The air is fresh, and rain is in the air! With the aridity of summer now over, perhaps it is the time to rethink and reorganise your home with a little feng shui magic.
The ancient art of feng shui was developed more than 3,000 years ago in China and is associated closely with Taoism. Feng in Mandarin Chinese means Wind and Shui means Water. Together, feng shui is a body of knowledge that combines the principles of five basic elements to balance the energies of any particular space. “I am a sceptic. I don’t think that having a turtle in front of my house is going to change my manager’s behaviour to me! My roommate thinks otherwise. So, we have quite a row of feng shui products in our home!” laughs Avinash Sharma. In India, feng shui is often misunderstood. Fake experts abound.
“To analyse the feng shui of any place, you need a feng shui compass and what is called a bagua,” says Anindita Roy, an architect who wrote a paper on feng shui during her college years. The bagua is a kind of energy map that contains the symbols of the I-Ching on which feng shui is based. Understanding the bagua will help you to delve deeper into the connection between specific areas of your home to specific areas of your life. She suggests basic feng shui tips to ease the flow of energy in your home.
Aquariums
Aquariums are believed to attract abundance and wealth. Anindita suggests that the best direction to keep the aquarium is in the south-east area of the bagua map.
Feng shui suggests that aquariums should not be placed in the bedroom or the kitchen. The dragon fish or the Arowana is highly recommended although the koi or gold fish is also quite effective.
Plants
The lucky bamboo is probably the most ubiquitous symbol of feng shui in India. The bamboo is considered representative of all five elements. The little red ribbon that is tied to the bamboo is symbolic of fire as the colour red is an expression of the fire element.
Anindita says that there is one thing to consider when buying an indoor bamboo plant – the number of stalks. “Two stalks are for love and marriage while nine is for good fortune. Three is supposed to bring happiness while five is for health.”
Fountains
Not everyone would have the space to create a high-quality fountain in their home. Yet, once installed, the soothing element of water can add a sense of calm to your home. Never place a fountain in the bedroom. The best places to have a fountain are in the east, south-east, and north corners areas of the bagua.
Try and install a fountain that runs on a silent motor. A noisy motor might well cancel out any chi benefits you get from the sound of water!
Wind chimes
Almost any self-respecting market in India that sells ‘imported’ products will have wind chimes. Wind chimes are popular as a feng shui cure, but they are often misused. Consider the basic guidelines before buying wind chimes.
- Evaluate the material the wind chime is made from
- The number of bells or rods that the wind chime has
- The symbols on its design
According to Anindita, the kind of material that the wind chime has should be in harmony with the bagua area element. A wind chime with the image of a Buddha can enhance the feng shui energies for spiritual growth while the famous mystic knot symbol signifies abundance. Having six or eight bells is considered the most beneficial.
Gem trees
Another popular feng shui remedy, the crystal gem tree can be used to bring positive energy in practically any area of life, love, money or health. Note the kind of crystal or gem that will help define the areas in which it can bring about the most benefit.
A jade gem tree, for instance, is supposed to be a cure for any illness in the family while a citrine tree is used to enhance wealth and abundance. Swarovski crystals might look dazzling, but they are not really feng shui material as the best gem trees should be made from natural rock crystals.
Apart from these, there are other ways to improve the yin and yang of your house. From dragons to phoenixes to lucky turtles and frogs, the concept of feng shui extends far and wide. Energy flows in many different ways.
