Feng Shui Is Not GeomancyThe difference between Feng Shui and Geomancy (or space clearing) is not necessarily obvious at first glance. However it is a substantial difference, when you understand more about them. Feng ShuiThis is a 2,000 year old discipline which originated in China. Although there are now many differing schools and ideas about this discipline, they all have their origins in the basic relationship between humans and the environment.This was very practical as it involved the best place for siting a building or a graveyard or helping to grow crops enough to feed the population. Therefore, there were physical aspects to the land which had to be taken into consideration. Added to this foundation was the idea that the heavens played an important role in human affairs. Therefore, there were astronomical considerations as well. Somewhat similar to the astrological idea that the planets affect us, the Chinese took into account the planetary aspects in evaluating a site. Over time, other developments took place. For example, where the location could not be improved physically, Feng Shui practitioners used objects such as mirrors, crystals and colors. These were to help achieve the correct flow of energy. However, how such 'fixes' were determined led to differing approaches. So now you have the present situation where there are many varieties or 'flavors' of this discipline. Each of them tends to emphasize one aspect more than the others. There are three main schools at present:
GeomancyThat is a necessarily brief outline and makes no mention of such things as sha and chi But the main points of it are clear enough.Geomancy, on the other hand, takes a broader perspective than feng shui does. Having originated over 2,000 years ago, traditional feng shui does not place as much emphasis on modern aspects of civilization (such as emfs) nor of other aspects of the unseen world (such as curses and unexplained phenomena). It certainly takes no account of alien energies! This website explains the variety of influences and problems which geomancy deals with. It covers a great deal more than the Chinese approach does. Also, house clearing is not a discipline in the same way that the traditional method is. In other words, there is more room for individual approaches to resolving problems than the Chinese-based way. The same basic idea underlies both systems; make the environment as good and helpful as possible for those living in it. How each does it is different, and what each considers as important is different. In modern western geomancy, we also aim to balance the person as well as the land. Harmony is not one-sided! So, while we can make considerable and noticeable differences concentrating on the land, we never overlook the role you play in your own environment. Overall, I think that those practices which originated within a specific culture work best within that culture. So, feng shui works really well for the Chinese and the East. Western peoples, with their own cultural history, tend to be better served by the geomantic tradition which has developed with it. Neither one is better than the other, but I think that each has its own sphere of influence. Of course, that's just my viewpoint, but I think it's valid nevertheless. If you want to be see what we've been up to, hear about some of the cases we've dealt with and what our results were, why not sign up for our monthly newsletter? You can unsubscribe any time at all. But if you do sign up today, you'll get a free detailed risk assessment of your property. Just fill in the blanks below for your free gift! Back to Home Page from Feng Shui Page
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