Cecil Lee

Dear Tonya, Usually, in selecting the home, emphasis must be placed on several *IMPORTANT* factors: 1. You should try to evaluate each house and their Shapes and Form. It is not good if the facing direction of the door is a good direction for you or your husband but subsequently, there is a major flaw in the Shapes and Form of the house. 2. Flying Star. There is an optional report under www.geomancy-online.com where it will advise you on all 24 directions of the Flying Star in relation to your Eight house. The Flying Star analysis tries to find a house with a good `Birth chart'. While the Eight house is to determine how suitable the house is to you. 3. Thus it is not so simple to say that because your husband is a East person and you are a west person.... " Please tell me which house is good for me ". This simplistic approach is not an advisable way to find a house that is both good and fits all of you. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Thanh, Please see below:- Step 1: Look through your 20 Year Flying Star Chart. Here pay attention to areas that need to be neutralised. Place all the relevant cures in the house. The Eight House theory although is a valid theory, is less important since it is only the `irritation' sector of your main entrance. More importantly, if you are using the Eight House, check the intangible force in areas that you spent most time i.e. this includes the bedroom location. Here, even if your master bedroom is at your disaster sector, you should give priority to proper placement of the bed under the Shapes and Form Feng Shui. Where the bed is located in a suitable sector and conform to the Shapes and Form Feng Shui. Pay more attention to the Flying Star analysis at this sector. If this sector is out of balance, and if a cure is asked for, then use the necessary cure for this sector. One cannot really do much even if it is the `disaster' sector under the Eight House Theory as there is no cure for this other than to avoid sleeping in that sector. It would be good if you can sleep closer to the NE (Prosperity.. but if you cannot, there is not much can be done here). This is a natural feature under Shapes and Form and cannot be corrected unless (move house). Anyway, I believe your main concern here is the `unsuitabilty' of the house to you especially under the Eight House theory. Where possible, score more marks in other areas such as: Shapes and Form and Flying Star. Under Shapes and Form, you can `score' points internally, by arranging your bed and other furniture, in a good Shapes and Form setting. Under Flying Star theory, try to score points by neutralising any imbalances at each sector of the house. Lastly, `protect' your house from poision arrows (if any) especially by looking out the main entrance or windows. Overall, I believe your house is not that `bad' as compared to even `worse' off houses. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Meilissa, 1. Under Chinese beliefs, if one notice carefully, figurines comes in `pairs'. 2. For example, Fufu dogs or lions are always placed on both sides of the door. 3. For your situation, so long as the hose is not directly `slicing' the main door, this is not a poison arrow i.e. if you are to stand at the main entrance looking out of the house, it should not be tangent or parallel to the main entrance door. 4. For the animal, it can be any object even if it looks `fierce' so long as it faces out of the house. Animal objects that look `fierce' should not look into a home especially into the window or main entrance. 5. You can if there are any `cartoon' characters choose them also. Any object that looks out of the house can be used in your situation. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Terence, I believe, we can draw a `parallel' with the "driving experience". Here, for example: A. Shapes and Form Feng Shui 1. Shapes and Form School of Feng Shui is like the roads and highways. Where, there are good roads and bad roads (i.e. Good Feng Shui and bad Feng Shui). Good `roads' are those that have been resurfaced frequently, and well lighted, no sudden bends. Bad `roads' are like winding roads or roads that have frequent accidents. B. Pillars of Destiny 2. Pillars of Destiny can be considered like advance warning signs or a good road map. For example, if the road is winding and there are frequent accidents occuring on this road, (Pillars of Destiny) is like making sure that there are adequate warning signs. 3. In the above example, we have noticed that there is the infrastructure i.e. roads and signages or proper directional signs (Pillars of Destiny). 