Cecil Lee

Dear John, This question is quite subjective. This is because, from the years of meeting people or hearing feedback, some of us are more tolerant than others. While some people are more sensitive i.e. they feel uncomfortable sleeping with a mirror facing their face or body. Some others, said that they sleep soundly and peacefully. http://www.geomancy.net/polls/index.htm You can check out the results of the survey: Are you comfortable sleeping facing a TV set (mirror)? A short simple 3 questions survey. in the above link to find out user's responses to this question. Each of us, thus may need to make their own judgement as to whether it is true (if possible based on our own experience on the matter). Warmest Regard, Cecil How could we CURE the Thanks, John This www.hpa.com.au **

Dear Anon, 1. Usually, in Chinese buildings, you can find figurines, especially those above Chinese rocco style bungalows with faces or masks of fierce mystical animals. The purpose is to `scare' away evil. 2. Usually, within the home, in order to bring good luck, often, swords or knifes and even pictures of hungry, stalking animals are avoided. As this is considered inauspicious for luck. 3. Thus, there are many various types, shapes and form of masks, and it is subjective where, they imply, the above (Para 2). Some masks have smiley faces also. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Jaspal, 1. In my opinion, there is nothing magical about a three-legged frog figurine. 2. If one buys one, buy because one finds it `acceptable' as a form of `decoration'. 3. So far, I have not come across anyone obtain instant riches by displaying this figurine. 4. On a commercial point of view, sites that sell this would advise, that it faces inside the house rather than face the door. 5. Again, in my opinion, if one has excess cash, do not mind buying one please go ahead if you find it `nice.' But for those who purchase on `credit' i.e. use their credit card, with mounting bills, do consider seriously. It is best not to further incur credit card debts and interest. 6. I believe a discerning consumer, is entitled to ask the seller to show proof or evidence of how many people had strike it rich by purchasing the object. And how much if they had really won a lottery. If they cannot show proof of this, or side track the question, can understand why. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Yes, for the last 5 years, every morning, I climbed steps and cycle up the steps: "All for the sake of "Career enhancement." I ended up paying hefty medical bills for worn out leg-joints plus costly repairs to my bicycle.

Yes, it is truly worthwhile to install IT for your BEST FRIEND!

Never be too trusting of people proclaiming themselves Master or `King' of Feng Shui. Perhaps, they have good marketing skills but may have little else. If not sure, go for `word of mouth' or check on what they provide.

Attached please find a sample page (month) of a typical Calendar, found in most Chinese homes. This calendar, is useful because, it has the `western' calendar, holidays and more importantly, the Lunar calendar date. Very often, the elderly Chinese are more acustomed to their birthdates in Chinese. For example, if one's birthday is on the 15th day, of the 4th Lunar month. He/She checks on the Mandarin wordings. It is cross referenced to the English date i.e. 18 May 2000. It so happens that it takes the moon to revolve one full cycle, and if one peers into the sky, in the evening on every 15th day, you will see a full moon. It so happens that the 15th day of the 4th Lunar Month, happens to be Vesak Day. Chinese thus, consider the Lunar Calendar (Lunar = Moon) in their daily life. All Chinese birthdays are thus referenced to Lunar Calendar. Only for harvesting, do they then refer to the Xia Li (Hsia) to see when planting starts. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Please read attached article.

Take a look at this unique architectural marvel. It was built during the Northern Wei Dynasty, some 1,400 years ago.

What has Kung Fu to do with Feng Shui? Plenty. Geomancy.net, is the only Feng Shui School that takes into consideration all the best practises of the various Major Schools of Feng Shui. It is like Kung Fu, the more skills one learns and understand, the better.

hmm....

Primary colors Blue, Green or Red? (Some include secondary color Yellow)?? The most Yang Color is RED. Followed by pink & violet spectrums.

Dear Anon, 1. Like many cultures, its citizens strive to live to a long life (anyone would certainly love to live a long life). Not sure about today's culture. 2. In the past, it was the hope of many families to take care of their elderly. 3. Perhaps it is due to the strong Confucian teaching and upgrading. Plus the notion of filial piety. 4. In the past, it was certainly a happy occassion to live a ripeful old age, and to see your grand child get married and even see your great grand child! 5. Here, because of the believe of living in an extended family, where, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunties live in the same house or next door. 6. One, always feel loved and respected, because you get to see so many, your children, your grand children, calling you grand mother and paying their respect. 7. If it does not go well with one's ego, then one should not worry about money because, your family will continue to feed you. 8. It is because of this sense of belonging and the cohesiveness of a family unit. 9. Well, I believe that is in the past. Times have changed and many start a family later and have fewer children. 10. In the past, it is not uncommon to get married at e.g. 16 years, bear a child soon after. 11. I remembered, that I had the opportunity to see my great grandmother, when I was young. 12. She had bonded feet, quite a cruel thing to do. In China, in the past, it was good to look pretty with small feet. 13. So from young, these girls, had their feet bandaged so that they will not grow. So, the bone, due to their young age, became deformed. 14. They wear shoes, the size of a mere 3 inches or 7 cm. I really pity them when they walk. 15. Because of the bonded feet, and when one becomes elderly, imagine the tiny feet carrying so much weight. They must be in awful pain walking short distances. 16. In addition, Chinese used to eat healthy food and deserts are a rarity. 17. I did mention that one `secret' weapon to healthy eating habit is the use of the chop stick. Imagine, trying to gobble down your food with a pair of chopsticks. This is near impossible. Thus, tiny bits of food has to be picked up and eated. Of-course, one should not hold one end of a chopstick and try poking the food in the middle. *JOKE* The equivalent lesson is to `eat Feng Shui' moderately. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, The Chinese, particularly, the Cantonese dialect group, find the phonetic sound of shoe ( " Hai or Sia "), inauspicious. It is like the Cantonese, avoiding the phonetic sound of Four as `Say' or die. Thus, if the pronounciation is inauspcious, it would mean, giving or receiving `bad luck'. Warmest Regards, Cecil -- The above is on Chinese beliefs -- P.S. One interesting thing to note on dialect groups is:- Hong Kong and Cantonese dialect group In Hong Kong, majority of the Chinese are of the Cantonese dialect group (majority came from Canton). As mentioned earlier, because of British influence, some of the Feng Shui practitioners from Hong Kong (British citizens) migrate to Canada (British sector). And thus, they bring along their culture of `recognising' 4 = "say" or Die, 8 = "fatt" or prospher. Taiwan and Hokkien dialect group In Taiwan, the majority dialect group is Hokkien or the Fujian Province of China. Thus, the Hokkien, or if the practitioner is from Taiwan and is a hokkien, they are less to find no. 4 inauspicious. Singapore & Malaysia In Singapore and Malaysia, we do not have a `prominent' Chinese dialect that influence the country. There are as many as 10 different dialect groups such as the Hakka, the Teochews, Hokkien, Cantonese etc... Thus, in my country, again, if you seek the services of a Cantonese Feng Shui practitioner, most likely, they will view no. 4 ( die ) as inauspicious due to the phonetic sound of the `word'. Hope the above helps you better understand a little about the `different' culture shock. As for myself, both my parents are `Hokkien'.