Mary Jo tells me I have Uranus in my chart, thus making me the wench who wants to try everything at least once. I assume that’s the reason I’m the wench who doesn’t just write historical fiction but dabbles also in contemporary and paranormal and anything else that catches my fancy. Which means my research wanders far and wide and not always down historical pathways.
But sometimes my contemporary research takes a turn to the past, as with my current idea—I can’t even call it a work in progress at this point since I’m still in research mode. And what I’m researching is feng shui, the ancient Chinese—not art or science but a school of belief—that employs methods of living auspiciously with the earth’s energies. That’s a pretty modern concept for several thousand years BC!
ANCIENT HISTORY
Today, we think of feng shui as a method of decorating to promote “good vibrations,” but the practice is ancient and much more far-reaching. By 888 AD, there were written texts and exams from the court of Emperor Hi Tsang la
ying out a complex method of capturing the vital energy, or chi, of an architectural site and channeling it through design and landscape to promote health, power, and whatever good fortune was required of the building. Considering most of Europe didn’t know the meaning of sewers at the time, architecture to promote health was a pretty woo-woo concept.
PRINCIPLES
The fundamental elements of feng shui come from many sources—astrology, astronomy, religion, superstition, architecture, primitive environmental science, as well as cultural and social issues, among other things. The basic principle is to place and situate a building so it is in harmony with its surroundings (shades of Frank Lloyd Wright!), and to create a structure that balances the yin and yang of chi energy. The simplest description is to envision a house in which water flows in the front door and gently floods the entire house with positive energy. If you have a back door that is completely open to 
the front door, then the water will flow in one and out the other without embracing the house. (My house was built counter to every feng shui principle I know and I feel it. Have you ever hated a house you lived in? Bad chi energy might be why. Or the fact that the windows are in all the wrong places, the landscaping is an eyesore, and the garage is wonky, if you want to be scientific about it.)
CURRENT PRACTICES
Feng shui was first introduced to the United States during the gold rush in California when the Chinese workers brought their beliefs with them. Of course, back then, Americans ignored the principles, but today, feng shui is seen as part of the 
teachings of Confucius, part Taoism and I-ching, and very Californian New Age woo-woo as well as a respected principle of interior design. Laying out furniture for energy flow also improves the flow of the household, giving an open, more inviting feel instead of the claustrophobic conditions of many of our boxy rooms.
Without going into the “why” and "how" of feng shui decorating (a fun site for tips: http://www.fengshuitips.co.uk/home.htm) , some of the minor suggestions are not to leave shoes around the front door. The feng shui reason is that the chi energy will carry the smell and sickness through the house. The practical logic is that visitors can trip over them and sue you, and they’re ugly and offensive to look at. Feng shui 
says no TV in the bedroom. So does Psychology Today. Feng shui doesn’t allow children to sleep on the floor because they need chi energy to flow around them. I’m thinking kids sleeping on the floor are going to get into a lot more trouble crawling around picking up bugs and toys than kids safely tucked beneath covers. And I really love the warning against mirrors in the bedroom—who wants to look at themselves when they first get up? That would be enough to ruin my energy for the day.
Anyone else fascinated with the “whys” behind the woo-woo sciences? Have you ever applied feng shui to your house? I swear, my husband got a great new job after we re-arranged the “Career” section of our last house! Oh, and a fun book to introduce you to feng shui is Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life 
by Karen Rauch Carter, just in case you’d like to grasp fundamentals from a modern point of view. And there I go again, straying away from history.
Sherrie, here. Pat, I loved this post! I’m very interested in Feng Shui, and find that I’ve instinctively decorated my house and arranged things that are naturally in accordance with Feng Shui principals. While some might think Feng Shui is a little woo-woo, I’ve found that much of it is just common sense. I’m a visual person with an artistic background, and that has led me to a decorating style that has a natural flow and serenity to it–with the occasional oddball or humorous thing for visual surprise.
Thank you for the recommendation of the book, Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life. I’ve added it to my wish list.
Your current WIP has piqued my interest! If it has sent you down the path of Fen Shui research, I can’t wait to see how you work it into your story! One thing I know for sure: it’ll be entertaining!
Sherrie, here. Pat, I loved this post! I’m very interested in Feng Shui, and find that I’ve instinctively decorated my house and arranged things that are naturally in accordance with Feng Shui principals. While some might think Feng Shui is a little woo-woo, I’ve found that much of it is just common sense. I’m a visual person with an artistic background, and that has led me to a decorating style that has a natural flow and serenity to it–with the occasional oddball or humorous thing for visual surprise.
