Cecil Lee

Dear Anon, This may not be necessarily true. But it depends on the overall context. 1. If it is a tall cabinet and it blocks the windows or ventilation (especially) if it is on the same wall as an external wall. 2. It is quite normal for a bedroom to have a cabinet for clothings etc.. It can be a built in (full height / to the ceiling) cabinet. 3. Like evertying else, `moderation' is the best. One should not have too many furniture in the room. Normally, a `decent' cabinet plus a study table or a dressing table is acceptable. 4. Ideally, tall furniture should not appear on an `island' in the room but placed along a wall. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, Apologies, is possible to describe further as frankly., I am not sure what it looks like. (Ideally would be a photo, if it is possible). Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Ang, For Questions 1 & 2, you got the concepts correct for both:) Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Ang Chye, 1. Usually, it should not be linked to Feng Shui. 2. But to confirm, check for this year's Flying Star to see if the locations she spents time is not particuarly at Star 2 especially the bedroom. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Niki, 1. Usually, if a house is rectangular, the back is opposite the front of the home. In this case, based on your description, since the front of the house is `known' e.g. (facing street) at SE. Then the back of the house should be opposite this. 2. As I do not have a visual idea of the exact location of the pool of water in relation to the home, it would be difficult for me to comment on this. Perhaps, if you can upload a small graphic file under .bmp or .gif or .jpg, it would be more useful. 3. In general, a water position should best be at the frontage of the house. Where possible avoid a water position at the back of the house. 4. For the main entrance door: 4.1. Avoid shifting a door to the frontage if it will be affected by a poison arrow or sha qi e.g. a straight path towards it. Here, the front door is `not protected.' 4.2. A main entrance can be at the side of the house. If it is your irritation, you may not need to change the position as this is not as worse as the front door at the death or disaster sector. In such a suituation, the house is most unsuitable for the breadwinner. Or, alternatively, the door can be tilted to face a good direction. However, it is best ot consult the expert advise of a Geomancer for this. A good reason for shifting the door is especially if the main door is at the NE (devil's gate) plus facing an inauspicous sector for the owner. 5. If one really wants to spent money to change the front door, my most important advise is to look at the Flying Star of both the present and `proposed' new location. Here it is very important because, especially since the house chart of the entire house changes! Not sure for the good or bad unless, the Flying Star analysis is done for both senarios. Thus if it is better, then go ahead. 6. Since, the existing main entrance is your irritation sector, this is not as critical as the death/disaster thus, more importance or first priority is the Flying Star of the house. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, Usually, this applies to family owned companies where the patriot e.g. founder believe strongly in Chinese astrology. Here, more importantly, new venture partners are checked discretely by their regular Geomancers. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. In the past, a large percentage of Chinese do not have tatoos. During the 1950's, 1960's and 1970's, tatoos especially elaborate ones are found on Chinese gangsters or secret society members. 2. You can really see lots of tatoos on their bodies, hands and legs. 3. It was not difficult for the Police Secret Society Supression unit to run them up. 4. Even in the 1980's, tatoos on these youths but lesser. With the advent of model `equipment' or status symbols, at one time, many of these youths or secret society members carry instead at one time `expensive' Motorola `brick' handphones of the 80's. Suddenly, handphones, from my personal observation became the status during the period. (Not that every other person carrying a handphone looks like a gangster). But this was what, I believe, occurred. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, It is true that some Chinese consider it inauspicious to keep caged birds. The significance is based on `symbolism'. Where it is cruel to keep the birds. Rather, they should not be `imprisoned' but to be allowed to fly freely in the wild. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. Many of the bones come from dead animals. Bones range from elephants to buffalo and other animals. 2. Bone carvings are intricate carvings and a unique art. In my opinion, thus there is relatively no specific reason other than creating `art' on the bones. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. Usually, these coins are replicas and `tons' are made. 2. If you are in Asia, these coins are plentiful especially in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore etc... 3. In the internet, there are now many Feng Shui emporiums. Use a search engine for Feng Shui emporium and you should easily find one of these companies selling `ready' made or tied coins. Do compare their pricing. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, In my opinion, the soil should not be an issue especially under your condition. As there is a real need to keep the plants `alive'. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Dylan, 1. As the cooking stove is considered an important part of the house i.e. providing fire and food, some Shapes and Form School believe that it is important not to have a beam above it. This is similar to having a beam above a person sitting e.g. at a seat. 2. Where possible, try to avoid it. Else, there is nothing much one can do here unless the ceiling is even (false ceiling). 2.1 But, a false ceiling is not recommended in a kitchen as it may catch fire. 2.2 If the ceiling beam is made of concrete, it is equally not practical to use two flutes as they are made of wood and may also catch fire. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Users, 1. An interesting jade piece carved to look like a Chinese cabbage. 2. A tea-pot that has a fishing net (mesh) 3. Bone carving, with a male and female on each side. Often the bone used are e.g. elephant, buffalo and other animals. Click on this link: http://www.geomancy.net/pics/amoy/index.htm Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. Yes, this is a `strong' Chinese belief. 2. It is said that when one is pregnant, one should not move house or even change the bed position or any other furniture in the room. It is said that the consequence is to suffer a `miscarriage'. 3. I believe, in the past, there was no electricity and it could be (I am only guessing) that if one changes the position of furniture, and unwittingly, the wife (who is pregnant) may `accidentally ' bump into them or trip over them. Well, I am only guessing here of a `possible' senario. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. I agree with you that lots of Singaporeans have no more space in their flats for a shoe rack inside their house or it is too inconvenient as there is no second door. 2. As I mentioned, ( it is only my opinion and `habbit' as I believe that for now, shoe rack placement is secondary. Not much research has been done in this area). 3. Usually, it is preferred that shoe racks have ventilation holes and a cloth would be an equally good alternative. 4. This area has to be looked into further. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Debbie, Unfortunately, there are few books on History of Feng Shui:- 1. Dr Evelyn Lip For history, one of the few books are written by Dr Evelyn Lip. So far, she has written three books. You can try to find it out e.g. in the library or do a search at amazon.com 2. Dr Ong-Hean Tatt He wrote a good book on Feng Shui. See below ? For the serious reader or researcher who wants evidence that Feng Shui is for real! You can also check out:- Doctor Stephen Field's FengShui Gate You must visit this site especially if you are doing research on the origins of fengshui. Information for the most part available no where else in English, written and maintained by a professor of Chinese and scholar of classical literature and history. Warmest Regards, Cecil Lee

Dear Anon, Please see below:- It certainly made sense for babies to wear old clothes especially their own siblings clothes. I remembered at the time when pampers were not `invented' yet. Once upon a time, we use to use cotton nappies. It does make sense to `re-use' those that were purchased for an earlier sibling. Or even those given by relatives. In my personal opinion, this makes practical sense. As an adult, if you were to ask me, I would prefer to wear those that I bought because, we are not growing so do not need to buy clothes so often. Anyway, the only belief is that one should not wear torn clothes even if it is one's personal clothings. Frankly, being small, we should treat them as small decorative pieces and usually no impact. No offence, but I would treat it like buying a toy from Mcdonald's and leaving it at the TV area. There should not be any impact. For the serious person, one should use the Eight House and Flying Star. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. The most common colour associated with Jade is green. 2. Many people believe that the darker the colour of jade, the more valuable it is. 3. In the past, it is common for a lady to wear a jade bracelet around their wrist. 4. Sometimes when they grow `fatter', it is difficult for the jade to come off. But usually soap does the trick. 