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that the sections on Aromatherapy, Bach Flower Remedies, Colour Therapy, Feng
Shui and Homeopathy are not our areas of expertise and the information is from
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(For more information see R Craze (1994) 'Feng Shui for Beginners', London: Hodder and Stoughton) Our sense of home is a reflection of our inner being. When we invite beauty into our homes, we lavish the same kind of love and attention upon ourselves. Conversely, when we neglect our surroundings, we experience a withdrawal of life-energy. If this sounds unlikely, recall how it feels to arrive home feeling tired and hungry after a long day - only to see the rubbish bin overflowing, the remains of breakfast still on the table and a pile of dirty dishes in the sink. For thousands of years this is what the Chinese believed, and feng shui, the art of placement, still thrives in Hong Kong and in variant forms in Bali and Japan. The purpose of feng shui is to design buildings and arrange furniture and fittings for the most beneficial flow of chi or life-force energy. Chi flows through our bodies and our surroundings. When the flow becomes impeded, it causes problems such as lack of money, ill health, arguments and unhappiness. When chi is able to flow freely, say the feng shui masters, obstacles - financial, emotional and physical - melt away like snow in the sunshine. The flow of chi is impeded by such things as clutter, blocked doors, odd-shaped rooms and buildings (L-shapes for example) and bad siting, like facing the end of a cul-de-sac or a graveyard. 'Cures' for such problems are identified as 8 different types of 'remedies' and include plants, wind chimes, crystals and most of all mirrors. The Eight Remedies Light - This includes lights, mirrors and reflective surfaces. Mirrors are probably the mostly widely known feng shui remedy. They can be used in most situations. They will reflect bad ch'i back out of a building, encourage good ch'i in by capturing a pleasant view from outside, lighten and enlarge small dark rooms, deflect ch'i around hidden corners, even alter and change the psychology of a room. Use in conjunction with lights they can transform a room completely. Lights should be as bright as possible without causing glare. The Chinese use a lot of lights outside of the house and in the garden to fill in missing or dead ch'i. Sound - Anything that makes sound can be used: wind chimes, bells, metal mobiles, bamboo tubes, etc. Melodic noises can help break up stagnant ch'i by causing swirls and eddies of sound in the air. Wind chimes also act as gentle alarms to tell us when someone has entered our house. Pleasing and harmonious sounds are also good attractants of lucky ch'i. The sound of water flowing is very beneficial. Fountains can be seen both as movement and sound. Colour - Colour stimulates the flow of ch'i. The Chinese are especially partial to red and black. These are lucky colours associated with attracting wealth. In the West we usually prefer more subtle colour schemes but it is useful to remember that a sudden patch of strong, bright colour in a stagnating room can stimulate ch'i quite effectively. Life - Plants are mainly used to fill in blank areas where there isn't any ch'i. They can be used to hide disruptive sharp corners that poke into rooms and stimulate ch'i in stagnant areas. Large plants can be used to slow ch'i down when it is being directed too quickly along straight lines. Fish in aquariums are also used for the same purpose. Movement - Wherever ch'i needs to be stimulated or deflected use a moving object. The Chinese use flags, silk banners, ribbons, fountains, wind chimes, mobiles and weather vanes. Moving objects should use the natural power of wind if possible and be made of natural materials. The smoke from incense can be regarded as movement and be used beneficially, but obviously only in the short term. Flowing water brings ch'i to the building but it should move gently and gurgle rather than roar. Stillness - Any large inanimate object such as a statue or large rock can bring a stillness to an area where ch'i is moving too fast. This is especially beneficial in gardens where the path to a front gate can cause the ch'i to leave too quickly. Any statues used should blend harmoniously into the landscape and have a particular relevance to the occupier. A small shrine, if you are so inclined, can generate stillness in a house and give a focal point to an area that needs lifting; it can also be a useful focus for our spiritual life which shouldn't be neglected. Mechanical devices - In traditional feng shui this usually means machinery but nowadays it can be extended to include any electrical equipment we need to use; televisions, stereos, electrical fans and computers. Electricity and ch'i need to be harmoniously regarded if they are not to clash: both need to be treated with respect. Electrical equipment can stimulate ch'i, but can sometimes overdo it, so keep it to a minimum. As we all live within a 'ring-main' we need to be aware of the effects electricity has on us and our homes. Keep it simple is probably the best advice for the practice of good feng shui. Straight lines - The Chinese use flutes, swords, scrolls, bamboo tubes and fans to break up ch'i when it moves heavily or sluggishly, especially along beams and down long corridors. The straight lines are hung at an angle to create an octagonal shape and that helps to direct the ch'i away from the beam or corridor and back into the rooms.
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