iProperty.com.my’s contributing writer Chan Ai Cheng speaks to Professor Joe Choo, President of the Malaysian Institute of Geomancy Sciences (MINGS) on her insights on Feng Shui and its impact on Property Values.
What is Feng Shui? Why do we need to take it into consideration?
Feng Shui is the assessment and understanding of the environment’s energy and the rearrangement and calibration of these energies on one’s dwelling and office environment so that they can be harnessed to bring greater benefit and wellbeing to oneself.
Feng Shui is a Science. It is a study of natural sciences. A study of space and energy contained therein.
To apply Feng Shui correctly, one must understand the individual, his inherent strengths, his limitations and his needs and try to answer these needs within the limited parameters.
A rough translation of the words “Feng Shui” means Wind and Water. Hence, Feng Shui includes the study of nature and the movement of life forms. All life forms and matters contain energy in one form or another. Energy is categorized firstly into Cosmic Energy; secondly, Earth’s Living Energy and thirdly, Energy formed from the fusion of the first 2 forms which is known as Energy in Human and Space.
Cosmic energy comes from celestial bodies such as the sun, the moon, the major planets and the constellations. These energies are complex and can be in the form of radio waves, light energy ranging from quasar to supernova, solar energy in the form of light, heat and so on.
Earth’s living energy includes Earth’s magnetic fields, gravitational pull, seismic waves and geological forces. This may result in the formation of mountains and valleys and other such natural structures.
Humans themselves are energy forms. There are endless sources of energies. The interactions between all these energies form the very complex environment in which we live today.
Like all sciences, Feng Shui is applicable whether one is aware of it or not. Feng Shui is a scientific technique for reconciling human nature with the limitations imposed on it by settlement.
How do you go about setting the right Feng Shui for the home?
There are 4 basic steps in Feng Shui and they are the process of:
- Identification
- Selection
- Matching
- Ignition
1. Identification
It is very important to identify the Individual in order to best place the subject. We know that the earth has 2 magnetic poles and the pull of the earth’s magnetic forces is strongest at the poles. We also know that like poles repel and opposite poles attract. Hence a house with a north entrance or a south entrance will face or induce different energy. In Feng Shui it is believed that every degree variation in orientation will have slightly different energy.
From the year, month, day and time of birth of a person, we then determine the person’s Kua or element. From this Kua or element and from the season or the month of birth, one can study the person’s characteristics, strengths and weaknesses. A person is then identified as a particular ‘Kua’. There are basically eight ‘Kua’. These ‘Kua’ can be further studied via the five elements. Through these various representations, a person’s energy type can be determined. One’s characteristics, strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes could be known.
2. Selection
Selection is divided into 2 main areas, namely:
- External environment (temperature and movements, traffic movements, standing objects)
- Internal space distribution and orientation
External Environment
Example: A House is built on a slope of a mountain.
The main entrance admits the bulk of the energy entering the house. It is also the opening that the entire members of the family and guests walk in and out. This traffic brings in the energy to the house. After determining that the main entrance is at a good location, one must consider the ventilation, the natural sunlight, the number of people in the unit, the kitchen, the bedrooms, the bathroom, dining and living areas, overhead beams, sharp objects, the colours and their effects and so on.
How to Determine the location of the door
Source: Malaysian Institute of Geomancy Science
Selection of the best orientation or location of a door – we can predict what will be encountered at a different door if he continues to stay in a building with an entrance unsuited to him.
3.Matching
Similarly, we also know that after the first 2 steps, we need to ensure that the construction, orientation and arrangement of internal components must be designed and placed in a manner that will create harmony. This step is called matching.
Location and designs of a premises may not always be perfect. We therefore recommend to the subject the necessary orientation, placement or deletion of within and outside the building to match his requirements. This also follows the principles of logic.
4.Ignition
Lastly, we have the process of ignition, which is a form of test to determine the accuracy of the calibration. This procedure doesn’t involve any ritual but merely uses any heating elements to bring up the temperature in the house in order to induce the cold air from outside to set the energy within which benefits the dwellers of the house.
What are the situations to avoid and why?
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but common ones :-
- Building a house which faces a mountain
- Building a house near a mountain with the front door facing the East
- Building a house on the acute convex side of a river or a road
- Building a house with the front and back door in direct alignment
- Building a house which faces a road junction
- Building at a dead-end road
- Building with main door facing a lamp-post, or a tall obstruction or the outlet of a monsoon drain
- Overhead beam
- Low ceilings and nautilus point
How Feng Shui impacts property values?
I will just highlight three obvious impacts:
Firstly, your own home. Are you in a home that is best suited for you? It should be to promote harmony in your home. When there is harmony in the home, the likelihood of success at work, outside the home increases; the spillover effects of a right home is tremendous.
Secondly, with the growing understanding and exposure of Feng Shui, you need to be aware of the kind of properties that will be considered inferior to another in the same locality. This affects your resale value – capital gains and also rental returns. Though you may not be very in touch with Feng Shui, your tenants and purchasers may very well be.
Thirdly, selecting the right property also minimizes the problems of management.
By
Chan Ai Cheng
General Manager, S. K. Brothers Realty (M) Sdn Bhd
Registered Estate Agent, Board of Valuers, Appraisers & Estate Agents
Certified Residential Specialist, NAR USA
Registered Financial Consultant , International Association of Registered Financial Consultants (IARFC)
