BASIC FENG SHUI CONCEPTS

Introduction to Classical Feng Shui

Feng Shui is an ancient art and science that teaches us to harmonize the energy between people and
their environments. The words Feng Shui can be translated literally as "Wind Water," which means
to create harmony with the universal forces of Wind and Water, Yin and Yang, movement and
stillness, Heaven and Earth.
A building is affected by the currents of Heaven and Earth, and possesses its own unique quality of
life force. Just as a person's health is affected by their physical constitution and life experiences, so
a building has a physical and energetic constitution. It is also affected by the energies and
experiences of all of its occupants over all of their lifetimes, and by invisible earth energies held in
the land on which it sits. Buildings absorb all, the good and the bad. Not everyone is aware of these
influences, but we all know that some buildings have a "good" feeling and some just never quite
feel right. These subtle energies are real and affect us in very real ways. The art of Feng Shui is to
heal and harmonize all of these subtle energies.
As a Feng Shui practitioner and intuitive healer, Elizabeth interacts with all of the many forces of
the physical and non-physical world and brings them into balance in a particular place and time for
a particular person or group. While there is much value in working with a trained practioner, there
are also simple Feng Shui principles of healthy environments that anyone can use. Ultimately we
can all learn to orient ourselves to our environment and live in harmony and awareness in the
present moment. Seen this way, Feng Shui is a process we all engage in every moment of every day.
Classical Feng Shui, from the Chinese tradition, is rooted in the Taoist understanding that
everything is connected in Oneness and alive with "Chi," or Life Force. There are many methods
used to read the visible and invisible world around us, in order to harmonize the environment in
present time and space. Some of the various tools of Classical Feng Shui are described below.

The Bagua
The word "Bagua" means "eight trigrams," and refers to eight fundamental aspects of human life,
including family, prosperity, career and relationship. In the Bagua these eight aspects are arranged
into a grid around a central, ninth aspect of health and unity. The Bagua is a universal pattern
discovered thousands of years ago and can be applied to any size or dimension of a space: a
building, a piece of property, a single room, or even the surface of a desk. The Bagua is one of the
easiest and most effective systems to learn and practice in your own home.

The Ming Kua

Chi flows into an environment from all directions. The Ming Kua calculates the currents of Chi on
the planet during the year of your birth, and determines which of those directions of "Natal Chi" are
energizing for you. When you know your best directions, you can use that information within your
home and workplace. When you orient yourself toward one of your good directions, you are able to
take fullest advantage of the life force available to you. For example, if one of your best directions
is east, then if you face east when you sit at your desk you will receive energizing Chi, and
experience greater clarity and ability to concentrate.

The Bazhai
The Bazhai is a map of the way that Chi flows into an environment, based on a building's "Sitting"
and "Facing" directions. If you think of your home as an armchair, the sitting direction is the back
of the chair, the stable and grounding direction or rear of your home. The facing direction is the
front of the chair, the direction from which your home receives Chi. This system creates a map of
correspondences for a space, similar to the Ming Kua directions for a person. This systems of Ming
Kua and Bazhai are also known as "Eight Mansions."

The Flying Star

The Flying Star reads the energy of Heavenly Chi and creates an astrological chart for a building.
This chart shows the specific areas that hold potential to create prosperity and health, as well as
areas where the potential for draining energy may occur. When these potentials are identified it is
possible to support or enhance the auspicious tendencies, and drain or transform those that are
detrimental or undesired. Adding a water feature in the sector called Water Star 8, for example, will
enhance your homes ability to support prosperity in your life.
The Four Pillars While Western astrology focuses on positions of the stars at birth, Chinese
astrology analyses the relationship of the five elements during the year, month, day, and hour of
birth. These are known as a person's "Four Pillars." As in all aspects of Taoism, the goal is to bring
the five elements into balance. A person's helpful elements are those that will bring balance and
harmony to their life. A Four Pillars analysis describes what those most helpful elements are.
Additional information regarding all other aspects of life is also available in a person's Four Pillars
chart.

The I Ching
The I Ching is one of the most ancient texts on Earth. The wisdom of the I Ching can be consulted
for practical advice, and is also used as an oracle and tool for divination. It provides the basis for
Taoist philosophy and the foundation for Classical Feng Shui. All of the tools and methods used in
Classical Feng Shui were developed and derived from study of the I Ching, which teaches us about
the energetic dance of Yin and Yang. In a Feng Shui analysis, the I Ching can be used to provide
insight into a specific question or for overall understanding.

Space Clearing
The term "Space Clearing" refers to the act of harmonizing and revitalizing the energies within your
home or workplace. Buildings absorb all of the energies of the people who have used the space as
well as energies held in the land. Most of the energies around us are nourishing, but there are
always some that are less supportive. The intent of space clearing is to locate any draining areas and
transform them to create a healthy flow of energy throughout every room.

