Feng Shui In Canada
Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese art that can be dated back as far as 6,000 years. The literal breakdown of ‘Feng Shui’ means ‘wind’ as in ‘feng’ and ‘water’ as in ‘shui’. These two elements have always been associated with good health and prosperity in Chinese culture. This art is also greatly influenced by the Taoist vision of nature. Feng Shui revolves around one of the major principles of the Taoist view; that all of nature is alive and filled with a special energy called ‘Chi’. Feng Shui is often understood as the art of placement. This placement refers to one’s surroundings and how these positions influence one’s life in terms of health, wealth and prosperity.
So why is this ancient Chinese art form relevant to Western society? Over the last 3 decades the exchange of information from the east to the west and vice versa has increased massively. People in North America began experimenting with Feng Shui principles and found the outcomes to be more than satisfactory. If you’ve ever walked into a home or room and just felt content, happy and positive with the vibe of the area there’s a good chance the people who designed and arranged it did so in accordance with Feng Shui. While initially, this was a practice done by a few households, Feng Shui has now evolved into more of a necessity especially in terms of selling and redecorating homes. Real estate agents, home stagers, interior designers and homeowners all use Feng Shui principles to bring success and prosperity into their endeavours.
The West has always been fascinated by the mystery of the Orient. This fascination was evident even in the 17th and 18th centuries. Now, North America’s interest in Chinese culture goes beyond their love of the cuisine and branches out into language, home décor, medicine and entertainment as well. Chinese knowledge and philosophy has similarly found its niche in the Western market and continues to flourish in the form of Feng Shui. Part of this rise in interest is about the curiosity attached to foreign cultures but another part is all about the changing demographics of the United States as well. On average, Chinese people spend over $28 billion in real estate across America (more than 3 times that of American buyers).
This indicates a massive influx of the culture which inadvertently calls for a change in practices. Some of these practices include Feng Shui themed McDonald’s in California, a China Town in most big cities across the continent and an unwritten requirement for homes on the market to be Feng Shui friendly. A survey conducted by Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate concluded that 86% Chinese American homeowners consider Feng Shui to be an integral part of their decision to purchase a home and 79% are willing to pay extra money to ensure their new house is in accordance with this ancient philosophy’s principles.
The main reason behind the continuous growth of Feng Shui as an art form across the globe is that it is successful in creating positive, harmonious and balanced homes. With the rise in toxic behaviours such as materialism on the other hand, more and more people are inclined towards something as close to natural harmony and peace as Feng Shui.
“If you create a balanced representation in your home, it can reflect how you’re reacting to outside experiences. It becomes a metaphor for everything in life,” explains Laura Cerrano, of Feng Shui Manhattan.
As such, there are three basic rules that define every Feng Shui principle there is;
1- Everything is alive. This means that every single piece inside a home represents something symbolic and as such, should have profound positive meaning for a harmonious home.
2- Everything is changing. This rule refers to the chaos of the universe and by understanding it, one can attempt to find peace in its midst.
3- Everything is connected. From the edge of a table to the tiniest marble in a mason jar on the mantle, everything that makes a home is connected. If these elements clash, the positive chi in an area will be disrupted.
While every home is unique and there isn’t a one-size-fits-all fix in terms of Feng Shui, there are a few fundamental steps that one can take to make their homes more relaxing.
1- The first step is to rid your space of clutter. Overly cluttered living spaces have scientifically shown to have negative influences on one’s emotional, psychological and physical health. All the positive energy in an area gets clogged within this clutter so sorting it out is the first step.
2- The next step is balancing the yin and yang (the masculine and feminine elements within a space). It is recommended that a professional be consulted for this step.
3- The five elements; wood, water, earth, fire and metal ought to be arranged in according with the bagua (Feng Shui map/compass). This will ensure that the positive aspects of life including prosperity, health, partnership and creativity come together to create a harmonious and peaceful space. This step can not be done without the aid of a professional Feng Shui consultant.
The promotion of Feng Shui culture in the Greater Toronto Area is actively being carried out by Ultimate Academy. With the complimentary trainings in Home Staging, ReDesign and Professional Organizing, Feng Shui has proven a highly effective tool for our graduates and continues to draw the attention of newcomers as well.
As word travels from our neighbours about the effectiveness of these principles, more and more Canadians are now looking to harmonize their homes using the time-tested philosophy of Feng Shui. Not just that but they are also looking for ReDesigners, Decorators and Home Stagers that can effectively incorporate Feng Shui basics into their daily lives. This is why Ultimate Academy encourages their students from all courses and training programs to invest their time and capital in Feng Shui training as well. Because you might just be focused on becoming the most sought-after Ultimate Home Stager in Toronto, but sooner or later one of your clients will want to Feng Shui things up a bit and its always best to have everything in your arsenal ready to be used.
