Life is becoming a monotonous cycle of work, very hectic and filled with pressures at home and office. So, we all need to get some peaceful time to unwind from our hectic schedules. Every person has his or her own method of relaxation. For me, relaxation is when I rest my feet on the garden hammock and close my eyes and almost go into meditation state, with the wind playing soft melodies on the wind chime hung from a tree in my garden.
Wind chimes are made of hollow or solid metal, glass, or wooden tubes and are usually hung outside a house in the porch, from a window inside the house, or in a tree in the garden and are intended to be played by the wind. The wind chime is a very basic form of musical instrument and the music is created by the chimes striking against each other. Wind chimes have been around for centuries and they have a very long history. There are different types of wind chimes made of different materials and of different sizes. The materials used may be glass, metal, wood like bamboo, plastic, sea shells etc. Some people even make wind chimes from uncommon items like plastic pipes, bottle lids, stones etc though the music produced by these items would not be as pleasing as that produced by glass or metal.
Most people believe that the wind chimes originated in the far east especially in China and is an important part of Feng Shui. They believe that wind chimes can bring good luck to the homes or business in which they are used. The concept of Feng Shui is gaining popularity in western countries and here in the USA; So, nowadays, we can see more and more people using these wind chimes in their home and business. Whatever the reason, nobody can deny the fact that the gentle sound produced by the tinkling of wind chimes definitely brings music to our ears and peace and relaxation to our minds.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Wind Chimes And Feng shui
Most people believe that wind chimes are also a Feng Shui tradition. In Feng Shui, windchimes are believed to keep the bad energy outside the home or building and attract only good energy inside the home and the music produced by the windchime is believed to soothe the soul and mind. The good energy is also believed to bring us luck, keep us healthy and good in spirits. Since Fengshui is becoming popular in US, many homes can be seen adorned with colorful, melodious wind chimes.
Each tradition, like Feng Shui or Vastu sastra in India, lay down conditions as to where a wind chime can be hung for bringing in good spirits. But almost everyone accepts that if the windchime is hung in the center of a house or on a window, in the path of wind, it would bring good energy for the entire house and the music can also be heard from any part of the house. Whatever be the origin and beliefs of wind chimes, there is no disputing the fact that the melody of a windchime is very relaxing and helps us unwind from all the pressures and tensions of the day.
Each tradition, like Feng Shui or Vastu sastra in India, lay down conditions as to where a wind chime can be hung for bringing in good spirits. But almost everyone accepts that if the windchime is hung in the center of a house or on a window, in the path of wind, it would bring good energy for the entire house and the music can also be heard from any part of the house. Whatever be the origin and beliefs of wind chimes, there is no disputing the fact that the melody of a windchime is very relaxing and helps us unwind from all the pressures and tensions of the day.
Wind Chimes- The Oriental Connection
The word ‘wind chime’ is self-explanatory- It is a chime or a bell which produces music when the wind plays with it. Wind chimes have been around for centuries. They were predominant in South and South East Asia from centuries back. Due to globalisation, the wind chimes are becoming popular in the western countries including the US for the past few decades.
History shows that bells and chimes have been an integral part of form of worship of Asians. In India, all temples are adorned with many bells in every nook and corner. When the bells ring, they are believed to call upon God and to ward away evil spirits. Bells are also important in Buddhism. Buddhist temples have multitude of bells in different shapes and sizes in every part of their temples. They also believe that these bells bring them good luck.
Wind chimes are a variation of these bells. A wind chime is basically tubes made of wood, metal, glass etc. These tubes can be hollow or solid and they are hung either inside or outside a home or building.When the wind blows, these tubes strike against each other and produce melodious music.
History shows that bells and chimes have been an integral part of form of worship of Asians. In India, all temples are adorned with many bells in every nook and corner. When the bells ring, they are believed to call upon God and to ward away evil spirits. Bells are also important in Buddhism. Buddhist temples have multitude of bells in different shapes and sizes in every part of their temples. They also believe that these bells bring them good luck.
Wind chimes are a variation of these bells. A wind chime is basically tubes made of wood, metal, glass etc. These tubes can be hollow or solid and they are hung either inside or outside a home or building.When the wind blows, these tubes strike against each other and produce melodious music.
History of Wind Chimes
Wind Chimes are believed to ward away evil spirits and welcome good energy into the home. Superstitions and beliefs aside, our ancestors used the windchime for another very practical reason, namely, weather forecasting. As we all know, in ancient times, there were no sophisticated equipments to predict wind patterns, storms etc. So, it is believed that people hung these windchimes in places where wind can pass through. By noticing a small change in the melody produced by these windchimes, they were able to predict which direction the wind was blowing from and the intensity with which it was blowing. Stronger winds and hence more chimes, indicated that a storm was brewing. This was particularly useful for fishermen and people living along coastal region as it warned them to not go to the sea and maybe saved their lives. Our ancestors were so intelligent as to use a simple chime producing instrument as a weather predicting tool!
As you can see, the wind chime has been used for various reasons. Nowadays stores even use windchimes to inform them when a customer enters! Whatever the reason, even if one is not superstitious, the windchime can always be hung in a home just as a decorative piece and for the melodious music that it produces.
As you can see, the wind chime has been used for various reasons. Nowadays stores even use windchimes to inform them when a customer enters! Whatever the reason, even if one is not superstitious, the windchime can always be hung in a home just as a decorative piece and for the melodious music that it produces.
Origin of Wind Chimes
Windchimes are becoming more and more popular these days, not only in Asian countries but also in Western countries including here in the US. The main reason for this is the growing popularity of Feng Shui. We all know that the windchime produces melodious music which is relaxing for our mind. A study of the history of the windchime would show that the music was not the only reason why people hung windchimes in their homes centuries earlier.
Historians believe that people used the windchime for other reasons also. The most important one of course, was it was believed in Asian countries that the sound of chimes wards away bad spirits from our homes and invites good spirits. They are believed to bring us good health and good luck. Feng Shui which literally translates to wind-water, recommends using a windchime to balance the energies produced by the various forces. The wind chime attracts good energy and wards off bad energy.
Historians believe that people used the windchime for other reasons also. The most important one of course, was it was believed in Asian countries that the sound of chimes wards away bad spirits from our homes and invites good spirits. They are believed to bring us good health and good luck. Feng Shui which literally translates to wind-water, recommends using a windchime to balance the energies produced by the various forces. The wind chime attracts good energy and wards off bad energy.
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