axis connecting you to the land. As most of us residing in Australia have often heard, Aboriginal people speak of the critical importance of their connection to the land. Ken Colbung, a senior elder of the Noongar people has said on several occasions; “Western man is connected materially to the land, but we are connected to the land because it is our spiritual embodiment”. In traditional Feng Shui, the most exciting aspect is the ability to create a harmonious and prosperous living environment through the initial design process of your home. This is the most effective time to address the environmental influences and eliminate much of the unwanted forces to create a ‘happy home’ one full of soul, full of heart. Firstly, one must consider the orientation of the block. Some people have the means to engage a consultant to search for the most appropriate block and attain optimal placement within the macro environment. This can be an expensive process and most of us don’t have the choice of obtaining the perfect arrangement in a block of land so, the focus needs to be on making the most of what you have. As mentioned during my IFSA presentation in Singapore, when designing your home according to Feng Shui principles the challenge is meeting the demands and aesthetic trends of modern day living while remaining in integrity with this ancient system and integrating the universal laws of nature. In using some simple rules of placement, the design process then becomes a much easier technique and ensures that you can create a home or business environment that supports you in achieving your goals. These same rules and principles can be applied to your current home and can offer you an opportunity to create the life you want through your environment. A home is not an inanimate, soulless entity. It is very much alive - consequently it must follow the fundamental laws of nature. Complying with these laws in home design can generate a successful life full of health, vitality, rich relationships and happiness. The first law of nature is Yin and Yang. This refers to the duality in absolutely everything. For example, you can’t have night without the day or joy without sadness. When discussing Feng Shui influences this can be as simple as ensuring the home is not too dark or not too bright such as a home that is made of glass or a home that is made of thick, heavy brick with small windows. Another way of addressing the aspect of yin and yang is to have the bedrooms in the correct locations and all the living areas well placed. It also means that in every home you will have both positive and negative influences. The focus is then on improving the positive influences and diminishing the negative ones. This one simple exercise means that you’re already in front and can achieve tremendous results. The second law of nature is the Five Elements; water, wood, fire, earth and metal along with their cycles. This refers to all things having an interaction with one another in a positive and productive or… undesirable phase. Everything in our world has an element that can be attributed to it. For example a rectangular wooden dining table – is of the element of wood. A painting dominated by a red sunrise could be attributed to the element of fire. Understanding the cycles of the Five Elements allows you to add extra depth to the design process and enables you to layer the décor with objects and colour that relate to these Five Elements. This is not about interior decorating – it’s one of the way to ensure you maximise the benefits of the space through the use of the Five Elements. The third consideration is the concept of time and space. If you sit back and contemplate life in general you know that things change – everything changes with time. A cursory knowledge of history teaches us that basic fact. Feng Shui is dynamic in concept – it has to be. All energies change with time and in relationship to the many other variables that occur over a given period, in nature and in life. It allows us to predict the time cycles, to understand and predict the configuration of energies and forces for a particular age. In this way we can determine the impact of a given environment and how we can go about improving it for the benefit of the residents. This is basic to the practice of Feng Shui – the benefit of the occupants. And so this leads to functionality as part of the design process. Some Feng Shui suggestions and floor plans seem to completely throw away the idea of practicality and functionality. And yet, this is so important, for without good form and function it can make living in a home on a day to day basis awkward rather than easy and free flowing. There will always be the positives and the negatives in the design of every home. A good Feng Shui consultant, through the ideal placement of rooms within the four walls that shape your home, should be able to create a sanctuary that promotes the beneficial aspects in the environment and minimise the unhelpful, yet keeps in step with modern trends and provides nourishment on every level; physically, emotionally and spiritually. copywrite Juliana Abram of Feng Shui Centre; [email protected]
Posted on: Wed, 23 Jul 2014 11:29:03 +0000
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