Cecil Lee

Dear Anon, As this forum is open to the public and easily accessible by anyone, it is not ideal to discuss `politics' since, my close relatives and myself need to travel to China. In such a situation, it is `wise' or best not to antagonise the Chinese government in any way. Thus my personal wish is that everything can be solved, `peacefully'. I believe many overseas Chinese, share the same feelings as their brothers and sisters in China for peaceful co-exisitence. In the past, during the Japanese invasion and World War II, overseas Chinese rallied and collected over, I believe $50 million dollars at that time in aid of China. If one look at the history of China and the abuse of power by the Emperors and Lords against the poor, one should say that, life has changed for the better for the masses (even under communist rule). I believe, that if any `huge' populated nation would survive and prospher, it would be the Chinese. Contrast this to, the unfortunate circumstances in Russia, where, in my opinion, money invested is like going into a `blackhole' and a vicious cycle of poverty or chaos. If things continue, there may be another `peasant' revolt. I believe, conservative China, can progress and have a better human rights record as its citizens, get better off economically and financially. Currently, India, is also, I believe trying to lay a claim on Tibet so, this `country' is squeezed between China and India. Many overseas Chinese, thus have a part to play as a bridge to understanding Chinese culture especially to the West since we are educated overseas and English is widely used in terms as the medium of commerce. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. Based on your information, it is presently difficult to `pinpoint' how effective, Feng Shui can do at this time. 2. One think for certain is that: 2.1 Feng Shui can help to `reverse' some of the Earthly Luck of your home. 2.2 As for the office, as you mentioned that your investment is overseas, it is difficult to do Feng Shui by "remote control." Usually, an audit has to be conducted at the office premises. 2.3 As you mentioned that both of you have present jobs, one way is to `enhance' each individual by using the Pillars of Destiny i.e. looking at the element and its strengths. 3. Currently, between (divided) amongst ourselves we are currently helping many cases (some of them privately) thus, for those who need help, would have to be more proactive by utilising the various tools and analysis provided. 4. Please e-mail robert-lee@3dmail.com privately so that we can provide you free credits especially for: Home Audit report, The necessary Pillars of Destiny reports. Both reports, are pretty detailed and if you need clarifications do let us know. 5. For your present home, you should also try to see if there are any poison arrows aimed at your existing house and conduct your own `Shapes and Form audit'. There are available resources in this website. Pay more attention to the location of the toilet, the sleeping area and main entrance door, any poison arrows aimed at the windows. 6. Use the Eight House Theory to see how suitable the house is. For more information on how to do a Eight House, go to: http://www.geomancy.net/fs/house1.htm Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Toni, 1. That will be great! 2. Best that it is in the medium he is most comfortable with i.e. black and white or in colour. Colour would be nicer thou. 3. We can discuss on how it can be sent later on. We can discuss other details privately at my email address: cecil@geomancy.net. Thanks in advance! Warmest Regards, Cecil ---- Additional characters could include --- P.S. The Kindergarten Practitioner Here, the Practititioner could be `seen' with doing a nursery room (leave it to the imagination:)

Hi Everyone, A picture paints a thousand words I feel that it would be very useful to draw caricatures? I really do not mind paying anyone who can draw well of " Feng Shui " characters. For example, some of the caricatures of various characteristics of Feng Shui practitioners:- a. The `Huge' Ego Practitioner You often see them lurking in the alt.chinese.fengshui newsgroup or participating in some Feng Shui forum. Always never want to `lose' or once get `hurt' return all their `firepower'. b. The `Goatie' Practitioner This year, one of my clients *chuckled* that they were looking at the photos of the various Feng Shui practitioner and looking for a practitioner who does not have a "goatie". Perhaps, they hired me because I do not have a goatie. (By the way, a goatie is like a beard). Others:- c. The `Play Safe' Practitioner d. The Oriental `look' practitioner e. The Space Clearing practitioner f. The Western practitioner etc.. g. The Black Hat Sect Practitioner Here, the practitioner perhaps wears a black hat and carry a suitcase. The suitcase contains all the additional wares that he/she will try to push to the client or (`victim?). h. The `Elastoplast' practitioner, and many more... I believe so far, no one has conceptionalized the characteristics of the various practitioners. There are lots more.. if one puts on the thinking cap. I have to add a(c) Copyright above for the description, concept/idea, Cecil Lee I believe the above is an excellent way to deplict the types of Feng Shui practise after having seen and understood them all these years. Anyone interested to discuss e.g. on co-writing such a book? Warmest Regards, Cecil

