Cecil Lee

Dear Anon, Thanks for your suggestion. It is indeed a coincidence as I was discussing with Robert early this week on the need to: 1. Copy out the forum messages into another website. And using a search engine like those used by other Search Programs. This would make it easier and faster to search for materials. I did not realise that the messages in the forum has grown and grown so fast. The above method is easier because it is the easiest to update the messages frequently into a data base. 2. I plan to come up with Volume 2 or 3 of the 101 Feng Shui Tips as Volume 1 was based on some of the earlier messages. These messages were `far back' in time. 3. I sincerely thank everyone for your support in making this forum, which I believe the largest resource materials on nearly every conceiveable topic and subject matter. Plus 100 percent Flame free:) 4. The popularity of this forum, the entire website, reports etc.. has grown tremendously that our ISP is charging us for extra bandwidth. We therefore had no choice but to ask users who had benefitted from our work to help us subsidise a token amount e.g. $1 (1 month) , $3 (9 months) to help us defry this cost. Personally, we would like to give everything free but it is not fair for me to absorb the huge extra bandwidth costs monthly in hosting the entire site. Many thanks to everyone for helping us to support our research. In order to do more, we need to balance what we can give free and what we can help to absorb. The economics is simple: if this is achieved, we will always be there to provide support. My hope is that with the further liberisation of ISP services in Singapore, the costs for hosting will hopefully go down (later next year) this will force my ISP to reduce the charges further. (Currently we have 3 ISPs and what a monopoly the have on pricing!) With your help, we will then be able to concentrate fully on further research and enhancements. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Further to my earlier reply: It is `acceptable' for flowers to be placed in the bedroom especially for those who are `recuperating' from an illness. This is inline with the common practise of giving flowers to those who are staying in a hospital bed especially after an operation. Hospitals are `more yin' environment especially the hospital bedrooms. Introducing some `Yang' into the rooms such as flowers will certainly brighten it. This can be introduced to a bedroom especially for those who are recovering e.g. from an operation or illness. This is more a common practise rather than `shoulder' it on Feng Shui. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon & all Users, You can modify your settings to allow the most recent messages to be shown rather than at at the bottom:- Step 1: At the top menus, Click on MORE Step 2: Click on Edit your Profile Step 3: Near to the bottom of your Profile; you should be able to see this sentence Reverse Topic Order Click the radio button for Yes instead of NO. ----- Done! ----- After following the above Step-by-Step instructions, you should now have the most recent messages `floating' on top. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon & all Users, You can modify your settings to allow the most recent messages to be shown rather than at at the bottom:- Step 1: At the top menus, Click on MORE Step 2: Click on Edit your Profile Step 3: Click on Reverse Topic Order ----- Done! ----- After following the above Step-by-Step instructions, you should now have the most recent messages `floating' on top. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Fraser, I believe Lillian Too as a different book on each of the topic you mentioned: One one landscaping and the other on `Water Dragon Classic' (an older book maybe there is a new version). Personally, I have not read both books so unable to provide any comments. Anyone care to comment or share with us your views if you have read any of these books. (I not sure sure the exact title..... but the titles should be around what I mentioned.) There may be new ones... as I am quite busy, did not have a look at any of them nor confirm what School are they practising. Perhaps, you can also try checking out Amazon.com or Barnes & Nobles for these topics. