Guest Author - Diane Kern

What is qi…that mysterious unseen force?

In Feng Shui we often refer to qi, the quality of qi and the flow of qi. What is qi? It is an invisible life force, the essential breathe of life. It is the unifying power that connects everyone and everything. It is the energy that sustains life and spirit. Qi is a universal concept shared by many societies. The East Indians call it prana, the Hebrews ruah, the Egyptians ankh, the Chinese qi.

It is invisible you say. How do I know it exists? There are many things we can not see that we know exist, electricity for example. We can not see it coursing through the wiring in our house, but when we flip the wall switch we see its effect. Radio waves travel through the air unseen, but when we turn on the car radio we have music.

Qi exists in all things.

Qi exists in all things animal, vegetable and mineral, water, earth, fire and sky. As the rain falls to earth and the sun shines to nourish the garden we eat the produce and qi is transferred to us. If you have watched Survivor you have seen the teams strike flint to create sparks and obtain fire. The qi, energy from the flint, is transferred to the wood creating fire. As the wood is consumed, the qi of the fire creates heat to boil water and cook food. Through these examples you can see that qi nourishes us in many ways. If all matter contains energy and those states can be transformed, then you can see that our environment has a profound effect on us.

The qualities of qi.

Qi can have both creative and destructive qualities. An over abundance of qi can be damaging. The hurricanes and floods of recent seasons are a prime example. Lack of qi or qi of poor quality does not nurture our lives. If your home is surrounded by overgrown plants and trees you can not receive sunlight and fresh air. This situation can lead to depression and illness and you do not function to your full potential. Qi can be blocked. Think of your satellite TV reception during a heavy storm, no signal. If the blocked qi is of a negative nature known as sha qi, this can be a good thing. If however the qi is positive or sheng qi, this is not advantageous. Understanding and balancing the quality of qi is the role of a Feng Shui Consultant.

How can I use qi to improve my life?

When the flow of qi is out of balance in your home or business, you may experience difficulties in relationships, illness, and lack of creativity, financial problems and more. By using Feng Shui to orient and plan your home or workplace you can accumulate and access sheng qi while avoiding the negative effects of sha qi. Balancing these energies can provide you with the supportive environment necessary for you to live your best life, and provide the opportunities to accomplish your goals.