Feng Shui: FAQs on Feng Shui

By Jenny Liu

FAQs on Feng Shui

Here are some FAQs or frequently asked questions regarding feng shui:

Q: Mr. Whittier asks why the entrance on most Bagua charts is on the Northern direction while most books he reads suggests that the entrance should preferably be facing South?

A: The entrance is not necessarily preferable at the north or south. The Bagua (Eight directional charts) is usually orientated on a north or south direction for easy reference. There are different schools of feng shui. Some schools use a north pointing compass while others use a south pointing compass. The north/south axis is the dominant direction of the geomagnetic frequency. This has misled people to think these are the only desirable directions. Furthermore, it is likely that most of the books you are reading are limited translations from old Chinese texts. In ancient China, the north was where the cold Mongolia winds came from and it was desirable at that time to have mountains in the north as protection from harsh weather. The south is where the sun rotates from east to west. This energy is vital to our well being. Thus, it is preferable to face south. However, as you can see, taking a literal translation and applying it directly to our unique situations is not necessarily correct all the time. Nonetheless, the concept of having a mountain situated behind us to shield us from the cold and to face a positive source of energy is desirable. The best entry or orientation also know as the "facing" and "siting" direction differs for everyone depending on their birth date.

Q: Mrs. Vaness asks if it true that if you have a stairway directly lined up with your front door you should place a chime above the front door so that it activates upon opening to get the "chi" moving correctly?

A: If your front door aligns directly with a staircase, there is a tendency for the house's energy or chi to be lost. Because the staircase is a circulation way where people are constantly moving up and down, it creates an energy flow that leaves the house if it is directly aligned with the main door. Depending on what direction the door is and what kind of energies the residents have, there will be different effects on the people living inside. It is possible that this is not the best entry to use. In this case, an alternative entry is used and the front door is left closed (only used occasionally for guests) and a wind chime is not necessary. However, if this is the only door for entering the house, the wind chime (the metal bars of the chime should be cut according to the five element frequencies) helps disperse some of the energy from directly leaving the house. If possible, a better alternative is to put up a screen between the staircase and door. Crystals or plants can also be used to make the energies in this area stronger to prevent energy lost.

Q: Mr. Lee tells me that he had a feng shui practitioner come to his house who told him that the southeast corner of the lot was the marriage and family corner. He has read two books which says the wealth corner is the southeast corner. Mr. Lee wants to know if things can be that different between practitioners? Shouldn't there be standard in which point of the compass corresponds to which subject?

A: When reading books, one must check the background of the author. Their information can be limited or mistranslated. Depending on what type of energy a person has based on their birth date, the different directions relate to him or her in various ways and this fluctuates annually as the planets shift. For instance, if you are born within the Lunar year 1952, your energy is categorized as the "zhen" or east direction. In 1996, your wealth energy is strongest in the southeast direction. In 1997, this will change to be the north direction. Also depending on the age and orientation of your house, there may be other directions that will better stimulate different aspects of your life. There is a standard from which the compass directions corresponds to the subject. It is rather complex and not everyone uses this because it requires a life time to understand it.

Q: Ms. Marshall tells me that she lives right next door to a cemetery. (within 7ft. of her apartment). She wonders about the influence it has on her abode. Although she does not feel oppressed by it, she wonders if it is useful to add some protection to the boundary by placing a Bagua mirror outside along the wall of the apartment that faces the graves. The theory being to reflect its influence. Since she has one above her doorway on the opposite side of the building to attract blessings to her door, she is not sure if this is advisable.

A: A cemetery has strong "yin" or dark energies of death. This imbalance of yin/yang energies can cause instability by lowering the energies around it. Depending on which direction the cemetery is at in relation to Ms. Marshall's apartment, how large it is, and the nature of the people who are buried in the cemetery, there are different levels of effects. Also, depending on the energies of the people who live next to a cemetery and how long they have lived there, they may not always be aware of how the negative energies effect them. It is usually not advisable to live next to a cemetery. Although Ms. Marshall may not feel oppressed, over time, she may find it hard to excel. Ba gua (eight trigram direction) mirrors can be placed to reflect away negative energies. However, its effects may be limited on a cemetery. Ba gua mirrors are not used to attract positive energies. In many cases like this, an altar is usually setup to help release negative frequencies and allow positive energies to help you.

Q: Mrs. Wong asks how can she can find out about the effects of colors chosen for rooms? Specifically, she plans to paint her kitchen. She would like something light and cheery, and was thinking of yellow until a nurse told her that yellow had some negativity about it.

