Cecil Lee

Dear Ben, Yes, you have correctly confirmed that a house at the end of a private street has bad Sha Qi. And, for those staying in the house, it would indeed have bad Feng Shui. If you have a sketch layout plan, it would be nice to see it. As the placement of mirrors or other cures need to be looked at in relation to the main entrance door. Or perhaps, can you provide more description of:- 1. Describe more of the main gate in relation to the private street. 2. Describe more of the driveway leading to the house. 3. The position of the main entrance and any other descriptions of the frontage of the house. 4. At this frontage are there any other windows or sliding glass panels. That may add to the poison arrow. The above are important to better understand your situation as each case may be unique or different. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, Thanks for your description. In my opinion, it is inauspicious under the Shapes and Form Feng Shui for the staircase to be seen from the front door. Since it is inappropriate to use a screen, the door facing the staircase should not be opened. Overall, if you have a choice, (if you can) try to find another better house. As the above is bad Feng Shui and since one cannot use a screen; difficult to cure. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Lakshmanan, We have to take note that Feng Shui and other Divinity methods is all about trying to increase/improve our luck. Therefore, it is difficult to give a one-liner answer to your question. In fact, Feng Shui or divinity methods should be a holistic method that one can use to improve our luck in all `compartments'. Thus, from my personal experience, trying to improve a particular sector of a house e.g. North = career WILL not be as effective as applying sensible methods to include the following:- A. Protect, protect and protect - There is no such thing as 100 percent perfect homes. We must ensure that our house is properly protected e.g. from poison arrows (if any). B. As mentioned earlier, increasing our LUCK is to be done - through a holistic approach emcompassing as many Feng Shui techniques / utilization of Pillars of Destiny information. Thus, for example, we should not focus ourselves only with micro-feng shui i.e. only concerned with the `four walls' of our home and forgetting everything else - external to our house. Here, if every where else is `crumbling'; we should not be fooled into our own security within our four walls. The quickest way to achieve good LUCK is thru `Quantum Leap' in Feng Shui. This has been covered in many other messages in this forum. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, In my opinion, I believe, one should not be too rigid in the directions where plants / trees are to be planted. The more important guidelines are as follows:- 1. Avoid planting a lone tree (frontage of the house) - i.e. if one is standing on the main entrance, it should not be on the right hand side. But in your case the plant/trees are behind the house. 2. Try to choose, (in particular) trees that provide too large a shade i.e. a large footprint (when it grows large). This would result in the area surrounding (below) the tree becoming too `yin'. 3. Trees are excellent to block sha qi or an open area where there is strong winds. One should properly space out the trees along behind the building. 4. One can have a few large trees (or trees) that will grow large and at a lower level, plants that do not grow that high i.e. garden. 5. As you have mentioned in your message, do not be too concerned with the exact direction of where the plants / trees are located but rather, be sensible and most of all, have `fun' in having a `nice' garden. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, You can refer to an earlier message to this forum conference: Calculation of Natal Number of 9 December 2001. Usually, if one get the calculation correct, all should be the same. Please note that there is difference in computation for i.e. Male or Female. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Susan, In Traditional Feng Shui, the main door is the door where one usually have the house unit/number on the door. If you are constantly using the garage door, one can use the Compass School of Feng Shui i.e. either or both : Eight House Theory or Flying Star analysis to check which door is more favourable i.e. the garage door or the main entrance door to use. In such instances, one may add a unit no. to the garage door. I cannot provide any comments on the Bagua template as this usually refers to the `Black Hat Sect' and this form of Feng Shui is not recognised nor effective method. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, If you are staying above ground i.e. > 3nd storey or even 2nd storey, there is little impact on you from the garden/garden fence. Since the fence is normally not enclosed or closed-up, the ventilation into the ground is still acceptable. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Linda, First, on your question of the beam. Frankly, it is best not to paint the flute to white. Under the 5 elements concept, if your beam (in particular) is of cement exterior, the beam is considered of the earth element. Thus, in order to destroy earth, wood should be introduced. Therefore, if the beam is a concrete beam; then, you should introduce wood. However, if you have painted the wood to white, this now becomes the metal element (as white represents the metal element). In this case, two wooden flutes in its original element i.e. brown or green are the correct element to use. However, if the beam is made of wood (or wooden beam) then, the element you should use to destroy or neutralise it is metal element. Such as the use of coins. Yes, it is not advisable to place the bed on the opposite wall as the fire place. However, as you mentioned, Shapes and Form FS prevail and one may have to do so. In such a situation, one can solve the problem by leaving a gap between the bed head(rest) and the wall. The gap should be around 3 or more centremetres away from the wall. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Susan, In my opinion, based on what you have mentioned, it would be best in the long term to try to change home. The rationale is because, there are as you have mentioned, quite alot of problems relating to Shapes and Form and some compass school issues. For the short-term, since you are aware of some of the FS problems, you can try to see if can reduce or neutralise some of the effects. For example, you mentioned water behind the house. If the water is within your home and not a swimming pool; is it possible to drain the water. Or if the water is external to your home, are there sufficient plants to shield the house from it. For poison arrows or pointed objects in the bedroom, two concepts can be applied: 1. If one no longer sees it, it no longer becomes a threat. It may not be practical here but an example of this is the use of a poster bed where linen or cloth is placed on the poster. 2. For immediate threats especially those aimed at the bed, you could try to place e.g. a wind chime between the offending pointed edge and the bed. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Susan, It is interesting to review the poll results under: http://www.geomancy.net/poll/poll.pl In this url, you can find the poll on TV set facing the bed. It is felt that some of us are more sensitive to having a mirror facing the bed then others. While for some people, this may not be an issue. Usually, the advise is that a mirror (relection) or in your case a full-length mirror (should) preferably not face any part of the bed. If, so far, you can sleep well in the bedroom then, I personally feel that you need not change the full-height mirror. Alternatively, if you are wanting to change it, this can still be done or you may want to consider using an opaque film/plain paper to cover it up temporarily. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Lisa, For a child's bedroom, usually; we look at the concept of `Yin and Yang'. Yin or rest or Yang for activity. Usually, for children' room; it should be more yang than yin. As children are growing. Thus,this can be either in the brighter colours used in the room or combinations of it and pictures/posters and toys in the room. Even when we try to make the room more yang, toys such as war planes, soliders or toy weapons, transformers should be avoided. For such toys, they can still be played during the day time, but kept afterwards e.g. in a drawer of chest or other storage areas. For the bedsheet, try to choose a more pastel colour - if sleep is a problem. Where possible, avoid having the bedroom in the North-East or South-West of the house particulary if due to certain combinations of factors, these two sectors become more yin. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anamika, In Chapter 5 of my book Applied Feng Shui Made Easy; you can safely use either method 1 or 2 as they are applicable even on or after 2001:- Method 1 ======= 100 - 1 = 99 99 / 9 = 11 remainder 0 Gua 0 or 9 (considered Gua 9) Method 2 ======= 0 + 1 = 1 10 - 1 = 9 Gua = 9 .................................................. Subject 2: Male, 1/1/2103 Method 1 ======== 100 - 3 = 97 97 / 9 = 10 remainder 7 Gua = 7 Method 2 ======= 0 + 3 = 3 10 - 3 = 7 Gua = 7 .................................................. Subject 3: Male, 1/1/2100 Method 1 ======= 100 - 0 = 100 100 / 9 = 11 remainder 1 Gua = 1 Method 2 ======= 0 + 0 = 0 10 - 0 = 10 1 + 0 = 1 Gua = 1 In the past, there was a forum message, where I replied that the above two methods can be used even after 2000. However, if I recall correctly, one forum member used the formula (source from one of Lillian Too's) book. That particular method was found (if I am not mistaken) cannot work after 2000. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Iris, 1. Please refer to my most recent message on the use of fish tank in this conference. The message is titled: Aquarium - rearing of fishes 12/7/2001. 2. In my opinion, rearing of fishes be best left to those who love to rear them as a hobby. Unless, one has been specifically asked to rear one e.g. to neutralise a poison arrow i.e. aimed into the bedroom such as a lone lamp post which may pose a threat i.e. slicing into the home. 3. The adage: If it ain't broken, do not fix it. How true this is (in my opinion). As sometimes, we may unexpectedly bring ourselves more problems. If rearing fish is a hobby, then, it can be expected that we can consult say a FS practitioner on the position. Normally, it would be best to relate the positioning with the Flying Star chart. Or, we do not want to go further, we ourselves even before we purchase a fish tank would have an `inking' or idea as to where we would like to place it at. If the house is rather small and narrow, then, it would not be advisable to place a fish tank. For wind chimes, it is again true. The question asked is: Is it because, I fell in love with a wind chime and `must have it' in the home. Or, I am trying to follow my neighbour or have read that it would bring me wealth. In Flying Star Feng Shui, a metallic wind chime would be very useful to constantly destroy the bad earth #5 element. And it may not be of harm if one decides to place it. It can still be placed on the porch. The `downside' with metal wind chimes is that sometimes, it may inadvertently attract the wrong elements into the home. For example, if (in particular) a child sleeps in a room diagonal or next to the wind chime, the child may sometimes have nightmares. This is thought to be caused by playful imps (they are of no particular threat) but can cause nightmares. Since they are placed outside the house. The rationale here is also because for the Toaist or Buddhist believe that metallic sounds i.e. are used e.g. during the cremony to call the dead during a funeral and lead them from e.g. to the place of burial. In my opinion, sometimes, if we may end up literally playing with fire e.g. playing with matchsticks and resulting.. in causing a fire. This is not always the case, but we should be aware of such consequences that may result... Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Noe, 1. For a weak earth element person, a fish tank is neutral to the person's element. It does not enhance a weak earth person. 2. Unless one has a fish tank / aquarium as a hobby, to a FS practitioner, it is usually meant more as a `cure'. While in the past and present, a Taiwanese FS master would usually use more of plants. While Hong Kong Feng Shui practitioners use more of fish tanks. For example, if there is a lone lamp post which seems to slice into the window. Here, a FS practitioner may recommend the use of a fish tank. 3. Please note that fish tank is thus used more as a `cure' to neutralise sha qi in Feng Shui. As its qi is considered `slow moving'. Unlike the vibrant qi of a respectably large water fountain. 4. Some FS practitioners say that a fish tank symbolise the `throwing away' i.e. when we clean the fish tank, we are symbolically throwing away `gold' i.e. water from it. 5. Some FS practitioners would recommend that one uses fish tank in the shape of - rectangular, square, octagon and round. But do not recommend fish tank in the shape of a triangle (pyramid shape). 6. Another consideration is that the legs of the fish tank or supporting legs should preferable match the location. For example if the fish tank is at the east, then the legs (stand) should preferably be brown. Or if the fish tank is at north then it can be black, grey or blue. 7. In my opinion, if one wants to rear fish for a hobby by all means. But if one hopes to achieve wealth by rearing fishes in `small' fish tanks... I certainly have second doubts about it. However, it would be different if one lives in a landed property and have a fish POND e.g. with koi fishes in it especially if it is located at the frontage of the house. 8. For the number of fishes, there are several `arguments': 8.1 Some FS practitioners recommend that the number of fishes should tie in with one's Kua (Gua) number. Thus if one's Gua number is ONE, then, get a single (large) fish like the arowana fish. If one's Gua number is 8 then have eight fishes. 8.2 Fishes such as gold fish, koi's carp's are considered `gold' or metal element and it is sometimes preferred to have 8 (lucky) or 9 (longevity) fishes. Black represents water element and a combination of 8 gold and 1 water (black) is more in line with Feng Shui cures. It would best (in my opinion) to stick with 8 or 9 gold fishes (metal element) since, water is already represented by the water in the tank. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Angela, In my opinion, a half-circle building or dome shaped building falls under a `metal building'. In Feng Shui, one often find some older buildings with a `moon gate' i.e. a semi-circular gate (literally the same shape as your dome building). Such a metal element building is relatively neutral or particularly good if it is surrounded by narrow objects or even other buildings that are narrow. This is where, this dome shaped building (Metal element) is useful to destroy wood (narrow objects). This type of building is particularly good or beneficial if it is surrounded at any side by tall trees. Again, metal (dome) helps to destroy wood. In some countries, dome shaped building is or was popular ith the army (symbolic of metal element). Such an arch shape is also favoured by some arhictects as it frees the inner hall of columns or beams due to the support provided by the arch (dome shape). As for the placement of the bed and study, it would depend very much with the orientation of your building and the lighting that goes into the building or room. Where possible, the study should be close to open lighting or natural light. And the location depends on country (hemisphere) and direction. For example, it would not be advisable to place the study table facing the west (especially the heat or distraction coming from the afternoon sun). As you have not mentioned the size of the room, for such a room, it would depend on your studying habits e.g. do you prefer to sit and study at the study table or prefer to lie on the bed. Your study habits such as do you use the room more for rest or study or both. If you merely use the room more for rest such as you study more frequently at the library or open area. Overall, try to make your room as comfortable and to your personal liking is much better than trying to `fit in' thru any advise. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Mark, In my opinion:- 1. Books If you are reading Lillian Too's books then go for more of `Shapes and Form' concepts. I personally feel that she is better at `Shapes and Form' FS than numerology topics such as Flying Star etc.. I personally feel that a person's inclination is an important factor in deciding which topics or subjects to go into. For example, if one notice carefully, Harvard University or personnels in the university are more inclined towards `humanity' or subjects on humanity. (Less focus on mathematics). Where else, those who studies at e.g. University of California or MIT, are more inclined towards logic or mathematics or such sciences. Thus, one may have to examine carefully, what one's inclination is. For example, if a person enjoys or feels confortable with drawings or diagrams or pictures, then you may be more inclined towards Shapes and Form Feng Shui. Some one told me that one consideration is that if a person likes to read books skipping thru the book then one could be in this category. While if the person is the type who reads a book page by page from Page 1 onwards.... than he she is more of the logical side. Or the right or left brain concept. Thus, if a person's love is for logic or feels confortable in mathematics, then Flying Star type of Feng Shui is for the person - he will feel more at home with this method. Pillars of Destiny - is not Feng Shui but rather.. considered more of Chinese divinity method. However, in Feng Shui, two key essence or information from Pillars of Destiny is more relevant in: a. Finding out one's element and strength. This information is crucial to cures and enhancements in Feng Shui analysis. And the season and strenght (every 10 year luck period) is also looked at to ensure that any cures or enhancements made does not clash with one's element and strength in a particular season. For Feng Shui books:- Classics and academic books - Dr Evelyn Lip. Her books are always academic correct and tells the history correctly. They are quite old editions but are good source of guide for those doing basic research into Feng Shui. Derek Walters. He wrote only two books on Feng Shui but these books give information instead of constantly providing some sort of advice. Do avoid books that sell one every cure and enhancements. I believe books should provide good information and after providing the information, it is left to the user or the reader to aid them in further understanding the issue. I do not like books that `promise' the world and at the end of the day cause more damage than helping people. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Angela, 1. Sector Feng Shui or what you have mentioned below is the common advise from some Feng Shui books. 2. Most of the time, these books (some which have been written since 1984 or earlier) commonly suggest improvement such as `glorifying' or "paying homage" to a corner. 3. For example, these authors have tried to make money by mentioning that e.g. that one should enhance i.e. our romance corner with say ... flowers or pictures of loved ones. And this can be applied in a home or in a bedroom, e.g. the South-West corner. 4. This concept or idea is based on the Eight aspirations or Life associations or Life aspirations i.e. where, each sector is (was) said to have a significance based on the Gua (Kua number) association at that sector. 5. Through time and from past messages or responses received from users in this forum and having met many people who had tried this but found no improvement. 6. It is in my opinion that sector Feng Shui or `paying homage' to a corner is not exactly an ideal method that can yield much success. 7. I like to share with you some of the more important considerations why sector Feng Shui may not suceed so well:- 7.1. In many of the past forum messages, I mentioned that Feng Shui is all about trying to increase one's `earth' luck. Trying to find the elusive `wealth corner' as mentioned in your message below may not give one a decisive quantum leap in `luck'. For example, even the basic Gua (Kua) model has at least 8 sectors. No matter how much one tries to improve luck to ONLY one sector, your luck is only 1/8 out of 100 percent of luck. Thus, it may be a fallacy to try to e.g. purchase something (could be expensive) item of say $1,000 to improve this corner. But the end result is that one could perhaps, get back less than 1/8 of the above amount or less. 7.2 The most effective method is to apply concepts based on the Five Elements concept. This is where, the lowest common denominator of all Feng Shui (Flying Star analysis), Pillars of Destiny) is based on the Five Elements concept. And with proper understanding of one level up i.e. Yin and Yang concept are crucial to improve one's luck. 8. During this downturn or expected downturn, we should avoid spending unnecessarily. 9. If it is so easy to find a wealth sector, then why is it that no book has simply focused on this issue and nothing else. Even if one claims that there is a particular wealth sector; is this really true? What is thus so special to consider this particular sector the wealth sector? 10. We should apply FS sensibly and spending money on materialistic things or objects does not automatically grant us additional luck. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anil, Yes, you are correct to bring up this issue. In a modern crowded city, one should instead look at Feng Shui at a macro level. Here, cities should instead be considered instead as at a micro level. Many cities come under this definition. Where, wealth creation is based on (for the majority) the wealth created within the city. Thus, it would explan one's puzzlement as to how do we look at Feng Shui of an apartment say which is surrounded by similar apartments or buildings and where streets may be relatively rectangular in shape and cross each other at intersections. Please see below:- Overall, as mentioned earlier, for a city, we can consider wealth as overall part of the entire city. However, if one is luckier, there are sites within a city that are considered more auspicious than other sites. Here, these are sites that in particular has the movement of the dragon, flowing from the upper reaches down to the sea. Some buildings, avoid trapping the dragon and may have open spaces or clear glass panels to allow the dragon (and the dragon qi) to move downwards towards the sea. Sites that can accumulate wealth are considered advantages here. You may need a good FS practitioner to review this. The other concept is how your building relates to the other surrounding buildings. Each building can be considered or classified under a specific element. Thus one competitive advantage is to have your building generate wealth at the expense of other buildings. Another point is that, `protect, protect, protect'. Buildings should be protected against any poison arrows aimed at it. Currently it is very difficult for me to recommend any remedy unless, you are able to furnish more details or if possible pictures of surrounding building and your building for further comments. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear KC, Please see below:- For rearing of fishes, it would not be advisable for a person with the element " weak Fire element " as water can further extinguish a person with weak fire element. In addition, it is normally not advisable for a person with Strong water element to rear fish as it may further strengthen the strong water element. This may lead to e.g. sickness or competition at work for the party. This is OK. Other that what I mentioned earlier; you can place the fish tank next to a wall in your home. Since this is a smiling buddha, it is ok to place near the fish tank. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear KC, I hope you don't mind. Appreciate if you can elaborate further:- 1. What is the size of the two fish tanks. 2. How did you come about rearing the fishes. Are they, a hobby or reared more for `Feng shui'. 3. For the deity what is the deity and how high is the deity in relation to the fish tank. What is the distance between the altar and the fish tank. Thank you. Cecil Lee

Dear Maria, Please see below:- In this sector, there is star 2 and 5 making it extremely strong Earthly influence. Therefore, you can use both the Metal and Wood cure at teh same time to create more balance and reduce the earthly influence. Generally, Wood destroys Earth and Metal exhaust Earth, so either way both are cures that can be used. You can choose to use Metal only or Wood only or even both. But in your case, this has 2 & 5 so it would be better if you can use both for this year. In 2002, you need to review to see if what stars comes in to further fine tune it for next year. Generally, you need to first focus on the 20-year (particularly Water and Mountain Star). Once you have cured it, then you can analyse the yearly star to see if you need to add further cures or enhancement or sometime you need not need to put in much cures for that sector. However, the general rule is to focus on the 20-year, then focus on the yearly star. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. In my opinion, this concept is somewhat "outdated" or may be very difficult to apply i.e. to a lay person. In particular the dragon and tiger concepts. 2. For the back (tortise/ or you mentioned turtle ) i.e. solid backing and clear space (phoenix) is still relatively easy to understand and apply for most of us. 3. This is because especially for those who live in urban areas, roads, waterways or even buildings can represent the dragon and tiger. 4. What I find that is more important than Para 3 at this moment is this question: Does the site able to collect wealth? If a site can collect wealth, then this is the opportunity i.e. Quantum Leap in Feng Shui. In accessing your home, one should not be too myopic (or have a tunnel) vision by just soley relying on the four walls of one's house. One should actually look at the site. A site that can collect wealth is one where: 1. The plot of land need not necessarily be located at the highest ground. Many sites, are locations where they are in a `receive position' i.e. imagine holding your hands together (like a bowl shape) where it can not only collect wealth but retain wealth. 2. Sites where there is a solid backing behind and clear space at the frontage. 3. The buildings are relatively protected from poison arrows much like the horse-shoe shape or design. There are more considerations than what I mentioned above. Thus, today, even if (especially) the layman can locate the dragon and tiger i.e. in-embrace, it is difficult for the lay person to say for sure whether this can be good/excellent or even bad. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. Yes, you can still activate the frontage of the house with a mini waterfall. 2. Yes, you can use the curtain to block the view of the staircase. 3. Do take note that if the frontage of the house e.g. the main entrance door and where there is also sliding panels at the front area, the cause for concern is i.e. family members especially children such as females in the house will have difficulty getting married. This is particular `true' if the main door entrance is large in relation to the frontage i.e. living room area i.e. it extends from one wall to the other wall. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, Usually, the significance of a windchime is not related to the Kua (Gua Number). Under Traditional Feng Shui, it is particularly commonly used at locations with #5 (misfortune) sector of the home. Especially if it is made of metal. The generation of metallic sounds is useful to neutralise #5. In your case, if you do rely on the above, can, at your own preference, try to find a place, in your home to place it. Warmest Regards, Cecil Lee

Dear Victoria, The free Pillars of destiny report at www.geomancy-online.com has a free module for you to generate your birth chart. Warmest regards, Cecil