Cecil Lee

Dear Anon, This question covers quite a "wide angle" or a range of thinking and practise: 1. If you have seen the picture of the house I described under http://www.geomancy.net/fs/grandpa1.htm One will see that the original house looks like it has a " head " i.e. the Ba Gua shaped frontage of the house. A closer look and one will notice the body of the house. Locally, some older houses are of this type of shape while others are not. 2. Some older houses in Singapore has a toilet at the North (true compass direction) , a Ba Gua shaped roof at the South (also true compass direction) of the House. 3. Some houses neither conform to the above. 4. Here, there are as many thinking as the numerous amount of houses. This is similiar to so many "forms" or sub-practises in Feng Shui alone. 5. I shown the picture of Suntec City under the Conference: Photo Tours of Interest. This is where the entire building complex is shaped as a hand with a palm. This layout is `concentrated' on just the left hand of a person. It is not so much of the head and body but just that... the left hand. 6. Another way of looking at it is that some book authors would equate e.g. the main entrance door similar to the mouth of the house to `stress' their point. 7. It is like the pictorial representation of the Four Symbolic Animal Concept where it holds different meaning depending on the concept used. (Do a search if u want to find out more). While some place emphasis on the Five Elements Concept i.e. toilet at the north, fire shaped (ba gua) roof at the south etc... Others use symbolism e.g. the palm (Suntec City). 8. Some others `create' a hole at the centre of the complex to allow what they preceive the dragon to go thru the building. 9. In some buildings, no Feng Shui consideration has been made e.g. some tall buildings. Here, you can see a range of practises or non-practises. As there is diversity, there is also different ways people and even Feng Shui Masters practise their Feng Shui. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Jane, Unfortunately, this is not directly related to Feng Shui although theories such as Flying Star can help to pinpoint the location related to such influences. It is best that you try to explain to your daughter and not to say too much to the neighbour. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, A picture on such situations would be nice. In general, this is not an ideal situation if the door is right `next' to the main entrance. Another way to look at is whether the frontage can still receive sufficient lighting or is there a constant shadow over the main entrance. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, As each situation differs, one must be physically at the site to access individually. It is very hard to give a general statement for such situations. I hope you understand that it is thus difficult for me to comment on. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. This concept applies more to homes than to apartments. 2. If you are a worried wife, you can sigh in relief:) But there are differences in opinion here. In my opinion, it should come under Para 1. But do not add to this by placing a water position at this location within the apartment. Here, one can try and let the members here know if it is really true. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. Perhaps is it because the Chinese husbands are afraid of being hen-pecked? *JOKE* 2. In my opinion, this is not true. Many Chinese wifes often buy chickens without emphasis on whether they are hens or roosters. Some even have preference for eating hens than roosters. So, far, not yet. I yet to see a Chinese lady hold up a chicken and look closely at its head or start prodding it's backside to find out if it is a hen or rooster. 3. But I have read that some Chinese chefs are particular about the age of the chickens. I read recently that some Chinese chefs who had opened a famous Chinese eatery servicing `Hainanese chicken' found the chickens not suitable because they were slaughter `too early'. In addition, some of us consider the term `chicken' to mean a coward, there is another meaning to this. Perhaps, from another perspective, we can see why `ladies' do not like to associate with chickens ("lady chics" or "hen"). Locally, one should never call a lady or girl a `chicken' or in romanized form `Ji'. To add insult to injury a `chicken' is equated to a `prostitute'. Perhaps is this the reason why Chinese ladies do not like to eat the hen (chicken)? Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, One can use lighting or lights to enhance the Qi. But what you have mentioned is in my opinion not practical. 1. The best lighting is during the day it is best to natural lighting. In a home, it is best to allow rays of natural sun light to filter into the house. 