Lucky Living

Promises of loving each other through sickness and health and whether richer and poorer, have  potential to be kept only when the couple committing themselves to each other is mature, loving  and respectful of each other and willing to dance the way of the “give and take”. When the time  comes to build their home together, patience is sorely tested as differences of opinions, spending  habits and attitude arise. Luckily, building a dream home comes easily these days with several  talented architects and interior designers to choose from. However, living and actually prospering, not just financially but in all ways possible, is another matter and that is where the popular yet  ancient Taoist way of life, Feng Shui, enters.

Feng Shui is a science which has been practiced for  over 3,000 years. Feng Shui teaches an individual to live in the most harmonious way possible with  the energies of our world while enhancing good fortune, health and happiness. It is best to consult experts such as Feng Shui Master Joseph Chau. Meeting with him is a pleasure for any couple and with his charisma and easygoing manner, it is guaranteed that shop talk will lead to conversation about everything  under the sun.

He explains that in order to obtain the best results during any client  consultation, Feng Shui should be considered together with the Four Pillars, the latter being an  entirely separate study from Feng Shui. While Feng Shui is related to studying the environment to bring about prosperity, harmony and good health for an individual or a family, the Four  Pillars delve into one’s personal luck based on birth charts. Thus, before Master Chau can advise a couple on what should be done in a home, with the structure or thru  interior color schemes, he needs to consider the birth charts of the couple first along with the “birthday” of the house and the orientation of the house. For example, since  the material and location of the bed in the Master’s Bedroom is very important, a determination of the material and location must be made and this depends on the birthdays of the husband and wife. The color of curtains and carpets also depends on the Feng Shui element of the couple. For example, if the couple’s lucky element is Water, then he will advise them to use gray or blue  shades. Factors he considers in helping “design” a couple’s home include the “Enhancing Elements” and the “Destructive Elements”. The enhancing elements follow the Productive Cycle wherein Wood gives energy to Fire, Fire generates Earth, Earth produces Metal, Metal gives energy to Water and Water feeds Wood. The destructive elements follow the  Destructive Cycle wherein Metal cuts Wood, Wood  destroys Earth, Earth covers Water, Water extinguishes Fire and Fire melts Metal. Interestingly, the process follows  basic common sense. Using the above mentioned relationship of the elements serves as a guide for Feng Shui to enhance the space. Other steps that may be done involve  moving around furniture, putting a specific item in a specific place and having a color theme that is harmonious to both the husband and wife’s birth charts, among  others. He itemizes some objects that  may play a role in enhancing the good luck in a home. A goldfish, when placed in the right location of the year (2009 Southeast), can help enhance money luck.

But not just any aquarium will do since the number of fish will depend on the birthday of the couple. Another popular art form  displayed in today’s minimalist homes is framed calligraphy. However, Master Chau cautions the use of this unless the couple is specifically advised by their Feng Shui consultant. It should also be written by a    qualified person. Also, if hung in the wrong location, it can actually do more harm  than good. The luck of paintings depends on their theme. A painting of a harvest or a   display of fruits in the dining room is very auspicious. The Chinese have a popular subject  which is the 100 Children Scroll. This theme symbolizes prosperity not only for the couple’s lifetime but for generations after. It also symbolizes fertility and many children in the family. Healthy and  vibrant flowers and plants, when put in the wealth location of the year (2009 Southeast), will bring luck into the home. He cautions against using white flowers and bougainvillea plants as well.

It is worthy then to note that lucky objects are only lucky when their orientation and direction in the key areas of the home are correct. For the year 2009, for houses or Masters Bedrooms facing North,  Master Chau advises that it is important to put a lucky object in that direction to counteract the influence of the Disaster Star in the North. Other lucky objects include a natural gourd in the kitchen for good health, a  Buddha Rock Treasure Ox to enhance financial stability, a Safety Power Medallion for protection of the home and the Lucky Fuk Bat to invite wealth luck into the home. For the Master’s  Bedroom, he strongly  recommends placing a Brass Antique Pumpkin to enhance romance, loyalty, long life, prosperity and a harmonious family life. And in a nutshell, isn’t that what we all long for!

-Article by Ana Gloria

Mr. Joseph Chau
A Master of Feng Shui for 30 years, he may be reached at the Yin & Yang Shop Of Harmony, G/F Mandarin Oriental, Makati City

Telephone: 752 5882