Cecil Lee

Dear Phei Shen, In my opinion, it would not be advisable to use a mirror for the situation you had mentioned: 1. Mirrors break easily and it would be far worse if it shatters and land downwards especially on a person's face or body. 2. If it becomes to concealed, i.e. pipes etc.. there is no way of knowing that there are small leaks which may turn for the worse. 3. If one uses a false ceiling, it has to completely cover the area rather than turning it into a `beam' effect. Thus, it may not be that good idea to use the `mirror'. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Phei Shen, Frankly, there is not much one can do unless you move out of the bedroom. Pay more emphasis or try to avoid where possible, the toilet bowl or any sewerage pipes directly above the bed. Or other water pipes that may be DIRECTLY above the bed. Here it is a case of `not so good' Shapes and Form Feng Shui where not much can be done unless, one moves out of the room. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Yvonne, Feng Shui is a holistic approach. The two major schools of Feng Shui are used to look at a home. The two major Schools are: 1. Shapes and Form 2. Compass Schools: The Eight House Theory The Flying Star Theory You have to ask yourself this question " I want to install many mirrors because I geniunely liked them or is it because I have heard that `mirrors' are beneificial ". If it is `hearsay' information that mirrors are good for Feng Shui to bring Prosperity, then, it may not be the case. The cause for concern is `over-eating'. Even in Feng Shui, we should not try to add more than necessary. Logically speaking, a mirror serves a purpose i.e. to look at our image. Or if you have one side of the wall, and you need to `create' space or an illusion of it (in relation to interior decor) usually would be fine. It is not a good idea to place mirrors just to gain `prosperity'. I have mentioned that, Feng Shui is a holistic approach. It is no point, looking or concentrating on one aspect.. hoping and hoping... for a miracle to occur once we place a mirror at point X (if there are problem areas that need more urgent fixing). Thus, a holistic approach to Feng Shui is: 1. Do not "over-eat" or "over-indulge" in enhancers such as placing too many mirrors. 2. One is not going to have a "Quantum Leap" in Feng Shui just because, of placing a mirror at a wall. 3. It would not to adviseable to hang a mirror in the kitchen although some FS practitoners had advised on this - as it does not serve any purpose. Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. Frankly, yours is not the only situation where there is a `big difference' between your husband's Eight House and your own. 2. Majority of the time, half the battle is won if one has a good Shapes and Form Feng Shui of the home. In some cases, a good Shapes and Form is all that matter for a Quantum Leap in `LUCK'. 3. The Eight House has its limitations. It is also not used to compare one spouse with another spouse. 4. Proper comparison is by using Pillars of Destiny once each person's element and strenght is determine. 5. Even if the comparsion is unfavourable, it is again not "the end of the world". Here, once one know of one's proper Pillars of Destiny "map" can take advantage of it to improve on one's self. Improve Personal self For example if you are a weak wood, then take the opportunity to increase your weak wood with "water element" I mentioned that if one wants to utilize Feng Shui, it would depend on what level of `participation' one wants. If one has a good or even excellent Shapes and Form Feng Shui, one can do without analysis by other Feng Shui methods especially the use of the Compass School: Flying Star Feng Shui. If one has no confident of how good one's Shapes and Form or tell tale sign of frequent sickness, misfortune, may consider doing a Flying Star analysis of the house. The purpose is to locate imbalance and cure them. For both husband and wife, if possible apply the `Binding element' to the bedroom or living room area. Do remember that the Eight House implies mostly time spent at a sector. The more time one spends at a good sector the better. It should not be used to compare husband with wife etc.... Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Chan, 1. In my opinion, it is best to `activate' the centre of the house by doing the easiest thing: leave it as clear space. 2. Some practitioners may request that their clients have all "five elements" at the centre of the house. 3. A good shapes and form house (of the interior) usually has clear space at the location. For example, usually, this is the passage way or part of the living room. 4. It is not advisable to activate this location with: 4.1. A water position. This would most likely cause problems to the breadwinner i.e. give him difficulty or hurdles. For the wife or spouse, usually, this may cause sickness or poor health. 4.2. A toilet here. If one purchase a new house it is best not to have a toilet at the centre of the house. Here, a toilet indirectly means water position at the centre. 4.3. Where possible, the stove should not be directly at the centre of the house. Thus base on the above, looks like there are more NO NOs, than Yes at the centrepoint. Furthermore, if a house is well ventilated, air moves from one side of the house to the other side and this is where, the centre area is `free to be circulated'. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Daniel, If I understand you correctly, you mean that the ratio of your door against the frontage is 85 percent of the house? In such a situation, so long as not all the e.g. sliding doors are opened, you need not necessary paint the door. I believe, it is equally `ugly' to do so. It is best to have natural lighting coming into the house. Assuming if you paint the door's, then there are few windows. It is a disadvantage to have a very YIN house as a result of this. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Norman Under the Flying Star concept, a house will not change its birth chart unless one does a major renovation. Thus for example if one's house currently has a double 7's, this house will continue to enjoy double 7's after 2003. In 2004 (after Chinese New Year's day), this house will continue to have the same birth chart. Only after a major renovation, we will need to re-chart the house to a period 8 house. In so doing, with a new chart, the 7's may not be where it is anymore. The house will thus have a new birth chart based on Period 8 after the major reno. For example a Period 6 house built in 1980 currently will still have a period 6 chart in period 7. Even in period 8, a period 6 will continue to have the same birth chart. The same goes for a period 2, 3, 4 or 4 house. They will continue to retain the birth chart or an imprint of that particular period. Hope the above helps. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Harimin, Under the shapes and form, it is better to place the cashier on one side of the wall (rather then the centre). Here one reason is that there is `backing' or the cashier is supported. However, in my opinion, it also depends on the type of business. For example, in a supermarket, it is still acceptable to have it placed at the `entrance' or a large frontage. If so, do remember to surround the counter e.g. like an island and not let one side become "exposed". Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Colleen, If you have done a Flying Star Chart, most likely, the sickness or misfortune star is in your bedroom or living room. In such a case try to check out and cure it. At the same time check the Eight House intangible force in your bedroom or areas where you spent the most time. In addition you mentioned earlier that you are a weak metal. While your husband is a Strong Fire person. Here, his strong fire will further weaken your metal. Therefore, the binding element is "Earth". Which will help your metal grow. Warmest Regards, Cecil Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Colleen, This has to do with beliefs than Feng Shui. Sometimes it is what we want to believe and if one is `convinced' that it will work, then no harm trying. But for those who have doubts in whether it can or cannot work, it is more of " psychology " or of the mind. If we do not feel good in the first place, than, in my opinion, it usually would not work. Take the case of a FS author asking readers to place 3 coins in their accounts book. In my opinion, there is really "no harm" placing it in the book. Whether it works or not is another thing:) Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Colleen, Ref: http://www.geomancy.net/fs/5element.htm Under the destructive sequence: Fire destroys metal. Under the productive sequence: Fire helps Earth and Earth helps Metal. As you are a weak metal person, the strong Fire of your husband, destroys your weak metal, making it weaker. The best binding element is thus "Earth." If you notice carefully, Earth helps weak metal to grow. At the same time, it is `neutral' to the Fire element. How to apply the `binding element'. Here, Earth implies yellow colour or square. In your bedroom, or in locations where both of you spent time at, yellow colour such as pine wood or other yellow or square would help greatly. If you do not have yellow furniture, yellow curtains, or bed sheets do help increase earth. For personal self, you can try to increase your weak metal with yellow e.g. clothing. For your husband, he can do with water e.g. blue colour to help reduce his strong fire element. Given the current situation, in Feng Shui, you are constantly weakened thus the above would help greatly. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Tervino, It boils down to time factor:- 1. If one analyses the Eight House Theory carefully, it only considers the YEAR of birth. 2. Thus the Kua numbers under the Eight House Theory takes into consideration house directions based on YEAR of birth. 3. Pillars of Destiny, uses the YEAR, MONTH, DAY and TIME of birth. More advanced Pillars of Destiny considers two more pillars : Pillars of Life and Conception. Here, the final result or one's final element is considered `more' accurate than the one based on Kua numbers under the Eight House. Thus, in reality, one's Pillars of Destiny's element is theoritically more accurate because of this. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Jennifer, Please see below:- For the North Corner, you mentioned that there is a bad Yellow Earth. I am not sure if you have considered the other star and base number here. Assuming that by comparing all three numbers, there is indeed an imbalance, the best cure for bad Earth (yellow) and especially if other elements also feeds it, then, it would be better to use 6 coins to represent strong metal to help destroy it. Although a wind chime can do some help. (But it should not be used in conjuction with 6 coins as there may be an overal imbalance caused by the addition of the 6 coins or wind chime. Where possible the water feature should be in a `water star' position or generally, e.g. in the living room. Here, it is best to consider in combination: 1. Shapes and Forms, 2. Eight House Theory 3. Flying Star Theory As they must not be considered in isolation of each other. Here, either you have to find out what each theory is used for and evaluate your house on this or consult a FS consultant, to study all these for you. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Colleen, There are different levels of "participation" in Feng Shui. It depends on the following: 1. Generally, we can depend on our `feelings' to see where we want to place the prayer bell or 2. Use more scientific methods of Feng Shui such as doing a Flying Star Chart. Here, for example, a report should be able to tell us if it is acceptable to place a prayer bell. The use of method under Para 1 or 2 depends on the individual and your level of FS participation. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Mary, Thank you for making the effort to describe the lot. However, it is quite difficult to provide an accessment because one really needs to look at the site inorder to properly evaluate the situation. Please see below:- 1. Using Flying Star to see which can be your best main entrance. And if possible, the house has good Flying Stars in the various rooms. 2. Use the eight house charts to see where the bedrooms and the main entrance (can be). Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Colleen, Generally there are three main reports:- A. Eight House Report B. 20 Year Flying Star Report C. Pillars of Destiny Report A. Eight House Report It is good at this point to use a transparency place each member's Eight Intangible force on the transparency. Reference: http://www.geomancy.net/fs/house1.htm Later this transparency is used to look at in particular, the intangible force affecting: 1. the main entrance door 2. the living room or areas where each person spents most time at. 3. the bedroom. Here it is used to try to see if one can place the bed at a good sector of the room. B. The 20 Year Flying Star 1. Firstly, Use this report to check for imbalances at each sector of the home. If a sector is out of balance and the recommendation is to use Metal to destroy wood, then e.g. place 6 metal coins above e.g. on the wall. 2. Once you have done the above, you have actually tried to balance all the imbalances at the above sector. 3. Now you are ready to superimpose the Eight House Template of each member on the layout plan and check to see which bedrooms are best for each person. Remember that the Eight House is meant more to locate locations where you spent most time there. And try to see if it can be an auspcious sector. C. Pillars of Destiny Here, the most important point is to check what element and strength you are. For example, if your element is a weak wood person, in terms of colours, it would be advantages for you to select colours e.g. blue (water), green or brown (wood)... This is one of the uses of Pillars of destiny in relation to Pillars of Destiny. Alternatively, you can use the Pillars of Comparison Report (to analyse Pillars of Destiny ver 7xx reports). Here, you can select two persons e.g. husband and wife's profile and see which is the best `binding' element to have in the room. Here, you can for example take advantage of the colour say of a furniture to enhance your bedroom or the living room or areas where both of you spent time together. It is my opinion, that you do try to spent some time to go thru the various information on this site, first. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Liz, Thanks for sharing with us the information. In my opinion, I feel that what you mentioned is correct and a certain `vacuum' or `pressure' created during the period. I am equally no expert in this but, it is also my personal observation. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Annabelle, Total Feng Shui is quite like some of the `tests' we took in School. For example, some tests involve multiple choice questions; others filling in the blanks and essay questions. Out of 100 marks, certain marks goes to specific sections of an examination. For example, take the case of Feng Shui = 100 percent or marks. In a `Feng Shui' exam, we could allocate the following marks (although it may not be exact):- For a HOME:- Shapes and Form = 40 percent Eight House Theory = 20 percent Flying Star = 30 percent Pillars (other luck)= 10 percent Here, you can visualise that it is not the `end of the world' senario, if you purchased a house that may not be quite suitable for you. You can instead score higher marks in other of the above categories to `compensate' for the above `short-comings'. My point is that, one should not only focus on one form of FS but use all the various tools to help you. In addition, we need to look at it from a bigger picture:- 1. Even if the main door is not suitable, how about locations where you spent most of your time especially your bedroom. Is this a good sector? 2. Cure all imbalances FIRST, before thinking of making enhancements i.e. fix leaks in a boat first before thinking of enhancing it. If one wants to apply FS in their life, then do all the things that can help one improve our luck by scoring high marks for most of our `exams'. It is no point scoring 100 percent in one category but fail in others. Here, you may even "fail the exam". Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Danny, I remembered...Donald Trump also believes in Feng Shui. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Danny, Some of the more famous `Western' persons who use Feng Shui are: 1. Richard Branson, owner of Virgin Airlines / Record... 2. Anita Roddrick. Her Body Shop outlets are designed based on FS concepts. 3. Singer Boy George. 4. Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank. Employs FS practitioners. 5. Credit Lyonnis had previously developed a `fun' stock prediction module based on I-Ching. The above are some of the examples. There are even more prominent Chinese businessmen and their business who used Feng Shui to develop million/billion dollar buildings. Warmest Regards Cecil

