The facts and myths about these 8 Feng Shui factors

Myth: Some objects are believed to exude negative or positive Qi. Placing art objects that have a arbitrarily derived “Oriental” look and feel can activate the power of Feng Shui.

Fact: Objects, however aesthetically pleasing, cannot do much to the overall Feng Shui of a property. Its purposes are entirely decorative.

Myth: Having an objects with water features such as a fish tank, water tank or jacuzzi above you is a sign of suffocation and danger.

Fact: Water in Feng Shui can help gather auspicious Qi. If a certain area in a property as having beneficial Qi, water would be well suited for that area of the house. There is no policy on whether the water should be above you.

Myth: Numbers can be lucky or unlucky. An unlucky example is the number ‘4’, which in Chinese languages is a homonym of death. Other numbers like 1, 6 or 8, on the other hand, are homonyms of positive words.

Fact: Numbers do not have any Feng Shui effects. The concept of unlucky or lucky numbers are stemmed in simple superstition.

Myth: Enhancing the Love Corner of a house will immediately boost one’s love life and improve the chances of getting married sooner.

Fact: Feng Shui cannot create love; it can only create opportunities. There are types of Qi that can help you become a more pleasant, likeable, and attractive person to others.

Myth: Placing a large mirror over the dinner room table will bring an abundance of food as it is doubled by the reflection in the mirror.

Fact: A reflection in the mirror mans nothing, because when the food is finished in the real world, it also disappears in the mirrored world. Mirrors cannot do more than just reflect what is present.

Myth: Keeping fish in a pond or tank will help divert bad luck and rearing exotic fish with ‘special’ marking and colours will help enhance wealth and business.

Fact: A fish is just a fish. While rearing exotic fish is no doubt a worthy pastime, fishes to not have any effect on Feng Shui.

Myth: Sitting with your back to a window in the office signifies a lack of support at work and sticking a mirror to your computer and placing a tortoise figurine behind you can help divert Sha Qi away from you.

Fact: Mirrors and object placement are not considered primary Feng Shui prescriptions. If there are actual negative Feng Shui features such as sharp edges pointing directly into your window, simply keep the blinds of the window closed.

Myth: Painting your kitchen, bedroom of living room in bright colours that represent the elements can enhance the room’s Qi.

Fact: Painting your room a particular colour has no Feng Shui effect. What matters more is where your stove is located in the kitchen or what shape your rooms are in.

Joey Yap is the founder of the Mastery Academy of Chinese Metaphysics and Chief Consultant of the Joey Yap Consulting Group. He is the world’s foremost authority in Chinese Metaphysics and a prolific author of 162 books and counting. Visit www.joeyyap.com for more.

Adapted from The Singapore Women’s Weekly.