I'm Back

I have neglected this blog for some time.
I'm considering to write more articles.

Let me have the purpose again.

Bedroom Feng Shui

Thought I’d share a simple case study of a bedroom. This apartment faces South 190 degrees. There will be a full renovation of the ceiling and interior. Moving in expected in late February.

Period – 8

Flying Stars Combinations (Mountain-Base-Water)

S - 8-3-8

SW - 1-5-6

W - 6-1-1

NW - 5-9-2

N - 9-4-7

NE - 7-2-9

E - 2-6-5

SE - 3-7-4

C - 4-8-3

A good combination at the facing (Bedroom 2). It’s a shame that the room is the smallest of the bedrooms. The favourable aspects of this combination of stars will converge on the occupant of this room.

It was made known to the owner that he can consider “opening” this room by knocking off the walls that borders the room and corridor or replace it with clear “walls” to allow the energy to seep into the house. Sometimes owners are open to these ideas or are already thinking of it but would not say for being afraid to sound stupid. Nevertheless, the wall will remain. The door should therefore be kept open whenever it is convenient to do so. This enables energy in the room to flow into the corridor highway to other parts of the apartment.

To harness the wealth and health energy that concentrates in this room, a tinge of red at the window will be adequate. Open and “minimalist” concept should be used.

The interior designer proposed a shelf at the center of the room. It sounds weird but the designer showed how it can be a design masterclass with his visual mock up. A central shelf will cut up the energy and even manifest hostile energy. Not only will the favourable forces be wasted, but visually, space will appear to be constrained. The owner went with common sense and decided against that shelf. What a relief.

The designer also proposed another shelf at the left of the window. This effectively creates resistance to the energy that will enter from the window. It will also block off the view from the window.

Personally, I feel that it’s a waste of a good view. On a positive note, the shelf will act as a barrier from harmful energy entering from the East. To fully allow the essence of wealth and health energy at this area to thrive, it is best to allow it to enter the room as a whole. I don’t like the window shelf. The owner is undecided.

The orientation of the bed troubled me. A simple look and it will seem very obvious that the bed should be parallel to the wardrobe with the bed head against the wall pointing to the East. To me, I can only see this orientation.

The designer however wants the bed to run parallel to the wall. This to integrate the “art” of design. An orientation like that will leave the bed head with no “support” whether it points to the window or wardrobe. And with a storage bed, the sleeping height will be elevated above the window bay. Such a condition is akin to floating the occupant in the air. Man are not made to fly. If the orientation of the bed is not what I suggests, at least make a smaller storage bed to allow the occupant to sleep at a level lower than the window bay.

Bay window lights preferably should be centralized. This can be done by casting the lights towards the center of the bay. Or if for example 3 lights are used, they should not be spread out at extreme left and right. But all 3 at the center so that it looks like one as a whole at the center.

I have not applied personal 8 Mansions Feng Shui as there are certain limitations to the room. The macro feng shui also takes precedence over micro feng shui. The crucial significance of this room is that of the star combinations.

An LCD TV will mount on the wall at the West. Activating this area of the room can bring wealth and romance luck for the occupant. (Previously, the star combination I mentioned referred to the apartment as a whole) Metal energy will enhance this micro energy present. A metallic colour LCD TV will do the trick nicely.

The wardrobe that takes up the North and Northeast imprisons negative energy present in the room. I have no qualms about that.

There are beams present in the room. Since the ceilings of the whole place will be done up, the beams will disappear when the renovation is completed. The play of lights of the false ceiling can entice Yang energy to strengthen the good sectors of the room. Lights with more presence (if any) is preferably placed on the South and Southwest. If not, night lights can be used in those areas.

There is no study table.

There are many more considerations to look at just in this room alone. We haven’t even covered the Trigrams, 8 Mansions sectors, 8 characters to harmonize the occupant with feng shui, flying stars, etc.

