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Monday---again.

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Monday---again.

#1

Monday---again.

I was recently brought into the philosophy of Feng Shui (pronounced fung schway). It comes by way of China, is thousands of years old in development, and very briefly, is the architectural placement of buildings, design elements, and items around an individual to increase (or at least not negate) energy. There are tens of �rules� to govern things like luck, prosperity, careers, wisdom, family planning, fame, health, etc. It was brought to the West as an "new" and popular interior design technique a decade ago. As the next new thing it has mostly run its course, but still, with people from the East it plays a significant consideration when purchasing real estate. Wood plays a substantial part in this philosophical design technique. What role does wood play and in what architectural form does wood do its best work in this philosophy?

Re: Monday---again.

#2

Re: Monday---answer.

Chi whiz. Wood is the link between the earth and the sky. It fosters creativity. The architectural form it works best as is a pillar, round, not with any sharp edge. If rectangular in shape the long edge must point up. Wood associated with paintings must be vertical. So too cupboards, chairs, windows, and cabinets, all tall. It there is a horizontal item it should be offset by something of equal weight in the vertical. (Don�t forget to point out all those vertical studs in the walls pointing skyward) All is meant to link the earth and sky and allow the flow between the two to be in balance. Wood promotes personal growth and creativity. Wood is healing, it is the essence of kindness as you support others. Wood energy is direct. It does not rely on help as for instance, fire energy. Wood is not supposed to be painted but if it is, green is the favored color. (I did mention that there are lots of �Rules� didn�t I?) HERE�S THE GOOD PART. The lesson I took away from all this. For anyone out there getting roped into this designer mind set is that if I buy wood and tools with which to work it (get this, honey) I�m doing it for US. I�m making us a better family, strong, creative, in balance. I�m stabilizing us from the dreaded vertical energy around us. Who could argue with that? As hard timer Martha Stewart (yet another favorite around here) says, �It�s a good thing.�

Re: Monday---again.

#3

Re: Monday---answer.

Well you saved me from my embarrasing WAG of something to do with chop sticks. ;-)

Thanks

Tom

Re: Monday---again.

#4

Re: Monday---answer.

From the articles I read, dead wood such as furniture and structural framing, really does not count in Feng Shui. I could very well have simply found some fundamentalist or extreme Feng Shuist literature and am misinformed, but they indicated that live wood such as plants is what is preferred.

Kinda bummed me out a bit as taking the Feng Shui angle to rationalize aquiring more tools would be great...

~ Thad

Re: Monday---again.

#5

Check

Hummm, interesting. To check, I called the designer. You are correct. Live wood like a ficus tree in a corner is much better than �dead� wood--like a chair. A tree growing through the floor would be, in her words, �fantastic.� But talking with these people is like asking the roofer why my new roof leaks. Apparently I didn�t realize the extent of the problem and the time involved in becoming a master. True enough, I guess, but I just don�t want a leaking roof�no excuses. I have since been informed, in an exasperated tone, that ANY wood generates a �vibration�. Providing, of course, that I don�t give off �poison arrows� (she really said that) from sharp edges. Therefore, to increase wood I need to choose items that are opposite from an earth vibration. Honest, that�s what she said. Blah, Blah, but vertical cupboards etc. can do the job, but apparently one needs more vertical items if the wood is not live. Balance, always balance. In her mind clearly I did not grasp the TRUE gravity of the situation. Anyway, live wood is much better than dead wood. But here�s a new wrinkle. A pillar is a desirable and good thing even if it is not wood, in her example a etched glass pillar on a shower stall is very good�even though it is glass not wood, doesn�t touch the ceiling, and is two dimensional being etched on glass (with the dreaded poison arrow sharp edges). I guess it�s a rock, paper, scissors thing where live wood beats dead wood but pillars beat some wood even if it�s not wood, etc. When she said that my chi went way out of balance. I don�t think that we�ll get along. I obviously don�t understand, but she doesn�t work here anymore either. All I have to do now is have this dead wood tell the live wood that that designer is pooof, gone.

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