By: Bill Land

or more than 3,000 years the Chinese have been using some form of feng shui (pronounced fung shway) to insure prosperity for their families and village life. In the northern realm people used astrology together with a complex compass called a lopan to determine the potential for good fortune. In the southern provinces the feng shui master looked for clues found in the magnificent misty landscapes. The Compass school and the Form school both looked for a proper natural fit for village or dwelling and for excellent sacred grave locations.

Americans are especially challenged by the Chinese art of placement because we are so removed from nature. And we have lost our connection to our ancestors through the collapse of our ties to extended families. A crucial step to link feng shui with prosperity in America would be to follow the Chinese example and reconnect with nature. One suggestion would be to enhance your home with eight (the number that signifies abundance) new natural features:

• replace constructed materials with materials found in nature
• add eight beautiful landscape or animal paintings
• add a pond with koi (fish equal abundance) to the property
• add plants with round leaves, such as peperomia, jade or string of beads, to your home or garden
• add a fountain that bubbles onto native rocks in the front yard
• plant a flower garden
• rebuild sidewalks to curve, following a more natural sheng flow, instead of in a straight line, an unnatural sha energy
• add eight vibrant plants to three key areas inside the home: the master bedroom, the front door area and the space within eight feet of the stove.

A second step is to honor ancestors through the use of carefully placed family heirlooms in positions of honor where you will see them often. You also can add family portraits along a staircase so that you can view relatives over the generations. The pictures cause you to slow down and appreciate a family member with each step. A family photo gallery along a well-lighted hallway can achieve the same goal of showing respect for ancestors.

Because feng shui is all about energy or the chi of the home, everything possible must be done to increase energy's positive flow and show abundance. A home must show a robust fullness, whether through a full roll of paper towels to a vase brimming with fresh flowers. Look throughout your home for any symbols of lack and replace them with abundance. It may be time to store or replace a painting of a shipwreck or a sculpture of a hobo.

It is important to remove energy-stifling clutter. Clutter clearly shows a need to hang on to excess items due to fear that one day we might need them. But we can't live in fear and embrace prosperity at the same time!

Feng shui consultants in the United States have embraced the approach brought into California from China by Grand Master Lin Yun. This school was introduced to advanced students in Indiana in 1994. Professor Lin Yun uses an energy mandala called the bagua instead of the lopan compass. Aligning the front of the bagua to the plane of the architectural front door creates an energy map of the home. The wealth area is always found in the back left corner of any dwelling. Families having difficulty with prosperity should consider positive adjustments within the wealth corner, such as:

• adding an aquarium with eight gold fish " installing a bubbling fountain
• hanging a brass wind chime
• hanging a multiple-faceted crystal ball on a red string
• placing a ceramic fish bank with an open mouth to receive coins
• hanging a landscape painting of the ocean with money taped to the back (symbolizes wealth brought to you in waves)
• placing a vase or pot of blooming flowers on top of an eight-sided mirror, on top of a note manifesting a clear personal health intention
• using a small fan to bring a persistent breeze to the area (following the Chinese I Ching connection of wind to wealth).

By addressing abundance using Eastern philosophy, Americans can begin to prosper from the use of the sages' ancient tools. The reality that we all need to practice a deeper connection to, nature and our family of origin is clear. We must also set our clear intention, create a powerful visualization and then follow through with mindful action to break the dam that holds our abundance in check.

Bill Land is a feng shui teacher and consultant based in Nashville. (www.lotustuanfengshui.com) John William Sisson created the aquarium art above. Contact John or Bill at 812/988-2459.