4. The above are just infrastructures. Because of built up land, some roads may be good to drive on while others because of buildings has to be winding etc... Thus this forms good and bad `shapes and forms'. C. Pillars of Destiny Wealth deities 5. Pillars of Destiny wealth deities is like the vehicle we drive. For example, a person who has excellent wealth deities is like a person driving a luxurious car. While a person not so blessed drives a scooter or even does not own a car. 6. As Kam, has mentioned `MAN luck' in this situation is like the driver of the car or scooter. His driving skills depends on road conditions (i.e. Flying Star Feng Shui) and his `condition'. Flying Star Feng Shui 7. As Flying Star takes into consideration time dimensions, you will notice that we are always not certain if the weather is cloudy or there is heavy rain. If there is heavy rain, we have to becareful and thus take precautions. Here `precautions' are like neutralising bad sectors e.g. bad earth element or sickness star. 8. Flying star thus take into consideration (the conditions at the time) and if there is an imbalance, try to neutralise it). For example in the above `driving' experience, if there is an oil spill on the bend, precautions must be taken to negotiate the bend. Alternatively, it should be cleaned. 9. I mentioned above that following, Kam's example, there are people who are endowed with luck such as being able to drive a luxury car. While others may only be able to afford a scooter or motorcycle. Those that drive luxury cars, may have ABS brakes, front and side air-bags and other safety features. In a collision or serious accident, their survial rate is higher. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Kam, I am glad that you had taken so much effort to explain very clearly the distinction of the various types of LUCK. 1. I fully agree with what you have written and it is a good lesson for all of us that LUCK comes in various forms. 2. This is why, a holistic approach to `LUCK' should in my opinion be considered. 3. The easiest again to reference this to examinations. As all of us had taken them before. 4.In my opinion, it is not ideal if we are to take an examination where we are suppose to answer 4 compulsory essay questions but in the end answer 3 out of 4 questions. 5. We should therefore, try to `enhance' all the different LUCK plus what Kam has pointed out, MAN LUCK is equally important. 6. Trying to maximize all the luck is good. But it should be done in an economical way. 7. For example, if we find a good house with excellent Shapes and Form. Assuming that this house sored 78 percent out of 100 marks for Shapes and Form, by doing something more, if we can achieve or bring this to 82 marks easily this is good. Above this, the marginal costs gets higher and higher just to achieve a further 85 percent/marks. 8. Thus what I like to say is that we should try to firstly: - Maximize all our LUCK as effortless as possible. By doing it right the first time or making changes. - Rather than focusing e.g. at one corner of the house e.g. to "boost?" a few more marks to increase the EARTH LUCK, we should instead, see if we can achieve an overall rating in all areas. Thus, as identified by Kam, if we can improve in a holistic way, our Heaven, Earth and Man Luck, we are better off. Here, everyone will ask the question how to? With the wealth of information on Feng Shui (which is considered our earth luck), we can try to make sure that our house is in harmony. Ideally, the house should have good Shapes and Form, Flying Star analysis can help to neutralise any bad sectors. Pillars of Destiny (which maps our Heaven luck) can be used to look at the wider picture and used as a cross reference when implementing cures or enhancements to the home and personal self. Generally, most FS practitioners would say that by understanding our Heaven Luck, we can try to `change' or advert problems a percentage of it. Frankly, it takes lots of years of study and experience to combine and implement all these and for those who are new, cannot be expected to do it all on their own. As mentioned by Kam, I must stress that, Fast Food Feng Shui, can do more harm than one could ever imagine. To be frank, my motivation to continue with this site is to create an awarness of Fast Food Feng Shui. Frankly, I have better things to do than to continue with Feng Shui. For example, for my personal self, when buying a new home, I would spent some time to look for a relatively good house. It need not be `excellent' but (of course this is a bonus) and from there, if there are any threats to the house, still have to cure it. Even good or excellent houses are vulnerable to this. Once this is done and bad sectors are neutralised, Feng Shui becomes transparent and I would then concentrate with getting on with my life. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Elena, 1. Usually, I would apply the 33.3 percent ruleset i.e. anything that does not exceed 33.3 percent of the `floor area' may not have an effect. 