A “new” phenomenon that is affecting the US is actually part of an ancient Chinese philosophy of nature. Feng Shui is now such an influence that many real estate agents take courses to understand it so they can sell houses more readily. Businesses and hotels use the design to attract customers.
What is Feng Shui?
Feng Shui [1] (pronounced “fung schwee” and meaning literally “wind water”) is part of an ancient Chinese philosophy of nature. Feng shui is often identified as a form of geomancy, divination by geographic features, but it is mainly concerned with understanding the relationships between nature and ourselves so that we might live in harmony within our environment.
Feng shui is related to the very sensible notion that living with rather than against nature benefits both humans and our environment. It is also related to the equally sensible notion that our lives are deeply affected by our physical and emotional environs. If we surround ourselves with symbols of death, contempt and indifference toward life and nature, with noise and various forms of ugliness, we will corrupt ourselves in the process. If we surround ourselves with beauty, gentleness, kindness, sympathy, music and various expressions of the sweetness of life, we ennoble ourselves as well as our environment.
Alleged masters of feng shui, those who understand the five elements and the two energies such as chi and sha (hard energy, the opposite of chi), are supposed to be able to detect metaphysical energies and give directions for their optimal flow. Feng shui has become a kind of architectural acupuncture: wizards and magi insert themselves into buildings or landscapes and use their metaphysical sensors to detect the flow of good and bad “energy.” These masters for hire declare where bathrooms should go, which way doorways should face, where mirrors should hang, which room needs green plants and which one needs red flowers, which direction the head of the bed should face, etc. They decide these things on the basis of their feel for the flow of chi, electromagnetic fields or whatever other form of energy the client will worry about.
In short, feng shui has become an aspect of interior decorating in the Western world and alleged masters of feng shui now hire themselves out for hefty sums to tell people such as Donald Trump which way his doors and other things should hang. Feng shui has also become another New Age “energy” scam with arrays of metaphysical products from paper cutouts of half moons and planets, to octagonal mirrors to wooden flutes, offered for sale to help you improve your health, maximize your potential and guarantee fulfillment of some fortune cookie philosophy.
The Origin of Feng Shui
Feng Shui literally means “Wind & Water,” and its origins date back more than 4,000 years. It is based on a Chinese interpretation of the natural world and also the study of heavenly bodies in order to determine the passage of time. It has its origins in Taoism. Over the centuries the interpretation of feng shui grew more complex and became removed from its original purpose. The single factor which sets Feng Shui apart from other philosophical systems is that it has the capacity for change built into it. Withstanding the test of time, Feng Shui has remained a philosophy that can be used in any culture and alongside any belief system.
In the book “Feng Shui Secrets Revealed”: we are told how feng shui can help us. This is an example of what feng shui promises.
-How to avoid “bad energy” that manifests woes such
as cash flow problems and relationship troubles.
-Discover the 10 things that can create prosperity, and the 8 things that can put you in the poor house!
-Learn the unbelievable 6 things that can enhance relationships, and the surprising 6 things that can disrupt them!
-Learn how to organize your space so that Chi (good energy) is allowed to freely flow through your life.
-Learn how to design houses and workplaces that harmonize with the environment instead of clashing with it.
-Steps you can take to learn how to diagnose if your space has problems and try to improve the overall “vibe” of your environment.
-Discover the 5 things that can increase your Talent and Wisdom.
-Learn the amazing 5 things that can increase your chances of conception.
-How to achieve a balance of yin and yang elements.
-Understand the cycles of the 5 elements, to determine how to arrange your living quarters.
-Learn the secrets on How to arrange your room to enhance your love life.
-How to arrange your room to increase your prosperity.
-How to arrange your house and more importantly which part of your house, to improve your health.
-Learn how to identify destructive placements in your Home that might be causing havoc in your life with your reputation, your Love Life, your finances, or your Health etc.
-Learn the secret 6 Feng shui cures!
What should be a Christian response to Feng Shui?
What are some Biblical concepts that relate to Feng Shui?
The Lord calls us to take dominion over our world (Genesis 1:26-28) but He is the Lord over all (Philippians 2:9-11).
Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6)
We are to seek Him for wisdom (Colossians 1:9; James 1:5) and guidance (John 16:13), not Feng Shui masters, books, templates etc.
God is clear regarding idols: Have no other gods before Me (Exodus 20:1-17)
Seeking others for wisdom instead of God opens us up to ungodly influences. (Colossians 2:2-4)
Feng Shui has origins in Taoism and has other New Age / occult involvement / witchcraft (Acts 19:18-20)
[1] Skeptics Dictionary. Robert Todd Carroll (SkepDic.com)