Windchimes Buying Guide
Windchimes can be a relaxing addition to any backyard, patio, deck, porch, or outdoor, or near-outdoor lounging area. According to the principles of Feng Shui, windchimes can be used to activate positive chi to attract friends, money, health, and harmony to your home's occupants. Windchimes come in a variety of materials and sizes, but, which one is best for your home or outdoor area?
The five
What are the five key points I need to look at?
Material
Windchimes can come in aluminum (the most common), glass, bamboo, copper, polyresin, ceramic, shell, stone, porcelain, steel or even recycled materials like silverware.
Sound
The sound your chimes make are directly related to its material. For example, bamboo windchimes tend to have softer tones, while aluminum windchimes create a sharper effect and can even be tuned to your preference. Tones also depend on exact alloy, heat treatment (if applicable to the material), tube width, tube wall thickness, hanging method, and the type of object being used to hit the chimes. You'll definitely want to keep this in mind, especially when you're aiming to keep the sound at a minimum.
Size & Shape
Windchimes are commonly tube-shaped, gathered to hang together. They can also be more bell-like and saucer shaped, and stacked on top of one another. Sizes can range a little, but fortunately, there's a fairly limited array to choose from.
Design/Embellishments
Some windchimes, especially the non-traditional rod-like types, tend toward Asian motifs, whereas others can have a more woodsy or outdoorsy feel.
Location
You can use the principles of Feng Shui in choosing your location for windchimes, though either way, you'll probably want to hang them in a strategic location to the wind.
Shop talk
What are the terms and definitions I need to know about?
Clapper
A clapper usually refers to the part of a bell used to make the bell's noise. In the context of windchimes, this is the (often) disk-like object meant to hit windchimes in order to create the sound. Like the windchime tubes or bells themselves, clappers can be made of different materials, though more often than not, they're made of wood. To get the best sound out of your windchimes, clappers should hit the center of the windchime tubes.
Feng Shui
Feng Shui is a Chinese method or philosophy concerned with the placement of objects in relation to the flow of energy, or “chi” (see below). According to this philosophy, the exact areas in which you place windchimes, as well as what type of material they're made of can affect the type of chi you want to attract or deflect.
Chi
Chi is a Feng Shui term that means energy. The type of chi that windchimes are said to attract according to Feng Shui include protection, purification, or the enhancement of a certain inherent chi to a specific area. Stagnant chi, often caused by structures blocking other structures or clutter, can cause stagnance, whether it be relationship, job, or financially-related, in the lives of the people associated with the space itself.
Choosing Windchime Type & Navigating Chi
The material and even size of the windchimes you choose can affect the chi in your home, even before you place them anywhere. However, windchime material and windchime placement do go hand in hand. For example, selecting windchimes that are very small for a larger space or area may not have the potency in deflecting or attracting the type of chi you desire. More often than not, metal chimes are more common and more versatile, as their sound is the most penetrating, plus, metal is said to be the most useful material in circulating chi. Choosing chimes made of clay, their sound being a bit more subdued, can help to calm down an area that may have too much chi, especially if that area is located in the south of your home. Like clay, wood chimes can be great at calming down overactive chi areas, though, more effectively in east or southeast areas, as they are associated with tree or wood energy, according to Feng Shui philosophy.
Navigating Chi with Windchime Placement
The location of windchimes is very specific and important with regards to Feng Shui philosophy
Entrances: Placing windchimes at an entrance area can not only be an effective security method (as they will alert you with sound when people approach), but can enhance lively and sociable chi in northwest entrances. Entrances located in a northwestern area are associated with isolation and quiet, thus, placing windchimes here (especially if they're metal) aim to attract activity and vibrancy.
North, west, or northwest-facing windows: Windows that facing in these directions do not tend to get as much sunlight as windows that face in other directions. Placing windchimes in here can make a room feel less stifling, dark, or depressing. Northwest areas especially are associated with helpful friends or mentors; metal hollow windchimes used in these areas can also attract helpful and trustworthy people to your life.
Southwest areas: In the southwest corner of your living room, 2 or 9-rod crystal or ceramic windchimes can help increase the circulation of chi associated with increasing your circle of friends and your general popularity with people.
Breaking Up Stagnant or Negative Chi
If an entrance area is blocked by another building or structure, causing chi to become stagnant, the addition of windchimes can help in dissolving blockages.
Adding windchimes virtually anywhere in which clutter is a tendency can also help break up stagnant or chaotic chi. Though, it's said to be more effective if there are also concurrent efforts to eliminate or significantly reduce the clutter. In this way, the windchimes can act as a sort of “boost”.
Children & Chi
Areas located in the west are associated with children and family. Hollow metal wind chimes hung in this area can increase the flow of chi associated with harmony in your family, positive influences in the health, behavioral and academic wellbeing of children, and fertility.
For children's bedrooms that face north, adding metal windchimes here can lighten the mood and activity of the children who occupy the rooms.
Need to know more?
- Feng Shui and Windchimes
http://www.essortment.com/home/fengshuiwindch_snxu.htm - Tuning Windchimes
http://www.creativemanuals.com/home/ - The Origins of Windchimes
http://www.alai.in/historical.htm
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