For Malaysian feng shui master Lillian Too, investing in a good – and accurate – compass is a must for a do-it-yourself feng shui plotting in your own home. Knowing how to read the compass and feng shui charts properly saves you the trouble of hiring a feng-shui consu-ltant. This way, you won’t have to shell out loads of cash from your hard-earned savings.
Too, the author of more than 100 feng shui books and the woman behind 50 World of Feng Shui boutiques in five continents, was in the country recently to give a talk on the coming Year of the Fire Dog and conducted a workshop on practical feng shui how-to’s.
"Feng shui is a wonderful skill to have in your life. It’s not just about getting rich; it’s also about harmony in the home, happiness and health," says the MBA Harvard graduate and businesswoman.
Unlike the Chinese New Year on January 29, which is based on the Chinese lunar calendar, Too says that the feng shui calendar based on the Chinese solar calendar begins February 4. "The real element ruling the Year of the Fire Dog is the yang wood. The most auspicious direction for the house is the north. So if your front door and bedroom are located in the north, you’ll have good luck," she says, adding that the east is also lucky, especially for good career luck.
Since the ruling element is the yang wood, it’s suggested that you put plenty of plants in the right location and since water produces wood, it’s also good to invest in water features in the north, as well as in the east, of your home. Water features refer to either a pond or a pool, as well as flowing water, but not of the trickling kind. "It should flow freely and steadily for you to attract wealth," says Too. Don’t make the mistake of letting the water flow out for you’re also letting out all the money that you’ll be getting.
A pond or pool in either the north, east or southeast strengthens the chi energy of the year, especially if you put a dragon figure near it. Now, if you can’t afford to build a swimming pool or a pond, then just write the word "water" – in any language you want – and place it in the north.
Put wood elements, such as plants and flowers, in either the east or southeast, and fire elements, such as candles and lights, in the south. Metal elements, meanwhile, should be placed in the west and northwest.
Too warns against the affliction stars flying over certain directions. This year, there is a 5-yellow star in the west which will bring misfortune, loss of wealth, relationship, accidents, and bad luck. There shouldn’t be any diggings, chopping of trees, and renovating done in that direction. The west should be kept quiet so as not to activate the 5-yellow. That is, avoid putting a television or radio in that area.
The 5-yellow star in the west is also said to hurt the young girls in the family, so Too advises against sleeping in rooms located in the west. The 5-yellow star is said to be responsible for lung and nose problems. Those born in the sign of the Rooster are advised to take precautions.
Cures for this affliction include getting a 5-element pagoda. Unscrew the top and put soil taken from the west and close tightly. You can also hang a six-rod wind chime in the west to dissipate negative energy. Roosters can wear a gold 5-element pagoda pendant or key chain. Another cure is the wealth windmill in gold or brass which symbolizes smooth sailing for the whole family. Also, remove any suggestions of earth and fire energy in the west. Thus, keep the west dimly-lighted and refrain from making any noise or doing any activity in the west.
The illness star, meanwhile, looms over the southeast. Those whose bedrooms are in the southeast are susceptible to illnesses. This star also hurts the eldest daughter in the family. If the main door faces southeast, the family will be affected and may suffer from ailments involving the pancreas, liver and tongue, especially if they were born in the years of the Dragon and Snake.
What you can do is to remove earth and fire energy from southeast. That is, don’t put plants or too much light in that area, for instance. Another cure is to place the 8 Immortals in the area. You can also place a six-rod wind chime on your desk to counter the illness star’s effects.
The hostile No. 3 star is in the center of the house, which threatens to bring all sorts of trouble, including court cases, quarrels, aggravations with authority and unhappiness for members of the household. The area must be kept quiet at all times. Remove wood energy from the center and replace it with fire energy. Turn this area into a "red light district" for once — place a 9-level crystal pagoda in red light; hang a red and gold mandala, or a peace and harmony amulet; hang lucky red knots, which are big knots tied in thick red strings, in the center or sewed in curtains and bedcovers. As a last resort, advises Too, you can even paint the whole room red if need be.
The No. 7 star, which stands for blood, is in the south and people are warned against violence, cheating, robbery and injuries. The middle daughter can be easily conned if she’s not careful. Remove metal energy from rooms and doors located in the south. This star especially afflicts those born in the Horse year.
Cures for the No. 7 star include a blue rhino or a brass double rhino placed in your handbag or among jewelry. You can also place a big pair of double blue rhinos in the southern part of the house or room.
Directly affecting the Dragon, and indirectly affecting Sheep and Ox, is the Tai Sui or Grand Duke Jupiter in northwest 1, which is the first 15 degrees of the northwest direction (see what we mean by having a good compass?). It’s a no-no to sit facing northwest 1 this year for you’ll be confronting the ire of Grand Duke Jupiter. It’s best to sit or stand facing southeast with the northwest behind you. Avoid making noises, renovating, digging or cutting in this direction as well. To appease the Tai Sui, place a figure of pi yao or pi xie, which is also known as a chimera, in the direction. Or carry an annual amulet coin with a pi yao drawing stamped on it.
Although the 3 killings in the north are present, which threatens to bring accidents, loss of wealth and relationship, there’s no need to worry too much. Unlike the Grand Duke Jupiter, the 3 killings are a cowardly lot that run away when confronted. So, it’s encouraged that you face the 3 killings directly. Having three-coin swords and three chi lins in the north is also auspicious.
The auspicious star 8 is in the north and there’s reason to rejoice if your bedroom or the house is facing north.
The romance star – or peach blossom star – in the northwest can be a little tricky. This year, the men are blessed by the peach blossom star and will have more than their share of romance. This is great news for unmarried, available men, especially if they put metal energy in the northwest for this signifies marriage. But a water feature in this direction could spell disaster, or a sex scandal, to be specific. So, cover those swimming pools located in the northwest part of the house to avoid further aggravations. Married women who want to turn the romance volume a notch higher at home are advised to place an amethyst tied to a red string under their bed or under their feet when they’re sleeping.
If you want to find love, activate the peach blossom luck by placing images of the horse in the south, rooster in the west, rabbit in the east and rat in the north. Within three months, says Too, you’ll meet someone. "That I can guarantee but not the question of whether he or she is the right person for you. That calls for a more personal chart," she says. Too adds that if you must put the animal images, make sure that they don’t look ugly or sickly; otherwise, you’ll meet a person displaying the same characteristics. If you don’t want to end up with a mousy-looking man, perhaps it’s better not to put a picture of Mickey Mouse in the north? Or if you want a dashing, macho man, make sure you put a bejeweled stallion in the south. Just a thought.
The 9-star in the southwest symbolizes completion for women. There is good luck there, but not too much of love luck. Women who are heads of companies – or countries, for that matter – have a higher chance of building the foundation for future success for the 9-star signifies future prosperity.
Too explains that since we are now in the Period 8, which lasts until 2024, all houses facing southwest and northeast will have amazing good luck for the next 18 years, especially those with water in front and flowing into the house. Of course, if you must activate any room, it’s only a must that you also spend time in that room.
Remembering all these directions can be confusing but here’s an easier way. Just remember that wealth will come from the north; success is in the northeast; love is in the northwest; career luck comes from the east; completion in the southwest; the west spells misfortune; the southeast brings illness; quarrels in the center; and robbery and cheating in the south. And yes, do yourself a favor and buy a reliable compass.