What has Quantum Leap has to do with Feng Shui? For those who is considered having an average but generally smooth life:- If you have been staying in the same house for a few years to many years. Do not expect to see a quantum leap in major improvements. For example, if you life is pretty normal, staying in the house, do not expect that Feng Shui can provide you with the Quantum Leap to riches and monetary wealth. However, if one has been plagued with `problems' especially in health, misfortune, can utilize Feng Shui. What is the morale of the story? Since, one may not expect to see a Quantum Leap, so do we put in so much effort, money and time to gain only Marginal returns? Should we thus spent more fruitful time, on other more constructive things in our life or enjoy our life to the fullest? Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, We live in a real world and if we like in a studio apartment, we should not worry unduly about its effect on Feng Shui. You can still apply Feng Shui concepts: 1. Ideally, if the entire studio apartment is one open area, we can artificially provide sections e.g. between the kitchen and say the living room or the bedroom, have a `partition' such as an eating counter etc.. 2. For the living room, or bedroom, leave a `gap' or a short distance between say the bed and the other `rooms'. 3. It is not compulsory but some actual examples also include the using carpets to have an outline between one area e.g. the living room and other areas. (This is not compulsory) but just one of the simple examples that do not cost a `bomb'. 4. More importantly, do not clutter the apartment with too many belongings i.e. turn it into a "refugee" camp. Keep unwanted items neatly in e.g. boxes. The amount of furniture, in a studio apartment must be appropriate to the space we live in. If we live in a larger area, we should also keep our house tidy etc... 5. In my personal opinion, a small studio apartment has because of its small size, relatively minimal impact on the occupants thus, one may not need to find out for example, how suitable the house is to the breadwinner or `strictly' apply the Eight House or Flying Star. The most important theory for a studio apartment, in my opinion are: - Where possible conform to the Shapes and Form (whenever possible) - Apply the Yin and Yang concept. Have a balance of it. In the day time, the house should be more Yang. While at nite, it should be more cosy: Such simple but practical things like, drawing the curtain open during the day to make it more yang is acceptable. However, this would also depend on the nature of work or study and the amount of time spent at home. If say a person is student, then depending on his/her habbit, may have to make the studio apartment more yang at nite, in case one simply falls asleep every nite without doing much revision or homework. Warmest Regards, Cecil Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, Further to what was mentioned earlier, it is common for many Chinese to find a Geomancer after the birth of their child. The geomancer looks at the child's Pillars of Destiny. In a very simple example, the child's pillars lack fire element, his can be added with the phonetic sound of `fire'. As each Chinese character can be classified under each of the Five elements, e.g. the strokes of the name is counted which is considered Yin or Yang such as even or odd strokes plus looking at the phonetic sound. I brought up an example a short article: http://www.geomancy.net/fs/names.htm where, my grandfather consulted a geomancy and my elder brother was given a name with `Shui' (in dialect hokkien it is Chwee close sound) in it. Thus the first name can be: Lee Either last name or middle name has: `Shui' in it. Perhaps one day if you see a person with names such as: James Water Simon Metal Woody Allen Earth Jane Perhaps, check with them whether, their names are `tied' with Feng Shui:) *JOKE* Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, Singapore's Zoo, is separate from the Bird park. Here are some of the links to the Singapore Bird Park. (It is also called `Jurong Bird Park' because it is located in a place called Jurong):- http://www.sin.com.sg/sin/titles/birdpark.html Under the above URL, click the Main Menu, to take you to Places of Interest in Singapore. You can find out more about the many facets of life, and other places of nature e.g. the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve: Quote from the site url: "Singapore is one of only two cities in the world to harbor a significant area of old-growth rainforest within its boundaries - the other being Rio de Janeiro. This 81-hectare reserve, 12km from city center and just a half km from a 30-storey apartment and shopping complex, contains more species of plants than the