FENG SHUI - The Basics

When learning how to use Feng Shui, we come to know about the natural flow of energy, finding balance and harmony, creating peace, activating positive energies and dispelling negative ones. Feng Shui is about harnessing the forces of energy in the nature to be of benefit to us and our environment.


Feng Shui (pronounced ‘foong shway’, ‘foong swee’ in Cantonese and ‘fong shwee’ in Mandarin) is the ancient Chinese art of design and placement and is a system of living life in  harmony with your environment and with the natural rhythms of nature, whilst utilizing the dynamic flow of energy in the Universe in order to bring greater happiness and good fortune.


Feng Shui means ‘the flow of wind and water’.  The wind disperses the life energy (qi or chi) and the water contains it.  The object of Feng Shui is to allow the qi energy to move around your home, office, gardens  -  your total surroundings, without getting trapped in corners or halted by obstructions.


When we learn how to use Feng Shui in our everyday lives, we are able to improve the Feng Shui of our homes and offices by simply making some alterations to our surroundings.  This can be done by moving furniture around or even changing structural elements such as installing a window, doorway or skylight.  Suncatchers and symmetrical faceted crystals hung in the centre of a window will draw in chi into a room.


A well positioned home will be auspicious and will bring happiness to its inhabitants.  Trees behind a house gives support for good fortune and happiness.  Gently undulating land and open spaces in front of a house will bring good luck.  If your home is in a green and luscious area, chi can wrap itself around your house, which encourages good luck.  Places that face the direction of a warm breeze will have excellent Feng Shui.


A cluttered house is not auspicious as it creates an excess of Yang energy and makes chi flow the wrong way. 


A welcoming light outside your front door will ward off negative chi, and encourages visitors.  A sharp door by an incline is very inauspicious.  The size of the front door is very important as large, spacious doors invite good fortune and friendly visitors and guests;  whilst small doors bring bad luck and visitors who are disinclined to leave.


A doorbell or door chime creates a good flow of chi.  Bells dispel negative energies. 


Overhead beams and protrusions are inauspicious, and placing yourself beneath them may cause anxiety and in the extreme, may even cause dis-ease and disharmony.


Working on the levels of perception, we can alter the flow of energy by using ‘cures’ such as windchimes, fish tanks (aquariums) and water features, bamboo flutes, plants, crystals and mirrors. Chi (or qi) flows more effectively along curves and curving lines rather than straight lines.  Angles and corners produce ‘secret arrows’.


‘Secret arrows’ are negative ‘sha qi’ (shar chi) and need to be negated or ‘cured’.  This can be done by screening off the corner with potted plants, trees, windchimes and/or crystals. Indoor plants are useful for softening and hiding sharp angles and corners that create ‘secret arrows’ of sha qi (shar chi).


Symmetry is important in all aspects of Feng Shui. When choosing furniture and furnishings for your home, garden and office, ensure that their shapes are balanced.  The shape of furniture should reflect the shape of the room.  If a room is square, a round, square or octagonal table is appropriate.


If a room is ‘L’ shaped it is important to create two contained spaces by using a partition, a screen or bookshelves.  If a room is rectangular, a rectangle table is most auspicious.The placement of furniture should follow the protective ‘armchair’ shape favoured for the position of house and land.  This way beneficial chi can enter, move around slowly, then return to nature.


Place furniture against the walls and avoid placing chairs in a position that places the occupant’s back to a full length window or doorway, as this leaves the back vulnerable and leads one to feel insecure. Sleeping with your head towards the East encourages the best flow of chi to ensure a restful night.  Mirrors facing the bed upsets the flow of chi during the night, disturbing a good night’s rest and making one feel restless.


When we learn how to use Feng Shui, we find that colour is also important.  It has the ability to make a room seem smaller or larger, cooler or warmer, cheerful or depressing. 


Consideration needs to be taken when choosing colours.


Light represents energy.  Natural light is excellent Feng Shui.  Table lamps that create soft pools of light are also good Feng Shui as they encourage relaxation.  Candles and the energy of Fire adds Yang (masculine) qualities to a Yin (feminine) area.


Mirrors can be used to combat shar chi (sha qi) by deflecting negative energies and encouraging positive sheng qi.  Mirrors should be positioned where it can reflect a pleasant view or scene from outside.  A mirror should also be placed in windowless rooms.


Stagnant qi can be activated and moved by the use of windchimes.  If you can see your back door from your front (and vice versa) qi will run straight through without having the opportunity to move around the home freely. Hanging a windchime just inside the front door will slow the qi, bringing you opportunity and prosperity.


