Cecil Lee

Dear Anon, Frankly, for a car, I personally find that it is not a major issue. However, for a home, it is more important consideration i.e. to avoid moving in during the Chinese 7th month. (For those who are not aware, the start of the Chinese 7th month is 16 August 2004 to 13 September 2004). Traditionally, the most important day of the 7th month is the 7th lunar month of the 7th month. In my opinion, there is no issue in booking a new car before or on the 7th month. Frankly, I have booked a vehicle two months ago. But, due to delay i.e. shipment delay, my new car will arrive during the Chinese 7th month. And I would most likely according to the car company Sales facilitator -- collect my new car around the first week of September. Which is the Chinese 7th month. To be honest, I don't take it as a taboo or worry that much. Thus, if this is so, one's future scrap value of a vehicle can lower our book value during over-trade or resale -- when buying a new vehicle. For a matter of interests, many Singaporeans love to bid for new car numbers: http://app.lta.gov.sg/motoring_vo_bid.asp?Prod=&Series=SFM Warmest Regards, Cecil Lee

Dear Anon, Frankly, this has not much to do with the need to place a symbolic object to "neutralise it". But rather, this issue has more to do with the "Commonsense approach" to Feng Shui. This is because, most of the time, it was felt that chances of a fire occuring in a home -- the most likely occurence could be from the kitchen. And since fire and heat travel upwards, this is our main concern. But in modern times, I would rather "invest" in having smoke detector(s) -- if you have not one already fitted than the bottle gourd. Here, there is a good chance that (touch-wood) in the event of a fire -- the smoke detector would go off and warn us. But the bottle gourd would be like an empty vessel -- which unfortunately does not make any noise at all! Bottle gourd = dead man tell no tales Smoke detector = may perhaps make some of us "temporary deaf" but hey! It does save lives! For those who live in Singapore, there is a recent government or some fire safety bureau campaign -- ie. one can purchase a smoke detector from any of the petrol stations e.g. Shell / Caltex and Mobil-Exxon for a reasonable price of around S$30.00 Why not take the opportunity to install one at your home! (Usually once installed, should the battery run low, many of the smoke detectors would give some "warning". Or do remember to change the battery say every 6 or 9, 12 months) Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear LH, Thanks for the clarification. Yes, using the adage: "If one cannot see it, it no longer becomes a threat". In your example, since the stove does not face the main door (directly) in full view, it is not a "threat" to it. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, Please see below:- In your case, actually, there is no harm to try and work on both Period6 and Period 7 Flying star Feng Shui. Since you have stayed in your home for quite sometime, you can take the opportunity to see which chart (P7 or P6) that is a better match to your home. The above method of doing two charts is in my opinion, a practical and sound practise amongst good Feng Shui practitioners and equally applies to everyone keen to understand their home birth chart. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, As the Pinnacle will be one of the tallest housing board apartments, usually at the higher floors, in my opinion, there is not a major issue in either looking out to the bay or city , harbour view. What is more important considerations are: 1. Commonsense approach to Feng Shui Where possible, avoid having the unit balcony, bedrooms directly facing the afternoon WEST sun. What would be worst is an apartment that is facing exactly West to East (Or East -- west) apartment. Here, the apartment will not be spared the mercy of both morning and afternoon sun! 2. Under Flying Star Feng Shui Facing directions like NE is particuarly auspicious under Period 8 (which the pinnacle will be built within this time frame). Other facing directions are double 8's at the frontage such as the balcony area. 3. Under Eight House theory Also try to see if the home can match our ba zi or eight house. Generally, the above are the things to note if we are applying Feng Shui to any homes or apartment. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, As mentioned earlier, it is illegal or it infringes copyright to simply "cut-paste" things like location maps without manually adding words like source and credit to the respective copyright owners. The easiest alternative is to create a hyper link to the source. For example:- http://www.streetdirectory.com.sg/map.jsp?x=19672.4172&y=36180.1755&postal=659879&building_name=CALTEX+SERVICE+STATION&house_blk_no=50&road_name=BUKIT+BATOK+EAST+AVENUE+3&heading=CALTEX+SERVICE+STATION%3CBR%3E50+BUKIT+BATOK+EAST+AVENUE+3%2C+SINGAPORE+659879 The above is an acceptable convention, as it will bring us to the exact site to view the layout plan. Warmest Regards, Cecil P.S. We do not want to get into trouble with regards to copyright infringements.