entire North American continent." Other links to the Bird park:- http://www.asia-compass.com.sg/leisure/attractions/jbirdpark/jbirdpark.htm http://www.travel.com.sg/ltours/template/5a/0,1391,87,00.html Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, This is the official homepage of the Singapore Zoo:- http://www.zoo.com.sg/openzoo/index.htm Another link is at http://cyberfair.gsn.org/tchs98/text/zoo/index.html Quote: "The Open Concept Ever wondered how the Singapore Zoological Gardens got its name as "The Open Zoo"? Well, the 'Open Zoo' was coined, not because of the zoo's operating hours but rather to convey the concepts behind the animal exhibition designs and landscaping. " (Although the above link is all text, you can find out concept and how it was originally developed, in Germany but did not take off in many older zoos because it is expensive to change the layout. Only newer zoo's are thus able to apply this concept). For those who want to find out some of the attractions in Singapore can check out:- http://www.travel.com.sg/ltours/template/5a/0,1391,111,00.html This is another link:- http://www.mediacity.com.sg/daiichi/ For those who want to find out more about Singapore, can visit: http://www.sg This is the `official' home page of Singapore. For example, you can enter a search for `Zoo' to find out more links on the above site. (I found all the above links from here) Hope the above helps. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Cheui May, Perhaps, if you can provide a drawing of the layout plan would be useful. Thanks. Cecil

Dear Anon, The Chinese consider the Owl inauspicious and there are three different reasons for this: 1. The Chinese do not like the sound or hooting that the Owl makes. In Chinese phonetic meaning, it gives the expression for digging of a grave. Here, one of the ancient Chinese belief was that when a person is about to die, one would hear the Owl hoot calling out `dig and dig'. 2. It was believed that when the young of an Owl was about to fly, it is believed to dig out its mother's eyes. Thus the association that the Owl is blind. Of course, this is not true. Owls have excellent eye sight. Para 2, is just a tale! 3. The Mandarin word for Owl is the same word / character as `killing a person and placing his head on a pole.' (Totally gruesome!) 4. For farmers, the Owl is seen as a blessing in disguise. They help to control the rat population. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, Sometimes it is difficult to combine what some of us feel necessary while others may not. Other reasons could also be based on monetary e.g. attract tourism. Another reason is also because of space constraints. In my country, the zoo adopts an open concept i.e. you cannot see any cages (especially for the large animals). Clever use of water holes or canals to prevent animals from escaping. Sometimes because of sensitivity, government officials do not seem to be a participant in Feng Shui. They may for example, call for a discrete FS survey or get advice from a Fortune Teller. But these are usually kept in confidential and hardly released. The logic is that, if the press got word of it, it may lower the credibility of the offical. Imagine, if a newspaper published that e.g. Secretary of State, cannot travel West during this period so, his trip to country XXX has to be cancelled. Many people who have consulted on Feng Shui, Astrology etc.. particuarly in Asia, still want to keep these events private and confidential. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. Some Feng Shui practitioners `swear' by the use of lighting with Five bulbs. To them, they believe that it can neutralize Sha Qi at a location. In my opinion, here, the practitioners are usually, more of the Shapes and Form School practitioners. 2. While another school of thought usually those are more `mathematical' and uses more of the Flying Star, because of their `inclination' to look at No. 5 (misfortune). I believe these practitioners have a `deeper' association of no. 5 with misfortune and in my opinion, may tend to `avoid' the use of anything 5. 3. In my opinion, having seen lots of cases of problems relating to the centrepoint, I feel that : 3.1. If possible, natural lighting into the house / centrepoint is the best. At night, it is still best not to over `kill' or over do anything. If you can make do with one light why do we want to find trouble for ourselves by adding more light bulbs. 3.2. Frankly, I have seen or done lots of cases of analysis relating to the centrepoint and, I would recommend keeping it clear. 3.3. At the moment, water is by far the most `problematic' at the centrepoint. 