Trust and honesty are important qualities one would look for when hiring someone, say, a babysitter or a personal assistant. There are ways to identify an honest face, and Face Reading can effectively help you do so in an instant.

Face Reading or Mian Xiang is the Chinese art of physiognomy, which takes a look at the shape, features, contours and hues of the face to reveal an individual's personality, potential and destiny in life. As the face is an excellent instrument of communication, there is so much you can learn about a person without a word said.

So how do you tell an honest face? First, take a look at the face shape: It must be square-shaped with a wide forehead. This indicates people who can easily earn the trust and respect of others. It also signifies their high level of intelligence and kind-heartedness. Next, check for a big, closed mouth as well, as this means the individual is honest, conservative and reliable.

That said, you may want to take note of a person with such a face coupled with a protruding jawbone as this feature indicates a stubborn nature. However, being steady and strong-willed can also denote someone who has a strong sense of principles.

Take these facial features into consideration to guide you in your decision to hire this person for the job. Once you've learnt more on how to gauge a person's character at a glance, you will never look at a face the same way again.

It's true. The face says it all and it never lies.

Source: Mastery Academy of Chinese Metaphisics

RINPOCHE'S ADVICE ON USING FENG SHUI

(please click on the image and zoom it to read)

Meaning of Dreams - Animal

To see animals in your dream, represent your own physical characteristic, primitive desires, and sexual nature, depending on the qualities of the particular animal. Animals symbolize the untamed and uncivilized aspects of yourself. Thus, to dream that you are fighting with an animal signifies a hidden part of yourself that you are trying to reject and push back into your subconscious. Refer to the specific animal in your dream.

To dream that animals can talk, represent superior knowledge. Its message is often some form of wisdom. Alternatively, a talking animal denotes your potential to be all that you can be.

To dream that you are saving the life of an animal, suggests that you are successfully acknowledging certain emotions and characteristics represented by the animal. The dream may also stem from feelings of inadequacy or being overwhelmed. If you are setting an animal free, then it indicates an expression and release of your own primal desires.

To see lab animals in your dream, suggest that an aspect of yourself is being repressed. You feel that you are not able to fully express your desires and emotions. Alternatively, it suggests that you need to experiment with your fears, choices, and beliefs. Try not to limit yourself.

Apes
To see an ape in your dream, indicates deception, mischievous, and falsehood. Alternatively, it may refer that you or someone have gone "ape". You need to calm down. The ape may also symbolize your wild inner nature, particularly your sexual nature.

Bear
To see a bear in your dream, symbolizes independence, the cycle of life, death and renewal, and resurrection. You are undergoing a period of introspection and thinking. The dream may also be a pun on "bare". Perhaps you need to bare your soul and let everything out into the open.

To dream that you are being pursued or attacked by a bear, denotes aggression, overwhelming obstacles and competition. You may find yourself in a threatening situation.

To see a polar bear in your dream, signifies a reawakening. Alternatively, the polar bear symbolizes your frigid and cold emotions.

Cat
To see a cat in your dream, symbolizes an independent spirit, feminine sexuality, creativity, and power. It also represents misfortune and bad luck. The dream symbol has different significance depending on whether you are a cat lover or not. The cat could indicate that someone is being deceitful or treacherous toward you. If the cat is aggressive, then it suggests that you are having problems with the feminine aspect of yourself. If you are afraid of the cat in your dream, then it suggests that you are fearful of the feminine. The dream may be a metaphor for "cattiness" or someone who is "catty" and malicious. If you see a cat with no tail, then it signifies a loss of independence and lack of autonomy.

To dream that a cat is biting you, symbolizes the devouring female. Perhaps you are taking and taking without giving. You may be expressing some fear or frustration especially when something is not going as planned.

To dream that a cat is scratching you, suggests that you are feeling threatened.

