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Feng Shui Meaning

The Eastern art of Feng Shui has become much more accepted and adored in the Western world over the past couple decades. And since our readers are always interested in learning about it, we thought we'd devote a whole page to Feng Shui meaning.

Feng Shui Meaning

When you understand Feng Shui meaning, it gives you a better grasp on how this technique works.

Feng Shui is best referred to as a philosophy. Some people call it an art; some a science. All three terms probably have some truth to them.

What is Feng Shui?

Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese philosophy that is used to bring more balance and peace into one's life through an an unencumbered flow of energy. It uses the science of energy to achieve harmony between our living and working spaces and nature.

This spatial design technique uses chi (the energy that connects living things) to ensure that energy can flow through a space without blockages or overstimulation.

History of Feng Shui

"Feng Shui" is a Chinese word that translates to "wind water." It originated from an ancient poem that describes the connection between human life and the environment. 

This technique is 2000-5000 years old depending on who you talk to.

Initially, it was used to help people identify places to build a home that would be safe and help them flourish. It was also used to find the best burial sites for loved ones.

Eventually, whole cities were designed according to the Feng Shui concepts as Feng Shui meaning became more understood and appreciated.

Master Yang Yun Sang is considered to be the founder of the Landscape School of Feng Shui. He left behind numerous classical Feng Shui writings.

The Bagua Map - What Can Feng Shui Improve?

Feng Shui can be used to improve every area of your life. This is best displayed by the Bagua Map, which is an energy map that can be superimposed over a floor plan to map out the space.

Bagua means "eight areas." There are 8 sectors on the map, and each one relates to a different area of our lives. Each section also corresponds to certain earthly elements, colors, shapes, numbers, seasons, and directions.

In the center of the map is a ninth area, which represents your overall well-being.

Bagua Map

Let's look at each section of the Bagua map in more detail now to better understand Feng Shui meaning...

Family & Health

  • Element: Yang, Wood
  • Colors: Green, Blue, Teal
  • Shape: Rectangular, Columnar
  • Number: 4
  • Season: Spring
  • Location: East
  • Properties: healthy family relationships, hardiness, connection, healing past, releasing guilt and blame, connection to ancestors, new beginnings

Wealth & Prosperity

  • Element: Yin, Wood
  • Colors: Purple
  • Shape: Rectangular, Columnar
  • Number: 5
  • Season: Spring
  • Location: Southeast 
  • Properties: wealth, abundance, prosperity, affluence, gratitude, luxury, generosity, allowing, manifestation, enjoyment

Center & Self

  • Element: Earth 
  • Colors: Brown, Orange, Yellow
  • Shape: Square, Flat
  • Number: 5
  • Season: Transitions between seasons
  • Location: Center
  • Properties: harmony, balance, feeling safe, wholeness, empowerment, self-reflection, overall wellness

Helpful People & Travel

  • Element: Yang, Metal
  • Colors: Gray, Metallics
  • Shape: Circular, Spherical
  • Number: 6
  • Season: Autumn
  • Location: Northeast
  • Properties: giving and receiving help, guidance, good connection, travel, transportation, ease of technology

Children & Creativity

  • Element: Yin, Metal
  • Colors: White, Metallics
  • Shape: Circular, Spherical
  • Number: 7
  • Season: Autumn
  • Location: West
  • Properties: inner child, playfulness, fun, spontaneity, imagination, unique style, new ideas, relationships with children and animals, completion, joy

Knowledge & Wisdom

  • Element: Yang, Earth
  • Colors: Dark Blue
  • Shape: Square, Flat
  • Number:
  • Season: Transitions between the seasons
  • Location: Northeast 
  • Properties: stillness, solitude, self-love, self-care, education and study, meditation, reflection, knowledge, self-cultivation, skillfulness

Fame & Reputation

  • Element: Fire
  • Colors: Red
  • Shape: Triangle, Pointy
  • Number: 9
  • Season: Summer
  • Location: South 
  • Properties: shining your light, confidence, expansiveness, attractiveness, fame, reputation, passion, visibility

Career & Life Journey

  • Element: Water 
  • Colors: Black
  • Shape: Wavy
  • Number: 1
  • Season: Winter
  • Location: North 
  • Properties: authenticity, pursuing your passions, career-related choices, honoring your true self, life path

Love & Relationships

  • Element: Yin, Earth
  • Colors: Pink
  • Shape: Square, Flat
  • Number: 2
  • Season: Transitions between the seasons
  • Location: Southwest
  • Properties: sensuality, pleasure, relaxation, receptivity, giving and receiving love, sexuality, grounding, partnerships, marriage, self-care

The 5 Elements

A fundamental principle of Feng Shui meaning are the 5 elements, which originated from the Taoist traditions. They are designed to work together to create a complete system that balances nature with our environment. 