3.4. For `fire', my country or region has never had anyhouse having a fire place so, in terms of applied Feng Shui, I have minimal experience here. So far, as some of users have apply theory, I also have this question in mind: The earth element is suppose to be at the centrepoint. There may or may not be a link but under the productive cycle, Fire increases earth. The above is an interesting thought. This is unlike a user who recently mentioned North (Water) and it is her death sector. Here, unlike this statement, we can see that there can be a link between `fire' and the `earth' as both are denominated to the Five elements and an analysis can be done. What is `worse' about the Earth element is that unlike all other elements that comes in at a season and diminishes and returns only after all the seasons had passed, Earth element remains strong in-between each of the season. So, earth element can generally be said to remain strong all year round. Furthermore, earth element does have bad stars like Star 5 (misfortune). Thus one way of looking at it is perhaps, it would account for so much of our problems for many people. After reading all these, it is really up to you to decide whether you still want to hang 5 lights at the centre. One consolation is that since you are not going to turn it on all the time, it is considered `not activated'. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, There is some truth in this statement. 1. It is best to keep or concentrate pumbing to one side of the house: 1.1. For the developers, it is easier to build. (Although this is not our main concern here). 1.2. Many good houses have the above characteristics. Even many `good' buildings reserve e.g. a corner of the building for the pantry area, the male and female toilet is at this corner of the house. 1.3. The next important characteristics is to have the water position share an external wall. Here, this simply means that if the toilet shares an external wall it can never be at the centrepoint of the house. 1.4. In my opinion, it is not so much of preventing the house Qi escaping but for above reasons. 1.5. The main consideration of looking at the toilet/sink/bathtub is because it has the water element (with the exception of fire element or wood element), which is unlike the earth, or metal element. Fire is a consideration if it is actually used. For wood, normal furniture is acceptable. But if one has too many plants located together. On it's own, earth element is always a concern because of `Five earth'. But this can easily be neutralised, if one does a proper Flying Star analysis. Hope the above helps. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. I totally agree with you on what you have said. 2. Where possible, the strongest weightage should be word of mouth from close friends or relatives (if possible). 3. I have seen quite alot of cases where: 3.1. We not only have to try to `cure' but also first reverse some of the damage done by these practitioners. 3.2. This is usually where either: the `practitioner' over sell or is not sure: - Over sell : This is where the `practitioner' brings along products e.g. several windchimes, etc.. and asks the owner to place them. Thus make more money out of it. Usually, these are the famous Black Hat Sect Feng shui. - Trying to " play-safe ": This is where, the Feng Shui practitioner (perhaps, most likely is `honest' but not sure how to apply Feng Shui). Here, he/she would guess and to "play safe" by asking their clients to use more than necessary. Alternatively, they learned very little and you can call them `kindergarten' Feng Shui practitioners. 4. Thus we can have a classification from: 4.1 Kindergarten FS practitioner 4.2 Primary School practitioner 4.3 Secondary School practitioner etc... 5. Although, this is may not be totally correct but at least, it can be related by many people. 6. Unfortunately, no one wants to call themselves a kindergarten practitioner. However, as a consumer, you can decide. 7. What worse is that there are many who learned from Feng Shui practitioners and call themselves `Master.' Even in Singapore, if someone calls themselve a Master, there are many who immediately hold them with high regard regardless of whether they are true respected Masters or a novice practitioner. 8. I always believe that the title is earned by someone else calling the name rather than being thick skinned and calling on their own the `Masters' title. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. Thanks for your feedback. 2. I will continue to provide graphic examples but not actual pictures. This is because when e.g. a full audit is done, we have to respect the privacy of clients. Furthermore, usually, it is not a comfortable feeling if a picture is taken when a cure has just been placed. 3. So, I feel it is best to illustrate using graphic drawings (if possible) or when I do have the time to do so. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. No, what you mentioned is not the correct application of Feng Shui. 2. In Feng Shui, we must determine, whether is it personalised for the individual? 