Do Feng Shui Remedies Really Work?
Feng shui has been around for several thousand years. But do feng shui remedies really work in modern America?
Do Feng Shui Remedies Really Work?
According to anecdotal evidence, feng shui has worked for millions of people to increase harmony, energy and prosperity. However, this doesn’t mean that everyone believes in feng shui. The entertainers and professional skeptics, Penn and Teller, certainly do not. They did an episode of their TV show where they highlighted the inconsistencies of several feng shui practioners in the United States. It has also become a common joke of American comics to skewer feng shui practices as new age and silly. Part of the reason that feng shui has become something to lampoon relates to the American tendency to boil everything down to quick fixes. So, instead of understanding the underlying principles, we package and sell remedies.
The most common feng shui remedies on the market are crystals, wind chimes, table fountains, and mirrored balls. Marketed to bring wealth, heal ailments or bring love, these remedies seem little more than attempts at finding magic pills. However, they are based in ancient feng shui practices.
The use of crystals in feng shui relates to the earth elements because crystals are of the earth. In addition, colored crystals can reflect the energy of other elements associated with their color. Does this have any validity? Scientifically, crystals create a pleasant phenomenon in the brain. They reflect light and the increased light can elevate mood. Elevated moods can lead to more positive output from an individual. Based on New Aged principles, the crystals increase energy flow.
Wind chimes are used in feng shui to drive out discordant energy and to reduce the amount of yang (masculine) energy. Many people believe that music soothes your soul. Along those lines, even if you don’t believe in the energy flows of feng shui, wind chimes can relax a person and a relaxed person is more likely to function well. Water fountains in feng shui relate directly to the water element. The water element is supposed to nourish. Like the gentle music of wind chimes, many people say the sound and movement of water relaxes them.
Qualitative data supports other principles of feng shui. Many architects find themselves designing in accordance with feng shui without even being schooled in the art. It seems to just make sense. However, the ready-made, quick fixes don’t seem to have any empirical support, so it is still an ongoing discussion about whether the feng shui remedies really work. In some people, the idea that feng shui will have a positive effect on their life works as a placebo effect. Many people draw strength from feng shui and for them, there is no doubt that it really works.