Slow your pace... take a deep breath and relax. Is this what you have wanted to hear as you are rushing with life everyday? Has there always been a need for a tranquil corner at home to calm the speeding thoughts of the mind and rejuvenate the senses? Well, wind chimes seem to be a great and easy option for you to create that harmonious space.

The journey of wind chimes can be traced back to the prehistoric era in many cultures. The oldest wind chimes were found in south-east Asian archeological sites dating back to 3000 BC. In China and Japan, they became a decorative art in homes as well as on sacred structures. In the 20th century, their use spread more widely among Western countries and today wind chimes are widely used around the globe as part of the decor or good luck charm.

Unlike other musical instruments, wind chimes, made of hollow tubes, catch the wind and create soothing sounds which help in relaxation. What’s more, they can also alter your mood and stimulate creativity. They relieve fatigue and inertia, and restore vitality.

Wind chimes come in varied material, such as bamboo, metal, wood or ceramic. Shapes, sizes and number of rods may also differ. So you can choose the natural, deep sound of the bamboo chime or go for the gentle tinkle of the metal chimes. Sound also depends upon the length and thickness of the walls of the rods.

Feng Shui

According to SB Surendran, Master Feng Shui consultant and traditional Vaastu practitioner, wind chimes should generate a pleasant tone and not be jarring or noisy. Wind chimes start from three rods and can go up to nine rods—you can also avail them in multiples of nine. Four phonetically sounds bad luck in Cantonese so generally four-rod wind chimes are avoided and most often five or six rods are used.

“People who are a aware of Feng Shui and want to adopt wind chimes for correction, look for a specific number of rods. But, most customers who purchase only seek a pleasant sound... and how it would suit their decor,” says Sujata Shashidar, whose Bangalore-based gift shop, ‘Wind Chimes’, offers a wide range of wind chimes.

We often see wind chimes hanging in several areas such as the balcony, garden, living room or bedroom; however, placement of wind chimes should be given importance.  “The activation of a wind chime is to disperse the rushing or the stagnating ‘Chi’ or energy, hence its position is critical to ensure its proper functioning,” Mr Surendran explains.

Feng Shui recommends suspending wind chimes in north or west sectors.  Experts add that if the layout of the home and décor is not very conducive, merely suspending a wind chime cannot overcome the Feng Shui or Vaastu defect in a space.

The placement of wind chimes in advanced Feng Shui is specific to the defect in a space and the type of correction required. Ceramic or glass wind chimes can go in the northeast or southwest sectors, and bamboo wind chimes in the garden east and southeast sectors.

According to Sujata, many customers are not very bothered about the aspect of placement or remedy, but are interested in the musical notes of the wind chimes. “People who have knowledge about music, can actually trace the notes of the wind chime,” she says. While this humble instrument may be soothing to the ear, it forms an important tool in Feng Shui.

According to Mr Surendran, sound when used in specific ways, can remedy a variety of problems. When the breeze strikes the wind chime, the random sound activates the functioning of the right brain — which is intuitive, creative and abstract — giving our mind relief from the habitual logical thinking.

Right choice

So how does one choose the right wind chime? Carefully observe the sound generated, as each chime is differently tuned. Then find out if it calms you or annoys you. Experts say there is no logic in introducing a wind chime which disturbs you when your primary focus is to bring harmony into your space. For better understanding or use of wind chimes for correction, seek the advice of a professional Feng Shui practitioner. So adorn your private space with a wind chime, and unwind to its pure and magical sound.