To see a black cat in your dream, indicates that you are experiencing some fear in using your psychic abilities and believing in your intuition. You may erroneously associate the black cat with evil, destruction, and bad luck. In particular, if the black cat is biting, clawing or attacking you, then the dream means that you must acknowledge what your intuition is trying to tell you. You can no longer ignore it. Do not be afraid to face the situation. If you see a white cat, then it denotes difficult times.

To dream that a cat killed a spider, suggests that you are expressing your femininity in a seductive and cunning manner rather than in an overtly and almost destructive way.

Crocodile
To see a crocodile in your dream, symbolizes freedom, hidden strength and power. It also forewarns of hidden danger. Someone near you is giving you bad advice and is trying to sway you into poor decisions. Because crocodiles can live in water and on land, they also represent your conscious and unconscious and the emotional and rational. Perhaps something is coming to the surface and you are on the verge of some new awareness.

Alternatively, the crocodile may be an aspect of yourself and your aggressive and "snappy" attitude. Or it may reveal that are being insincere, displaying false emotions and shedding "crocodile tears".

To dream that you are chased or bitten by a crocodile, denotes disappointments in love and in business.

DOG
To see a dog in your dream, symbolizes intuition, loyalty, generosity, protection, and fidelity. The dream suggests that your strong values and good intentions will enable you to go forward in the world and bring you success. The dream dog may also represent someone in your life who exhibits these qualities. Alternatively, to see a dog in your dream, indicates a skill that you may have ignored or forgotten. If the dog is vicious and/or growling, then it indicates some inner conflict within yourself. It may also indicate betrayal and untrustworthiness. If the dog is dead or dying, then it means a loss of a good friend or a deterioration of your instincts.

To dream that a dog bites you on the leg, suggests that you have lost your ability to balance aspects of your life. You may be hesitant in approaching a new situation or have no desire to move forward with your goals. Alternatively, it symbolizes disloyalty.

To see a happily barking dog in your dream, symbolizes pleasures and social activity. You are being accepted into some circle. If the dog is barking ferociously, then it represents your habit of making demands on people and controlling situations around you. Are you "barking" too many orders? Alternatively, it could also indicate unfriendly companions.

To dream that you are buying a dog, indicates your tendency to buy your friends or buy compliments and favors. Alternatively, it suggest a need for you to find companionship. If you are being guided by a dog, then it suggests that you are having difficulties in navigating out of a situation or problem.

To dream that you are dressing up your dog, signifies your attempts to cover up your own character flaws and habits.

To see a black colored dog in your dream, symbolizes the shadow aspect of a friend. The dark side of someone close to you is being revealed and you are able to see through to their true intentions.

Also consider the notions associated with the word dog, such as loyalty ("man's best friend") and to be "treated like a dog".

Dragon
To see a dragon in your dream, signifies that you let yourself get carried away by your passion. This kind of behavior may lead you into the hands of enemies. You need to exercise some self-control.

In the eastern cultures, dragons are seen as spiritual creatures symbolizing good luck and fortune.

To dream that you are a dragon and breathing fire, suggests that you are using your anger to get your own way.

Elephant
To see an elephant in your dream, indicates that you need to be more patient or more understanding of others. Or perhaps there is a memory that you are holding on to for too long. You need to let go of the past. The elephant is also a symbol of power, strength, faithfulness and intellect. Alternatively, the elephant's introverted personality may be a reflection of your own personality. In particular, if you see a white elephant, then it symbolizes royalty.

To dream that you are riding an elephant, indicates that you are in control of your unconscious and aspects that you were once afraid of.

To dream that you are afraid of the elephant, suggests that there is an enormous problem that you are afraid to confront.

To dream that you are an elephant, suggests that you need to make your opinions and views known. You need to be more vocal and voice your ideas. Express yourself. Alternatively, dreaming that you are an elephant may be reflective of your conservative views. The elephant is the symbol of the United States Republican party. Perhaps you are sharing the same views as the Republican party.