2. For example, lets take the human body. The "chances" of a `cure' or enhancement taking into effect is greater if it is `larger'. Thus, we normally consider items such as the clothing worn. 3. If one is to ask a Feng Shui practitioner, I believe, so far no FS practitioner or even FS Masters or Grand Masters can precisely say how much is considered a sufficient cure. 4. Therefore, even the 33.3 percent ruleset may or may not work if we look at it this way. 5. Let's look at it from a different point of view. Symbolism is important in Feng Shui. Thus, often we ask to `cure' a sector with 6 metal coins. As most of us know 6 represent `Big Metal' and copper coins is confirmed a metal. Futhermore, the coin used is ROUND and round represents METAL. Thus, based on logic: Metal is represented by: 1. rounded shape 2. material - copper or bronze etc.. is certain to be metal element. 3. Number 6 represents metal. Surely, when this cure was implemented, the idea is that 3 areas are already `confirmed' to be of metal element. 4. If we use the above example of the `6 metal coins', we can perhaps, see whether the nice metal band has some of the above qualities. But as mentioned above, I believe no FS practitioner can say for sure how effective a `personal' cure as mentioned by you can be. The only way is to try to `play safe' by making sure that the `element' conforms as much to `metal' as it can be. 5. Perhaps, for all we know, these are like psuedo drugs such as a `dud' panadol pill. Where, the `trick' is to make us feel good and in some situations increase our self-esteem or confidence. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Emily, 1. I believe that one should not `worry' unduly about the layout in a small room especially a dormitory. 2. All over the world, many students have stayed in a dorm, with just the items that you had mentioned. Plus the rooms are small. Thus, your college dorm is no different. 3. More importantly, it is the quality of life spent to pace yourself in studies and study intelligently and consistent work. 4. Recently, a user has attached a sketch of his layout plan. I have `proposed' a layout plan. 5. If you want to do the same i.e. if you have the time, try to use one of the drawing programs with your PC and sketch the layout. Where possible, you can also draw the items that need to be placed in the room (as proportionate to the size of the room as possible). I will try to see which is the best arrangement in relation to the location of the entrance door and the window. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Tervino, Please see below:- In this case, both 5 earth and 3 wood are bad. So you need to control the two The system analyses two elements at any one time to make sure that it captures the essence of each problem. To control 3 wood, Metal is a good cure. 5 earth can also be controlled by Wood element. So in this case, 3 Wood happens to control 5 earth already. However, 5 Earth is left uncontrolled. Metal which is available in 7 Metal (mountain Star) and yearly star 7, will help you balance the sector, as Metal also exhaust earth and destroy wood, thus is the solution for this sector. In your case, this sector has now balanced itself. So no further cure is really necessary. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Kaushal, 1. I believe I have posted a lengthy reply on this subject in one of today's reponse to an earlier e-mail. In my opinion, in general, Feng Shui has an `indirect' relationship or effect on Love and romance or finding a partner. 2. Flying Star Feng Shui can help to identify and help. 3. Ultimately, human factors are equally essential. And this comes under Man or Human Luck. Warmest Regards Cecil

Dear Michelle, 1. In shallow terms, Feng Shui does not have a direct effect on love and romance. 2. Feng Shui is a holistic method, to increase one's luck and it is usually, has an indirect relationship with love and romance. 3. This is why we do see that Feng Shui based on the Corner Concept where even famous authors in my opinion, give the wrong impression that one can simply enhance one's South West or Romance corner and wonderful things will happen. 4. If one's `Feng Shui' is favourable or good, it will enhance one's luck and with it, indirectly, romance, love and "wealth" would arise. Wealth need not necessary mean money but raising a family, have children etc... 5. Frankly, for those who do not use Feng Shui in a holistic way, should instead, look for other alternatives: Participate in group dates etc... or other social activites. 6. Do not waste time, paying homage to e.g. the South West corner. There is nothing mystical about a corner. It is merely a corner and if one gets `caught' there, it can also mean `isolation'. Why sent money doing up the corner. Rather, go `socialise' or if one has `low self esteem' e.g. fat or other percieved `defects', try to be more positive. I am not implying that one is fat or of this sort. Even slim people may have `low self esteem' etc.. or do not have the right opportuniy. The above is a sensitive issue apologise. 