Aren’t you glad that you can leave all that to a practitioner…

tension & outlet

A lack of breeze felt like a huge plaster on my face as I made my way down Orchard Road. Sweat oozing from my pores as I focused my eyes as if to show the audience (if any) the sweat wasn’t affecting me as I was in deep thought, briskly walking purposefully to my destination. I brushed my fringe aside just to satisfy my physiological urge to do something with my hands. The “audience” is watching. Its interesting how we put up our social personas even when we are not engaged with others.

I passed the dogs at the entrance of Ngee Ann City. I remember having an amazing conversation with Mabe that started with the dogs. I wonder how she is doing. Hope the elements are with her and she’s doing well.

A pretty face stood beside the male celestial creature. I suspect she has depth in character. (wonder how I came up with that). Her fizzy hair atop her good posture tells me that she has confidence but lack the self esteem to project that inner energy outward. The Tiger eye hanging from her Nokia phone contrast her personality with circumstances. It felt like she is unconsciously looking for protection. In body hugging blue, I wonder how even the celestial creature can resist her.

I stopped just for a moment to feel the connection I felt with Mabe before. I caught her eyes. .. and continued walking. The creatures guard the entrance, the curve at the entrance of Ngee Ann is meant to capture energy and direct it to the entrance, the plots of vegetation are there for a reason, while the ashtrays are meant for smokers hahaahha

I wonder what Veron has for me. She wanted to catch up.

V: “This is Pearl. I would really like you to speak to her.”

(OMG Thought I would just have a normal catchup conversation with Veron)

P: ”I slept with someone I shouldn’t have.”

(What!!! IM not a Therapist!!)

S: “Are you …”

P: “It just happened. We talked, he came over… and left in the morning..”

S: “Watcha feeling at that time?” (Im trying very hard to be congruent with concern. Hey its late, Im not prepared for this, my sweat is just beginning to dry, I didn’t bring my cheat sheet while the lights at the café was buzzing like a bee on fire. Give me a break.)

P: “It actually felt good… .”

S: “Im talking about your feelings.:S”

P: “I felt like he knew me and appreciate my qualities as a person.”

S: “What qualities are you talking about?”

P: “blahblahblah… I think I got it. Thanks.”

CASE CLOSED

I truly believe that many times people are fighting over airtime. What they want are just someone who they can comfortably communicate with without having to compete on time. For Pearl, it’s a release of tension that had built up from the lack of an outlet to release them.

In 8 character analysis, the practitioner will seek out a balance of energies to be more neutral. There are times when there is too much of a particular element without an outlet to release energy. Adverse circumstances can befall an individual. If for example, there is too much water composition in an individual, the feng shui practitioner will advise some wood element based accessories to provide an outlet for water energy.

Its an over simplified example, and it is to explain this concept. There are many more concept to bear in mind in 8 character analysis.

Wholeness

James called today. I did up his house up for him. The house was designed with a cyber feel to it. One of those interiors that look like the inside of a UFO. (if ever we know what the inside looks like) He paid the designer $2,000 for that design. That excludes the markup that the design house put on the carpentry and furnishings. The final price made the design house look like a vampire. Hey I know the costs of these things. But if it seem like good value to James, its his money.

J: “The designer drew up the layout incorporating your advice and proposed the colour theme which I really liked.”

S: “That’s great! You must be really anticipating the completion of the project. Remember what I told you about the Northwest. Hope you didn’t compromise it.”

J: “I put the wardrobe there as you suggested. Just one thing.”

S: ”What’s on your mind?”

J: ”Im removing the study to expand the living room.”

S: “Whats that again?” :S

Its good that people like James would discuss changes to the layout of the apartment rather than take matters into their own hands.

Feng shui is designed to fit into a living area as a whole. Wholeness is crucial to good feng shui. Can you imagine if the apartment is designed with feng shui and leaving the living room open to negative energy? Its an exaggerated example. But that can compromise the energy base that resides.

In James case, a maroon rug will solve the problem as the study is wood based and is an unfavourable area.

