What is Feng Shui? This is a simple question that can be difficult to answer. Feng Shui is an ancient art and science developed over 3,000 years ago in China. It is a complex body of knowledge that reveals how to balance the energies of any given space to assure the health and good fortune for people inhabiting it. "Feng" means "wind" and "shui" means "water" (pronounced fung-shway). In Chinese culture gentle wind and clear water have always been associated with good harvest and good health, thus "good feng shui" came to mean good livelihood and fortune, while "bad feng shui" came to mean hardship and misfortune. Feng Shui is based on the Taoist vision and understanding of nature, particularly on the idea that the land is alive and filled with Chi, or energy. The ancient Chinese believed that the land's energy could either make or break the kingdom, so to speak. The theories of yin and yang, as well as the five feng shui elements, are some of the basic aspects of a feng shui analysis that come from Taoism. The main tools used in a feng shui analysis are the Compass and the Ba-Gua. The Ba-Gua is an octagonal grid containing the symbols of the I Ching, the ancient oracle on which Feng Shui is based. Knowing the Bagua of your home will help you understand the connection of specific feng shui areas of your home to specific areas of your life. The easiest way to get your life moving by using feng shui is to bring the energy of specific feng shui colors in order to achieve the desired results. Color is very powerful, as it is light, and many spaces are starved for light. So, bring it on! One of the basic principles of feng shui is the principle of five elements, which are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. These feng shui elements interact between themselves in certain ways, generally defined as the Productive and Destructive cycles. Each feng shui element is represented by a specific color, and color is the easiest way to use the five elements principle to bring more harmony into your space with feng shui. FIRE - PASSION AND HIGH ENERGY A balanced Feng Shui Fire element in your space will bring a supporting energy in all your career efforts and will help you achieve recognition. * Fire is the Feng Shui element of South. * Fire energy is also recommended in the Northeast and Southwest feng shui areas of your space. * Feng Shui Fire Element Colors are: o Red o Orange o Purple o Pink o Strong Yellow EARTH - NOURISHMENT AND STABILITY A strong and harmonious Feng Shui Earth element in your home will help create stability, nourishment and protection for all your relationships. * Earth is the Feng Shui element of Northeast and Southwest. * It is also the element of Center of your home. * Feng Shui Earth Element Colors are: o Light Yellow o Beige METAL - CLARITY AND PRECISENESS Feng Shui Metal element brings the qualities of sharpness, precision, clarity and efficiency; its balanced presence will help you live with clarity and lightness. * Metal is the Feng Shui element of West and Northwest. * Metal element is also good to use in the North area of your home or office. * Feng Shui Metal Element Colors are: o Gray o White WATER - EASE, FRESHNESS AND ABUNDANCE A harmonious Feng Shui Water element will bring a refreshing energy of calm, ease, purity and freshness. Water is also the ancient symbol of abundance, thus a potent Feng Shui cure. * Water is the Feng Shui element of North. * Water element is also good to use in the East and Southeast areas of your space. * Feng Shui Water Element Colors are: o Blue o Black WOOD - HEALTH AND VITALITY Lush and healing, the Feng Shui Wood element will bring the energy of health, vitality and growth. It is also an expression of abundance, thus an ancient Feng Shui cure for wealth and prosperity. * Wood is the Feng Shui element of the East and Southeast areas of your space. * Wood element is also good to use in the South. * Feng Shui Wood Element Colors are: o Brown o Green So here you have it, the basic Feng Shui Color Guide to help you create a happy and healthy home. Color is like music, nourishing and uplifting, and the more colors you harmoniously absorb throughout the day, the higher your sense of well-being is. Do not be afraid to bring vibrant colors into your space as color is light, and light is our number one nutrient.