|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 Feng Shui follows the Flow of Chi By Lara Gerrits Morning Star Staff Jan 29 2006 Growing up in Hong Kong, Teresa Hwang was surrounded by the art of positioning objects in buildings and other places based on the belief in positive and negative effects.
Known as Feng Shui (wind-water), the art is also based on the patterns of ying and yang and the flow of qi (chi), the vital force or energy inherent in all things. “I was brought up in a Catholic school, to their teachings Feng Shui is superstition, so I didn’t pay much attention to it at that time,” Hwang says from the living room of her Okanagan Lake-front home. Surrounded by soothing fountains, chimes and the rich colours of dark wood and earth green walls, she describes how what was once taught to her as superstition is now her livelihood and passion. “It was always something in the back of my mind,” she says, adding that her dad, who was not Catholic, practiced the traditional Chinese art form as she grew up. From the time Feng Shui first came into existence in China 5000 years ago, the study of geomancy was based on land forms and structures that were oriented according to the magnetic north/south compass directions. Originally, it was used to locate the best burial sites, as the Chinese believed providing ancestors with the most auspicious burial sites would bless the descendants with good children, luck and fortune. In time, the ancients realized the same principles could be applied to the living, and the study of of Feng Shui evolved to what we know today. Hwang says that in order for people to live in balance, they have to look at their external environment. “Each house is unique in terms of its location, what is surrounding it on the outside in terms of the orientation of the house as well as where the house was built,” she explains, adding that the same criteria proves true for offices or other work spaces. “A house is like a baby being born, when it is built, it has its own pattern of qi.” And Hwang knows her stuff – but it wasn’t until 1992, while living in Vernon, that she picked up the art once familiar to her as a child. Her mother had been diagnosed with cervical cancer, her father had suffered a heart attack and undergone open heart surgery and her husband was recuperating from knee surgery. Then, out of the blue, Hwang was diagnosed with kidney cancer. “So much had happened in our lives we thought that something must be happening,” she remembers. “We thought maybe it was the Feng Shui of our house.” She went on the Internet and began researching the art, eventually studying with well-known author Lillian Too in Malaysia and attending the Feng Shui Research Centre in Toronto under the guidance of Master Joseph Yu. “It’s life long learning ... Usually the public doesn’t realize there is so much behind Feng Shui.” Today, Hwang is a certified interior designer, working on professional offices, businesses and private residents, and incorporating her Feng Shui knowledge along the way. “There are very specific formulas that we use to work out the pattern of a house, then we can work out good places for activity,” she says. “We can tell if there is harmony in the house ... Some have conflicting qi.” Other houses are prone to sickness, she adds, and some can even be more advantageous for healthy relationships. “We have to know how to tap into the most auspicious qi that will bring people wealth – material or spiritual.” Some tips? “Having a beautiful environment is very important, having beauty all around you is very important,” Hwang advises. She also says clutter can cause problems, as open spaces allow qi to move freely. Neutral colours are the best, especially yellow tones. And the position of furniture can also have an effect. There are four good directions and four bad directions, and based on the year a person is born or “ming gua” meaning “guardian spirit” there are certain guidelines to follow. Chinese New Year’s Day is Jan. 29 – marking the beginning of the Year of the Dog. “The worst direction is west, that is the direction where people should not do any digging or construction,” Hwang advises. She also says north-west and north are also bad and the sickness qi is south-east. “People with bedrooms in the south-east this year need to be extra vigilant.” People born in the Year of the Dragon also need be cautious in terms of health, money and relationships she adds, as the Year of the Dog clashes with the Dragon. Every year, the pattern of a house will change, and Hwang will give her clients recommendations as to how to deal with the changes best. Before she can consult on a building’s Feng Shui, however, she needs a floor plan to scale as well as knowledge of when the house was built, any renovations it’s undergone, a bit of its history, birthdates of its occupants/employees and any particular concerns. “Sometimes they have to move rooms, relocate doors and use different doors,” she explains. In terms of celebrating the actual Chinese New Year itself, Hwang says it’s all about dusting out the old and bringing in the new. That means cleaning out the house, wearing red, wearing new clothes and shoes. “So that you start the new year, new.” To find out more information about Feng Shui see Teresa's Services section.
Articles are of the copyright of Teresa Hwang solely, any reproduction, duplication and transmission of the articles are to have prior written approval by the author.
Top of page |
| home . services . testimonials . registration . payments . contact . articles . glossary of terms . links | . disclaimer & copyright . |
 Teresa Hwang Feng Shui & Design © 2005 Website design: SpinMediaDesigns.com |