Almost everyone has at some time, entered a garden, building or room and felt something tangible yet inexplicable: a feeling of joy, happiness, peace, sadness, maybe even of malevolence. Whatever it was, we knew it was definitely associated with the place we were in.



If you are reading this article it's possible you already have a heightened awareness of place, and at times have sensed the energies and character present in a location. It's not an unusual phenomenon. In the West people often talk about a place having good or bad “vibes”.

Some people put these feelings down to imagination, or maybe the triggering of past subconscious associations with similar locations. Others believe there are spirits or a ghostly presence nearby.

But whatever the explanation for any one particular experience, most of us are aware of how much the environment… that multitude of outside influences, seen and unseen, can have to do with the ‘feel' of a place.

A dark, low-ceilinged room rarely induces as much comfort and well being in us as a light, airy one and most people in warm or temperate climates prefer their garden or patio to be facing north to take advantage of the sun. A garden, patio or deck has a completely different ‘feel' when it is located on the sunny side of a house as opposed to when it is mainly in the shade.

Similarly, farmers and other country dwellers throughout the world have built their houses in line with predominant environmental influences. Where there were strong prevailing winds they built homes of stone in the lee of hills or with the gable end facing the prevailing wind direction to garner some protection from the gales. Inside, these structures have a sense of great strength and compactness, usually dark and moody and built, as it were, almost as part of the earth on which they stand.

In other places, where earthquakes happen, people build homes of materials so light and transparent they give a sense of gossamer airiness, almost as if the house might float away on the wind.

In fact, ever since we began building permanent places in which to live (and later to work) we have built structures with our eyes firmly fixed on the environment and its influences.

Even today, with all the marvellous advances in building and civil engineering techniques which allow us to build cities where before they could not possibly have been built, architects and builders take note of the predominant environmental influences and sometimes, (though not always), construct in sympathy with them.

And when they don't… when the built environment is not in harmony with the physical environment and its energies… then, sooner or later problems occur; disasters involving physical damage and perhaps even loss of life.

Yet, though we know how much the environment and the forces of nature affect the places where we live and work, it remains for some people much more difficult – a great leap of faith in fact - to accept that there are unseen natural forces also moving through our homes and offices. Forces which, as an integral part of our physical surroundings, can have an even greater affect upon us and our lives.

This seems strangely paradoxical - to acknowledge that the physical, observable environment impacts upon the lives we lead in our homes and offices yet not accept that unseen forces and energies may also affect us in the places we live and work.

Certainly the Chinese thought so.

Considered to be the oldest recorded civilisation on earth, the Chinese were building in sympathy with the environment at least four thousand years before the advent of the Christian era. Throughout that time they were observing and carefully noting the interaction between their buildings and the environment, as well as studying the influences and effects of unseen forces and energies upon their dwellings.

The more they discovered, the more they constructed and located their properties to take the most propitious advantage of those unseen energies.

From their observations of nature, developed over thousands of years, as well as from their astronomy, their sciences, their philosophies and even from their ancient myths and legends, they evolved the art and science of Feng Shui.

Now, at the beginning of a new millennium, Feng Shui has emerged as a primary metaphysical tool. This tool is used by millions to help them align themselves with the benevolent forces and energies in the environment, while at the same time enabling them to avoid those influences not so benevolent - forces or energies which may bring difficulties or even harm.

It is estimated that more than 200 million people use Feng Shui. In places such as Hong Kong and Taiwan many people, including successful, hard-headed businessmen, wouldn't even think about relocating or remodelling their homes or offices, or even rearranging an interior layout, without first consulting a Feng Shui Master.

Now, more and more people in the West are becoming interested in Feng Shui and how it may help them achieve greater health, wealth and happiness.

Once considered no more than a mythical oriental superstition, Feng Shui has come to be recognised as a serious study of the energies that surround us and how these energies change. What we surround ourselves with in our homes and offices and even in our gardens, reveals a lot about us. The way energy moves through our environment is a good indication of the ease or difficulty with which we move through our lives. A stagnant place, one that is not properly aligned and positioned, in our living or working spaces may mean we are stuck in certain parts of our lives. Places or aspects of our lives that were once filled with energy may no longer be so – the energy has changed; moved on. By practising Feng Shui correctly we are enabled to adapt to the sequence of those energy changes so they can support us rather than bring us harm and unhappiness.

How to improve ones health is fast becoming one of the most constantly posed questions in today's modern society. Everyone is looking for an ‘edge' on how they can not only provide a longer life for themselves but ensure that it is a life filled with comfort and vitality. In looking for this edge – many people have turned to Feng Shui – the ancient art and science of placement.

In Feng Shui the bedroom not only plays a role in attracting and maintaining good relationships but also supports your health. There are many reasons for ill health – long-term stress, incorrect diet, lack of exercise etc…. By reassessing those areas of your life in conjunction with implementing ideal Feng Shui principles then good health can be achieved within a reasonably short space of time.

One of the most important considerations when assessing health using Feng Shui guidelines is the position of your bedroom within the home and your bed within that room. So, if you are experiencing ill health then my suggestion is to try using another room or placing the bed in a different location within the bedroom.

Ten other factors that can assist you in your pursuit of good health are:-

• Do not have any mirrors in the bedroom, especially if the mirror is reflecting any portion of the bed whilst you are sleeping. If this is the case remove the offending mirror altogether or cover it with a dense fabric or screen.

• Remove the television – apart from the electrical concerns it has a reflective quality, which in turn has a similar effect, albeit minor, as that of a mirror.

• Ensure that the external electrical box is not located on the same wall as the bed head.

• Ensure that your bedroom is not opposite a T-junction . If moving to another room is out of the question, then a ‘special shield' can be used to reduce the impact.

• Ensure that your bedroom is not located in direct line of any sharp corners, fences or spikes.

• It is preferable to not sleep on a waterbed as stability is required when sleeping.

• Do not have your bedroom located at the point of a bow shaped road.

• A triangular shaped bedroom creates arguments and it is said that the occupants of the bedroom are prone to heart attacks. In this instance walls would have to be built so as to square off the room.

• I have seen numerous boot shaped bedrooms and these are particularly inauspicious if you are sleeping at the end of the boot.

• If you are experiencing headaches or poor sleep and are sleeping with your head against a window as well as being in direct line with the door then try moving your bed so that your bed head is resting against a solid wall. Having said this, there are times when it is more appropriate to have your bed head resting against a window and this can only be determined by specific individually based data and when certain conditions are prevailing.

It is important to not have your bed resting under an overhanging beam. It would serve you best to simply move the bed in this instance.