Feng Shui: Achieve a Balance

The Flying Star philosophy is the most common Asian form of Feng Shui and is based on astrology and numerology. This form is difficult to understand and to learn. It, too, is based on mathematical principals and is used to determine a person’s fate.

The final school of thought is the Four Pillars. This form is not very common and is based on astrology according to the person’s date of birth, right down to the minutes. This form is also used to determine a person’s fate.

After determining which school of thought is best for an individual, it is important to also understand the five elements of Feng Shui. These five elements are: Earth, Fire, Water, Metal, and Wood. The elements are capable of destroying each other’s energies and forming a continual cycle. Through the use of these elements, balance and harmony can be created in a home. If these elements are used incorrectly, however, the energy can be destroyed or lessened.

Each of the five elements is also associated with a color, direction, and number.

Earth (Brown/Beige) - 2,5,8 - Southwest

Fire (Red/Purple) – 9 - South

Water (Blue/Black) – 1 - North

Metal (Grey/Reflective) - 6,7 - West

Wood (Green) - 3,4 - East

Each of these elements has both a destructive and a productive cycle and must be used carefully.

The productive cycle uses the following pattern:

Water – Wood – Fire – Earth – Metal

Water feed feeds Wood for it to grow. Wood then feeds Fire and produces Earth. Earth, in turn created Metal. Metal holds water and, thus, continues the cycle. To keep this cycle flowing, bring into the room the elements before and after the main element

The destructive cycle reduces energy and can be used in a room where one element needs to be lessened. It follows this pattern:

Water – Fire – Metal – Wood – Earth

Water puts out Fire and Fire melts Metal. Metal cuts Wood down and Wood clogs Earth, while Earth muddies Water.

All rooms in a Feng Shui home should be balanced with these five elements, but different items may weight heavier than others. For example, a chair might score as three counts of an element while a throw pillow only counts as one because of the difference in size.
Feng Shui can bring both beauty and balance to a home.

Further Reading