Fish and water are auspicious in Feng Shui theory and practice. Water represents life and good fortune and brings positive energy.  Moving water, such as aquariums and fountains, help to stimulate qi. Placing an aquarium filled with fish helps to stimulate chi, and their movement and colour can bring a boost to your finances. The effect of water is calming to the mind, body and soul. Outdoor ponds should be naturally shaped with sloping banks.  


The most auspicious number of fish to keep are 3, 6, 8 or 9.


Sheng Chi is good chi, and it is created by energy flowing in a meandering fashion.  Gently meandering water creates auspicious good chi.


Shar Chi is bad chi.  Sharp, spiky plants creat shar chi, and are best avoided. The elements of nature need to be in balance in order to create good or auspicious Feng Shui.  If the elements of nature are not in balance, it may attract negative shar chi.


Feng Shui balances Yin and Yang.  Yang is masculine and is ‘active’.  Yin is femeinine and is ‘passive’.  Yang is hot and Yin is cold.  A good balance of Yin and Yang is essential.  Too much Yang energy can cause confusion, accidents and even nightmares.  Excessive noise creates Yang.


Too much Yin energy can lead to physical inactivity, stagnant energy, an accumulation of coldness and a gloomy frame of mind.  Water is the best cure for too much Yang energy. 


The calming influence of water creates a balance of Yin and Yang.  Wearing the colour red is a helpful cure for too much of the Yin energy.  Red can also uplift the mood.


If you are looking for friendship, display personal items of sentimental value in pairs in your home and surroundings.


Once we have learned and practiced how to use Feng Shui to change the flow of energies in our environment and in our lives, we come to find positive health, wealth, happiness and wellbeing.


*
Joanne Walmsley
Sacred Scribes

Letting Go Of Negativity

Many of us struggle with the part of ourselves that wants to be rid of old negative patterns. It is now time to make a conscious effort to do this, because if we remain in our 'old ways' we will miss out on so much that lies ahead. It is time to leave the baggage behind.


Often, we have difficulty letting go of past memories, hurts and emotional issues eventhough they cause much distress and soul-pain, and ultimately leads to so much destruction of the 'soul-self'.


To allow the 'letting go' to take place, dictate to the soul that certain issues that may have caused you to harbour negative emotions, no longer serve you, and it is time for them to leave your life. They will not go unless they are asked to, as it was you (us) who placed them there to start with.


We are designed to utilize our unique talents and gifts and to use our free-will for the betterment of ourselves and others - not to dwell in a life of heart-pain.


It is time to move forward without any old negative clutter dragging along behind us. We are to cleanse ourselves and our souls of our 'old ways' in preparation for the new, positive energies to be ushered in. Wash away the stagnant and negative characteristics of the self that hold us back from the many gifts this life has for us.


It is a time of great change - and it is time for us to change.
Let your light shine brightly ...


*
Joanne Walsmley
Sacred Scribes

ANIMAL SYMBOLOGY/SYMBOLISM

ANIMAL SYMBOLOGY/SYMBOLISM

Spiritual and Native American Indian Animal Symbology

A

Aardvarks: Prolonging life (healing within)

Ant: Patience

Antelope: Grace of readiness, taking action

Armadillo: Keeping the feelings of others and troubles (reflected) boundaries

Ass: Time to move forward and not rest on your laurels

B

Badger: Taking charge aggressively, showing competence in difficult situations

Bandicoot: Finding inner strength and faith to attain inner harmony

Bat: Rebirth through darkness

Bear: Reflection and introspection

Beaver: Keeping busy and productive

Bee: Reproducing the good things in life, sharing the abundance of life, organisation

Beetle: Regeneration

Bilby: Releasing fears of the unknown

Birch: Discovering truth

Bison: Manifesting abundance

Blackbird: New understanding of life

Bluebird: Opportunities, happiness and confidence

Blue Jay: Using intuition to speak the truth

Bobcat: Reconnecting with inner self and accepting one's own company

Bowerbird: Dissecting situations to take a closer look

Brolga: Over analysing, being too critical of the self

Buffalo: Prayers being answered, being of assistance

Bull: Releasing excuses to cultivating productive ideas, ideal and plans

Butterfly: Making a transformation, being reborn

C

Canary: Using the power of the voice

Camel: Conservative and proper use of resources

Cardinal: Recognising the importance of your life and the role you play within it

Cassowary: To walk the walk and talk the talk

Cat: Enhancing independence, wisdom, magic and psychic connections

Catbird: Ability to communicate, new people being introduced into your life

Cheetah: Accomplishing tasks with speed and agility

Chickadee: Healing through truth

Chicken: Fertility

Chipmunk: Respect the smallest parts of nature through inter-relationship and equality

