Feng Shui

[Burninator]

If you want to read a book or a website on it and then make some minor changes to your reno design/furniture layout, I'd say that is fine. But if you want to hire someone to consult you on Feng Shui and undertake major changes in that direction, I wouldn't waste your money. As photon posted, Penn and Teller did a show about Feng Shui and it was random furniture rearranging at it's best.

Coming from me (someone in the Architecture field and a skeptic toward such things) I would never think to consider using Feng Shui in any aspect of work or my home. There are other factors that are more important to layouts than "energy" and "chi", such as comfort and practicality. But if you happen to extract a comfortable layout from Feng Shui more power to you. But if you expect to gain better health, more money and whatever else they promise, then I suggest you also pick up the book the secret. Because frankly I group them in the same camp of flim-flam.

[Hack&Lube]

Look, Feng Shui has no mystical qualities in my book, but it certainly has aesthetic qualities that fixes a lot of problems I have seen in horrible architecture and home design here in North America.

I can't explain it but it gives a feeling of calm like a proper Japanese or Chinese garden does. If anything, think of a Feng Shui guide as just an Asian Interior Designer. My aunt's condo was designed so that when you enter the front door, the first door in your face is the bathroom door! A Feng Shui guy suggested she buy one of those folding rice paper and wood screens (from Superstore!) and place it into the foyer, blocking direct entrance or seeing into the bathroom and wow, it makes the whole place more comfortable and nice looking.

Don't believe in the silly things like burying Chinese coins in the corners of your rooms or whatever for luck...but hey we all know that superstitition can have a real calming placebo effect on people. Just look at hockey players. It's strangly reassuring to have objects or talismans sitting around.

[photon]

It's better then to hire a good interior designer at 1/10th the cost and get the same calming effect. Plus there isn't the expectation that magic is going to improve the person's life somehow.

Feng shui is like a lot of other things; all people are susceptible to this kind of magical thinking, it's part of how our brains work. Unfortunately it's an indication of the lack of education and critical thinking that seems to be growing in our society. EDIT: To clarify, I mean that teaching critical thinking helps protect against magical thinking.

[Flashpoint]

If you are going to throw your money away, at least give it to charity or something. Are you kidding? Your toilet is on the wrong wall, so you are losing money? Your couch is the wrong color so your dog dies?

Grow up.

[Prototype]

I never thought I'd drop a lot of coin on a 'theme' like feng shui. Believe me, there's not enough coin there. But it's a concept that, even though not very scientifical (is that a word?), I find very interesting. I've always been slightly interested in asian characters, and thought this would go hand in hand with it.

I appreciate all the help on the thread. Just trying to get ideas... that's all.

[photon]

Originally Posted by Prottotype

But it's a concept that, even though not very scientifical (is that a word?), I find very interesting. I've always been slightly interested in asian characters, and thought this would go hand in hand with it.

That's cool, I'm the same way, I love reading about Chinese and Japanese culture and history! And doing things like that can be fun and interesting.. as long as you aren't expecting it to change your life (other thank making your house look different). The only way to improve your life is to go out and improve it yourself.

[CaptainReboot]

Feng Shui is just part of Asian culture. There is a lot of belief that luck and good fortune that can be achieved just by doing certain things. That's just a part of any culture. Any asian person you talk to probably believes in some form of it, whether they do Feng Shui, or wear certain pieces of jewelery. Any Asian restaurant you go into you'll probably see a cat with it's paw up. You can believe in it, or think it's crap, but it's just part of Asian culture.

There seems to be a misconception that to Feng Shui your house means you have to spend $$$ and buy this and that, paint a wall this colour, and move your bed to face this direction. That kind of stuff seems to be westernized a bit to me.

If anybody wants to know what we did to Feng Shui our house, PM me and I'll be more than happy to tell you. You'll be surprise what little we had to do.

[photon]

Of course, there's always stuff in any culture that is just passed down through the generations without any basis in reality.

In South Korea, there's the belief that if you leave a fan (you know, a normal electric fan) running in a closed room it can result in the death of everyone in the room. Fan manufacturers put sleep timers on fans sold, and people driving in cars leave their windows open a crack when the fan is on. I don't think anyone here would put any credence in that.

Like I said, as interior decorating it's interesting.. as something that's supposed to improve your life through magical means, there's no evidence for that. The problem is many of its practitioners charge real $$ for their services, which crosses over into taking advantage of others IMO.