Have I ever disagreed with another feng shui professional? You betcha!  Whether those people are feng shui friends, strangers, or even former teachers, I now have my own voluminous case study experience to rely on. And like I tell my students: you have to practice Feng Shui in a way that makes sense to you.

Within my whole case study series, there are so far three “Controversies” lesson plans, but perhaps one day there will be more.  Specific to Feng Shui Controversies, Part 3, some of the debatable issues include whether or not a House Type remains that same House Type in perpetuity, how to relate to the center of a house and how much of a remedy is adequate to see results.  Other topics covered include what to expect from timely and untimely stars and whether or not an individual space within a larger building can have a different orientation.  Ah, the stuff that keeps feng shui students up at night!

EXCERPT:

“If we start from the assumption that each space (interior and exterior) is truly unique, then we can’t cling too tightly to notions about a prescribed amount of a certain “element” being the correct dosage.

Rigid prescriptions are being handed down, and I’m reminded of that saying, “If you hear a lie enough times it becomes a truth.”

One rigid notion has to do with how much water is necessary to correct a “Reversed” House type and/or to release a house from a Locked Phase.  Back in the 1990’s I knew a fellow teacher who basically got exasperated answering questions about exactly how much water is sufficient.  He simply made up a formula to satisfy this perpetual question about water and it came down to something like: Use ½ gallon of water for every 100 square feet of interior space.  So, if a person lived in a 1,000 square foot house, they would calculate that they needed 50 gallons of water.  (Or at least 50 gallons minimum.)  Later, this notion became the standard at this one particular school and many others borrowed the formula.  Let it be known that there really is not an exact amount of water to use for any space. Nor can we precisely dictate the speed in which water moves based on the size of space it is prescribed for.

We have to consider a number of other things, including whether or not the location in question has any representation of natural or virtual water already in the vicinity.  We also need to consider the flying stars which would be close to this body of water. 

One can get totally confused if they start wondering if the amount of water near a 5-x-3 sector would be different than the amount of water needed just outside a 6-x-8 sector.  One can wonder if a pool is too much water or how many feet it should be away from the house.

One can wonder also if you can use less water if it is circulating at a certain speed compared to more still water.  The list of questions and variables can go on forever.”

We all have egos and let’s face it: it’s human nature to want to be right, validated or vindicated. Within the feng shui community, practitioners will vouch for their own styles and training. Some gladly put down another practitioner’s advice or dismiss theories they have never heard of or don’t agree with. I’ve spoken up as well, to defend my own practices, although I take no joy in making any other consultant appear wrong or misguided.  It just doesn’t even reflect well on the whole profession. But at least I take solace in knowing this happens in other industries as well.  Feng Shui controversies are not new to modern times either. My aim in discussing controversies is to shed light on the different approaches and explain why I do what I do.

Author: Kartar Diamond

Company: Feng Shui Solutions (R)

From the Frequent Client Questions Blog Series