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The magic of Feng Shui
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The ancient, intriguing Chinese science of Feng Shui is fast catching the fancy of Kochiites. This sudden interest in a system that attempts to harness positive energy to create beneficial vibrations, is due to high stress levels and search for quick solutions to life's problems, says MARY GRACE ANTONY.
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Mr. Sree Kumar
FEELING STRESSED out? Want to change all your recent bad luck? Or do you just want something as simple as a good night's sleep? All this and more may be within easy reach. The magic phrase today is Feng Shui. Wonder how many people can actually define this 3,500-year-old Chinese science. It is all very easy to raise one's eyebrows, smirk and dismiss it as "yet another fad". However, there is more to this concept than meets the eye.
There are several misconceptions surrounding Feng Shui. The most common of these, as with many Chinese terms, is the pronunciation. `Feng' means `wind', and is pronounced "fung" (similar to "sung" or "young"). `Shui' is the Chinese word for `water', and the pronunciation is "shway". Therefore, a literal interpretation of Feng Shui, is `wind and water' - or, `flow of energy'.
There is sudden interest in our city for Feng Shui. Mr. Sree Kumar Nair, a Mumbai-based Feng Shui consultant, conducted a workshop in Kochi a few days ago. A chemical technologist by profession, Mr Sree Kumar got so interested in Feng Shui that he eventually became a full-time consultant. He explains Feng Shui as, "Balancing and harnessing the positive energy around one." He continues, "The Chinese believe in five basic elements - earth, water, fire, metal and wood. Feng Shui also aims to balance these elements in your immediate surroundings."
Mrs. Girija Krishnan is a Feng Shui practitioner in Kochi, and she defines Feng Shui, as "harnessing positive energy to create beneficial vibrations". Most people believe that Feng Shui is an occult or religious art, involving curious objects which cast `good spells' when placed in the right place. Mr. Sree Kumar is quick to counter this view. "Feng Shui is a purely metaphysical science," he says. "It has been practised for centuries, and the results speak for themselves." He declares that in countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Taiwan, Feng Shui is an accepted part of the legal system, whereby individuals and corporate may be sued for not adhering to its principles. Legal action aside, how does it work? "Places and houses radiate energies irrespective of their inhabitants," explains Mr. Sree Kumar. Feng Shui principles hold that if `wind' (opportunities) is tapped from the right direction, then `water' (wealth) will accumulate. It therefore tries to achieve a suitable balance of the two, in order to benefit an individual's lifestyle. "It is always better to consult a Feng Shui consultant before constructing one's house, to utilise the available space for maximum gain." says Mr. Sree Kumar. In many ways, Feng Shui is very similar to our own Indian `Vaastu' system. Both advise on how to use space to harness favourable energy. However, Mr. Sree Kumar feels that Feng Shui is better suited to individual needs. "It is a flexible system," he says, "and you can use it to counter existing negative effects within your house."
Mrs. Krishnan believes that while `Vaastu' is building oriented, Feng Shui is person oriented. This is because Feng Shui's origins lie in the I-Ching - a tool of divination and a guide to ethical behaviour. According to this, an individual's date of birth assigns him a particular `kua number', and describes him as either an `east' or a `west' person. These characteristics are very important when using Feng Shui, for they dictate favourable directions and areas for people.
Mr. Sree Kumar is an `East' person, and even consults a portable compass to ensure that his important decisions and actions are performed while facing the east! Therefore Feng Shui, unlike Vaastu, does not prescribe standard norms for everyone to follow.
Ms. Girija Krishnan
In several cases, an individual cannot make changes to his immediate environment - as in the case of an ancestral home, or an apartment. In such situations, it can be used within the house to reap positive results. There are numerous knick-knacks and curios which, when placed in favourable places, bring good luck to the inhabitants. For instance, a three-legged toad facing away from the front door can bring wealth, some believe. A metal tortoise in a metal tray placed in the north of one's living room, can ensure a fortunate career, feel others. A dracaena plant placed in a glass bowl filled with water, increases the wood element in a room and yields good fortune. A pair of mandarin ducks in the south west corner of the bedroom can procure proposals for unmarried girls!
However, not all Feng Shui practitioners advise using these `charms'. Mrs. Krishnan asserts that the primary purpose of Feng Shui is to correct and direct energy flow. Enhancers, such as dragons and tortoises should be used sparingly and carefully, as they can bring bad fortune if carelessly placed. "I do not advocate `coffee table Feng Shui'," she states. "Crash courses that provide superficial tips and hints are very dangerous. People should understand what they are dealing with."
But why the sudden interest in Feng Shui? Mr. Sree Kumar and Mrs. Krishnan both believe that it is largely due to high stress levels.
"Most of my clients are politicians, corporates and film stars," she says. Both Mr. Sree Kumar and Mrs. Krishnan have completed courses abroad in Feng Shui. Mr. Sree Kumar has studied under Grand Master Yap Chen Hai, Ms. Adelina Pang and Ms. Lillian Too in Singapore and Sydney. Mrs. Krishnan recently received her International Master Practitioner's Certificate from Ms. Lillian Too in Kuala Lumpur.
Whether you choose to believe in the benefits of Feng Shui or not, it rtainly appears to be an intriguing science.
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