Many books have been written about the Taoist practice of symbolic space exploration. Some authors call teaching art, others science, and still others pseudoscience. This current arose in ancient China, where it found its practical application in many spheres of human activity: state, military, medical, agriculture, astrology, and everyday life. Today it is also used for various purposes, for example, adherents of this knowledge assume that feng shui an apartment should help not only put things in order in it, but also achieve success, increase material wealth, find a companion life.
Content
- What is Feng Shu
- Feng Shui basics
- The main taboos
- Colors and their combinations (according to feng shui)
- Features of creating an interior in different rooms
- Hallway / corridor
- Living room
- Kitchen
- Bedroom
- Children
- Cabinet
- Bathroom and toilet
- Mirrors in the interior of feng shui
- Flowers and Plants
- Paintings and panels
- Zones and their distribution in the apartment
- Career zone
- Zone of wisdom and knowledge
- Travel zone
- Family and health area
- Zone for children and creativity
- Wealth zone
- Zone of love and marriage
- How to choose the right apartment in Feng Shui
- Conclusion
What is Feng Shu
Feng Shui as a movement originated more than five thousand years ago. It has developed over many generations, influencing the Chinese civilization and its culture. The philosophical base of this direction is very extensive, it includes many views based on on a complex of views taken from the I Ching (Book of Changes) and Tao Te Ching (The Book of the Way and dignity). If the authorship of the first treatise is unknown, although some historians attribute it to the mythical Fu Xi, the second was written by Lao Tzu (6-5 centuries BC).
For a long time, knowledge was secret, they were not recorded, passed from father to son. The trained masters were respected people, without their advice, important decisions were not made. Only since the founding of schools in the 9th century AD, after they set out the basic rules on paper, feng shui became a real teaching. However, no one in the world knew about him. The first information about this system in Europe appeared only in 1873, after the publication of the book "Feng Shui or Rudiments of the Natural Sciences in China", written by the missionary Ernst Eitel.
The worldwide spread of the current began from the moment Mao Zedong came to power, who considered this discipline as contradictory to the new communist ideology. The masters who fled from the Celestial Empire dispersed to different countries, where they continued their practice. Gradually, the philosophy of the direction began to spread among the inhabitants. The peak of popularity reached in the United States at the end of the 20th century, after Thomas Lin Yu significantly simplified the teaching by creating symbolic (isoteric) feng shui.
The new system formed in 1986 was very different from the traditional one, which included complex calculations, formulas, laws developed over centuries. The Chinese American divided the living space into different zones responsible for love, wealth, success, career, health, etc. In addition to the correct arrangement of furniture, interior items, to activate a certain area of steel various figurines, amulets, talismans are popularized, allowing to improve life, to solve life Problems.
Unlike simplified teaching, classical feng shui is a whole science based on centuries of observation of nature. Literally translated as wind and water. The main goal is to search for favorable flows of qi energy, which is the basis of everything. In the traditional view, there is no concept of zones. Each house, like a person, is unique, the energy of housing is calculated individually, with taking into account time and space, to determine the direction of arrival and accumulation of positive energy qi.
Feng Shui basics
The main characteristics of the teaching were systematized by two basic schools, based on different, but consistent positions. The school of forms (landscape) was formed in the southern provinces of China. She teaches the principle of the influence of the terrain and the energy produced by the landscape on a person. The masters living in the north of the country created a compass school (of three periods), which is based on the knowledge of the dependence of everything on the cardinal points according to the traditional Lo Pan compass.
Recently, many new educational areas have appeared that combine and interpret the knowledge of both trends. Unlike classical feng shui, it does not take much time to study their concepts, but they do not carry true knowledge. For example, such establishments include: "Black Hat", founded in 1986 by Thomas Lin Yu; "Eight Life Positions", which has existed since 1995. Regardless of the point of view chosen, in order to understand the principles of feng shui, you need to know its fundamental foundations:
- Chi energy. Translated as vitality, vitality, spirit, breath. Qi is the energy of the material and non-material world. It is all-encompassing and elusive, in constant motion, but never disappears. There are several types of qi that are manifestations of the same energy: human, social, heavenly, natural, domestic. They all affect a person's life. Correctly directed and concentrated flows ensure prosperity, fame, well-being, good luck.
