Most Westerners are intimidated by Eastern philosophies such as Feng Shui, the ancient art of placement. The first challenge is the pronunciation–Fung Schway.
Literally translated, Feng Shui is wind and water, but the phrase has evolved to embrace design, with psychological ramifications. The primary idea is that the gentle, uncomplicated flow of energy (known as "chi") through your home or office can enhance your life and/or business. You don't have to believe in it–it just is.
Feng Shui holds the promise of everything anyone could possibly want: happy family, good marriage, healthy and long life, successful career, wealth, and good luck. In its full scope Feng Shui shows us how to position ourselves in the universe in a more effective way.
Francine Tuft Peterson (who was interviewed for this article) is a Sacred Place Practitioner of Feng Shui. She used it in 1992 when she remodeled her Kneeland, California home. Francine began her studies with Carol Bridges, author of "A Soul in Place", and decided to continue this venerable art through study with Carol and Grand Master Lyn Wun in the San Francisco Bay area.She practices the Tantric Black Hat form of Feng Shui.
Feng Shui evolved 5,000 years ago in China and was an orally transmitted art form; only recently has it been documented in book form. And there are three types of Feng Shui: the Black Hat, the Compass, and the Pyramid.
The basic premise of Feng Shui is that people are affected for good or ill by their surroundings, and that the layout and orientation of workplaces and homes has a definite affect on people. The intent of Feng Shui is to change and harmonize one's environment–cosmic currents known as ch'i (cosmic breath, human energy) to improve fortunes. In practice, Feng Shui is something between a science and art.
Can Feng Shui help you improve your business environment? Yes. Just as it is important to have positive energy flow in your home, it is equally important to have such energy flowing in your workplace. The simple placement of your desk is important. It is recommended that your desk face out from a wall, which acts as a protector, while still allowing for a view out the window. If your work space is small and you can't move your desk, you might place a mirror to reflect your energy and allow you to relax, knowing that no one can enter your space and startle you.
An important aspect of Feng Shui is removing the clutter that invades our lives on a daily basis. Americans bring in four times the amount of clutter than they get rid of. The intention is simple — by clearing the home and workplace of clutter, you will feel blessed and better able to handle the job at hand.
While Feng Shui is an ancient art, it can be adapted to include modern day concerns about the placement of high tech equipment, like the computer. Feng shui would recommend the computer be positioned so that when you are working on it, the stress can flow right out the door and out of your life forever. That would really be good Feng Shui.
By Gayle Murray
