Feng Shui and Chi
The word "chi" in feng shui does not refer to air. Chi can be seen everywhere. It is a delicate substance yet known to the modern science. Chi forms the basis of feng shui studies. It is the force of change and transformation that is believed to have created the landscapes of our planet. Does Chi really exist? Yes, it certainly does. Studies in the art of qigong can attest to that. Scientific tests have shown the presence of high level of chi in the bodies of qigong exponents. Not only is chi present in practioners of qigong and people with extra-sensory powers, it exists everywhere in our surroundings and in everything. A gentle breeze, thundering rain, swirling tornadoes, snowflakes, dewdrops, sunlight and moonshine all bring chi to the earth. If you still wonder whether does chi really exist? Let's look at it from another way. There are many illusions in life. At this moment - you may think that you are sitting still, but you and the planet are careering through space at over 30,000 miles per hour. Then, if it were not for columbus, we would believe our planet was flat. The flow of chiChi can flow fast as a rabbit or slow as the turtle who won the race. It climbs up and down, spirals in and our, rises as smoke in a fire, clings like dust on a mirror, ascends to heaven, and sinks into hell. It disperses into the wind, pulses through electrical lines, trickles through walls, and oozes as sap from trees.
Good chi is always in motion, but it cannot exit the same way it enters. When it is unable to leave a space or its motion is stopped, chi quickly becomes stale and stagnated-sour sha. When there are obstacles in its path and its motion is inhibited, obstructed, blocked, or trapped, chi loses motion and buoyancy. It collects in pools, settles into corners, lurks behind doors, slithers under furniture, and sneaks into tiny, hidden spaces behind heavy appliances. It's chi that stretches a balloon and makes it full. The chi from a pin can also pop the balloon and leave you with a shred of colored rubber, the magic all gone. Don't you hate to sit behind a post at a ball game or a concert? Do you like how you look in a warped, curved, or distorted mirror? Stepping on a crack in the sidewalk won't really break your mother's back, bur these and other kinds of blocked, abnormal, or unbalanced perceptions can destabilize your nervous system and create all kinds of problems. Even when the distortion is not immediately visible, such as a broken shelf in the closet, the chi can be thrown off balance. All matter, whether it's blowing in the wind, just got off the bus, or was dragged in by the cat, alters the chi quickly and dramatically, changing its properties, characteristics, and intentions. Things that can impact or alter the chi include:
Every space, whether it is a home, an office, a loft in the sky, a carpenter's basement studio, a factory, theater, restaurant, gymnasium, nightclub, or zoo, has an energy and personality, just like you do. Those who occupy the space interact with its energy in the same way we interact with family, coworkers, or friends. But unlike most people, who change slowly over a period of time, healthy space changes quickly and continuously. The energy of a space is different each day and each hour. Why? Because people, pets, and the elements leave their mark; the most diligent cat burglar will leave a clue, no matter how small or seemingly invisible. Even a space you are obsessed with keeping shipshape will change whether you want it to or not. We live in an ever-changing world. Get used to it. Monitor a space and make the necessary adjustments before you occupy it. Then don't make yourself crazy trying to keep things exactly the same. You may be resisting natural changes. After you adjust the yin/yang to balance the chi, make sure the chi flows freely through the space, touching every room without obstruction before it exits through a door or window that is different from-and if possible far away fromthe entrance. To analyze the flow of chi and discover how it moves through the space, walk slowly from the driveway, walkway, or path to the front door. Is there enough space on the porch or landing to support your entire body as you open the door? Can you get the door open? Once the door is opened, walk into the entry space and take a look around. Then walk through the space, going into every room, upstairs and down, and finally out the exit. Two-story buildings should have a downstairs exit plus a window or door upstairs where the chi can get out. As you explore, look at your feet and let them determine your route. If you trace your path looking straight ahead at eye level, your body will automatically adjust to and move around obstructions, giving you a false indication of the flow. When you're looking at the ground and following your feet, they will automatically stop and will not be able to pass by the obstacles or blockages that the chi encounters as it moves through the space. The chi will probably go along the traffic pattern you envision before starting your investigation, but you might be surprised. Often the way the furniture is arranged directs the chi into a closet, a wall, or a dead-end corner. Carol lived in her parents' house in Honolulu. She wanted to move out, but for some reason never had enough money or energy to do so. Before entering her bedroom, the chi was stopped by a white, free-standing wall with