I've often wondered why our perceptions of a landscape are ones of acceptance or denial. No doubt our senses (sight, sound, smell, taste and touch) ''read the site'' and relay its values to us. If we sustain a positive acceptance to the site, there should be some guiding influences encouraging us to do so. I'm sure our education and experiences have something to do with it.
Natural
chi energies cannot be quantified be seen or touched. They come to us through perceptions to our surroundings and attribute acceptance as to what feelings emulate. For example, feelings such as peacefulness, a sense of place and connectiveness, tranquil thoughts and harmony. These responses surely are important values to incorporate into a site design concept.
Designing a landscape using natural
chi energies as a design tool could be an exciting addition to the portfolio. I term such an option as positive
energy accumulation (PEA). PEA treats the site as an evolving structure influenced by change and change is influenced by the elements that make up the site and their relationships with each other. Applying PEA breaks the site into positive and negative influences.
Charting of
chi flow can be undertaken to support a PEA application. Charting
chi flow helps establish
chi energy points, barriers to
chi flow and movement, destinations for
chi flow,
chi energy boundaries and locations where harmonious or beneficial (sheng)
chi can enter and accumulate. The process potentially nullifies negative
chi influences and helps to build upon positive
energy influences. Feng Shui tools such as Yin and Yang oscillation and five element balance are two worthwhile applications to compliment
chi flow charting.
Personally, I see great merit in applying my 8 elements of light, shadow, shape, colour, sound, smell, movement and temperature. When each is harmonised and the 8 collectively harmonise, the site takes on a harmonious appeal. Accepting harmony isn't a permanent feature of the site but a feature worth incorporating for its opportunities in harmonious design. The 8 elements incorporated with Yin and Yang oscillation and five element balance make up a powerful combination and introduce the site as a dynamic entity responding to its influences including climate and seasonality. The site is in a constant state of flux and acceptance of that premise offers connectiveness.
PEA to me offers a unique opportunity to monitor change and respond to it. Change the necessary evil to a landscapes evolution. PEA can hopefully nullify sha (detrimental)
chi energies from accumulating and their taking away opportunities for harmonious experiences. When we visit a natural area, we encompass PEA in action. Nature guides
chi energy flow through interaction and acceptance of the components that make the site up and their adaptation to the site e.g., native plants, birds, animals and insects. In the manmade landscape we can model nature and set into place some checks and balances to ensure
chi flow is balanced and negative influences aren't encouraged to dominate.
Other Articles of Ross Lamond
Learning the art of feng shui may seem to be a daunting task because it has been perceived as a practice full of magic and mystery This notion of ambiguity and mysticism is what drives people to embark on such a special undertaking
(Mar 07, 2012)
The Chinese belief that placing, arranging, and re-arranging objects and furniture in the house encourage the positive flow of energy force (also known as chi or qi), which consequently brings in harmony in life Such harmony then attracts beneficial effects such as good health, more wealth, and peaceful relationships
(Mar 07, 2012)
Feng Shui has been used by many people in order to invite good energy inside their home The use of Feng Shui inside your garden can bring luck, success, peace of mind, good health, money, good relationship any many more
(Feb 18, 2012)
Having just returned to Australia (after being advised to get out of Myanmar before the elections results are posted), I want to comment on some observations while on a travel journey into this beautiful, fractured and brittle land
Firstly the Military, and presumably soon to be anointed Government, hold within its power and control eighty to ninety percent 80-90% of the country’s wealth
(Feb 18, 2012)
I was having a game of golf at Nambucca Heads on the New South Wales Mid North Coast of Australia, and my playing partner asked me what was I doing next in life I had just returned from overseas and I think the locals get a fair bit of chat material from my movements and things I get up to
(Feb 18, 2012)
Feng Shui comes from the Chinese culture When you talk about Feng Shui in the Garden, you need to keep in mind three important things and these are pond, pool, and fountain
(Feb 18, 2012)
Progress, and the new decking and veranda to Number 3 is in place and providing the location to ensconce myself upon a chair to imagine the beneficial Chi I hope to create I'm sitting on the chair because this is the place I want as the core of Chi, a place where the energy of my surroundings come to me and harmonise me
(Jan 05, 2012)
Time waits for no one as the saying goes and progress, I'm not too sure It requires commitment and effort, but Number 3 is changing and becoming closer to have a go at some gardening
(Jan 05, 2012)
Transformations, transformations and a need to work, but Number 3 Lorikeet Lane is getting there and the garden is taking shape
It definitely is a garden on the curve and I've deliberately set it out to ensure not one straight line of vision or image is projected
(Jan 05, 2012)
Wow What a mess
(Jan 05, 2012)
