by Anne Batty

Feng Shui - words often foreign to the Western ear. An ancient Chinese dialect that speaks to many of mystery and mysticism. A practice whose secrets people have attempted to understand for 4,000 years, and one whose Masters have devoted lifetimes to.

In ancient Chinese beliefs the practice of feng shui - pronounced "fung shway"- lies somewhere between science and art. Its philosophical roots span a whole range of Chinese thought from religion (Taoism and Buddhism) to science (astronomy, geology, magnetism, and alchemy) to rural magic (astrology, shamanism, fortune telling). While in truth. it operates on many levels: superstitions/practical; sacred/profane; emotional/physical.

Known also as the sacred art of positioning, history shows that the roots of feng shui grew out of a primitive agrarian way of life. For the Chinese saw a magical link between man and nature, feeling they shared a fate with the earth. Believing that when the creation was healthy and prospered, they thrived; but when the b lance was destroyed, they suffered. To them every physical thing was alive (endowed with living energy - Chi) and every created thing was dependent on everything else.

While there are several ancient feng shui texts in existence, for the most part it is a profession that has been passed down orally, often from father to son. The Masters of this ancient practice claim the qualities of priest, philosopher, psychologist, scientist, physician and counselor, applying wisdom, intuition, investigation and diagnosis to their interpretations.

As Priests, they assert the ability to read and interpret both visible and invisible signs and positive forces in the cosmos, thus enabling them to define man¹s place in the universe. As doctors and scientists they claim capability to detect the earth¹s pulse, determining where and in what environment man can live the most healthy, productive, prosperous and happy life.

Simply put, feng shui is about striking a balance between humans and their environment. It is based on the Taoist philosophies of nature including the Yin-Yang and Five Element Theories.

The Yin and Yang are described as being the two opposing primordial forces depending on one another to govern the universe and symbolize harmony, continually interacting to create cyclical change. (Without light there is no dark; without hot there is no cold; without life there is no death) Like a magnet¹s positive and negative poles, yin and yang unite.

The Five Elements are considered by the Chinese to be the building blocks of everything physical on earth, manifesting themselves in countless ways and combinations around us. The elders observe that because humans are composed of a combination of elements they are typically most comfortable when some combination of all five elements are also represented in their environment.

Therefore, the theory states that the unifying of the Yin-Yang,

feminine-masculine opposites and the inclusion of the Five Elements of

nature ­ wood, fire, earth, metal, and water - in one¹s environment, are key to creating the harmony necessary for a healthy, peaceful and prosperous life. For the ancients it is the ability to define, assess and balance these elements (revealed only to the practiced eye of the practitioner) that is necessary to bring the environment into perfect elemental balance.

The Yin and Yang are labeled as follows:

YIN YANG

Feminine Masculine

Cool/Cold Warm/Hot

Dark Light

Back Front

Soft Hard

Curved Straight

Rounded Angular

Earth Sky

Moon Sun

Low High

Small Large

Ornate Plain

Wide Narrow

Horizontal Vertical

Floral Geometrical

The Five Elements are found in:

WOOD

Wooden furniture and accessories

Wooden paneling, siding, roofing and decks

All indoor and outdoor plants and flowers, including silk, plastic and dried materials

All types of plant-based cloth and textiles, such as cotton and rayon

Floral-print upholstery, wall coverings, draperies and linens

Art depicting landscapes, gardens, plants and flowers

The columnar shape, like the trunk of a tree, found in columns, beams,

pedestals, poles and stripes

The green and blue spectrum of colors

FIRE

All lighting, including electric, oil, candles, natural sunlight and

fireplaces

Things made from animals, such as fur, leather, bone, feathers and wool

Pets and wildlife

Art that depicts people and/or animals

Shapes such as triangles, pyramids or cones

The red spectrum of colors

EARTH

Adobe, bricks and tile

Ceramic or earthenware objects

Shapes such as squares, rectangles and long flat surfaces

The yellow and earth-tone spectrum of colors

Art depicting earthy landscapes of desert fields and so on

METAL

All types of metals, including stainless steel, copper, brass, iron, silver,

aluminum and gold

All rocks and stones, such as marble, granite and flagstone

Natural crystals, rocks and gemstones

Art and sculpture made from metal or stone

The white and light pastel spectrum of colors

The shapes of the circle, oval and arch

WATER

Streams, rivers, pools, fountains and water features of all kinds

Reflective surfaces such as cut crystal, glass and mirrors

Flowing, free-form and asymmetrical shapes

The black and dark-tone spectrum of colors, such as charcoal and midnight blue

Each of the five elements is said to feed/sustain the other in perfect

harmony:

NOURISHING CYCLE 

CONTROLLING CYCLE

Water nurtures wood Wood consumes earth

Wood feeds fire Earth dams water

Fire makes earth Water extinguishes fire

Earth creates metal Fire melts metal

Metal holds water 

Metal melts wood

Feng Shui seems a complex practice. It certainly proves itself an ancient and foreign language composed of symbols, shapes, interpretations and theories. Definitely on the mysterious side. Most possibly just a collection of Chinese folklore. But just maybe, the understanding and deeper meaning of this ancient practice eludes us, and hovering just a click of the mental dial away is the key to something that will help us better understand ourselves and the world in which we live.

Sr. Editor Anne Batty will explore the relationship of Chi (living energy) to Feng Shui in the next issue.