- Feng Shui and the Environment
- by Juliana
Abram
In our modern world, concern for
the natural environment has been escalating on a global scale.
Most people are now aware of the problems associated with the
different type of wastes disposal, the greenhouse effect, depletion
of the ozone layer, the dilemmas created for our wildlife due
to the felling of our old forests and the dumping ground our
oceans have become. It is becoming more widely accepted that
should this assault on our environment continue then it will
at the very least, compromise life as we know it and also undermine
our attempts to improve conditions for the millions of other
people ravaged by war, poverty, hunger and illness.
Whilst individuals and various cultures have varying attitudes
toward the natural environment, more people are becoming aware
of the importance of re-evaluating the way in which we view nature
and in so doing, how we’re going to deal with it.
I was at a function recently and during one conversation I was
stunned that the view espoused was that humanity was separate
to nature. Also, that science can determine all aspects of nature
having the ability, through scientific evaluation to predict
and manipulate the environment with little or no consequential
impact should science desire this to be the case. |
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Science generally encourages
the belief that its current explanations of nature are the absolute
truth. Western science is considered to describe physical reality
with absolute precision – as a result, the ancient and traditional
theories of other cultures such as Feng Shui, is ridiculed as
being merely superstition. An authentic Feng Shui consultant
encourages an attitude of respect and caution towards nature
and would never make recommendations based on superstitious beliefs.
As I’ve mentioned before – Feng Shui came about as
the result of lengthy and committed study of nature by the Chinese.
Feng Shui has traditionally played the role of fine tuning the
relationship between humanity and nature by allowing environmental
modification only if it was considered to not disrupt natural
balances and harmonies. Feng Shui encompasses the assessment
of water courses to a given environment, soil stability and fertility,
vegetation, aspect, animal life etc... It was a joy to work with
a young couple recently that shared this view - wanting to build
on 80 acres and showing due respect for the environment by taking
extreme care with the placement of the home ensuring the most
minimal change to the environment.
In Feng Shui, the environment is considered to be a highly intricate
living whole and includes humanity. All parts of this whole are
inherently connected and the balances between them are delicate
to say the least, consequently harmony between all elements of
nature must be protected. In Feng Shui the fundamental attitudes
towards nature are respect and caution recognising that an interpretation/analysis
of the natural forces at play within a given environment may
change over time and in view of any new evidence. With all this
in mind Feng Shui may be able to give us insight, possibly even
solutions, to the environmental problems we are experiencing
both at home and on a global scale. |
