The History of Feng Shui

With its origins in China, and developing over 2,000 years as a system on how to survive, excel and live in harmony with nature, the Chinese has practiced Feng Shui for thousands of years. 

It started during the Han Dynasty (206BC – 220AD) as a form of Chinese philosophy on the relationship between humans and their environment, and about how everything is connected and affects our well-being. Based on the Laws of Nature, its theories offer us a way of understanding why certain things occur and how to create a comfortable environment that lets us live and work efficiently and progressively.

The word ‘Feng Shui’ derived during the reign of Jin Dynasty (265 – 420AD) when Guo Pu, the author of the book Zhang Jing (Study of Burial Ground) first used it. In the book he says, “The travel of Qi is conducted by air and water. When the air is dispersed, the Qi too is dispersed; when the water is stagnant, the Qi too is stagnant.”

Feng Shui is based on Taoist philosophies of nature; these include the Yin-Yang Theory, Five-Elements Theory and The Trigrams based on Yi Jing. Feng Shui literally means (the flow of) ‘wind’ and ‘water.’ It takes into account many different elements affecting your environment. Good Feng Shui is where the balance of Yin and Yang achieves harmony and the Chinese believe that everything has Qi or cosmic energy and all that has Qi has Yin and Yang qualities. 

Qi is divided into three categories: The Tian Qi (Heaven’s Qi), Di Qi (Earth’s Qi) and Ren Qi (Human’s Qi). Yin and Yang are both opposites and complimentary. When we practice good Feng Shui, we attract and cultivate positive energy called ‘Sheng Qi’ and dispel or eliminate negative Qi called ‘Sha Qi.’

Today, Feng Shui is a multidisciplinary study encompassing architecture, urban planning, geography, astrology, electromagnetism, landscaping, environmental psychology and many others. In the wake of these realities, it is gaining more and more popularity in the West. Like most martial arts disciplines, Feng Shui consists of various systems, some good, some not-so-good and some a mixture of both. It is only through years of studies and practical experiences that one can be accredited a Feng Shui master. Even then, there are very few genuine Feng Shui experts around. Traditionally, Feng Shui was passed down from one master to another and never through a classroom setting.

Feng Shui can be classified into the Theory School, which has three different aspects: The San He, The San Yuan and The Nine Star and The Form School with its emphasis on the study of landscaping. The Theory School was practiced more in the North and Central China while The Form School in the South. After the Ming Dynasty they were merged as one to give a wholesome picture and study of Feng Shui, which was until then sort of incomplete.

Reproduced with the kind permission of Master Dennis Lai of Classic Feng Shui Mastery.

Palmistry - The Art of Palm Reading 掌相学

Art of Palm Reading

There is no guessing in Palmistry. It is precise and revealing. Period.

Too many people fail to live in the present, as they are busy with anticipating tomorrow. What if you have a clear idea of what's going to happen? Will you then enjoy today more?

Some of the common questions include:

- Will I find love? When will that be? Is it true love?

- Will I be rich? When will that be? How can I get the money?

- Will I stay healthy? When might I fall sick? And can I overcome it?

- Am I compatible with my partner? What could happen in the future?

What is Palmistry?

Palmistry originated from India over 3,000 years ago as a method of counseling. It is a part of a vast field of study, referred to as Samudrik Shastra, which literally means the ocean of knowledge. Palmistry is a sub-section of Samudrik Shastra and deals specifically with the study of the hands.

Palmistry is the science of analyzing the hands of human beings. This incorporates the external features of the hands such as the shape, colour, texture, suppleness, fingers formation, nails, as well as the lines within the palms. An ascertained and competent palmist would be able to draw a clear picture of your destiny from your palm prints and would be able to give you a reliable guide to life when reading your palms.

The original intent of palmistry was for personality assessment and counseling. One's emotional tendencies, social attitudes, conscious awareness and subconscious fears, blockages and strengths can be understood in great detail through this in-depth system.

Everyone knows that “the face can wear a mask,” that a person may be a good actor and put on a certain expression that may deceive even the best judgment.

But hands cannot change as the result of a mere effort to please; the character they express is the real nature of the individual-the true character that has been formed by heredity or that has grown up with the person by long years of habit.

Remember that the hands are the immediate servants or instruments of the brain. There are more motive and sensory nerves from the brain to the hand than to any other portion of the body and, whether sleeping or waking, they continually and unconsciously reflect the thought and character of the mind or soul of the individual.

 

It will, then, be seen from these observations that without looking at the lines of the hand, one may be able to obtain certain details of character that are more trustworthy than those given by the face, and that these rules, if followed, should be of the greatest assistance and value to people in all walks of life.

Palmistry is the science of analyzing the hands of human beings. This incorporates the external features of the hands such as the shape, colour, texture, suppleness, fingers formation, nails, as well as the lines within the palms. An ascertained and competent palmist would be able to draw a clear picture of your destiny from your palm prints and would be able to give you a reliable guide to life when reading your palms.

The value of Hand Analysis and Palmistry

Hand analysis is an invaluable way to understand others and yourself better. It can help you to discover your best skills, gifts, talents and strengths so that you can put them all to work more effectively. Focusing on your natural strengths will allow you to feel better about yourself and enjoy more success in life. With this new self-understanding, you will have more confidant and power to live the life you’ve always wanted to live.

When we analyze other people’s palms, we help them to understand their unique personal qualities. This will provide them with guidance in their life and draw out the best in them.

Is palm reading accurate?

You should be asking – what makes it so accurate?

Reproduced with the kind permission of Master Dennis Lai of Classic Feng Shui Mastery.