- Yin and Yang. These are the two primordial forces that govern the universe. They are opposite to each other, but do not contradict each other. If yin means the dark side, passivity, the feminine principle, then yang represents the light direction, activity, masculine aspect. Together they symbolize harmony. They cannot exist separately, and when yang reaches its peak, yin is generated in it, and vice versa. The endlessness of the process can be seen in the illustration of the traditional symbol.
- Wu Xing Theory (Five Elements). Xin is defined as movement and change. According to Chinese ideas, any phenomenon or object is a synthesis of the qualities of five elements: water, fire, wood, earth, metal. Each of them has its own characteristics. They all generate and simultaneously destroy each other. Only by achieving balance between them, you can achieve harmony and prosperity.
- Bagua symbol. A sacred octagon based on eight trigrams. Bagua has nine main sections - 8 equal sectors and a center. Each part corresponds to a certain compass direction, one or more values. All parties are of the same importance, are in constant interaction, the weakening of one of them can lead to negative consequences for the other aspects.
It is impossible to present all the concepts of Feng Shui within the framework of one article. But no less important are: the magic square of Lo-shu, closely related to the Bagua symbol; energy sha, si and shen; time of day that influences decision making; ruler, one "quantum" long (432 mm); four defenders protecting the house from the outside from different sides; other symbols.
The main taboos
Feng Shui is a teaching about a harmonious life. It is used in various fields. It is used as a method for the prevention of physiological and mental diseases. Also, experienced craftsmen can help with building a house, organizing a workplace, arranging an interior, choosing the most appropriate time to start a business. As in every science, it has its own rules and prohibitions. In order not to break away from the topic under consideration, we will dwell in more detail on what cannot be done when arranging a one-room apartment in Feng Shui.
First of all, you should pay attention to the place of residence. It is not worth buying a house near a busy highway, the constant flow of cars carries away positive energy. If possible, it is better to settle outside the city near a lake or river, in extreme cases, in a residential area near a park or square. It is also worth taking a closer look at the neighbors. Neighborhood with disadvantaged people implies a lack of positive energy around, which can negatively affect your whole life as a whole.
An important factor is the interior arrangement in the house, here the following prohibitions can be distinguished:
- Trash and rubbish. You cannot store unnecessary things in the apartment, since the energy of the sha is collected in them.
- Broken items. A dwelling is compared to a living organism; accordingly, a faulty thing upsets the entire balance, leading to a loss of qi.
- Combining the kitchen with the living room. It is forbidden to make redevelopment, combine the kitchen area and the resting place in a single room. Luck builds up in the hall.
- The floors are of different levels. Podiums, multi-level structures, even flooring differences in different rooms break the energy space, split life into several pieces.
- Bathroom and toilet. The doors to the bathroom, as well as the toilet lid, must be closed. The premises must be kept clean. Repair leaks in a pipe or tap immediately.
- Doors and windows. They should not be located opposite each other. It is also not allowed to put a trash can in front of the entrance lobby.
- Airing. To maintain harmony between yin and yang, it is necessary to ventilate the house. You cannot keep the windows closed all the time, even in winter, so that the qi does not stagnate.
- Mirrors. It is forbidden to put them in front of any door, in the bedroom of the spouses. If they are broken, cracked, chipped, then you need to get rid of them.
- Bagua zones. Dwelling zoning should be done in accordance with the sacred octagon.
- Negative things. It is forbidden to keep objects in the apartment that cause sadness, despondency, fear. It is worth giving up the terrible figures, paintings depicting violence.
Colors and their combinations (according to feng shui)
According to the doctrine, a person's life is directly influenced by colors, health, wealth, and success depend on their correct combination. They can be used according to the principle of the theory of the five elements (wu-hsing), which is a product of the interaction and struggle of yin and yang. Each element has its own color scheme, namely:
- water - blue, black tint;
- tree - green;
- fire is red;
- the ground is yellow;
- metal - white, silver, metallic.
Each background has its own characteristic. For example, red has a powerful energy, blue personifies calmness, green symbolizes harmony, balance, wisdom. To combine them correctly, one should rely on the principles of birth, destruction, weakening of the elements. Let's start by looking at positive shade matching:
- gold and red - the union promises good luck and money;
- black and white - symbolize the two beginnings of yin and yang;
- yellow with white - means the desire for power;
- green and red - will help to achieve fame.
