5 Powerful Feng Shui Principles You Can Use Immediately In Your Home!

In Chinese feng shui translates to wind and water. As a form of knowledge and mystical instruction it dates back several thousand years to ancient China. Thousands of years ago, the rulers of China needed to consider carefully the geography and layout of the country, since constructing any buildings, bridges or infrastructure depending on the land. In particular builders needed to carefully plan their constructions around the severe winds, mountains and water masses, as well as the propensity of China to flood. Because of these earthly considerations, the word feng shui (meaning wind and water) came about.

In America, we became acquainted with Feng Shui back in the 1840's during the California gold rush when many families from all over the world came to the US to seek their fortunes in gold. These days we are all know about feng shui and it is a common principle that modern people use to help organize their lives.

Indeed we can thank the many Chinese immigrants that flocked to the United States in the 1800's since they brought with them their belief systems, which included a faith in the principles of Feng Shui. In this day and age we tend to use a more basic version of this knowledge, but it continues to prove it's worth.

The origins of Feng Shui

The Chinese originally devised the principles and philosophies of Feng Shui in order to decide where to bury significant people, in particular members of dynasties and royal families. It was initially taken up to select burial sites for the wealthy, as well as palace locations for royalty. Scholars that practiced feng shui analyzed the signs and signals given from the earth to make a decision as to where to construct buildings and bury the dead. For example, they would consider which trees were clearly affected by wind, looked for rocks, and streams.

Based on these early observations, the book of the I Ching (meaning "Book of Changes") was written. At its core, Feng Shui functions as a rulebook to working with nature, following a life that respect and reveres the earth, and acting with integrity towards our immediate environment as well as the planet more generally.

Feng Shui really must be experienced to be believed. Ask anyone who has ever taken up the practice and they will tell you that it not only turned their life around but also saved it as well. Feng Shui really is the most practical guide to better living that the numerous new age remedies have to offer.

Feng Shui provides principles that not only improve your inner self but also your lived in environment. Many people that organize their lives around the framework of Feng Shui report that it brings a balance to your life force. Not only does it built a platform for a balanced life style, it also brings harmony and serenity even in this day and age of hustle and bustle and confusion.

The principles of Feng Shui

To improve your life through Feng Shui, it is imperative that you follow the guidelines of balance and harmony that are at the root of Feng Shui. According to Feng Shui, the universe is composed of three components. Every living being, every plant and every object is supposed to represent one of these three element which are Yin, Yang and Chi. Yang is male in nature where as Yin is female in nature. Together Yin and Yang are two forces which are responsible in creation and sustenance of all living and non-living objects on earth. Chi is the force that is created through the natural interplay of Yin and Yang.

Chi (or positive energy) should always be able to flow freely through any space in order to help us being in balance with the elements surrounding us. Chi is what brings us what we desire in life and allows us to be prosperous. Chi is based on the natural energy exchange which exists among everything on earth.

Get Started And Implement These Powerful Yet Simple Tips

Learning about feng shui takes time, and there are very many principles to follow. That said, bringing positive energy into your home is relatively easy and can involve only a few simple adjustments. Here are 5 powerful tips to get you started.

1. You should never crowd furniture. Each piece of furniture should have space around it to allow chi (or good energy) to flow freely.

2. Never place beds, chairs, sofas or desks right across or with their back towards the main door. You and your guests should never positioned with your back right across the entrance door.

3. Do not concentrate too much of one energy in one place. Your house should balance fire, water and metal to be in balance, you should avoid placing to much fire, earth or wood in one area.

4. Do not position elements in opposition to one another. For example a fireplace or stove should not be across from a wash basin, fish tank or toilet. The clash between fire and water will cause disharmony in the house.

5. Illuminate dark corners since they concentrate too much negative yin energy. Place a light or a plant in shadowy areas to disperse the darkness and allow chi energy to flow into the space.

Incorporating the principles of Feng Shui into your home is sure to help you better balance your life.

