Big movements are afoot in the heavens as the planets jostle into position, signifying no less than the birth of a new consciousness. But with birth sometimes comes painful transitions until mother and child are resting in each others arms. The beginning of this goes back to the “Harmonic Convergence” of the ‘80s, but the most recent turn of events is showing a ratcheting up of the energy to the point where something’s got to give, as they say.

“How can I improve my life?” People have been asking this question for millennia. Traditionally, people have turned to astrology, numerology, magical incantations, burning candles and other various forms of magick to better their lot in life. 

Recently many individuals have been turning to the ancient geomantic art known in China as feng shui to improve their success in relationships, business and health. Historically, feng shui focused primarily in choosing the best site for a home and then arranging the exterior and interior in the most harmonious manner to attract, stimulate and facilitate the flow of beneficial, life enhancing qi ( or ch’i, meaning “energy”). 

In the ancient world, humans lived mostly under an open sky. The heavens performed miracles not easily understood—thunder, lightening, meteors, sun, moon, and stars. People in those long ago times sensed something beyond the physical lights in the sky, they sensed the spiritual energy radiating from them and considered them to be divine sources of power. In ancient Sumeria, for example, the symbol for divinity is a star. 

Even though it isn’t true, it appears to us Earthlings, that the sun, moon, planets, and stars revolve around our planet. And, that is what most people believed until recent times. Ancient humans observed the planets moving in a predictable pattern in front of a backdrop of stars that moved more slowly or remained stationary. The Greek, Sumerian and Babylonian priests and priestesses systematically gave the planets names of various deities according to each one’s unique energy essence. Each god had dominion over a particular area of human life. The vibratory energy of each god was matched with the vibratory energy of each known planet. 

Oddly, astrology seems to have sprung up all over the known world at about the same time, and the planets were all given basically the same influential characteristics in each civilization. Mercury in the Americas had the same “powers” as it did in China or Babylonia. Each planet, regardless of what civilization named it, was known for identical or similar influences. For example in all civilizations who used astrology, Mercury was the god of communication, quick thinking, wise, and calculating; Mars ruled cutting, blood, war, anger; Jupiter was expansive, large—king of the gods. 

Though showing up in the U.S. mainstream only twenty years ago, feng shui (fung sch'way), the Chinese art and science of how to site, construct, and design a home, traces its beginnings back at least 3,000, and some say, as much as 5,000 years ago

In olden times feng shui knowledge provided such common sense guidelines as: don't build your grass roof shack on a windy mountain top or too close to a river that may overflow its banks. It was also considered poor feng shui to position your stove opposite the front door, as a gust of wind coming in will flicker the flame and your rice won't cook properly. From these basics evolved profound principles of how to create a harmonious living environment. Principles that apply to any home built in any era or anywhere on planet earth.

In essence, Feng Shui philosophy contends: if the home is in harmonious surroundings and arranged in an harmonious manner, the inhabitants of that home will reflect that harmony and live more harmonious lives.