Go with the flow; Feng Shui and the Art of Living!

Feng Shui

Feng shui is an ancient art and science which finds its origin nearly 3000 years ago in China with a central theme being the designing of environments to support the optimal, focused energy flow to enhance life with assured health and bountiful means. The basic premise of this thought is 

- One’s Belief in the concept that “energy” on Chi that “flows” through the universe, and 

- You can, by putting in place certain factors, harness this energy. 

Ironically, despite being Chinese by birth, its birth place has place severe restrictions on its practice. Even more ironical is the fact that despite these restrictions, it has grown and grown not only into people’s homes but also their hearts! Notwithstanding the hurdles in its path, people seem to have found enough information on it to make it a stand-alone appendage to architecture. 

The word feng shui is a combination of two elements of which Feng is wind and shui water. The orient, believers of Taoism, always regarded land as alive with Chi, the life force and considered the wind and water as sources of nourishment to make life bloom. Taoism has further bolstered Feng Shui with the concepts of yin and yang, and the five feng shui elements. 

Feng Shui in its most original form gave importance to three things namely, time, Space and Action. If you want it to work, it is expedient to have the right mix of the right action in the right place at the right time. 

The three most important factors affecting the study of Feng Shui, in the order of importance are: 

•  The first and most, the ‘earth luck’, which indicates the energy prevailing in your present space and time. 
• The second is the ‘man luck’, which you either make or break with your own actions and free will. Opportunity lands in everyone’s lap. How you use it is what makes for the difference, and  
• The third rather obviously is the ‘heaven luck’. Most call it destiny or fate. This is not within our scope to create or change. It happens on its own , which is your fate and destiny and least in your hands. 

These three factors make us aware of why people occupying the same house under one lineage going in varied trajectories in life. The main tools of the trade are: 

• A compass, called Luo-Pan consisting of bands of concentric rings arranged around the magnetic needle. 
• Bagua: A feng shui energy map connecting energy levels to periods in time which also contains the feng-shui oracle, I Ching  
• Knowledge of the five elements ie understanding nature, how it evolved and its functioning and how one can balance it in one’s life. 
• Knowledge of Yin & Yang ie the positive and negative energy. 

Feng shui offers a variety of cures to improve life situations like the use of aquariums to attract prosperity to the use of crystals and fountains to colours and clocks. There are many ways you can improve the energy in your home or office with solid, good feng shui. 

Nothing is without strings attached, including prosperity. Money and material affluence may not always spell peace and happiness especially when you are in a race. Pune is no exception. From being the pensioner’s paradise, it is moving quickly to be the tensioner’s paradise! 

Thankfully, all is not lost. Since it is about places of dwelling, it is but natural that the experienced hands of architecture would have found a solution. Some like Soverign Architects, interior desigers in Pune, do have. Go to them, do as they suggest and see life change for the better.