WATER, WATER Everywhere

Through the lens of Feng Shui forefathers, Water represents your fortune in Taoist Feng Shui. Water is one of the five elements that lends its name to the definition of Feng Shui; ‘Feng’ meaning Wind and ‘Shui’ meaning Water. A nod to the significance of Waters powerful use and effects, when applied correctly by a Feng Shui consultant. Regrettably generic advise by less scholarly folk, albeit well intended, to place Water in non specific areas of a building can bode negatively for some.

In essence, the 'quality' of water is significant and when it's partnered with Wind; the results are highly effective. Consequently, the element of Water to a Feng Shui consultant is used in a very measured fashion.

WATER AFFINITIES

Water is one of five energy forces, applied throughout Feng Shui - Wood, Fire, Earth and Metal complete the set. These are more commonly referred to as the Five elements. As Feng Shui is one of eight branches of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the other modalities of meditation, exercise, diet, cosmology, bodywork, herbal medicine and acupuncture also deploy the use of the five elements in each discipline.

later heaven Bagua or Pa-K’ua as its also known.

The virtues of the Water element have many affinities and relationships. On the Pa-K’ua there are eight trigrams - which are glyphs formed by three parallel lines, solid and unbroken. The trigrams describe the rhythms and cycles of nature, like the four seasons or the cardinal and inter-cardinal directions among other things. K'an is the trigram assigned to Water, two yin broken lines flank a solid yang line. It's associated with the direction of North, winter, darkness, the number one, the kidneys, bladder, ears and bones, and your emotions. It’s also linked to the taste of salty foods, the planet Mercury and the digit six. A colour is also assigned to each trigram and K’an is Black. Many wrongly assume the colours associated with the Water element are aqua blues, sea-foam greys and turquoises. But in Feng Shui the elemental colours are deep dark hues of inky navy blues, dark stormy greys and black.

A little knowing smile crosses my face when I recommend Water element remedies, as most client discloses that they are drawn to watery, beach colours. But whites, greys and pale hues are more Metal element colours and blues are the Wood element. Feng Shui wise, ubiquitous ‘beachy themed homes’ are classified as more in keeping with the Metal element, than Water.

Prosperous Water

House in afife Photo credit: @josecamposphotographer

All five elements intermingle with each other throughout a home. Some harmoniously and others less so. In the main Water represents your fortune in Taoist Feng Shui. To a consultant the element of Water will be introduced as remediation or removed if exacerbating a malefic influence. Following a consult on your business or home, a consultant may advise that a sector of the building internally (or externally) could benefit from the use of an actual Water element. If you’re lucky enough to live in an area with a significant body of water in the correct sector, this could activate your prosperity and abundance. Water can be added through the use of various means, via colour, shapes etc. but the use of the actual element such as a fountain, lake, pond or pool has the most targeted influence.

In warmer climates the omnipresent swimming pool - generally located in the rear of the property - can also be used to activate auspicious sectors in the home. However, if the pool is located in an inauspicious location feng shui wise, the opposite results can occur and you could find you’re literally drained of resources. When adding any permanent and significant water additions to your property it's wise to consult if the chosen location is positioned to benefit or hinder your prosperity.

Manmade water features v's natural water

A manmade feature is generally in your control - simply flick a switch to engage a fountain, add some fish to move the water in a pond or frequently use a swimming pool. Initially in the design stages the manmade water feature location can be selected according to the prosperous sector of your home. Small structures of course are also potentially moveable. However, the ebb and flow of oceans, rivers, streams or waterfall near your property can be destructive or benevolent. Fast flowing rivers that crash and flow erratically are destructive, equally so is a stagnant pond or swamp - the quality of water is all important. Yet the gentle lap of water on a shoreline is beneficial as is gentle babbling brook. Living in a secluded bay also collects the fecund energies from the combined water and wind dispersal - that said, your homes positioning on the bay is also significant.

Further consideration

Another point to consider is the landfall of your site. During torrential rain fall on an area of your property may become waterlogged for extended periods of time. More advanced formulas also exist for the actual plumbing and drainage flow within the home - correctly applied feng shui formulas, can also enhance an occupants prosperity and abundance.

In summary, the water element can be your friend or your enemy. A recently added swimming pool, large pond or water fountain could be contributing to a reversal of your good fortune. Falling on hard times, is emotionally harrowing, aside from the actual installation hit, it's hard for clients to believe their new water feature may be a hindering factor. It’s always prudent to get the landscape plans looked at pre installation and the good news is this can be done via a remote consultation.

So, if you’re feeling things are going backwards and your affluent water addition is hindering gains then a feng shui audit could highlight solutions to harmonise the situation. For more information check out our Residential or Business consults and our Remote consults are ideal if you just need assistance with identifying a suitable position for the water feature. Don’t forget to check out our Pinterest boards to assist in decorating with the water element if you’ve been advised to do introduce the element of water into a certain sector of the home.

It's #WaterQualityMonth in August. We all know Water is vital to sustaining life. The United Nations emphasize the importance of the actual Quality of Water over the past decade every August.