Cecil Lee

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

Dear Anon, The Flying Star theory can usually tell that #2 is the sickness star. More investigative work need to be `carried' out and other Geomancy theories would be required e.g. Pillars can analyse a person's element components and even `predict' which part of the body, one would most likely have health problems with. Other causes would also be where a person stays in a house with underground water directly below or near to e.g the bed. If one does not live in a landed property, this would not likely be the `cause'. There are other disciplines that can be used to cross reference the above but currently, they are not directly related to Feng Shui so not followed up. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, No, one should avoid activating the mountain star at the front or at the main door. The point here to remember that activating a mountain star at the main door, the front or the living room is like `placing' a moutain at our `eyes'. We have to remember that the frontage is best to have clear space or a bird flying freely. The same concept applies in our living room. The mountain star (if there is one) is to activate e.g. inside a wall in a bedroom or at the back door area. The concept of mountain (solid backing) and the water (clear space) in front is what it all means. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Pun, 1. In Feng Shui, the area of main entrance door should be proportionate to the external wall frontage of the house. If say 4 panels of the glass doors can be opened, there is likelyhood that the main entrance is considered larger than the frontage of the house. 2. Where possible, avoid opening the side of the glass doors which are directly facing the gate. More importantly, the glass door should not be on the straight line as the backdoor or open space. Where Qi would take a straight path out of the house. 3. If so, you may need to consider a screen or a display cabinet that does not have `holes'. 4. If your concern is the front yard gate pillar, then if you use curtains or where the tint on the glass is `sufficient', this will not pose a problem of sha qi. Can you place a potted plant at the pillar? This is optional as under Para 4 above, it should be able to redress the situation. 5. Where possible open not more than 2 panels of the glass main door. Too many glass doors opened and it will be disapportionate. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. The most common method is to tie the coins through the centre square hole where all six coins overlap each other either in a single row or a `circular' formation. 2. What I have done (as shown in the Conference: Photo Tours) is another method where the three coins x 2 sets spread are spread over a Red Packet (or Red Paper). 3. You can still bind the coins by placing them on top of each other. This is not the norm but symbolically, they are still 6 coins. 4. Some cautious Feng Shui practioners may if they are too ingrained in using the coins as mentioned under Para 1. But usually, your method should work the same way, unless you do not use 6 coins. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, So far, I not come across any FS practioner use a paper dragon to neutralize the poison arrow. One reason is because objects are easier to use i.e. and can easily be shifted to point to the poison arrow. But do becareful if one is using a dragon because, it should not be in the path of `movement' in the home e.g. placed on a table and aims through the living room to the poison arrow. It has to be placed in such away, that it is nearest e.g. the window (where movement along this line is `rare'). In my personal opinion, as mentioned above, I have yet to come across anyone who uses a paper dragon. Therefore cannot truly comment on its `effectiveness'. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, Frankly, I am not too sure about the name of the plant. So far, the plant continues to have flower buds and as soon as one set of flowers `die', the new set of flowers bloom all year round. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Ann, There are two methods of determining the placement of mirrors: 1. The most accurate is based on Flying Star Theory. Here, the house is analysed and the sector where the room (wall) is should not have inauspicious stars. For example if the sector of the room has a #2 Sickness or #5 Misfortune Star, placing a mirror at the location (wall) will double the effect. 2. If one do not want to go further than using such tools, would have to depend on one's personal feelings. If one feels comfortable, then place the mirror. As this is `trial and error' Feng Shui, when one place the mirrors avoid doing other `enhancements'. If it is placed correctly, there is no effect on the family member using the room. Such as falling sick frequently etc... I like to be as frank as possible. The above senario Para 2. may not happen. The probability of encountering it is 1 out of 9 sectors. I am not sure what is your `intention' of using the mirror. Is it for decorative purposes or to create the illusion of a bigger room. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Glyn, Truly sad to hear about the series of mishaps. On the surface, like you mentioned it looks like the effect of the Grand Duke. Perhaps, Shapes and Form may (or may not) be a further cause of it especially if the building profile has been `altered'. This is because, Shapes and Form has been known to result in such tragedies. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. Wooden Ceiling beam The advise here is to use 6 `ancient' Chinese coins with square holes tied with red string. Here, Metal is used to destroy wood. 2. Cement ceiling beam Use two bamboo flutes to form the top profile of the Ba Gua symbol:- ____ / \ Here, the wooden bamboo flutes is used to destroy earth (cement) 3. Metal ceiling beam Here you can paint the beam red. As Red represents fire element and is used to destroy or control metal. What we are using is based on the Five Elements `Destructive Cycle'. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Elmer, Frankly, you need not worry about the `missing' dragon. The reason is because: 1. A dragon may be present or considered a `false dragon' but still a dragon. Here, you may need a Feng Shui Master with expertise in Shapes and Form to detect it. 2. If the house compound (on the East) has tall trees; this can be considered a `false' dragon. (If one really looked hard, one should be able to find a dragon even if it is a `false' dragon). Since you are staying in a terrace, if there is a terrace next to yours, there is relatively no effect on your house or this is really not an issue. 3. In the past, an excellent site is one where the Dragon has to embrace the lower Tiger. Nowadays, greater concern is placed on:- a. A solid backing behind the house. b. A clear space (infront). An added bonus if there is a water position at the frontage of the house. With these two, you would have a `decent' house (provided you correct any poison arrows aimed at the house). It is my believe that what you are facing is common and please do not be overly concerned about it. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. There are some differences in opinion over this. But the differences are not on Feng Shui but rather based on `beliefs'. 2. The belief is that it is inauspicious to hang a carpet especially if it has been `used' before e.g. stepped on. 3. On the other hand, some find it acceptable to hang carpets. Especially `antique' carpets such as the Famous hand stiched Persian carpets. 4. It is my opinion, that there is really no harm to hang decorative carpets on the wall. They can be treated like any other piece of art. (Especially if they are rare pieces). Where best, if they have red background, ideally they should be hung in the living room or in a `special' room. Red usually associated with Yang energy. Where possible try not to hang a red carpet on the South wall unless one is a weak Fire person. 5. Like curtains, they should be regularly `cleaned' and not left to collect dusts. 6. This is not Feng Shui: If you have a `hi-fi' room, the carpet can be placed in such as room. It will absorb echoes and excellent as a sound room to enjoy quality music or music played in a show room. Warmest Regards, Cecil