a red/gold picture in the center, like a bull's-eye. As the chi moved down the hall toward her room, the wall stopped it before it could enter her space. Inhibited, obstructed, or confused flow of chi is probably the numbet-one problem to solve with feng shui. Since we humans adapt quickly to any environment we're in and are trained to consider space inconsequential to well-being, we step over boxes, shove aside bags, leave clothes lying around, don't take out the trash, and excel at procrastination, promising we'll do it later. Here are some common situations: Something inhibits, obstructs, or blocks the flow. The way things are placed confuses and disorients the chi or directs it to a place it doesn't want to go, like in a straight line or upside down, backward, or downward. Maybe the chi is directed right our the door, into a corner, or against a wall, where it may become stuck, frustrated, and uptight. Perhaps the flow of chi has holes in it from penetrations by the arrows of pointed-leaf plants or the corner of a table. It could have been cut to bits by a beam, slowed or made frenetic by the colors and patterns on the walls or the shapes of the furniture. Possibly the flow of chi is split in two by a half wall, a divided walkway, or a staircase. Any of these conditions can frustrate, anger, even enrage the chi, causing the occupants to feel the same way. Tension, poor health, and bad luck await those who occupy the space. There are many ways the chi can be blocked, inhibited, or damaged. Just look around you. Now remove obstacles in the flow of chi. Cover, block, deflect, scatter, disperse, break up, or remove any secret arrows caused by interior or exterior features. Create a traffic pattern natural to the chi, one that rises, curves, and moves gently forward from north to south and east to west, from the entrance to the exit. Guide the chi to where you want it to go. How to access Chi?When the chi is not accessible, for example, when it is deep in the ground, high in the sky, far away, confused, or unable to get to where we are, then we must invite it to come to our space and must welcome and encourage it to stay.Light attracts chi and can be used to direct chi around corners and toward other areas. Chi seeks living things and anything that might catch your eye, such as a plant or a colorful picture. Chi is attracted to reflections from mirrors, glass, or shiny objects that send the light rays to penetrate small, dark, angular, or "dead" areas where the chi often gets stuck. In a room where you sit with your back to the door, mirrors can give access to chi as well as provide visibility of the door and anyone entering the room. In areas where the ground is sunken, mirrors placed at the low point will raise the chi. Mirrors can also be used to raise ceilings and expand the apparent size of the room. How to call the chi?Sometimes you'll have to call the chi with displays of bold colors or pleasant sounds that come from bells, chimes, flutes, or even electrical appliances.Chi responds to water in any form, bubbling or calm. Plants and flowers, pretty objects, and whatever attracts your attention is bound to attract the chi. How to direct the Chi?Consider how you give someone directions to find your space, mentioning things he or she will see as markers ("turn right at the street sign, go left at the red fence, cross over the bridge, go around the oak tree, look for the light, and I'll be waiting"). You have to do the same with the chi.A loud bell can announce the arrival of chi and give it a boost as it enters your space. A bright light in the entry says "chi, come here." Inside the house, a plant placed near the entrance to the living room instructs the chi to flow into the room. A fancy table lamp and a red pillow on the sofa instruct the chi to enter. A wind chime hung near the only window shows the chi where the exit is. Patterns on the floor, colors on the wall, and paintings all are creative devices that direct the chi where you want it to go. Stimulate the ChiMovement stimulates chi. Electrical tools and appliances, objects that turn or sway in the wind, running water, or anything that moves can be used to stimulate chi.Sometimes when the chi gets stuck, it gets very heavy and dense, sinks, and loses motion. Then it must be stimulated using something sharp, such as a pointed-leaf plant or a lamp on a thin, tall pole, to puncture the chi, making it lighter so it can flow again. You would not want to use this same antidote, punching holes in the chi, in an empty space. For example, the points of a sharp-leafed plant in the center of an empty room deflate and damage the chi before it can enrich the room or move on to another space. The points also act like secret arrows, attacking anyone seated in or walking through it . Encourage the Chi to stayIf you are attracted to a space and feel good while you occupy it, the chi will also feel welcome and want to stay. Chi likes plants, water, life, light, heat, color, reflection, movement, and curved spaces where it can circulate and escape when it wants to.In conclusion, remember that the chi is the most important consideration in feng shui. Free-flowing chi is a river, stocked with the gifts of long life, prosperity, and health. Make sure there is enough chi and that it is flowing freely through space, bringing you every rich treasure you deserve.
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