If you have decided to practice fengshui, go with it and don’t be afraid to ask for feedback on changes. Thinking you know when you don’t is as good as no feng shui.

#1 feng shui rule

I want to emphasize again that feng shui has to be practical. While accompanying a friend to see an Interior Designer, I cannot believe my ears when I heard the ID say that a feng shui master insisted that a client sleep with his head pointing towards his favourable direction – which is diagonal to the orientation of the bedroom!

The ID’s mind must have gone blank when she heard that from the client. I would have stared right into the client with mouth open, thinking “What the crap have I got myself into?!?!”

How can an apartment be in harmony with the environment when it is not in harmony with itself. Its like the saying

“How would you be able to take care of others when you cannot even take care of yourself”

Yes. According to the text, a house can be considered feng shui. But it really grabs me like a level of resignation that these “masters” are so text book.

Yes. 11 individuals on a pitch obeying the rules can be considered a soccer team. But a great team gels and knows when and where to foul, where to attack, when to pass to feet, who should take free kicks, who to play keeper, and all that.

I shook my head in disbelief when I heard the ID’s encounter.

It’s a good thing my friend believes feng shui … . … is full of crap. It allowed me to keep an open mind to the ID’s proposals without interrupting with my feng shui principles. She particularly wants her whole place to have light effects blended with warm colours to bring out a natural feeling of warmth. This requires a false ceiling for the whole apartment as proposed by the ID. I have to say, the portfolio was impressive.

A lot of IDs play with false ceilings and down lights. From a feng shui point of view, whole ceilings without any significant depressions or L-shapes are fine. A ceiling with depressions as sometimes designed by IDs creates a downward force on the apartment. Beams take shape focusing these energies in specific areas of the place. if these designs are really desirable, it is best not to carve out walkways where the beams hang overhead. You can also designate cabinets below the beams to even out the walls.

In the event that your Mother-in-law insists on depressed ceilings, and you can’t kick her out of the house, you can segment up areas as an alternative. I don’t recommend ceiling fans, but if you must, give it a colour that is exhausted by your wall colour.

I’ve seen false ceilings built around air-conditioners. The air-conditioner will half protrude out from the ceiling. Very ugly sight. Don’t do that. Get your ID to design wholeness. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that these small issues are insignificant. Feng shui is after all, making small big.

If many light points are used, it is best to keep them within your control. Do not have a switch that would turn on ALL lights. That sounds stupid, but there are people who do that for whatever reason. And for environment’s sake use more energy saving lights.

As I left the condusive ID selling environment, I cannot help but take a dig at the ID

“So how did you handle the challenge of designing diagonally oriented beds?”

“Oh I told them to fuck off!”

What a passionate designer

practical
fengshui

9d23r

There is a place and time for everything. A relentless persuit of glory has to step aside for responsibilities that society has tied to everyone. A great man has the ability to go against social conditioning at the risk of his name. Absolute chaos or absolute grace occurs when an irresistable cogent meets an immovable conviction. Forbiddance is frowned upon without agreed congruence.

Sarah used to say "Every choice I've made is different since I've met you." But are the choices correct choices. I don't believe that a choice can be determined correct at the point of decision. Choices are made whatsoever, and its up to us to make them correct.

If there is one thing that Im unable to grasp in our inner world, it is that our outer world plays a huge influence on our inner world. And notwithstanding the progress of the society that we live in, our inner worlds do not keep up with outer world progress.

Mar always hype me up for positive reasons. What he means is that instead of letting the outer world influence our inner world, let the inner world take over the outer world. such transitions carry huge social risks. And many people are not ready to take on such risk... unless there is security in the outer world. We are both very lucky to be able to see the paradox of success. It doesn't mean that we are better than anyone else. It just means that we can see a cube instead of a square.

"To go to space, you need to have a medium" - Salsa

The dilemma of taking on the social world is made easier when there is linearity in thinking. It cannot happen without linearity... unless there is a medium. Mediums cannot take the place of linearity, but it sure makes up for absence.

