Cecil Lee

Dear Elena, 1. It is interesting to note that currently, the majority of `cures' in Feng Shui today centres around the `metal element'. 2. Thus, it would not be uncommon to find `metal' cures that are being proposed such as: 2.1. the 6 coins (which represents big metal) 2.2. metallic wind chimes. 2.3. this include a Feng Shui (straight length metallic ruler). 2.4. Using a grandfather clock with its rythmic metallic tick-tock sound representing constant metallic sound. 3. Ideally, in my opinion, the safest `cure' is the use of the 6 coins. Where I mentioned above, 6 coins represent `big earth'. 4. When this cure is placed at a sector e.g. to cure an imbalance under the 20 year Flying Star analysis, one must not add another 6 coins at this sector if the proposed cure for the yearly or monthly Flying Star analysis say so. 5. Therefore, only one `cure' using the 6 coins is used. And not using two or more `cures' at the same sector. Two 6 coins is equivalent of twice the amount of metal which will create an imbalance at the sector. Since there will be too much metal. 6. Should one keen to use a wind chime instead at that sector, a better alternative is a grandfather clock. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Cheui May, 1. The `advantage' you mentioned is the belief that the higher the ceiling, the better it is for such a `configuration'. 2. The best `agent' is to use a poster bed e.g. with a cover e.g. lace or cloth on the top of the bed. 3. If the bed is properly positioned under Shapes and Form and in terms of air or Qi disbersement i.e. avoid stale air e.g. at corners, it is normally acceptable situation. I believe that this is considered a `secondary' problem or situation. There are far worse problems than the above. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Yogesh, 1. If you are referring to the " Bagua chart " used by Black Hat " Feng Shui "; this type of `practise' is never used in Traditional Feng Shui. 2. Traditional Feng Shui uses the Shapes and Form and Compass School methods. There are already many useful resources on this in the website. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Cheui May, 1. It depends! There are many variables involved and it needs a `trained' eye to analyse the information in depth. For example, one has to look at the gradient of the house in relation to the `poison' arrow, the level of the pavement and other factors including the traffic level of the road. The road here represents something like `water channels'. 2. Thus, it is difficult to give a standard answer. 3. However, as a `rule of thumb', if one can see it, it is still a threat i.e. if you stand at the front entrance and can see e.g. the lamp post slicing the house (tangent) or perpendicular to it this is considered a threat. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, Please see below:- In general, the frontage of the home should have `clear space'. One has to be `careful' of water feature i.e. it should allow clear space at the frontage. Thus a pool of water at ground level repesents such a clear space. A water fountain e.g. circular one can also be considered a water position that provides clear space. However, a fish tank those that has standing legs do not necessary represent clear space as it may be quite high. Here, it looks more like a `mountain of water'. In your situation, between placing a water position after the door and placing it outside the frontage: it is best or preferred to place a water position outside the house rather than inside (at the high wall area). A high wall, without analysis may be good or bad: 1. Good in that there is no way your front door area can be subjected to a poison arrow threat. 2. However, depending on how auspicious or inauspicious the main entrance e.g. by looking at the Flying Star, a wall is good if this happens to be an inauspicious sector but less beneifical if it is at an auspicious sector. 3. Another consideration is how suitable the main entrance sector is to the owner. If it is a good or auspicious sector for the owner (breadwinner), then ideally, it is best not to have a wall just within the main entrance. Thus depending on how one looks at it, there can be many different senario's and it depends!. There is a specific report at www.geomancy-online.com which analyses the above. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Kaushal, 1. The color scheme may be different if there are two persons sleeping in the room. Here, it is best to use a binding element for the spouse and his/her partner. 2. However, if you are the only person occupying the room, and since you are a weak fire person: 2.1. Normally, under the Luck Pillars, it is best to check the season of influence i.e. this is a neutral period or there is a dominating element that either aids your weak fire or weaken it further. 2.2. If there is a dominating element that helps to strengthen your `weak fire' then, it would not be necessary to enhance your room e.g. with the color that aids the fire element. If on the other hand, if there is an element or season of influence that helps to further weaken your fire element, then it would be good to either enhance your personal self with elements that further help weak fire. 2.3. Suitable color for a weak fire person to strengthen it is wood element colors e.g. green or brown. Next most suitable colors are purple or pink. If the luck period is a neutral period, you can e.g. paint your bedroom wall green or shades of it. And at the same time, use a wooden colored wardrobe. But if the luck period is a period where, there is dominant aid e.g. fire element period or wood element period (especially wood element period where wood aids fire); then it would be ok, for example to use a wooden colored wardrobe. Here, you need not necessary paint the wall green. But if the period is a water element period and where water element destroys fire and thus weaking it, then, it would be best for you to surround yourself with more wood (green or brown) and in addition, pink or for a lady, red clothings. The next best alternative is to use a neutral color for the room e.g. white. At the same time, in general, it is best to avoid water (blue, grey or shades of it) in your home. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Kaushal, 1. Firstly, as a clarification when u mentioned `nice feng shui object' usually all Chinese objects are not called feng shui object but rather.. should instead be called general Chinese objects or symbols:) 2. For the benefit of members in this forum, I have attached three pictures: 2.1 A picture similar to what you had mentioned - a boy with a large fish and coins. This picture signifies: Good Luck where the large fish is `spitting' out coins for good wealth. 2.2 Another picture of a boy. This time holding a large fish. This time the fish represents wealth i.e. Wealth and prosperity. The common Chinese saying " NIAN NIAN YOU YU " or translated as Every Year GOT fish. 2.3 A boy with picture of gold fish(es). Here `Gold' fishes represent wealth. I believe the object you mentioned, although may not look exactly like the picture mentioned under 2.1 but, the `ingredients' of a boy, the fish and the coins are similar. Red strings represent auspicious (taken into context) that red means auspiciousness. It is also common to have the Buddha with such objects. For placement, it is nice to place it at say the living room or on a display shelf. Avoid having it placed in the kitchen or bedroom area. Warmest Regards, Cecil