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Feng Shui Weight Loss Tips

Weight gain is something that many people battle with, especially during the holidays. Beginning with Thanksgiving, and continuing through Christmas and the New Year, you may find yourself experiencing weight problems. What most people haven't considered is that Feng Shui and weight loss can often go hand in hand, and the practice of the philosophy of Feng Shui may actually help you combat the urge to overeat during the holidays and throughout the entire year. Learning how to use Feng Shui to your advantage to fight weight gain will lead to a healthier lifestyle. You no longer have to live with the regret of over indulgence during the holidays if you incorporate the benefits of Feng Shui and weight loss into your every day life.

The first area to look at with Feng Shui and weight loss are the dishes you use in your kitchen. The characteristics of the dishes that you use for meals, including color, size, and shape, are connected to Feng Shui and weight loss. Although round plates are the most common, circles should be avoided in the kitchen when trying to lose weight with the help of Feng Shui. According to the philosophy of Feng Shui, circles are connected with mental activity. For those seeking weight loss, you do not want to encourage mental activity that is related to eating. The best type of kitchenware to shop for when optimizing your kitchen's Feng Shui are square dishes and plates. When it comes to color, orange is a great pick, including any shade of orange. In Feng Shui, orange is associated with the concept of union. Using orange dishes will bring a union of your goals and desired actions when it comes to eating and losing weight. Another tip for Feng Shui and weight loss in the kitchen is to use dishes without a shiny or glossy finish. Such surfaces will draw attention to the dish, which is something you want to avoid when working towards weight loss. A dull finish, like you find with earthenware, is desired for optimal Feng Shui.

There are other elements that you can manipulate within the kitchen to help with Feng Shui and weight loss. One important idea to keep in mind is that it is beneficial to shield the view of the kitchen from the line of sight originating at the front door. One easy way to do this is to hang curtains over the door of the kitchen, including beaded curtains. When it comes to colors that you incorporate in your kitchen design, there are a few colors that are believed to curb appetites and discourage eating. Black, blue, and burgundy are some nice dark colors to utilize in your kitchen for encouraging Feng Shui and weight loss. A good place to use these colors are with place mats and tablecloths. You will especially want to place these colors near the refrigerator. A final physical aspect that you can manipulate in your kitchen to improve Feng Shui is clutter. Be sure to remove any clutter in the room in order to eliminate bad chi and encourage a clean area with positive chi.

One process that may improve Feng Shui and weight loss is the practice of prayer before meals. This type of prayer does not have to be religious, it is simply used to quiet your mind before a meal and recall your hopes for losing weight. During this short prayer, or mantra, you should also remind yourself of the portion sizes you wish to eat. Reminding yourself of the control you intend to exercise during the meal will help you when it comes to following through on your intentions.

The kitchen isn't the only area of the house that you should concentrate on when it comes to Feng Shui and weight loss. Improving positive chi throughout your entire house will bring about the best chances for weight loss success. One way to bring Feng Shui to the entire house is to place mirrors in different rooms and hallways. This way you will be able to frequently catch a glimpse of yourself which should encourage you to continue with your weight loss goals. It is also beneficial to use a mirror when exercising or participating in another active. The feeling of movement will bring positive chi. Another way to encourage a presence of positive chi throughout the house is to use the color red. Red is a color of energy, and will help you to become active and stay active as you move about your house.

Remember, use red throughout the house to encourage Feng Shui and weight loss with an energetic and active lifestyle. Use dark colors such as blues and blacks in the kitchen to minimize food cravings and impulses to eat more than is necessary. Decorate your home with mirrors and carefully select the best kind of dishes. These simple tips will bring Feng Shui into your home along with an ability to achieve weight loss goals.

Candace Czarny,ASID,CFM,LEED AP, "Award Winning" Interior Designer, Feng Shui Expert & author. www.artofplacement.com is continually ranked "Top 10" in Google and Yahoo. Clients testify of dramatic results!