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Ber, As the information is readily available under this report at www.geomancy-online.com : Five Element Cures (Wu Xing Zhi Liao) Unless you have further queries on it as the report shows all the various elements in relation to the element and its strength. Should you need further assistance on the report, do let me know. Warmes Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, Our human feelings or sixth sense are "powerful tools". For certain situations, we should rely on the Flying Star e.g. to determine where the very inauspicious stars especially the 2 and 5 are and to locate auspicious and inasupicious locations. Plus to see if one can activate the mountain and water stars. Another equally powerful theory called Ba Zhi Feng Shui seeks to examine the house and `triangulate' positions to activate e.g. a water position so that this `triangle' is fully enhanced. Robert is working on this and as mentioned by him, it is best to wait for it to be ready. We appreciate that everyone waits for this to be completed and not ask questions first so that he can concentrate on it. As I mentioned earlier, unlike some of the users here who have read many messages and are familar with quite a diverse aspect of Feng Shui and Chinese beliefs. Many people, for example in Singapore have actually consulted FS practioners who provided them a `one time' with advise. This is a realistic situation. Since these people do not know Flying Star, after the consulation (which is essentially to look at the `health' of the house) later on, cannot always depend on advise on the Flying Star. Therefore, it is good to use your personal feelings to go about the placement of fresh flowers. Ideally, they could be used in the living room or dining room and even toliets (to liven it). Where possible best to avoid placing them in the bedroom. For some of us who are used to it, can continue to do so. There is really no hard and fast rule in the use of the different types of flowers. This is to make it easier for us to live or enjoy our surroundings. Our lives are relatively short and why do we always need to be constrainted by having to follow so many sets of rules. However, do take note that Flowers can be classified under the various elements based on: a. their colour b. their shape Again, flowers are considered secondary, if one believes that it gives you `confidence' to approach life e.g. wearing one on the blouse etc.. carry on.. by chosing your favourite colour. We can apply the 33.3 percent rule that if we are wearing a rose for example, it will have minimal or no impact on the individual. Contrast this with wearing a dress that covers our top part of our body. Warmest Regards Cecil

Dear Ber I really sympathise with you on this. It has more to do with e.g. personalities, experiences and even the person's upbringing i.e. human aspects than Feng Shui. I really wish I can help you but it is not within the true aspects of Feng Shui. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, Usually if one is constantly sick or having misfortunes, it is best to use the Flying Star in relation with the person's Ba Zhi to analyse the situation. The likelyhood of such a problem could be due to: 1. If, it is a landed property, the cause could be undergound water running under the house or other factors under the Shapes and Form School. (Reference on Dangers of Underground water: http://www.geomancy.net/fs/under.htm ) 2. Mostly likely Flying Star 2 and/or 5 is present e.g. in the bedroom or the main entrance door or in other locations one frequently is at. 3. Other inauspicious factors relating to the Four Symbolic Animals, where water positions are e.g. at the back of the house; a roof with blue tiles etc.. Here, if the `problem' is something like having water at the centre of the house, one has to physically remove it in order for the balance to be restored. The sooner the better. However, if one lives in a house with `perpetual' problems such as a pool of water at the back of the house and do nothing about it, the `problem' will not go away. 4. Traditional Feng Shui cures is about knowing a person's element strength. This is always used to `cross check' and propose solutions. For example, if a person is a weak Fire person and if one places water in the house, this may inadvertenly `exhaust' the already weak Water element. In addition, each time has a specific element which is `in season'. If for example, if one is already a weak water person and this season (period) is where Fire element is strongest, this will further complicate things. Hope that you can understand the above reasoning. Many people, simply picked up a book on Feng Shui or several books and simply go all out to do enhancements in hope that they can prosper. This is fine provided one do not overdo it nor look at things narrowly or `tunnel vision'. Some of the Western Traditonal Schools which have their website on the internet were initially saying that the Eight House was `second rated' and only true professionals like themselves practice the `Supreme' Flying Star. Unfortunately, they only eat and sleep Flying Star until quite recently where some of these `Schools' were bombarded with references that Flying Star is not the only School. With Globalisation, one cannot simply hide the truth. It will eventually surface. This is because from what I understand, some of the Masters teach something that they have an inclination and Flying Star is considered more `mathematical' and perhaps suite their style. Contrary to this, the Eight House and its variants are the most popular school of Feng Shui today. It is hard for some of these Western School to swallow