Cock: Optimism, resurrection and rebirth

Cockatoo: Taking pride in all your own attributes

Condor: Life, unity and equality for eternity

Cougar: Learning by trial and error, initiating what has been learnt and putting it to use

Coyote: The trickster, reconnecting with the inner child

Crane: Manifesting creativity and focus on life's significance

Crocodile: Digesting and assimilating truth

Crow: Divine law – wisdom, discernment, destroying deception

Cuckoo: Going with the flow of life, Intuitiveness

D

Deer: Tenderness and sensitivity, reconnecting with the innocence of life

Dingo: Be cautious before acting, uncovering the truth

Dog: Serving humankind with loyalty

Dolphin: Breath deep to tap energy, life force

Donkey: Shouldering the load of responsibility

Dove: Peace, feminine energies, letting go of the past

Dragonfly: Breaking through illusions of the tangible world

Duck: Finding comfort through understanding your own emotions

E

Eagle: Rediscovery, having foresight, flying above situations to get a better view

Echidna: Initiating changes and embracing new things

Eel: Conductor of love

Elephant: Old age wisdom, being of assistance to other

Elk: Stamina and persistence

Emu: Nuturing, being of assistance, unification

F

Falcon: Communication, receiving inner guidance through messages

Feather: Messenger of Spirit

Ferret: Answers by using deductions and reason

Finch: A busy time with new people and experiences

Fish: A need to stay focused yet going with the flow of life

Flamingo: Opening human heart

Fox: Learning to blend in, charm and charisma

Frog: Cleanse, refresh and replenish

G

Gazelle: Sure footedness

Giraffe: Far sightedness, seeing the forest through the trees

Goanna: Assessing situations, being observant

Goat: Starting new ventures and initiating changes

Goose: Breaking free of family restraints and conditioning

Gorillas: Communication and teaching through actions

Grasshopper: Taking a leap forward, bounding towards achieving goals or solutions

Groundhog: Exploring altered states, going within

Grouse: Dancing to a new beat in life

Gulls: Understanding what is and is not being communicated

H

Hawke: Communicating through visions, psychic powers

Hen: Tend to plans and ideas that need to be hatched

Heron: Listening to your wisdom and own inner self

Horse: The proper use of gifts, talents and abilities, will, endurance, authority and talent in proper manner without abuse or misuse

Hummingbird: Knower of loving all things is to love reflection

I

Iguana: Taking the time to understand situations, being patient

J

Jaguar: Secular and spiritual leadership potential

K

Kangaroo: To give unselfishly, nurture maternally

Kestrel: Patience is the key to attainment

Kingfisher: Peace and prosperity through new life experiences

Koala: Being supportive, looking to build on solid foundations of trust, love, sharing and nurturing

L

Leopard: Understanding the patterns that lead to self mastery

Lion: Taking pride in your life and achievements

Lizard: Dreaming solutions and envisioning

Llama: Nurturing and being of assistance

Lynx: Share when asked for wisdom (secret knower of)

Lyrebird: Being accepting of oneself, trust in your individuality and self expression

M

Magpie: Talent for relieving pain of others

Mammoth: Remembering

Mockingbird: Recalling and repeating all that is heard

Mole: Seeing the dark travel under earth, looking for what is buried beneath

Monkey: Relocation, embracing change

Moose: Self esteem, becoming more self aware

Moth: Bring intangible of spirit into tangible world

Mountain Lion: Leading through example

Mountain Ram: Tenacity and willingness to meet challenges head on

Mouse: Pay attention to detail – one task at a time

N

O

Octopus: envelop in love, able to undertake more than one thing at a time

Opossum: planning and strategy

Osprey: Breaking and setting of bones

Ostrich: How to interact through communication

Otter: Being young at heart, innocence, joy and delight

Owl: Being able to hear and see all that is hidden

P

Parrot: Understanding others more efficiently, healing through colours

Panther: Leaping fearlessly into the void of the unknown

Peacock: A need for stable foundations, wisdom and vision

Pelican: Overcoming the emotional ties, learning to let go

Penguin: Awakening of dreams, spiritual connections and dimensions

Pheasant: A strong connection with family, children, fertility

Pig: Intellect and reasoning ability

Pigeon: Returning to a place that symbolises feeling at home, messages

Platypus: solitude and self discovery

Porcupine: Faith and innocence

Possum: Staying focused on goals

Prairie Dog: Reconnecting with family, life and community, becoming more social

Praying Mantis: A need to wait patiently before moving into new situations or directions