2. I am not sure how one can implement the proposal of turning on the lighting e.g. purple or red all the time. 24 hours? In my opinion, it is just like the story of someone who was asked to drive his car over a set of steps everyday he returns home. Is this practical? not withstanding the question of whether it will work or not. On one hand, the power supply company would be most happy to hear of this. Perhaps it is a rumour circulated by a power supply company staff or a shareholder *JOKE* Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Alice, However, it is best to have a full Feng Shui audit conducted before one knows exactly in what degree is it inauspicious. For example, the way the canal curves is a major consideration. If the canal curves and looks like a `sickle' slicing the house, this is inauspicious. It is difficult for me to fully advise you as one must be physically present to look at the `Shapes and Form' by doing an environmental scanning and using other tools and methods e.g. Flying Star, your suitability, the main entrance in relation to the breadwinner and many other considerations. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, `Arrows' and even forks are used not really to divert Qi but to neutralise Sha Qi. For example, if one has a circular staircases visible from the main entrance door. The ideal situation is to use a screen. But it is not possible to screen off from the rest of the house e.g. living room. Some Feng Shui practioners will use e.g. golden arrows i.e. a pair to neutralise it from (two)different locations. Forks (as in spoons and forks) can also be used for the above purpose. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, In my opinion, one should not consider predecessor luck in Feng Shui. In the earlier message, what I mentioned was that Chinese do pay emphasis on where their forefathers are buried. But it is not correct to say that inheritance or holding back a home which once brought us luck is `predecessor'. I have also reinforced the notion that Feng Shui influence cannot be by `remote control'. If one manages to keep the previous house that brings one luck, most likely, the current house that one is staying is equally luckly to `allow' the owner to keep the previous house. One has to stay at the house to `enjoy' the luck. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, For fishes, more importantly is the number of fishes kept. Here, there are three common methods:- 1. Based on one's Gua number or or 2. The element of the breadwinner. Here each element has a number. or 3. Some prefer 8 or 9 fishes. Another important point is to avoid using pyramid shaped fish tank. Some of the koi species have red and black markings. These are acceptable. Here, one can add a few other species such as `Tancho' e.g. with a circular patch on its forehead... In my opinion, the red and black markings is no issue. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. Sorry can you further elaborate on what you are asking as I not too sure what you are trying to say. 2. If a bedroom is `odd shaped' one can use built in cabinets to create a `room' that is of a `better' shape e.g. a rectangular shaped room instead. An odd shaped room is no good for a couple's marriage. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, This has more to do with Chinese beliefs than Feng Shui. There is therefore differences of opinion between those who choose to keep the birds caged and those who are against it. Keeping even a pair of live birds is to some Chinese, not a good thing because, it signifies cruelty i.e. akin to imprisoning the birds. The belief is that birds should be `born free'. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. This depends on whether the main door is facing your auspicious direction. For example, if the slant is facing your Prosperity sector, this is better than say changing the door to it's original position if the door faces one of your inauspicious sectors. 2. The above is one of the techniques some FS practioners use to re-orientate the main door to an auspicious sector. 3. Some FS practioners even go to the extent of advising all their clients to slant their door if it happens to be facing NE (Devil's gate). Some go further and ask their clients to change the door if it also faces SW (Devil's backdoor). Here it depends and this should be looked into inconjunction with the Flying Star analysis and not forgetting the Shapes and Form. 4. For those who after reading this might wonder should I? I have given advise that there are other available cures available e.g. a semi-circular carpet outside the main entrance, or the Triangle effect. Other techniques used here include a convex door. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. You do have an interesting point. 2. Since this is "thought provoking" anyone wants to make a guess before, I make my comments? Ladies and Gentlemen, put on your thinking caps:) 3. It would be interesting to hear who has the "most logical" answer to your question. 4. On another issue, I was toying with this idea:- Since this present forum will be 1 year old on the last day of 1999; I was thinking of e.g. issuing a special commemorative Millenium Certificate from Geomancy.Net to e.g. the Top Ten users of this forum &/or the Top Five message posters (other than Robert and myself). If anyone have any feedback or suggestions, please login to the forum and post as a message under Wish List / Enhancements / Feedback. The reason is because this Conference is not on the mailing list and will not `distrub' the rest of the users listening in to regular Feng Shui messages. