Popularity of feng shui is growing, but not all experts share the enthusiasm

Prague - People increasingly want to live in apartments and houses that offer not just a roof over their heads but also a pleasant place for relaxation. They carefully choose plots, garden compositions, furniture arrangements, and harmonize interiors enriched with selectively chosen plants, stones, and various decorations. Often, they turn to the ancient Chinese doctrine of feng shui for assistance. This is indicated by a survey conducted by ČTK among interior design experts. However, some experts are rather skeptical about the possibilities of this approach.
    "While at the beginning of our practice five years ago, people were mostly curious and lacked basic concepts and information, now our clients are individuals who know a good deal about feng shui and have specific ideas about what to address and roughly how," describes the increased interest Lumír Kábrt from the portal vítr-voda.cz, which deals with the application of feng shui. Increased interest was also confirmed by Jiří Šmikmátor, who provides consulting in this area.
    "It is also evident that there has been progress in that previously clients were primarily interested in analyses of houses or apartments, but now there is a growing interest in interior designs and their actual realization. By the end of last year, we reached a point where we were unable to satisfy all interested parties," Kábrt added.
    Feng shui was originally a mix of urban planning, environmental science, architecture, and decoration in China. The ancient Chinese who inhabited the banks of the Yellow River had to contend with adverse winds (feng) and uncontrollable waters (shui). Gradually, this approach began to address aspects such as fertility, reputation, and luck, and it is believed to have originated from Taoist philosophy along with other influences. The foundation of the doctrine is the observation of the flow of chi energy in spaces and people and its transformations.
    Kábrt confirms that in recent years there has been a greater interest in the use of feng shui in commercial buildings, such as restaurants or offices. "Ninety percent of the interest comes from city dwellers, while villagers consider feng shui something they regret spending money on," described Šmikmátor the composition of clients interested in applying this doctrine.
    However, the enthusiasm for feng shui is not universally shared. "Feng shui undoubtedly stems from the correct idea that a person is strongly influenced by their surroundings and that a harmonious relationship with nature and people positively affects their life. However, the theory and practice of feng shui is irrational, full of mysticism," said Jiří Heřt from the Czech Skeptics Club Sysifos to ČTK. "The rules used are merely intuitive, subjective, and the opinions and recommendations of various masters are often contradictory. They are also in clear conflict with the modern views of architects and sometimes with the laws of physics and human biology," he added.