Q & A with Linda Varone, RN, MA, CFS

Q: What is Feng Shui?

A: Feng Shui literally translates to Wind and Water. Feng Shui started in China, about 2500 years ago, as a system to help farmers find the best place to locate their fields and their homes. This involves identifying the best Chi energy areas. Understanding contours of the landscape can guide you to the best Chi locations. Metaphors, such as dragons, phoenix and tigers were traditionally used to help people understand basic concepts. In the last century Feng Shui has incorporated recent scientific developments, from Quantum Physics to Environmental Psychology, to explain what the ancient sages knew metaphorically and intuitively.

Q: What is this thing called Chi?

A: Chi (pronounced CHEE and sometimes spelled Qi) is the Breath of Life. Chi is a positive energy. Everyone is improved by an abundance of Chi in their bodies and in the environment around them. The ancient Chinese believed that Chi was the foundation of the entire universe. It is the principle behind Chinese science, philosophy and medicine. Chi is the basis for Tai Chi. Feng Shui seeks to balance and enhance the Chi in our homes and work spaces, thereby improving our health and energy.

Q: Why is there more than one kind of Feng Shui? I get so confused.

A: It can be confusing. There are two main schools of Feng Shui. The Land Form School, and its modern branch (BTB) orients the Ba-Gua to the front door. The Compass School orients the Ba-Gua to the points of the magnetic compass. Both are based on the concept of Chi, and how we can best use it to support our life and goals. The Land Form School focuses on the Chi of the Earth and its direct effect on all forms of life. The Compass School focuses on the Chi of the Heavens and seeks to align environments with the stars and planets present at the time of birth.

Q: What is a Ba-Gua?

A: Your space is a metaphor of your life. The Ba-Gua can help you organize and enhance your space and your life, in harmony with universal energy. A Ba-Gua is an eight-sided diagram. “Ba” means 8 in Chinese. “Gua” refers to goupings of three lines, “trigrams”, representing Yin and Yang. Each trigram represents an area of your life: career, marriage, children, abundance, etc. The trigrams are mathematically arranged to form the Ba-Gua and represent the archetypal order of universal energy. This Ba-Gua can be used as a template to recognize those areas of your environment that relate to specific areas of your life. Once you know this, you can improve a space to enhance life energy areas.