| Today,
everywhere we go, we are hearing the buzz about "green". The green movement
has been around for many years, and is finally reaching that famous "tipping
point". It is always satisfying and empowering to see a positive change taking
effect. Feng Shui is an ancient art that has experienced an energetic rebirthing
over the last twenty years, especially in the United States.
What is the relationship
between Green and Feng Shui ? Green
is about "doing no harm", present and future to the earth. It is also
about repair and replenishing the damaged path that we have left behind us. Casting
blame is not a productive pastime. The industrial movement, new technology, and
a feeling of an
unlimited "bank" of resources has created generations
of people creating and using products that fill our landfills, pollute the air-water-earth,
and poison our children. It was a time relative to an un-disciplined child - accepting
no responsibility, having no ties to the past, and no respect for the future.
The Green movement encourages
building with products that are beneficial to the earth and fellow man or, in
the least capacity, are not harmful. Green is overall a tangible product or service
that is translated into physical reality. Green fuel, green cars, green cleaning
products, green flooring, green clothing - are all calculated on a basis of Harmful/Helpful
terms with the ideal outcome being one that is measurable. The Green movement
is one that can be grasped mentally by a large audience. Whether an advocate,
or one choosing to ignore the green push, one can understand the concepts. Green
has made an easy transition into the building profession.
Feng Shui, the ancient art of "wind and water" is a profound, layered
and deep analysis system developed to uplift, protect, and benefit man to his
highest potential. Feng Shui has been a highly misunderstood and under-valued
system until now. The deep relationship of man to the earth is a basic tenant
of Feng Shui. Considering that "we are all connected", Feng Shui recommendations
would never harm the earth. Green design is therefore a natural extension of Feng
Shui, and considered a base rule of thumb when making recommendations to uplift
a space.
Using Green
when designing a home, school, and office creates a healthy space. Using Green
in conjunction with Feng Shui recommendations of color, artwork, symbolism, environmental
psychology, shape, form, etc. bring the space up to its highest level of impact
in empowering man within the space. For example, a green healthy paint can be
used in a bedroom, with green cork flooring, and an organic mattress. The room
may rate 100 in a green analysis. How would Feng Shui apply to this room? What
color has been used? Is it a warm rose or a stark white? Is there a fan directly
above the bed, good for air movement, but not emotionally friendly to the average
person? What are the photos, artwork and symbolism in the room? A green room therefore,
is not always fengshui friendly. A room that has brought in Feng Shui will always
be green friendly.
Green
Design is an inseparable part of Feng Shui and needs to be recommended in every
analysis. Feng Shui understands the link of heaven, earth and man. Its goal is
to optimize our life force, our chi, to its highest expression, and to deflect
or remove negative chi. Conscious Design is about awaking and opening our minds
incorporating green, fengshui and any ancient or modern concepts that can come
together to benefit us all on the highest level.
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