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Elena, You have brought up an interesting question. 1. Feng Shui cannot be done by `remote control'. 2. One has to stay in the building/house in order to reap the benefits of the luck `made' under the building/house. 3. If the new house also is `good' and brings one luck, one can still be able to retain the previous (lucky) house and continue to prosper. 4. When the house `brings' a person `luck' avoid making major renovations. 5. The reason is because the house chart period may change e.g. Period 6 house becomes a Period 7 house and may change the `luck' of the house. 6. Someone else who occupies the house may not get the same luck as the `owners' because the house may not be as suitable to them. 7. It is not like the Chinese custom of burying the dead at an auspicious burial site in the hope that future generations prosper. Even so, especially due to rapid construction around the burial site, the landscape may change for the worse. The burial site becomes bad Feng Shui. A `lucky' building cannot be compared to the above. It has to be stayed in and be suitable for the persons staying in it. 8. If the owner dies, and occupied by his children, it may not be necessarily lucky for the decendants. Here, it also has to depend on the suitability of the house to the decendants. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, I agree with your statement that it takes lot of time and extensive research and the hardest part in translation is to interpret what was said correctly. The key essence is to complete all the translations and interpretation before one should apply the theories. Sometimes the information is no longer relevant and how does one differentiate these. In the past, a Chinese Emperor was said to have kept Feng Shui theories to himself and got his officials to plant `false' works on Feng Shui. There was even the suggestion that at one time, the Imperial Palace was constructed on `false' Feng Shui. You would have guessed, it burned down. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, Whether `red soil' is considered auspicious or inauspicious has more to do with a person's belief than Feng Shui. Most of us would have guessed that red soil if `wrongly' interpreted could mean that `bad blood' has been spilled on the ground. In Singapore, we previously have a location or hill that has this type of soil. Today, the estate is known as ` Redhill ' which literally means that there was indeed a hill with red soil at this location. Many government housing block flats were built on top of this region. I believe there are no inherent effects for the residents living there. In Feng Shui, a Traditional Master would instead look at the grain of sand on the site. To make it simply, if the grain of sand has jaggered edge or sharp edge, this is less auspicious type of sand. There are various types of sand and to the Traditional Master, each has its characteristics. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, In my opinion, there is no significance of planting red chilly plants such as `chilli padis' which are the hottest type of chillies. Those that are similar to Tabasco source but because of the high vinega content in Tabasco, it is really not as hot as those small chilli plants that some Chinese love to plant and of eat. I believe, the edible ones are planted so that they can be plucked and eated during lunch or dinner. These plants grow chillies very fast and plucking them often helps more chillies to grow. For the non-edible ones.. I am not too sure. Frankly, I have not seen a non-edible one locally. Perhaps, the owners would not bother to plant them at all. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, I am not sure if anyone have heard of the Show `Kung Fu' starring David Carradine (I hope I spent his name correctly). In this show, or a series of TV episodes, he is also called the `grass hopper'. In one episode, he had to use his arm to hold up the buring cauldron. When he did this, his left hand was burned with the profile of the dragon and his right arm the profile of a tiger. Usually, these `monks' wear a robe and the markings of the dragon and tiger are not shown. For a dragon ring, it is in my opinion a small object and secondly it usually does not point towards the person. Anyway, it does not really matter being a small object. Looking at it another way, many companies also use the Dragon emblem in their logos and my personal belief that it should not have such a great impact as to scare a person from wearing one. Like the monks who carries its picture on their arm, does it mean that they will get negative effects all their lives? Here, I believe in wearing what you like. But if one goes all the way to wear a dragon object, the question asked is are you wearing it because it like it or that you are `forced' to wear it? Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, There are two ways to `decide' whether one should place a decorative mirror. 