Q

Quail: Being observant to all that is around whilst moving ahead without doubt

Quetzal: Totally free, uninhibited spirit who is willing to express all aspects of the self

Quoll: Being courageous, finding inner strength

R

Rabbit: Not to listen to unrealistic fears

Raccoon: Protector of the under-dog, weak, frail and elderly

Ram: Learn to trust in decisions and choices as being the right ones

Rat: Through persistence and sensibility success will be achieved

Raven: Keeper of magic, who sort the void of the unknown to effect change

Rhinoceros: Trusting in your own inner wisdom

Robin: Being creative with life and opening new doors, walking your walk and talking your talk

Rosella: Tapping the inner resources to bring forth sustenance and growth

S

Seal: Riding waves of emotions and feelings to discover one's self

Skunk: Reputation and ability to attract or repel what you need in life

Snake: Transmutation, Transformation

Snowy Owl: Eliminating lies and deception

Sparrow: Believing in the power of inner strength and self worth to undertake any situation or problem

Squirrel: Gathering energy and saving a little extra for lean times

Spider: Desire to create, deciding to create, taking actions

Starling: It is alright to be yourself, be a leader not a follower

Stork: Easy labour, giving birth

Sugar Glider: Listening to your inner guidance, guides and spirits

Swallow: Letting go of old limiting feelings or habits

Swan: Surrender to the flow

Swift: Taking responsibility for actions

T

Tasmanian Devil: Feeling defensive about what is significant to your needs or wants

Tiger: Awakening the passion for life, reclaiming your power

Toucan: Warning system in jungle (trouble, danger)

Turkey : Release and give away Turtle Dove: Nurture dreams of peace

U

V

Vulture: Waste not want not

W

Walrus: Altering actions and feelings in order to interact with the changes life offers

Whale: Remembering talents and using them

Weasel: guile, stealth, ingenuity and observing the obvious

Wolf: Ability to create new paths for learning teaching

Wombat: Perseverance and persistence

Woodpecker: Strongest protection against shadow and evil

Wren: A need to look at the big picture and not be so concerned about the little things

X

Y

Z

Zebra: Nothing final or absolute, all not as it seems.

NATIVE AMERICAN ANIMAL SYMBOLOGY AND

ANIMAL MESSAGE

Crow/Raven - portent

Bluebird - happiness

Chickadee - optimism

Cardinal/Red Bird - beauty

Quail - family

Bat - macabre

Hummingbird - joy

Robin - balance

Meadowlark - protection/protective

Hawk - opportunity

Owl - diviner/divination

Blue jay - pushy

Peacock - ostentatious

Wild Pheasant/Wild Turkey - quick

Sparrows - ordinary

Mockingbird - initiative

Magpie - knowledge

Roadrunner - traveller

Pigeon on the ground - inertia

Pigeon in the air - mission

Chicken - foolish

Turkey - forgetful

Parrot - playful

Heron - spiritual

Lark - weather

Pelican - saver

Eagle - highest power

Canary - joy

Snow Goose - fidelity

Domestic Goose - quarrelsome

Wild Duck - adventure

Flamingo - grace

Red-headed Woodpecker - resourceful

Ostrich - stubborn

Dog - loyalty

Cat - independence

Goat - friendly

Bighorn Sheep - conqueror

Domestic Sheep - follower

Cow - docile

Wild Horse - freedom

Race Horse - high strung

Work Horse - plodding

Pig - intelligence

Bull/Stallion - sexual energy

Buffalo - strength

Rabbit - gentle

Skunk - defended

Porcupine - protection

Raccoon - enterprising

Possum - avoidance

Otter - playful

Badger - aggressive

Armadillo - defence

Beaver - accomplishment

Squirrel - resourceful

Turtle/Tortoise - old wisdom

Llama - practical

Camel - ornery

Donkey - helpful

Mule - stubborn

Elephant - old memory

Elk - brave

Moose - pride

Antelope - action

Lynx - psychic

Deer - loveliness

Bear - strength

Mountain Lion/Cougar - leader

Coyote - cunning

Fox - wily/sly

Wolf - organizer

Snake - challenger

Lizard/Toad - wisdom

Frog - sorcery

Chameleon - adaptable

Cricket - disharmony

Cockroach - lowest

Fly - parasite

Butterfly - friendly

Spider - deceit

Beetle - hidden knowledge

Mole - lack of foresight

Rat - survival

Mouse - busy

Whale - universal mind

Dolphin/Porpoise - teachers

Shark - killer

Sturgeon - dominant

Sea Gull - freedom

**

Joanne Walmsley

Sacred Scribes