as they realise that even the more popular Master Yap Cheng Hai uses the Eight House but mentioned a `higher' form but do not know what it is. This is why I mentioned that it is good to learn from a Master but frankly his skills are limited unless he can pick up more skills. Feng Shui is like any other `occupations'. I am not equating FS with a Doctor but even in those fields, you will find that there are specialisations. I have mentioned that it is good for everyone to understand the best of all schools and discard the `bad'. This is because all the great Masters in the past learned from books rather than from another person. If one has the right aptitude and an advantage is able to understand Mandarin would be a plus point. I recalled this Doctor, who lives in West Asia, had purchased books on Feng Shui. I believe, each time he read a book, he would quickly do some enhancements. For example, he wrote to me saying that he had painted the fence, purchased a water fountain etc.. according to the book. Unlike books on our human anatomy, where everything is documented exactly. Each artery, each vein, muscle is what you see, what you get. I believe he has applied `cures' based on the same concept. But little did he realise that Feng Shui is an `invisible' or unseen metaphysics. One cannot simply like the book on human anatomy, follow everything exactly. Worse still, apply based on what he understands and not what the author could have interpreted `differently'. I am not sure what has happened to him now. Sorry for the lengthly reply. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, Yes, one of the best ways to find out if the house is good or bad is to bring the whole family along. Especially the kids or a child. If the whole family feels comfortable or at ease, then the house is generally good. Here, no matter what, Feng Shui thru `our feelings' or sixth sense is indeed a powerful tool. This is why for some people, after `practising' Feng Shui, have since regretted mostly due to `over indulgence' where we often use the term `Fast Food Feng Shui.' For these group of people, I personally believe, that it is better for them not to have ever heard of Feng Shui at all. Here, they do not need to spent money to buy `enhancers' such as fountains, commercial good luck objects, wind chimes etc.. Many people have done so without Feng Shui by using their feelings. We must always have a limit and put a stop to all sorts of cures especially if they are not done correctly. Many of such cases do more harm than good. Under Feng Shui, and especially applied by a good Feng Shui Master will be able to tell for instance if the house is bad:- 1. By looking for tell tale signs of too much Yin elements e.g. in the Flying Star Chart 2. Where the owners had unwittingly introduced Yin elements such as a large water position at the wrong location, too much trees at a Yin location etc... 3. One best way is if you do not understand Chinese, one can still purchase the Luopan and bring it during house visits. I mentioned that if the needle goes hay wire, there is some Yin forces. Look out particularly at the North East sector of the house. If the wrong combinations such as trees, or too much water element (Too much water is too yin a condition) can create such imbalances. Take a sensible approach to Feng Shui at the same time do not expect Feng Shui to be a `mother of all cures' or use it as a get rich scheme. I have seen many instances where the more one wants to `get rich' the more, it becomes illusive. Perhaps the luck just wondered away... Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, I did read about one new person who called herself a Master mentioned that it is inauspicious to sleep on a mattress floor simply because `Qi' cannot flow under the bed. Contrary to such `believes' in ancient times, many people do sleep on the floor. Even today, a large portion of the Japanese people are sleeping on the floor on a mattress. Only modern Japanese e.g. working overseas or cannot be avoide staying at a hotel sleep on the bed. In a very broad sense, this can be called `peanuts' Feng Shui i.e. looking at small issues and not looking at the bigger picture such as a beam above the head or the bed opposite (on the same wall) as the toilet bowl. It is best to look at the big picture rather then these small things. Another thing is that many people are sleeping on `box' beds with springs with a bottom base unit. The clearance below the bed is as low as the wheel clearance of the bed. It is not going to make a difference in such a situation as say the person sleeping on the bed is at least 2 or 3 feet above the floor area. Furthermore, most of us close the bedroom doors also. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, Here are some of the following points to note with a rock garden: 1. Generally, rocks are considered `yang'. It is best to have a garden with a mix of Yin and Yang or a balance of both. Japanese landscaped gardens are excellent examples of a good mix of yin and yang. 2. If you have rocks in the garden make sure that the shape or profile of the rocks do not look like `monsters or creatures'. These are considered inauspicious. 