Fish
To see fish swimming in your dream, signifies insights from your unconscious mind. Thus to catch a fish, represents insights which have been brought to the surface. Alternatively, a fish swimming in your dream may symbolize conception. Some women dream of swimming fish when they get pregnant. The fish is also an ancient symbol of Christianity and Christian beliefs. Consider the common phrases "like a cold fish", "fish out of water" or something that is "fishy" about a situation. It may also imply a slippery or elusive situation. Perhaps your dream could be telling you that "there are plenty of other fish in the sea", with regards to some relationship issue.

To dream that you are eating fish, symbolizes your beliefs, spirituality, luck, energy and nourishment. It is food for the soul.

To dream of cooking fish, indicates that you are incorporating your new realizations with your spiritual feelings and knowledge.

To dream that you are cleaning fish, suggests that you are altering your emotional expression in a way that will be presentable to others. You are censoring yourself and not expressing how you completely feel.

Frog
To see a frog in your dream, represents a potential for change or the unexpected. The frog may be a prince in disguise and thus, signify transformation, renewal or rebirth. Alternatively, the frog symbolizes uncleanness or fertility.

To see frogs leaping in your dream, indicate your lack of commitment. You have a tendency to jump from one thing to another. Alternatively, it may suggest that you are taking major steps toward some goal. It parallels your progress.

To dream that you are catching a frog, signifies your carelessness concerning your health.

To hear the sounds of a frog in your dream, indicates that you have not accomplished what you wanted.

To eat a frog in your dream, represents some unsavory or unpleasant task that you need to perform. If you swallow a whole frog in your dream, then there is something that you need to do or say, that is literally difficult to swallow. Consider the phrase "a frog in your throat" to suggest that you are unable to speak. You have lost your voice.

Goldfish
To see a goldfish in your dream, signifies, wealth, success, and pleasant adventures. Alternatively, goldfish represents some important emotional matter or valuable insight.

Horse
To see a horse in your dream, symbolizes strength, power, endurance, virility and sexual prowess. It also represents a strong, physical energy. You need to tame the wild forces within. The dream may also be a pun that you are "horsing around". Alternatively, to see a horse in your dream, indicate that you need to be less arrogant and "get off your high horse".

To see a black or dark horse in your dream, signifies mystery, wildness, and the unknown. You are taking a chance or a gamble at some unknown situation. It may even refer to occult forces. If the horse is white, then it signifies purity, prosperity and good fortunes. To dream that you are being chased by a white horse, may be a pun on chaste. Perhaps you are having difficulties dealing with issues of intimacy and sexuality.

To see a dead horse in your dream, indicates that something in your life that initially offered you strength is now gone. This may refer to a relationship or situation. Consider the phrase "beating a dead horse" to indicate that you may have maximized the usefulness of a certain circumstance.

To see a herd of wild horses in your dream, signifies a sense of freedom and lack of responsibilities and duties. Perhaps it may also indicate your uncontrolled emotions. If you are riding a wild horse, then it represents unrestrained sexual desires.

To dream that you are riding a horse, suggests that you are in a high position or position of power. Alternatively, it indicates that you will achieve success through underhanded means. You lack integrity. If you are riding a horse that is out of control, then it means that you are being carried away by your passions.

To see an armored or medieval horse in your dream, refers to your fierceness, aggression, power and/or rigidity. You may too confrontational. Alternatively, you may be trying to protect yourself from unconscious material or sexual desires that is emerging.

To dream that you are bathing a horse, represents a renewal of strength and vigor. You are experiencing a burst of energy in some aspect of your life.

Jaguar
To see a jaguar in your dream, represents speed, agility, and power.

Lion
To see a lion in your dream, symbolizes great strength, courage, aggression and power. You will overcome some of your emotional difficulties. As king of the jungle, the lion also represents dignity, royalty, leadership, pride and domination. You have much influence over others. You also need to exercise some restraint in your own personal and social life.

To dream that you are attacked by a lion, suggests that a force may be driving you to self-destruction. You need overcome these challenges and obstacles.

