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Feng shui(pronounced fung shway), developed in China some 4000 years ago, is very popular today. The placement of furniture, the colour of walls, the use of objects and foods are all supposed to affect our mood, well-being, health, productivity...even how pleasurable dining at our home is for friends and family!
Feng shui is an ancient art based on the theory of positive and negative energies (yin and yang). Its purpose is to help us live in harmony with our environment by creating a good flow of energy, or ch'i as it is known in Oriental cultures. The flow of ch'i in a house varies depending on the forms, colours and materials it encounters. Other decisive factors are the layout of rooms, location of doors and stairs and arrangement of furniture.
Some principles are self-evident. If you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, you want a lot of light, preferably sunlight for a homey feel throughout the day. You wouldn't put the stove (hot element) beside the fridge (cold element) or want the kitchen door to open directly onto the bedroom or living room. You're already practising feng shui.
But did you know that ch'i finds fluorescent lighting, plastic, vinyl and nylon coverings, small appliances like microwave ovens and toasters and wall-hung knives hostile? What can you do?
Decorate with lots of green plants; they protect against aggressive elements. Mirrors turn negativity away. Opt for halogen lamps where possible. Water (an aquarium for example) is a source of positive energy that provides balance in tense situations. Keep knives in a drawer and the toaster in the cupboard. Keep the kitchen clean and tidy at all times. Don't let food go bad or it will give off harmful ch'i. Food is affected by the energy around it. Cut food on a wooden counter. Don't eat while watching television or you will absorb the negativity of the news along with your meal. Focus on feng shui foods.
Feng Shui Foods
1.Cold-pressed, unsaturated vegetable oils like olive and sesame oils.
2.Lots of fruits and vegetables. Because they grow in the earth, root vegetables have stronger ch'i than other vegetables.
3.Feng shui recommends soy milk and coconut milk carried by a growing number of supermarkets.
4.Given meat's negative ch'i, feng shui favours fish and seafood as healthy, nutritious, low-fat sources of protein. Salmon is strongly recommended for people who feel sluggish.
5.Cereals, rice, barley and noodles are fibre-rich sources of hydrocarbons, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals, making them ideal feng shui foods.
The food we eat nourishes the body; the company we dine in nourishes the soul. The ambiance contributes as much as the dishes served to making a meal enjoyable. Many factors can affect the mood and behaviour of guests. For example, a transparent glass table can be distracting and make people uneasy, so a wood table is better. A round or oval table where people are closer and can see each other is preferable to a long rectangular one. According to feng shui, where you are seated has a big effect on the pleasure you take in the food, atmosphere and people around you. So you want to draw up a detailed seating plan based on your guests' personalities and the mood you want to set for the meal.
Feng Shui: Kitchen Tips
Feng shui masters spend their lives studying the discipline, aligning themselves with various approaches such as black hat sect, traditional, or intuitive feng shui. But you can instantly become a “kitchen master” with our quick and easy feng shui tips for your home:
1.Pay attention to your stove. Food nourishes you, affecting your ability to work and earn money, and the Ch’i of your cooking area will affect your meal. Keep the burners clean and use each one equally to illustrate the movement of good fortune in your life.
2.The cook’s back should never face the kitchen entrance. If the cook is unaware of who enters and exists, he or she could be startled, transferring negative Ch’i into the food. Place the cooktop on an island so that the cook can face the door. If the cook’s back must turn away from the entrance, hang a mirror on the backsplash or place a reflective object (like a tea kettle or a stainless steel utensil holder) on or beside the stove. This will allow the cook to remain aware of all activity.
3.The stove should not be placed under a window. Wind currents could pull the good Ch’i out of your food.
Dining the Feng Shui Way
4.Elements of fire and water clash, leading to bad Ch’i. Design your kitchen with distance between the two—your stove should not be adjacent to your refrigerator or sink. If such a placement is unavoidable, add a nourishing wood element—like a plant, butcher block, or wooden spoon—to turn the opposition into a cyclical relationship.
5.Plentiful food indicates prosperity. Hang pictures of fruits or vegetables on your kitchen’s walls to increase the sensation of abundance. Mirrors by your eating area, stove, or preparation will “double” your food as well, increasing wealth and health.
6.Clutter crowds your kitchen’s surfaces, often causing frustration. This inhibits the cook’s ability to prepare nourishing food. Keep all surfaces clear, storing all food and appliances not used on a daily basis out of sight.