7. Under `Professional Feng Shui', or Flying Star Theory, there is one of the eight sectors that has the romance sector. But as Flying Star is not a static theory, it is difficult for an individual to keep track of where the romance star flys. Under the Flying Star, there are also combinations of stars if they happen to be combined may provide interpretation of the `type of romance'. 8. Chinese astrology can be used to look at pairings. Usually, those based on year of birth is not that `accurate' as the one used by Pillars of Destiny which uses the Month, Year, Day and Time of birth or more inputs such as Year of Life and Conception to check on comparison. But, hey, wait a minute! We have not even gone to the point of finding a `prospective' partner... too premature to even talk about this...hmm.. 9. Again, Para 7 is hard to follow for the layman and because of time factor, may not be useful. Thus, no matter how, for an individual to `cause' an effect such as `romance' I am afraid, you may have to work hard, or pretty hard on it. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Caroline, For now, we can only look at it from the Shapes and Form perspective. 1. The plus point in such an arrangement is that there is no way, you have `bad sha qi' where Qi enters the house and exits it immediately e.g. a back door or back windows or balcony at the other side. 2. As you mentioned that it `blocks' the guest bathroom, this would be acceptable. Although, it would be nice if we do not have a bathroom so close to the main entrance sector. Other than the above, you may choose to do a Flying Star or if everything seems ok, dispense with such an audit. Warmest Regards, Cecil

For the benefit of those who may not understand the relationship of Wind `opposite' Thunder, please refer to The First Heaven Sequence trigram. There is a graphic display of this at: http://www.geomancy.net/fs/pakua.htm Where: Heaven to Earth Water to Fire Mountain to Lake abd Wind to Thunder The above is based on the lengendary FuXi's First Heaven Sequence. Yes, you do have a good way of seeing it:) Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Cheui May, Please see attached layout plan. The Shipping area should not be included in the layout. Regards, Cecil

Dear Tervino, Please see below:- 1. Under the Five Elements Concept, the idea here is that one should a balance (if possible) of all five elements. 2. Pillars of Destiny is a method used to deduce or find out the `breakdown' of the components of the Five Elements e.g. in a person. 3. In your case, you have been found to be a person with `strong wood' element. In such a situation, it is not always good to continue having `strong wood'. It has to be BALANCED. To balance strong wood, you can take advantage of METAL element. Under the destructive cycle of the Five Elements, Metal is said to destroy Wood. Since you have `strong wood', you can take advantage, by using METAL to destroy wood, thus exhausting your STRONG wood. Here, there are two advantages: 1. By using METAl to destroy wood, you thus exhaust the Strong Wood and neutralising it or weakening it. 2. For a person with a STRONG element, under the Five Elements Concept, it is said that to create wealth, one uses the element (under destructive cycle) to destroy the next element thus creating wealth. For example, in your case, METAL can be used to destroy STRONG wood to create wealth. How about a person with WEAK wood? This is the reverse of the above. In such a situation, it is not advisable for such a person to use METAL to destroy his/her WEAK wood further. This would further remove or `extinguish' the wood. For a weak Wood person, it would then be best to use WATER to strengthen his weak wood thus making it stronger. Under Pillars of Destiny, it is best to have all 5 elements (if possible). But, many of us may have one or more non-existant element. In your case, 0 water. It is more complex to look at individual components of a person's element as it takes some effort to `fiddle' with it. Therefore, Pillars of Destiny, uses a more realistic method i.e. simply to determine what true element you are. Are you say a Weak Wood or Strong Wood person. Usually, it takes into account elements that you are seriously lacking or overwhelmed with IN RELATION to the period where you were born and the particular season of influence at that time. For example, you could be born in a season of wood and it happens that Wood is at its strongest at this point. As mentioned above, the feasible thing to do is to look at your final element. Here, if you are a Strong Wood person, you can try to use more metal to `destroy' or neutralise some of your Strong Wood. Here, you can help to neutralise strong wood and at the same time create `wealth'. It depends on the strength of the `Wood'. As mentioned above, if you are: 1. Strong Wood person, you should first check your Luck Pillar and look at the period for example 1991 to 2001 to check on the season of influence. Is this season `good' for you? Under the Pillars of Destiny Luck Pillars report, you can see if the season either has no effect on your element or an effect. For example, this Year, the season of influence happens to be METAL. Since it is a METAL season, there is enough metal to neutralise your Strong Wood element thus, you should avoid, using too much metal here. This is because, by adding more metal, you will further weaken your Strong Wood. Therefore instead of neutralising it, you may even exhaust it. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear All, 1. One interesting thing to note about Feng Shui is as mentioned below, in the past, Feng Shui was done more to access the potential of a new city. 2. Here, if the city is situated in a good location, in general, it would mean that this would be good for the community. 3. Thus if we look at it, this means that overall, we as individuals may not need to do a Feng Shui audit for ourselves. 4. But of course, many of us, would like to have a `COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE' or one up, or an edge. 5. The above would mean that most of us, do not need to do a FS audit and can still prospher. 6. Thus there are some people, who have taken up on `Feng Shui' and have faired worse because of poor recommendations given. The usual caution like: `Playing with fire'; `A little knowledge is a dangerous thing'; `If it ain't broken why fix it'; 7. There were several cases, I read sometime back in the Feng Shui newsgroup that someone had his life ruined because his wife, listened to a FS practitioner and used up all the money on FS enhancements. Thus, bad "Feng Shui", has been dragged down to being accused of as a `root cause' of a broken marriage. Warmest Regards, Cecil Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Rev. Michael, I do agree with you. There are known `issues' ion flows and in there are also many brands of ion `charges' in the market to improve the `health' in a room. In the past, Feng Shui assessment is done more for a large site such as a city. Thus, in general, if it is a good site, commerce or livelyhood of the people located in the city can prospher. Nowadays, seems like more people are more concerned with `Feng Shui' of a specific location like a home. In my opinion, priority should always first go to S.W.O.T. analaysis. Here, S = Strenghts; W = Weakness; O = Opportunities; and lastly T = Threats. Even under the Shapes and Form Feng Shui a holistic approached is needed i.e. Environmental, Site, Building and location scanning are important. I feel that if the above basics are done right, other things like placement of a fan etc.. thou may be important are but in my opinion, are of secondary importance. Warmest Regards, Cecil Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Elena, 1. This is a relatively new area for `western' names. 2. For the Chinese, this is easy as "Geomancy of finding a Name" is in place and as mentioned in a recent earlier message, there are three main Methods of Name finding. 3. Some Feng Shui or `Geomancy' practitioners I know, simply count the number of characters of a person's name e.g. George (6 characters) Livingstone (11 characters) and then `map' it to either YIN or YANG. Then use this to tell their clients that their name is either too yin, too yang or `balanced'. Well, this is in my opinion, the easiest way to find out if a `name' is too yin or too yang or balanced. But, as this is relatively new, not sure if it is that accurate. 4. There are some Mandarin/English translation books that provides the Mandarin eqivalent of a `Westerner's' name and `convert' this to Mandarin. 5. Mostly, this is for `seal carving' where you get your seal in Mandarin words that closely resemble either the meaning of your name or if it has no meaning, the phonetic sound of it. 6. This is a grey area and more needs to be looked into especially for `Western' names. 7. Geomancy is quite vast and it not only encompass, Finding a good name but face reading, hand reading etc... Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Tufani, 1. I am glad that you find this forum useful. 