Water is one of the most important elements in Feng Shui.  In the Chinese alphabet, the character for Feng means “Air” and Shui means “Water.” One of the basic principles in Feng Shui is the Five Element Theory. The five elements are wood, fire, earth, metal and water. When the elements are in harmony, we have a well balanced home. When the elements are properly placed, we can have protection from the negative affliction of the year.

Water symbolizes the winter season, just as summer is symbolized by the element of fire.  In Feng Shui, we balance and reinforce the energy of an environment by bringing shapes, (square, triangle, circle, rectangular, waves), elements (wood, fire, earth, metal and water), and colors associated with the area of a home or building. To enhance the energy of water, use the colors black and deep blue along with glass and mirrors. For example, in my career area, I have a glass top on my desk, a blue wall in my office, black furniture and a water feature.

Water is nurturing. Everyone should have a water feature in their home and or garden, not just for the Feng Shui aspect of it, but for nature as well. Having more than one water feature in our home, I have noticed that during our cold winter, the air does not feel as dry and the temperature feels a lot more stable, there is hardly any static in the air. Outdoors I enjoy watching the birds bathing in our water feature thru the window.

The placement of water, whether it is placed indoors or outdoors, is very important. If outdoors, the waterfall should be directed towards the house, not elsewhere. Due to the yearly change in energy, for 2013 when indoors, it is best to use water to enhance the wealth and career areas. For protection, the west is a great place for water this year. Be sure the water feature is clean and free flowing.

Following the Five Element Theory, water features are also used to balance excessive amounts of fire element, exhaust the metal element or enhance the wood elements. Those are also called the destructive cycle, exhausting cycle, and the productive cycle, respectively.  If there is a fireplace in the career area, the residents may feel that their job is not satisfying and might try to overcompensate and become burnt out as a result.

A friend of mine asked me to look at her house with Feng Shui eyes and notice if anything stood out.  Seeing a fireplace in her wealth area, I asked the question; “You have a solid career and a great income, but does it feel like money goes up in smoke?”  Since her answer was “yes”, one of the things I recommended was to balance fire ( the fireplace ) with water.  In this case, the placement of a mirror above the fireplace mantel to help neutralize the fire element.  It is the same thing as we do in the summer, we deal with heat and thirst by drinking water.

Another application of the water element is that people born in a water year, ( 1962 & 1963, 1972 & 1973, 1982 & 1983, 1992 & 1993, 2002 & 2003, 2012 & 2013, following the lunar calendar ) or have water as their element are great communicators. They are diplomatic and persuasive, often being sensitive to the mood of others. They are artistic, flexible and adaptable. They will mostly wear and benefit from items that are blue and black and be most comfortable in clothing that is free flowing. Walking into their homes, I can see the influences of water in every room by the choice of objects and colors.

It is common knowledge in Feng Shui that our walkways, roads and hallways should be meandering gently like the river to allow life giving “chi” to flow smoothly into the home.  They should flow like water, as water signifies wealth.