Author Debra Duneier explains the system of EcoChi and how it can bring harmony and prosperity to you life in addition to creating a life that is green and sustainable.
Duneier explains that EcoChi is the fusion of three different systems: classical Feng shui, green and sustainable living and environmental psychology. Duneier shows us through her personal stories, how she began to make the connection between good and bad things happening in her life with how the ‘chi’ or energy flowed in her body and her house.
Duneier’s blocked chi was manifesting in her shoulder. When she went to visit the acupuncturist in New York’s Chinatown, he asked her “Where are you stuck?” Duneier reexamined her life and realized she was stuck with all the clutter she had accumulated over the years and began her process of clearing the clutter, which cleared the energy and moved her forward towards further investigating the art of Feng shui and developing the EcoChi system.
Duneier explains the three elements of EcoChi. First is classical Feng shui, a system that teaches how to best balance the energies from Heaven, Earth and Humanity in order to create a life with good energy or “sheng chi”. Duneier explains that the second element, the Green and Sustainable factor in the EcoChi system is about making lifestyle choices that protect the environment and sustain its resources for future generations, such as maintaining indoor environmental quality and being energy efficient. Finally, the third aspect of EcoChi is the Environmental Psychology, which Duneier describes as the “fascinating, interdisciplinary science focused on fostering a greater understanding of the interplay between human beings and their environments.” This field believes that by creating a “preferred environment” creates a higher sense of well-being and facilitates behavioral effectiveness in human beings.
Duneier uses examples from clients to show how she implemented change in their lives for example, by removing clutter, repositioning furniture to remove “poison arrows” of energy. Though Duneier claims that EcoChi uses all three of the closely related elements of Feng shui, the Sustainable factor and Environmental Psychology, most of Duneier’s examples of different clients are based mainly on the classical elements of Feng shui and many cures for unbalanced Feng Shui have been re-categorized or explained into more modern terms and scopes, such as the Green and Sustainable Living and Environmental Psychology. Though the Green and Sustainable Living factor offers tips, many times, the Environmental Psychology element is either vague or redundant as it re-explains what the Feng shui factor. For example, Duneier explains that in Feng shui water symbolizes prosperity and suggests where water should be featured in your home, plus other Feng shui tips. Duneier’s Green and Sustainable Living Factor suggestions include replacing a toilet, and in terms of Environmental Psychology, Duneier explains “Whether it is natural or man-made, people love to be near water. They gather around fountains all over the world.”
Despite some of Duneier’s unclear delineations between the three factors that make up the EcoChi system, does provide some good basic introductory information and sage advice on how to achieve better harmony in your life using elements of classic Feng Shui and more modern Western tools. Good design is also reflected in this square hardcover book containing pages that are mottled green with small elegant print. Some chapters also include the tables and charts which make it easy to calculate various directions and rules to attain the Feng shui or the perfect balance of a room.
EcoChi is a practical and enticing look into the ways to create spaces in your home that are harmonious, thereby creating a life that is peaceful and prosperous.
Reviewed by Maya Fleischmann for IndieReader