Dr. Anna Maria Prezio, Feng Shui Master

Frequently Asked Questions About Feng Shui

What is Feng Shui?

Feng Shui literally translated means 'wind' and 'water', the two natural forces that influence 'Qi'. This ancient Chinese practice is a mathematical system that creates the most favorable direction for your living and working environment. It is based on the interactions of our solar system, our living environment and our birth date. These three interactions of heaven, earth and the unique individual can bring about a harmonious order in our lives.

Based on the natural science of Feng Shui, developed by scholars and evolving through thousands of years of observations and calculations this science incorporates astronomy, geography, magnetic fields, environmental forces and physics. It is also known as Chinese Geomancy. Traditionally used by royalty, when the appropriate system of Feng Shui is in place at the right time and in the right environment, it can bring about a harmonious life of improved health, wealth and better relationships. Feng Shui is not a religion, cult, superstition or magic.

What is Qi?

Qi or ‘Chi’ is the energy, the current and the magnetic fields in our natural environment. It is the life force. When appropriately directed Qi enhances career, health, relationships, creativity, productivity and prosperity. Qi plays a major role in Feng Shui. Combining the Qi concept of time and space with the Yin/Yang the theory of the five elements (metal, water, wood, fire and earth) their chemical reaction has direct consequences on our daily lives.

What is Yin and Yang?

Yin/Yang are the two opposite energies of our universe. Yin is cold and passive and Yang is hot and active. They are two distinct energies measured in the principles of physics. When we experience too much of either Yin or Yang, we experience discomfort either physically, emotionally and/or even spiritually. Too much of each is just as bad as too little of each.

Maintaining balance between Yin and Yang in our lives results in balance and harmony which is the key to good Feng Shui.

What are the Five Elements?

The five physical elements are metal, water, wood, fire and earth. All things are influenced by the interactions and movement of these five elements which are a manifestation of Qi. In Feng Shui, their interaction is used extensively to enhance positive Qi and to correct negative Qi. The principles of these five elements is the foundation for Feng Shui.

What are Sitting and Facing Directions?

Usually, the back side of the house is the sitting and the front side of the house is the facing but this is not always true. This assumption could give you the wrong reading. The front door may be the sitting or the facing. It is important to assess the reading by taking into account the entire dwelling, inside and outside or you could have a wrong Trigram. Your Feng Shui Consultant is trained to determine what the sitting and facing directions are for your house. Determining sitting or facing with a compass (Lo Pan) reading is the most important aspect of assessing and creating an accurate Feng Shui reading.

What tools does a Feng Shui Consultant use?

The following tools are necessary for a reliable Feng Shui Assessment:

Luo Pan for measuring direction.

Layout or Floor Plan for house or office.

Move-in date

Year of birth of each resident.

Year the building or house was built.

An actual site visit is necessary to capture the correct Lo Pan readings by the Feng Shui consultant. There are questions that help the consultant to evaluate your particular situation in your environment. After all the information is gathered, the Feng Shui consultant usually meets with you to place the recommended remedies in your home or office.

There may even be times when there are no remedies necessary and the environment at home and/or at work are perfectly suited to you. This is more of an exception because when you are ready to call in a Feng Shui Consultant, you are more likely to want to resolve an existing issue in your life.

What is a Luo Pan?

Also called a ‘luo pan’ in the Pinyin system of Mandarin Chinese transliteration of words from sounds. A lo pan is a device used for measuring direction in Feng Shui. It is a tool essential for finding the four directions, North, South, East and West much like the compass except that it is designed to contain anywhere from 4 to 36 rings of information which facilitates the Feng Shui readings for buildings. It is the essential tool used for Feng Shui.

What are Trigrams?

The eight Trigrams are symbols representing patterns of movement and change in nature and in you. These Trigrams are the building blocks from the I Ching (Book of Changes) used extensively in the fields of astrology, Chinese traditional medicine, philosophy, the martial arts, numerology, mathematics and Feng Shui. We all have our own personal Trigram.

They are: Ch'ien or Qian, K'un, Chên or Zhen, K'an, Kên or Gen, Sun or Xun, Li, Tui or Dui.