As already noted, the elements can not only strengthen each other, but also oppress. Therefore, not all colors can be combined with each other. For example, water and fire will conflict with each other, therefore, red and blue are incompatible. By the same analogy, because of the enmity of the elements, it is impossible to combine white and green, black and yellow, cyan and purple, and other shades.
Features of creating an interior in different rooms
The question related to the arrangement of an apartment most often arises when buying it, when it is empty and not cluttered. For those people who decide to make repairs, or radically change their lives, it is initially necessary carry out a general cleaning, get rid of broken and unused things, eliminate all faults. Only after that you can start decorating your home using Feng Shui. It should be borne in mind that each room in the house has its own characteristics, should be framed according to certain rules.
Hallway / corridor
The hallway always follows the front door. Its size is not important, the main thing is design and layout. It depends on these parameters whether the shen will stay in the house or hasten to leave it. The energy must flow into a spacious and bright room. If the corridor is small, then it is necessary to visually enlarge it with the help of mirrors. And due to the fact that windows are rarely found in such rooms, it is necessary to properly organize an artificial lighting system, install a sconce, choose a central chandelier that diffuses light.
The staircase (if any) should not be located opposite the entrance. Existing engineering communications must be hidden under finishing materials. The doors to the bathroom, the bed, the fireplace, viewed from the entrance, also provoke the Shen to leave. The kitchen leading to the corridor must be permanently closed. It is also very bad if the doorways that open into the hallway are opposite each other. Then the energy cannot decide where to move and is reborn into a sha, bringing failure and illness.
Living room
The living room is the spiritual center of the whole house. She must be spacious and bright. It is necessary to attract the maximum amount of positive energy here, therefore it is required to make a free path, to remove all obstacles that impede the flow. To do this, a bright carpet is laid in the corridor, or the path is decorated with a floor covering. Sconces and pictures are hung on the walls, wind chimes and crystals are installed.
The layout of the room itself must be done according to the pakua octagon. First, the center of attraction is selected, which is created around one of the sectors, it is desirable to give preference to family, marriage, in extreme cases, wealth. It is better to place a place for guests or the head of the family near the fireplace, it should not be opposite the front door. The sofa and armchairs must stand with their backs to the wall.
The room should not have a lot of furniture, plants, various accessories. The central area should be left free. If there is a low table, then it should be decorated with a vase of yellow flowers. When creating a setting, you need to take into account the color scheme, which is performed according to the theory of wu-hsing. However, one cannot focus on one shade, so as not to drown out the rest of the elements.
Kitchen
The kitchen area is one of the most visited places in the whole house. Her condition reflects the well-being of the family. It should have a lot of free space for comfortable movement. In no case should this room be made a walk-through, additional exits to anywhere are prohibited here. Items should be placed taking into account the five elements. The stove must be removed from the refrigerator and sink. The elements of fire and water should be separated by wood.
The kitchen should not be cluttered with extraneous things. The work surface must be kept clean. Spices, jars, kitchen utensils should be kept in closed cabinets. Open shelves, sharp corners and objects create negative energy. The refrigerator should not be placed in the south, it is better to choose the west side. It is required to monitor the balance of all elements, wood should not prevail over metal, fire over water, and so on.
Bedroom
A person spends a third of his life in a dream. At this moment, he is relaxed and defenseless, most susceptible to energy. The bedroom is an intimate area, the interior should be calm and pacifying. The general decoration and color palette must correspond to the size of the room. For a small room, you should choose airy, pastel colors that create a sense of space and freedom.
The main attribute is the bed. When placing it, it is worth considering the basic rule - it should not be opposite the doorway. At the same time, it is installed so that a person can sleep with his feet or head to the window. No hanging objects should be placed above the bed. The room should be kept clean. Foreign objects that do not correspond to the function of the room must be removed.
Children
It is desirable that the nursery is located near the parent's bedroom in the eastern part of the house. A favorable atmosphere in the room where the baby spends most of the time is important for his health. After all, here children not only sleep, but also play, learn, therefore, it is better to shift the balance towards yang. The interior should be bright and lively, but in moderation so that the child is not very aroused before going to bed.
