Feng Shui Basics

We can't see it, but energy is constantly moving through our rooms, our world. Allow it to flow in a harmonious way.

Have you ever wondered why some places make you feel tense, while other places make you feel more relaxed or energized? Feng Shui (pronounced fung schwee), which means "wind and water," is the Chinese practice of using and balancing energy in all aspects of life.

Kartar Diamond, a certified consultant and instructor from the American Feng Shui Institute, explains some basic principles for creating harmony in your home.

* View each room separately: What works in one room might not work in another.

* Avoid extremes: You want spaces and rooms that are balanced. For example, rooms should not be too hot or too cold; ceilings should not be too high or too low; the room should not be too dark or too light. In other words, it should be just right for you.

* Go with the flow: Position furniture in a room so that the energy can flow through easily.

* Create conversation areas: It's not necessary to leave wide-open spaces within a room. Create areas that encourage and nurture conversation, comfort and a feeling of welcome and warmth.
K. Diamond

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Fine Living Feng Shui

A Feng Shui compass is one tool used in determining a structure's energy balance.
Feng Shui Foundations

Many people seem to feel tense or uncomfortable in certain buildings or places, but perfectly relaxed and content in other locations. A complex and ancient Chinese practice called Feng Shui (pronounced fung schwee) offers explanations and solutions to this phenomenon. Feng Shui, which literally means wind and water, is becoming increasingly popular in many areas of the Unites States, and has been called "astrology for architecture." What is this unique eastern practice really all about?

Kartar Diamond is a certified consultant and instructor from the American Feng Shui Institute. She teaches weekly classes in Southern California and owns Feng Shui Solutions, a consulting business specializing in existing and new residential and commercial property. Here she offers a primer for those seeking to understand the basic foundations of Feng Shui:

* A house's energy: Feng Shui is all about energy, and a Feng Shui consultant's job is to determine the energy characteristics of a building and the effects on the occupants. Calculations are made, and then remedies, designed to balance energy to positive effect, are recommended.

* Time of building: Since certain energies get created as soon as the foundation is poured, an essential element in Feng Shui is determining when a house or structure was built. Once the exact date is determined, this number is used in complex math formulas that also include the structure's magnetic direction, as measured by a special Feng Shui compass.

* Shape and design: Feng Shui adherents believe that a home's shape and design can determine the emotional states of the people who spend time there. Some houses need to be more yang, or lively, while others need to be more yin, or calm. According to Diamond, a home that has good Feng Shui can benefit just about anybody.

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