The Building Whisperer

FENG SHUI APPLICATION FOR THE PLACEMENT OF ITEMS
The proper use of ornaments for feng shui purposes must begin with a diagnosis of the auspicious and inauspicious energies that reside in your home (or building). Each property is different and depending on the system or school of classical feng shui employed, the feng shui master is able to tell firstly where (space) these favourable and unfavourable energies reside on your property. Secondly, he/she can tell what elements are associated with these energies. Thirdly, he/she can tell you which (matter) element to apply and fourthly, your feng shui master should be able to tell you the type (moving or still, size, shape or colour) of items to use.

There are several systems that can be used to determine the placement of feng shui items:

• Yi Jing Ba Gua system
  This is an “apparently” simple way of determining where to place feng shui items that use the Later Heaven Ba Gua arrangement in conjunction with the Five Element Transformation. Each Gua depicts one of the five elements. Some suggestions for feng shui item placements follow this system. The Ba Gua is placed over the layout of the building according to actual compass directions and items placed to activate the locations that are propitious such as northwest (NW) because this sector represents metal and money.

• Xuan Gong Flying Star system
  This system is based on the annual influence of the stars. The good stars to activate are 1, 8 and 9 while the bad stars to weaken are 2, 3, 5 and 7. Using the Five Element Transformation principle, place a light in the north sector of your home to enhance earth star 8 to bring wealth. Similarly, to weaken earth star 2, place a metal item in the southeast sector of your home to weaken the energy that brings ill health. This method should not be used in isolation, but rather together with a complete understanding of where the different qualities of qi that are determined by where the stars reside in your home according to the Xuan Gong Flying Star System. With the help of a feng shui expert, you will first need to determine the “period” cycle of your property, followed by where each of the stars reside. Then, and only then, should you use the annual star chart to complement the existing qualities of qi not only to reap more definitive benefits, but more importantly to avoid inadvertently activating inauspicious energies in your home.

  There are many other classical systems to consider when placing feng shui ornaments in your home or office, and it is important to adhere to the principles of classical feng shui that are governed by the laws of the universe. Classical feng shui has survived several millennia, and by that simple virtue, it works consistently when applied accordingly. It is not trimmed according to our wishes like modern (or New Age) feng shui, which may only provide momentary satisfaction. A water feature or a wind-chime is not beneficial in every case, and the material in its size, form, shape, colour and the nature it represents must be carefully considered with respect to the energies that reside on a particular property. But one can only determine the location of these energies with the assistance of a feng shui expert, for each property is unique.

Know your Wu Xing
This principle tells you the correct placement of feng shui ornaments

Our homes are filled with numerous ornaments for functional and aesthetic reasons. The latter is purely decorative, placed in a particular spot to fi ll the space or to accentuate a certain aspect of the room. More recently, however, many have been enticed to purchase ornaments for feng shui reasons, which leads to the inevitable question: Does it work?

If one knows what one is doing, then the answer is “yes”. If the placement choice of the item is based on the classical principles of feng shui, the effects are real. This is to say that the effects will manifest whether or not we believe in them.
Modern improvisations of feng shui only give rise to a placebo effect, which means it will work only if we believe it will.

SIGNIFICANCE OF FENG SHUI ORNAMENTS
A feng shui ornament’s placement is used to enhance, weaken or control the different qualities of qi that affects an individual on a property. An ornament on its own cannot be called a feng shui ornament. Neither can it instantaneously take on a feng shui role by being placed in a nominated location suggested by a book or vendor; a feng shui ornament is relevant to matter and space.

Placing feng shui ornaments in your home or office should be carried out with caution as you may inadvertently activate inauspicious energies that can be harmful. Water features, in particular, should be placed with great care as water is a power activator of energies.

When choosing a feng shui ornament, the choice of element to use is dependent on the energy one wishes to enhance, or the energy one wishes to reduce, in a particular location.

THE FIVE ELEMENT THEORY OF PLACEMENTS IN FENG SHUI
There are two main classical bases for item placement that have to be considered together — the Five Element Theory and Yi Jing Ba Gua. Due to the complexity of the latter, it will not be discussed here, but it is mentioned so that the reader may understand the rationale behind item placements according to authentic classical feng shui.

Items are made of matter and the five elements constitute matter. The Five Element Transformation principle forms the basis for placements of feng shui ornaments and describes the interaction of Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood.

The material from which the ornaments are made must correspond with the element of choice. For instance, if the inauspicious energy is represented by wood energy, one should use matter that represents fi re (since it would be unwise to start a fi re in the house) such as a lamp to weaken the wood energy. If the auspicious energy is represented by wood or water, then you can use a water feature to grow wood or enhance water’s good fortune.

Conversely, if the inauspicious energy is wood, by placing a water feature in this area, you will inadvertently activate misfortune. If you are not well supported by good feng shui (earth luck) or heaven and human luck, you may suffer quite badly.

The concept of placement of feng shui ornaments in classical feng shui is grounded in the Five Element Transformation principle (also known as Wu Xing), which describes the interaction of the five elements of Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood. Since objects are made of matter and the five elements constitute matter, feng shui ornaments must be constructed from or representative of one of the five elements.

The Five Elements Transformation is about the interaction of each element with the others via producing, weakening and destroying relationships.

THE PRODUCING CYCLE
The elements presented in a clockwise direction depict their productive interaction. From Earth comes mineral that is refined to produce the base Metals. Metal has to be converted to the molten (liquid) phase to be worked. Water grows wood. Wood fuels Fire, and produces Earth.

THE WEAKENING CYCLE
Depicts the exhaustive interaction between the elements in an anticlockwise direction. Earth thrown on fire will quell its flames. When Fire burns, wood is depleted. Wood diminishes Water and Water rusts Metal. Earth is exhausted
when mineral is mined.

THE DESTROYING CYCLE
The arrows indicate the destructive interaction of the five elements. Earth controls Water in situations of floods. Water puts out Fire. Fire melts Metal. Metal chops Wood and Wood uses up the minerals on Earth.