To see a black lion in your dream, represents a negative force. You are using your position of power for evil. TOP

Lizard
To see a lizard in your dream, signifies your primal instincts and reactions toward sex, food, etc. and your anxieties toward these feelings. The lizard may also be representative of a person who you view as cold-blooded, fearful, or thick-skinned. On a more positive note, the lizard also symbolizes emerging creativity, renewal, and revitalization. It may suggest that you are well-grounded.

Monkey
To see a monkey in your dream, symbolizes deceit, insight and intuition. Those around you are working to advance their own interest. Alternatively, monkeys indicate an immature attitude, a playful nature and the mischievous side of your personality.

To see a monkey hanging or swinging from a tree, suggests that you are feeling troubled by some issue.

To dream that you are feeding a monkey, means betrayal by someone whom you thought cared about your interests.

Consider also the significance of the Three Mystic Monkeys who cover their eyes, ears and mouth to mean that they see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil.

Mouse
To see a mouse in your dream, indicates fear, meekness, insignificance and a lack of assertiveness. You are experiencing feelings of inadequacy and fears that you are not measuring up. The dream may be telling you that you are spending too much time hiding in the shadows of someone else. Alternatively, a mouse symbolizes minor irritations and annoyances. Perhaps you are letting petty problems or insignificant issues eat away at you. The dream may also be a pun on a computer mouse and your connection to work or to the virtual world.

To dream that you kill or trap a mouse, suggests that others are making a big deal out of certain minor issues in your life.

To dream that you or someone is eating a mouse, indicates that there is something nagging at your conscience and you need to get it off your chest.

To dream that a mouse is being chased, indicates that you are not standing up for yourself. You are letting others push you around.

Orangutan
To see an orangutan in your dream, signifies your wild inner character and sexual desires. Alternatively, an orangutan suggests that you are being manipulated.

Panda
To see a panda in your dream, suggests that you are having difficulties coming to a compromise in a waking situation. You need to find a middle ground so that all parties involved will be satisfied. Alternatively, a panda is symbolic of your own childlike qualities or something that is cuddly.

Reindeer
To see a reindeer in your dream, signifies your loyalty toward your friends, who may be going through a tough time. The reindeer also symbolizes the holidays, festivities, and the season of giving.

Rhinoceros
To see a rhinoceros in your dream, suggests that you need to forge ahead toward your goals. Do not take "no" for an answer or let any obstacles sidetrack you from your destination. You need to be more aggressive.

Shark
To see a shark in your dream, indicates feelings of anger, hostility, and fierceness. You are undergoing a long and difficult emotional period and may be an emotional threat to yourself or to others. Perhaps, you are struggling with your individuality and independence, especially in some aspect of your relationship. Alternatively, a shark represents a person in your life who is greedy and unscrupulous. This person goes after what what he or she wants with no regards to the well-being and sensitivity of others. The shark may also be an aspect of your own personality with these qualities.

Snake
To see a snake or be bitten by one in your dream, signifies hidden fears and worries that are threatening you. Your dream may be alerting you to something in your waking life that you are not aware of or that has not yet surfaced. Alternatively, the snake may be seen as phallic and thus symbolize temptation, dangerous and forbidden sexuality. In particular, to see a snake on your bed, suggests that you are feeling sexually overpowered or sexually threatened. You may be inexperienced, nervous or just unable to keep up. If you are afraid of the snake, then it signifies your fears of sex, intimacy or commitment. The snake may also refer to a person around you who is callous, ruthless, and can't be trusted. As a positive symbol, snakes represent healing, transformation, knowledge and wisdom. It is indicative of self-renewal and positive change.

To see the skin of a snake in your dream, represents protection from illnesses.

To see a snake with a head on each end in your dream, suggests that you are being pulled in two different directions. You are feeling overburdened and do not know whether you are coming or going. Your actions are counterproductive. Perhaps the dream represents some complicated love triangle. Alternatively, the dream signifies your desires for children. If you see a two-headed snake in your dream, then it refers to cooperation and teamwork in some relationship.

