Feng Shui Research
Archaeological excavations in China discovered evidence of the use of Feng Shui in the Banpo Neolithic Village settlement near Xian, built at least 6000 years ago. Mid-neolithic dragons, a favoured Feng Shui symbol, can be seen amongst exquisite ancient Chinese carved jade artefacts dating as far back as 5000BC in collections at the British Museum and Metropolitan Museum New York. Much of the historical documented evidence of the evolution of Feng Shui was destroyed when it was periodically forbidden, although used for governing leaders’ own residences. However, sufficient valuable classical texts managed to survive for our reference today and its practice was also preserved by word of mouth. Two recent books, ‘Scientific Feng Shui for the Built Environment’ by Michael Mak and Albert So, and Michael Paton’s ‘Five Classics of Feng Shui’ based on his PhD Feng Shui research, make excellent academic reading.
Try Your Own Feng Shui Research Experiments
Feng Shui is a body of profound knowledge that recognises we are a connected part of nature and understands why we should follow its laws. There are a couple of simple experiments you can try yourself that prove the validity of two basic Feng Shui principles.
1 Hold your hands palms downwards over a bunch of dried flowers, leaves and stalks. You will probably soon feel a small cool patch in the centre of one or both your palms as you hold them there. This happens because the yin, ‘dead’ plant matter is drawing on the warm, yang life-giving energy radiating from your hand in an attempt to revitalise itself. Feng Shui always advises against keeping any dried plants in the house and to remove dead trees and plants from your garden and close surroundings.
2 This requires two people, one of whom knows how to muscle test using kinesiology touch for health. First muscle test in a clear space, raise one arm and check that it remains strong when resisting your partner lightly pushing down on it. Then stand directly in front of the protruding pointed corner edge of a wall or wardrobe. Repeat the muscle test. You will probably find your arm has weakened, perhaps considerably so. Retest in a clear space to restore its strength. A similar result is likely when you stand beneath an overhead beam or heavy ceiling pendant, or in front of a tall pole or large tree trunk. A Feng Shui golden rule is that the harsh force generated by these forms is potentially harmful and it advises to avoid having any of them in line with your body or your front door.
Feng Shui Physics
it is hardly surprising that we interact with our close environment and nature. Each cell in our body has an electron charge, as does every atom in the universe. Water constitutes the majority of our body matter and is the finest conductor of electricity. The iron in our blood is magnetic and will respond to the magnetic forces of the earth and the solar system. Some surgeons prefer not to operate at the time of the full moon because it is recognised that people may bleed more profusely then.
Feng Shui strongly advises against living in a property built on a former burial site and Chinese people would never want to live there. Published scientific geo-forensic research by Dr Jamie Pringle at Keele University UK has established that electrical resistivity of ground where bodies are buried differs from clear ground, even after a hundred years. Where the bodies had been removed, their former location continued to be measurable and accurately identified.
Plants represent the Wood element in Feng Shui and houseplants are placed in specific locations to benefit the energy of a property and its occupants. Research studies have established the psychological value of houseplants for enhancing mood, behaviour and performance. Nasa scientists proved that houseplants have a unique capacity to absorb airborne pollution and humidify the atmosphere, thereby increasing health and wellbeing.
A fundamental Feng Shui principle is that disruptive sha qi will challenge properties located directly opposite a T Junction or facing a narrow gap between buildings. Read the physics behind it in my article Wind in the city