FAQ
- What is Feng Shui?
- OK, then why is it called the “Ancient Chinese Art of Placement”?
- Don’t you work with the placement of furniture?
- I read somewhere that I have to find my auspicious direction (North, South, East, West) to have my door. I tried but it was very confusing. Is this important?
- Ch’i? Ba-Gua?
- Some books talk about the Ba-Gua and some about the Pa-Qua. Which is right?
- What is the Ba-Gua?
- What do you mean “parts of my life”?
- Will Feng Shui solve all my problems?
- Is Feng Shui some kind of religion?
- I believe but my wife (or husband) doesn’t. Will Feng Shui still work for me?
- In that case, can’t I use Feng Shui to fix him?
- What about my kids? Can I help them?
- I live in an apartment. I keep my apartment neat and clean but my landlord doesn’t maintain the building very well. Will his mess hurt my Feng Shui?
- My building’s OK but my roommate is very messy and disorganized. How does that affect my own Feng Shui?
- Forget about my house. I want help at work! Does Feng Shui work on businesses?
- You keep talking about ‘cures’? I’ve seen Feng Shui stuff on line and it’s all Chinese coins, bamboo flutes and red tassels. That won’t go with my home. Do I have to use them?
- When should I do Feng Shui?
- Can I do it myself?
1. What is Feng Shui?
Pronounced “Fung Schway”, Feng Shui literally means “Wind – Water”. It’s a science that helps you change the flow of your life by making adjustments to your physical environment.
2. OK, then why is it called the “Ancient Chinese Art of Placement”?
When Feng Shui first developed in China about 5,000 years ago, it was basically a way to place your homes front door.
3. Don’t you work with the placement of furniture?
Yes we do. But in today’s world, especially with apartments, there is most likely only one good spot to put your sofa or bed, so there isn’t much art to the placement. Modern Feng Shui has many other methods of change.
4. I read somewhere that I have to find my auspicious direction (North, South, East, West) to have my door. I tried but it was very confusing. Is this important?
This is definitely the most frequently asked question in Feng Shui. As I practice Feng Shui, it doesn’t matter if your door faces north or faces south. Your door is where it is and you can rest assured that’s exactly where it should be.
The entrance to any space is called the “mouth of chi”. It’s the point I use to lay the Ba-Gua over your space and see what’s going on in your world.
5. Ch’i? Ba-Gua?
Ch’i is the universal life force energy. The Ba-Gua is the Feng Shui “energy map”.
6. Some books talk about the Ba-Gua and some about the Pa-Qua. Which is right?
The Ba-Gua is generally the way we say it in the US. The Pa-Kua is just another way of spelling and pronouncing Ba-Gua. I’ve mostly seen in British publications.
7. What is the Ba-Gua?
The Ba-Gua is an octagonal energy map we use to determine which areas of your home relate to which parts of your life.
8. What do you mean “parts of my life”?
Each of the 9 areas represents a different aspect of what’s going on in your life and that shows us where to look when you want to change.
For example, we go to the Wealth area or gua to work on money issues, the Partnership gua for love issues and so on.
9. Will Feng Shui solve all my problems?
It will help you get to where you want to go but you have to do your part. It’s kind of like riding a bicycle. Feng Shui will give you an extra boost up to the top of the hill but you still have to pedal.
10. Is Feng Shui some kind of religion?
Absolutely not! My clients reflect a wide range of beliefs and practices. The only belief you have to have when using Feng Shui is the belief that it will work. To paraphrase Henry Ford, “Whether you think it can or you think it can’t, you’re right.”
11. I believe but my wife (or husband) doesn’t. Will Feng Shui still work for me?
It depends. If your partner is a non-believer but willing to go along with you, the changes you make can be very effective. Unfortunately, very strong negativity from your partner may defeat your best intentions.
12. In that case, can’t I use Feng Shui to fix him?
Sorry, but it doesn’t work that way. The only person you have the power to change is you. Feng Shui can help you with your own life. Your partner may respond to the difference or she may not.
13. What about my kids? Can I help them?
Definitely. Starting your baby off in a Feng Shui’d room is a wonderful way to help her grow strong in good ch’i.
Making Feng Shui changes in kids’ rooms works through your intentions until they’re about 26 years old. It even works long distance when they’re away at camp or college.
14. I live in an apartment. I keep my apartment neat and clean but my landlord doesn’t maintain the building very well. Will his mess hurt my Feng Shui?
Yes and no. It may have some impact on your personal ch’i, but the work you do in your apartment is a good protection. There are also cures that can be done to keep the negative energy from his mess out of your space.
15. My building’s OK but my roommate is very messy and disorganized. How does that affect my own Feng Shui?
Just like with the building it can have some impact. If he keeps his clutter in his own room then a closed door will be the solution. If it leaks into common space, you can raise your own ch’i level with personal Feng Shui cures and, of course, Feng Shui your own room.
16. Forget about my house. I want help at work! Does Feng Shui work on businesses?
Yes, it definitely does. I’ve worked with businesses ranging from small entrepreneurs to large universities, with corporate offices and retailers, medical faculties, health spas and yoga studios, with dealers in antiques and dealers in modern art. There are many business specific Feng Shui cures that we can bring into the workplace.
17. You keep talking about ‘cures’? I’ve seen Feng Shui stuff on line and it’s all Chinese coins, bamboo flutes and red tassels. That won’t go with my home. Do I have to use them?
We use many different tools in Feng Shui in addition to the “stuff”. Colors and lights, mirrors and plants, fountains and fish tanks. We can blend the changes in beautifully so no one “sees” the Feng Shui (a necessity with some of my business clients).
Good Feng Shui is good design. The changes must be aesthetically pleasing. If it doesn’t feel good, it probably won’t work well.
18. When should I do Feng Shui?
Anytime. If you’re feeling stuck or in a bad place, if there have been changes in your life situation, perhaps a job shift, a relationship ending or a new addition to the family, it’s a good time to take a look at your home’s Feng Shui.
You can also use Feng Shui adjustments to address individual situations. There are specific cures to help you sell your house or find a love, to help you intensify your focus or to calm your ch’i, to help you clear your mind or clear your clutter.
19. Can I do it myself?
Sometimes all it takes to unblock the ch’i flow is one basic change like, say removing dead plants from your front steps. You can find many simple ideas on the tips pages.
If that’s not enough, the next step is to find a good Feng Shui book, DVD or take a class.
If you’ve tried to do it on your own and haven’t achieved the success you’d like, it might be time to consider a private consultation, either in person or long distance. (I’ll let you in on a secret – I’ve had my own consultations. Just like a doctor can’t treat himself, a Feng Shui practitioner needs another professional Feng Shui eye to see his own ch’i blocks.)
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