Events occurring in our lives are believed to be affected by the following three factors, ‘the Cosmic Trinity of luck’:

Heaven luck is that with which we are born (destiny or karma), the law of cause and effect, or in other words, the principle of ‘as you sow, so also shall you reap.’ Everything we are today is the sum total of all we have been. All the choices that we have made, life after life, combine to create a particular karmic current which carries us in a certain direction. This is our destiny, but it is a self-made destiny, created by ourselves, shaped by our desires and forged by our free will. Karma is the set of circumstances currently the soul chose as the best opportunity for its growth and for teaching of others. Justice is at the root of it, and though we do not always see it, or its immediate results or understand it, it is always there. Although Heaven luck is believed to be an unchangeable aspect of our lives, it is still linked to our own choices as there is no single accident or misfortune in our lives that could not be traced back to our own doings in this or in another life. There are various ways in which to chart out a person’s heaven luck. One of the more popular methods in Chinese astrology is known as BaZi or Four Pillars of Destiny. This is a study of the spirit of a person and a chart of his Path of Life. The Path of Life is not a straight line, but a wide wave band of variable widths with ups and downs. The upper portion of this band indicates the maximum achievements the person can attain and the lower portion the bare minimum. The person has the freedom to choose wherever he wants to walk on this path. At every crossroad he is also free to choose whichever turn he wants to take.

Earth luck comes from your surrounding and the environmental influences. It relates to the 5,000 year old time proven tradition and application of the principles of Feng Shui – the art and science of understanding the forces of nature and energy in order to design houses and workplaces that blend with the environment instead of clashing with it. When we improve our environment, we improve all aspects of our lives. It aims to help us live in harmony with the world by promoting the flow of positive energy and neutralizing or avoiding negative or destructive energy. This aspect is within our control depending whether we decide to use it.

Man luck is the luck we create ourselves by exploiting the opportunities that come our way. That is, our personal free will, the effort we make and the decisions we take as to how to lead our lives. Whatever happens to us, it happens for a reason. It is possible to work with karma, by using our free will. Free will is simply choice. We exercise our free will in just living life; in the daily decisions we make, in the paths we decide to take. Many people become martyrs of their circumstances rather than attempting to make the best of them. Karma is not an outside force controlled by God or Devil. It is ourselves. How we deal with our karma, the choices we make, will have a direct effect on our future. When someone assumes a negative attitude, he misses an opportunity to try to bring back into balance the harmony he has disturbed. All of our feelings, beliefs and knowledge are based on internal thoughts, both conscious and subconscious. We are in control, whether we know it or not. We can be positive or negative, enthusiastic or dull, active or passive. Thoughts repeated over and over again become a belief and a belief becomes reality. Positive thoughts repeated over and over again create a positive reality. Man luck is, of course, an aspect of our lives that we have full control.

When the above 3 factors work hand in hand, there is balance and harmony between Heaven, Earth and Human luck.

Karma or free will?

People in their present lives are experiencing the effects of their past actions or karma. The doctrine of karma has two aspects: first there is the karma we still have to work out: causes from the past which we cannot change, the results of which we have yet to meet. Second, we are making karma all the time now. And we can do something about that for we have influence over our deeds and thoughts right now. No one is confronted with more than he has caused and every aspect of life is an opportunity to evolve. However it is possible to alter or reduce the effects of these actions through counteraction. By their present actions, people can produce new karma with short term and long term effects. This new karma will determine their situation in future lives. Karma ends when we have perfected ourselves in our ability to love. Karmic lessons are designed to help us grow into greater levels of love, joy and awareness. They teach us to ‘choose love at every moment’, to ‘forgive everyone, everything’, and to ‘live happy.’ There is no such thing as fate in the sense of our lives being governed by outside forces. Every time we think, speak or act we are generating causes of future happiness or unhappiness for ourselves. Thus understanding the law of karma helps one realize that people are whatever they make themselves to be. They are entirely responsible for their destiny.

If our thoughts are predominantly those of kindness, love and compassion, these very thoughts will be returned to us sooner or later. If we send out thoughts of hatred, anger or pettiness, these thoughts will also be returned to us. The effects of karma may come instantly, later in life or in another life altogether.

