Feng Shui is a millenary practice in which Chinese conceptions regarding life, time and space are put into practice within dwellings and inhabited places. This has a philosophical fundamentalist basis on the I Ching: the book of changes (Liu, 2010) and Taoism.

Feng Shui, which literally means: wind - water, is a modern denomination of a practice that chinese, during the Han Dynasty (202 b.c - 220 a.c) called Kanyu: Kan, meaning the subtle forces of heaven and Yu which refers to the visible forces of earth. These forces in constant interaction are analogous to the yin & yang principle, from which all life was naturally created, through a process they referred to as TAO, which means "path" , "way" or "natural sense" (Wilhelm, 1975; Green, 1999).

feng shui history

This way, Feng Shui consists in the examination of the earth and its geobiology plus heaven and its stars and planetary movements, to determine which is the most appropiate place to live, in other words how does the Tao manifests and which are the effects this natural life energy flow between heaven and earth or astronomy and geobiology or yang and yin forces have in the everchanging states of vital energy. By this the idea is to identify places and characteristics that can promote wellness, health, longevity and prosperity according to each person's energy and destiny. It is also a quest to find the the Xue or the "dragon's pearl or treasure", where all the vital energy, that chinese called Sheng Qi was concentrated.

feng shui dragon veins

Of course this vital energy, or Qi, has a physical manifestation, since it is in constant movement, it grows, climbs and expands like wood, it soars high like fire flames or warm air, it stays quiet and calm like sand and soil, it concentrates and grows within like gems and crystals and it flows unstoppably going deep down like water.

feng shui elements

Therefore, as we emulate inside our houses or working places the natural course of energy that all living things follow and the generative cycles of nature, we can promote harmony in human relationships, physical health, mental well-being, the achievement of our personal goals and the materialization of our personal projects, the same way it naturally happens in mother nature as it follows the Tao, the natural energy flow (Galleguillos & Cozzi, 2008).

feng shui luopan

Feng Shui is not a religion, a superstitious doctrine or witchcraft; it’s simply a symbolic and synchronic management of the spatial elements that intercede on our emotional, psychological and vital satisfaction. Because of this, it does not require any faith or conviction to be efficacious, since its effectiveness relies on the accurate diagnose of the place we live in, on the basis of the astronomical, geographic, architectonic and psychological knowledge (Galleguillos & Cozzi, 2008).

General Spatial Interventions:

1. BA GUA/ PA KUA:

feng shui bagua pakua

The ba-gua or pa-kua, meaning ba (8) and gua (sign) is a sacred diagram of '8 directions' that aligns the house with the planetary movements and the wealthy generative cycles of nature, enhancing psychological and emotional well-being coming from the synchrony established with our immediate and remote environment. It's helpful to support our psychological wellbeing and needs regarding health, wealth, success, love, projects, communication, inner strength, stability and wisdom. This therapeutic intervention helps to condition our behavior towards the satisfaction of these needs as they are supported by the concordant influences of the land's geography our house is settled and the sun, and our planet's and moon orbital movements.

The Houtian Bagua also known as King Wen’s Diagram, is also used in the corporative field; because, like in the antique and modern China, nowadays, to conquer, leadership and guide people, an Emperor-Manager must influence positively on his people-employees. This is done by standing still, with our feet firm on the ground, having sight and information from everything that happens near and outside the territory of our organization and giving a behavioural example. This strategy, is the reason why a Bagua study is used to help any company-manager grow, develop and succeed, supported by the strength of nature, because the company as a living organism, will know how to adapt, go forward or stay put when the natural energy flow is behaving the exact same way, as it follows the Tao or natural course of living things, the same way a big strong tree grows high up to the skies, flowering, growing, stopping and waiting when it has to. Synchronizing with this exact same natural behaviour is how old Emperors made China grow until today, into a world leading country.


2. BAHZAI:

feng shui bahzai

Advanced intervention that synchronizes the house orientations with its natural environment energetic field and direction. This way, the influence that vital energy (Qi), coming from the neighborhood and natural surroundings, has on the house, is evaluated in order to improve the positive impact that this may have on the auspicious areas of the house and repair the negative impact that it may be having on the negative areas of the house. Negative impact can be identified when:

1) We constantly lose valuable opportunities by facts we can't seem to control

2) We fail over and over in our personal plans, projects and goals.

3) We suffer accidents, threatening risky situations and/or lose money constantly.

4) We are victims or drawn into constant fights, problems and conflicts with our relatives, friends or family.

 

3. Wandering Stars "XUAN KONG FEI XING PAI":

feng shui stars

It’s the most advanced intervention in Feng Shui. It consists of the house’s astral chart, with the influences that the planetary movements have on the house’s physical environment and its inhabitants through extended periods of time. ‘Wandering Stars’ is how old astronomers used to call the five visible planets from earth (mercury, venus, mars, jupiter and saturn) because through our perspective, they seem to move erratically compared to the other stars in the sky. This happens because in their orbital movement they follow different speeds, which makes us perceive that move in a retrogressive way. The chinese studied their impact in our physical world, particularly in our luck, determining how they predisposed us, the same way the moon’s magnetism attracts water and impacts our blood pressure, sap in trees and plants, and regulates sexuality among many animals, these planets have different influences on our lives which can be intensified or reduced according to our needs in life.

 

4. Water Dragon "SHUI LONG":

feng shui water dragon

This intervention consists of the topographical study of the land in which the construction has been built on, including the relationships between the mountains and the water’s natural or artificial flows inside the land. It also includes the interpretation of the house’s drainpipe blueprint in order to heal or treat inauspicious drainages that may be affecting our health by draining or contaminating vital Qi.

 

 5. Landscaping:

feng shui landscaping

In Chinese view of the world, gardens are a vehicle the soul uses to communicate its essence to heaven. Through the garden, the earth establishes a dialog with our ancestors, bonding heaven and earth through a journey that invites heaven to read a message entailed in the garden that includes an oracle revealed by the I Ching. This intervention includ