2. Feel free to browse the past messages in this forum. Or if you have a specific topic you want to find out, please use the SEARCH feature to find it. 3. If you do not find what you want, do post a message. Please see below:- For names, currently, what we know presently is that: a. Chinese names or each character can be identified as either Yin or Yang by the strokes of the name. b. Yes, for Chinese names, it is based on `dictionary' meaning. c. A variant of Para a. is the phonetic sound of a name. For example, Chinese rely heavily on `sound like'. Such as a pear sounds like `li' or separation. Thus considered not auspicious. d. Sorry, for mentioning only about Chinese names above as it is the known way of finding a good name either by: - looking at each word. For example, a name may be TAN AH TECK which may have i.e. TAN (YIN), AH (YAN) and TECK (YIN). Thus this implies 2 Yins and 1 Yang in the name. Here, one can relate to one's Pillars of Destiny to see if this is `beneifical' or not or whether the name has too many Yins or Yangs. e. For other names, not Chinese Names, this may be a "controvesy" as it is relatively new area. f. I believe, some people have `capitalized' on this for `English' names by counting the number of characters and thus assuming that it is Yin or Yang. This is new and need more `reseach'. Finding a good name is another aspect of GEOMANCY and is a `related' field. Thus based on "Geomancy of one's name", the methods used are: Method 1: 1. Counting each stroke of a name and total it up. For example, the total comes to 43. This is then looked at to see what significance `43' is. Method 2: 2. Each character of a name has either Yin or Yang. Then count how many Yin's or how many Yang's there are. Method 3: 3. In conjuction with Pillars of Destiny. Here, if one lacks the water element, usually a Chinese name will have `water' added to it. For example: TAN AH SHUI Here, the name has been added with `Shui' which means WATER. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Rev. Michael, 1. Based on my personal experience, it is best to firstly, follow the Shapes and Form School of Feng Shui in determining the best direction for a bed. Here, where possible when one opens the bedroom door, it should not directly face the bed (e.g. the leg portion). Most bedrooms now have an attached bathroom and it is considered not auspicious to place the bed on the same wall as the toilet wall especially on the opposite wall as the toilet bowl. 2. As mentioned above, conditions for `Shapes and Form' Feng Shui has first to be met before using other Feng Shui theories. 3. Next, we can use the Eight House Theory. Here, take it as a bonus if the bed can be placed on one of our good sectors i.e. Heath, Longevity, Prosperity... 4. In addition to the above, it would be AN ADDED bonus, if we could sleep with our head pointed to a good direction. 5. As we can, Para 3 and 4 are `nice' to have situations so long as we can try to maximize our `gains' under the Shapes and Form Feng Shui. For example, it is not advantages if we place our bed on a wall which is next to the toilet bowl even if this is our `prosperous' sector under Eight House Theory. 6. In my region, there are many Feng Shui practitioners who knows only the Shapes and Form Feng Shui plus the Eight House to do assessments. Many of these practitioners do not use the Flying Star. 7. So, the next question asked is how does the Flying Star Feng Shui fit in? 7.1. The Flying Star Theory should, in my opinion, still come after having done the Shapes and Form assessment. 7.2. Some practitioners would totally skip, the Eight House and do the Flying Star assessement, after the Shapes and Form. Here, again, it would be a BONUS if the bedroom happens to be one of the good sectors of the house. More importantly, for the Flying Star is to neutralise any imbalances caused. For example, if there is sickness or misforunte star in the bedroom, one should apply the appropriate cure to neutralise it. 8. Thus, what I am trying to say is that, no matter what, priority should be given to Shapes and Form assessment. It is not good to just look in isolation and try to use only the Flying Star or the Eight House and adjust the bed based on only these two theories. 9. I have mentioned or drawn caricatures where, if there is a `leak' in a boat, we should first plug the `leak' first. Then afterwards, do what "we want". This is like the `Dutch' story where, if there is a leak in a dam, we should plug it first. If not, the leak gets bigger and bigger and calamity may strike. 10. Thus, Feng Shui should be looked at in a holistic way. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Peter, 1. In this website and all modules, please take the compass direction of the main entrance door by standing at the centre of the house and look at the compass to determine the direction of the main entrance. 2. In this site, we do not recommend standing at the main entrance looking outside to take the compass direction of the main entrance. If you are still in doubt, please click on this URL to find out on the proper method of taking a compass reading: http://www.geomancy.net/fs/cecilcompass.htm Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Caroline, Perhaps, you can draw a sketch as I may not correctly get what you mean. Do you mean that when you walk thru the main entrance, you see the closet? How is the closet. Do one turn and walk in to the living room. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. In a documentary which I had seen around 6 months ago, it hightlighted the `plight' of aids spreading across China. 2. In that documentary, it is quite scary to learn that at least a few million Chinese (in a nearly 1 billion population) has aids. The aids in China had spread especially in cities and the `exploition' girls into prostitution in the cities. It is no suprise because of the opening up of China, money plays an essential role and acts as a catalyst for the poorer Chinese girls who wants a better life. 3. Thus, I believe, all countries both in Africa and all continents have a huge burden on aids. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. You have brought up a very interesting topic. 2. Being born in Asia, I do get to see or `learn' of the various customs and practises of the Chinese, the Indians and the Malays. 3. For the Indians, it is (if I am not wrong) it is usually the bride's side which has to fork out a dowry. This is to compensate the husband's family for `feeding' the wife. 4. For the Chinese, especially modern Chinese, compensation is usually in the form of asking or negotiating with the bride's side on how many wedding (dinner) tables they require. 5. The parent-in-law usually, will also give jewellery or heirloom to the bride. Such as bracelets, etc... This depends on the wealth of the bridegroom `side'. 6. Sometimes, a Cantonese family (bride's side) would request for a whole pig and jewellery. 7. For Teochew Chinese family, (bride's side) would normally request for 4 types of gold. 8. Other than this, not much is asked nowadays. Some even dispense with the above practise. But usually, the bridegroom's side would still present some gold jewellery to the bride. It could be a pair of earings etc.. 9. For the Chinese, after marriage, the bride `belongs' to the bridegroom's family. 10. Here, for example: Miss Christine Chen Ai Ling, because of her marriage can be known as Mrs Christine TAN Ai Ling (take the husband's surname). 11. For the Indians, the bride also marries and stay with the husband's side. 12. This is not the case for the Malays (a majority race of Muslims who live especially in Malaysia and Indonesia). 13. Here, when a man marries this bride, he instead stays with his bride's family (assuming they do not have a home of their own yet). My believe is that, because of this the bride can adjust easily with her marriage life. Rather than to stay with `strangers' i.e. a husband and their in-laws. 14. Sometimes if the in-laws are unreasonable or cannot get along with her, then she would have the added `stress.' Some may even comtemplate suicide. Thus the `dowry' in modern times are few and as many parents are reasonable and want to see their children i.e. many who have only one or two children to be happy. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. I believe everyone is happy to learn of this greatest achievement which can bring added years to our children. For us, lets hope that there are some breakthru's at least. 2. Last one or two days ago, I read in my local newspaper that English Hospitals are including/introducing acupuncture as part of the `cures'. 3. In my opinion, the breakthru's of this research has more firstly to do with `preventive' medicine i.e. testing out people to check for specific diseases. And if possible offer a `cure' especially for younger people. While existing medicine, at least for the next decade or two or more would still have to be used for `older people' who do not have the opportunity perhaps to have some `cells' replaced. 4. Certainly a great cause for JOY! Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. Ceciling or electrical fan are considered `modern' inventions at the age where electricity was invented. 2. In some articles, it was said that an air conditioner is `worse-off'. This is because, usually, air is circulated in a `closed' room. If the aircon filters or dampness, fugus could grow and circulate within the room. Furthermore, air or moisture in the room becomes very dry. 3. Some Feng Shui practitioners believe the rotation of the fan blades (I believe some feel that if they are made of metal) would create `metal' disturbance. 4. In my opinion, if it is a `daily necessity' it is still acceptable to be used. 5. As the ceiling fan is an economical means of `cooling' a room (minimal amount of electricity as opposed to an aircon), I would say that it can be used. 6. So far, there are few side effects from the use of fans (if any). If one gets stomach upsets etc.. it could be because of other things or perhaps that person is `sensitive' to the `fan'. In any case, the speed can be adjusted to a comfortable level. 7. All these such as use of fans are considered secondary to `Feng Shui'. There are more important considerations in Feng Shui such as good Shapes and Form of the home. Warmest Regards, Cecil