Thank you for the recommendation of the book, Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life. I’ve added it to my wish list.
Your current WIP has piqued my interest! If it has sent you down the path of Fen Shui research, I can’t wait to see how you work it into your story! One thing I know for sure: it’ll be entertaining!
Sherrie, here. Pat, I loved this post! I’m very interested in Feng Shui, and find that I’ve instinctively decorated my house and arranged things that are naturally in accordance with Feng Shui principals. While some might think Feng Shui is a little woo-woo, I’ve found that much of it is just common sense. I’m a visual person with an artistic background, and that has led me to a decorating style that has a natural flow and serenity to it–with the occasional oddball or humorous thing for visual surprise.
Thank you for the recommendation of the book, Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life. I’ve added it to my wish list.
Your current WIP has piqued my interest! If it has sent you down the path of Fen Shui research, I can’t wait to see how you work it into your story! One thing I know for sure: it’ll be entertaining!
Sherrie, here. Pat, I loved this post! I’m very interested in Feng Shui, and find that I’ve instinctively decorated my house and arranged things that are naturally in accordance with Feng Shui principals. While some might think Feng Shui is a little woo-woo, I’ve found that much of it is just common sense. I’m a visual person with an artistic background, and that has led me to a decorating style that has a natural flow and serenity to it–with the occasional oddball or humorous thing for visual surprise.
Thank you for the recommendation of the book, Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life. I’ve added it to my wish list.
Your current WIP has piqued my interest! If it has sent you down the path of Fen Shui research, I can’t wait to see how you work it into your story! One thing I know for sure: it’ll be entertaining!
Sherrie, here. Pat, I loved this post! I’m very interested in Feng Shui, and find that I’ve instinctively decorated my house and arranged things that are naturally in accordance with Feng Shui principals. While some might think Feng Shui is a little woo-woo, I’ve found that much of it is just common sense. I’m a visual person with an artistic background, and that has led me to a decorating style that has a natural flow and serenity to it–with the occasional oddball or humorous thing for visual surprise.
Thank you for the recommendation of the book, Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life. I’ve added it to my wish list.
Your current WIP has piqued my interest! If it has sent you down the path of Fen Shui research, I can’t wait to see how you work it into your story! One thing I know for sure: it’ll be entertaining!
Thank you, Dame Sherrie! I sometimes believe I’m out there on a thin limb all by myself. Yes, the basics of feng shui are very practical, although often translated in a way that doesn’t mean much to Westerners.
And remember, this is still research! Whether I write the book or not remains to be seen. “G”
Thank you, Dame Sherrie! I sometimes believe I’m out there on a thin limb all by myself. Yes, the basics of feng shui are very practical, although often translated in a way that doesn’t mean much to Westerners.
And remember, this is still research! Whether I write the book or not remains to be seen. “G”
Thank you, Dame Sherrie! I sometimes believe I’m out there on a thin limb all by myself. Yes, the basics of feng shui are very practical, although often translated in a way that doesn’t mean much to Westerners.
And remember, this is still research! Whether I write the book or not remains to be seen. “G”
Thank you, Dame Sherrie! I sometimes believe I’m out there on a thin limb all by myself. Yes, the basics of feng shui are very practical, although often translated in a way that doesn’t mean much to Westerners.
And remember, this is still research! Whether I write the book or not remains to be seen. “G”
Thank you, Dame Sherrie! I sometimes believe I’m out there on a thin limb all by myself. Yes, the basics of feng shui are very practical, although often translated in a way that doesn’t mean much to Westerners.
And remember, this is still research! Whether I write the book or not remains to be seen. “G”
Pat, I love Move Your Stuff, too. Fun approach to the subject.
I think there’s a lot to Feng Shui, and as you say, a lot of common sense. In our last house in Victoria we got rid of a couple of attacking angles and it really made a difference. (If you don’t know that one, everyone, look it up. It might explain why some places in your house make you feel uncomfortable.)
In fact, I think we mostly create good feng shui because we move things around, decorate etc until it feels good and then stop.
I couldn’t figure out how to Feng Shui our Whitby house because it was all odd angles, but this one is a very regular rectangle. I’ll get right to it.
Jo, thinking about the shoes all around her front doorway….
Pat, I love Move Your Stuff, too. Fun approach to the subject.
