fen shui

Feng shui, translated literally, means "wind and water." It is a Chinese art that deals with the placement of life objects in ways that promote health and happiness in the human spirit. Feng shui's purpose is to bring nature back into life, make people more compatible with the world around them, and teach them to use this world to further themselves in their health and goals. This practice believe in the life force of a body, or "chi." It believes that the force of all things can be manipulated by the position of wind and water. Ancient Chinese people used these elements to achieve what they wanted in life. This means preventing bad fortune, creating a good impression on the job, achieving love and marriage, feeling safe and protected, getting pregnant, finding better health and uniting family.

Feng Shui and Colour in the Home

When adding or changing colour of a space try to create a balance of colours and know what each colour will bring to the overall effect of the room. The use of colour is one of the best and easiest ways to change the vibration in a space.

	Green This colour represents the east and wood element. It is associated with healing, wisdom, growth, creativity, anger and fertility. Green is calming and soothing. Bringing too much of this colour in the home can have a bad effect, so use this colour in moderation.
	Red Red possesses heat, laughter, good luck, light and passion. This colour can be used in power and authority. A red ribbon is often used in the hanging of crystals and in doing many of the feng shui placements. A red door brings forth good luck.
	Yellow The center and earth are associated with this colour. Yellow attracts trustworthiness, fame, advancement, loyalty and cheerfulness. It represents long life and immortality. The royal flower of yellow is the chrysanthemum.
	White Represents the west and metal element. It is associated with purity, order, death and letting go. White flags are for surrendering. White carries all the colours within it. In Chinese, white is used for funerals and in time of mourning.
	Black This colour represents the north and water. It represents water. Black is also known for death. It is associated with continuity, meditation and peacefulness.
	Brown Northeast and earth and it is recognized as an Earth colour.
	Blue This colour represents Heaven or northwest and metal. A very calming colour, it stimulates creativity, communication and spiritual understanding.
	Purple The fire element. It represents spirituality and of high office. It's considered very soothing and calming and can create the perfect atmosphere for meditation.
	Pink Pink offers a sense of spiritual completeness and contentment and promotes healing.
	Orange Orange is a happy colour that inspires hope, confidence and enthusiasm. It also stimulates creativity and nurtures ambition.

Fresh flowers bring a lively chi energy to the home especially if they are healthy and well looked after.

Feng Shui & Flowers

Depending on their colour and shape flowers will enhance the chi energy of particular directions. Listed below are the properties of a few of the commonly available fresh flowers.

Tulips carry metal energy, red tulips in a western aspect create romance and pink tulips pleasure.

Iris are associated with vitality and passion and free energy.

Carnations the pink and red ones enhance romance and pleasure while the white carnations add dignity and serenity.

Sunflowers have fire energy and a powerful stabilizing influence.

Anemone is associated with metal energy and red ones in a west facing bathroom could help prevent chi energy from dispersing.

White daisies in the north add tranquility, in the northwest dignity and in the northeast motivation.

Lily, the flowers that point down give a settling influence and can be used to quieten and over-active part of your home.

With its abundance of small yellow balls mimosa increases the chi energy of the centre. So place them in the centre of your home to keep your life more centered

Red roses will increase the chi energy of romance and style especially if place in the west.

Feng Shui in the Garden	The ancient Chinese art of Feng Shui involves the placement of object to promote harmony of the soul and peace of the spirit and has become a fad among gardeners.
In Chinese ‘feng’ means wind and it represents all that is not seen – our moods, feelings and spirituality. ‘Shui’ means water, and it represents all that is visible and tangible – our possessions and structures. Basically, Feng Shui is a philosophy of creating balance between the physical and spiritual worlds.

As you begin to apply Feng Shui to your garden, there are three concepts that will influence everything you do:

Energy flow, referred to as your garden’s “Chi.” This can be manipulated and balanced by the use of straight lines or curved lines.
The balance of yin and yang. While these terms represent opposites of any type, yin is usually associated with those elements that are dark or soft; yang with elements that are light or hard.
The relationship between the five elements: wood, metal, fire, water and earth. These must always be kept in balance.

To apply Feng Shui to an established garden, use a compass or a land survey to help you divide the space into eight general areas: north, south, east, west, northeast, northwest, southeast, southwest.

NORTH. This area corresponds to your creativity and personal growth, and should feature water elements. This is a good area for a pond. In keeping with the flowing nature of water, emphasize wavy and curvy lines—perhaps a round flower bed around your birdbath (water). Avoid using earth elements -- the antithesis of water – here. For example, don’t lay a brick path or use a stone bench. If you choose a birdbath for your water feature, choose a metal one over terracotta.

NORTHEAST. This area represents your wisdom and intellectual growth. Focus on earth elements – stone benches, rock gardens, boulders, statues. This is not an area that should be planted heavily, so site your tool shed here.

NORTHWEST. This area represents trade and travel. Use metal elements here – wind chimes, a metal tool shed, etc. Avoid fire elements such as barbecues and red flowers.

EAST. Symbolizing health, healing and rebirth, this is an area for fruit trees, vegetable gardens and medicinal plants like herbs. Also consider placing wooden playsets or exercise areas here. The element of choice here is wood, and it can be fulfilled by trees and other woody plants.

SOUTH. This area represents opportunity and achievement, which is associated with happiness among the hard-working Chinese. Focus on fire elements and items with pointy or triangular shapes. This is a good place for barbecues, fireplaces, red flowers and trees with flaming autumn foliage. Avoid water elements like ponds and fountains.

SOUTHEAST. Associated with wealth and abundance, this is an area for wood elements. Place very showy plants and flowers here, or have a well-stocked fish pond. Avoid metal furniture, statuary or tools.

SOUTHWEST. Associated with love, marriage, romance and relationships, this is an area for earth elements. It’s a good spot for a dining area, as eating meals together is a celebration of relationships. However, avoid wood – no wooden picnic tables or patio furniture. A wrought iron bistro set on a flagstone terrace would be perfect.

WEST. This area focuses on children and is a good spot for a playset or outdoor entertaining area. The element of choice is metal, and fire elements should be avoided.