The art of Feng Shui is a philosophy that focuses on balance, harmony, and improving the quality of life. Despite being thousands of years old, it is still relevant and beneficial today. The practice make use of certain products to manage an energy known as qi, or chi using the English pronunciation, which is the essential flow of energy present within and around all objects, both animate or inanimate.

Some of the manifestations of chi according to the ancient art form, starting with the most subtle and ending with the most tangible, include:

- Vibrations

- Light

- Pressure

- Colors

- Sounds

- Temperature

- Solid matter

Tips When Shopping

When shopping for these products, some specifics to keep in mind include the image or patterns of the item, the material it is made from, the shape and the color. The color of an object greatly influences the effects it may have on the emotional and physical well being of a person. In Feng Shui, all colors are divided into either the Yin (cool) category, or the Yang (warm) category.

Many products used for Feng Shui purposes are unique, one-of-a-kind pieces that are carefully handcrafted by artisans from countries all around the globe. Decorative accents and embellishments you can use are not limited to the Chinese culture or its symbols. In fact, when choosing such products, you should choose one that mesh with or enhance the area where the item will be used or displayed. Here are some popular products you may want to consider getting.

Bagua

The Feng Shui Bagua map is a tool used to enhance your environment through the placement of objects based on the four directions- north, south, east, and west, and the five main elements- water, fire, earth, wood, and metal.

The Bagua, also written ba gua, consists of separate squares and is an essential part of the ancient practice. Using this tool, literally any space, regardless of its size, can be divided or separated into the nine areas or gua, with each area corresponding to a specific aspect of life. Bagua may even be applied to certain areas of the home rather than entire rooms, and should always be aligned or oriented with your front door, even if another entrance is used more often.

Ammolities

Besides the Bagua map, prosperity stones are perhaps one of the most widely used Feng Shui products today. Also referred to as the Ammolites, these stones are believed to have healing properties and are used by those with emotional and psychological ailments, as well as by those with a desire to heal their spiritual selves in addition to their physical self.

Mirrors

Mirrors are another item often used in this to remedy different situations such as to “send back” undesirable images, reflect and redirect the path of chi, or to prevent chi from moving into another space. Mirrors are also useful for bringing a space into harmony, enlarging an area or room, and also to promote wealth, good fortune, and positive thinking.

Others

Other products may include either specially designed or regular compasses, a variety of organizational tools, and a host of books and guides written on the fascinating subject. Good luck symbols, such as a metal gourd referred to as the Calabash, are also used for promoting longevity and good health.

Other items commonly used in the practice to achieve harmony and inner peace are:

- Artwork

- Bells, gongs

- Bowls

- Boxes

- Candles

- Chimes, wind chimes

- Coins

- Crystals

- Fabrics

- Gardening items

- Incense

- Jewelry

- Fountains

- Mobiles

- Paints

- Smudge sticks

- Statues, deities

- Sun catchers

Conclusion

Whichever Feng Shui product you choose, do ensure that it matches your needs. If you are in doubt, you can always consult your consultant who can assist you in such selection.

Are you interested to find out what is Feng Shui? Download our free report on how to Clear Your Life’s Clutter With Feng Shui and learn valuable Feng Shui tips to improve your Feng Shui Home today.

The five element form of feng shui classifies various aspects of interior design according to their relationship to the predominant forces in nature. The Chinese five element system views wood, fire, earth, metal and water as the primary natural elements. Homes and interior decorative objects may be balanced through it with one or more of the five elements in the following ways: using the actual element for construction (i.e. wood), using something that is symbolic of the element (i.e. fountain) and using colors or shapes representing the element.

The five element system of feng shui is both a philosophical and practical approach to assessing human wellness on physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels. This unique classification system helps to explain patterns of behavior and how our own energy levels mirror the transformational cycles in the natural world.

By analyzing your compatibility with the five elements-wood, fire, water, earth, and metal-you can determine excesses or deficiencies in these energies in your personality and your surroundings. Understanding the five elements and balancing them through the use of this can thereby increase your vitality. Let’s examine the five basic types of energy.

Wood energy is constantly in motion, driven to grow and expand like the green shoots bursting forth in spring. A person with a predominantly “wood” personality seeks new challenges and adventures. Wood personalities tend to be competitive, bold, direct and ambitious. If you desire to strengthen the qualities of wood in your personality, the most appropriate art would include landscapes, florals, and gardens.