To dream that you are eating a live snake, indicates that you are looking for intimacy or sexual fulfillment. Your life is lacking sensuality and passion. If you vomit or throw up the snake, then it may mean that you are overcompensating for something that is lacking in your life. You may be rushing into something.

Tiger
To see a tiger in your dream, represents power and your ability to exert it in various situations. The dream may also indicate that you need to take more of a leadership role. Alternatively, the tiger represents female sexuality, aggression, and seduction.

To dream that you are attacked by a tiger, symbolizes repressed feelings or emotions that frighten you.

To see a caged tiger in your dream, suggests that your repressed feelings/emotions are on the verge of surfacing.

To see rugs made of tiger skins, symbolizes a life of luxury and ease.

Tortoise
To see a tortoise in your dream, symbolizes perseverance, determination, and longevity. You need to take some chances in order to get ahead in life. The opportunities for advancement are opened to you, but you need to take the next step. Alternatively, the tortoise represents the need to be sheltered or protected from life's problems.

Turtle
To see a turtle in your dream, symbolizes wisdom, faithfulness, longevity, and loyalty. It also suggests that you need to take it slow in some situation or relationship in your life. With time and patience, you will make steady progress. Alternatively, a turtle indicates that you are sheltering yourself from the realities of life. You are putting forth a hard exterior and not letting others in. As a result, you are feeling withdrawn.

To dream that you are being chased by a turtle, indicates that you are hiding behind a facade, instead of confronting the things that are bothering you.

Unicorn
To see a unicorn in your dream, symbolizes high ideals, hope and insight in a current situation. It also symbolizes power, gentleness, and purity. Alternatively, it may represent your one-sided views.

Whale
To see a whale in your dream, represents your intuition and awareness. You are in tuned with your sense of spirituality. Alternatively, a whale symbolizes a relationship or business project that may be too big to handle. You are feeling overwhelmed. The dream may also be a pun on "wailing" and a desire to cry out about something.

Wolf
To see a wolf in your dream, symbolizes survival, beauty, solitude, mystery, self-confidence and pride. You are able to keep your composure in a variety of social circumstances and blend into any situation with ease and grace. You are also a loner by choice. Negatively, the wolf represents hostility, aggression, or sneakiness. It may reflect an uncontrollable situation or an all-consuming force in your life. This could point to an obsession, an addiction or something that is beyond your control.

To see a white wolf in your dream, signifies valor and victory. You have the ability to see the light even in your darkest hours.

To dream that you kill a wolf, indicates betrayal. Certain secrets will be revealed to you.

To hear a wolf howling in your dream, represents a cry for help from somebody in your waking life.

Zebra
To see a zebra in your dream, represents perfect balance, unity and harmony. It also indicates that opposites attract. Alternatively, a zebra suggests that you are spending too much time in trivial matters. You need to establish a clear timeline and lay your groundwork for success.

Source:
http://www.dreammoods.com/dreamthemes/animals.htm

“Will the person you marry change you?”

“Will the person you marry change you?” … In the BaZi perspective, strictly speaking – the answer is No.

Because your BaZi chart is fixed the moment you were born. The chart doesn’t change just because you married someone.

However, having said that – the person you marry has the greatest INFLUENCE over you. Simply because – PROXIMITY- is the most powerful influence in life.

Think about it - the people you hang out with will also influence you. Let alone your spouse whom you spend the most time and is the closest with. You become more like a winner if you hangout with winners all the time. You think and behave more like a loser if all your close circle of friends are losers.

Proximity is power.

And what if you are married to a loser? Don’t you think day in day out his behavior would influence you more than just a bit?
But did your BaZi chart change as a result of marrying a loser?

Nope. You are still the same you, with the same chart.

Will your BaZi chart change (and turn you into a spiteful and vengeful person, never trusting any other men on earth) just because you found out your spouse had an affair?

Nope. You still have the SAME chart.

So technically – you are the same you.

But the question is – are you behaving at the ‘healthiest’ level of your BaZi chart? Or perhaps are you behaving at the most ‘unhealthiest’ level? Many people didn’t know this could be a conscious CHOICE.

