What is Feng Shui and Five Element Theory
Today, there are many definitions of Feng Shui. Feng Shui can be translated into English as Wind Water. Some people see it as the energy around our living environment while others see it as superstition. Feng Shui is considered both an art and a science. It is also metaphysics and it has been practiced for thousands of years in China. Feng Shui originated about 2000 years ago when an emperor was in search of a burial ground. Many in the past believed that if your ancestors are properly buried, you will be protected by them; this continues to be a common practice in Asia.
Feng Shui is based on the principles of Yin and Yang and the Five Phases/Elements Theory. It is the practice of creating a happy living environment (harmony) within your home, workspace and inner self. An understanding of the principles of Yin and Yang and the Five Phases is essential in applying Traditional Feng Shui methods. In addition, a person’s destiny can be enhanced if there is a correct alignment of the environment’s Chi to that of the human Chi of the individual.
Some people consider Feng Shui as superstition and this is probably a result of the figures and gods that people use to decorate their houses with. An experienced practitioner will be able to identify immediately what is superstition and what is reality. The figures and gods can be effective as long as one keeps in mind that it is the type of element contained in the statues and ornaments that matters most. Reorganizing furniture, using magic coins, and placing a few statues in the house is not enough to change the energy in your home and the way you live.
What is Chi?
Chi is an ancient Chinese concept which teaches that there is energy constantly flowing everywhere. This energy symbolizes life, health, prosperity and everything that is positive to us. Whenever chi finds obstacles for circulating, we will notice it since it will directly affect our lives. Our life quality can diminish or be improved depending on the way chi flows in the environments we inhabit. According to feng shui, chi should always be able to flow freely through any space in order to help us be in balance with the elements that surrounds us. Chi also likes to meander and circulate. When looking for properties, it is very important to understand the environment outside and around the property. For example, living near electrical power plants, active main roads, highways, or contaminated streams can affect the livelihood of the inhabitants of nearby properties.
Five Element Theory
The five element theory serves as one of the building blocks in a Feng Shui consultation. It is sometimes considered a cycle, or a phase. The cycle is logical as you will see from the explanation below.
Production Cycle
The best way to remember the five element theory is to use imagery. To begin with, you can picture that wood serves as fuel for fire. The best way to increase the capacity of fire is to throw more wood into it. Turning from fire to earth, visualizing a volcano is one of the best way to remember that fire generates earth. As the fire and lava erupt from a volcano, it creates and generates earth. Earth on the other hand produces metal. Precious metals such as gold, silver and copper are unearthed from the ground, as a result, earth produces metals. From metal to water, in chemistry, water-soluble organics are dissolved metal salts of a combinations of many different compounds. This is how metal is seen as producing water. Last but not least, water is used to grow plants and trees. So there you have it, each element produces another element in a cycle.
Reduction Cycle
As one element produces another element, one element is reduced. For example, trees reduces water utilizing its nutrients. On the other hand, fire reduces wood when the fire wants to continue to burn. Earth reduces fire and serves as a great way to fight forest fires. One of the ways of reducing fighting forest fires is by using earth. Bulldozers and mining trucks made of metal are used to reduce earth. Finally, water corrodes metal by rusting it away. As one element gives birth to another element, another element is subjected to a reduction or a weakening process.
Destruction Cycle
The destruction cycle is where one element seeks to control another element. The simplest example comes from water controlling fire. When there is fire in the kitchen, you would most likely douse it off with water. Moving onto wood, the best way to control the growth of the tree is to use metal as metal chops wood. On the other hand, fire metals metal, therefore, fire controls metal. For earth, wood controls earth since it controls and utilizes the nutrients of the earth. Finally, earth is used to curb and control water and it can be symbolized by a dam.
A proper Feng Shui consultation would include a destiny chart reading, compass measurements, Flying Stars analysis, Eight Mansions Theory, Form Analysis, Annual Stars, and an understanding of the environment and energy (Chi) outside and inside the property. If Feng Shui is improperly practiced, it can cause more problems to the inhabitants than before! Before hiring a Feng Shui consultant, it is imperative that you ensure that the consultant uses a compass and requests for your birth date. Without this information, how can it be possible to determine your best facing direction? Each direction has a specific energy, therefore, without the use of a compass, it is impossible to utilize the energy to its maximum potential.
