Feng Shui careers

"Deal with things in their state of not-yet-being put them in order before they have got into confusion" The secret of Feng Shui Tao Te Ching, Ch 64

The craft of Feng Shui being multi-faceted affords great scope career-wise. But it also subjects one to the rigours associated with the Martial Arts, and the timeline of a medic. Ultimately, it should have 10 stages of progress, each increasingly more difficult, yet bestowing wider responsibility and wisdom with each accomplished step, paralleling the progress of the sorcerer's apprentice.

The Feng Shui training program: initially, some form of yoga, T'ai Chi and meditation to gain physical discipline, concentration, sensitization and insight. Next, a lifetime study of the I Ching, the quintessence of Chinese wisdom and Jin-Shu, the biographies of famous Feng Shui masters.

After which Kanya, the study of heaven and earth, the combined study of geography and astrology in relationship to man. Following which, mastering the Compass School -, the use of the Ba Gua diagram and the Lo P'an compass featuring the 'twenty-four directions' or 15 degree zones of the magnetic circle to help determine the Feng Shui of the situation, and the use of astrological charts and numerology to measure the auspiciousness of a dwelling.

Following this a study of the tenets of the Form school such as Dimai, the dynamics of mountain ridges, valleys, and rivers, and of the arteries of the earth - the 'Dragon Veins'. The examination of the Classics detailing the interrelationship between water, mountains, dwellings and agriculture such as the Water Dragon, which relates the optimum landscape-water interaction e.g. an ideal site, should nestle among watercourses, or the Shui Jing delineating the waterways of China, giving a wealth of information regarding harmony between buildings and landscapes. A general course in human and colour psychology, then perhaps specialization in the use of the I Ching for divination, or Chinese alchemy.

Thus equipped one should be able to offer one's services as follows.

Siting a home

Auspicious siting Banishing sha qi - negative energy Diverting water lines and neutralising other forms of geopathic energy Dowsing and harmonising the dragon veins Diverting 'spirits'

Harmonising the home

Apply the Ba Gua diagram for orientation purposes Interior d?cor and the optimum psychological colour combinations Choosing the best fabrics, and materials Advice on water devices, wind-chimes, crystals, aromatic oils and incenses Avoiding angles, enhancing the circular Placement of fish and plants etc.

Harmonising relationships

Individual and synastric (relational) astrological analysis Yin-yang profiling Taoist philosophy.

Individual destiny

Using western and Chinese astrology, its stems and branches, and numerology to delineate destiny and life paths. Finding the best burial place

General counselling

Using the I Ching and the Lo P'an compass for divination and advice.

One could pursue this occupation on a freelance basis, professionally or corporately. It would be advisable, at regular intervals, to take refresher courses, degree courses, or specialize in order to become a consultant, or councillor. Your level of remuneration would depend upon which one of the 3 employment tracks above you followed. Alternatively, if you were part of a Chinese medical consortia or astrological consultancy, your income would rise proportionally.

Feng Shui For Love?

Has your romantic life been on the blink lately? Perhaps you've recently had a relationship that's gone sour. You may think it is you, or perhaps you blame it on your ex. But maybe it isn't you, it's those dried flowers you have prominently displayed in your hallway, or the full length mirror in your bedroom. Feng Shui has applications for the home, office, and yes, even your love life.

Feng Shui (pronounced fung schway) is, in simple terms, the ancient Chinese Art and Science of placing things in our immediate environment in such a way as to improve our health, balance, security, and prosperity. It has been a carefully guarded secret for most of the last 3000 years. Now, anyone can enjoy the benefits of Feng Shui in their own lives.

There are several systems which are used to determine how to arrange your home to enhance your love life. The one that applies the most for our purposes is the Pa Kua system. In Pa Kua, the southwest corner is the love and romance sector of the home.

The first thing you'll need to do is break out your compass and determine which corner of your home is the southwest corner. If there is a bedroom there, that is great. If there is a bathroom there, not so good. That will keep your romantic interests flushing away as fast as they arrive.

Now look more closely at that southwest corner. Is it badly lit and full of clutter? That means your love-live will suffer the same fate. Think of the southwest corner of your home as a reflection of what you want your romantic life to be. By ridding it of clutter and adding the proper d?cor, you can rejuvenate your chances of attracting just the right special someone for you.

You'll also want to look in the southwest corner of your bedroom. Try putting a vase with beautiful fresh flowers in it. Many Feng Shui masters suggest a painting of a beautiful flower, and not something prickly, in the southwest corner. The Chinese do not like dried or dead flowers. Always keep some sort of fresh flower there instead.

Also good for your romantic endeavors is a pair of wooden ducks or a painting of two ducks. Ducks mate for life so these are very good symbols for your own romance. If you don't like how the ducks look, you can simply put two rubber ducks there.

Mirrors on the ceiling and walls, especially full length mirrors, are definitely not good. These big mirrors symbolize portals that the energy from an uninvited third party can enter.

For those of you who dislike Chinese d?cor, the best westernized version is the classic lava lamp. Pink or Yellow goo flowing up and down in your romance sector is sure to create good energy flow. You can also use pictures or statues of loving couples.

For a final touch consider painting the walls adjacent to the southwest corner bright red to symbolize passion. Be careful not to go overboard, but put some of these Feng Shui tips into practice for your own love life and get ready to see what happens.

Charles Chang is a Feng Shui enthusiast and author. He enjoys helping others with feng shui tips through his articles and website.