Each of these eight Trigrams is assigned a corresponding familial relation, direction, cosmic phenomena, element, part of the body, illness, and number. The eight Trigrams known as the ‘bagua’ represent a Yang or Yin combination that look like grids, each corresponding to and associated with natural and human occurrences such as seasons, time of day, magnetic directions, the five phases of their colors, animals, human personality types, body parts, related illnesses, and numbers all according to their Qi energy such as ‘gentle’, ‘arousing’, ‘clinging’, to name a few. They also represent the male and female aspects of Yin and Yang.

What is the East/West System?

A Personal Trigram and House Trigram must match to achieve a state of harmony that leads to good fortune and health otherwise, the opposite will occur. This is called the East/West system.

What are the Personal Trigrams?

The eight Personal Trigrams are classified into both East and West groups. A Personal Trigram is based on the person’s year of birth.

What is a House Trigram?

A House Trigram is based on the sitting direction of the house or building. The eight house Trigrams are also divided into the East and West groups.

What about Color and Feng Shui?

Colors enhance your health, wealth, relationships, career and abundance. Colors can also bring misfortune. So, what colors are favorable for you? The five elements have corresponding colors that represent enhancing colors for every personal Trigram. Even our seasons have corresponding elements and their associated color. An example:

If your personal Trigram is Li, your element is Fire then your preferable colors are the red hues. Since wood produces fire, green will enhance you as well. The five elements have an associated color representation. Color is a vibration that we respond to and on many levels.

It affects our moods, our comfort and our environment. Color can enhance balance and harmony which are essential to happiness. Learn more about Feng Shui and Color in my book, Power & Prosperity Through Feng Shui and Color.

Can Feng Shui be Applied in the Garden?

The five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal and water are the natural agents of Qi and they inherently represent shapes, color, senses, strengths or weaknesses. Your garden, whether used as a sanctuary, a place to grow organic foods or for social interaction, should reflect your personal philosophy. Yin and Yang are forces that can strongly compliment your design. Movement and sound within the garden can either stimulate or detract from the harmonious nature you want to create.

Everything in your garden should be strategically placed to beautify, enhance and impact on your well-being. Over time, plants and trees build energetic relationships with their environment, like acquiring a personality. Even plants and trees have their own assigned Yin and Yang. To this degree, you can create a garden that not only enhances your energy but creates harmony for anyone invited to share your garden. This requires the same tools of Feng Shui used for the home or office. Remember, your garden is an extension and expression of you. See Quick Homes Sales Through Feng Shui

Does Feng Shui Apply to Relationships?

Yes. Relationships with people in the same Trigram direction groups are preferred as they will enhance each other. Relationships with people of the opposite direction can be challenging and sometimes difficult.

West Group Trigrams: CH'IEN, TUI, K'UN, KEN

East Group Trigrams: LI, SUN, CHEN, K'AN

Can Feng Shui help me find the right house?

Are you moving? What house should you choose? What is your best direction? Does your house’s direction match yours? Before you make your choice, you may want to check out the house's location, it’s Qi, environment, the sitting and facing directions, and the type of house that is best for you and possibly your partner. Is the house a true match for you? It is the largest single investment you will ever make so look for those houses that correspond to your Trigram. There are many external and internal factors that are critical to good Feng Shui. Eliminate those that are not a match. The compatibility determination is based on your personal Trigram and your potential house's Trigram. Remember, your home is your sanctuary. To learn more, read my book, Quick Home Sales with Feng Shui.

What are the Benefits of Feng Shui?

Feng Shui benefits are numerous as a key to living life to its fullest potential. These are just some of the many desirable results enjoyed by those who have adopted Feng Shui as part of their lifestyle:

Enhanced self expression, balance, improved health, happiness, love, increased wealth and abundance, protecting your family, increased energy and motivation, opens new artistic endeavors, greater harmony, preventing miscarriages, serenity in your home and office, improved social life, prosperity, respect, developing better study habits, increases passion, improved relationships at work and with family members, eliminates depression, joy, getting married, acquiring a job, security, better concentration, increased creativity and productivity, reduces bad influences, improves chances of pregnancies, enhances opportunities for raises and promotions, prevents lawsuits and gossip, improves intuition, prevents fires and other accidents, increase in business, fame, wards off addictions, prevents miscarriages, guards against robberies, creates a greater sense of feeling in control of your life.

Remember that Feng Shui is not a religion, superstition or cult.

Feng Shui is the art and science of living life in harmony with your environment.

~ Best of all Feng Shui is fun! ~