History
Feng Shui has been around for as long as we’ve created structure for
ourselves. Simply
put, it is a way of creating comfortable and nourishing places in
which to dwell on this earth. All the ancient cultures, who out of
necessity, had to pay close attention to the natural world, learned
the more subtle laws of nature and applied them to their dwellings.
The ancients operated in a world in which the flow of energy was directly
understood. Certain places on the earth seemed to have healing influences,
so large stone circles and monuments were built to mark those spots.
Houses built with exposure to the warm southern sun brought more chi
into the house and nourished the inhabitants. Water, essential for
life was studied in its many patterns, and a body of knowledge grew
out of direct observations.
Laws of Nature
Luckily for us, this knowledge has been preserved and passed down
for thousands of years. Unfortunately, the laws of nature that operate
in one part of the world might not necessarily apply in another.
What does this mean in terms of Feng Shui? My belief is that general
principles of chi movement can be used in most circumstances, but
that other factors must come into play in different parts of the
world. My favorite example of this is that houses built in South
Texas must take into account the effects of an extremely hot western
sun during the summer months. From a purely practical standpoint,
large picture windows are not energy efficient under these circumstances,
which translates into a Feng Shui principle as well. So,
in my consulting practice, I like to take into account the local
"laws of nature", in addition to the time-tested ones passed down
in traditional Feng Shui.
Inner
Feng Shui
If in fact, we are microcosms of the macrocosm, then our houses
should be pretty good indicators of the structure of our lives.
If we have lots and lots of clutter and furniture left over from
say our college days, chances are that we are still spending a lot
of time in our past and not being able to allow the present time
to enter our lives. This would also show up in a house of a divorced
person, who still has many items from the past marriage still reminding
them of the past, that didn’t work. By simply getting to the point
where we can move the past "structure" out of our houses, we can
make great progress in coming into the vibrant potential of the
present moment.
This
is the underlying philosophical framework from which I do my consultations.
In addition to understanding the dynamics of the physical structure
of our lives, the other and highly important component is the internal,
nonphysical structure of our psyches. By working on this inner level
of feng shui, change can become effortless and fun. This is where
all the tools of accessing the beliefs we carry within us can assist
in the Feng Shui paradigm. For years I have explored many methods
of releasing those inner "structures" that seem to keep us bound
to one particular point of view. Through meditation, plus all the
mind-body techniques now available, Feng Shui changes can be greatly
enhanced.
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