What is Feng shui?

We all had the experience of walking into a place and immediately feeling comfortable or energized or relaxed. Have you thought why that is? And why do some places cause us to feel uncomfortable, anxious or perhaps tired? Do you wonder why some businesses are financially prosperous while others of equal merit fail? It is because we have a reciprocal energetic connection to our environment. Environments influence us just as we influence our environments. This energetic connection to our environment is the basis of Feng Shui. In fact, the name itself embodies the connection, because Feng shui means ‘wind - water’, representing the two natural energies of movement. The first law of Physics states ‘energy can neither be created nor destroyed, only transformed.’ The main principle of Feng Shui is that everything in the Universe is comprised of energy. The way energy flows in, through and around one’s environment dynamically affects one’s life and career. The Chinese call this energy ‘chi’… the life force. Chi is ever present, yet invisible, although it is scientifically documented. Feng Shui is designed to improve the flow of chi, creating harmony that is unique to our own personal energy by working with the 5 elements (fire, metal, earth, water, earth). It is a practical method of assessing and improving the quality of our lives through observation and analysis of our home and office environment. The goal is to achieve a balance of yin and yang. For example, if a backyard is too hilly (too much yang), one would want to introduce a water fountain or some plants to break the landscape (introduce yin).

Hellenic Feng shui

Feng shui is not only a traditional art and philosophical concept of the Far East which reached the west in recent years; it is a science, and art and a way of life which was very well known to the ancient Greeks. Balance and harmony were two of the strongest beliefs of the ancient Greeks and are fundamental principles of Feng Shui. According to Eleni Kairi, a Greek Feng shui practitioner, the ancient Greek architecture is a splendid example of sacred geometry. The monuments of the Acropolis, the location of the ancient city of Athens, the oracle of Delphi, the famous theatre of Epidaurus, demonstrate, among other sanctuaries and cities, which they were built according to the Feng Shui principles.

Is there bad Feng Shui in your house or business environment?

Common probable symptoms:

Unexpected or inexplicable obstacles in several or all aspects of life
Good income, but problems with cash-flow
Serious financial and career difficulties
Health problems
Fatigue and exhaustion
Poor relationships
Having trouble sleeping
A difference in your family’s health or wealth since moving to a new location.

How can Feng shui help you?

Airports, hotels, banks, businesses, offices, homes, gardens, towns and even sports teams have benefited from using Feng Shui. More and more people are realizing the power of personal life changes through using Feng Shui.

By using correct Feng Shui principles we are able to maximize our auspicious (sheng) chi, and minimize the inauspicious (and ‘sha’ or ‘killing’) chi. The proper application of Feng Shui principles can maximize the individual’s potential for achieving personal goals and maintaining health and relationships. It can facilitate individuals to make proper decisions at critical times, which often translates to successes in finances, relationships and health. It is simply one more tool an individual can employ to make the most of his abilities in fulfilling his life’s purpose, maximizing the potential of realizing desired conditions, while minimizing undesired outcomes.

However, as already stated, Feng Shui is only one of the three factors in the trinity of luck and would affect only 33% of what happens in our lives. If your karma indicates a challenging period in your life and you don’t use your free will to counteract it (see ‘man luck’) or if you have created problems for yourself through lack of integrity or poor judgment, Feng Shui will not magically erase all your troubles, though it can ease a bad situation. In other words, the best Feng Shui will not help you much if you do not take advantage of ‘man luck’. At the very least your can expect to create a more comfortable and supportive home environment. Normally, you will see improvements in your energy, enthusiasm, and ability to work and communicate productively with others- which will all have a dramatic influence on your life in the long run. Other effects of Feng shui can seem quite magical: your social and professional contacts increase; new love relationships materialize out of the blue; cash flow can increase substantially. The effects can be sudden and dramatic or they might be gradual and subtle. Feng Shui can, nevertheless, help you:

