Photo courtesy of David Wong, Sea to Sky Architecture
To most, feng shui sounds like a great idea, but difficult to learn. Feng shui is the ancient Chinese art of placement to create balance in a living space, no matter its size.
Amidst chaotic city life, taking time to make life outside of work appealing to the senses can seem a little unattainable without the right skills.
Vancouver is home to a number of talented feng Shui experts who can recommend ways to add peace and balance to any living space.
Feng shui basics
Extension of external concrete wall into entry hall wall | Photos courtesy of David Wong, Sea to Sky Architecture
Jerry King is the founder of White Dragon Consulting, a business that provides classical feng shui consultations using traditional Chinese methods.
Based in Vancouver, the business caters to a diverse array of clients for both residential and commercial purposes.
According to King, feng shui is derived from Chinese traditions.
“Feng shui in Chinese literally means wind and water. It is known as one of the Chinese Five Arts and is a practice where land/property is analyzed,” says King. “The analysis is then further used to determine how we can activate positive energy while providing remedies for negative energy and problematic areas of the property.”
Feng shui helps residents find peace and balance within the confines of their living space.
“Feng shui is often used to ensure harmony for the property’s occupants. Solely analyzing the property is not enough,” says King. “We may need to evaluate the individual’s energy through their birth details to determine their fortunes and what we can do to enhance the individual’s life.”
Feng shui is used to balance multiple variables in one’s life and is not just limited to the property one owns.
“I also provide divination for my clients for specific questions that they may have about their lives such as investment decisions, lawsuits, health analysis, options in education, career planning and date selection,” says King.
Infusing nature with feng shui
David Wong works as an architect at Sea to Sky Architecture, a Yaletown-based business that infuses nature with feng shui.
The business aims to address the urban challenge of reduced wildlife habitats by encouraging clients to consider integrating an urban habitat into their projects.
Wong’s ability to incorporate feng shui into landscaping and architecture projects stems from a year of backpacking through China.
“During my university days, I spent about a year backpacking through China photographing and documenting material for my thesis on feng shui. After my research thesis, I designed a museum building as a graduation project based on feng shui principles,” says Wong.
A few years after graduating, Wong set up a practice in Singapore catering to health and wellness resorts. Designs were drawn based on nature and sustainability.
Wong returned to Vancouver after a decade in Asia to focus on projects that have nature as a central focus.
“I now undertake a number of projects from housing to longhouses, and I love every moment of it,” he says.
It’s important to approach feng shui with a strong sense of ethics in order to best serve the other person. Wong notes that some practitioners take advantage of their clients’ superstitions rather than focusing on the true principles of feng shui.
“Remember to apply common sense, and to understand the origin of why a recommended solution had been applied.”
Wong recommends that people reflect on the realities associated with nature when trying to resolve their landscaping issues with feng shui. He advises to “immerse yourself in nature.” Observing other cultures’ solutions for living and shelter will also enhance understanding of nature’s balance and using feng shui.
“It’s amazing how we always rely on new technology in efforts to resolve perceived problems when the answers have already been resolved by our ancestors,” says Wong.
Incorporating feng shui into architecture and home decor
Mix of organic and non-organic elements of nature. | Photos courtesy of David Wong, Sea to Sky Architecture
Rodika Tchi is a feng shui consultant and writer for her Vancouver-based business, Tchi Consulting.
She uses feng shui to create vibrant, healthy and beautiful spaces, focusing specifically on architecture and home decor.
According to Tchi, feng shui can help work a person’s small apartment size to their advantage, despite having a limited living, working and sleeping space.
“Basically, you need to create pathways of energy in your small space and provide as much privacy as possible for your bedroom. Each space will ask for specific solutions; you might be working from home, for example, thus you will need to deal with more space dividers in your home,” says Tchi.
She uses dividers like screens, tall plants, bookshelves or curtains to designate different living areas.
Feng shui is often used to find the right home decor within a living space.
“Good feng shui decorating will never scream for attention or fight with the style of the home, but rather create an energy that is vibrant, happy and harmoniously complementing the already present identity of the home or office,” says Tchi.
