Is Feng Shui Still Around?

by SweisKloss
April 14, 2022

What’s up with feng shui these days? Is it still a thing? Maybe you remember when it was quite the interior design buzz in the 90s, which is a bit amusing considering feng shui has been around for over 6000 years. Nevertheless, at the time, a flood of companies, retailers, restauranteurs, and residents got busy arranging their spaces to achieve better energy flow. Some people call feng shui superstitious. But there are design experts who say that it’s the real deal, and it’s here to stay. In fact, feng shui has seen a resurgence since the start of the pandemic.

Many of us have heard of feng shui, but do we all know what it is exactly? Feng is the Chinese word for wind, and shui is the word for water. Roughly translated as “the way of wind and water.” Feng shui is a complex technique of measuring and assessing Chinese astrology, metaphysics, Qi (or Chi), the five elements, and yin-yang energy.

Qi, which means air or breath, is the foundation of feng shui. It is the flow of energy in everything that links all existence together and referred to as “life force” or “material energy.” Simply decluttering a home or office will help Qi flow better. The five elements of fire, water, earth, metal, and wood when used in certain combinations will help with positive Qi pertaining to various life goals. And yin-yang has to do with passive and active energy working harmoniously.

Beijing’s Forbidden City—originally built in 1420 as an imperial palace complex and was home to 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties—is made up of more than 90 compounds including 98 buildings and was created around feng shui. Built on a main axis that runs north to south, the grand entrance faces south, which is deemed an auspicious direction. And the buildings are arranged symmetrically on either side of the axis to promote harmonious flow of energy.

One tool of feng shui is the luopan, a Chinese magnetic compass AKA feng shui compass, which helps to determine the best location for objects. Another important tool is the bagua map (shown above). According to CLI org., the map is “an octagon shaped energy map that consists of eight areas around a center. It functions as an energy grid that is used as a blueprint to design floor plans for any sort of space.” Aligning the bottom of the map along the axis of the front entrance will help determine each bagua area, which has “different attributes associated with it, and you can ‘activate’ an area by bringing in its specific color, element, or shape.”

A recent and notable example of feng shui in architecture was when London-based Priya Sher, a fully accredited and certified feng shui consultant, worked with Pringle Brandon’s design team on the Macquarie Bank project in the Moorhouse building designed by well-known architecture firm Foster & Partners.

Our own experience with feng shui was interesting when we brought in a consultant to advise on the SweisKloss office space some years back. Let’s just say there’s a reason why Abeer sits where she does, desks are situated the way they are, and why our small elephant statues face out the windows in certain directions. Elephants symbolize strength, wisdom, good fortune, and protection.

Here are some feng shui tips to consider: keep your front door clean and place objects, like plants and light fixtures, in a balanced way on either side of the door to draw in energy; clutter is a huge no-no, especially in hallways; use calming colors in kitchens and dining areas; put fresh flowers on display and reflect them in mirrors to optimize positive energy; and place lamps in corners diagonally opposite of the door to “activate wealth energy.”

Whether or not you believe in feng shui, it seems to have some staying power. Afterall, anything that brings good energy to a space and our lives while looking visually pleasing…hey, why not, right?