| As a predictive art and metaphysical science, Feng | | | | wealth from being flushed away. Well honestly! Visit |
| Shui has been around for thousands of years. But to | | | | any mansion and you'll find plenty of bathrooms - and |
| keep Feng Shui out of "just anybody's hands", the | | | | the rich stay rich without red duct tape. So, while |
| ancient Masters coded their references. In addition, | | | | there are plenty of good reasons (like germ control) |
| as these references began to be translated, the | | | | to keep the toilet lid down, protecting your wealth |
| translation was not always pure and was often | | | | isn't one of them! |
| influenced by the superstitions of the culture rather | | | | 3. Placing objects in pairs brings romance luck to a |
| than by the science of actual Feng Shui. Today, | | | | single woman. FALSE. I've been in plenty of homes |
| popular western authors have done even more | | | | where women are desperately seeking husbands |
| damage by inventing a whole truck load of New Age | | | | even though everything -- and I mean everything - in |
| interpretations. | | | | the home is in pairs. When I ask why, I often hear |
| Many times, after consulting with another Feng Shui | | | | that they read the idea in a Feng Shui book or got |
| practitioner, clients will call me because they wonder | | | | the advice from a New Age consultant. The fact is, |
| why they haven't seen results - or worse, they're | | | | placing pairs of things is nothing more than |
| seeing new problems. Sometimes, I'm stunned at | | | | superstition. What brings romantic luck is activating |
| some of the crazy recommendations they received. | | | | the right energies in the right areas for your own |
| One client recently told me she was told to put | | | | specific energetic makeup. |
| sealed water bottles in the center of her home and | | | | 4. Paint your front door black for career luck. FALSE. |
| in her closets as a cure. Now, for water to work, it | | | | One New Age ezine recently recommended painting |
| must be open to the elements. These bottles were | | | | the front door black for career luck. The reason was |
| sealed! No wonder the client didn't see any | | | | that according to the Black Hat school of Feng Shui, |
| improvements! When she tried to reach the previous | | | | the center front of your home is the career sector |
| Feng Shui consultant with her concerns, her | | | | and belongs to the water element which is |
| voicemails went unanswered. | | | | associated with the color black. This is a very, very |
| Always question why you are asked to implement a | | | | dangerous simplification. In fact, because different |
| particular recommendation. If the answer doesn't | | | | people have different energetic patterns, assuming |
| make sense to you, then don't do it! | | | | that the center front of your home is the "career" |
| Now, from the phone calls I recently received, I want | | | | sector is incorrect about 99% of the time. Plus, the |
| to share these five blatant examples of Feng Shui | | | | colors black and blue can be quite harmful if they are |
| Fraud: | | | | not used correctly in a home. |
| 1. Images of fish or real fish bring prosperity. FALSE. | | | | 5. Hanging or placing crystals fills a room with positive |
| The fish is only a symbol of prosperity. It is the | | | | energy. FALSE. Unlike authentic crystals, the |
| water in which they swim that actually helps to | | | | commonly used glass crystals have little power to |
| attract wealth. This is such a common myth that | | | | change the energetic composition of a room. The |
| some fish have been known to sell for thousands of | | | | good news is that they probably won't cause harm, |
| dollars because they are associated with wealth. So, | | | | but they won't activate positive energies, either. So if |
| it's not the fish themselves that bring wealth, but the | | | | you like them, hang them, but don't expect your luck |
| fact that they move the water. Moving water - | | | | to change! |
| placed in the right location - can in fact attract | | | | The clever mass marketing of Feng Shui has created |
| money luck. But the attraction occurs whether you | | | | Feng Shui everything: candles, jewelry, fashion, |
| use fish or a pump to circulate the water! By the | | | | fragrances .... While these may support the concept |
| same token, pictures of fish also do not bring about | | | | of balance and positive reinforcement, none of these |
| money luck. | | | | items are actual remedies for the home. Authentic |
| 2. Keep your toilet lid down or you will "flush" your | | | | Classical Feng Shui is about controlling the actual |
| wealth away. FALSE. This is not just false but also so | | | | energy patterns within the environment to improve |
| stupid and one of the most annoying new age | | | | any given situation and ultimately the quality of our |
| myths. In fact, some books even say you should | | | | life. Bottom line: if you want real changes, you need |
| wrap your drain pipes in red duct tape to keep | | | | real Feng Shui. |