Feng Shui Isn't Something You Do…
It's Something You Already Have!
by P.K. Odle, The Feng Shui Advantage
Centuries ago, when the ancient Chinese Feng Shui Masters hid the fact that they were doing complex calculations when analyzing a building inherent energy patterns, many thought that it was intuition or a belief system. Actually, Classical Feng Shui is an environmental science that analyzes your home/office’s environmental influences and its repeatable energy combinations which have predictable consequences. From the moment your four walls and roof were completed, a unique combination of both supportive and sabotaging energy patterns were created in your home and office. Therefore, Feng Shui isn’t something you do… it’s something you already have. Wouldn’t you like to know how to manage the existing Feng Shui influences in and around your home and office?
Unfortunately, Feng Shui has mistakenly been classified by some as a “Chinese Folk Beliefs” or an obscure religious belief system… which is far from the truth. Your belief system has nothing to do with the Feng Shui influences on your daily life. Classical Feng Shui is as complex a science as Acupuncture. It doesn’t matter if you believe or not, for an Acupuncturist's needles to heal your body and belief isn’t required for Classical Feng Shui’s elemental remedies to neutralize sabotaging energies or harmful environmental influences.
Classical Feng Shui and Acupuncture were both developed from studies of natural influences and the Yi Jing (I Ching) or Book of Changes. Acupuncturists studied the Yi Jing to apply its wisdom to the energy patterns of the body, while Feng Shui applied the Yi Jing’s eight major trigrams and the cycles of the five elements to treat a building’s existing energy patterns.
Both also work with Yin and Yang, which are the two primal energies that are polar opposites throughout the universe. The world we live in is in a constant state of change, and these changes are eternal and perpetual. In essence change is a universal law. The Yin/Yang Principle is the constant to and fro movement of these two primal energies.
That explains why there are no “one-size-fits-all” answers or remedies in Acupuncture… or in classical Feng Shui. As an internationally respected instructor for the renowned American Feng Shui Institute, I am dedicated to preserving the science behind the popular folk beliefs, because Feng Shui is truly as complex as Acupuncture. I doubt that you would use a “do-it-yourself” Acupuncture book. Unfortunately, the majority of popular Feng Shui books are written about Feng Shui “Folk Beliefs.” In any culture folk beliefs vary from region-to-region and generation-to-generation, which is why information varies from book-to-book. These folk beliefs are meant to do no harm; however in certain years because they are attempting to simplify a very complex science, they can backfire and actually cause harm.
A few of the “Chinese Folk Beliefs” are based in fact, however there are very few and their logic has been lost through the years. For instance, there is a “Folk Belief” of not moving when you are pregnant. The actual Feng Shui reason for not changing bedrooms when pregnant relates to the Feng Shui energy patterns in your bedroom. Chinese Medicine works with several types of Qi in the body, including the Hun Qi, which is a protective Qi. When we sleep the Hun Qi relaxes, so we are more susceptible to drafts and germs when we sleep. We are also more susceptible to the energy pattern in the area where we sleep. If you were fortunate enough to become pregnant in your current bedroom, you didn’t want to risk moving into a new bedroom with sabotaging energies, such as those energy patterns that cause stomach and abdominal problems, including miscarriages.
Keep in mind that… there’s no such thing as a perfect Feng Shui house, because all buildings have a combination of supportive and sabotaging energy patterns. However, the majority of buildings are easily remedied with the correct elemental remedies, so there is no need for you to live with sabotaging energies. Knowledge truly is power.
A site inspection is always required to diagnose any environmental issues and to obtain an accurate compass reading during a Feng Shui consultation. The ideal time of day to have a Feng Shui analysis of your home is mid-day, while the Sun is high. Compass readings are always taken outside at several locations to ensure accuracy. It isn’t advisable to rely on compass readings taken inside a building, as any metal in the structure itself, can cause an incorrect compass reading. Without an accurate compass reading Feng Shui would be guess work.
The energy patterns of all houses are divided into nine equal sections, much like a tic-tac-toe grid. To draw a grid on your floor plan, divide width by three and the depth by three to make the nine part grid. In Chinese this is called a “Ba Gua” grid, because there are eight outer parts or directions to the grid. “Ba Gua” translates eight sections or portions. For instance, there is “Ba Gua” Tai Chi, which has eight movements. There is nothing magical about a “Ba Gua” symbol, mirror or anything that has eight sides.
Speaking of grids, there isn’t a “Wealth Corner” or “Family Corner” like the popular “do-it-yourself” books would have you believe. Actually each of the nine sections has two inherent energies; one’s called the “People” energy, because it relates to your health and relationships, while the second is the “Money” energy that affects your finances and career. Each of the two inherent energies represents one of the Yi Jing's Trigrams, its element, and has a repeatable circumstance that it creates. The energies or energy combinations with sabotaging circumstances are neutralized with an elemental remedy of either… water features, live plants, fire colors, earth or metal objects that beautiful accent your decor.
Remember, that the Universe is in a constant state of change. Therefore the majority of remedies are NOT permanent… because there’s also an Annual Energy in each section that interacts with the two inherent energies. Each year on the Chinese SOLAR New Year (generally Feb. 4th)… every building in the world has a shift in Annual Energy, which explains why one year will be better or worse in the same house. In other words, the Annual Energy visiting your entrances can either help or harm you for one year. The best way to manage your home or office’s Feng Shui influences is to have an annual update… to avoid any negative circumstances created by the Annual Energy shift.
Even though there isn’t a general “Wealth Corner,” you do have a “Prosperity” 15° direction! You have a unique way of relating to the magnetic fields of Earth from the moment you are born. Barely 5% of Feng Shui professionals in the world can determine all of your Personal Directions and they are not mentioned in any English language books. Along with your “Prosperity” 15° direction, you also have a “Consuming” 15° direction that takes your money away. Wouldn’t you like to know if the direction that brings you money… causes your mate to spend money? You also have a “Lucky” 15° direction that when activated brings you more romantic partners to choose from, but you also have your “Lonely Pillow” 15° direction which can keep you sleeping alone. These 15° Personal Directions are more powerful and over-ride the affects of your basic 45° Trigram directions. Your basic 45° directions are available in a few books ever since the text book for The American Feng Shui Institute… The Principles of Feng Shui was first published in 1991.
When you’re ready to take control of the seen and unseen Feng Shui influences on your daily life, it would be my pleasure to be of service to you. Should you choose another Feng Shui consultant, be sure to verify their credentials and check their references. Also, ask them if they offer annual updates… and if they will teach you how to locate all your 45° and 15° Personal Directions anywhere in the world. After all, without knowing where your “Consuming” and “Lonely” directions are… how would you ever choose a supportive direction for your home or office?
© 2005 P.K. Odle. All rights reserved.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
P.K. Odle is a celebrated classical Yi Jing Feng Shui consultant and the Executive Director of the world-renowned American Feng Shui Institute®, where she has taught since 1998. She created The Feng Shui Advantage's "Lifetime Keys Personal Directions Self-Mastery Toolbox." To learn more about using the ancient Chinese science of Yi Jing Feng Shui to improve your Health, Relationships and Finances... through 16 weeks of FREE TIPS subscribe to her award-winning eNewsletter, The Feng Shui Advantage MONTHLY, at http://www.FengShuiAdvantage.com. The next issue could change your life!
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