Feng shui (literally "wind and water") is a one thousand-year-old Chinese art whose aim is to harmonize the energy (Qi) of a place so as to promote health, wellbeing and prosperity of its occupants. It is one of Taoists Arts, as are Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) or acupuncture, with which it shares a common base of knowledge. For centuries, the Chinese have referred to it to design their cities, build their houses and bury their dead. Today, many people look for specialists' advice for private projects and the business world consults Feng Shui experts to decide about the layout of their offices.

Principles

The guiding principle of Feng Shui is free Qi flow. This freedom of movement will be influenced by shapes and the materials part of the environment. This discipline is based on the theory of the 5 elements (Earth, Metal, Water, Wood, Fire) and on the Yin and Yang principle. The balance of all these forces determines the quality of Qi.

Qi

All what surrounds and makes the human being is energy. The goal of Feng Shui consists in supporting the energy flows in order to feel in harmony with the environment. Energy must be able to move fluidly, naturally, without encountering obstacles in order to be positive.

Feng Shui room by room

• The entry of the house

For those entering the house, the entry gives the first impression on the dwelling and those who live there. It is a very important room because it is through there that the inhabitants of the house will receive universal energy that will then be spread inside. The room must be welcoming and well lit, with objects fueling happiness generating a harmonious space.

Practical considerations: when the entry is small, a mirror can be used to increase space and help energy to diffuse inside the house. But be careful not to place a mirror opposite the entry, that would push energy back outside. The entry of a house often opens on a staircase which leads Qi without letting it circulate in the other rooms. In order to slow down energy and channel it differently, a carpet or a chandelier can be used. It is necessary to avoid untidiness and cumbersome furniture which could block Qi and prevent it from being propagated in the habitat.

• Kitchen

The kitchen is also a very important room since it is where the meals are prepared and it is also the place where the family meets. The kitchen must be a clean and healthy space. Surfaces evoking nature, presence of colors, luminosity of the room, textures and shapes will make the activities of the place pleasant and will wake up the senses.

Practical considerations: if you cook with your back to the door, use a mirror to reflect the space behind you. The range (or cooking stove) must face towards a beneficial direction. Avoid acute angles for the working surfaces; they act as "arrows" if they point towards chairs.

Paint the walls with light and relaxing colors and avoid bright colors. Use yellow to create a cordial atmosphere for example.

• The living room

The living room is generally a central part which is used for relaxation or to host visitors. It must release a convivial atmosphere and one must fell at ease there. Sofas and comfortable armchairs laid out so as to facilitate exchanges must be found in the living room, a quiet corner reserved for reading or music. Electric lighting must be diversified and adapted to the needs of the room; you can thus create in the living room several different spaces: intimate for the conversation corner, directional lamps to draw attention to a precise element. The images and curios must be pleasant for the eye, evoke peace and serenity.

Practical considerations: the best exposures for the living room are south, south-east or south-west. The living room should be of regular shape (square or rectangular) to provide stability and to prevent energy from stagnating in blind angles. The windows and the door will have to be visible so as to give a feeling of safety. If armchairs and sofas are not against a wall, recreate the safety of the wall by placing a table behind the seat.

• The dining room

The dining room is a meeting place for family or friends to share a meal and chat. The colours of the dining room must be rather bright and stimulating to open the appetite. Certain colours are used to create an atmosphere, for example beige to create a relaxed environment, green to favor communication, pink or red for a romantic dinner and yellow for warmth and the family meal.

Practical considerations: the shape of the table is important; a round table inspires relaxation while a square or rectangular table encourages stability.

• The bedroom

Le layout of the room must support relaxation and sentimental relations and also make it possible to rest appropriately.

The best position for the bed is against a wall with enough space for two tables and it must be oriented in one of our favorable directions. The room being a place for resting, it is preferable not to put a desk or books which would stimulate mental activity.

Practical considerations: place the bed diagonally to the door and visualize the entry of the bedroom to feel safe. If the door is not visible from the bed, place a mirror which will make it possible to see it. Doors and windows should not face each other in order not to create too much energy movement that would affect the sleep. Prefer natural fiber materials for the bed (wood, wool mattress, cotton sheets, etc) to allow it to breathe. Leave enough space under it to let the air circulate.

• The bathroom

The location of the bathroom is very important in Feng Shui. Indeed, it is seen as water drainage and thus symbolizes the evacuation of Qi.

Practical considerations: keep the bathroom door always closed so that the QI of the house does not get there and be evacuated. It must be located the furthest away from the kitchen and the dining room, and not be opposite the entry door.

Feng Shui at work

We are rather many spending a good part of our life at our work place, the decoration or its layout is as important as that of a house. The future of a company will depend mainly on the characteristics of the main entry, which must be proportional to the building and which must open in the most favorable direction. For a good space layout it is necessary to take into account the dimensions and the shapes of the various rooms, the position of the director's office and the distribution of the pieces of furniture and offices. The hall must be large, welcoming, well lit to give a good impression to the customers but also so that the employees enter in a positive way. When the entry is narrow, the use of mirrors will contribute to increase space but be careful not to put any in front of the entry door, that would push energy back outside. The position of the desk can have consequences on work output. It is always necessary to have the back protected and to be able to control at a glance the door or the windows. It is of primary importance to feel safe and comfortable; sitting down with a window behind is never advised because it deprives support. The shape of the desk can also be determining: round shapes, half-circles or ovals favor creativity and tables with linear shapes are adapted for analysis and thought. The acute angles of the rectangular desks placed in a room create aggressive arrows which disturb the harmony of the place. Plants can be placed so as to soften these angles.

Feng Shui and Golf

Feng Shui wakes up our senses for our environment. A golf course has a balanced environment in which all our senses are in harmony. The encounter and the contact with nature, the beauty of the place and the landscapes, the undulating shapes and the pleasant colors are major elements which facilitate energy flow and consequently bring much wellbeing and relaxation. The Club House must become an intimate place which invites conviviality. A Feng Shui space is characterized by a clear space, the orientation and the layout of the furniture. A discrete and filtered lighting encourages relaxation. Natural colors and materials contribute to create a haven of peace, relaxing for the mind. Dark and glossy Wood, curved lines and comfortable armchairs favor a good Qi.

Advices: http://www.espacefengshui.com/