Fire energy is characterized by its ability to give off warmth and attract others. Predominately “fire” types place a great deal of emphasis on interpersonal relationships. According to five element feng shui, they are romantic and idealistic, enthusiastic and emotional. Fire energy is the energy of life, represented by sunshine, warm-blooded animals and people. To strengthen your fire energy, art including people and animals is appropriate. On the other hand, if you tend to be overly excited and overly dependent on relationships with others, fire energy can be balanced by emphasizing the other four elements, especially water.

Water has the ability to change effortlessly without losing its essential character. In five element feng shui, water types are resourceful and single-minded, flowing over problems like a river. Water types also have the ability to pool their resources to be in a position of strength when opportunities arises. The art that is useful for strengthening the water element depicts rivers, waterfalls or the ocean. Any design with asymmetrical, flowing shapes or curved lines is representative of water. To bring water symbolism into your environment, choose art incorporating glass, crystals, fountains or mirrors.

The earth element is able to absorb excesses of the other elements. Earth personalities are forgiving and compassionate. Earth types are wonderful friends and great listeners. Earth types have an affinity for ceramics, tile, stucco, bricks and adobe. To strengthen earth energy, use depictions of deserts, fields, and farms.

Metal is characterized by exceptional strength and endurance. According to the traditions of feng shui, people with metal as their predominant compatibility are disciplined and strong-willed. Metal types are often creative and seek to out picture the highest aspirations of life in their work and art. To strengthen metal energy, chose images that include majestic mountains that are firmly grounded but reaching towards the heavens.

Achieving balance through five element feng shui is a matter of emphasizing one or more elements for an intended purpose. Each of the five elements support or nourish each other in some way and can also limit or control each other in other ways. Creating your own personal paradise in your surroundings with an appropriate balance of the five elements will result in a strong foundation for increased happiness and success in all areas of your life.

Kathleen Karlsen, MA is an artist, writer and design consultant residing in Bozeman, Montana. Fine art and unique gifts by Kathleen and other selected artists can be found at http://www.livingartsoriginals.com Visit us today to find a wonderful addition to your home decor or a gift for someone special! For an extensive article about flower symbolism see http://www.livingartsoriginals.com/infoflowersymbolism.htm

Feng shui, a 5,000 year old art aimed at aligning buildings with the fundamental forces of nature, is a unique approach to indoor environments. Feng shui works much like acupuncture. This uses “cures” to reestablish the proper energy flow in a building by removing energy blockages and stimulating stagnant areas. In feng shui, each area of the home relates to an area in our lives. By increasing the energy, or chi, in these areas, a corresponding improvement can take place in the life of the occupant. Instead of acupuncture needles, it uses objects as diverse as wind chimes, mirrors, plants, fountains, lights and crystals.

There are three major types of feng shui. The Form School emphasizes the building site and the shape of the surrounding landscape. The Compass School is similar to western astrology and focuses on mathematical calculations related to the direction the building faces. The Black Hat School uses the building’s entrances as key elements in determining the energy flow.

The Black Hat School of feng shui evolved through geographic and historical stages in India, Tibet and China. Now the most popular form of feng shui in America, proponents of the Black Hat School claim that this approach is the most aesthetic, intuitive and spiritual.

By orienting a building around the main entrance, the Black Hat approach it quickly establishes nine power areas. This configuration, known as the bagua, divides the building into areas related to wealth, fame, marriage, children/creativity, helpful people/travel, career, knowledge and family. The ninth area is representative of health and is in the center of the home. Since health is often a combination of social, psychological and physical factors, this central position is affected by all of the other areas.

One of the most exciting aspects of feng shui is creating healthy environments by imitating the balance of the five elements that occurs in appealing outdoor settings. Adding an indoor pond to your front entrance, a large mural of a forest to the wall of your living room, or stars and constellations to the ceiling of your bedroom can give your home and your life a significant boost!

Some aspects of feng shui are common sense. For example, removing clutter from your home makes accidents less likely. Other aspects of it have been researched scientifically. In any case, an understanding it deepens our understanding of our own lives and psychology and can lead to a more energetic and vibrant life in every way.

Kathleen Karlsen, MA is an artist, writer and design consultant residing in Bozeman, Montana. Fine art and unique gifts by Kathleen and other selected artists can be found at http://www.livingartsoriginals.com Visit us today to find a wonderful addition to your home decor or a gift for someone special! For an extensive article about flower symbolism see http://www.livingartsoriginals.com/infoflowersymbolism.htm