Dear Anon, Please note that it is "illegal" to simply "cut-paste" copyright maps. (For other layout plans, usually also try to add a Source and credit". Even if we want to, we have to manually add in a Source and credit. For example the two layout plans should have a source and credit to e.g. " Streedirectory.com " etc... If you have read, in particular, this site streetdirectory.com is very particular and exact a high compensation for "stealing" their maps. Thus, please note that immediately after posting this reply, I have to delete the entire attachments that you have posted. Frankly, it is much easier to "cut-paste" their url link into a message. Here, so long as the link goes to the relevant site, it is a hyper link to the source. Appreciate for anyone else posting attachments, please do not cut-paste such materials again. As I will immedately remove the message totally. Until you do so, I am going to view the attachments. Cecil Lee

Dear Louis, Under Geomancy, it works on the premise of the "Holy Trinity of Luck" i.e. Heaven factors Earth factors Human factors Under Heaven factors ---------------------- Under geomancy: Ba Zi is used to look at relationships - favourable or clashes. It is much like the Chinese astrology where we have different animal signs: such as one partner could be a "Rat person" while the other partner could be a "Horse person". Under Chinese horoscope, for example a rat's worst compatibility is a horse person etc... Under Earth factors -------------------- Flying star Feng Shui can be used to identify "quarrelsome stars" especially #4 or #3. Other Earth factors includes the general luck of the home. As many of us know, sometimes many partners quarrel because of financial problems, also. And much of our earth luck also comes from the home Under Human factors ---------------------- Sometimes, we often hear that for some couples, "healthy" quarrels -- spur them together. And for some of such couples, they simply cannot live without having a quarrel with each other! But of course, many of us quarrel for many other external factors not associated with the above. Thus, if we apply Geomancy, these are generally the three factors, applied. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, For the Hulu or bottle gourd, often, this is used in place of a set of six-coins or wind chime. The purpose of the hulu is in Feng Shui, suppose to "suck in bad qi". For example, many Chinese Feng Shui practitioners hang it above the bed in response of bad flying star numbers like #5 or #2 sickness stars. The purpose is to "suck" in bad sickness qi. Sometimes it is also used or hung in place of the alternative partition i.e. especially if the main entrance door face the balcony window (directly). Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Guest, From a "Commonsense approach to Feng Shui" ideally, bedrooms should not be located at the centrepoint of the home: 1. Firstly, if none of the walls share an external wall, this often suggest that the middle room is "at the mercy" of open windows or it is quite difficult or harder for air flow to circulate to the centre or middle of the room. And most likely, there are "dead qi" around this area - if no proper ventilation. 2. Fire safety This is not so much of Feng Shui but as many of us are aware, if or should a real fire occur, most likely, the middle room could be engulfed with smoke. And not only this, rescue attempts or even planned escape is much harder. 3. Privacy Literally, there can be less privacy at this middle room if more than 1 window or door needs to be opened for ventilation.

Dear Lionel, I have to delete your message containing the two graphics. This is because, you did not add Source and Credit to the attached copyright images belonging to streetdirectory.com Or another test is that does the buidling block your e.g. entire view or over-cast such that it blocks the wind-flow to your home. If any of these affect the proposed home, than it has a strong bearing on the home. Otherwise, they are considered too far away.

Dear LH, Based on Shapes and Forms Feng Shui, it is considered inauspicious to have the stove face the main door.

Dear Fran, Yes, usually it is not advisable to have a mirror facing a main door. For an L-shaped home, it depends. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Wanama, If you are doing a major renovation under this period 2004, usually your home would be "flying" into the new Period 8. While it may seem that chart is very auspicious under Flying star but if the main door faces a hill etc.. then this is very inauspicious. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear A J, Thank you for your sketched illustration. Please see below, for my comments: Unlike a micro-wave oven which "radiates" heat inwards into food - meat or fish etc...

Dear Ashwini, For the use of plants, it depends on situation. If for example, the stairs if directly facing your main door, there is one situation where it is near impossible to use the plants. Here, one cannot simply place the plant(s) blocking the stairs or blocking your main entrance. But if the staircase is such that it is at the side or if there is a sufficient large corridor or you to place it, then this is fine. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Lionel, Seems like it is ok. As the toilet is not in the middle but rather close to it. At the ground floor, it is best that the toilet is not located at the frontage of a home. On the second storey, it is preferred that the toilet is not above the main entrance door. Generally, what you had described is pretty common for quite alot of homes and still acceptable. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Marie, Frankly, for a small apartment and especially if we have lots of belongings, it is always best to keep our posessions, neat and tidy. And, I know this must be hard, but if we do have boxes or unwanted items, it is best either to neatly pack them or give them away. For a small apartment - space clearing : does help Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, In my opinion, and in reality, there is not much under Feng Shui that can be used to speed up a sale. Usually, based on most frequent advise: 1. Where possible, clear out all rubbish in the home. For example, if the furniture or any cabinets are in bad condition or "rotten", make an investment to throw them away. 2. Always try to spent a little to repaint the entire home e.g. in a white coat of paint. 3. If the house is dirty, give it a major wash. Nowadays, because of the saturated market and if one's apartment is not near the mrt or good amenities, then, it is much harder to be sold. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Foo Leong, Often, if we are applying the Eight House (4 good/bad), we could use the other partner as a "shield". For example, if this room is very suitable to you i.e. Excellent and for your wife; her irritation sector. You should sleep closer to the sector of influence and your wife sleeps further away -- using you as a shield. This is only the best that can be done, here. Of-course, sometimes, it may not be possible at all. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Emily, In my opinion, we still need to use visual - sight and smell Athough smell may vary during the day and when a dumpster pass-by. But, often, one way of looking at is is a walk-thru of the neighbourhood. Such as climbing up the stairs to the unit. In many instances, both the exterior an interior should often "match". For example, if the exteriorof the home, after the upgrading looks prestine or new, but if one's interior is pretty old (worn-out) etc.. Clues can come from the toilet(s), the kitchen and the living area. If the interior has not been upgraded, it is an important clue that only the exterior has "changed". It is much like proverb of an apple: "an apple may look beautiful outside -- but it could be rotten inside". Generally, both the inside of a home and outside should "feel new". If not, or one of them does not feel so, then, it is most likely, the apartment remains under the old period. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Oliv, Traditionally or in the past, there were no such thing as either the electric oven or the refrigerator. (Although there is the clay kiln -- which for the Chinese is often used to make pottery). Otherwise, unlike in the middle east, the Chinese do not often bake bread or pita etc... (As the main Chinese stable food is rice). The most important consideration therefore has to do with the position of the stove. Please note that in my opinion, the micro-wave oven should be considered as belonging to the metal element. This is because, unlike conventional ovens that use heat, the micro-wave ovens excite molecules "inwards" using the wave-length e.g in the 800 megahertz range etc.. In many modern Chinese homes, nowadays, it is quite common to have separate ovens from the stove. This has much to do with the western influence. Many years back, stoves such as boreal, tecno-gas etc... are standalone which has an all in-one oven cum stove. Nowadays, these are usually separate. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Sandra, Usually this is not an issue especially if there is a gap or distance between the stove and the sink. Usually, the further the distance the better. But sometimes as low as 6 inch gap is -- if space constraints, is still acceptable. For more information about the stove, I have added the article that appeared in the magazine "Home Concepts" on the stove. I believe, it will make interesting reading. (This article was posted, just yesterday). Warmest Regards, Cecil

