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Patty Tran

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What are the meaning of numbers in feng shui?
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Numbers play a big role in many cultures around the globe. Each signifies bad luck and good luck stemming from their symbolism or pronunciation. For example, in the U.S. the number 13 is often associated with bad luck. However, in other countries such as Italy, the number 13 “fare tredici” translates to “hitting the jackpot” and is considered auspicious. So, what is the meaning of numbers in feng shui?

Number Translation & Remedies for Addresses

Some of the wealthiest places in the world care deeply about feng shui and are very particular about number translation. For example, people in Hong Kong and Singapore generally avoid buying a home with a number that contains 4, which sounds like the word “death.” Even worse, is a home with the numbers 2 and 4 arranged in that order as it translates to “easy death.” Below is a chart that summarizes the meaning of each number in the Cantonese dialect.

What are the meaning of numbers in feng shui?
by hipsterfengshui

Feng shui has become mainstream around the world in part due to Cantonese speaking immigrants moving to various parts of the globe in past decades.

I personally know of many non-Cantonese folks who religiously follow the Cantonese translation of numbers for various things such as choosing a house or phone number.  In a melting pot like the San Francisco Bay Area, where there are many Chinese and culturally aware individuals, I see many non-Cantonese speaking friends buy homes with the number 6 or 8 as they know it would have better resale value in the long-term.

If it really bothers you that you have purchased a home or plan to purchase a home that has a “bad” address (e.g. with a bunch of 4s,) there are two ways you can remedy it:

  1. Change your address i.e. by going to the city/local government and request the change.
  2. “Fix” the address by writing lightly in pencil numbers that will symbolically neutralize the “bad” numbers (see example below.) This is not as powerful as remedy #1, but is a practical alternative if there is no other.

Example:

House address of 20253 has a “25” in the address translates to “easy not” or “not easy”. To remedy it, one may possibly do the following:

fengshuinumber

Feng Shui Enhancements

FullSizeRenderEach of the eight feng shui compass directions is associated with a number. As such, you can boost your environment by placing symbols and decor the represent the number. For example, the northwest is associated with the metal element and number 6. As such, one popular way to boost the chi of this direction is via the placement of a six rodded metal wind chime.

Kua Numbers & Lucky Directions

book research
by Splitshire

According to classical feng shui, every individual has lucky and unlucky directions. Learn how to calculate your most auspicious directions here.

wind-power - Is feng shui just a religion or superstition?
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Is feng shui simply a religion or superstition? With all the different schools of feng shui, one might jump to the conclusion that feng shui is a religion or superstition. I had initially thought that it was a religious practice as there are certain religions that incorporate feng shui methodologies. In fact, I once thought feng shui was a total superstition.

Around for over 3,000 years now, traditional or classical feng shui is neither a religion or superstition. Feng shui, which words literally translate into “wind and water,” symbolizes energy or “chi.” Originating from China, it is an ancient methodology of organizing objects in an environment such as an office or kitchen. The main objective of feng shui is to boost and improve the balance of chi for a space’s inhabitants. For example, the placement of one’s bed can impact one’s health luck. Floorplans, structures, building materials, and other aspects of a space can also play a role in one’s environment.

blue - wind-power - Is feng shui just a religion or superstition?
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Feng shui does not require you to go against your religious beliefs. In fact, it is about proactively influencing your environment to improve your lifestyle and well-being. So, do not be afraid to learn and reap the benefits of it. Together with other healthy practices, such as mindfulness and exercise, feng shui can greatly improve your life!

 

 

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Do vintage or antique objects bring bad luck?  It really depends –  here are a few things to consider.

Chi Transfers

dragon - Do vintage or antique objecIn feng shui, individual objects such as statues, paintings, or furniture carry good and bad chi over time just like properties do. It is critical to know the item’s history and where it came from.

If the item was passed down from a loved-one, friend, or someone you know, you may have more trust that it has good energy. On the other hand, if you have no idea where the item came from, there is risk that that object may carry negative chi from its previous owner, particularly if they had encountered a mishap in their life (e.g. divorce, death, etc.).