7.Apply the same order to your pantry and cabinets. Broken items, empty boxes and containers, and unused food should be donated or discarded.
8.Keep in mind that Ch’i connects everything. Do you want to be linked to rotting fruit or unvalued knick-knacks? Discard, discard!
9.By the same token, surround yourself with meaningful things with positive Ch’i. Keep seashells gathered during a special family vacation on your windowsill, or display fresh flowers in an antique vase.
10.Keep trash and recycling centers out of sight. Garbage rarely signifies health and prosperity!
11.Don’t forget safety, an important component of feng shui. Knives should always be stored out of sight.
12.Sharp corners can be both unsafe and uncomfortable—how often have you banged your leg on a jutting table corner or squirmed in a Ch’i-depleting chair? Choose rounded corners over squared ones for tables, countertops, and chairs. Select wood over pointed glass tables. Hide and protect existing corners with plants and cushions.
13.When selecting your dining table, choose a softer, safer wood model over a pointed glass one. Oval and round tables are preferred over square and rectangular ones as they promote good Ch’i circulation.
14.Nourishment is as much a product of the cook as the food itself. The cook’s focus and spirits are transferred to the food. Make every effort to structure your kitchen (and your life!) in a way that facilitates a relaxed, leisurely, and meditative cooking process.
15.Remember—negative feelings and events tarnish the quality of your life. As a “feng shui rule of thumb,” surround yourself with whatever makes you comfortable and safe.
Source: The Western Guide to Feng Shui: Room By Room, by Terah Kathryn Collins
Seating Plan
In feng shui, the seating plan isn't dictated by the age, title or social standing of guests but by their personality... and the cardinal points. Try your hand at seating arrangements when entertaining friends, but also for family meals or romantic dinners.
1.Serious people should be seated facing west to help them relax.
2.A position facing south is good for a shy, withdrawn person. It will help them get closer to the others.
3.Someone who lacks self-confidence should face east.
4.Phlegmatic people should never be seated facing north, lest their coolness colour the ambiance.
5.A domineering, forceful guest should face north, which will have a calming affect.
6.The dominant seats are those facing the door or the longest part of the room because the people in them have a commanding view. Be careful who you seat there!
7.At family meals, parents should sit facing southeast (reinforcing wisdom and dignity) and northeast (reinforcing respect and care for others). If this isn't possible, northwest is next best (encouraging open-mindedness and communication).
8.Finally, avoid seating children with their back to a door or any other potential source of distraction. Why is obvious even if you know nothing of feng shui.
9.At a romantic dinner for two, facing west is best as this position is associated with pleasure.
10.Facing north, which corresponds to the night, will draw you closer together.
11.Facing south, will help you show your ardour, especially if you're shy and tongue-tied. Changing places throughout the meal is also a good idea.
12.Eating out of the same dish brings two people very close together. Prepare a slow-simmered dish where various flavours have commingled in the heat's long embrace. A fondue is the perfect solution if you don't have a lot of time to prepare the meal.
Colours Are Important
The colour of walls and objects is important. You can manage this energy as you wish in decorating your home. The better your understanding of colour's influence on your moods, emotions, health and success, the better you can make your life. Think of the atmosphere you want to create as you review the colours below.
1.Cream is associated with healing, health, serenity and well-being. In feng shui, cream is linked to sexual desire and stimulates sensuality.
2.White encourages drive and competitiveness.
3.Yellow speaks of comfort, warmth and sensual satisfaction, encourages pleasant conversation and is ideal for the eating area.
4.Orange is claimed to relieve fatigue and boost optimism. It's a vibrant colour that stimulates conversation.
5.Blue has a calming effect, reducing stress and producing serenity.
6.Green is associated with rebirth and creates a fresh, invigorating atmosphere, maybe because it reminds us of nature's greenery.
7.Red is the colour of luck, happiness and love. A little red in the decor encourages people to give voice to their ardour. But red should be used carefully -it stimulates aggressiveness as well as eloquence.
Feng shui helps us to create more beneficial surroundings. It encourages us to increase the energy in our homes using colours, materials, and the arrangement of furniture so that our lives become more harmonious. Feng shui is about being aware of the world around us and bringing balance to our lives.
Article from Metro.ca
