KOCHI: One of the very basic and fundamental laws of feng shui is the law of order. Does such a thing as universal order exist? Yes; the ancients who developed feng shui thought so, which resulted in the creation of the art of arrangement.
Order creates a condition where balance is established by bringing everything to the ‘right’ position. The creation of order enables the life force to flow evenly and smoothly. To establish order, we need to use the objects around as tools. A house where people have just moved in will have no established order. You find boxes scattered about and sofas temporarily positioned. Symmetry also plays a very important role in feng shui. There is no such thing as perfect symmetry. Even the wings of a butterfly are different from each other, though they are considered symmetrical. In Feng Shui, symmetry provides order for an environment, which allows the life force energy to flow evenly. Within the flow of this energy, there is a feeling of balance, safety and, therefore, harmony. To live in perfect symmetry would be nearly impossible but always aim at an environment that creates a sense of balance and order.
The other side of symmetry is asymmetry. But even within asymmety, we can find symmetry - asymmetrical designs become desirable when they are balanced and complete. This leads us to the concept of Yin and Yang; negative and positive energies or complementary opposites which co-exist. A classic example of symmetry and asymmetry co-existing can be observed if we slice a cabbage and observe its cross-section. Furniture positioning is an important factor in feng shui. It is a tool to make the life force energy chi flow better. Before deciding on the furniture, one needs to consider the activity involved in the room. Look into the structural details, the entrances, floor levels, window ratios, door ratios and the environment. Quite often, small changes in direction of the furniture can create an environment of clarity and certainty. Furniture or decorations when unaligned or placed in a disorderly fashion give rise to spaced out or disoriented feelings.
The furniture in the bedroom plays a crucial role in establishing the quality of energy in a room which translates to overall harmony, good health and improved relationships. Sharp corners and edges pointing towards the bed, very tall cupboards and shelves in close proximity to the sleeping area, are all bad feng shui and generate negative chi.
S BS Surendran
Master Fengshui Consultant and Traditional Vaastu Practitioner
fengshui@fengshuiserver.com