Understanding Feng Shui for Your Home
Feng Shui Basics
Three Power Principles of Feng Shui
Chi
Chi is energy. It is the constantly moving and changing life force that we feel around us making us feel either good or bad in a certain location. Chi can accumulate in the objects around you. In your home or office, the chi will flow in through the door and out through the windows. The goal of Feng Shui improvements (or “cures”) is to keep the chi flowing gently throughout your environment rather than running straight through it. Chi can have a negative effect on your surroundings when it gets stuck or blocked.
The Five Elements
The Five Elements is the collective name used to describe the colors, shapes, and textures around you. The Elements are: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood. Each Element is distinguished by a characteristic shape, colors, and set of attributes. Feng Shui improvements for homes and offices balance all of these Elements in your interior environment.
| ELEMENT | SHAPE | COLORS | ATTRIBUTES |
| Fire |  Triangle |
Red, Orange, Purple | Passion, Emotion |
| Earth |  Square |
Brown, Yellow | Grounding, Stability |
| Metal |  Circle |
White, Metallic | Strength, Independence |
| Water |  Curvy |
Black, Blue | Relaxation, Inspiration |
| Wood |  Rectangle |
Green, Teal | Growth, Expansion |
The Bagua
The Bagua is the chart used to map the areas of a home or office and determine where to locate the objects and colors that represent the Five Elements. The traditional bagua is an octagon (the word bagua means “8-sided” in Chinese). Modern approaches to Feng Shui use a grid-shaped chart to map nine areas of your life (see Bagua Map):
- Power/Wealth/Abundance
- Fame/Future/Reputation
- Love/Relationships/Marriage
- Creativity/Children/Legacy
- Compassion/Travel/Helpful People
- Self/Career/Work
- Knowledge/Wisdom/Harmony
- Family/Health/Community
- Well-Being/Balance
Source: http://fengshuiforreallife.com/basics/
