Feng Shui for Harmonious Living

Feng Shui

For Harmonious Living

By Michael Sheffield

Please join me in exploring the art and science of Feng Shui, which translates as “wind and water” in Chinese.

Feng Shui is based on thousands of years of observing how the subtle energy of Qi flows through the environment. This subtle energy animates and qualifies the ten thousand beings. Tao, the primal Qi, sustains the whole Universe. Qi moves like “wind” and flows like “water” in the environment. It flows through you and your environment. The goal of feng shui is to help you create harmony between you and your environment so you can thrive, enjoy family and friends, express your unique destiny and become one with Tao.

As a consultant, I do not “do” Feng Shui. What I “do” is practice Classical Form School Analysis of the Qi, assessing how it flows where you live or work. The quality of Qi already influencing your environment IS the Feng Shui. There is no such thing as good or bad Feng Shui. Rather, the Qi can be auspicious or inauspicious. Does it flow too slow, too fast? Is it too strong, too weak? Is it congested? Does it accumulate or does it leak away? Or, as in the Goldilocks story, is it just right? Qi analysis can be applied to everything: Mountains, landforms, watercourses, human constructions, your house, and business. Today, let’s focus on your house.

The image you hold of yourself is reflected in your house. And your house reinforces who you are. Do you imagine your house as a castle, a temple or perhaps a home? A home is the sum total of the shape, orientation, rooms, objects and activities of your house. The home is where the heart is.

It is where you eat, sleep, relax, raise a family, entertain, study and work. Your home is a living organism and has a soul. It is a place where you can resolve your fate, support your spiritual awakening, fulfill you destiny and be at one with Tao.

Your home is an integral part of the natural order. And so are you. How you interact with your home is significant. Feng Shui Form Analysis considers the orientation, shape of the house, rooms, placement of windows, furniture, artwork, color and lighting. It brings all these elements into balance and harmony so that you might experience enhanced wellbeing, prosperity, improved health, family relationships and enjoy a happy life.

How you interact with your home is significant. Over time you change and need to reflect these changes in your home. I suggest you evaluate your home four times a year around the Solstices and Equinoxes. What no longer supports you? What needs to be released or added? Americans often have way too much “stuff.” Simplicity is the doorway to a peaceful life and living in harmony with Tao. In addition to the form analysis, there are also subtle energies that influence you and your home. One of these influences is orientation. Where you are on this Earth and under the sun matters. Where does the sun rise and where does it set? Using a technique called House Bazhai that is based on

What can Feng Shui do for me?

The objective of a Feng Shui consultation is to determine the quality of the Qi and suggest changes, adjustments and enhancements that will balance the yin and yang, enhance the function of each room, improve the flow between rooms and bringing harmony to your house and your life, to maximize personal growth and opportunities for you as an individual.

an eight-sided bagua diagram, a consultant can determine eight subtle influences. By locating the direction in which the front door faces, the four auspicious directions and the four inauspicious directions can be determined. Adjustments and enhancements can be made by introducing color and symbolic objects.

Naming is the act of invoking the soul of a person, place or home. I suggest you meditate on naming your property and home. Let the names come to you when they will. Check for auspicious dates and times at https://www.yourchineseastrology.com/ calendar/2020/. Then hold a naming ceremony and celebration with friends and family. Happy celebrations activate yang energy, which deposits positive Qi in the living space.

The art of Feng shui is subtle, like the Tao, but the skill of perceiving the flow of Qi can be developed with consistent practice. In closing, may I wish you a happy home where you can thrive, enjoy family and friends, express your unique destiny and become one with Tao.

How to evaluate your home’s Qi

Here is a simple step-by-step process you can use to evaluate the chi of your home, room by room. Your home is a living being and has a soul. You can contact that soul in many ways. In this evaluation process you can become aware of the chi in each room, how each room feels and how the room might want to change. Remember this season it is summer, which is influenced by the Fire Element. The symbolic color is red. The direction is South. The heat of summer can be modified by introducing the Water Element. The symbolic color is blue. The direction is North. Bring the summer into your house with flowers, water, and decor suggesting breezes and shade. Engage your creativity.

1. Sit in your favorite chair. 2. Light a candle, take three deep breaths and relax. 3. Set your intention and ask your house for responses. What might your house want to tell you? 4. Go into each room with the candle and a pad of paper. 5. Face east, then slowly turn clockwise. Sense the chi, the feeling and observe the light, colors, furniture, artwork and other objects. Begin at the front door and entrance space. 6. Be open to your impressions and what the room might want to tell you. “Listen.” 7. Write down any impressions and insights. 8. Return to your chair. 9. Relax, take three breaths and let the experience flow through you. 10. Sense the chi and the soul of your house. 11. Write down any thoughts, insights, impressions. 12. Thank your house for this intimate time together.