While Feng Shui is thousands of years old, it contains much common sense useful to understand by anyone. For example, Feng Shui ideally proposes that the best site for a home that will take advantage of the vital Chi is for that home to be on a south-facing slope – preferably between two hills of unequal size, with a river that runs along one side of the structure, turns in front of the building and then disappears. This ideal home will get maximum hours of sunlight, is shielded from the chilly, health-sapping north wind and has a good supply of water for drinking and cleaning. By conveniently disappearing under the ground and gravel, the river carries away effluents and other “dirty” water.
Although this idyllic home may seem more like a fantasy than a real house in the modern-day world, valuable principles and concepts may be learned from this ideal image:
- Avoid having a straight road leading directly to the home, with people coming and going it will dissipate the good influence of Chi.
- Avoid building at the junction of a T-street or at the end of a cul-de-sac because these locations are on the receiving end of the straight-flowing Sha (negative or bad energy). A dead-end street traps the bad Sha. If you drive through a predominantly Asian neighborhood and you find an empty lot in an otherwise fully developed cul-de-sac, you now know why.
- The front entrance should not face the upstairs stairway.
- The front door should not have a view of the back door. The through hallway is a no-no.
- Heavy beams in the recreational room are a burden and interfere with Chi.
- To have the right side low and the left side high are both unlucky. The hills to the left should be higher than those to the right.
- Houses or buildings on triangular plots of land will bring bad luck because the strange shape attracts Sha (negative energy).
- Water is very important and its positioning is vital to improving Chi and confounding Sha.
- The more burners you have on your stove, the greater wealth you will have.
Feng Shui can’t undo a bad location or placement, but improvements can be made. For example, a green front door and brown doormat are earth. To help a listing sell, paint the door green; create balance with a red wreath (fire) and a black doormat. Put a fountain by the door (water). Try to have the five elements visible in every room.
Place a table or potted plant in long straight walkways or hallways to slow down the Chi before it flows right out of the door.