This article shares light into the value of investing in a HDB apartment that is especially close to both MRT and amenities. Due to the government's relaxation of rules for renting out an entire HDB apartments, some have asked their parents to move-in with them. And have rented out their parent's HDB apartment especially in areas like Holland Village, Queenstown etc... HDB apartments does not costs that much as compared to a condo, yet, some can sometimes yield higher or equavalent rentals to such condos.... Source & Credit of the article: The Sunday Times, 1 August 2004. Please click on the link below for the entire article...

[Published on July 2004] Seven (7) Commandments of Stove Placement 1. Shield from vibrant wind. Avoid having a big window behind the stove. 2. Do not place next to sink. If you have to, try to leave a gap or distance between the two. 3. The stove should not face the main door; a toilet door; a bedroom door and the kitchen door. 4. The stove should not be under a beam or below sewerag or drainage pipes. 5. Do not place it in a corner. 6. It should not share the same wall as a bed-head. 7. It should not share the same wall as the toilet bowl or toilet sink. A Cook's Harmony The kitchen is a central part of the home. Where many of our basic needs are met. With good Feng Shui, you can enhance your kitchen's healthy flow of abundance. Wake up to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee or the tantalizing whiff of bacon and eggs and chances are, you will be looking forward to the day bright eyed and bushy tailed. Kitchens are the nucleus of every household. It represents both wealth and health. This may explain why Chinese families boil plenty of water at the start of the day - to ensure a never-ending abundance of the Earth's life force. "In Feng Shui, each compass direction is associated with an element, "says Cecil Lee, Principal Consultant and founder of GEOMANCY.NET: Center for Applied Feng Shui Research. "In any kitchen, there will always be the interplay of water and fire elements. Ensuring a good balance between yin (water) and yang (fire) will result in favourable fortune. Upsetting the balance could result in poor health, loss of weath or both." A key factor to harmony in the kitchen is the location of the stove in relation to the door, sink and window. The metal element, which is common in this area of the home and represented by cooking utensils for example, is often used as a bridge between the water and fire counterparts. So what happens if there are imbalances? According to Lee, it depends on the severity of the situation, "The solutions can range from the re-orientation of the fridge, moving the stove, using a mirror to renovatng the kitchen." Comfortable surroundings breed content so it is vital that the person who spends the most time cooking in the kitchen has a conducive environment. Any disturbances could affect the cook's energy and the overall ambience of the home. Having enough working space is a good start to encourage a steady flow of chi. Practise basic Feng Shui hygience such as keeping the area neat, orderly and clutter free. This can be achieved by having plenty of storage space to put things away. Take note that a refrigerator stocked with fresh foods symbolizes prosperity in the household. "Make sure you have a well-lit, properly ventilated kitchend and preferably one where the person who is cooking can see the door way," suggests Lee. Airflow ensure that heat and vapours do not permeate the rest of the house. The cook needs to be aware of the presence of visitors or other family members to avoid unwanted surprises. Dangerous situations can present itself in the activity zone of the kitchen when an suspecting cook could accidentally spill extremely hot contents and hurt someone. More advice On the location of the kitchen and stove 1. Avoid placement in the North which is associated with the water element: water drowns fire 2. Avoid placement in the Northwest or Heaven's gate as it also represents the head of the household, that is, the father. On the location of the fridge and sink 1. Avoid placing them next to the stove as this can cause a conflict of water versus fire.