The workplace is best located in the northeast, in the corner of the room. Also, there should be as much free space as possible. It is also necessary to remember about the upbringing of the child, to teach him from childhood to order and cleanliness. For this, wardrobes with a closed facade and bedside tables with drawers should be provided, where the baby could store toys, textbooks, personal belongings.
Cabinet
Mental activity depends on the state of health, mood, tone. Therefore, when decorating an office, the arrangement of furniture and the color scheme are equally important. The best colors for decoration are a combination of green and red. The main attribute in the room is a table. It should not be facing the front door; sitting with your back to the window is also undesirable. A lot of free space should be left in front of it.
You cannot make an office in a walk-through room. However, in an apartment it is not always possible to allocate a separate room for these purposes. In this case, an empty seat is selected in the living room, bedroom, on the balcony. At the same time, it should not conflict with the general interior. Particular attention should be paid to lighting, it should be made multi-level. The workplace must be kept clean at all times.
Bathroom and toilet
The bathroom is the place where the accumulated qi energy leaves the house. It should be located in the northern part of the house, but not opposite the front door. The doorway in the room must be permanently closed, like the toilet lid. Bathroom and toilet must be separated by a partition or wall. In apartments where these zones are combined in a single space, you can install screens, curtains, wardrobes.
In Feng Shui there are no strict guidelines for the style of the premises. It doesn't matter what style is chosen, the main thing is a competent and comfortable environment. In finishing, preference should be given to natural materials such as wood, stone, metal. To expand the space, you should use functional roomy furniture. Mandatory attributes are a bathroom bowl, a mirror, a sink.
Mirrors in the interior of feng shui
Any mirror affects the surrounding space and the inner state of a person. Its placement should be approached with extreme caution. Each room has its own rules for the location of reflective elements:
- In the hall. If the most walk-through room looks hospitable, the qi energy will fill the apartment or house without interruption. In order for the mirror to work to restore strength, it must be hung at an angle of 90 ° from the door. Large mirrors that allow you to see yourself in full growth have a beneficial effect on health and preserve intrinsic value.
- In the bedroom. When choosing a suitable place, you should consider the location of the bed and other furniture. The intimate area should not be reflected in the mirror, as this will double the number of people and constitute a threat to the union. Also, do not attach such an object at the headboard. The best option would be a floor mirror or an adjustable stand.
- In the living room. The place of the greatest concentration of qi energy must be organized competently. It is better to direct the mirror at beautiful accessories, paintings, live plants. A natural wood frame is suitable as a frame. Thus, the energy of health and prosperity will be activated.
- In the bathroom. To prevent the movement of qi energy from slowing down, the bathroom mirror should be round. The presence of a frame is required, otherwise the energy of the water element will leak. It is not recommended to hang a reflective element on the door.
Flowers and Plants
The correct selection and arrangement of living plants not only harmonizes the energy in the house, but also has a beneficial effect on the internal state of all household members. When choosing flowers, their shape, shade and size of buds are taken into account. The best feng shui options are those that stretch upward as they grow and have rounded leaves.
Indoor plants can give off feminine and masculine energy. Dracaena, asparagus, all types of citrus fruits are suitable for men, for women - fat, violet, begonia. It is not recommended to keep dried plants indoors. They will absorb positive energy and have a negative impact on the microclimate.
Paintings and panels
You can decorate your home in Feng Shui with the help of various wall paintings, drawings on photo wallpapers, reproductions, photographs. You should choose decorative elements only with positive energy. You should abandon the canvas if it causes even the slightest feeling of anxiety. These include abstract drawings. Pictures donated by unpleasant people should not be hung in your home.
In order for the canvases to start working and to attract positive energy, they should be activated in a certain area under the auspices of one of the elements. Mountain landscapes are suitable for the northern sector. In the west, it is better to place photos of children, crafts and other derivatives of creativity. The southern zone is suitable for placing personal achievement items. It can be all kinds of certificates, diplomas and other attributes.
Zones and their distribution in the apartment
All feng shui zones in an apartment should be designed purposefully. They are equal in greatness and have a definite impact. When forming energy flows, one should rely on the Bagua grid. This will help to amplify the influence of qi many times and highlight the most important points for well-being.