Increase personal happiness
Foster prosperity
Enhance romantic relationships
Enhance creativity
Attract better business and increase profits
Help children study better
Improve health and well-being
Achieve fame and respect
Feel less stressed, peaceful and more balanced
Nurturing yourself with Feng shui practice will help you regain your own sense of destiny and purpose within the universe
Become more aware of synchronicity
Focusing our hearts and minds on high intentions for our greatest good is one principle of Feng Shui. When we decide to live our lives with ‘intentional success’, we create an atmosphere of willingness to open ourselves to the best things in life, the little magical daily events that remind us that we are all connected. Those amazing little coincidences are also called synchronicity. When we pay attention to synchronicity, we strengthen our intuition. We invite more ‘magic’ into our routine lives. With a stronger intuition, we are able to set higher intentions for ourselves about what we wish to attract into our lives.

Feng Shui schools of thought

There are mainly two basic schools of Feng Shui, but sometimes a combination of the two can be used:

The Traditional Chinese or ‘the Compass School’
This school uses the compass directions, 5 elements, and geomantic chart as well as other factors to determine the best placement of a structure and also how best to layout the rooms. Based on scientific and mathematical formulas, this system takes into account time and space and the changing forces during different periods of time and its influences on exterior and interior spaces. Each building, according to the direction of its front and back door face, will fall into either and East House or a West House category. Also, people, depending on their birth dates, will fall into East or West life groups. (their kua number – see feng shui tip number 3). Depending on which life group someone falls into, certain direction will be auspicious and other directions inauspicious for that person.

The Black Sect is practiced by western practitioners. This form of Feng shui uses the ever changing pakua as a map of your home, your business, even your desk, instead of using the compass. The Pakua is an octagon shaped diagram that is derived from the ‘I-Ching’ the Chinese book of Divination. Each side represents a different aspect of life: Career, Knowledge, Family, Wealth, Fame, Relationships, Creativity and Benefactors. The area in the centre represents Tai Chi, the ancient Chinese symbol for Balance and Harmony (Yin & Yang). Adjusting the energy in each corresponding area subdues negative energy or enhances beneficial chi already present in these locations. When problem areas of the home are found, the chi of the area can be enhanced with various cures such as mirrors, crystals, windchines (see Feng Shui tips).

Feng shui tips

Receiving consultation from a professional Feng Shui practitioner would be the best way to apply the principles of Feng Shui. There are, however, some tips that anyone can use:

Step 1- get rid of clutter!

Your home is a reflection of you and clutter can block the energy flowing effectively through your home and therefore can affect opportunities available to you. So get rid of clutter! Clutter means keeping things in your life that you no longer need. When you do that, it means that there is stuck energy; stuck passion, stuck motivation. Getting rid of clutter, will enable you to move away from people or areas in your life that are negative, and create new space for positive people and new opportunities.

Step 2 -Space clearing

Before any Feng shui remedy can be put to use, it is necessary to clear the space (energetically) for change to occur. Space clearing moves stagnant energy in a home or business with the goal to improve health, relationships and finances. We must realize that everything that happens in a building (actions and emotions) becomes recorded in walls, floors, furniture, plants, people – thus creating an energetic imprint. Just remember a situation where you walked into a room where an argument has just taken place. The energetic release during the argument was so intense that the energy left behind was almost physically tangible. Our homes carry these energetic imprints and stagnant energy, which stays behind long after the cause. The energetic imprint can also have its source from the energy left by the previous inhabitants. Although there are specialized people that conduct space clearing, after the clutter has been cleared, the following basic space clearing techniques actively free the energy further:

Burn incense: the natural essences that are released through their burning have the ability to alter the vibrational frequency and raise and purify the energy level in a space.
Using sound: the energy is fine-tuned with the clear tones of a high quality bell or singing bowl. Bells that you choose for use in the space clearing ritual should be protected and kept in a special place.
Light high quality aromatherapy candles and place it in the centre of a dish in the main entryway of your space. Repeat this procedure and place other candles at key locations. Recent research has discovered that the burning of common paraffin based candles can potentially emit over 30 different toxins into the air we breathe. The addition of artificial fragrances further compounds this issue. It is therefore important to use high quality aromatherapy candles made of essential oils, in order to take advantage of their therapeutic qualities.