I think there’s a lot to Feng Shui, and as you say, a lot of common sense. In our last house in Victoria we got rid of a couple of attacking angles and it really made a difference. (If you don’t know that one, everyone, look it up. It might explain why some places in your house make you feel uncomfortable.)
In fact, I think we mostly create good feng shui because we move things around, decorate etc until it feels good and then stop.
I couldn’t figure out how to Feng Shui our Whitby house because it was all odd angles, but this one is a very regular rectangle. I’ll get right to it.
Jo, thinking about the shoes all around her front doorway….
Pat, I love Move Your Stuff, too. Fun approach to the subject.
I think there’s a lot to Feng Shui, and as you say, a lot of common sense. In our last house in Victoria we got rid of a couple of attacking angles and it really made a difference. (If you don’t know that one, everyone, look it up. It might explain why some places in your house make you feel uncomfortable.)
In fact, I think we mostly create good feng shui because we move things around, decorate etc until it feels good and then stop.
I couldn’t figure out how to Feng Shui our Whitby house because it was all odd angles, but this one is a very regular rectangle. I’ll get right to it.
Jo, thinking about the shoes all around her front doorway….
Pat, I love Move Your Stuff, too. Fun approach to the subject.
I think there’s a lot to Feng Shui, and as you say, a lot of common sense. In our last house in Victoria we got rid of a couple of attacking angles and it really made a difference. (If you don’t know that one, everyone, look it up. It might explain why some places in your house make you feel uncomfortable.)
In fact, I think we mostly create good feng shui because we move things around, decorate etc until it feels good and then stop.
I couldn’t figure out how to Feng Shui our Whitby house because it was all odd angles, but this one is a very regular rectangle. I’ll get right to it.
Jo, thinking about the shoes all around her front doorway….
Pat, I love Move Your Stuff, too. Fun approach to the subject.
I think there’s a lot to Feng Shui, and as you say, a lot of common sense. In our last house in Victoria we got rid of a couple of attacking angles and it really made a difference. (If you don’t know that one, everyone, look it up. It might explain why some places in your house make you feel uncomfortable.)
In fact, I think we mostly create good feng shui because we move things around, decorate etc until it feels good and then stop.
I couldn’t figure out how to Feng Shui our Whitby house because it was all odd angles, but this one is a very regular rectangle. I’ll get right to it.
Jo, thinking about the shoes all around her front doorway….
I always was kidded about the way I wanted to “change” things around in our house. I thought it was just the “nesting” symptom ( a better word escapes me ) 🙂 but now I’m beginning to think the flow was a problem. Anyway, when things were moved , life seemed to go better! An interesting post.. love all the history you ladies give us to mull over!!
I always was kidded about the way I wanted to “change” things around in our house. I thought it was just the “nesting” symptom ( a better word escapes me ) 🙂 but now I’m beginning to think the flow was a problem. Anyway, when things were moved , life seemed to go better! An interesting post.. love all the history you ladies give us to mull over!!
I always was kidded about the way I wanted to “change” things around in our house. I thought it was just the “nesting” symptom ( a better word escapes me ) 🙂 but now I’m beginning to think the flow was a problem. Anyway, when things were moved , life seemed to go better! An interesting post.. love all the history you ladies give us to mull over!!
I always was kidded about the way I wanted to “change” things around in our house. I thought it was just the “nesting” symptom ( a better word escapes me ) 🙂 but now I’m beginning to think the flow was a problem. Anyway, when things were moved , life seemed to go better! An interesting post.. love all the history you ladies give us to mull over!!
I always was kidded about the way I wanted to “change” things around in our house. I thought it was just the “nesting” symptom ( a better word escapes me ) 🙂 but now I’m beginning to think the flow was a problem. Anyway, when things were moved , life seemed to go better! An interesting post.. love all the history you ladies give us to mull over!!
There are many professional methods of Feng Shui but I think using our practical and creative senses along with basic knowledge goes a long way toward creating that “comfortable” feeling we enjoy in our homes. I’m still a little dubious about burying crystals where the corner of the house ought to be!
There are many professional methods of Feng Shui but I think using our practical and creative senses along with basic knowledge goes a long way toward creating that “comfortable” feeling we enjoy in our homes. I’m still a little dubious about burying crystals where the corner of the house ought to be!
There are many professional methods of Feng Shui but I think using our practical and creative senses along with basic knowledge goes a long way toward creating that “comfortable” feeling we enjoy in our homes. I’m still a little dubious about burying crystals where the corner of the house ought to be!
