Wendy Ming has been interested in Feng Shui, the Chinese design philosophy of encouraging “good energy” in building.

Ms Ming, the studio manager for Howe Enterprising Ltd., Design Studio., said she first became interested in Feng Shui about 17 years ago, when I came across a book on it, while browsing in a Chinese bookshop in London. She talks to Melissa Fox about the philosophy.

“In 2005, when I started working for Howe Enterprising’s retail shop in Hamilton, my attention was drawn to the fact that the space that the shop occupied had an irregular shape which in turn appeared to be having a direct bearing on the business,” she says.

“Feng shui is thought to have originated in China, and was developed as an ancient means of manipulating energy to be applied to burial grounds, and later on, to important homes. It was possibly knowledge that was reserved for those in power only. The philosopher and emperor Fu Hsi is believed to have applied the basic concepts of Feng shui to buildings when he designed a ‘magic square’ which formed the ‘Ba gua’ — an ancient map or grid system for finding out where to change the spaces in your home to make them more compatible to your personal energy (which in turn, makes for a more comfortable and harmonious place in which to live).

During the Cultural Revolution in China, Feng shui was forbidden, but it survived in neighbouring countries such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, and Japan. Today, it is used globally as a means of creating the most harmonious conditions between people and their living and working environments, their gardens, their favourite shop or restaurant, or any space where they like spending time.”

What are some of the basic principals of Feng shui?

Literally translated into English, the Chinese term Feng shui (pronounced ‘Foong shway’) means ‘wind’ and ‘water.’ The mixing of these two essential elements, known as ‘chi’ or ‘energy’ is the reason behind Feng shui. This energy falls into two categories: ‘Yin’ and ‘Yang’ types of energy. Yang ‘chi’ or energy is hot, faster, and more compressed. Yin ‘chi’ or energy is cooler, slower, and more dispersed.

Feng shui works on the basis that the emotional energy field running through and around our bodies known as our ‘aura’ is a subtly charged electromagnetic energy that mixes with the atmosphere around us, and in doing so, changes the way we feel and think in a given space.

Our emotional energy is therefore constantly mixing or interacting with the energy of our home or workplace, and the way we feel is a reflection of how the spaces in our homes and workplace are organised. What we are setting about to do when we apply Feng shui into our homes, is to encourage good energy there, and to transform less favourable energy, creatively. The good qualities of this favourable energy in turn becomes a part of our personal energy field.

>The Ba gua: <$>the magic square becomes the Ba gua. There are nine types of energies or elements, and corresponding colours attached to them.

[bul] Draw a map of the Ba gua.

[bul] Place this map over a plan of your room or house. Determine which is your front door.

Even though you might have a back door that you use more than your front door, the front door still takes precedence over any other door. It is the one that you would open to guests and strangers. This would be the most important ‘chi’ entry point into your room or home, and is considered to be the starting point for you to begin finding out about the types of energy that exist in your room or home.

[bul] Place the Ba gua over the [bul] Place the Ba gua over the plan that you have drawn. If you have a square or symmetrically shaped room or house, this is a pretty straightforward matter. If there are bits sticking out, or the room(s) is oddly shaped, then find the centre by drawing two diagonal lines, and place the core of the Ba gua over it, and the bottom line - 8 1 6 - on a level with your front door. You might have to contract or extend the Ba gua to fit in with unusually shaped rooms. Having done this, you will now be able to see where the invisible energies are to be found in your house or room.

[bul] In spaces which have no energy when the map of the Ba gua is positioned over the house or room plan, a simple cure can be applied to encourage the missing energy back.B>

What are some of the basic features of a Feng shui home?<$>

[bul] a home where ‘chi’ moves peacefully through each room, creating an atmosphere where tension is reduced.

[bul] the missing ‘chi’ will be introduced, making the family closer.

[bul] a home where the feeling of being settled, and comfortable, will be experienced.

[bul] a home with bedrooms where it should be possible to experience healthy sleep.

[bul] the kitchen and dining area will be strengthened, and will be the heart of the family.

[bul] the atmosphere in the home will be helpful in building positive associations.

[bul] a home in which storage is organised.

In order to get the full effect, when one is interested in applying the principles of Feng shui to their home, should they start from the design phase.

If one is having a house built, consideration of Feng shui principles would be helpful to the future inhabitants of the dwelling if they could be applied to the basic design.

Are Bermudian homes usually equipped with the necessities to practice Feng shui completely (i.e. south facing bedrooms, north facing kitchens, etc.) I also understand that a lot of Feng shui is dependant on the direction that some rooms face.

Should conditions not be ideal in some Bermudian homes, then as has been described above — a cure could be effected or instigated so that the more desirable type of energy is encouraged into a space or spaces, where the energy is either lacking or is agative type of energy.

How important is the aspect of colour when considering Feng Shui ?<$>

As was mentioned earlier, the Ba gua has nine types of energies or elements with colours that represent these energies:

1. Water (corresponding colours are: blue, black, and violet)

2. Earth (yellow ochre)

3. Thunder (green, and turquoise)

4. Wind (grey)

5. The Core (often represented by the metal gold)

6. Heaven (white)

7. Lake (purple)

8. Mountain (brown)

9. Fire (red, and orange)

Colour is therefore an important aspect of Feng Shui.

What are some of the simplest ways of practising Feng shui in the home?

[bul] Using live plants and flowers bring many positive elements into the home: they provide natural beauty, and improve air quality, as well as unite us with the natural world outside. Try to keep the plants healthy, and to avoid plants with sharp looking leaves, such as cacti. If a plant dies, remove it and replace it with another one.

[bul] Using natural woody scents, naturally scented (as opposed to synthetic ones) candles, essential oils, and potpourri, are ways to introduce a pleasing scent into your home. Choose aromas like cedar, or sandalwood, or pine, but only use these fragrances if they are pleasing to you.

[bul] Water is the most powerful symbol of money in Feng Shui. Its sparkling ‘chi’ or energy is beneficial to your health and prosperity. You might like to consider having a fish tank or aquarium with gold fish. Gold is the Chinese symbol for money, and is thought to attract it. Another great way to incorporate water into your home or business is to use any artefact which depicts water.

[bul] If you happen to be born in the middle of the year, the colour yellow used on the walls, upholstery, curtains, or rug in your room or home, will activate wealth. Likewise, use a coir or sisal rug, linen upholstery, wicker baskets, or grainy woods in your home.

[bul] De-clutter by having a major spring-clean - take everything out of its place and clean all those dark corners, stirring up the energy in those areas. Too much clutter restricts the movement of chi, leading to a stuffy feeling in the room. To live in a cluttered environment or home can make the inhabitants feel as though everything is a struggle, and that they are stuck in a rut.

[bul] To increase your ability to save money, make sure to fix any leaking taps promptly.

[bul] Roses: keep a tall vase filled with these fragrant flowers whenever conditions permit. They will heto increase your income.

How popular is the practice of Feng Shui on the island and abroad?<$>

I believe that there is a small but growing number of people on the island who apply Feng shui principles to their homes for creating more harmony within the home environment.

In the Far East, the use of Feng Shui principles have long been regarded as having significant importance in life there, owing to the beneficial qualities that can be attained by their application. In some Far Eastern businesses, Feng Shui principles are regarded as being of utmost importance in helping to attract and generate wealth. Also in creating happy working environments.

Finally, the art of Feng Shui in modern life is to use the symbols of the energies in a way that is suited to your society and lifestyle, interior design and choices.

Feng Shui growing in popularity in Bermuda