2.1 If one look at it closely, even Shapes and Form School analysis is personalised to the individual or the specific home. For example, if there is a corner of a building aimed at your home, the poison arrow is aimed at that specific house. Thus it does not mean that because of the poison arrow aimed at the above house, other houses e.g. a neighbours would automatically get the Sha Qi. Most likely not. If so, it may, instead be at a `T' junction and thus have a totally different poison arrow. If we scrutinize the above closely, the impact is still localised and thus "personalised" to the person or breadwinner's home. 2.2 If we simply generalise that North = Water, South = Fire. What does this mean? It is too generalised to be `personalised' to a person. I regret that I would have to call anyone practising such basic Feng Shui as 'kindergarten' Feng Shui or Feng Shui for the kiddies. So what if water is North or take the case of SW as the romance corner (under the Eight Associations/ Life Associations concept). 2.3 It is too generalised since it `applies' to everyone. 3. The Eight House theory cannot be used as a cure because, it cannot be analysed down to the Five Elements. For example, Death sector cannot be called a Fire element. Neither it is water, earth, wood or metal. 3.1 So how to relate to the Five elements? 3.2 If so, this is one of its limitations. 3.3. This is why, it is good to use it only for: 3.3.1 How suitable are you to your home? 3.3.2 Spent time at a good location. 3.3.3 After having done the above, two points, secondary use is to face a good direction. 4. Since water is `North', there is no link with `death' sector. 5. This is why, the Flying Star Theory is used. Since it can detect imbalances of the five elements. As the mountain star, water star and base star each are a specific element. And the relationships of the three can be studied closely. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. Health must never be compromised in anyway. 2. Feng Shui, Chinese Astrology, Destiny are inanimate or do not / should not relate to the directly to anatomy of human beings. This is a general analysis. Although, each part of the body has a significance. But one cannot relate to food with Feng Shui. 3. Many have not seen the full fledge or a wide range of Chinese `culture'. `Feng Shui' but one of the many many fields or modules of Chinese `systems.' This spans from Food (which uses the Yin and Yang concept). For example, boiled food, steamed etc.. are considered Yin food. While fried, salty food are considered Yang food. 4. So, if you can see, even in food e.g. it is so much `different' area. For example when we talk about water, water is yin while salty food is yang. Under one concept of Yin and Yang, Yin will always attract yang and vice versa. For example, if you eat salty food, you need water to quench your thurst. Here, food can thus be looked at under Yin and Yang. Thus, it would be *comical* to say that one is a weak fire person, one should not drink water. Food, comes under another category, as mentioned above. 5. There are lots more Chinese `culture' not explored yet. Or many are not aware of. For example, in medicine such as acupuncture, Chinese medicine, Chinese kung fu, Qi Gong exercises, reflexlogoy. 6. Drinking water, thus comes under such `other categories'. One should not made to die of thurst because one is a `weak fire' person. *CHUCKLE* I understand, what you mentioned made sense but, I hope you can see that this is closer to `theory'. In applied, or real life situation, it should never, never be the case, that of to compromise a human health. Hope the above helps. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Jomay, In the heading you used Bath room/powder room. Perhaps, can you elaborate more: 1. How close is the bathroom to the centrepoint? (Where is the toilet bowl) 2. Are there any pumbing in the powder room? Or what is the layout like. If you can, do use the conference: Conference for Attaching Layout and attach a .gif or .bmp or .jpg 3. It is hard for me to comment without knowing the full picture. 4. I must stress that where possible, the Shapes and Form in terms of the site, the house layout and the interior position of the furniture is equally important. 5. It is also `essential' to try to use the Eight House Template and visualise the intangible force at each sector of the house. In particular, what intangible force is at the main door (breadwinner) and especially the bedroom. 6. For me, after checking on Para 4 and Para 5, if I am buying a new house, I would like to `go' for a house with Flying Star double 7's (plus a good base star e.g. Star 1). We love to do this, especially finding new houses for ourselves by bringing a notebook computer and generating a Good House Chart. 8. In my country, houses get snap up so fast and even in finding a house, it is like in business, one must have `competitive advantage' to locate and secure a new house. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. In the past, occupations are `clear cut'. One can easily relate it to the type of occupation. 2. Nowadays, because of different functions and multi-skilling, jobs are harder to identify. 3. In my Applied Feng Shui book, I have provided many examples of jobs and the relation to the elements. 4. Under the Pillars of Occupation Report under geomancy-online.com , it shows the `types' of occupation: 4.1. Occupation and Wealth Occupations, based on Pillars of Destiny would most like provide wealth. 