Energy within a building becomes stagnant or draining for several reasons.

Indoor energy becomes stagnant over time because it is removed from natural elements and
processes. Energy can also become stagnant in corners and unused spaces.
Stagnant energy naturally collects wherever there is clutter.
Furniture placement can impede the flow of energy in a room.
Human imprinted energies from previous occupants can be draining. These fields can last for many
years, and may originate from people who used a space many years earlier. Sometimes the earth is
holding human imprints from conflict or trauma much older than the current home.
Objects can absorb human imprinted emotions. Sometimes the emotions held in these objects are
draining. This can be true of previously owned furniture, ancestral or inherited items, or relics and
objects from other times or other parts of the world.
Occasionally there are spirits present who need help in moving to a more appropriate dimension.
These beings rarely hold ill will toward the current occupants, but their presence can be draining.
A consultant skilled in space clearing will be able to work with the subtle energies of your
environment. They will harmonise the Qi, and give you practical recommendations for nourishing
the energy in these areas in an ongoing way.
Space clearing can take place in the context of a full Feng Shui consultation or as a separate service.
In either case you will experience a new appreciation for the living being that is your home!

Dowsing & Geopathic Stress

The term "dowsing" refers to the use of tools such as divining rods or a pendulum to look for
information. Many people are familiar with the traditional use of dowsing rods to look for water or
minerals, sometimes known as water witching. What is becoming more understood and
widespread is the use of these valuable tools for insight relating to all aspects of health and our
relationship with the earth.
Dowsers are able to use these tools to locate draining energies. These may include human imprinted
energies (described in the section on Space Clearing) as well as various forms of draining earth
energies. Once identified, it is possible to harmonise draining earth energies. "Geomancy" refers to
this art of creating harmony between people and the energies of the earth.
Earth energies that are draining to humans are sometimes referred to as "Geopathic Stress." There
are three common forms of draining earth energy found in many homes and work places.
Underground streams of water can emit strong and draining energetic fields. This is because water
is a medium for carrying energy, and underground streams tend to absorb the toxins and
disturbance, both physical and energetic, from the earth that they pass through.
Magnetic earth lines are part of an energetic grid covering the planet. Some are also the result of
stress from fault lines or underground streams. Some magnetic lines are nourishing to humans and
some are draining.
Vortexes, are circular "footprints" of imprinted energy. Draining vortexes are sites of previous
disturbance, either human or earth related.
Exposure to geopathic stress can, over time, strain the body's immune system. The symptoms are
varied, depending on your own level of vitality and the amount of exposure.

One very common symptom is insomnia. If a person is sleeping over an underground stream, for
example, their body may not be able to fully rest and rejuvenate and their sleep may be disturbed.
People will experience significant benefits from dowsing and geomancy. These benefits include
better sleep and improved energy levels. Geomancy can even help you meet personal goals.
Removing draining earth energies from your front door, for example, can allow opportunities and
positive change to more easily enter your life.
There are also energising forms of earth energies, sometimes referred to as power spots or "positive
vortexes." It can be most helpful to locate these areas of nourishing energy in your home. With
conscious attention to these power spots you will increase your homes ability to support your well
being.

Electromagnetic Fields
EMF's, or Electromagnetic Fields, are one of the most important aspects of environmental pollution
in the world today. EMF's are the fields created by electrical wiring, appliances, cellular phones,
computers, satellites, and all of the technological devices we rely on in our lives.
All of life, including the human body, is composed of subtle electrical fields. The earth emits a
natural electrical field, and our bodies are closely tied to this frequency, the frequency of the natural
world around us. In contrast, the electromagnetic fields emitted by the technological advances in
our world have frequencies hundreds, thousands and even millions of times stronger. Over time
exposure to these fields can put stress on your system. Some people are more sensitive to EMF's
than others.
The term "Baubiologie" refers to the science of creating healthy and life-supporting environments.
One particular area of importance is identifying sensitivity to environmental toxins, such as certain
chemicals and allergens that may be present in building materials, furnishings and cleaning
supplies.
There are very simple methods and practices to reduce the effects of electromagnetic stress and
environmental toxins on your body. An important aspect of a Feng Shui consultation is to identify
practical ways to make your home or workplace healthier. A consultant will work with you to
identify and address those elements that may be affecting your health and well being.
Clients experience significant benefits from dowsing and geomancy. These benefits include better
sleep and improved energy levels. Geomancy can even help you meet personal goals. Removing
draining earth energies from your front door, for example, can allow opportunities and positive
change to more easily enter your life.
It is important to understand that there are creative and practical solutions available. It is possible to
create healthy environments while still benefiting from the many miracles of the technological
world