Each area on the Bagua map corresponds to certain elements, and by bringing those elements into that area of the space, it promotes harmony. 

5 Elements

Let's look at the 5 elements in more detail...

Earth

  • Colors: yellow, orange, brown 
  • Shape: square shapes
  • Properties: grounded, self-care, stability, strength, stability, self-care, boundaries, nourishment, heavy objects

Metal

  • Colors: white, grey, metallic colors
  • Shape: circular shapes 
  • Properties: efficient, precise, beauty , focus, order, joy, beauty, precision

Water

  • Colors: black, dark blue
  • Shape: wavy shapes
  • Properties: downward, flowing, shifting, emotion, inspiration, wisdom, connection

Wood

  • Colors: green, blue, teal
  • Shape: tall, columnar shapes
  • Properties: expansive, vitality, upward, creativity, growth, growth, healing, vitality

Fire

  • Colors: red, bright orange 
  • Shape: triangle shapes
  • Properties: passion, illuminating, brilliant, leadership, boldness, passion, inspiration, visibility

Yin and Yang

Another important Feng Shui principle is Yin-Yang energy, which brings light to the duality of life and the fact that opposite forces are interconnected. 

The duality of Yin and Yang forces creates harmony, a key aspect of Feng Shui meaning.

Yin and Yang

Yin - passive, soft energy, nighttime, coolness, quiet 

Yang - aggressive, "bold" energy, the sun, sociability, heat

In Feng Shui, we use Yin in the spaces where we want to relax and have a soothing energy, such as in a bedroom. We use Yang in social areas, such as the kitchen or home office.

Fend Shui Crystals

Feng Shui crystals bring positive energy into a space and further enhance Feng Shui meaning. Each crystal carries a different frequency that can be used to alter a space in a different way. 

Here are some of our favorite Feng Shui crystals...

Learn More About Feng Shui Crystals

5 Reasons to Start Learning Feng Shui Today - There are so many benefits to the ancient practice of Feng Shui. Let's dive into 5 of our favorite reasons to start learning Feng Shui today!

Feng Shui Crystals: Transform the Energy in Your Home - Feng shui crystals transmute the energy in a space and can act as powerful cures for bad feng shui. They stimulate the flow of good chi, helping to create a positive environment, one where we feel joyous and safe. Let’s learn about the best crystals to use and how to use them...

Feng Shui Crystals

Feng Shui Symbols

There are many Feng Shui symbols that further explain Feng Shui meaning. They are used to bring certain energies into a space.

Here are some of the most popular ones...

  • Bed = you
  • Desk = an extension of your career
  • Stove = your wealth and nourishment
  • Flowers = flourishing good luck
  • Fruit = longevity, prosperity, fertility
  • Birds = freedom, inspiration, connection to the Divine
  • Butterflies = love and romance
  • Horses = success, fame, freedom, speed
  • Mystic Knot = (a combination of 6 times the infinity symbol) long and happy life that is rich with good fortune

The Guardians of Good Feng Shui Energy are 4 Feng Shui animal symbols that work together to bring in good energy through the four seasons and directions. They are: 

  • Tortoise = winter, north
  • Green Dragon = spring, east
  • Red Phoenix = summer, south
  • White Tiger = fall, west

8 Feng Shui Symbols & How to Use Them to Improve Your Life - Creating a space that helps us thrive, succeed, and prosper is simple when we listen to ancient tradition. While the process of bringing order and flow into the home may seem complex, when we let Feng Shui symbols take a place, we discover rich, nourishing energy in abundance.

Mystic Knot Chinese Coins

Easy Feng Shui Tips

Feng Shui is a vast science that requires a lot of knowledge, however there are plenty of simple and easy Feng Shui tips that you can incorporate in your living and working space to start making some improvements in your life.  

Let's look at some of them now...

The Commanding Position

The Commanding Position is the part of the room that is furthest away from the door. It cannot be in a direct line with the door. Instead, it is diagonal to the door.

There should be a clear line of sight to the door from this spot in the room. It's the place where you'll want to spend most of your time because it feels the most comfortable.

Remove Clutter

Clutter blocks the flow of energy in a space, and since energy flow is of the utmost importance in Feng Shui meaning, it is an essential aspect to consider. 

It weighs us down and creates a chaotic energy that can cause issues in all areas of our lives. That's why one of the most important Feng Shui principles is to remove clutter and get organized.