Dear George, Please see `suggested' layout plan. As for the closet, I am not sure which direction the door faces. As the layout I drawn is on the assumption that the closet door (hopefully) faces the direction where it can be opened. The computer table is placed on the side of the desk. Generally, it is understandable that there is a constraint in applying Feng Shui in a dorm. Thus, one should not `worry' unduly on the need to apply FS to this area. Many studies all over the world also stay in a dorm: live and study there. Thus more importantly, it is not so much of Feng shui but good study habbits and techiques that helps a person. (Especially in a dorm). Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Rev. John, Will certainly let you know, if I do come across any other materials on Feng Shui based on strict Taoist perspective:) Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. It is quite understandable with so much information on Feng Shui. Not only the amount of information but how to piece all the puzzle. 2. When one applies Feng Shui, one should apply it as a Holistic approach encompassing all the good `techniques' from the various schools. 3. You mentioned the Eight House and the Flying Star. One more important consideration is also the Shapes and Form School of Feng Shui. 4. Usually, most of us, do not have much problems at home or office. But if we do, we should rather `identify' the problem and neutralise it. For some of us, we do not have problems but rather would like to enhance our home: For health, happiness and prosperity. 5. When we buy a home, we want to feel safe in it. Thus the first general `rule' of Feng Shui is to `protect' your house especially the main door and windows. Those areas that are or may be `open' threats. Here, greater emphasis should be placed on using the Shapes and Form School of Feng Shui. Look out for poison arrows aimed at the main entrance door such as the edge of another building. 6. Here, the fundamental thing to note it that even if one enhances a home but if there are `problems' that need fixing, one should do the sensible thing to `fix' it. 7. The Eight House Theory (personalised to self and static form of FS) Is very popular and generally used to find out how suitable are you to your home. 8. In addition, under this theory locations where you spent most of your time at where possible should be your good sectors. 9. Other than this, you can face a good direction after point 8. has been considered. 10. If one follows the Eight House Theory closely, it is best where you spent most time here. 11. The Flying Star Theory. It can be a house audit i.e. 20 Year Flying Star Audit, or Yearly Flying Star or Monthly Flying Star audit. One major purpose of the Flying Star is to check for imbalances. Here, if there is an imbalance, try to cure it. If SW is not a good side, under Flying Star, if you know the type of imbalance caused e.g. use Metal to destroy wood. For example, if there is a `bad' wood element at this sector, you then use Metal to destroy it. This is just an example and not meant that SW has `bad' wood. You may have to check this out further. In such a situation, perhaps metal is needed and therefore, a metal wind chime is acceptable here. Other metal e.g. 6 coins or a pendulum clock are alteratives to this. Please see below: Please see above. For Shapes and Form, you can get Lilian Too's books as it has illustrations or graphics. However, I do not recommend all her books (especially the new ones) because, in my opinion, some of these books ask you to do this or that without proper reference to specific situations, which may cause more harm than good. For example, suggestions like "place 3 coins here or there." For other titles, it is best to browse around the book shop to find what you want. Go to the conference, Books on Feng Shui to look at some of the earlier messages. I believe one user wrote that the `Idiot's Guide to Feng Shui' is not bad. The best books are those that `teach' or impart skills rather than tell you to place X at this corner, Y at the ceiling etc... As for my books, at the moment, they are all in electronic form (acrobat reader format). Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Sonia, 1. In my view, and to be honest, a house number containing a 4 is not necessarily unfavorable. 2. In Cantonese, the number 4 is associated with the word 'SAY' which means 'DIE'. 3. Therefore, a Cantonese individual who may also be superstitious might prefer not to have a house number with a 4 in it. 4. Personally, my current residence is #04-01 and my new house, which will be ready soon, also contains "45" (i.e. a 5 in it). 5. I still decided to purchase it because, overall, as you mentioned that you 'liked it'. In my case, I have assessed the home based on: - Shapes and Form, - Eight House - Flying Star to confirm that it 'suits me'. 6. The above factors are more important than anything else. 7. If the house is ready for occupancy, please bring all your family members along to see the house:) 8. If your house is an apartment or highrise, you can utilize the free module at www.geomancy-online.com to generate a free Flying Star for Highrise report to check the house number. 9. If your home is a landed property, the house number then, there is 'no issue' under the normal Flying Star analysis. Warmest Regards, Cecil