A: Everyone has an unique chi or energy field. Depending on your body's energy, there are certain colors that can have positive or negative affects on you. In relation to feng shui, not only the kitchen, but depending on where every room is located (direction), there are different colors every year you can use to stimulate positive effects.

I read somewhere that exposed beams in our living room affects our money making potential, but our money situation is just fine.

Exposed beams are one out of 60 factors that has varying degrees of affect on us which may or may not be physically apparent. How it influences our well-being depends on the ceiling height, if the beams are structural or weight bearing, how much time is spent under the beams and the physical and mental strength of the person under the beam. For instance if there are decorative (not weight bearing) exposed beams in a living room with a high ceiling of about 20 feet and the family rarely uses the living room, it can have little affect on their well-being. However, if there are large structural beams over a standard 8-10 feet high bedroom or office, the beams are directly over the person's head or shoulder, they are in this position at least 8 hours a day, and the person is highly susceptible to stress and have been living or working in this room for three to four years, there is a 90% chance they suffer chronic head and shoulder tension/pains which may impact their health and ability to work efficiently. Still if the person's constitution is strong, they know how to neutralize the physical and psychological pressures of the beams overhead, they may not be negatively effected.

I read that because the sun rises on the east, the eastern direction is the best direction for a house to face.

This is not necessarily true. As everyone has a unique energy field, there are certain directions that allow them to be better synchronized with the Earth's and planets. This is usually determined by a person's birthday. Depending on your birthday, your energy may be categorized under either the Western Direction Patterns or the Eastern Direction Patterns. If you are a Western Direction Pattern person, your energies are strongest in the northwest, west, southwest and northeast directions. This means the facing direction of your home/office door where the energy comes in, the master bedroom/work station, where ever you spend the most time should also be in these directions. Every year the planets shift and there will be certain directions that are stronger than others. For instance, this year, 1997, the strongest directions for Western Direction Pattern people are northwest and northeast.

How does a fireplace in the bedroom cause a couple to argue?

A fireplace contains fire energies which are known to be burning, dry, furious, dangerous and stuffy can aggravate the people in the bedroom to be moody or easily hot tempered, inducing quarrels and bickering. Again, this is one of 60 factors in feng shui and its affects will vary depending on the size, proximity, usage and people who use the bedroom. Crystals or green plants can be used to neutralize the fireplace's negative effects.

I had my house feng shui adjusted and things improved for me and my family. However, the following year, things went sour again. What happened?

Feng shui is not a quick fix, it is a way of living. Every year, there is a major shift in the planets. Adjustments need to be made every Lunar New Year. There are certain direction frequencies that are stronger or weaker every year and we need to know how to neutralize the negative and tap into the positive.

There are train tracks in front of my house. Will this affect my home business?

Train tracks are extremely long metal rails that cut into or are pierced into the earth. They carry heavy trains that travel at fast spends which cause strong vibrations that shake and damage the earth's energy for many miles. This usually causes buildings located near the railroad track to have weak or unstable energies as well. The noise and frequency of the railroad is prone to induce stress, inability to focus and lack of energy. Homes and businesses typically do not do well in these areas. Of course, this is also one of 60 factors that influences us. The railroad's effect will also vary depending on how strong or tolerant the residents are, how long they have been exposed to the railroad, how close the railroad is, how often the train runs and the direction the railroad tracks are located. The railroad's negative energy is hard to neutralize. Long term residence next to an active train track is not recommended.

Is it true that if my front door is aligned to my back door, all my money will flow out?

Having the front and back door align lets the energy flow out of the house too easily. When the house lacks energy, it can cause money problems. However, again, this is also one out of 60 factors that influence our well-being. There are varying types and degrees of money loss depending on the direction and location of the door.

Is it true that it is not good to have bedrooms located on top of garages?

In general, bedrooms should be located on stable grounds. Because the garage is where cars go in and out, the energy is always moving. Being located over the garage can cause insecurity and not allow one to reach one's potential. Nonetheless, if the direction is correct for the person using that bedroom, they know how to make their own energies stronger through exercise and meditation, and the feng shui of the rest of the house is good, the unstable energies of the garage may be minimal.

There are so many Chinese restaurants that use aquariums. Do they bring prosperity to businesses?

Aquariums can be used to activate energy and promote money income in a business place. The correct number and type of fish and the aquarium's location must match the owner's energy. Not everyone is suited to use the aquarium to promote their business.