This road side stall, sells Chinese calligraphy written on `papers'. In the past, it was very popular for houses to paste such calligraphy writings especially during the Lunar New Year. Depending on the size and amount of words, these `good luck calligraphy' sell for between US$2 to US$20 depending on the size and number of characters. This is indeed a dying occupation as nowadays it is much cheaper to buy it off the printers.

This picture was taken in Smith Street, Singapore, Chinatown. This display, shows various specimens of: 1. Seahorses 2. Sharks fin 3. Crocodile And many more medicinal / herbs...

Two more pictures: 1. A really close-up picture showing clearly the candle-holders on each side and the joss-stick holder. 2. Please note that candles used are also red in colour. Chinese do not use white candle sticks on these altars. White signify `death'. (Although it does signify purity... but has such a meaning in this situation.

If you visit Singapore especially Housing and Development Board (HDB) government developed flats, one can commonly find one of these altars outside some these HDB flats. These altars of various sizes are made of tin or metal sheets painted in auspicious RED. These altars also have a cornical shaped urn (holder) for joss sticks. Please see attached pictures...

Dear Elena, 1. No, the Chinese traditionally do not hang a horsehose. 2. Even today, in my opinion, I have yet to see a typical Chinese family doing it. 3. More commonly, the Chinese hang a piece of red cloth (with auspicious characters) over the main entrance. 4. It is also common to find a pair of lanterns hung on each side of the door. 5. More... The horse has been around in China for a long time and ancient diggings have discovered beautifully carved horse figurines. The horseshoe design is used widely at graves and also the recent development which I mentioned " The Tropica " under the Topic- Photo Tours of Interest with pictures. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Kaushal, Currently, since this is period 7 (1984 to 2003), #7 is considered OK or acceptable. When one looks at a sector, I usually look at all three #'s (as u mentioned, the # on the right, the # on the left and the base no.). This is where, the mountain #, the water # is looked at in relation to the base no. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Lisa, 1. Using Flying Star and other forms of Feng Shui is basically to enhance our earth luck i.e. the luck of our home. 2. There are many other forms of `luck' such as: 2.1 Personal Luck 2.2 Luck derived from our `Heaven luck' or Pillars of Destiny. 2.3 Earth Luck thru understanding and usage of Feng Shui i.e. earth luck of the home. In order for us to be lucky or increase our luck, the above `luck factors' are taken into consideration. 2.2 is the other `method' of trying to increase our `Heaven luck'. The main idea is to increase all our luck factors and this would give us a chance to get things `done' smoothly. 3. The other factor is knowing our element and strength such as: Is the person a weak water or strong water. Then enhancing the personal self with more of what is `missing'. Here, traditionally, this is another area to further increase the `luck' factor. Warmest Regards Cecil

