Many claim that Feng Shui is simply a fad that will soon fade away. However, given that Feng Shui has been in the western world for over two decades, one has to wonder where this notion comes from. Perhaps it's from a group of people who do not understand the principles and practices behind the ancient practice, or perhaps it comes from the many dilettantes practicing Feng Shui without truly understanding its purpose or intention and hence providing no real value to the person seeking its benefits.

One of the biggest issues with Feng Shui is that it appeals primarily to those with an external locus of control, while many in the west possess an internal locus of control. What this means is that those with an external locus of control are more apt to believe simply in faith, while those with an internal locus of control desire proof. The conundrum here is that Feng Shui is a very old practice derived during a time in which most of humanity operated on faith and ritual. However, just because a practice is wrapped in faith and ritual doesn't mean that it doesn't have a fundamental core based on logic.

As a society, we are only just beginning to see the value of many ancient practices. Acupuncture, for example, was long thought of as a useless practice yielding no real benefits beyond the placebo effect. However, western science has placed the practice under scrutiny and found that the ultra thin needles do indeed work with the body's nervous system.

The aloe plant is another such example. Many of our grandparents always had one of these plants in the house, and whenever we received a cut or scrape Grandma would rub a bit of aloe on the wound and it suddenly felt better and seemed to heal faster. Nowadays, aloe is found in many mediums including a drinkable form, a gelatinous form, and intermixed in many hand and body lotions.

Feng Shui too has many practical applications within and around the home. For example, a Feng Shui Master would advise against building in areas where the soil is too soft and lacks sufficient ledge to hold it in place and prevent it from sliding down a mountain when the rains come. A Feng Shui Master would evaluate the land and topography to assess its potential for flooding, burning or rockslides. If insurance companies had a Feng Shui Master on their team, think of the millions of dollars that would be saved each year in disaster relief and insurance claims!

When most of us think of Feng Shui, we tend to think of rearranging the interior spaces of our environments. Indeed this is a vital component of the practice because we have many sources of household hazards. An architectural detail such as square corners (called poison arrows), has caused many injuries ranging from concussions to cracked jaws, broken toes and bruised hips. Feng Shui also considers human movement patterns (often referred to as Chi or Qi). I'm sure many of us can relate to constantly walking into a certain piece of furniture. This is because the placement of that item violated the occupant's natural movement patterns, or obstructed the home's flow of Chi.

Another aspect that Feng Shui considers is the level of lighting. Numerous studies show that sunlight from the west promotes agitation because of its brightness, level of heat, and our own fatigue levels. In Feng Shui, this intense sunlight is called Sha energy which basically means intense and assaulting. Furnishings and carpeting with faded spots are examples of Sha energy assaulting the home.

Along with Sha energy is Si energy which is just as bad and represents slow, dark energy. Homes with mold or mildew problems are often affected by Si energy. Likewise, dying plants, dust bunnies and foul smells often indicate the presence of something unhealthy in the home. A Feng Shui Master asked to consult for a person who has many illnesses or a chronic illness will be looking for the presence of this Si energy.

While I have only highlighted those components of Feng Shui that we can see, there are many other aspects of the ancient practice that affect one's personality, behavioral disposition and physical health. Many clinical psychologists contend that you cannot love someone else until you learn to love yourself. I would like to add to this by saying that you cannot be successful if your environment is chaotic or unhealthy. This is how Feng Shui works. It makes your environment healthy so that you can feel good about your home and concentrate your energies on love, wealth, children and career.

So, is Feng Shui a fad? I doubt it. In fact I think it is only in its infancy in the western world.

For those who are interested in learning more about Feng Shui and perhaps incorporating it into your careers, I recommend a program run by China Studies. This is a program that takes you into China where you can learn about the ancient practice from the source. Please note that I have no affiliation with this organization other than having taken part in the program as a student. For more information, their website is www.chinastudies.com, and they offer CEUS for Interior Designers.

Published: February 14, 2005

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David Alan Kopec "DAK" has a Ph.D. in Environmental Psychology with a concentration in perception and design and two master's degrees, one in Architecture and another in Community Psychology. He also has a bachelor's degree in community/public health, is certified by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC), a member of Interior Design Education Council (IDEC), and studied the practice and principles of Feng Shui in China. Among DAK's most notable accomplishments include the completion of the first textbook on environmental psychology for design, published by Fairchild Books, which won ASID's 2006 Joel Polsky Prize. He has also authored two monographs; the first analyzes the Americans with Disabilities Act along with the common issues faced by an elderly population, published by ASID. The second monograph discusses the design of long-term care facilities in a multicultural society. This is being published by NCIDQ. Currently DAK is working on a second textbook that analyzes health, sustainability and design. Fairchild Books will release this book in the Spring of 2008. Also, DAK is a 2006 award recipient from Rebuilding Together San Diego. DAK is an Associate Professor of Design at the Newschool of Architecture and Design. In addition, DAK has a private practice, provides consulting services and educational lectures at events such as Neo-Con World’s Trade Fair in Chicago, the annual leadership conference for the American Society for Interior Designers (ASID), and dozens of physician conferences and meetings.