4.2. Occupation and Power Occupations that `gives' one power 4.3. Other occupations Examples of occupations are highlighted each for Wealth, Power and Other occupations. The Pillars of Occupation `sounds' reasonable and interesting concept where an occupation can make one wealthly or if one hungers for power etc.. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, Thanks for sharing the thoughts of many users who I belive share the same views as yours. To me, Feng Shui is both a passion and hobby so, I just made the passing remark while I was thinking on another `issue'. But wrote it in the spur of the moment. If I can, I will always answer questions posted to clear whatever doubts or to provide the differing views of various practitioners. When I wrote this, I was thinking more of cases where users simply write: "Where is my wealth corner?" or something similar to it. In the past, I do get many people who simply wrote the above single line and expect me to tell them where their wealth corner. Here, if you only bother to write a one line sentence consisting of 5 words, why should I provide you a lengthly answer. Thus I apologises, what I meant was users who wrote such one liners. I hope you will agree that either the person is naive or simply too lazy to even bother to find out more. The saying goes: "God helps those who help themselves." In the first place, if the person does not help himself who would want to help him. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, In such a case: 1. The person having the `spook' should sleep closer to the compass sector while the other party sleeps further away. 2. It depends on `how far' you would like to apply Feng Shui. 3. Usually my advise is to find out more or have a `bigger' picture of the situation. In this regards, you may want to consider looking at other `issues' such as: 3.1. Is the shapes and form of my house `OK'? i.e. Is my main door `protected' from poison arrows (if any) 3.2. The site of my house OK? For example is there a solid backing and clear space at the frontage of the house? Is there a missing corner? 3.3. In the interior of the home, where is the position of the toilet? Is the centrepoint of the house clear space? 3.4. Is the position of my bed conform to good Feng shui? Do more Shapes and Form audit of your home. Besides the above, it would depend on your willingness or unwillingness to do more Feng Shui analysis using Flying Star, and Pillars of Destiny. Some people may not want to do Flying Star or Pillars and thus depend on their sixth sense. While others do not want to go thru the hassle but simply employ a reliable Feng Shui practitioner and do a full `worry' free audit. All these are some of the alternatives available. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. Under the Eight House Theory, it is good to look at the `overall' picture i.e. `create a template' under http://www.geomancy.net/fs/house1.htm 2. What you can do is to obtain a clear plastic or transparency or simply get a photocopy of your house layout and write each person's `Eight House' auspicious/inauspicious sectors on layout plan. For example, do take note of the influence at your bedrooms. For example, if your bedroom is directly at West and this is the health sector of the spouse and the irritation of the husband, let the wife sleep closer to the line. Thus besides the main entrance door, one need to consider locations where one spends time at especially the bedroom. 3. For the main entrance door area, try to create a more Yang environment i.e. let natural light keep the place `bright' as possible. 4. Here, since the death or disaster is at the main door, under the Eight House, it simply means that it is the `most unsuitable house' to the breadwinner. This is the `implication'. Otherwise, frankly, not much can be done under the Eight House. 5. Depends on your level of `interests or non-interests' in Feng Shui, if you want more to do with Feng Shui then, the next approach is to check the birth chart of the house using the Flying Star. Here, this audit is to check for imbalances within the house and cure it. And for a bigger picture, it is recommended to do a Pillars of Destiny to obtain the true element and strength and find out the season under the Luck period. 6. Do note that there is no direct relationship between curing the Flying Star or finding that it is an excellent house and the Eight House. The house can be an excellent house, but if it is the `death/disaster sector' it is still the most unsuitable house for the breadwinner. But doing a Flying Star chart helps to correct imbalances or for some houses, if they are excellent, and where mountain stars have been located and can be activated. Water stars are generally activated outdoors or in the living room thus it is relatively `straight forward' to do. Warmest Regards, Cecil Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Carina, Please see below:- 1. Under Traditional Feng Shui, it is known as The Eight House Theory or the East Group or West Group persons. 