The classic definition of feng shui from the Book of Burial talks about wind and water. It does not mention people’s feelings or attitudes. It does not describe what people’s lives are like when they are “out of balance” or “in balance.” You can read for yourself.

Ole Bruun’s research in China on contemporary feng shui shows that people are not paying feng shui consultants to restore “balance” to their lives.

Claiming “balance” is a byproduct of feng shui is a fairly recent invention — from outside China.

“Into balance” with what?

The evidence suggests that 20 years’ worth of feng shui advice has not put people in balance or in harmony with nature. Take a test to determine your contributions to global warming if you have any doubts.

Most people seem unaware that most feng shui practitioners are as ecologically-challenged as they are. Consultants cannot articulate how their clients can effectively reduce their environmental impact according to the rules of feng shui. Many of their ideas are quite harmful to the planet.

It appears likely that feng shui “bringing your life back into balance” is a product slogan that helps the marketer balance their checkbook by depositing your money. And the planet is the biggest loser.

Nattering Nabobs of Negativity?

People who say “negative feelings” like it is some kind of disability or hardship are the types of people who have difficulty with real-world problems like the Indian Ocean tsunami, Darfur, and Katrina.

“Happiness” and “negative feelings” (attitudes, if you will) are subjective. Stopping what is happening at Darfur would be happiness for a lot of people. Making “negative feelings” go away would not stop the self-involved from fretting. You will not find any mention of these concepts, or this assumed definition of “balance,” in the classic Chinese books on feng shui.

New Age books are much better at contriving a connection, because that is where this myth originated.

Most feng shui books are written by people steeped in New Age thinking, which is fond of slogans like “bring your life back into balance.”

These slogans are meant to make you feel good as you hand over your wallet. The sayings do not exist because they have intrinsic worth or any connection with authentic feng shui.