Dear Arlette, Frankly, it has very little to do with Feng Shui. However, Pillars of Destiny, may be used to `enhance' the person such as knowing the element and strength and using personal enhancement plus looking at the current season to check on one's `luck pillars.' Here, it is looking to boost one's luck. Besides this, there are other `luck' factors such as the location, the earth luck of the home... Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Cheui May, Here, it can be looked at as:- 1. Real or physical major renovations. 2. `Technical' "major" renovation. 3. Under a real or physical major renovation, this would imply renovations as a guideline which should be greater or equal to 33.3 percent of the entire area of the home. The removal of the entire roof of a house would automatically imply a major change of date of birth. 4. `Technical' "major" renovation. This is symbolic in nature and for example, the repainting of the roof or ceiling. 5. I believe, if one were to post the above to another forum, it may result in differences of opinion. 6. Here are some "safety" nets:- 6.1. As most Compass School FS practioners will do a 20 Flying Star Analysis. This means that under Period 7, i.e. between 1984 to 2003. Thus, one should not worry if a renovation or many renovations are done between 1984 to 2003. For example, if one does a `major' reno in 1985. A second reno in 1990 and even a third major reno in 2001 - it will still be under Period 7. 6.2 A good FS practitioner would usually do an analysis of two periods i.e. the periods e.g. Period 6 (where the house `was' born) and the current Period i.e. Period 7. By looking at the `history' and the charts of say Period 6 and Period 7, a good FS practitioner will be able to determine which is a more accurate chart to apply. 7. As various factors are taken into consideration, there is thus no hard and fast rule as to say that what was mentioned above should apply `wholesale' to every situation. Again... IT DEPENDs.... Warmest Regards, Cecil

This link will bring you to the review of a new condominium in Singapore known as The Tropica:- http://www.geomancy.net/review/tropica/

