Written by Diane Sussman. This article appeared in the Palo Alto Weekly, Friday, August 4, 1995
Feng shui seeks to promote a harmonious balance among nature, man-made structures (right down to power lines, dumpsters and heaters) and people. Adherents believe that homes with good feng shui bring peace, health and prosperity to the people within. As for homes with bad feng shui, well, best not dwell on that.
Here is a list of a few basic principles of feng shui.
- The front door of a house should not face oncoming traffic. Cars, lights and noise disturb the peace.
- If a house is on a hill, the back part of the building should not be on the lower part of the slope. This causes energy to roll down the hill.
- Homes should not face or be next to a garbage receptacle. Garbage receptacles draw energy away from the house.
- A stove should not be visible to a person entering a house. Stoves are concentrated sources of fire, which is associated with death.
- An apartment should not be next to or facing an elevator, especially a noisy one. Noisy equipment robs a house of good energy.
- Houses should not face glass buildings. Glass buildings absorb the negative feelings of their surroundings and reflect them outward.