Influence from other people can only help activate or deactivate certain aspects of your BaZi chart. How do you know if their influence has positive or negative impact? This will depend on the type of BaZi chart of that person. The dynamics between two BaZi chart can tell us what type of influence one may have on another.

Generally, if your partner’s chart contains many of your favourable elements, you would find that he/she is a positive influence in your life. Conversely, if your partner's chart contains many clashes with you or worst, contains many of your negative elements - you will find that in the long run he/she is a negative influence in your life.

There are many people who are obsessed with ‘finding the right partner’ through BaZi. They want to look for a person who “brings them luck” or is “good for them”. I always try to explain to them – their partner or potential partner can never “bring them luck”. They can, however through their BaZi (character, personality and actions) only INFLUENCE you positively (or negatively). They cannot change you if you don't want to.

At the end of day it is still YOU who decides to accept (or reject) their influence and change for the better or worst.

Remember - Only you can change YOU.

By Joey Yap

Paris Hilton Vs Ivanka Trump

by Joey Yap and Tay Lin Say
THE STAR - Sunday June 13, 2010

They are quite evenly stacked when it comes to family, wealth, fame and glamour. But who is the more successful? The first of a four-part series on face reading.

IN the battle of the heiresses, most would place their bets on the classy Ivanka Trump over sleazy, party-loving Paris Hilton.

With Ivanka's real estate degree from the prestigious Wharton School of Finance, her pedigree upbringing and osmosis learning from billionaire father Donald Trump, shouldn't this frosty beauty deliver the trump card over skanky Paris?Wrong.

From the perspective of wealth, Paris is surprisingly ahead of the game. Her features have all the ratifications of a more cunning businesswoman, especially her burgeoning nose bulb — a sure sign of a savvy money manager.

Let's take a look at the wealth palace of both heiresses, the nose. While both have long, elegant noses, Paris has an extremely obvious bulge at the tip of hers, which is quite uncommon for a girl. This feature is mostly present in shrewd businessmen.

Paris' nose bridge is very high, indicating a strong sense of self-reliance and a ''can-do'' attitude. No, she does not want to rely on daddy or anyone else to make it. Her nose has the I-will-show-you-I-can-do-it attribute.

Paris Hilton - high nose bridge

When you combine her nose with her eye spirit (the most important factor in determining current luck), her protruding eyebrow bone and spearheaded eyebrows, you can tell this is one domineering lady who is tenacious when it comes to achieving success.

Throw in Paris' nostrils, which cannot be seen from the front, and you have a money-making machine who plays up her bimbo behaviour to ensure the bucks flow in exponentially.
As much as people may view her as an airhead, she's the one with the successful clothes line, books, perfume, bags, reality shows and guest appearance income.

Undeniably, her bulging parents palace also indicates ample resources from her family. Nonetheless, Paris herself is resourceful enough to capitalise on the Hilton brand name.
Ivanka's long aquiline nose is slender and high, with equally wide nose wings. Her nose tip also bulges out, indicating financial savvy. However, her nose holes are slightly exposed, which denotes a risk-taking streak.

Hence, like her father, she may make investments which are sometimes good, and sometimes bad. But as her current eye spirit is strong, fortune is on her side.

She also has spearheaded eyebrows, which indicates a lady who is determined to make it on her own.

While Ivanka has her own business in her jewellery collection, the popularity and reach of her blings do not quite match Paris' line of products.

Nose aside, Paris' intelligence is clear to see. She has the bigger mouth, with an obviously thicker lower lip. To put it simply:

Bigger mouth, bigger say
Bigger mouth, bigger crowd.

Paris is streetwise and wily, a woman who is able to separate work from play, and love from pleasure. She is definitely the more famous heiress of the two, as can be seen from her bell-shaped laughter lines. However, these lines are very tight, which means that although she enjoys immense fame, she does not get much respect.