3. Usually, as the frontage of the house is `important' i.e. we always try to protect our frontage. Ideally, plants are best at doing so. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Lien, The following are the most common objects on a pillar: 1. " Nothing " on top of it. 2. A pair of Lions on each side of the pillar 3. A pair of Fu-dogs on either side. 4. A pair of eagles with its wing ... wide open either flying or about to fly or protect its young. As I mentioned the above is not directly related to Feng Shui.. one can generally say that it has more to do with `decorating' the pillar. There is no distinct `facing' direction for these objects on the pillar. But closer to the "home" i.e. at the main entrance door area, I did mention that one should preferably take note of the material used on each side of the front door. For example if one is placing a bronze pair of lion or metal lion or carved in stone, it is best to check that the location is in balance i.e. the five elements are in balance. Currently, if you are new to Feng Shui, the easiest theories to read up are based on the Shapes and Form and Eight House concept first. Especially theories based on the Five Element Concepts. Only after knowing these well, can one then be able to try and learn Flying Star. In Feng Shui, it is not so much as picking up a book or taking a course but the end result is not theories but whether one can apply them correctly. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, I would like to seek clarification from you. I cannot recall having mentioned to keep the stove in NE or SW. Is it that you had read from somewhere? From what I can understand is that NE is the devil's gate while SW is considered the devil's backdoor. In this modern times, it is my opinion that although the stove is still important, there are more important issues to be addressed under Feng Shui. In other words, in light of the many other theories to look at and because houses are quite `compact' especially in the Far East, such as in Singapore and Hong Kong where mostly these are apartments of around 1,400 sq feet ( plus / minus ). In applied Feng Shui, it is really difficult for these home owners to create or develop their homes. I elaborated that what could be much `worse' would be issues like the toilet at the centre-point of the house, inasupicious flying stars of number 2 and 5 etc... These considerations are thus even more important than the stove. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, Please note the following: 1. Usually keeping a crystal would not cause a nightmare. If one is talking about more than one crystals, it would depend. One way of checking this is to use the Flying Star Report and analyse that particular sector for any over influence or imbalance of the earth element. Many FS practioners consider `crystal' as originating from the earth and we have in an earlier message covered that the earth element is associated with number 2 (sickness star) and 5 (misfortune star). Here, the theory is that too much of the earth element would cause an imbalance at the sector. It is thus not so much of nightmares but rather i.e. if Star 2 and 5 are present, star 2 will result in frequent sickness and Star 5 for misfortune. In the modern world of us, many of us get hold of `wonder books' that tells us that crystals are excellent or wind chimes are excellent and then we oursleves (if I can call it crudely thru our `ichy fingers') spent money to buy these. It may not do us good but rather more harm. In many ways, some people have even wished that they do not know of or give up on Feng Shui that does not work. So long as we continue to understand that Feng Shui is not a `cure all', we need some reality check.. "come down to earth". Many a times, Feng Shui is not about spending more money also. For a house audit, if one is not sure, best to consult a competent FS Master and do a one time survey. Unless there are any changes in the surroundings, one should not spent too much time on Feng Shui but rather concentrate on more important daily happenings in our life. These would eventually yield more fruitful results. Here, if you asked me a question as to why I continue to try to answer questions is my hope that I can try to where possible `dispel' facts from superstitions or over indulgence. Like yourself, if given the opportunity, would prefer to do other things. I guess, Feng Shui to me is like a hobby or passion. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, This position, thou not `ideal' is still acceptable. This type of issues are ranked lower importance to many other more important points as discussed in this forum. Other more important issues include: 1. A person's suitability to the house. 2. Is the bedroom in an auspicious sector. 