FENG SHUI TIPS FOR HOUSE HUNTING
If you are looking for a new house or flat and would like some feng shui guidance, here are a few basic, common-sense tips — simple things anyone can check.
1.- OBSERVE THE STRUCTURE
First, look at the structure, inside and out, and check that it is not too irregular or complex. By “irregular” we mean structures that are awkward, aggressive, multi-level, or that give off a vague or chaotic pattern which can make quiet family life difficult. A house or flat with a harmonious, sensible, predictable and practical layout is more desirable than one that is very irregular or disorganised.
Avoid large unused spaces, unventilated rooms, poor lighting, an excess of sharp corners or doors that face each other, long corridors with many doors in a row, a disproportionate number of bathrooms, very steep stairs facing the door, or design features that serve no practical purpose for comfortable living.
2.- ENERGETIC BALANCE
The area where the house or flat stands should have calm energy and feel normal. It should not be full of noise and disturbance, nor should it be a dead, soulless place. Avoid being too close to places with too much (Yin) energy, such as cemeteries, morgues, funeral homes, stagnant water or derelict buildings; and equally to places that are too (Yang), such as clubs, police stations, A&E departments, slaughterhouses, airports, railways or noisy areas. (More about Yin and Yang)
3.- HISTORY OF THE PLACE
Ask the neighbours, or anyone who knows the house or land you are about to acquire, about the history of the place — simply the record of what has happened there over time. In feng shui it is wise to make sure the site has not been “prone” to misfortune, accidents, illness, theft or other trouble. A negative history can be changed through new feng shui, but if you are not in a position to make big changes, it is better to choose a place with fewer obstacles.
When a difficult history is also linked to inherent problems of the subsoil, changing the energy, or Qi, becomes hard and demanding — here we mean troublesome underground watercourses, former burial grounds, or historic sites linked to human suffering.
4.- THE LAND
Look carefully at sites with steep drops or slopes, cliffs, or arid and very windy ground. Note the nearness of streams or underground water veins, power lines, transformers and the like. In such cases a professional measurement may be needed (see electromagnetic pollution).
It is also unwise to be close to polluting industry, chimneys, large antennas, or anything clearly at odds with the natural surroundings.
5.- PROTECTION AND SUPPORT
A building should have some protection and support behind it. Houses or buildings with their backs completely exposed — with nothing nearby to shelter them, such as a hill, other buildings or simply vegetation — are not favourable. It would be like working in a backless chair, or sleeping with your head unprotected. Nor is it good for the front to have major obstacles that block the “incoming” flow of energy: rubbish in front, trees blocking the entrance, overbearing buildings, or aggressive, threatening objects are not advisable before a facade. As for the sides, some protection or cover is suggested, avoiding very tall buildings that feel oppressive or unbalanced. (See the theory of the five animals to explore this further.)
6.- STREETS AND FENG SHUI
The streets should be ordinary and peaceful, not pointing straight at the entrance. Houses with a door on the corner, where vehicles seem to drive straight towards it, are in constant “aggression”. Avoid streets in a V or T shape: both a facade that a V points at, and one that the stem of a T points at, receive a constant attack. Convex shapes aimed at the entrance are generally unwise too — the curve of a road, a bridge or a building.
7.- A FINE NEIGHBOURHOOD
Look for a neighbourhood with fine qualities, such as cleanliness, order and harmony among neighbours. Green spaces are always welcome where possible, and in short you want to feel that the surroundings are friendly to you.
8.- A REAL FENG SHUI STUDY
A traditional feng shui study checks a much wider set of variables. The orientation of the home has to be measured carefully, taking into account the facade or front of the building, and the time or period of construction — the “birth of the house” — must also be established. With this basic data, together with the forms surrounding the area under study, a geomantic chart is drawn up that shows how the energy patterns evolve over time, since a space changes its “reading” over the years, as any form or living being does.
The best time for alterations, changes or a move can also be worked out, along with a set of details that come from experience. It is advisable to look, too, at any underground water flow and other geological problems, as well as possible electromagnetic pollution and the quality of the materials.
Finally, we must stress that although it is very important not to rush when choosing a place to live for many years — comparing the options calmly — it is equally wrong to become obsessed with the “perfect” search, since there are generally no wholly perfect sites. Everything is in constant change and movement.
Use the principles that make the most sense to you, drawing on the information intelligently; and when in doubt, seek the guidance of a good professional feng shui consultant for the readings that call for specialist knowledge.
Related: The Five Celestial Animals · The Feng Shui Compass · Electromagnetic Pollution. For a full study before you buy, see our professional Feng Shui course.