Use essential oils (such as sage, cedar, sandalwood); they are wonderful in boosting the chi in our environment.
Wind chimes purify energy as it passes through.
Play music you love, perhaps of natural sounds.
Poor sea salt across house entrances.
These techniques can also be used when moving into a new space in order to erase the ‘predecessor karma’ of the previous occupants.

Step 3 - Find your ‘Kua Number’ (www.all-about-feng-shui.com.uk/kua-number-calculator.html), based on your date of birth and find your 4 best directions. Locate your sheng chi (best) direction and sleep with your head pointed in this direction and try so that the main entrance faces this direction.

Step 4 – Apply, where possible, the following tips

After the space has been cleared and the chi is flowing, the following tools are then used to balance the elements:

Life

Plants in the home are very auspicious because they produce yang energy and bring harmony and balance into your home. Plants with sharply pointed leaves or spikes (cactus) should be avoided however. Get rid of any dried flowers in your space. They are dead and you do not want your wealth to be dead. Replace them with fake or silk.

It is not good to see the back door from the main entrance, as the chi will come in and immediately leave through the back door. In this case, one could put plants or a piece of furniture in between.
Fish (aquariums). Consult someone before putting water in your home, regarding its location.
Flowers are always a cheerful sight and encourage the chi. Dead flowers create negative chi so throw out cut flowers as soon as they start to fade.
Movement

Wind chimes make pleasing sounds in the breeze. This tells you that the chi is flowing. It is important to choose chimes that have hollow tubes as the chi rises up through them.
Water symbolizes wealth and abundance. Gently flowing water provides an abundant supply of chi energy and promotes calmness and relaxation. It is, however, important to check where water would be placed as it depends on your Gua number.
incense

Symbols

The art and science of symbolism places an important role in Feng Shui. Symbols impact our subconscious mind; they invoke memories from our past and stimulate our present experiences. Because our subconscious mind makes up about 95% of our mind frame, the power of symbols on our well-being is infinitely strong. In Feng Shui the house is symbolic of the person. The door is the mouth, the rooms on either side of the main door are the lungs, the centre is the heart, the roof is the head, and the windows are the eyes and so forth. The house should be symmetrical like the human body. When it is awkwardly shaped, it will affect our body’s well-being. Even inanimate objects such as pictures, objects, jewellery, and so forth, all possess chi. They are symbols that were created by ‘thought’ or brain frequencies that invoke a deeper significance and meaning to our subconscious mind. Consequently in Feng Shui, it is vital to surround ourselves with symbols that ‘empower’ our mind and bodies with positive energies that promote our growth. There are symbols for good luck, longevity, happiness in love, prosperity in business, long life and wealth.

Tips for career

Dragon water fountain – the dragon is said to create the precious cosmic chi which brings good fortunes into our homes and workplaces. Displaying the dragon together with moving water is even more potent. Display such a water feature in the north for limitless success in your career, or in the southeast for plenty of wealth luck.

The dragon tortoise is a mythical creature that gives you support of the tortoise combined with the courage of the dragon. Place a figurine of the dragon tortoise on your desk or behind you to gain the support of your boss, counter office politics and get the promotion you deserve.

Tips for wealth

Place three Chinese coins with a red ribbon in your purse. This will attract good money luck.
Attract plenty of wealth into your house using three-legged toads with a coin in its mouth! Place the toad in any of the corners diagonally opposite your front door for best effect.

Tips for relationships

Place a pair of objects together, like 2 mandarin ducks that represent successful partnering in the far right rear corner of the bedroom or in the south west corner.
Put symbols of love and marriage. In Feng Shui a rose quartz crystal is very powerful.
Hanging crystals in a sunny window catches the sunlight and creates attractive rainbow patterns which bring good yang energy (love energy).

Tips for safety and protection against misfortune.

Fu Dogs are very important as they guard the home and/or business. Put a pair and place them on either side of the front door, preferably outside. If you cannot place them outside, then pout them right inside on either side of the front door.

Placing a Pakua mirror (concave) at the entrance of a house can deflect negative chi away from the premises. The convex mirror is considered as the most ‘aggressive’ as chi deflected off could harm others, such as your neighbors. A pakua mirror can also be used against sharp, pointed objects directed at your house. For instance TV antennas, protruding tree branches or spiky architectural features.