Let Go of Things

Everything you own requires energy on our part to maintain it. That's why when we have too much stuff, it drains our energy. So, give away, donate, or throw out things you don't use or need.

Getting rid of objects from past relationships is also critical as it will help cut the energetic cords between you and that person, allowing you to move forward in your life.

Plants

Plants bring the wood element into a space and promote prosperity and productivity. Place them in your home office or in the Prosperity Corner of your home or a room to enjoy more affluence.

Main Entrance

The main entrance is a huge component of Feng Shui meaning. It is where energy enters the home and it represents how the world sees you. Keep it clear, free of clutter, and bright. Decorate it with things that bring in the fire element.

Broken Things

Be sure to fix or get rid of things that are broken as they bring in bad luck.

It is especially important to fix leaky plumbing as water symbolizes the flow of money, and leaks mean money will be flowing away from you.

Open Spaces

When we have open spaces in our environment, it provides an opening for opportunities to manifest. Open spaces are important in general, but it is especially important to make sure you have open spaces from the view in front of you when you're lying in bed or sitting behind a desk.

Pointy Objects

Sharp, pointed objects, such as sharp corners, crosses, overhead beams, and plants with pointy leaves channel negative energy.

These objects are known as poison arrows in Feng Shui and it is thought that the negative energy from poison arrows travels by means of straight lines. If you have things like this in your environment, be sure to obstruct those lines with a softer object. 

Feng Shui Basics

Feng Shui Basics: A Simple Guide to Transforming Your Inner & Outer Life - To help you understand the feng shui basics, we have outlined the aspects most important to feng shui for beginners, including energy, the 5 elements, the Bagua map, and the commanding position.

How to Use a Bagua Map to Improve Your Space - Thinking about using feng shui principles in your home to make it a haven of flourishing positive energy, but not sure how do you do it? It’s really not that difficult. Learning how to use a bagua map is a good starting point.

Improve Your Living Space With the 5 Feng Shui Elements - The five feng shui elements provide a roadmap that helps us decorate our any area so that it supports our growth and happiness. Learn about each element, the cycle of elements, and how each one affects each other.

Top Feng Shui Principles: Understand the Basics of the Ancient Chinese Philosophy - Without a definitive history or origin, Feng Shui embodies the true essence of itself to flow in harmony. Feng Shui principles help define order in our lives by encouraging balance, surrender, and acceptance in our bodies and spaces.  

Feng Shui Prosperity Corner

The Feng Shui prosperity corner is one of the most popular ways to use Feng Shui meaning in one's life because we all want more prosperity, right?

We've written an entire article on this subject:

The Feng Shui Wealth Corner: How to Decorate it for Prosperity - Discover what items to place in your Feng Shui wealth corner to attract prosperity and abundance into your life.

9 Ways to Use Crystals to Attract Money - When you know how to use crystals to attract money, you can more easily eliminate your blocks and manifest the wealth you desire. These 6 ideas are fun and easy to put in place.

7 Feng Shui Wealth Tips to Get Your Finances Flowing - Every inanimate object, just like a living thing, has its vibration, which can be auspicious or present a block to creating the life you desire. Feng shui wealth tips work in any environment. The key to manifesting more abundance and prosperity is to understand how to use them to our benefit. Let’s see how...

How to Discover Your Lucky Feng Shui Direction & Find Prosperity - Almost every ancient civilization knew the importance of, and utilized knowledge of the natural world for their benefit. Knowing your favored feng shui direction can aid you in drawing success and positivity into many aspects of your life.

12 Free Ways to Use Feng Shui for Money: Get Money Flowing When You Have None - When looking up articles on feng shui for money, it's very common to find tips that require money to make them work. Instead, this article provides free and inexpensive ways to increase money with feng shui.

Feng Shui Colors

Feng Shui colors are often used to depict Feng Shui meaning. We've written an entire article on this subject: 

How to Use Feng Shui Colors to Improve Your Life - Discover how to use Feng Shui colors to improve every aspect of your life. Learn what colors to use and where to place them.

Feng Shui Protection

Feng Shui Front Door Tips for Abundance, Luck & Protection - With these feng shui front door tips, you can simply and easily bring more abundance, luck, and protection into your home and your life. You'll learn about what colors to use, how to decorate your main entrance, and what plants and crystals to add.

13 Signs of Negative Energy in a House: Is it Time to Cleanse Your Home? - If home is where the heart is, are we giving it the care and attention it needs to help keep us healthy? Learn about the signs of negative energy in a house so that you know when to purify it.

