City Living & Feng Shui
by Juan M. Alvarez
 Hong
Kong is home to many multinational companies that compete in both markets, East
and West. There is no other city in the Far East that uses Feng Shui more than
Hong Kong. The majority of businesses and families with economic clout consult
Feng Shui experts before buying land or beginning construction on their homes or
buildings. A real estate advertisement speaks of a luxurious apartment with
wonderful amenities and an excellent view of the South China Sea. In addition,
it mentions of the quality of Feng Shui present in the design and the shape of
the building. The Chinese emperors always consulted with Feng Shui experts
before choosing the site and designs for their palaces and monuments.
Even when a city has good urban planning, new buildings can change it.
Residential neighborhoods that have plenty of green areas, walkways, parks,
lakes and good Chi are often changed with the construction of apartment
buildings, corners, highways and other buildings that destroy the harmony of
what was there originally.
In cities, buildings take the place of hills and mountains, the streets are
the rivers and vegetation is the vital life-force. The shapes of the buildings,
the alignment of streets and the presence of vegetation are very important
factors that affect the harmony of a community.
Frequently new buildings alter the Chi of a locale. A family came to us for
help when a new apartment building's construction overshadowed and pressed in on
their apartment. One of the traditional solutions is to hang hexagonal mirrors
on the outside of the house to reflect and return any type of negative
influence. Ba-Gua mirrors can also be used. There are three types: flat, concave
and convex. A convex mirror reduces adverse or negative influences that come
from outside. It should not be used in the entrance of a business as it could
reduce the number of clients who enter. (Though this negative effect can be
solved by using the Three Secrets.) A concave mirror attracts and retains energy
where it is. During times of change and periods of much work and stress, simple
adjustments based on the tradition of Feng Shui can be of great help. They can
bring more clarity of thought, mental well being, and prosperity. The following
are nine ways to improve a space:
1. For more clarity, hang a bronze wind chime exactly nine units (9 inches,
27 cm, etc...) from the ceiling inside the front door.
2. For help with intellectual matters, place books in view of the front
door.
3. For better mental and physical health, position both your bed and desk
so that you have a view of the door.
4. For stress reduction, hang two mirrors facing each other so that when
you enter your home or office, you have to pass between them.
5. To cultivate love, harmony and understanding with your partner, hang a
circular mirror in the bedroom.
6. To improve your financial situation, install a mirror in the kitchen
behind the stove so that the burners are reflected in it. Burners represent
wealth and good luck.
7. To improve the general well being of a space, place flowers in the
bedroom, study, and kitchen.
8. To reinforce personal evolution, move 27 objects that have not been
moved in the past year.
9. During difficult times, do breathing exercises with the light of the
moon.
Famous real estate investor, Donald Trump, decided to use a Feng Shui expert
to change the design of a number of his buildings. The results were so positive
that he has continued to use Feng Shui on all his properties ever since. There
are many cases like this in the U.S.
In 1990, another real estate developer built an office tower in Coconut
Grove, Florida. A few weeks after finishing construction, the most important
tenant declared bankruptcy, leaving the building virtually empty. One of the
principal stock holders deemed the situation "chaotic." Among the partners in
the real estate company was a Chinese man. He suggested bringing in a Feng Shui
Master from China to go over the building's design. By 1993, half of the
building was still not leased. Finally, they decided to bring in a Feng Shui
Master who immediately told them that the building's design impeded the flow of
Chi. The main entrance was blocked by a water fountain and a sculpture that had
very sharp and aggressive angles. The lobby design also blocked and restricted
the flow of energy. The Feng Shui Master went through the entire building and
recommended changes in the design of the main entrance and the manager's office.
Not long after making these adjustments, the building's luck began to change.
New businesses began signing leasing contracts and a number of already existing
tenants expanded their businesses. Now this office tower has 100% occupancy.
This developer is now building an apartment complex in that same area using the
principles of Feng Shui. The building has a majestic view of the ocean and its
lines and balconies have pleasing shapes without sharp corners or missing
pieces.
Feng Shui is a tool capable of creating harmony in buildings, spaces, and
people themselves. The nature of this art can also be seen in the ancient Greek,
Roman, and Arabic cultures. However, this ancient tool is something very new for
our modern architecture and culture. It is a system that helps to open up our
awareness and integrate it with nature. And its arrival in the West comes none
too soon, as we find ourselves overwhelmed by a multitude of problems. The
destruction of our ecological system is affecting the very basis of life on the
planet. The ancient method of Feng Shui, with its logical and illogical
solutions, teaches us to create harmonious spaces. With it, we have the
opportunity to complement our modern culture (Yang) with the simplicity of
solutions that come to us from long ago (Yin) to create the unity of Tao.
 This
article is excerpted from:
Feng Shui The Harmony of Life
by Juan
M. Alvarez.
Reprinted with permission of the publisher, Fairy Rings Inc. ©1998.
Info/Order this book.
About the Author
Juan
M. Alvarez is an internationally recognized authority on Feng Shui. Juan
lectures extensively through North and South America. He is the author of The
Practical Manual of Feng Shui and contributing author of The Feng Shui
Anthology. Juan is also an engineer and licensed real estate broker. He has
created the Feng Shui Center located in Miami, Florida. The center offers
seminars and certification classes in Feng Shui in both English and Spanish. For
more information please contact: The Feng Shui Center, 73 Merrick Way, Coral
Gables, FL 33134 USA, Phone: 305-448-0859. Website: www.fengshuicom.net
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