Feng Shui

Feng Shui:

1. Definition: Feng Shui is part of Chinese Philosophy where, living with nature benefits both humans and their environment.

The Chinese have over 4,000 years of recorded history. At about that period, 2,000 BC, their focus was on survival, particularly living with Nature or their environment. They learnt how nature behaved and documented it. They learnt where to build villages; safety was paramount together with reliable sources of food and water. They found the best location for the “leader”, the villagers, the farm animals, the well for water, land to farm etc. The Chinese is the oldest and continuous civilisation and probably the most successful as judged by a nation of at least 1.3 billion people or 20% of the world’s population.

These observations of nature developed to rules on how to live with nature or the environment – this was called Kan Yi (Management of Land). Kan Yi gradually evolved to the term Feng Shui. This knowledge was documented and the practise was handed from Master to Apprentice (within Organisations).

When Nature is working with you, you get the leverage of the biggest force on Earth, albeit in a very subtle form. 

2. Feng Shui deals with 2 aspects – Time and Space

Time: The Chinese calendar provides basic information like lunar cycle (28 day lunar month), solar cycle (calendar year), the dates when to plant crops (spring) and harvest them (autumn) and many other things that we take for granted. Feng Shui goes a step further and provides the information on the characteristics of the various cycles – there are a number of concurrent cycles – daily, monthly, yearly, 20 years, 180 years but the each cycle have properties that affect the people and the environment differently.

Space: This can be the location of a new town relative to the hills, lake, river and road or the positioning of a building relative to the other buildings and the road. The main aim is to have the inhabitants have the best lives possible.

3. Energy (Qi)

Chinese Philosophy states that all life is due to the presence of Energy.  Feng Shui is about the Energy in the Environment. The job of the consultant is to identify the flows of the Energy in the Environment and how they can be used in the property. It is about the quantity and the quality of Energy.

4. Traditional Feng Shui

The knowledge and the practise of this methodology have been passed down from master to apprentice for centuries. This involved the selection of the student (the appropriate personality), the passing down of the knowledge, practical training, the practise (working within teams) together with tight discipline. The training is carried out by practitioners of the subject. Students are expected to behave to the standards of the seniors, have discipline to work in teams and give the best to the clients. The students are taught established methods by the very people who use it regularly in their professional careers.

This is very much like the training to be a forensic scientist in an operational laboratory. The candidate is selected on the basis of academic qualifications and attitude. The training is carried out by seniors on the very methods they are using. This includes the presentation of evidence at a Court of Law.

The full training for a Consultant (Traditional Feng Shui) and a Forensic Scientist can take between 5 to 10 years.

5. Why use Feng Shui:

According to the texts, a property that is filled with energy (qi) will have the occupants in the property having good health, wealth and relationships. Opportunities are plentiful and the good opportunities are used. Feng Shui is the methodology of how to use the Energy for the benefit of the people in the property.

However, not all the properties are filled with energy or have energy available to the property. Therefore, the results from working on any property is subject to a variable result depending on the available energy. As a result, we prefer to work in projects where we can make modifications to the exteriors or the landscape.

a. The Development of Residential Estates

The Property Developer’s main aim is to build the houses and sell them at a good return. We assist the developer with the project so that the development not only sells quickly at a premium price but also, the building work is completed on time. An additional benefit to the house owners, their houses will have energy and they can benefit from the benefits of Feng Shui. This also enhances the Developers reputation.

b. The Development of Commercial Buildings

The developer’s main aim is to develop the site – to complete on time and on budget.

• Shopping centre, retail store: The tenants are filled with customers who are buying the stock. The building is fulfilling its design purpose thus increasing the owner’s reputation and the property valuation together with a group of very happy tenants.
• Hotel/resorts: Have the planned occupancy rate at the planned room rate – is that not any hotelier’s main objective? All the outlets performing to plan as well.
• Offices: The people in the businesses make good decision and work well together.

c. The Selection of Retail outlets (Shops) or offices

• Currently, there are many commercial properties available for rent on the market. Many are available because of business failures. Poor Feng Shui can be contributory cause for the business failure. Why choose a property that has seen failure before? This is the best time to select the ideal site compatible with the business.

d. The Selection and Design of House

• Selection of the most suitable house from the available stock.  This will ensure that the house will receive energy and be able to get the full benefit of Feng Shui.
• Getting the best possible design for the location so as to reap the benefits of Feng Shui.