3. The toilets should not be located next to the front door, above the main entrance etc.. 4. The flying star chart of the house in relation to a person's Ba Zhi etc... Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, Personally, I do keep two plants outside the living room window. Without much care, they are always flowering. This is considered a good sign especially when the plants grow well. In a way, one can consider plants as a good indicator of a looking at a location's "health". It is not advisable for a plant to be placed inside a bedroom because it is growing and in this situation, creates yang Qi. It is acceptable to have plants grow in planters outside the bedroom window. This is ok because the plants are not actually located inside the bedroom itself. In Singapore, placing potted plants on window verge is not allowed if it can fall and hurt someone downstairs especially due to high winds. The two `secret' weapons of Feng Shui is: 1. Lighting. Lighting can be used to enhance Qi. 2. Plants or Trees are equally important and especially are favourites amongst Traditional FS practioners in Taiwan. Here, even plants placed in living rooms are acceptable and not the bedrooms. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Shellie, The metal is used to counteract a wooden beam. Some FS practioners would also use it on `earth' element i.e. concrete beams. But it is not effective. This is because under the Five Elements Destructive relationship (Ref: http://www.geomancy.net/fs/5element.htm ) Metal destroys Wood weaking it. But if one introduces Metal, it has had no effect to weaken a beam `made of earth'. Internally, many beams are supported by metal structures. Therefore, as you have mentioned, I stated that the above cure is meant for a wooden beam. What you have done is `modern' and not mentioned anywhere as a tradtional `cure'. It is really no harm trying it but I cannot say that it will work thou. The other method would be to use two wooden bamboo flutes with the profile of the "top-half" forming a Trigram placed on one side of the beam. Best to place it closer to the bed room door entrance or visible from the door entrance. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, More weightage should go to business acumen than placing it to Feng Shui. Overall, a business especially near to a bus stop would be able to bring more business especially if it is an eatery. It has more to do with this then placing it to Feng Shui able to bring in Qi into the entrance. In fact, in my opinion, instead of bringing in clean air, buses and even taxi's bring in more "fumes" or pollution from it's exhaust. This is where it stops and starts moving and one looks closely at the exhaust pipe, by moving away from the bus stop, one can literally see the pollution from the exaust. In this aspect, as I mention, I believe that it is more of a business `strategy' then Feng Shui. One good thing is that with higher traffic density especially if it is a eatery or a `7 Eleven' convenience store, the owners would well afford to clean the glass panels regulary (due to the pollution). Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, Under `modern' living with `compact homes' is considered acceptable to see the dining room when walking in. I understand your concern as some FS practioners believe that this is not `auspicious'. We have to face reality and many apartments do have such a configuration. In Singapore, in some of the older estates, this is usually not the case as the dinning room is further inside the house or next to the kitchen. Many new Housing Board Mansionnettes and private condominum buildings usually have such a configuration. Here we have to understand that more importantly there are higher priorities such as `worse' things like a toilet next to the main entrance, a toilet at the centre of the home etc.. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, To properly analyse whether a red sofa is good or bad would depend on the following:- 1. If one uses the Pillars of Destiny to find out a person's element and strength, it would certainly help to find out if the red sofa is good or bad. For example, if a person is of the `weak Water' or `strong Fire element', this is an inauspicious situation. A weak water person will have his weak water extinguished. While a strong Fire element person with the added Fire (Red) futher `burn' him or create problems such as heatiness, competition. 2. In a home, since South is of the fire element, it would be advisable to avoid having the red sofa at this location as South is also of the fire element. Too much fire may cause e.g. frequent quarrels at home. It is also advisable to avoid having the red sofa at the North (Water element) as these two are considered like hot and cold and there is a clash of elements. 3. As Red is the most Yang of all colours, if one intends to make the living room e.g. more Yang, but consider para 1 and 2, it can still be used. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, It is not necessarily true. Yellow represents the earth element. The only way to find out whether a specific location is bad or avoidable is to do a Flying Star Chart. The two bad stars are 2 (sickness) and 5 (misfortune). If there are these two stars in a specific sector in your home, it would be best not to use yellow as yellow is the earth element and it will further `enhance' the earth elements of 2 and 5. Based on the YEAR - Flying Star chart for this year, the South is considered having " 5 yellow ". Number Five represents `Big Earth' and in turn, it's colour is Yellow and Earth element. Number Five is considered inauspicious under the Flying Star Chart which signifies " Misfortune ". From here, you will understand that since you mentioned that yellow is good for you, it would mean that most likely you are of the Earth element. So happens that Earth also represents a bad star = 5. One good news is that Flying Star can be used to analyse a time frame of a 21 years, Yearly, monthly, daily and hourly. I understand one book author raised fears early this year to say that everyone must take precautions at the South no matter what the direction of the house facing. Generally, books usually can be written generally for the massess but it does not mean that such general theories work all the time for all people. Where it concerns books, in my opinion, books written on Shapes and Form are more relevant. Books written to teach methods are equally relevant. Books that `dictate' general cures are best avoided. One reason here is that as human beings, some of us tend to overdo e.g. buy not one but two or more wind chimes; add one or a few water positions etc... This term is referred too frequently as `Fast Food' Feng Shui. Like over eating, it may become very unhealthy. ---------------------------------------------------------- There is also a newsgroup available at alt.chinese.fengshui which you can join through your Internet Service provider's news server. I occassionally read some of the messages but do not participate especially the widespread `flame'. This message was posted (the exact headers and origin of the email account is shown below) to the newsgroup on 15 October. I hope it will help new users to understand what Feng Shui can " do to you " if used wrongly:- --------------------------------------------------------- From: Keith Marshall (k_a_marshall@lineone.net) Date: Fri, 15 Oct 1999 22:54:55 +0100 Subject: Re: Authors of Feng Shui books (Message 5 of 6) --------------------------------------------------------- "I live with someone who has been practising --SNIP--suggestions religiously for the last five years. Her life is a mess, her family detest her and I, despite the fact that I love her dearly, am at the end of my tether with this "feng shui" obsession Frogs in the bedroom must point north??? " Keith" ----------- End of message -------- P.S. The only thing I changed was to remove the name of the book author and replaced it with --SNIP-- The `morale' of the story is that one should not be overly obsessed with Feng Shui to the point as making it as "religious" rituals/rites. Feng Shui is never a religion.

Under the Flying Star theory, it is considered very auspicious if one has a double 7 under this period where it is also the period 7. In period 8 which starts in the Chinese new year in 2004, a new house/construction that has double 8's If one is new to the Flying Star, it looks like this:- 7 7 B --- Base star If the main door has double 7's above it, this is considered an extremely auspicious number. In addition, it can be even more auspicious depending on whether the base star `assists' the two stars above. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, It is still acceptable for the kitchen to face the bedroom door. The reason it may be considered inauspicious is that the kitchen do have utensils and metal objects such as forks, knifes etc... If one can manage to keep this properly and not in full view of the bedroom/bedroom door this is acceptable. Some Professional FS Masters even consider items such as a fork, which they consider `poision arrows'. If all these items are properly kept in cabinets or drawers, there should not be a problem. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, Firstly, it is good to understand the meaning of `facing star'. It is the same meaning as the `water star'. Here, one can visualise that when we face a position, it is best to have an unobstructed view. If we understand this, than a `water star' or if we have a water position e.g. a pond or pool infront of us, it is `relatively' flat and is equivalent of the Four Symbolic Animals concept's `Bird or Phoneix' flying infront of us as there is a clear space. In the living room or centre, it is best that there is clear space. Unlike the `mountain star' where it can be represented by a wall, this provides a `solid backing'. Warmest Regards, Cecil