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Tuesday, July 28, 1998
Chinese art looks at one's life and surroundings
By Joan Whitely
Review-Journal
Two local feng shui consultants, Kristie Allan and Sophie Merle, share some basic precepts of the Chinese art.
First, superimpose the floor plan of your home against the "bagua," a box-shaped diagram with nine equal-sized areas, called guas. Each gua is dedicated to an important aspect of life, such as personal relationships, career, health or creativity.
If one of the nine aspects is lacking, or in crisis, within the life of the people who live there, feng shui dictates that they enhance the functionality and beauty of the section of house that corresponds to that aspect of life.
If someone is working on a specific life goal, he or she should shore up, again, the section of the home that corresponds to the pertinent "gua."
If, for argument's sake, there is no particular gua needing work, the following steps should still be taken.
"Honor the function of the room," says Allan. In other words, don't gussy up the garage, just because it happens to fall in the "knowledge and wisdom" gua.
But, make that garage the best garage possible. Store possessions in it neatly. Decorate it with pictures, posters or anything that will "bring a smile to your face," Allan says. After all, for many Americans, the garage is the portal they use most often to enter and leave the home.
A home's front entrance also is crucial. According to feng shui, opportunity will not beckon if the path to the front door is overgrown or otherwise unappealing. The address should be clearly posted in some attractive manner.
If something offensive exists near the home -- such as a noisy neighbor or an unattractive public sign -- it's common for feng shui followers to place a small eight-sided mirror on the home's exterior, facing toward the nuisance to reflect back its negative "energy."
"You'll be surprised. Neighbors will move," Merle says.
Once a visitor is inside the front door, an entryway's function is to adjust the person's "chi," or spirit, to the "chi" of the home. For that reason, a front door that opens right into the living is undesirable. It's too jarring for the visitor.
Feng shui also looks at bathroom location. By tradition, water is closely associated with money, so proper bathroom treatment is said to minimize financial trouble.
If a bathroom is dark because it lacks windows, place mirrors on all four walls. If the toilet is conspicuous because it's the first object noticed when the bathroom door opens, a feng shui follower might keep a plant, preferably live, near the toilet to distract the eye and symbolically absorb water, so that good fortune won't drain away.
Throughout a home, there should be a natural, easy flow. So avoid placing furniture in a way that impedes traffic. Soften harsh, projecting corners -- which supposedly send out imbalanced, harsh, masculine "yang" energy -- by placing plants or mirrors or some kind of draping over it.
Besides ill-placed furniture, undesirable "blockages" that should be removed include: presence of clutter; dried flowers that are older than a year (as well as expired medicine and old kitchen spices); burnt-out light bulbs; and anything standing behind a door that prevents it from opening fully.
Throughout the home, there should also be a healthy mixture of features that denote yin and yang, as well as a balance among items that denote the elements of wood, fire, earth, metal and water.
If a room is too quiet and lifeless -- "too yin," or overpowered by feminine energy, Merle writes in her feng shui textbook, "Marvelous Feng Shui" -- that can be countered by adding life and movement, which are so-called yang features. In other words, add a pet or live plants, or increased sunlight, or a "light maker." Light makers include candles, a fireplace in use or a sparkling chandelier.
A room is too yang if it is too light, too warm or too busy with bright color.
For the problem, feng shui offers a number of cures: planting a tree to throw shade on the room; exchanging one single, overpowering ceiling light for several lights spread through the room at different heights; removing some color or adding touches of darker color. In an all-white room, some touches of darker color should be added.
When it comes to balancing the five elements, keep in mind these categories, listed in Merle's textbook.
Wood symbolizes upward movement of energy. It is represented by trees, plants, anything made out of wood, floral decorations, vertical stripes, green and blue tones, or art that depicts landscapes or plants.
Fire symbolizes the outward direction of energy. It is represented by actual fire, light and heat -- but also red tones; objects that are shaped like triangles, pyramids or cones; and objects that generate heat. Examples are candles or an antique stove, even if nonfunctioning.
Fire also is represented by anything made out of an animal, such as fur, bone, ivory, feathers or skin. Art that depicts people, animals, sunshine or fire also falls in this category.
Earth symbolizes pivotal change. It is represented by squares or long, flat surfaces. Anything made of soil -- such as earthen tiling, pottery or clay sculpture -- is an earth element. Related colors range from yellow to brown.
Metal symbolizes condensing or turning inward. Round, oval and arched shapes represent metal. So do actual metal colors, as well as white, cream and light pastels. Objects in the category are made of metal, rock, gems or stones.
Water symbolizes fluid, floating energy. It is represented by reflecting surface and shapes that are curved, wavy or asymmetrical. Black or very dark tones also represent water. Art that depicts water or anything nautical is appropriate, as are actual fountains, waterfalls and pools.
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