1. If one does not want to have anything to do with Feng Shui or Feng Shui advise. Then go with one's own feeling. In addition, if there are no effects on one after the lacement of the mirror i.e. hanging on the wall or using a glass/mirror table, then continue to do so. 2. But if one wants to find out further, do an analysis using tools like the Eight House to check the suitablity of the breadwinner's intangible force at that sector. Use the Flying Star to check whether the location is auspicious or not. Where possible if the wall (location) is inauspicious, avoid placing the mirror hanging on the wall. The glass / mirror table is not so bad if it does not reflect vertically like the placement i.e. hanging on the wall. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, This would not be a real issue: 1. It is not like the windows slide and causing a `knife' like effect. Even if assuming it does, it cuts harmlessly towards the wall. One should therefore not consider the slidding effect as similar to a poison arrow. It is not. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, For that matter, under Traditional Feng Shui practises, placing an altar and especially the stove are equally bad under such a situation. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. This is an interesting question. 2. I have heard both sides of the `story'. Some practioners say that both sides of the main entrance door must have equal panels. While others mentioned that the door panel can be unequal. 3. So far, based on what I have observed:- a. Most (or all doors) on traditional Chinese buildings be it a temple, a very old house/building or landmark has doors that are of equal dimensions. b. Singapore Housing board flats have a `main door' and grille gate where it fits your description. I know that the Housing Board flats where 90 percent of Singaporean stays have their main doors that conform to Feng Shui ruler good dimensions. Nowadays, less emphasis is placed on Feng Shui ruler dimensions. You will be surprised to learn that most if not nearly all Feng Shui teachers (those that teach / practise traditional Feng Shui and who have websites on the internet) are not too `concern' with the Feng Shui ruler. Imperial Carpentry especially in the Ming and Ching Dynasties are important specialisations. In modern times, it is more often that we buy furnitures off the shelf than to go to a carpenter and order a tailor made furniture set. For the above reason and others, one can see why most Feng Shui teachers or practioners would ask their students to say that what matters today is, see a furniture you like and buy it. (Without having to go to the `ritual' of measuring them to check their auspicious or non auspicious dimensions). Furthermore, to add to the confusion, one can easily go to a Feng Shui store and purchase no less than four or five different `types' of Feng Shui rulers based on different ways of `calculating' auspicious sectors. In my opinion, it is not the norm to have unequal door panels but this does not automatically mean that it is auspicious or inauspicious. One way of looking at it is that if the door is opened without opening the second panel of unequal door, and the Feng Shui dimensions are auspicious, this is acceptable. Opening the unequal door and thus enlarging the door, but if the dimensions are again auspicious, it is equally good. It would thus be better if the dimensions check out to be auspicious under both `conditions'. If one is an `Imperial' carpenter, he/she would insists that it must conform to auspicious dimensions. To a modern Western Traditional Feng Shui teacher or practioner, he may not look at it from the same point of view. Warrmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. I believe it also depends on the country we live in. Here, locally (in Singapore) and around the region, plants can strive inside the house. It also depends on the type of plants used. In some locations, I believe that it is difficult for plants to grow or subsequently may die. 2. We tend to use the plants as a cross check on a location. Here, it is used as an `indicator' rather as a clear indication that the location maybe inauspicious. One can use Feng Shui tools like Flying Star to counter-check whether the location is inauspicious or not. 3. For offsite audits especially for those who are facing hardships or financial problems, sometimes, I do ask the homeowner to check on the condition of the plant. The reason is because I am not physically there to actually do a thorough FS audit and you can say that the `plants' are like my eyes. As the world is vast, I do take into consideration the climate condition and it also depends on the homeowner's judgement whether a certain plant he/she places inside the home can actually grow (based on the common type of plants) that had been placed inside other houses and where they could have `lived'. Again, this judgement falls on the homeowner. One should not come to the immediate conclusion if the plant really die. For all we know, it could be otherwise. Therefore, it is to me an indicator only. Warmest Regards, Cecil Warmest Regards, Cecil