2. Quite a lot of information is available at http://www.geomancy.net/fs/house1.htm 3. If you check back quite recent messages, I have mentioned what: 3.1 What is the purpose of the Eight House Theory 3.2 What are the uses and limitations on this theory. Perhaps you may have to do `some' homework by doing a search for this. As the same question has been covered recently. This is such a `wide topic'. It may not necessary come under Feng Shui. I would consider it as a belief or disbelief. It is natural that dried flowers turn grey or even black and if moist, moldy even. Not only under Feng Shui, no one else would want these unless to give it to an "ex-lover." *JOKE* So do we need to call it inauspicious in the name of Feng Shui. The exception is to spray paint the dried flowers with gold paint, and turn it into something else. This is another issue. Perhaps, close to recycling. Under Shapes and Form School, as the main entrance is considered the mouth of the house, in general, it can be considered as `inauspicious'. I believe, recently, I have just answered the same questions 4, 5. In the earlier reply, I mentioned, the work of a CEO. One must think `BIG' not small. A CEO should not be handling petty cash disbursements but rather `Big' things. Same here. 1. Do not spent time on nitty gritty things or scrutinse every single thing. 2. Principle of exception. Have priorities and ranking. Pay attention only to exceptions rather than on everything. In Feng Shui, if you can find a competent FS practitioner why not get the person to do a full audit. And that's it. Use all your free time to concentrate on your LIFE. This is how, people get `rich'. If one continue to pay attention to petty things, one gets a `petty' life (not sure if there is such a thing, but it comes close). Why pay attention to questions like can I hang floral pictures, or whether should I place my shoes here or there. Although, it may be important to some, these are not as important as whether the house has a slope behind it which may cause landslide etc... Place priorities and one no longer becomes `confused'. If it is only secondary, and one can live with it for so long why not live longer with this `problem' i.e. I have not seen anyone `die' because the shoes are scattered outside the main door. But I have seen deaths occur in houses where the house's head got `chopped' off etc... or huge indents in the house causing great imbalance. If it does not contribute to death, I really don't care too much about it. For those who have read messages since day one in the forum, you will see that I am not too concerned about such things like placement of shoe racks etc... unless it has been brought up by a user. Here, no choice, but to give an `answer'. Neither do you see me giving advise on buying lots of "goodies" e.g. three legged toad etc... Instead, I may if too many of such questions were asked become abit `irritated' and then try to formulate a concept such as `Credit Card Feng Shui' etc... Here, it is like buying on credit in the hope that one prospher. But look at the credit card interests if the bill has not been paid. Some equate it worse than an illegal money lender's fees! Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anthony, 1. Usually, for a house at ground level, the following is `acceptable' Feng Shui for a split level house: 1.1 The living room should be the lowest. There can be steps to the dining room. And the staircase to the second storey can be at this level (dining room level). The kitchen can be slightly lower than the dining room. For example a few inches lower to 6 inches. There is no hard and fast rule. But rather more important, is that the backyard should have good backing or solid support e.g. a retaining wall. To act as a `tortise back'. The rationale is that sometimes we need to wash the floor and water do not need to flow into the dining room and subsequently, flow down to the living room area. 1.2 It is best not to have the bedrooms below ground level. Not so much of `Feng Shui' but flooding, pests etc... poor lightning (if one can avoid such a house). 1.3 Usually, the worst `evil' is to have the toilet above the bedroom, dining room or the kitchen. This is `understandable' also not necessary from Feng Shui but out of commonsense where there may be a leak (someday) and the sewerage pipe leaks. We do not want such `dirty' water to drip on our bed, kitchen e.g. stove etc.. 1.4 If you ask me about having a dining area or living room immediately above the bedroom, I personally feel that this is acceptable. 1.5 For a kitchen, I would tend to `visualise' where is the waste pipe, running under the kitchen floor. This would have to my main consideration if a kitchen was above the bedroom. In terms of `fire', and assuming that the flooring is solid concrete, I don't see it as any `threat' if we look at it from a "fire safety standard." I have no `phobia' over this. Personally, I would still feel `uncomfortable' to have a kitchen above me. Perhaps if really faced with the reality may just live with it. But if I were to buy a house, I would try to avoid it. Call it Feng Shui, or call it `Not Feng Shui'. It is quite subjective as it can be based on one's personal `liking' or dislike. Warmest Regards, Cecil Thanks, Anthony _