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Ask Stanlu Feng Shui Q&A Articles

Part 5

Q: I'm very interested in Feng Shui. However, I'm confused about 'contradictory' advises from different Feng Shui books. I was wondering if you could help enlighten me as to which is the most potent school of Feng Shui. I've read about the Pa-Kua Luo Shu (Compass) school and also the Black Sect school. They both have different theories. Some are based on personal auspicious directions and some generalize that each front door is the career door. And then there is the Flying Star school and the Water Dragon Classics. These tell different and at times contradictory explanations and advices to the Ba-Gua school. Please help enlighten me.

A: Indeed it is sometimes confusing to discern which is the correct Feng Shui. Different Feng Shui books often seem to contradict each other, and then it is not unusual to have a friend or well meaning acquaintance tell you one thing while another tells you something entirely different about Feng Shui. The reason for this is that there are a number of different lineages of Feng Shui which have evolved over the past 4000 years as Feng Shui has been brought to different countries and cultures by the person at the time who had the most knowledge of Feng Shui. Each culture then put it's imprint on their own lineage of Feng Shui, interpreting it from their bias and understanding. The basic difference is that some lineages orient things based on the compass directions versus relative positioning which is the Black Sect school. In my experience the Black Sect school is the most appropriate for this culture and modern world. It takes into account computers, microwaves and the modern world which has historically not built structures oriented strictly north/south. Therefore it is not easily adaptable to position things north/south. The compass school might say, for instance, to place your bed with your head to the north. This would not work too well, however, if this meant that your head would be right near the bedroom door. Therefore we say in the Black Sect school to place your bed so that you are in the most commanding position and so that you have a clear view of the bedroom door while lying in bed. Ultimately the lineage that works best for you depends on your awareness and experience. They all have their supporters and success stories.

Q: How does Feng Shui work and why is it important for us? Feng Shui is a Chinese theory. How can it be applied any where outside China, like in US? What are the most important factors to be considered while designing a house according to Feng Shui?

A: Feng Shui works by teaching us the interrelationship of all things.as goes our environment so go us and vice versa. Feng Shui also teaches us how to access our subconscious knowing that has all this insight about what is happening in our environments. When we bring the subconscious to the forefront of our consciousness then we are able to change our reality. For most of us it is easier to change it outside of ourselves as in move the bed or place a mirror behind the stove, but the truth is that is the same as changing it within ourselves due to the oneness of All things. Feng Shui is indeed a Chinese theory in heritage but as we bring it to the USA it is being modernized and interpreted by Americans in our own unique way of understanding. Therefore we are evolving to American Feng Shui. When designing a house according to Feng Shui it is important to remember to always seek to create the balance in all things you do. This affects the use of colors, placement of things, doorways, building materials, site placement, etc.

Q: I built my house on two sides of a small stream, which flows from north to south, and suspended the living room over the stream connecting the two sides together. How does a stream flowing under a house affect chi? What can I do to make this a positive force, as it is very beautiful. Thank you for your assistance.

A: It does indeed sound beautiful but too much of a good thing is not good either. We are always seeking the balance in Feng Shui. You have too much of the water element. Water is a powerful conductor of energy so the water under your living room is pulling away the Chi. In addition, you probably have mildew issues due to all the moisture. The solution is to make sure you have healthy live plants in the house to use the moisture, surround the house with rocks, use a dehumidifier, and thoroughly clean all surfaces in the house to clear mildew. Open the windows in the bathroom and kitchen often to allow moisture to escape. These will all help to restore the balance.

Q: I am relatively new to Feng Shui but I think I might have a problem. I own a duplex. Looking at it from the street I live on the left side. The front door faces South. Now here's the problem. It started out as a 3 bedroom on each side duplex. Then we broke down a wall and took one of the bedrooms to make our side larger. Consequently, my office is directly over the living room next door and they now have only 2 bedrooms. We also took more of the cellar. I would say the ratio is more 2/3 on our side and 1/3 on their side. Is this a special situation? And if so what to do about it? Any help you can give me would really be appreciated as I'm at a total loss as to how to deal with the bagua in a situation like this. Thanks in advance.

A: Your knowledge of Feng Shui is indeed bringing you to the awareness that something is out of balance. Indeed when one adds a room then the bagua reference changes as well as the overall relationship of things in your home. It is important to consider these implications when adding on to a floor plan. In your case you have kept the same main doorway entrance which allows for a simpler integration of the changes. The added bedroom could be considered an enhanced Gua depending on its size in relationship to the overall floor plan. If it is too big an addition to the floor plan then it could create missing Gua's in other areas. We would have to see a floor plan to know for sure. Your description of the changes tells a lot because if you look at your words you see that the changes created boundary issues and imbalance "my office is directly over the living room next door". You and your neighbor would tend to be quite aware of each other in the expanded bedroom and this probably does not feel right to either of you. The solution for the time being until we can see a floor plan, is to place BaGua mirrors on all adjacent walls and floor, facing toward your neighbor, in order to create more healthy boundaries. Remember to do this with loving intention.

Q: My husband and I want to have a baby. What do you suggest we do?

A: The Feng Shui solution in order to have a baby is to combine practical as well as intangible/transcendental methods. The practical methods involve clearing clutter and debris, creating the balance throughout your home with colors, proper placement, clear doorways, good lighting, etc. The intangible/transcendental method might involve doing a cure in the children section of your bedroom. The BaGua shows us that the auspicious color is white, numerology 2, creative element metal, with lakes as a reference. It is recommended that you do a ritual/meditation in the children's section of your bedroom to affect change in this area. We have seen many times in Feng Shui how this can help us to create the so called miracles of life.

Q: How can I use Feng Shui to solve money problems, ie create abundance?

A: Yes, you are not alone. Many people call us for help with money problems. This is because Feng Shui has tools to help us manifest anything we want and need. The key as always is to create the balance in your environment. It is not sufficient to simply clean up your wealth corner according to the BAGua. Many people who have money problems have issues with attachments to physical things. They are often the ones who have closets full of clutter, storage lockers, bookshelves overflowing etc. The message that is being sent to the universe is one in which there is not a balance of giving and receiving. The natural way is when there is the balance. Free your self from clutter and debris and watch how the universe responds by giving you what you need and want. Remember your junk is someone else's treasure. You can also do a ritual/meditation in the wealth corner of your home using the auspicious colors blue/purple/red, the numerology 5, creative element wind, and the hips as your body reference.

Q: Where should mirrors be placed? How can we use them to enhance our lives?

A: We use mirrors in Feng Shui for many different reasons. They are used behind the stove when our back is to the kitchen entrance while cooking, on the wall in front of you upon entering the main doorway, on the wall facing the missing Gua when part of your floor plan is missing a corner, at the bottom of a steep stairs to slow down the Chi going downstairs, etc. We use special BaGua mirrors in other applications when we wish to redirect intrusive energies or create universal harmony and security. Generally the bigger the mirror the better but in some applications a very small mirror will do it. We used to say that mirrors were the "aspirin" of Feng Shui but we have evolved and so now we say that mirrors are the "homeopathic remedy".