Several years ago, a colleague of mine bought a vintage Pi Yao from an estate sale. Very soon after purchasing it, she experienced one mishap after another. She suddenly got fired from a company she was working at for over 20 years, got ill, among other things. She had mentioned that she felt uneasy after bringing the used Pi Yao home and wished she did not bring it into her house.

 

Keep it Pure

kuan kong - kuan kong - dragon - Do vintage or antique objecIf it doesn’t feel right, it’s best to do without the object. But if you feel connected with a particular item, consider cleaning or purifying it before displaying into your home. Use salt or incense or other preferred methods for the cleaning. Also, even if you know where the item came from, avoid receiving any presents from someone who is giving away their property as a result of a negative event like a divorce or foreclosure auction. 

Vintage and antique objects have become very popular lately. But do they bring bad luck? It all depends. As with any practice or hobby, just remember to relax and follow your instincts!

Our environment, the world in which we live and work, is a mirror of our attitudes and expectations. – Earl Nightingale

mirror
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One very effective way of increasing energy and handling feng afflictions in an environment are via the use of mirrors. Here are 5 simple mirror feng shui tips to boost your luck:

Activate Your Business Luck

5 Simple Mirror Feng Shui Tips to Boost Your Luck
by hipsterfengshui

If you run your own business, simply activate your business luck by placing mirrors around your cash register. This signifies increased profits and wealth.

Increase Abundance &  Prosperity

dining - 5 Simple Mirror Feng Shui Tips to Boost Your Luck
by hipsterfengshui

Utilize mirrors on the walls of your dining area to reflect the abundance of fruit and food placed on the dining table. This is a great way to boost your prosperity luck. Only do this if the mirror is not reflecting anything negative (e.g. garbage can) or the kitchen itself.

Expand or Extend Walls

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Deactivate negative chi from cramped hallways and missing bagua areas by expanding or extending walls with a mirror. The shape of the mirror should be in harmony with the element of the bagua sector that is missing. For example, a circular mirror would be ideal for a missing bagua area in the west. The circular shape represents metal, which is the element of the east — the direction the mirror is reflecting. Be mindful not to reflect anything that is negative (e.g. bathroom) and avoid placing the mirrors in a kitchen or bedroom (particularly if it reflects the bed).

Negate Bad Chi from Toilets

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Having a toilet that is near or above your main door may cause a major disaster or misfortune to the family. One way to remedy a toilet that is near or above your main door is to place a mirror outside of the bathroom door, assuming that the mirror is not reflecting anything negative. You may also use a mirror to subdue negative energy if your bed shares the wall with a toilet.

Protect Against Poison Arrows

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One fantastic way to fend off negative and sharp chi from poison arrows (e.g. T-junctions, sharp building corners) is to place a flat bagua shaped mirror to deflect and fend off the negative chi.

Final Thoughts

There are many ways to use mirrors in a positive way, and I am not definitely not a fan of using mirrors to harm people. Again, be mindful not to reflect anything that is negative (e.g. bathroom) and avoid placing the mirrors in a kitchen or bedroom. Mirrors, when used properly, can be a very effective and easy way to boost the chi of your environment. Hope these tips help!

bedQuestion: My luck has been down quite a bit lately, so I decided to evaluate the feng shui of my overall home, including my bedroom. In doing so, I realized that there is a conflict between my bed position and the lucky directions.

What is more important: facing my lucky directions or avoiding bad bed placement and positioning?  Where should I place my bed?

My Kua number is 5. My options are:

  • Northeast (good direction for me): but bed is under window
  • Northwest (good direction for me): but headboard is next to bathroom
  • East (bad direction for me): but no other obstacles
  • West (good direction for me): but five yellow star lies there this year

ocean - Conflict between bed position and lucky directionsAnswer: In general, I’d suggest taking a more conservative and defensive approach when the remedy relates to the bedroom. This means one should mitigate and protect from possible additional negative energy. In your case, it would mean choosing good placement first (e.g. avoid sleeping in front of a mirror) over facing lucky directions.

One thing you can possibly do is to keep the window covered if you are sleeping in the northeast. Make sure your bed has a strong solid headboard.

Ideally, you should place your bed in a good position while also facing your auspicious direction. However, if your bedroom layout does not allow for placing your bed in a good position (e.g. east), at the very least, place it such that when you are sleeping you are facing one of your auspicious directions (e.g. northeast).