Career zone
The Northern Career Zone is fully responsible for work relationships, social status, and salary levels. This space is worth paying special attention to if you need to increase income or establish contact with investors or your boss.
You can equip the career sector by highlighting it in the total area of a house or apartment, or a specific room. There must be a lot of metal objects, wood decor. You can put an aquarium, install a floor mirror. In the northern zone, there is no place for objects of the elements of the earth, so indoor plants and standing water are best removed.
Zone of wisdom and knowledge
To activate the wisdom zone, you need to correctly form the northeast section. The dominant element here is earth, fire acts as an additional element. Acceptable colors are brown, yellow, red, orange. It is better to refuse black, blue, green.
Objects in the area of knowledge and wisdom should be square or triangular. Miniature pyramids, photo frames will do. Since the number of the zone is 8, the corresponding number of decorative figures or books can be placed. The walls are decorated with paintings depicting the earth and geographical maps.
Travel zone
The northwest section of the mentor and travel area should be as light as possible. Items made of metal, various figurines of selected deities are welcome. Also, a personal talisman should be located here. This will activate the beneficial influence of the sector, help to tune in to a flight or a long trip.
In the travel area, you should place motivational photographs of the areas you want to visit. It can be pictures of historical sights of irregular shape, beautiful yachts, landscapes, mountain peaks.
Family and health area
The eastern sector of the studio apartment is responsible for the welfare of the family. To stimulate the family and health area, it must be kept clean. There should be a lot of indoor plants in this area. The disembarkation process should take place with the participation of all family members. Also here will be appropriate crafts made of wood, flowerpots with flowers, objects of the water element (aquariums, paintings with a waterfall).
In the marriage zone, the place is for family photographs. Believers can organize a prayer altar here. This should be a very bright place, so if there is not enough natural light, you should install wall sconces, floor lamps. For lonely people, the same conditions are suitable.
Zone for children and creativity
This site should be equipped with feng shui in the western part of the apartment. Zone colors - white, silver, gold. The supporting elements of the sector are metal and earth. To receive positive energy from the nursery area, it must be kept clean at all times. Here you should place children's drawings, funny crafts, toys. This will help arouse the child's interest in creativity and communication with adults and peers.
To increase the conduction of energy, scented candles or bags with scented herbs are placed in the creative sector. The aromas of citrus, honey, cedar, mint have a beneficial effect on all family members. The correct arrangement of elements and a detailed description can be seen in the photo or video.
Wealth zone
This site is located in the southeast. For the free circulation of the energy of wealth, only a clean space is required. Get rid of all old, broken and non-functional things.
In a feng shui apartment, wooden elements are responsible for the money sector. Suitable colors are gold, purple, green. To activate this zone, it must be fed with water. For this, an aquarium is placed here, a fountain is installed, and good lighting is organized.
Zone of love and marriage
This site is located in the southwest. Several techniques are used to activate the sector of love and marriage. These can be paired things, for example, candles, lamps, any trinkets. Which symbolize strong relationships and love.
The main element of the marriage sector is earth, complemented by fire. In this zone, objects of pink color, all shades of red, orange, sandy, golden, should be actively involved. To maintain an ideal atmosphere, the love sector should be furnished only with beautiful decor, periodically light scented candles.
How to choose the right apartment in Feng Shui
Going to view the apartment, be sure to take a compass with you. First of all, you need to start with an assessment of the immediate vicinity. It is undesirable for a cemetery, a morgue, a prison to be near the house. Various memorials. Auspicious facilities include parks, schools, kindergartens.
Using a compass, you need to determine the side of the world to which the facade of the building is turned. Then you need to stand with your back to the front door and determine the main direction of life. It is undesirable that when entering an apartment, the first thing that catches your eye is the toilet door. The optimal shape and layout of new housing is a square, a rectangle.
Conclusion
Over time, many cease to feel comfort in their home. It is easy to remedy the situation with the help of the renewal and correct direction of positive energy flows. Guided by the teachings of feng shui when arranging an apartment and creating a design, you can create new positive trends and delay negative ones. It is better to decorate your apartment with your own hands.