Are you someone that likes rules? Chances are that you dont. Very few people do. Most everyone appreciates a few guidelines here and there, but usually appreciates being able to have some room for free expression and latitude.
This is one reason that many people enjoy practicing feng shui. While it has a number of important principles and guidelines, there aren't any hard and fast rules of feng shui.
So if there arent any hard and fast rules of feng shui, how can one go about applying it to your life?
There Are No Rules of Feng Shui, But There Are Principles
A rule is a harsh, rigid institution that doesn't allow for a lot of personal flexibility or freedom. A lot of the time, you have to follow a rule, whether you want to or not - for instance, stop signs aren't just a suggestion.
On the other hand, a principle is more of a guiding thought which allows for a great deal of latitude for someone to make up their own minds about things. Principles are like a ceiling under which there is a great deal of movement.
If you were thinking that feng shui is a set list of strict rules which have to be adhered to, you will be pleased to know that it is not like that at all. Feng shui is about making your home and work environments work for you personally. The personal factors that you can enjoy and appreciate the renewed energy and vitality they bring into your life are not the same factors that work for every person. Saying that there are feng shui rules is actually counterproductive to the entire feng shui science.
Of course, that doesn't mean that there are no guidelines to follow. There are plenty of strong principles to feng shui. For instance, feng shui (as well as many professional designers), teaches that using bright colors will lend a feeling of vitality, warmth, and energy to a space. You may want to use shades of orange or yellow in any space that you want to have feel lively and energetic. Breakfast nooks and kitchens are a popular way to do this.
However, the way you apply this principle and to what degree is up to you and your own individual taste. Imagine if the rules of feng shui demanded that you paint your kitchen orange, and it was your most hated color! Many have also found that what works for them is to introduce these elements in small doses, in accent items, artwork, and so on, rather than coloring a room completely in one particular color.
Creating Your Own Feng Shui Rules
Applying feng shui in your home is up to your personal preference. Everything needs to function for you as an individual, or you won't be at peace in your home. If you're thinking about getting the advice of someone who's an expert in feng shui, don't allow them to insist that there are hard rules of feng shui. There's no such thing, and all principles need to be comfortable to work for you.
Rules Of Feng Shui
The Feng Shui energy (or Chi) of an object, person, or place, relates to whatever is in its space, and the flow of Chi is unique in every living environment. These forces are always moving and always seeking balance (Yin and Yang), which rely on the Five Elements of water, wood, metal, earth, and fire, and they are believed to affect everything we do. Each element has its own particular energy that radiates to everyone and everything else in its proximity.
Although the properties of Feng Shui elements are individually important, what is more important is the positive or destructive effect that each element can have on the other. If for example, you have a room that lacks the wood element, you would have to supply a water element as well, because water is what enables wood to grow. Feng Shui elements can either be harmonious and unified, or they can be ridden with conflict and cause anxiousness, worry and depression. Each element has its unique properties, and I've listed them below:
Water
Water is fluid, and can signal networking, communication, professional opportunities and wealth. It also indicates travel and communication and relates to literature, the arts, and the media. Water can be both gentle (like soft rainfall) or violent (like a hurricane). Water nourishes all living things, but can also wear away the hardest rock.
Wood
Wood promotes creative energies and development. It can be pliant and bending, like the willow, or strong and unyielding, like the oak. Wood is sociable and community minded. It also represents birth and early childhood.
Metal
Metal elements are transmitters and they conduct energy. Metal generates harvest, business and success. On the negative side, metal also indicates the sword and can be destructive and violent. Various types of metals are considered very precious for their association with health. For example, many people wear copper bracelets for this reason. But too much metal in a living space can attract too much energy and can be destructive.
Earth
Earth gives stability and represents permanence. It's associated with real estate and legacies. Earth can be patient, just, honest and methodical. However, it can also be smothering and demanding. It should be used in moderation.
Fire
The element of fire is considered the most powerful of all five elements and represents energy and passion. It can also be a sign of danger. When there is too much fire present, it can be destructive. Fire warms and cheers, but it can also burn and destroy.
To Feng Shui believers, each of these elements has its own unique personality that either enables it to "get along with" the other elements, or it will be in discord with them when the balance is not right. To find such balance, it would indeed require a systematic study of spiritual Feng Shui. Happy trails to those seeking Feng Shui enlightenment; seek and you just might find!
Both Kyle Richey & Timothy Green are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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