What is Feng Shui
Classical Feng Shui is complex and has many layers. It is not superstition, it is the science of enhancing our life by using subtle arrangement through landscape, architecture, and interior design. It is the study of space and time.
Classical Feng Shui is commonly practiced in Asia, most commonly in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, and Korea. You will find that Classical Feng Shui has a strong influence on high rise buildings/structures, houses, parks, gardens, and cities. Most households have their own Feng Shui Masters to consult and receive advice from.
Although you will find Taoism influences in Classical Feng Shui, it is not a religion. Feng Shui is based on thousands of years of study, research and data collecting. In ancient Imperial China, the Feng Shui department was the second largest department behind the military. Ancient Chinese Emperors would recruit thousands of mathematicians, astronomers, geologists, and architects to study and to observe nature patterns, natural landforms, seasonal changes, and cosmic influences. Part of Classical Feng Shui is the observation of human interaction / reaction with everything that is going on in our earth and the cosmos, and how all the changes throughout time influence our behavior and luck. Classical Feng Shui is heavily related to I-Ching, the Book of Changes. We can also find influences from Classical Feng Shui in the philosophy of Confucius, Lao Tzu and many other ancient Chinese philosophers. The reason we see Feng Shui trinkets, crystal, and Feng shui lucky charms, is because of social and cultural influences in Classical Feng Shui.
Since Classical Feng Shui is the study of Space and Time, it is definitely not “one size fits all.” All things in our Universe are constantly moving, nothing stays still, and everything changes with time. The same is with our behavior and luck. Classical Feng Shui can be specifically tailored for each individual at any point of their life and needs. The practice of Classical Feng Shui is universal, so you don’t have to be Chinese to practice Classical Feng Shui. Anyone can do it. But, to do it well and correctly, people need to understand the cultural nuances in Classical Feng Shui, especially because it practices Gan-Yin 感應, which is correlative thinking or associative thinking.
Do Feng Shui trinkets, crystals, or plants work?
Feng shui trinkets, like tassels, crystals, wall art, or talismans usually only work when the physical form of the house is “good,” which means the Feng Shui foundation of the house is in good form. If the form of the house is not good, it doesn’t matter if the person paints the wall with the right color or hangs plenty of Feng Shui trinkets, none of these would work. For example, the modern design of open concept can be considered “bad Feng Shui.” Some of the open concept designs have very little containment of Qi, and it doesn’t allow the Qi to meander throughout the house and nourish the house. Another example is if the front entry door faces large French doors or sliding glass doors; Qi coming from the front door will go right out of the house through the French or sliding glass doors, and it doesn’t allow the Qi to meander and to nourish the house and its residents. When we can’t contain Qi, we can’t contain anything in life.
What is Qi?
Classical Feng Shui is the dance of balancing the harmony of Yin and Yang, and the main principal in Feng Shui is “Qi flow.” In the West, Qi is a rather foreign concept. Qi can be defined as energy, breath of air, movement, vibration, aura, and the definition does not stop here. What is Qi? This is my teacher, Mr. Howard Choy’s, favorite definition of Qi: “Qi is both what really exists and what has the ability to become. Qi is the life principle but is also the inanimate object. It combines potentiality with matter.” [According to Edmund Ryden, page 45 of his translation of Professor Zhang Daninian’s book, Key Concepts in Chinese Philosophy.]