Why is it that some people do not have good feng shui but they are doing just fine?

There are over 30 factors that determine our success in life. These include our background, parents, spouse, birth date, culture, education, career, ambition, endurance, health and so forth. Feng shui or the energies of our environment is only one of them. If a person's energies are strong and he/she is very good at solving problems, he/she may not be too much affected by the problems that may be had from bad feng shui. If they are rich and money loss is not a big source of distress for them, they can afford to pay off any money troubles cause by feng shui. If they know how to maintain good health, their tolerance to illness and environmental pollution is higher. Some people are simply happy as they are and do not have the ambition to change and move forward. If their feng shui is not so perfect, they simply tolerate it. We are all affected by our feng shui of our environment. Everyone has different standards of living. What may be fine to one person may unsatisfactory to another. Having good feng shui can only allow people to live more harmoniously; not waste their energy and money on solving problems they can prevent with more foresight.

My son's room is covered with posters of women in bikinis, race cars, and action movies; he also has video games and a television in his room. Does this affect his studies?

First of all, in order for children to focus on their studies, they should have their room in a direction that matches them. If they are in their positive direction, the bed's head board and their chair's back at their desk should both be against a solid wall. This means that there are no windows, doors, or mirrors behind them. Having a solid wall provides support, privacy and security which induces confidence and focus. When children are given the proper environment, it is easier for them to think clearly, be responsible, pursue positive interests and improve themselves. The bedroom is a place of rest, so it should be as pure as possible to allow the body to recharge itself naturally. This means there are no major electrical appliances such as the TV, stereo, computers, etc. These appliances emit high electromagnetic frequencies that are known to desynchronize our body's biological cycles and lower our immune system over time. If these appliances have to be in the bedroom, they should be as far away from the bed as possible and turned off or unplugged prior to sleep. A child is highly sensitive to their environment. Our mind processes everything around us and has a subconscious influence on our well-being. During a child's development, it is extremely important for them to be surrounded by images that promote their goals, their physical well-being, and positive thinking. Images of violence, sex, danger, death, sadness, anything negative should not be placed in the bedroom or anywhere in the house. Natural images and certain color frequencies that match the child's unique energies can promote their subconscious well-being if they are placed in the correct directions. Depending on the children's energies, images such as wild horses that represent power, dolphins that represent wisdom, or solar system that remind us of the cosmic universe, mountains, forests and so forth can be used in their bedroom. These are positive and soothing images that allow the mind to be harmonious and enlightened. A focused mind allows a child to be aware of the laws of nature and make good decisions. They are more intuitive and progressive in life. Lastly, it is important for a child to have a balanced life that includes quality time with family, good diet and exercise, exposure to a wider spectrum of education -- academics contribute only to a part of a child's full capacity.

The back of my house falls away in a slope hill that is then contained by a stone wall falling to a flat place where a stream runs. I am thinking of a wind chime on the railing of the deck to keep the money from flowing out the door and away down the stream. Or should I put mirrors on the outside of the back of the house to reflect the money back from the stream to the house?

If the back cannot be utilized as the main entrance into the house, then you can put decorative lamp posts or landscape lights, one at either side of your back boundary line and direct the light energy back at the house to serve as support energy. Wind chimes can be used to diminish energy loss. Mirrors are not used in this case. Like any feng shui adjustment, this can help you minimize money loss, not necessary prevent it 100%. Remember, there are over 60 factors involved in a feng shui analysis. The slope behind is only one of them, nonetheless, because it is an geographic characteristic, it has a more definite impact because it is harder to change.

I live on the West side behind commercial streets. When I open my front door, across the street, there is a 20 story office building right in front of me. I've been told that this blocks my energy. Will this affect my feng shui? What can I do?

Having a tall building in front of your house is like having a hill in front of you. This suppresses your house's energy as well as blocks energy from entering your building. Buildings in this situation tend to be dark and lack natural light. Depending on which direction this building is in and your own energies, there are certain effects it can have on you. In this case, a convex mirror that turns everything upside down can be used to reflect and balance the tall building's energies.

Jenny T. Liu is a fourth generation practitioner who holds a BA in Environmental Design from UC Berkeley and an MA in Architecture from UCLA. Awarded for her Master's Thesis on Feng Shui, she is an expert in the ancient Chinese philosophy of Feng Shui. Please visit her website at: http://www.liu-fengshui.com.