Dear Anon, 1. I quite understand your situation. Nowadays, it is difficult for many homes to have a good placement of the stove - to the `advantage' of the homeowner or spouse. 2. If the above is not auspicious, other considerations are: 2.1 The stove should have a `solid backing' e.g. be placed against a wall instead of having a window at it's back. 2.2 Where possible, it should not have a beam above it. Or if possible, water pipe should not be criss-crossing it e.g. in the kitchen cabinet. 2.3 If the kitchen is at the north sector (water element) of the house, ideally, the stove should not face a water position such as the wash basin. As the `warmth' of the stove may be extinguished. 2.3 If the stove is at the south sector (fire element), it can face the wash basin. 2.4. Where possible the knobs of the stove face inwards of the house. But if the knobs face upwards, this is considered a `neutral' position. The above are some of the considerations for the placement of the stove. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anne, For an `L' shaped layout or even a distorted `L' shaped layout plan, it is usually best to divide the `L' into two rectangles or two squares. Each rectangle/square is evaluated overlaying the 9-square grid. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Andrew, 1. In my opinion, the concept of South-West corner = Romance and others like North = career is considered too general. 2. With careful reasoning, how is it that this can be applied to everyone. If this is the case, everyone doing this i.e. enhancing the SW will automatically get into a romance. It sounds too easy.. rite? 3. One would better off, go do something more fruitful than to rely on such a method. 4. Often, the same question arise - Oh My God.. my toilet is at the " South-West ". Does it mean that romance is flushed down the toilet. 5. Lets be more practical. It does not mean that if 100,000 people enhance a specific corner such as South West, it will mean success to everyone. If that many people place flowers at the corner or purchase `romantic' stuffs... the people who beneifit would instead be the retailers or merchants etc... Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Spring, Currently it is difficult to visualise the good luck plant you are referring to. But if it is the Money Plant, then it is also known as crassula ovata. For a money plant it is more a vine (plant) than bamboo. Alternatively, I am not sure if you are referring to the Hyacinth or hyacinthus orientalis. This is a upward growing plant. It flowers with either pink, light yellow, blue or white. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, I believe, what you mentioned is a very common dilemma `affecting' many (many couples/families). Thus one consolation is that you are not alone in this. In many of the messages on Eight House concept in this forum: 1. It is good if the death or disaster sector is not at the main entrance particularly for the `breadwinner.' 2. The breadwinner is one who is considered to bring in the most money to the family. 3. Other than this, we should look at the sleeping sectors and what intangible force affects each member of the family. 4. Here, for example, if the bedroom is at North compass direction and is not a favourable direction for the husband but is a good sector for the wife. Thus the wife sleeps closer to North. While the husband sleeps on the other side. The wife `acts' as a shield. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Further to what I mentioned earlier, there are many ways of looking at the nos: 1. If we add up 1 + 2 + 4 = 7. Since we are in Period 7 (1983 to 2004), the combined nos 1, 2 & 4 which is 7 can be seen as good or auspicious for this period. However, the argument by others is that no. 7 should be one of the nos instead of adding it up. Thus perhaps a house no. 127 is better? 2. We can look at your house no. based on Yin and Yang concept: 2.1 Where Yin nos are considered even numbers while odd nos are considered Yang. Thus your house number is made up of: 1, 2, 4 which is 1 = Yang 2 = Yin 4 = Yin Where 1 is considered a starting number or symboically the beginning. Where 0 is not considered a no. because it is considered " zero" or non existing. Two (YIN) is considered auspicious such as the double happiness symbol and Twos are considered a pair. Four is another YIN number and is considered auspicious as it imples a square or rectangle and is the common shape of good sites and buildings. Thus, based on the symbolic view of the numbers as mentioned above, this is another way of looking at the numbers 1, 2 & 4. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Arlene, 1. Whether a street number or house number is considered auspicious, inauspicious or `neutral' can be a very subjective question. 2. For the Chinese dialect group i.e. Cantonese, 444 suggest die, die, die. Thus some people take the literal or phonetic sound of the word and feel that because of this, a number may be bad. 3. On the other hand, some Feng Shui Flying Star practitioners may feel that no. 2 which implies Sickness and no. 5 misfortune as bad. 4. While another Feng Shui practitioner may consider 5 auspicious because it represents the Five Elements i.e. Metal, Water, Wood, Earth and Fire elements. 5. Thus, one man's meat may be another man's poison. 6. In my country and region, it is `interesting' to find some house owners `re-letter' their house numbers. Take an example of the attached file (will not be shown for those who subscribe thru mailing list). In this attachment, you will find that for example, a house no. is 444. The owner, has re-lettered the number e.g. on his main entrance pillar to: 4 4 4 Here, it symbolically implies (reading from left to right; the 4 is gradually rising and this implies upwards or up/up or raise. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Steven, 1. As Castles come in various designs, shape and profile i.e. differing in their top-down view and elevation, depending on the castle, it may be classified differently. 2. Overall, in my opinon in a very general sense, I would normally, view a castle especially if it is squarish as of the earth element. As mention, this is a general statement: 1. In my mind if the plot of land is squarish. 2. A castle because of the need for defense is always flat at the top even if there are towers e.g. at each corners. Even the towers are usually flat. (I am not referring to pointed roof toped `castles'). 3. Castles are made of huge blocks of stones and in my mind, would be considered as a strong presence of earth element. 4. Usually castles has natural surfaces and in my opinion, should look greyish. Unless, if one repaints it red... and if there are quite a lot of pointed roofs, then it may take on another element. Especially if it is clustered together and there are many pointed towers. Warmest Regards, Cecil