Feng Shui Explained and Managing Your Time with this Ancient Practice

By Marka Meyer

Feng shui observances began thousands of years ago when Chinese farmers discovered that their homes remained warmer during harsh winter months when the front openings were oriented to take advantage of solar heat gain. Maximum warmth occurred when buildings faced the winter solstice, so that over time it became customary for houses and temples to be oriented on this same axis.

When ancient Chinese astronomers invented measuring devices based on the movement of stars, they were able to determine the correct winter solstice orientation for important structures, including homes, temples, and graves. With the Chinese invention of the magnetic compass, they further came to the realization that direction had duality and opposites: north and south, east and west.

At about the same time, Chinese astronomers and sages also became aware that many other natural phenomena could be described and categorized as opposites, and that is thought to be the basis for the concept of yin and yang. In yin/yang theory, cold follows warm, the moon waxes and wanes, death follows birth, harvest follows planting, and night follows day, to mention only a few natural, cyclical phenomenon.

Further evolution of yin and yang theory, and exploration of directionality, prompted the development of feng shui, which describes optimal spatial relationships. This system, originally based on direction and the compass, became important in determining balanced adjacencies in rooms or gardens and optimal alignment of items within a space in order to achieve harmony and balance.

Managing Time with Feng Shui

Now that we know a little about the yin/yang component of feng shui, we have a better understanding of the importance of achieving balance and allowing our energy to flow smoothly. We can organize and manage ourselves in a sensible way that will allow us to remain true to the sort of life we would like to enjoy.

Yin is our feminine, calming, and peace-giving energy, while yang is our dynamic, masculine, action-oriented force. Yin allows us to dream, heal, rest, and rejuvenate while yang achieves those dreams and creates success. Each of us, whether male or female, is a combination of both yin and yang.

If we are too yang, too aggressive, and action oriented, we deplete our energy and can ultimately make ourselves sick. If we are too yin, too passive, and calm, it is difficult for us to accomplish our goals. It is an interesting challenge to assess our own personality and then add a bit of yin or yang to our lives in order to achieve optimal health.

Making Time Count

When time is gone, it is gone forever; be mindful of time. Enjoy your time on this earth, and make it as wonderful as you possibly can. Spend some time alone in silence; hopefully in a natural environment.

Keep household clutter under daily control in order to maximize free time. Do a few chores every day, so that your free time will be freer for fun. Prioritize; do the most difficult things first and get them over with.

Pre-organize and pre-plan large-scale projects like garage cleaning. Large projects may need to be broken down into several smaller, achievable stages. Plan a reward for yourself after completing a particularly daunting project.

Say no to time-consuming, free time activities that are not important to you. Consider all the possibilities and then pick just one or two fun choices. Include people who are important to you in your favorite pastimes.

Allow yourself to make mistakes; worrying is a waste of precious time.