Feng Shui by Room

Feng Shui for the Bedroom: Improve Sleep, Romance & Health - When you understand feng shui for the bedroom, you can improve your sleep, your health, and your romantic relationship. Try these tips and tricks for an instant improvement! 

Feng Shui for the Office: Tips to Increase Productivity & Reduce Stress - When the energy in your office is set up to support your success, you'll find yourself being more productive, releasing work stress, and attracting prosperity. These feng shui for the office tips and tools are here to help!

Feng Shui Desk Tips: Simple Ways to Attract More Wealth & Abundance - Did you know the placement of your desk and the way you decorate it can make a huge difference in your level of success and happiness at work? With these feni shui desk tips, you can do just that!

Feng Shui Kitchen Tips for Health, Well-Being & Vitality - With these feng shui kitchen tips, you can set you and your family up for greater well-being and health. The kitchen is the heart of the home and sometimes, it needs a little help to balance the energy there. 

10 Feng Shui Bathroom Tips That Will Cure Bad Chi - Use these feng shui bathroom tips to make simple changes in your home so that you can enjoy more positive energy in your life. You'll be so thankful you did!

Feng Shui Dining Room Tips for More Connection & Fulfillment - When you have the right feng shui dining room tips, you can enhance your life with more happiness and fulfillment. Try these tips to help you create a better flow of energy that supports a happy family.

Feng Shui Living Room Do’s & Don’ts - A feng shui living room is a place that encourages sharing, cultivates peace, and invites positive vibrations our way. When the living room is designed and decorated in a way that helps generate positive chi, it becomes a harmonious place we can enjoy sharing with others. Let's discover how feng shui principles can transform your living room and your life.

Feng Shui For Apartments: Maximizing Energy Flow in Small Spaces - With the challenges of limited square footage, cramped layouts, and a need for functionality, learning the art of Feng Shui for apartments, or for small spaces, is a hugely essential skill to have. Let's learn all about it!

Bonus Info About Feng Shui

Feng Shui Decorating Tips: How to Improve the Energy in Your Home - Use these feng shui decorating tips to understand what objects, colors, and elements to include in each area of your home. As you make simple changes, you'll likely notice a big difference in your life.

The Do's & Don'ts of Decorating With Feng Shui Mirrors - Mirrors can make or break a space because they have a powerful effect on energy. Feng shui mirrors enhance the positive energy and reduce negative energy. Try these do's and don'ts today! 

Feng Shui for Love: Cures & Tips to Attract More Love & Romance Into Your Life - When we practice feng shui for love principles, we invite loving and romantic energies into our lives. Then, the love we desire seems to flow into our lives with so much more ease.

How to Feng Shui Your Life: 10 Tips for Transformation - Feng shui is the ancient philosophy that helps us level up the energy in our home, and in doing so, we can change our lives. It helps us gain more control of the energy that comes in and out of our space. Let's learn how to feng shui your life now!

How to Create a Feng Shui Garden: Planning & Decorating the Perfect Outdoor Oasis - Whether in the heat of summer or the cold of winter, there's something awesome about exploring nature and our place in it. Creating space outside through a Feng Shui garden design invites energy flow and harmony into our relationship with the natural environment. 

Feng Shui Plants: How to Enhance Positive Energy With Plants - Feng shui plants are one of the easiest and best ways to get positive energy flowing through a space. Learn all about our favorite ones here, as well as what plants to avoid for good feng shui.

5 Ways to Improve the Flow of Positive Energy in the Home - When you learn how to improve the flow of positive energy in the home, you'll find that you feel more uplifted and happy as well! Try these tips to get started today!

Feng Shui Numbers: What They Mean & Which Ones Are Lucky? - When we hear the term Feng Shui, we think of elements such as water and fire and specific colors that can bring balance to your home when used correctly. But, have you ever considered Feng Shui numbers to bring balance to your sacred spaces and life?

6 Feng Shui Tips to Bring Positive Energy Into Your Life - Feng Shui is a 3,500 year old practice dedicated to the balance of energy that can increase positivity in and around our homes and workspaces. Try these feng shui tips to get started today!

Animals in Feng Shui: Aligning with Nature's Energy - Animals in Feng Shui have long been revered as auspicious symbols, harnessing the wisdom of nature to bring prosperity, protection, and positivity into our lives. Let's dive into this topic!

The Art of Space Clearing: Removing Negative Energy with Feng Shui - The art of space clearing, which expels negative energy from a room, is a vital component of Feng Shui. Here are some ideas, methods, and examples of how you can use it to improve your life today!

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