When it comes to the Feng Shui perspective on fences and walls, the objective is balance and proportion. When a property has no fence or wall around it all, there is a notion that the property cannot shore up or store the vital qi (life force energy) which approaches or swirls around the structure. This vital qi, which is more than air currents or wind, can influence the health and well-being of the occupants. Too much qi flow around a property can be as undermining and too little qi flow.
As an example, a house which sits on top of a hill, with no mountain side, landscaping, trees or other houses surrounding it, can be vulnerable to harsh winds and this can make the occupants of the unprotected house unstable in a number of ways. However, when a house is shrouded in over grown trees, too much shade and exterior walls which prevent adequate light and ventilation around the structure, then we have a potential problem in other ways. These are two extreme descriptions within Yin-Yang Theory and laden with common sense.
In some areas, having a fence or wall between residential properties may seem unfriendly or un-neighborly, but in many places, definitive property lines are drawn and re-enforced with walls, fences and hedges. Gaps in a wall or fence can be like a hole punctured in a container, where the leak of “qi” can result in the inability of the occupant to save money or have other draining circumstances in their life. This is not because physical surroundings are always symbolic of something else. This is really about energy, how it moves and how it can be contained or directed.
Even a short, half wall can re-direct energy flow, as surely as your street gutters move the water down the street and not onto your driveway. Within the practice of Feng Shui, there are always certain directions, unique to each Era or each household, where there should be openings and the ability of the qi to travel smoothly. Completely enclosing a property is generally not regarded as ideal, but of course some folks have security issues and few alternatives.
Decorative fences and hedges may also allow for some vital qi to travel through, without it being overwhelming or too much. There are also no hard and fast rules about exactly how tall a fence or wall should be, as it all has to be within proportion to the total property, the built structure, the path of the Sun, and the distance between the structure and the wall. What makes sense architecturally in this area is usually considered good Feng Shui as well.
There is also a subjective aspect to erecting walls and fences. Some of them are quite attractive and “welcoming” whereas others may be off-putting and look more like a fortress. There is no type of building material, be it wood or metal or stone which is superior for a wall or gate in relation to Feng Shui. Some people have heard of New Age interpretations about what they should or should not have in their gardens and people may wonder if this extends to the walls or fences around the house or building. This would rarely be the case, with the exception of certain house types that may need a “virtual” mountain close by. In this case, a stone wall which is not connected to the walls of the house, may serve as a type of virtual mountain. Each house is unique and not all of them need this kind of exterior adjustment.
Author: Kartar Diamond
Company: Feng Shui Solutions ®
From the Feng Shui Landscape and Exteriors Blog Series
