Financial Chronicle on 30-May-2008, Estate Page 4

Harmony with Feng Shui

Creating positive energy to bring about well-being is the basis of this Oriental art, which is now becoming popular in India.

Are you looking to fill your abode with positive energy? Then go for feng shui décor.
Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese practice that uses the laws of heaven and earth to help improve a person's life by bringing in positive vibes.

Literally translated as windwater, Feng Shui is fast becoming the mantra of the day. One of the major objectives of Feng Shui is to strike a balance in one’s life, eliminating chaos and leading to calmness of mind.

Feng Shui is the art of placing objects and business in relation to energy flows, to heighten positive energies and minimise negative ones. Feng Shui is based on the interaction of Yin and Yang, the female and male forces along with the five elements and Chinese astrology. The purpose of Feng Shui is to enable a person to organise his home so that the all-pervading life force or the Ch'i energy, is accentuated by the positioning of the house, decorations, furniture, and other objects.

"People nowadays have become conscious about Feng Shui and about bringing positive energy into their lives," says Dr. Neelam Kewlani, a Feng Shui expert. The art of making a house Feng Shui-compliant depends completely on the person's date of birth. Depending on that, a person's lucky and unlucky directions can be determined.

Dr. Kewlani, who runs Bangalorebased Sanskruti Holistic Centre, says every house has different cor ners. The south-west corner depicts love, and so, it should be energised by keeping rose-quartz and double happiness symbols. The north-east direction, on the other hand, depicts education and in order to fill it with positive energy, one should keep an education tower in that corner, Dr. Kewlani adds.

The three-legged frog is considered to be a symbol of prosperity and should be kept in the living room near the front door. Also, flowing water is considered auspicious.

Plants are also considered auspicious from the Feng Shui point of view. Placing plants in the southeastern, eastern and southern corners of the work place increases growth prospects in one’s career.

Also, it is not advisable to put thorny plants and bonsai inside the house as they represent stunted growth.

For making a four bedroom apartment feng shui-compliant, Dr. Kewlani charges Rs 12,000, which includes consultation fees and the materials. For a single bedroom and a double bedroom house, Dr. Kewlani charges Rs 8,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively. The art of Feng Shui involves striking a balance of positive energy that can impact a person's career, relationships, health and wealth. The secret lies in the layout, orientation and alignment within one’s property.

Feng Shui brings about tangible changes into the lives of people and despite the misconception that it is only a Chinese myth, it has a scientific foundation. It harmonises the relationship with the four elements ?? of fire, water, earth and fire.