Light

Lights can be used to illuminate dark corners where chi tends to stagnate. Bright lights attract the chi, no matter where they are placed. However it is important to attract the chi into the main entrance than anywhere else.

Most of the chi comes in through the front door. Consequently, the main entrance should be well lit and appear welcoming to encourage as much chi as possible to come in. The entry to your home or office should be open and inviting, trim away foliage that may be blocking the path of chi.
Add mirrors to increase the size of a small room. Your will create a feeling of more space and endless opportunities. They are very useful in the dining room for reflecting the food that is on the table but: don’t have a mirror facing the bed, if your can see yourself in the mirror from a resting position. This could create a failure in the relationship or marriage due to third party interference or infidelities. Cover up the mirror at night or move it to another location. TVs are just as negative as mirrors. So remove them from the bedroom.

If your house does not have a regular shape (rectangle or square) or if there are sections missing, fill the missing areas of the house or garden with lights where the missing corners would normally be.
Toilets create negative chi and should never face entrances or important rooms. You might want to hang a mirror on the outside of the bathroom to symbolically make the room disappear. Keep bathroom doors and the lid of the toilet closed at all times.

Mirrors can also be used to reflect a beautiful outdoor scene, effectively bringing it indoors.
Burn aromatherapy candles
Salt crystal lamps /candle-holders (natural ionizers)
Replace burned out light bulbs and illuminate dark corners.
Make sure there is sufficient natural light in the building

Sound

Play calming music like ocean waters, forest sounds or rain falling to soothe a stressful working or home environment.

Adding a wind chime in the sunny window can also increase the beneficial effects of good yang energy.

Water. An indoor fountain is a mild negative ion generator. Negative ions are thought to facilitate clear thinking, promote greater concentration, increase relaxation, enhance moods, energy and communication as well as restore our natural balance and sense of well begin. Negative ions also clean the air by attaching themselves to pollution particles.

Hang some small bells on your front door that will invite positive chi into your home.

Colour

Red Luck and good fame

Yellow Auspiciousness

Green Growth and health

Brown Stability and earthiness

Pink Love and happiness

Blue Spiritual understanding, mystery and depth.

General tips:

Avoid sharp pointed buildings, wall corners, furniture or accessories pointed directly at your house, bed or desk.

To keep negative energy from developing, the house should not have long, narrow corridors, dark corners, or steep stairways.

Beds should have a solid headboard. The headboard should be placed against a sold wall, not a window. If the bed is not touching a wall it will lack support and the occupant will feel unsettled.

Exposed beams suggest that occupants will be crushed by the burdens of work and family.

Remove photos of children, family members and people other than your romantic partner from your bedroom.

Final note:

Feng Shui is a spiritual discipline. It is not just about furniture placement but knowing yourself and your universe better so you can get the positive energies from the universe and its objects. You cannot make changes to the external environment without having corresponding changes on the inside. These changes can be perceptual, emotional or spiritual (growth and self-transformation). Conversely, you can’t make internal changes without corresponding external changes needed to be made to your environment. The energy you carry in your intentions and thoughts are what you will create in your life. If you are in disbelief, anxious or caught up in the unhappy experiences of your life, this is the energy you will create more of. If your choose prosperity, you must focus on prosperity. When you begin to see it everywhere, your will start to manifest it in your life. Feng shui is not the magic pill to undo the energy your have created. From this moment forward you can start creating a new beautiful life. If you start right now, right this moment and choose to hold the energy of what you want, this is what your future will hold. ‘If you work Feng Shui, Feng Shui will work for you.’

If you have cultivated yourself thought a spiritual practice and raised your consciousness and personal energy vibration over an extended period of time, it is possible to get to the point where your environment does not have the ability to negatively affect you.

Yin & Yang City Plaza

28, Archibishop Makarios Ave,   The Feng shui & Book Store 1065 Nicosia

Tel. 22-458644, e-mail: yinyang@cytanet.com.cy, website: www.yin-yangcy.com

Back