Traditional Feng Shui can be traced back around 6000 years in China. The Ancient Chinese believed that the spirits of the dead could affect the wellbeing of those left behind, so the earliest types of Feng Shui focused on burial sites. It was of great importance that tombs were correctly located and facing in a favourable direction.This practice of selecting the most auspicious gravesite is still carried out in many parts of Asia to this day. This is what is known as Yin House Feng Shui.
Yin House Feng Shui embodies some of the earliest principles of Classical Feng Shui, the orientation of the grave and when the body is placed there are of critical importance (the process is called creating a Yin House) and is believed to affect the health, wealth and wellbeing not only of the current generation but of generations to come also!
In general in Feng Shui, cemeteries are seen as having "negative" or Yin energy and that living close to such a site can bring excess amounts of Yin energy into the home. The truth of the matter is that cemeteries can be a balance of Yin and Yang if they are visually pleasing, well kept and if they are providing positive memories of those who are buried there.
When deciding whether or not a cemetery is Yin or Yang there are some things to consider:
Is the cemetery neat tidy, well kept with the grass and surrounds area cut and well groomed.
How big is the cemetery overall? Very large cemeteries with large, old, mainly unvisited areas due to the age of the graves, can exude large amounts of Yin energy. I am sure at one time or another we have all been in one of those cemeteries and have felt the heavy, dead energy that exists there.
Cemeteries that are often visited by family and friends of the deceased have a Yang energy brought in by them, as they often bring bright flowers and plants which uplift the energy of the area.
Tombstones which are kept clean and in a good state of repair increase the feel good factor of the area. The Chinese believe that if the tombstones are not kept well then the future of the families left behind can be adversely affected.
A cemetery with a mountain or woods behind it will have an enhanced amount of positive Feng Shui energy. As an example I looked at my own local cemetery, which has a great energy, as it is exceptionally well kept , has many frequent visitors and has the great mountain Nephin behind it!
So is it a problem if we live next door to a cemetery? I personally think it depends totally on the type of cemetery it is. An old, abandoned, deserted cemetery will most likely have an excess of Yin energy which will directly impact your home. By extrapolation then, a cemetery which is well maintained and often visited should bring good Yang energy to the home. I would suggest actually, that whilst one may be a better influence than the other ,neither of these scenarios provides a grounded type of energy for the home. I feel that living near a cemetery in general may make people feel anxious, distracted and scattered.
Some tips if you live near a cemetery would be :
Make sure that your home is a lively and vibrant place to be to counteract the Yin energy from the cemetery. Neat lawns, clean windows and fresh paintwork all add to the Yang energy of the home.
Cleanse the home regularly by burning sage (smudging) to release any negative energies which may have built up there. This is also believed to improve mood and reduce stress and anxiety of the occupants.
A Bagua mirror can be placed outside the home facing the cemetery, it is one of the best known Feng Shui cures for protection of the home.
Crystals are a powerful source of protection and cleansing for the home. I would use Black Tourmaline, one of the most powerful, for grounding your energy to the Earth. It is also good for cleansing the aura and getting rid of negative thoughts. Selenite is also great for getting rid of negative energy and creates a calm space in your home.
My conclusion would be that it is probably preferable not to live near a cemetery but with the correct Feng Shui cures in place there will be no adverse effects on your home and who knows you may enjoy the quietness of your neighbours!