Feng Shui And The I Ching

The I Ching (pronounced E Ching - aka "The Book of Changes") is perhaps the most ancient known of the classic Chinese texts (these texts date from the pre-Qin era - the Qin Dynasty ruled during 221 to 207 BC) and also one of the oldest texts known from antiquity.

The I Ching describes an ancient system of cosmology along with a philosophy at the very center of Chinese cultural beliefs still firmly in use today. The crux of this philosophy deals with the dynamics apparent between yin and yang and also how both yin and yang interact upon each other in opposing yet paradoxically complimentary ways.

Yin represents the still, the calm, the mellow whilst yang represents the exact opposite movement, frenetic activity and stress!

At the core of the I Ching are eight iconic depictions known as Trigrams. Each trigram is comprised of yin and yang line elements. The origin of these trigrams is attributed to the figure "Fu Hsi" some 5 millenia ago.

More information on the history of the trigrams and the Lo Shu can be found here:
http://www.fengshuiastrology.com/LoShu.html

The I Ching uses two trigrams, one placed upon the other to form a Hexagram. The different combinations of the stacked trigrams give rise to some 64 different I Ching hexagrams - each of which when used in combination can give valuable insights to the answers sought by divination practitioners.

Many people look upon the I Ching as purely a system of divination whereas others see it's contents as teachings - full of the wisdom of the Chinese ancients.

It's title throws up a profound view of it's contents:

"I" when used as an adjective means "simple or easy" but when used as a verb means "to change".

"Ching" means "classic text" but the original meaning is one of "persistence" or "regularity"

A popular translation of this title is "Book of Changes" but it is also known as "Classic of Changes" - a title growing in use of late.

The underlying message within the I Ching recognised by many is one of "the ultimate way" or truth - no matter what time the reader comes across the contents, the information contained within will still be as fresh and applicable as the day it was written.

If the information is understood, applied and followed - you can enjoy the easiest of paths through life.

The I Ching is one of the foundations of Feng Shui (or as it was known in antiquity "Xiangdi" - meaning the observation and appraisal of the earth). Before the Qin dynasty (approximately 475 to 221 BC), Feng Shui Experts poured over the I Ching in great depth and used it's teachings to influence the fundamentals of Feng Shui as we know it today.

Along with the I Ching, Feng Shui has it's roots firmly steeped in the philosophies of Taoism and Confusianism as well.

Tracy O'Brien is a long time student and practitioner of the ancient art of Feng Shui. She is also the founder of FengShuiAstrology.com Visit now for more Feng Shui Tips, FREE Feng Shui Astrology Reading and more information on Feng Shui And I Chinghttp://www.fengshuiastrology.com

What is a Feng Shui Life?

Many people have heard of Feng Shui, and have wondered what having a Feng Shui life consists of. Some believe it is but silly superstition or ancient fairy tales. In fact, Feng Shui is the knowledge that comes from studying and understanding how the environment around you impacts you and your daily life.

In the Chinese language, Feng (fung) means "wind" and Shui (schway) means "water". These two basic elements are considered to be the fundamental elements for life to exist. Feng Shui dates back over 3,000 years, and continues to evaluate how ch'i, Chinese for "energy," flows in one's environment and the impact that this flow has on one's life.

At it's inception, the art and science of Feng Shui focused on the arrangement of the home for optimum safety, comfort, and security. One's bedroom would be positioned properly for the deepest and most restful sleep. Doors would be placed in such a way as to provide security from negative energies. Every detail was accounted for, including the stove's proper placement to ensure that the rice would be cooked properly, each and every time.

As the years have passed, Feng Shui masters have developed more sophisticated ways of evaluating the impact of our increasingly complex environments on ch'i. These methods include the measurement of magnetic flow based on compass direction, and the natural real world effects of color, shape, and the conglomeration of elements in a person's living space.

The common misconception many people have is that a Feng Shui life brings with it wealth and almost magical tidings. For better or for worse, this could not be further from the truth. A Feng Shui life is really about creating an environment for opportunities. It allows you to make good use of the understanding of nature and life together. This understanding can effectively help you make the most of the opportunities that come before you, and hopefully open you to more of those opportunities.

The modern Feng Shui life must continue to evolve in order to address contemporary problems. Environmental factors such as the effect of electromagnetic radiation, indoor plumbing, and other innovations have the potential to clutter the environment and can have a hand in obstructing ch'i flow and disturbing the delicate balance of life.

Many people who work to live a Feng Shui life stress the importance of embracing other life-enhancing factors as well. Since Feng Shui is a holistic lifestyle, it is reasonable that consideration must also be given to the quality of food that we eat, the quality of cosmetics or personal hygiene products that we put into our bodies, and the choices we make concerning products that may or may not use toxic elements so that we may continue to support the environment.

With our world constantly moving and changing, you can never have the best of circumstances all the time. With day there must be night, and times of good luck must come with times of bad, this is one of the primary principles of Yin and Yang. A Feng Shui life can help to manipulate the influences in your life and make it easier for you to be able to meet and handle these changes. It can allow you to make wise and effective decisions which, in turn, can help you achieve wealth and success.

A Feng Shui Life is certainly not some fairy tale or superstition. In fact, Feng Shui is a profound life tool that can be used by anyone to make life better and more harmonious.

Charles owns the FengShuiPro.com website and enjoys teaching others about the benefits of Feng Shui