By: The Joey Yap Book Club

Feng Shui is typically portrayed or seen as a mystical, mysterious practice reserved for the ancients or exceptionally traditional. Misconceptions continue to shroud the practice’s true nature, and sceptics have argued that Feng Shui is nothing more than farfetched myths and old wives’ tales.

Due to shrouding myths, most people put into practice the wrong kind of Feng Shui and claim it does not work. Let’s debunk or verify some of these myths that may have been confusing you!

1. Objects Can Enhance Luck
Myth: Some objects are believed to exude negative or positive Qi. Placing art objects that have an 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.

 

2. The Underwater Taboo
Myth: Having an object 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.

3. Strength in Numbers
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.

4. The Elusive Love Sector
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.

 

5. The Mirror of Abundance
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 means 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.

6. The Auspicious ‘Feng Shui’ Fish
Myth: Keeping fish in a pond or tank will help divert bad luck and rearing exotic fish with ‘special’ markings 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 do not have any effect on Feng Shui.

 
7. Combating ‘Back-stabbing’ at the Office
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 angles pointing directly into your window, simply keep the blinds of the window closed.

8. The Case of Auspicious Colours
Myth: Painting your kitchen, bedroom or living room in bright colours that represent the elements can enhance the room’s Qi.

Fact: Painting your rooms 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.
And that’s all folks – to learn more about how you can make Feng Shui work for you, click here to browse through our selection of books/reference materials that would be best-suited for you.


Note: This new series of articles from ‘Ancient Scribes, Modern Texts’ will attempt to connect ancient Feng Shui practices/beliefs, applying it to modern context. Each article will cover everything from current events, self-help, news, entertainment, lifestyle issues, property, economics, personalities, fact/fiction, general knowledge and many more. The aim is to shine a broader light on Feng Shui matters to a wider audience – by presenting it in a different and unconventional manner, because let’s face it, everything is Feng Shui-influenced!


Republished with permission from The Joey Yap Book Club.