Frequently Asked Questions
Feng Shui can be confusing to the beginner and quite often, the more you research it, the more difficult it actually becomes to understand and implement in your own home. With so many books and websites offering conflicting advice on the subject, it can be hard to know which is correct.
The confusion stems from the different types or "schools" of feng shui, some of which are easier to understand and use than others. Very often however, the type of feng shui being discussed is not explained and only clear to those who have had professional training. To add to the confusion, in recent years many of the traditional methods have been greatly simplified and mixed up with New Age beliefs, religion and superstition.
The Feng Shui Institute's FAQ's help to clear up common problems and misconceptions, as well as provide a better understanding of traditional Chinese feng shui; the way feng shui has been practiced for thousands of years. If your Feng Shui question and answer is not here, subscribe to our Free Feng Shui Newsletter to receive exclusive news, promotions, discounts and updates straight to your inbox.
Q. I've read lots of Feng Shui books and am totally confused. Some say I should overlay the Bagua onto my floorplan and use my front door and others say I should use the compass directions, irrespective of where my door is. Which is correct?
This is a very common question. The type of feng shui you are referring to is a recent invention known as Black Hat Feng Shui and our article about the Types of Feng Shui should help to clarify it for you.
Q. What are the best feng shui cures to buy?
Modern "remedies" such as money toads, dragons, tortoises, Buddhas, wind chimes, Chinese coins and the vast array of decorative items sold online as being part of feng shui are not used in traditional or classical feng shui practise. The feng shui masters of old simply used the Five Elements, colour, shape, light, sound and natural materials such as plants, water, wood and stone, all of which you probably have in your home already. See Traditional Feng Shui Cures
Q. I read that a main door too close to a stairway is bad feng shui. What can I do?
Wherever the door is open, warm air from the house flows out, whilst cold air flows in. It isn't actually a problem in feng shui terms, but if you are susceptible to chills or trying to save on the cost of heating, just ensure it is closed after use.
Q. Where should I put my Bagua mirror?
Mirrors are much misunderstood and only used in traditional feng shui to balance an area with the metal element, never to make unsightly features or bad energy "disappear". The recent trend of using small bagua mirrors, either convex or concave, on doors to repel energy simply does not work and there are better ways of dealing with "sha qi". Using mirrors on toilet and bathroom doors to "push away" bad energy also looks very strange and should be avoided.
Q. Why should I always keep the toilet lid down?
The idea that money flushes down your toilet is a Chinese superstition, but as modern toilets are indoors, they should obviously be kept clean and hygienic. It makes sense to keep the unsanitary air inside the toilet when we flush and not allow any bacteria to settle on nearby surfaces, but that is more common sense, rather than a feng shui recommendation. Occassionally, it may even be better to keep the lid up, but this depends on the energy within the space.
Q. I'd like help regarding beams on the bedroom ceiling. I've read that it's bad for health and relationships and that bamboo flutes and crystals can help. Is that correct?
Beams themselves are not bad feng shui but abnormally large beams cause a difference in air pressure, which can affect your sleep. Flutes in Chinese are called Changdi, meaning "to raise" and are said to stop a Chinese person worrying about the beam. Crystals will not change the air pressure, so the easiest way to deal with beams is to avoid sleeping directly beneath them or create a canopy above the bed that will diffuse the pressure.
Q. I have mirror tiles above my kitchen sink as there's no window there. I understand they are very bad Feng Shui, but I've not been able to find a cure. What can I do?
Reflective tiles are only bad if you use them as a looking mirror, as the edges are said to cut into your personal energy, or chi. There is no problem if you are using them to reflect light.
Q. I've read in a Feng Shui book that the number four means bad luck or death. Will the figure four in our address have a bad influence on us?
The Chinese regard the number four as bad because the spoken word sounds the same as "death", but actually having an address with a four in it does no harm. Traditional or classical feng shui can be applied everywhere on our planet, irrespective of place, culture, superstition and language.
Learn Professional Feng Shui Methods
The Feng Shui Institute's Distance Learning Courses cover every aspect of Feng Shui and Chinese astrology, and are suitable for all levels of experience; from complete beginners to established Feng Shui consultants and practitioners, teachers of Feng Shui, and Masters.