5. Many believe that the longer the jade is worn, it turns a `darker' colour. Perhaps, it is due to the jade being porous and absorbing the contaminants surround it? 6. For those who have noticed, the Free resources on the website, (under Chinese tombs, The Landscape Feng Shui) there is a body covered entirely with green jade. To save users the trouble of locating it, the url is: http://www.geomancy.net/fs/burial.htm Did you see the body in full Jade suite? 7. Other jade are less `valued'. But each piece differs in its age and quality. 8. As there may be many contaminants e.g. a jade piece with different colours, the artisan making the Jade piece must use his imagination in crafting the piece. 9. For example if you check out the pictures under this URL: http://www.geomancy.net/pics/jade1/index.htm 10. You can find pieces like: 10.1. Jade Monkey piece 10.2. Jade leaf piece 10.3. Jade horse piece You will notice that all these jades comes in various `contaminants' colours. 11. But with the imagination of the artisan, they became `great' art pieces which uses these `contaminants' or shades of different colours to good use. 12. Can you spot more examples in the above link where the Jade pieces are of non-uniform colours? 13. For example under the link below:- http://www.geomancy.net/pics/teacups1/index.htm You will find an interesting piece called " Jade White Buddha ". http://www.geomancy.net/pics/teacups1/image11.htm One can see how, a Jade of partially white jade and yellow (gold) and Red coloured piece of jade has been transformed so beautifully into the image of Buddha `wrapped' in the appropriate Buddhist Yellow and red. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Eva, 1. Overall, under the Eight House concept, this would imply that this is the least suitable house for the breadwinner (your husband). In terms of degree of suitablitly, disaster and death at the main entrance is considered the least suitable house under this theory. 2. It generally implies that even if the house has excellent Feng Shui, because the house and the breadwinner's Ba Zhi does not match, overall, if the house is excellent or even if there is a `cure' if needed under Flying Star, it would be `average'. However, one must also look at the influence in the bedroom of each family members. Where possible, the bed room should be an auspicious sector and (not the disaster sector) if one can help it. 3. Other cross checks may be used e.g. one's Pillars of Destiny, the season one is at and generally it should be auspicious or the element of influence is not against (or clash with your personal element.) Generally, under the Eight House Theory, it is good to try to spent more time at sectors that are generally auspicious e.g. health, prosperity, longevity... Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. The satellite dish is is a relatively new invention. 2. Frankly, more has to be looked into before proper comments can be made. 3. In my opinion, it is less concern if we term it a `poison arrow' by looking at it's design. Because the `most threatening' look is the centre receiver and it also depends on the design. Most of the time, the centre is circular and rounded (although) it is a `stick'. 4. More concern is the question of whether anything comes close to:- (1.) the "Dangers of underground water". http://www.geomancy.net/fs/under.htm (2.) Handphones, the danger of micro wave http://www.geomancy.net/fs/handphone.htm For certain models of Handphones, just try to make a call when you are near your Personal computer. One may see the screen `jump' and the nearby cord phone, having a faint interference sound. I do encounter it with a few popular model of handphones. Least I be sued, will not mention the brand/models. Do try it out for yourself. I have thus used the headset. At least, the antennae is not close to my brain. 5. Similarly, the dangers of underground water, cancer rate is highest where water (gases) run under e.g. the bed. 6. Thus if the satellite dish, assuming the worst senario, (I believe it is not true) emits high does of `energy' be it microwave etc.. in close proximity or linear, then it would be equally bad. I believe, situations like the above examples are of more concern than just simply the design of the satellite dish which I believe `looks' non-threatening if we compare it to the edge of the building pointing towards the house. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. I believe this is an `open' question for now. 2. So far, it is my opinion that one should keep the shoe rack inside the house. In my home, I keep it in away from the main entrance door. I have a shoe rack at the back of my home. When I return home, I bring the shoes to the shoe rack at the back of the house (which is next to the waste bin). 3. This is my personal habit. Although it is quite inconvenient, I managed to do so. Don't ask me why, but this is how my family does it. 4. In Singapore, I do notice quite alot of private homes, do not leave their shoes outside the house. Perhaps they are too expensive. 