There are many professional methods of Feng Shui but I think using our practical and creative senses along with basic knowledge goes a long way toward creating that “comfortable” feeling we enjoy in our homes. I’m still a little dubious about burying crystals where the corner of the house ought to be!
There are many professional methods of Feng Shui but I think using our practical and creative senses along with basic knowledge goes a long way toward creating that “comfortable” feeling we enjoy in our homes. I’m still a little dubious about burying crystals where the corner of the house ought to be!
Great post, Pat.
I’m getting more and more interested in Feng Shiu after meeting a few people who are really into it.
A writer friend of mine recently had a feng shui expert visit and he took one look at her office and commented “It’s a wonder you can write here.”
She admitted she was blocked and he immediately advised a clear-out and rearrangement. She’s done it, so I’m interested to hear if it helps.
Great post, Pat.
I’m getting more and more interested in Feng Shiu after meeting a few people who are really into it.
A writer friend of mine recently had a feng shui expert visit and he took one look at her office and commented “It’s a wonder you can write here.”
She admitted she was blocked and he immediately advised a clear-out and rearrangement. She’s done it, so I’m interested to hear if it helps.
Great post, Pat.
I’m getting more and more interested in Feng Shiu after meeting a few people who are really into it.
A writer friend of mine recently had a feng shui expert visit and he took one look at her office and commented “It’s a wonder you can write here.”
She admitted she was blocked and he immediately advised a clear-out and rearrangement. She’s done it, so I’m interested to hear if it helps.
Great post, Pat.
I’m getting more and more interested in Feng Shiu after meeting a few people who are really into it.
A writer friend of mine recently had a feng shui expert visit and he took one look at her office and commented “It’s a wonder you can write here.”
She admitted she was blocked and he immediately advised a clear-out and rearrangement. She’s done it, so I’m interested to hear if it helps.
Great post, Pat.
I’m getting more and more interested in Feng Shiu after meeting a few people who are really into it.
A writer friend of mine recently had a feng shui expert visit and he took one look at her office and commented “It’s a wonder you can write here.”
She admitted she was blocked and he immediately advised a clear-out and rearrangement. She’s done it, so I’m interested to hear if it helps.
This was SO interesting, Pat. I think there are a lot of interesting concepts in Feng Shui. I’ve been fighting a subtle “bad vibe” battle with my current house, and now plan to take a more aggressive tactic by looking into what things I can change things up. (Is it okay to have shoes piled up by the mudroom door?)
This was SO interesting, Pat. I think there are a lot of interesting concepts in Feng Shui. I’ve been fighting a subtle “bad vibe” battle with my current house, and now plan to take a more aggressive tactic by looking into what things I can change things up. (Is it okay to have shoes piled up by the mudroom door?)
This was SO interesting, Pat. I think there are a lot of interesting concepts in Feng Shui. I’ve been fighting a subtle “bad vibe” battle with my current house, and now plan to take a more aggressive tactic by looking into what things I can change things up. (Is it okay to have shoes piled up by the mudroom door?)
This was SO interesting, Pat. I think there are a lot of interesting concepts in Feng Shui. I’ve been fighting a subtle “bad vibe” battle with my current house, and now plan to take a more aggressive tactic by looking into what things I can change things up. (Is it okay to have shoes piled up by the mudroom door?)
This was SO interesting, Pat. I think there are a lot of interesting concepts in Feng Shui. I’ve been fighting a subtle “bad vibe” battle with my current house, and now plan to take a more aggressive tactic by looking into what things I can change things up. (Is it okay to have shoes piled up by the mudroom door?)
I can’t sleep in any room in which the door is on the same side of the room as the bed, and if the bed can’t be placed with the head at the north or west. In strange hotels expecially if the bed isn’t in the right orientation, I just get very uncomfortable and disoriented and develop an urge to bolt and sleep in the car (parked in the right direction). I turned down more affordable apartments because something in the room arrangement – where the doors and windows were – didn’t feel right. It is a weird feeling, isn’t it?
I do have a TV in the bedroom but I agree that it’s probably a poor idea; I sometimes order things from QVC in my sleep, I think 🙂
I can’t sleep in any room in which the door is on the same side of the room as the bed, and if the bed can’t be placed with the head at the north or west. In strange hotels expecially if the bed isn’t in the right orientation, I just get very uncomfortable and disoriented and develop an urge to bolt and sleep in the car (parked in the right direction). I turned down more affordable apartments because something in the room arrangement – where the doors and windows were – didn’t feel right. It is a weird feeling, isn’t it?
