Feng Shui (pronounced Fung schway), or the art of placement, is the art of observing and understanding what makes everything bubble with life in universe. The Chinese call it C’hi, the Japanese know it as Ki, for Hindus it is Prana. You can find it in anything — mountains, rivers, trees, buildings, furniture, and other inanimate and animate beings.

Feng Shui helps in ensuring people a prosperous life, providing nourishment for body, mind and soul. Feng Shui is based on the Chinese philosophy of Yin and Yang, the two opposite forces (receptive and active) that complement each other.

Combining the ancient knowledge of Feng Shui with intuitive vocal sound allows us to work directly on the vibrational state of a space.

Like us living beings, buildings too contain ‘life-force’ and need passages for energy to pass through. Lighting, roomy spaces, ventilation and temperature can change the energy field of a room. It is said that Helen Keller could judge the mood of a person when after they have left a room, just by feeling the energy force and temperature of the room.

Music too plays an important role in ascertaining the quality of life, in the sense that when you sing, you affirm that you are willing to usher in change and exhale the past. You exist for the present when you sing.

Life is all about harmony. Different facets of life remind us time and again about this aspect. Feng Shui is one such medium.

When the Age of Science dawned, centuries old traditions, customs and practices started to be considered as blind beliefs or superstitions, works and activities, recommended by the ancient scriptures; were looked down upon, and neglected, since they were thought to be completely useless. Though the rebellion against traditions and customs was due to the influence of the western materialistic mentality, the main reason was that science itself was in a nascent stage. Whatever scientists could not prove in laboratories, they declared them as fraudulent or imaginary. Certificate by science became the criterion for truth.

As a consequence people lost interest in the ancient sciences, bestowed upon us by the Divine Consciousness of the great Sages. Discarding this invaluable heritage became the symbol of modernity. However, by the end of the 20th century modern science developed in leaps and bounds. Ironically, this science itself is vindicating the truths expounded by our ancient seers, centuries (perhaps millennia) ago. We had accepted them out of devotion and reverence whereas the modern science has adopted the path of logic. Though logic has got several shortcomings, it has enabled the science to understand the greatness and multi-faceted dimensions of India's ancient wisdom. That's why Vaastu, Tantra,Yoga, and Astrology etc. are becoming popular in the Western World and, thereby, in India. Atheists, believers, educated, uneducated, all are reaping benefits of these sciences, transcending the barriers of class, creed, community and religion.

Beyond the physical - Had Vastu being confined to the physical aspects of building-construction there would have been no confusion and conflict of views. But it involves non-physical realms of Super Consciousness and subtle dimensions of nature that are beyond the range of our five senses. Only the physical aspects can be comprehended by our normal perceptive faculties. The major part, which is more important and crucial, can be understood only though the power of consciousness. The principles of Vaastu were realised by the ancient Divine Seers in deep trance (samadhi) when the individual's consciousness awakens into Universal Consciousness. Later, they explained them so that every one can understand. This is the main reason why intellect or rationality cannot fathom the depths of the Science of Vaastu. Vaastu can be properly understood only by people who are developed and sensitive enough to perceive the finer impulses and vibrations of nature.

Tomato growers, who last year successfully introduced pop music to pep up production, have now turned to the oriental teaching of feng shui to ensure a bumper harvest.

Feng shui is the Chinese equivalent of the Indian Vaastu. A team of experts skilled in the ancient Chinese art visited glasshouses across the United Kingdom, advising on the siting of the hives for the 2.5 million bumblebees imported from Belgium and Holland to pollinate the UK crop.

Peter Lansdale, chairman of the British Tomato Growers’ Association (TGA), said: "I know a lot of people are skeptical about feng shui but we saw production rise by nearly five per cent last year. While we don’t put it entirely down to the introduction of rock’n’roll music, whose sound waves help with the pollination process, it has encouraged us to think laterally and not be afraid to try new ideas."So, we are looking to a new kind of harmony, that of feng shui yin and yang, to help us achieve growth and prosperity."

In the Far East, many companies have traditionally used feng shui practitioners to advise on every aspect of their operations, from the siting and design of a new building to remedies for ailing business. Its use in the UK is growing steadily but its introduction into UK tomato-growing glasshouses is a first for both the growers and the practitioners. One thing growers and feng shui do have in common is their respect for the bumblebee.

Gerry Hayman, independent horticulture adviser to the TGA said: "The bee is a symbol of industry in Chinese philosophy. We introduced bumblebees into British glasshouses 10 years ago as the most natural way to pollinate the tomato flowers, but they also provided an enormous saving in labour for growers.

"Tomato flowers are self-pollinated, only bearing fruit once the pollen and the female ovules come into contact. Before we could call on the bees for help we had to walk around the crop several times a week, shaking the open flowers on each plant with special vibrators, known as electric bees, to encourage pollination — a pretty mind-numbing job. Now, the real things do the job for us and do it better.

"One bumblebee does the work of 100 honeybees, visiting 400 flowers in one trip and making five trips a day. At a cost to the grower of around 50 pence (there are 100 pence in one pound sterling) a bumblebee, we consider they earn every penny."

The pyramids of Egypt fascinate everyone. However, what is not very well known is the fact that the principles followed in their construction correspond with those of Vaastu Shastra, the Indian science of architecture. The pyramids of Egypt, built in the hoary past, continue to baffle the modern scientific mind. Many scholars think the pyramid shape was an important religious statement for the Egyptians, perhaps symbolizing the slanting rays of the sun. Some speculate the sloping sides were intended to help the souls of the king buried there, to climb the sky and join the gods.

Granaries, temples all follow Vaastu

In India, huts and granaries in some villages are built in the pyramidal shape, facing east. In the temples, the grabha griha, the sanctum sanctorum where the main deity is installed, is constructed in the shape of a pyramid. It is said that prasadam, fruits and other offerings kept there remain fresh for a long time because of the shape of the garbha griha. It has been scientifically proved that pyramidal structures keep foodstuff fresh for a long a period. Razor blades retain their sharpness when placed under pyramids for a considerable time. Scholars now believe that what has been considered the superstition of past civilization is now proving to be the core of ancient science. If a pyramidal structure has such a miraculous effect on inanimate things like foodstuff, no wonder if the houses built in line with Vaastu Shastra bestow on inmate's health, wealth and prosperity.