Harmony of the natural forces

VICTOR MANUEL GUZMAN VILLENA

Literally, the science of wind and water, Feng Shui, is the Chinese geomantic practice of locating or creating suitable places to live, work or even die. As Eitel wrote, a nineteenth century Christian missionary, "the Chinese contemplate the nature not as an inanimate tissue, nor dead, but as a living organism that breathes."

For them, the concept of terrestial force was very important. They believed that it circulated through channels in the soil, known as Mei Lug "dragon paths" and divided them into two categories, "Yang and Ying, male and female, symbolized by a blue dragon and a white tiger.

Temples, houses, tombs and government offices were built in accordance with guidelines and principles unchanged since it was vital to build sacred imperial buildings in places that have an appropriate balance between two principles, manifested in the Ch'i , "cosmic breath" which is also in Chinese acupuncture.

Its origins date back to 3000 years of our Era, when it began to set up maps or graphs that explained the relationship of the earth, the cosmos and its cycles. For the 200th Year of our Era, were common practitioners of Feng Shui in China, who gave great importance to the orientation of graves. In the IX and XVI are the greatest teachers, who wrote treatises on the foundations of this science. Concepts such as the Lo Shu, the trigrams, Ba Gua, the manage of this power are add to the interpretations of the holy book I Ching, to form one theory and practice that comes to be Chinese geomancy. The Chinese calendar, the sequence of the five elements and the use of magnetic compass complete the tools of this discipline.

The beauty and order of traditional Chinese landscapes are not the result of chance. Its old city were surrounded by walls to defender of the invaders and of evil influences. Stone lions and dragons of clay placed on lintels and eaves allow a balanced flow of positive and negative forces.

High pagodas were built in geomantic places acupuncture needles to pierce the most sensitive points of the landscape and thus neutralizing the sha ch'i, "the breath of misfortune." According to these principles was planned imperial Forbidden City in Beijing and the Hollow Hill, the focal point of China's sacred geometry. Experts like John Michell suggests that all the lands south of the Great Wall formed a single drawing, resulting in thousands of years of geomantic practices whose origins are attributed to the legendary Emperor Yu.

If the favor of the Ch'i was the purpose of Feng Shui to achieve harmony of all elements of the landscape was the work of Geomant. This brought together characteristics of philosopher, physician, geologist, architect and deep knowledge of the laws of the Tao. His mission was to harmonize the natural forces that come from heaven and earth to ensure the prosperity of the whole community.

This was using a complicated set of rules that determine how these factors influence, and an instrument almost magical: the geomantic compass, Luo p'an, a magnetic needle suspended at the center of a disc divided into more than 30 rings locked all the elements of Chinese cosmology: the cardinal points, the five elements, the solar and lunar calendars, the zodiac, planets, numerological systems, and even the I Ching hexagrams. Everything was important since, once chosen a site, the fate of their occupants was bound to it forever.

The Feng Shui was officially banished from China, but continued to practice in Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Korea, Singapore, Unites Stated and with the opening of knowledge and the advent of the Aquarian Age, Eastern philosophies have been imposed in the West , helping the man to "survive" in the daily chaos, and it's the turn of to the architecture to connect of ancient strategies as a discipline of seeing the world, having the perfect and eternal order of the universe.

It is a philosophy that leads us from the particular to the general of all things. We can verify it in our body, our home and workplace, even in our town, country. And in developed countries almost no companies and individuals who contract the services of Geomantes to ensure good fortune and external and internal harmony.

There are several trends in the practice of Feng Shui: Call School Forms is based on environment of the site, shape of the house and decorative objects. Buddhist School takes the driveway as a guide and aid the interpretation of Ba Gua chart for analysis. The School of the eight predictions using the compass and may or may not use the five elements. The School of the 24 stars using the compass, the environment, the construction date and the five elements, being probably the most sophisticated school.

With the help of Feng Shui is possible to design a habitat or a workplace balanced and harmonious taking into account different variables that lacks the conventional architecture. An architect or designer can use Feng Shui in conjunction with traditional design capacity, is like looking through different eyes their creation. One technique support to the other, enriches and complements. On what has been designed using "remedies" such as the placement of mirrors, mobile audio, plants, pets and management of the four elements of nature: water, fire, air and earth. Produce beneficial changes for people who occupy these spaces.

If you continue doing what it always has been in the past, the future will still get the same results. Something must change in the present, and with this tool is able to interact with the outside world as if it were a reflection of your mind.