When I teach people the practical application of Feng Shui I always stress the importance of creating a balanced environment where everything works together in perfect harmony. If you have created a balanced and harmonious environment you are half way to creating one that is filled with positive Feng Shui. Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot more to creating positive Feng Shui than creating balance but this should always be your starting point. And creating a balanced environment is easy if you understand the principles of yin and yang.

Yin and yang are the opposite forces that make up the universe. Yin is dark, quiet, restful, still, curved and natural whilst yang is bright, light, loud, active, angular and manmade. Yin is the time between when the sun dips it head below the horizon to when it wakens at the start of a brand new day whilst yang follows the sun as it moves through the sky between dawn and dusk. Yin is autumn and winter when plants give of their fruit before sleeping and regenerating themselves and yang is spring and summer when plants start to grow before showing their full glory. When looking at the environment in the context of your home and garden, houses being manmade structures represent yang energy. It is therefore important that gardens are kept relatively yin to bring about that sense of harmony and oneness. » Read more: Feng Shui Tips – How to Create Balance Between Home and Garden