Say your clients wish to try for children. What Feng Shui formula would you apply?

What if it’s a high official position they’re seeking?

What if they are businessmen who want you to create good networking opportunities for them?

What if they seek to healing the sick, and hope for someone’s speedy recovery?

If simply facing the right direction helps, then life’s problems aren’t so complicated after all.

The ability to provide solutions catered to specific situations underscores the real capabilities of Feng Shui. One frequent issue, of course, is how age-old theories should be adapted to the present era; simply applying Feng Shui formulas wholesale from the classical texts does not guarantee results.

Consistency can only be achieved through research and actual experience. This means real case studies on real clients, complete with the proper follow-up and feedback documentation.

Some practitioners assume that there’s no problem if they do not receive any feedback. It is possible that many of these are either unsure about what they have applied, or concerned that they may be unable to handle their clients’ queries, especially if their Feng Shui recommendations have not brought results. Having “done” many cases does not guarantee real experience if one cannot be sure how to precisely match the formula to the outcome.

What should we consider when we try to decide how Feng Shui theories and formulas should be adapted to contemporary living?

First, we need to consider the mindsets of practitioners in the different eras. Those in the prosperous Tang Dynasty used harmonious methods, while the warrior Qings applied defensive techniques. The understanding of Chinese metaphysics in the different periods was influenced by the different environmental, social and political climate at the time.

Second, we realise that the landscape has changed dramatically. While landform studies are the main pillar of Feng Shui, the hills and mountains that practitioners based much of their art on now include artificial ones, in the form of high-rise buildings in cities. Hence, adjustments to Feng Shui applications need to be made.

Interestingly, the cities – places without the real mountains – are more prosperous than their counterparts in the rural areas, which are often surrounded by mountains. Obviously the perception about mountains being good for prosperity is misguided, but the reasons become clear when we understand the fundamentals of Feng Shui.

Similarly, the idea of water being directly equated to wealth is grossly over-rated. The corporate companies in the financial world are the real money-makers, yet their success is not based on the application of water-related features. Otherwise, all aquariums and seafood restaurants, with constant ‘abundant water’ on their premises, should be hugely successful enterprises.

Third, the building structures themselves have changed. High-rise buildings are altogether different from landed property, and it is not such a straightforward thing to establish even the facing and sitting of an apartment unit.

In addition, many are not aware that the Ba Zhai method should not be used for commercial premises. It is an end-user product for relationships, and meant for application to residential dwellings only. Ba Zhai applications are based on the Early Heaven Gua, not the Later Heaven Gua as commonly taught. The same system can also be used for predicting and analysing events.

When applied correctly, Feng Shui has proven to be consistent in bringing about significant changes to life.

The problem is, how many practitioners really know how to apply the lessons that they learn, let alone create specific effects?