5. However, I do see many people, do have shoe racks either outside (immediately outside their house) or just immediately inside their house. 6. Frankly, as there is little study on the overall effects on Qi in the home, one has to decide for yourself. 7. Some of us will always have the habbit of leaving their shoes, understandably out of convenience especially if it is a landed property. 8. For others, it is for fear of being stolen especially if expensive shoes are left out in an apartment. 9. Each of us have to make our own personal judgements. 10. Under Feng Shui, the main entrance door is like the `mouth' of the house. This is one consideration, for Feng Shui `believers'. And this topic can be subjected to different views as it is "invisible" to everyone and secondary to Feng Shui. Where we should get our basics right first. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, Please see below:- 1. Overall, we are only considering the Year of birth sign of the three persons. 2. In general, under the Year of birth, since the three persons, share the same `birth' sign, it is considered that (very generally again) that their characteristics are considered similar for e.g. a dog is faithful and loyal. 3. Like its `Western cousin' the Zodiac sign, it can filter down to the Month of birth, day of birth and time of birth which may be different for each of the three persons. 4. Another `School' of thought is based on balance. One should not have too many of the same element together. This does not mean that it is no good to have all `dogs' in the family. 5. What this means is that, if a family have all `Five elements', Earth, Water, Wood, Metal and Fire element (based on the animal sign plus their element), this is a good thing because, the family possesses a balance of the Five elements. 6. Overall, it is not necessary good nor bad to have all family members with the same animal sign. In fact, one can as mentioned above look `deeper'. A dog can also be different e.g.: Fire dog, Water dog, Metal dog, Wood dog or Earth dog. For example a Fire dog may be more tempermental. While a water dog may be more easier going. 7. Once again, we can see that authentic Feng Shui is all about reducing each person or object or situation into the Five elements. 1. Generally, it should be your immediate family as your close kin. 2. If your sister-in-law or aunties are staying with you and if it happens that everyone combined together has all Five elements, so long as everyone is staying together, you have all `five elements' in the home. 3. This is opposed to `remote-control'. Where, if one family member, even if it is an immediate family member but is not staying with you cannot be `counted'. For example, if your son is studying overseas, one cannot do remote control and assume that he will be influenced at `home'. 1. I believe I have written on the clashes in the Applied Feng Shui course/book. But not to the extend of using numbers. 2. If one looks at the graphic of the 12 Chinese animal signs at http://www.lovesigns.net For example, year 1 is the Rat. It's worst `affinity' is the animal opposite it e.g. the Snake (directly opposite it or we can call it 6 O'clock from the Rat). If one notice carefully, each three animals form a `grouping'. Thus animals in relation to each other at 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, 9' o'clock. Dragon, Monkey and Rat are excellent matches and if one looks closely form a distinctive triangle. Thus the 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock and 9 o'clock forms a triangle. Animals within this triangle shows affinity to each other. While the animal opposite it (e.g. Snake) is it's least compatibile or worse affinity. And the animal opposite it (e.g. Snake) has two other animals that share affinity with it. Since it shares the `same' nature and interest as the Snake and are its best friend, naturally, it is not that compatible to the Rat. Warmest Regards Cecil

Dear Glyn, Usually, the most important consideration is when one is moving in i.e. the date one moves into the house is the most important date to `note'. For changing of the hot plates, some over zealous people, may look at the dates but, in my opinion, it is not that important. All these falls under `Chinese beliefs and customs' rather then FS. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Eva, 1. Usually, this is quite common situation. Sometimes it can be a home, on other occasions it could be an office unit or even a shop premises. 2. For some Chinese, they would use a pair of Lions as shown in several photos under "Photo Tours of Interest". 3. While others place two pots of plants on each side of the entrance. 4. More importantly, if there are no poison arrows aimed at the main door, this situation is (although not 100 percent ideal) but is acceptable. Warmest Regards, Cecil