Image: @peppahart
WHAT IS FENG SHUI?
FENG SHUI is a chamber of Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is the ancient Chinese art of understanding the universe and its laws to bring happiness and success in all areas of one’s life. The most fundamental Universal law is that everything is made of qi, (energy) vibrating at different frequencies. In Feng Shui, we optimize space to accommodate high vibrational qi flow.
There are multiple schools of Feng Shui, the most accessible are compass and form school.
COMPASS SCHOOL is derived from the I Ching and melds divination, philosophy, mathematics, Confucianism, Taoism, Traditional Chinese Medicine, astrology, and numerology. It was originally developed as a simplified version of Feng Shui for foreigners. Space is sectioned using the Bagua to create an energy map of any space.
THE BAGUA
The Bagua is an ancient grid system that represents invisible patterns of energy. The Bagua can be placed over a floor plan of land, a house, a room, or even a bed to reveal the energy map for any space.
Without a Bagua you can still reveal your energy map by using the following compass directions that correlate to the following energies;
North - Water element - Career
North East - Earth Element - Education, Knowledge, Personal Development
East -Wood Element - Family, Health & Wellbeing
South East - Wood Element - Abundance & Financial Abundance
South -Fire Element - Fame, Acknowledgement, Reputation
South West -Earth Element - Romance, Love, Relationship
West - Metal Element - Creativity, Children, Fertility
North West - Metal Element - Friends, Mentors, Communication
To reveal the precise energy map of your home, use a compass to read the facing direction of your front door. Once you have an accurate reading, position the Bagua over your floor plan and see where the energy sectors lay.
FORM SCHOOL
To energize your life there are many ways a practitioner will work to enhance qi flow and there are multiple factors to be considered. One tool in Feng Shui is furniture layout and positioning using form school.
In Feng Shui the elements earth, fire, metal, wood, water are used to categorise objects and furniture, these are referred to as ‘forms’, for example, a red table lamp is considered a fire form. Forms are classified according to their: shape, colour, and what they are made from. Here is a general guide to identify forms;
Fire Forms
Anything that generates heat or fire, objects that are plastic, brick, pointy in shape, and/or red. Examples of fire forms; fireplaces, electrical equipment, red artwork.
Water Forms
Anything that contains water, or is wavy in shape, or blue and/or black is a weak water form. Examples of water forms; bathtub, fish tank, wavy vase, glassware.
Earth Forms - Anything that is made from the earth, or is square in shape &/or yellow, brown, or orange is an earth form. Examples of Earth forms; Ceramics, crystals, stone, mudbricks.
Metal Forms
Anything that is made from metal, or is round or dome-shaped and/or white, silver, bronze, or gold is a metal form. Also, any objects that chime (make a metallic sound) are considered to be very strong metal forms regardless of what they are made from. Examples of metal forms; Chiming clock, filing cabinet, coins, a bronze statue.
Wood Forms
Anything that is tall and/or rectangular in shape, green, or made from wood will be classified as a wood form. Examples of metal forms; timber bookshelf, door, table.
Anything that is tall and/or rectangular in shape, green, or made from wood will be classified as a wood form. Examples of metal forms; timber bookshelf, door, table.
The creation cycle; Wood burns and nourishes Fire. Fire produces ash, creating Earth. Earth contains minerals that condense into Metal. Metal heated and cooled creates condensation of Water. Water nourishes the growth of trees, creating wood.
The destruction cycle; Wood breaks up the Earth, as in the roots of a tree. Earth controls Water, like a dam or riverbank. Water can diminish Fire, controlling its spread. Fire can melt Metal. Metal can chop Wood.
These two cycles are part of the framework in Feng Shui for positioning furniture and objects in space. When we use objects or furniture as a cure or enhancement they have to be compatible with the element (shown on the Bagua) they are in.
For example, If your entrance was in the northern part of your home (career sector and water element) I would not recommend two red table lamps positioned in this sector as these are fire forms. A simple suggestion to energise your career sector you would want to add some water forms (wood and metal forms also support the water element) to support the water element. A simple example of a water form that would support this water sector and enhance career is a piece an artwork in shades of blue of the ocean.
BEFORE YOU FENG SHUI YOUR SPACE
Feng Shui is a multi-layered, ancient practice that is interpreted and taught in various ways. Feng Shui masters study energy their whole lives and often keep parts of their teachings private until the day they die. Once you start to research Feng Shui you may find yourself very overwhelmed, that is why at Citrus Jing our view on creating a sacred space is holistic. We use feng shui along with other practices and suggest intuition is your best guide to create a sacred space.
Feng Shui will NOT work if you are not open. Just like many manifestation processes, you will not be able to shift or energise qi if you have a negative mindset or strong subconscious blocks.
The best way to begin your Feng Shui journey is by;
1. Decluttering. Throughout this process ask yourself “does this object reflect who I am or who I aspire to be”
2. Deep cleaning
3. Fixing any physical problems such as leaking taps (in feng shui this refers to a gradual loss of income) or dirty windows (in Feng shui this refers to a lack of mental clarity and vision for the future) and so forth.
4. Have an energetic space clearing to reset the energy and create strong clear intentions for your life.
THE FOUNDER
My name is Lucy and I have a degree in Interior and Spatial Design from the University of Technology Sydney and certifications in Space Clearing and Feng Shui. I’ve been working mostly as a designer for the past 7 years on international and local projects which have given me a superior understanding of energetic flow and wayfinding.
I travelled through China many times for work and at the same time experienced a spiritual awakening, and thus an interest sparked in eastern philosophies and Feng Shui.
The past five years have been a journey ‘home’, to an unconditioned & connected self {soul}. This has deepened my energetic sensitivities, intuition, and connection. I founded Citrus Jing to combine my passions and help others to live in harmonious and supportive spaces.
Get in touch with Lucy:
instagram | @citrus_jing
website | www.citrusjing.com