The great man used mediums in place of linearity for success as linearity is as scarce as the giant squid. What if both linearity and mediums are present? I would have to say abundance.

The easy way out for commonality is to use mediums as an excuse. How rational is that? Well, the outer world sees it as rational. And it filters down to everyone's inner world. Does it sound simpler to look for a medium?

"I don't believe in forever" - Jess
"Its not up to you to believe" - Salsa

The lazy man takes the easy way out. What is the easy way anyway? How come a definition of the easy way is another's definition of the hard way? Why is it that many accept sub-standard? If only the pandora's box can enlighten me on this paradigm. Its all in the frame.

"Knowledge is power" - Whoever
"Knowledge is useless without application" - Salsa

The concept is not that abundance is achieved with mediums. But rather, mediums are essential for abundance. TO be able to see this cannot be trained. It takes an awareness within oneself to unlock the the chest of thought. The way to awareness is to be "here".

"Im attracted to punk" - Mabe
"No you don't. You think you are." - Salsa

There is a place and time for everything? I don't think so. Rather, there is something for every place and time. Belief is crucially diverse from trust... but how often we fail to realise the line that seperates them. Both have very different implications that influences thought and faih. Does thought and faith go together, and belief & trust don't?

"Im a visionary" - Jose
"You are in deep shit" - Salsa

The great visualizes the way to freedom through adversity. Going through adversity for freedom is the way of the courages. Taking the smart way to avoid adversity will always be the sticky point of the weak. With it goes the chance of freedom. Appalling as it seem that many choose the path to ultimate restraint.

The visionary sees the future. The courages takes on adversity to get to the future. The deligent succomb to adversity to stay relevant. The intellect avoids adversity. The buffalo works to have time to feed.

"I've earned respect" - Camara
"You are given authority" - Salsa

Awareness breeds the aptitude of calibration. It takes a man of high awareness to realise a lack of self-awareness. Conditioning often blur one's awareness. Are you aware of that?

Its been a long session of self-reflection...

Zodiac compatibility

I drew this up for a small company which wanted to put it into their brochures so that people may want to keep the brochures. The original has much more packaging than this. But the information is the same.

This is a table that shows compatibility between people of different zodiacs.

Because of space limitation, I've changed the top row to the 1st letters of the particular zodiacs.

The sequence of the top row from left to right is the same as the 1st column from top to bottom.

Have fun checking out your compatibility with your partner and potential partners!




1 - Great
2 - Good
3 - Neutral
4 - Difficult

...

Steve Irwin

I loved his shows.

I used to catch Crocodile Hunter Diaries thinking that I wanted to know whats happening in Australia Zoo. But then I realised that I'm addicted to his personality. Everyday at that particular hour, I will be craving for a fix. My fix was Steve.

He just do his stuff with so much contagious enthusiasm that it injects a virus into you. And bridging the TV and our interest with his enthusiasm, he educated the world about wildlife. He educated us about how misunderstood animals are.

There was an episode where Steve cried uncontrollably when Mary died. (and those weren't crocodile tears) You could just feel how much this life and dedication he has chosen means to him. This guy is for real.

If ever there was a show that was made great because of the host's enthusiasm, its Steve Irwin's. I'm sure Jeff Corwin (another good host) is at least as enthusiatic about animals as Steve, but the difference between them is that Steve can channel the enthusiasm right through the TV. Making you feel his enthusiasm. Thats why Steve is great. You don't feel that with Jeff.

A CEO may have the most innovative ideas in the world, but if he is unable to communicate ideas to management, his ideas are almost worthless. If he is unable to channel his enthusiasm to management, you get below-par standard.

And to be killed by a frightened ray......... its such a sad irony.....

I wanted to catch him when he visited Singapore in March. I skipped it thinking he would be here again since Australia Zoo has a good relationship with Singapore Zoo.

"I will catch him another time"

Now I catch him in the news.... ..


RIP Steve.