Her wider chin (also known as the hired help palace) is a lot more spacious compared to Ivanka's, indicating lots of help and support from all the right people.

Ivanka Trump


If there's anyone who can say, ''Don't take it personally, it's only business'', it is Paris Hilton and not the Donald's daughter.

Ivanka, with her rosebud and full balanced lips, is a gentle and sentimental soul who basks in praise and recognition from those who matter. She is principled and truthful. She wears her heart on her sleeve, and this is further seen in her big, limpid eyes.

Like Paris, her parents palace is bulging, which indicates that Ivanka always has the Trump trust fund she can dip her fingers into, should any catastrophe befall her.

Paris, with her long and small eyes, is foxy and does things for her own gain. Who cares if people see her as a dumb blonde who graduated from the School of Men? After all, Sun Tzu did say that all warfare is based on deception.

As her eyes are quite sunken, it is obvious that she isn't doing too well in her personal life. Perhaps relationships — or the lack of that — with family members or boyfriends are troubling her.

Given their facial attributes, which of the two makes the better and more informed decision?
Based on the mouth, it would be Paris.

Googling through the many images of Ivanka, it was pretty difficult to find a single picture which showed her mouth fully closed, and face, relaxed. A mouth like hers normally indicates decisions made that are not for the best; perhaps they were influenced by consensus opinions and the latest fads.

So, if both Paris and Ivanka were stocks, we'd call a buy on the former.

* For more on face reading, drop by FemmeCity (organised by Clove) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from July 30 to Aug 1. Admission to the fair is free.

Feng shui expert Joey Yap is the founder and principal of the Mastery Academy of Chinese Metaphysics. StarBiz writer Tee Lin Say is Yap's student of face reading.

Chapter 01: Avoid Living in a "High Peak" Spot

Written by : Master Sheng-yen Lu
Translated by : Janny Chow

One time a rich man invited me to do a feng-shui reading for his luxurious home. At the appointed time, he showed up at my residence in an expensive sedan. However, I did not have any intention of leaving with him.
"It is about time. Shall we leave now?" he asked.
"I am sorry, but I don't think I need to see your house," I replied.
"Why?" He was taken aback by my response.
"I already went to see your home last night. I understand the whole situation now."
"Master, you did what?" His lower jaw dropped in amazement.

Such an event was not a new experience for me. The previous night, during my sleep, I have exited my body through the crown chakra. After ascending to the sky, I had flown speedily through the clouds and arrived at his house. The home of this rich man was built at the highest point of an eight-acre lot that encompassed the peak of a tall mountain. Surrounding the huge house itself was a wall made of iron railings.

I told him, "You have two horses, one brown and one white. Inside your house, there are six fireplaces. They were all lit when I visited last night. You have two very valuable and famous paintings in your collection. I also saw an antique sword from a long time ago..."

The rich man was astounded. Finally I told him of the undesirability of living in a "high peak" spot. A high spot opens one to the blowing of winds from all "eight directions," resulting in "feng-sha" (noxious wind energy). To be in a "peak" spot is to stand out exposed, without any protection or support.

Among the rich, there are some who, because of their wealth, feel they are above others and want to live at the highest spot in town. They purchase land at peak sites and build luxury homes. After houses of this type are erected, however, their owners' fortunes often quickly plummet. Because land at the highest point is exposed to the assault of winds from all directions, the chi, or life-giving energy, at such homes is most unstable. Ten out of ten such homes turn into unlucky abodes.

At high peak sites, the "earth chi" is usually non-circuitous and unable to accumulate, and is, therefore, weak, loose, and dispersed. Building a home on such site will definitely cause a decline in one's fortune. Only under one condition is a "high peak" site a good choice for building a home" when the earth chi travels in an upward and spiral path. If this is the case, earth dug up at the site will display a five-colored, variegated spiral pattern. However, such an earth chi pattern is extremely rare among tall peaks. One can virtually rule out "high peak" sites as ideal areas to build homes.

