Believe it or not, geomancy or Feng Shui plays a role in economics, especially in the property market. It affects the decisions of prospective buyers. We can see over time, how some properties or areas thrive while others stagnate. Human factors undoubtedly play a role but could Feng Shui also have influenced it?
According to our understanding of geomancy science, there are 3 types of energy:
• Cosmic energy (from the heavens, meaning stars, planets, etc.)
• Human energy
• Earth energy
The interaction of these energies can create either a harmonious or disadvantageous space. We naturally gravitate towards places that have beneficial vibes, so to speak.
Live Qi
Land masses have energy. We know this through our understanding of gravitational effect, the higher and bigger the mountain, the greater the force it exerts downwards and sideways. This exertion of energy is inexhaustible, continuous and cumulative. As it pushes downwards and sideways, the energy gets transferred through solid matter in the mountain. This energy transference is conducted through matter of similar rigidity and according to one of the Laws of Thermodynamics – from a higher energy level to a lower energy level. The live energy will stop/disperse when it meets something that possesses different rigidity such as water.
Feng Shui literally means wind and water. The term ‘Feng Shui’ originates directly from the fundamental theory and is not mentioned anywhere else in ancient texts. The whole idea of Feng Shui revolves around conserving the Live Qi using our understanding of its behaviour and response to wind and water.
River of life
As energy travels from higher ground to lower ground, it is usually stopped by riverbanks. As a result, nutrient levels along the riverbank are the most fertile. The growth of vegetation along riverbanks exhibits this.
There is a Chinese saying that when you see 2 mountains, there must be a river and vice versa. In valleys, rivers tend to meander and make winding shapes. When earth energy reaches this natural barrier, it will either pool and collect or be dissipated, depending on the curvature of the river.
If the river embraces the land (we call it the ‘concave’), the energy will be collected. On the opposite side (we call it ‘convex’), the energy will be dispersed. We can see the effects from the fertility of the soil. The vegetation on the concave side is greener and lush compared to the convex side.
Ancient civilizations grew along the rivers, this makes sense as rivers are important as a source of life and transportation. As these villages grew into towns and cities over time, you will notice an interesting trait: the concave side is more prosperous and better developed. And these cities have all moved away from agriculture into business and commerce. It only makes sense that somehow there are beneficial energies here and the buildings have managed to tap into it to make it a harmonious (and prosperous) living space.
Note: We are specifically describing the practice of Chinese Geomancy here, although it is likely that other branches of geomancy would have similar, yet different approaches.
