Blame it on Your House

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Blame It On Your House

Perhaps you've seen it on your block. There's always one house that seems to have a new family in it every few years. Or maybe you've experienced it. You're doing great at your business, everything is going well, it's time to move to a bigger, nicer home but after living there awhile business takes a turn for the worse, or your kids aren't doing as well in school. Coincidence you say? Well the Chinese have a name for it, it's called Feng Shui, or the Chinese art of Placement. Based on the same theories used in acupuncture a Feng Shui practitioner can tell whether a certain house, or office for that matter, is right for you.

"There is absolutely no mystery to it." says Dr. Roger West, a Feng Shui practitioner and a former senior instructor at the American Feng Shui Institute. First the surrounding elements are considered, both natural as well as man made, mountains, canyons, large bodies of water as well as power lines, major streets and large buildings all have their affects on the occupants of a building.

In addition to the external environment the building's internal energy is determined. By using a Chinese Compass, called a "lo-pan" the structure’s orientation is determined. This is combined with the year the building was built and the birth year of' the occupants. Using this information the Feng Shui practitioner then looks at the location of the front door. important rooms, such as your personal office or the master bedroom. With all information gathered he can then make a determination of whatever specific problems you might have, and Feng Shui solutions for them.

Just as the moon and planets exert a magnetic control over the earth as evidenced in the ocean's tides so do they influence every square inch of the earth's surface. This unseen energy, also called "chi" can be charted using a lo-pan. This is the same energy that is in the human body and that acupuncture manipulates using needles. The same ancient Chinese theories used in acupuncture are also used in Feng Shui. Therefore Dr. West points out, Feng Shui is really a science. Just as acupuncture uses pulse diagnosis to determine weakness in energy flow, or "chi" we use the lo-pan plus yearly cycles, to determine the magnetic fields of a structure. Where an acupuncturist would use needles to stimulate the chi or energy in a person, we might suggest placing a certain natural element in an area of a room to correct an imbalance."

In Feng Shui items made of either metal or earthen ware are placed at specific sites. Aquariums are also used, as are plants, Dr. West explains, "One of the basic Chinese theories, is the Five Element theory. Using items made up of these elements, metal, water, wood, fire and earth we are able to correct imbalances in the magnetic fields in a building. Unfortunately much of what has been written in the States regarding Feng Shui has not been totally correct and often over simplified. It is not mystical nor does it require psychic abilities. Anyone can learn the principles and utilize them to enhance health, life and prosperity. I teach classes to others so they can determine what is best for their own given situation. I also give Feng Shui readings, where, after analyzing a home or business I give a report of suggested adjustments to enhance a client's health, income or personal relationships.

Although the art of Feng Shui is new to the United States it has been practiced in China for thousands of years. It gained a mystical reputation as historically it was used by the emperors and court in an effort to keep control of the kingdom and prosperity for their partisans. Nowadays in Taiwan and Hong Kong it has believers in political, commercial and industrial circles. It has spread to the United States and Europe in recent years. This new popularity is a mixed blessing, in that, now many may receive the benefits of Feng Shui but what should one look for when a reputable practitioner is wanted. There are those out there holding themselves up as experts when their knowledge of Feng Shui may be questionable. How do you tell the good from the bad? Dr. West explains, " First keep in mind Feng Shui is a science and as such any advice given can be fully explained. Although crystals, mirrors, incense and the like have their place in some theories or cultures none of these are used in Feng Shui. Secondly, if a practitioner doesn't use a compass they do not have complete Feng Shui knowledge. A competent practitioner will always determine the orientation of the building and request the year of construction. Also look out for persons who advise everyone to do the same thing, such as, always put water in the front of the house, or always hang wind chimes by your door. Just as a doctor would not prescribe the same medication for every diagnosis, neither would these things always be the correct thing to do in every case."

But can Feng Shui reveal and correct specific problems? Here Dr, West is emphatic: "A true Feng Shui practitioner should do more than say "With the changes I recommend your luck will be better", or" by placing plants in the room it cleanses the 'bad vibes’.... etc. A Feng Shui practitioner must be able to reveal specific occurrences and events both in the past and present. I tell my clients not to reveal there concerns to me but let me do my analysis and I will tell them what has been going on. Examples of some things that may be revealed are, monetary difficulties, lawsuits, marital difficulties, illness or injury, to which family member and even more specifically which body part is involved. By identifying past events the practitioner verifies the accuracy of the reading,"

Some say Feng Shui is following the road of Chinese acupuncture and will become an Oriental academic art to which Western industrial nations will have to pay attention. Everyone wants a beneficial environment one in which we can grow to our potentials. It only makes sense that by following natural order we have the best chance of maximizing what life has to offer.

Major universities such as USC and Northrop University have held classes in Feng Shui at their facilities. Furthermore, Chase Manhattan Bank, Citibank and Paine Weber have all used Feng Shui to invigorate their environments and stimulate business, according to a Los Angeles publication of the Daily Journal Corp. If major American businesses are using Feng Shui to maximize their potentials maybe it's time for the general public to follow their lead.