The Philosophy of Feng Shui

I have just been exploring Feng Shui web sites and what a variety I found! The information can be very confusing. But if you focus on the philosphy behind the information, rather than the details, you will start to understand the underlying principles. Remember that Chinese cultural beliefs tend to become intertwined with Feng Shui principles, and those beliefs are often contrary to the beliefs we generally hold here in the U.S., and sometimes we can’t even understand them. So try to strip away the fluff to get at the real information, and if don’t understand something don’t do it!

These are the basic principles behind the practice of Feng Shui:

• Everything is alive with vital energy.
• Everything is connected.
• Everything is changing.

To put these Feng Shui principles into practice in your life:

• Live with what you love.
• Put safety and comfort first.
• Simplify and organize.
• Express yourself!

Organize Your Head!

The most difficult part of organizing is not the physical work, or even the planning. It’s the obstacles we face inside our own minds. We keep things, and arrange them in our environments, for crazy reasons that have their basis in our past mental and emotional experiences. The key to dealing with these issues is first to be honest with yourself. Look at the optimum or practical way to do something and see where you differ from that. Then have a really honest session with yourself and try to figure out why. You could also talk to other people that you trust. This will show you what your obstacles are. Here are some of the obstacles that many people face: perfectionism, obsessive compulsive disorder, attention deficit disorder, difficulty in managing time, and an inability to say no. And there are many more. Remember that these traits are not things that we either have or don’t have. They come in varying degrees, and most of us have at least a small amount of a few of them. I have a noticeable amount of at least three! Once you see what your obstacles are you can look for ways to change or moderate this underlying behavior. Consider books, online resources, workshops and therapy. Find what works for you. Because, once the mental and emotional obstacles are removed, you will find yourself and your life becoming more organized and a lot easier!