I do have a TV in the bedroom but I agree that it’s probably a poor idea; I sometimes order things from QVC in my sleep, I think 🙂
I can’t sleep in any room in which the door is on the same side of the room as the bed, and if the bed can’t be placed with the head at the north or west. In strange hotels expecially if the bed isn’t in the right orientation, I just get very uncomfortable and disoriented and develop an urge to bolt and sleep in the car (parked in the right direction). I turned down more affordable apartments because something in the room arrangement – where the doors and windows were – didn’t feel right. It is a weird feeling, isn’t it?
I do have a TV in the bedroom but I agree that it’s probably a poor idea; I sometimes order things from QVC in my sleep, I think 🙂
I can’t sleep in any room in which the door is on the same side of the room as the bed, and if the bed can’t be placed with the head at the north or west. In strange hotels expecially if the bed isn’t in the right orientation, I just get very uncomfortable and disoriented and develop an urge to bolt and sleep in the car (parked in the right direction). I turned down more affordable apartments because something in the room arrangement – where the doors and windows were – didn’t feel right. It is a weird feeling, isn’t it?
I do have a TV in the bedroom but I agree that it’s probably a poor idea; I sometimes order things from QVC in my sleep, I think 🙂
I can’t sleep in any room in which the door is on the same side of the room as the bed, and if the bed can’t be placed with the head at the north or west. In strange hotels expecially if the bed isn’t in the right orientation, I just get very uncomfortable and disoriented and develop an urge to bolt and sleep in the car (parked in the right direction). I turned down more affordable apartments because something in the room arrangement – where the doors and windows were – didn’t feel right. It is a weird feeling, isn’t it?
I do have a TV in the bedroom but I agree that it’s probably a poor idea; I sometimes order things from QVC in my sleep, I think 🙂
Pat, everyone has Uranus somewhere in the chart–yours is just more active than most. *g* I had my house feng shui-ed when I was researching THE CHINA BRIDE (which had some feng shui in it), and found that the two rooms of the house I liked least, the kitchen and the master bedroom, both had poor feng shui. Both have since been remodeled, and I like them a lot better now.
I’m inclined to think there’s a lot of common sense in feng shui. If your house is comfortable for you, you’re probably arranging things right.
Pat, everyone has Uranus somewhere in the chart–yours is just more active than most. *g* I had my house feng shui-ed when I was researching THE CHINA BRIDE (which had some feng shui in it), and found that the two rooms of the house I liked least, the kitchen and the master bedroom, both had poor feng shui. Both have since been remodeled, and I like them a lot better now.
I’m inclined to think there’s a lot of common sense in feng shui. If your house is comfortable for you, you’re probably arranging things right.
Pat, everyone has Uranus somewhere in the chart–yours is just more active than most. *g* I had my house feng shui-ed when I was researching THE CHINA BRIDE (which had some feng shui in it), and found that the two rooms of the house I liked least, the kitchen and the master bedroom, both had poor feng shui. Both have since been remodeled, and I like them a lot better now.
I’m inclined to think there’s a lot of common sense in feng shui. If your house is comfortable for you, you’re probably arranging things right.
Pat, everyone has Uranus somewhere in the chart–yours is just more active than most. *g* I had my house feng shui-ed when I was researching THE CHINA BRIDE (which had some feng shui in it), and found that the two rooms of the house I liked least, the kitchen and the master bedroom, both had poor feng shui. Both have since been remodeled, and I like them a lot better now.
I’m inclined to think there’s a lot of common sense in feng shui. If your house is comfortable for you, you’re probably arranging things right.
Pat, everyone has Uranus somewhere in the chart–yours is just more active than most. *g* I had my house feng shui-ed when I was researching THE CHINA BRIDE (which had some feng shui in it), and found that the two rooms of the house I liked least, the kitchen and the master bedroom, both had poor feng shui. Both have since been remodeled, and I like them a lot better now.
I’m inclined to think there’s a lot of common sense in feng shui. If your house is comfortable for you, you’re probably arranging things right.
I was hooked when we added carpet to the bad tile entrance and Don got a new job in a week. “G”
I was hooked when we added carpet to the bad tile entrance and Don got a new job in a week. “G”
I was hooked when we added carpet to the bad tile entrance and Don got a new job in a week. “G”
I was hooked when we added carpet to the bad tile entrance and Don got a new job in a week. “G”
I was hooked when we added carpet to the bad tile entrance and Don got a new job in a week. “G”