Water has a special significance in feng shui as it is a vital ingredient for human life. About 70 per cent of a person’s body weight is made up of water.

Water holds a great attraction for many people. Often holidays, picnics or sports involve going somewhere where there is water, whether it be oceans, rivers, lakes, canals, waterfalls or swimming pools.

Water that forms a part of your local landscape will have an effect on the chi energy of your home, and when the conditions are favourable it has the ability to increase vitality. In feng shui, metal energy represents money, while water energy represents the movement of money. To create an outdoor water feature with positive chi energy you need to consider the way the water flows, and the location of the water from the centre of your home.

The water should be clean, fresh and unpolluted. Water that becomes stagnant creates unhealthy, stale chi energy, which, if close enough to your home, can adversely affect the chi energy there. Dirty polluted water diminishes the water’s ability to increase your vitality.

Moving water will create more yang chi energy than still water. For example, a waterfall will have an active, more yang influence than a pond. At the same time the downward movement of a water feature will have a more grounding effect, as opposed to a bubbling spring which will be more uplifting.

Fast-flowing water that moves in a straight line will have a more yang influence than slow-moving water that meanders through gentle curves. Ponds and bogs can have the most yin influence, but are also most likely to become stagnant. Here it is important that there is a wide variety of thriving wildlife to avoid stagnation.

Faster, yang moving water will tend to speed up the flow of chi energy in your home making it feel more fresh, clean, and alive. Slower, yin moving water will lead to a gentler, peaceful flow of chi energy.

Water that flows towards the main entrance of your home has a greater ability to bring chi energy indoors, while water flowing away from the entrance could diminish the chi energy inside your home. It could even lead to the feeling that money is flowing away from you.

The direction in which the water lies from the centre of your home will also have an influence, particularly if it is within the shadow of your home during the winter months. It is most beneficial to have water located to the east or south-east of the centre of your home where the water will help build up the tree chi energy of these directions.

Water features

Use the information above to decide on the type of water feature you want and where to put it. Check the prospective site in your garden. If you want to combine it with other features such as a rockery you will need to plan the whole area.

You will probably need a water supply, as the water will evaporate. Many water features use a header tank with a valve that turns off the water when it reaches the appropriate level. The tank, which is usually located below the ground, then keeps the water feature topped up with water.

Prepare the ground for your water feature and install it as recommended. Finish with plants and any other features. You will need to make sure that the water remains fresh and clean.

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