Geomancy and Feng shui

Throughout history and the world people have attached importance to the arrangement of living quarters(both home and work) and a person’s well being. Asian cultures have, perhaps, formalized this aspect of architecture and interior design(in subsequent features, we could explore other people’s cultures and their approach to energy movement and living quarters). The Asian art and science of exterior and interior design is termed, “feng shui” ( wind and water ). The concept behind feng shui is that the placement of our homes, workplaces and the interior design of these areas affects the energy/prana/qi around us, either in a positive or negative manner. Feng shui is an exterior approach to harmonizing one’s qi to improve the universal qi as meditation(or any personal body-mind work) is an interior approach to balancing one’s qi. With feng shui’s attention to the physical environment(both the universal cosmos’ rhythms and the general community’s rhythms), this design modality works to improve the total universal environment for the individual and all sentient beings.

As each culture works with feng shui different aspects become emphasized. The result is that many theoretical approaches to feng shui exist. The myriad of approaches does not decrease its effectiveness. It does, however, require that one review the literature and thoughtfully approach any changes in one’s environment. The differing approaches all have the goal of balanced qi flow. The environment(be it town, house, or bedroom) must be open enough to allow clean, healthy qi in and dirty, used qi out, while not allowing qi to pass through too quickly. Some areas of Asian philosophy which help practitioners to determine proper qi flow include: Chinese astrology, used for timing of events; Chinese numerology; five elements or phases of fire, earth, metal, water, wood; yin-yang balance; names and their symbols.

Although feng shui is complex, you can use its principles at whatever level you choose to improve your well being. If you are building a home, you can utilize feng shui for its design. If you are an apartment dweller, you can improve your situation by placing screens, bells, mirrors, etc. at various locations to facilitate qi flow and work to decrease your problems.

Peace. Heather

Geomancy is a form of divination utilizing lines and figures of signs from the earth itself. It would be a form of spiritual geology.

Applied geomancy is a concept similar to feng shui. Some theorists indicate that these 2 concepts are the same or that geomancy is a subset of feng shui. In support of these theorists geomancy and feng shui are often taught in the same institutions. Geomancy, the art of divining the properties of geographical area, so that one can maximize the potential of that area for living. Geomancy has more of a geographical quality the feng shui as they are currently practiced. Perhaps, also, geomancy has a stronger occult tone. Feng shui is often referred to acupuncture for the living quarters. I would make the analogy of geomancy to pranic healing(energy balancing without the use of instruments or tools).

The Middle English term “geomancy” is derived from Latin and Greek. The tone of geomantic history is somewhat Northern European. However, geomancy has been and is practiced in most cultures worldwide.

Thank you. Heather.

Many methods to bless houses exist. Almost every culture and religion have rituals for cleansing the house’s aura. Some sources attribute Spring cleaning ‘s origin to spirit cleaning. House blessings should be done: when you first move in; with every major personal or family change(births, deaths, divorces,etc.) It would be reasonable to perform a house blessing at the change of seasons and weekly whenever you feel severely out of balance. Performing the house blessing at the noon hour on Sundays/new Moon days/full Moon days will increase the effectiveness of this rite.

Supplies needed: The supplies needed depend on the number of people participating in the rite. The supplies are listed in decreasing order of importance.

During the rite— Sandalwood incense or sage smudge; Blessed water; White candles

Termination of rite— Broom(straw preferred); Kosher salt; Light fruits and/or whole grain crackers; Green tea or water

Method:

The pathway for blessing should be top to bottom and East to West. Light the sage or sandalwood and candles(if used). Begin at the highest most Eastern area. Allow the sage or sandalwood smoke to reach every nook and cranny(lowly evolved spirits will be where the dust bunnies are).Sprinkle drops of blessed water after the sage or sandalwood smoke has been to the area. Be sure you cover inside closets, under beds, and inside cabinets. While smudging (placing the smoke) with the sage or sandalwood and sprinkling the blessed water, please recite your personal mantra/prayer/phrase such as “Be gone from whence you came.” Repeat in rounds of 3. After the entire house has been exposed to the sage/sandalwood and blessed water, sweep the spirits out your Western door. After the sweeping is completed, place kosher salt at the doorway(in a small or sprinkled at the outside of the door frame. Now go have a light meal. Do quiet activities for 12-24 hours after the blessing to increase its effectiveness.

Good luck.

(excerpted from e-booklet The Mindful Body:An Exposition on Psychic Healing)

PROCEDURE FOR PERSONAL BLESSING OR PERSONAL PRANA CLEANSING

1.Deep, slow, rhythmic breathing(yogic as desired). One may add mudras(blessing gestures) to this step. Examples of applicable mudras are: blessing gesture(shanti mudra); interlock gesture(gomukha mudra); divinity gesture( om mudra)

2.Chant om, a personal prayer, or state positive mental affirmation in rounds of three or seven.

3.Tell the dirty or used prana to leave the personal aura.

4.Visualize blue or violet light from head to toe to cleanse the dirty prana.

5. Visualize white light from head to toe. Hold this white light as a protective layer throughout the day or night.

*Optional-you may add hatha yoga poses to facilitate cleansing. The use of hatha yoga poses is particularly helpful for clearing at the beginning and at the end of each day. People with high blood pressure/heart disease should avoid inverted poses. Applicable poses include: lotus; tree; lion; shoulderstand; headstand. You may splash blessing water on your body while finshing this exercise. You may also finish the exercise by lighting sage and bringing it from head to toe,keeping it about 12 inches away from your body. Use this exercise whenever you feel the need for balancing.