As written in The Secrets of Earth Magic:
The highest spot definitely invites assault and attack.
The peak spot definitely invites isolation.

The chi of a home built at the highest point disperses quickly because it is subjected to the blowing of winds from all directions. Also, such a home, by being so conspicuous, often falls prey to burglars and thieves. An analogy can be made to a person who rises to a high position and attracts too much attention. People then become jealous of him and want to get rid of him. The President of the United States, for example, because of his position as commander-in-chief, requires the protection of security personnel at all times.

Peak spots do not have any higher geographical features in the vicinity to support them; therefore, the earth chi at such abodes disperses quickly and does not accumulate. People living in such abodes will become incompatible with one another and develop unsociable and eccentric dispositions. It is inevitable that inhabitants of peak houses will suffer the break-up of their families and wind up alone.

The same principle also can be applied to houses built on level ground. If one feels that one is head and shoulders above everyone else, and deliberately builds a house higher than those surrounding it, one is also inviting assault and isolation. An exception to this would be if the inhabitants have already accumulated enough merits and status to match such a house.

If a person is without merits and status, it would be extremely inauspicious for him to live in a house that is taller than all surrounding houses. This will incur disasters and great failures. It is my opinion that there should be a correlation between the status of a house and the status of its inhabitants. Ignoring the form of the house or failing to make a status match may lead to unfortunate events beyond one's imagination.

Therefore, my advice is that, unless one is of high merit or status, it is inauspicious to live in a house that stands conspicuously taller than the surrounding houses. It is also inauspicious to live in a house that stands in isolation, apart from other surrounding houses. These houses fall into the "high peak form" category.

The rich man who had invited me to do a feng-shui reading for his home eventually sold his luxurious peak villa because he knew that the previous owner of the house had failed in his business and that one of his servants had been murdered. Indeed, at the time he had come to see me, this rich man had just divorced his wife and separated form his children. It was a pattern that fit the consequences of "assault isolation." Therefore, one must pay careful attention to the selection of a building site.

Source:
http://www.padmakumara.org/books/book69/chap1.shtml

Chapter 02: Avoiding Living in "Low and Overshadowed" Areas

Written by : Master Sheng-yen Lu
Translated by : Janny Chow

In my younger days, I performed numerous feng-shui consultations. The one rule I always maintained was to treat everyone equally, whether they were rich or poor. When the rich came to seek my services, I gladly advised them. When the poor families approached me for help, I gladly accepted their invitations.

During these times, whenever I agreed to feng-shui readings, I also stuck to one important principle: I never asked for a service fee but allowed the other parties to pay whatever they wished.

Since my only motive for studying geomancy was to help people, I have done readings for very poor families. One such family, whose head of the household made a living selling vegetables, lived in a very low area at the foot of a broken precipice that rose in a steep wall to the sky. The area around the house was surrounded by bamboo. After studying the house and its surrounding geographical features, I came to the conclusion that the house fit the pattern of that of a "low and overshadowed" house.

As written in The Secrets of Earth Magic:
The lowest site will meet suicide.
The overshadowed site will encounter unexpected hardships.

My analysis turned out to be an accurate one. After a fight caused by their declining financial situation, the owner's wife committed suicide by drinking insecticide. The grandmother of the household became half paralyzed from a severe case of rheumatoid arthritis. One child was afflicted with polio, another with asthma. The owner himself, who worked as hard as he could to sell his vegetables, was facing a crushing defeat.

Why are houses built in low and hollow sites tied to the fate of suicide? This is because such houses are always in an inferior position. People living in such houses develop emotional blockages and have trouble seeing their own ideals fulfilled. Due to their frustrated emotional state, they often fail to find safe exits when angered or provoked. Also, low and hollow sites are sites of "yin" energy, where disembodied spirits and ghosts like to converge. "Yin spirits" may play mischievous tricks on one and engender thoughts of suicide.

The close proximity of the tall and broken cliff to the house created a feeling of being "pressure and overshadowed." This "suppression" type pattern predisposes one to strange illness. The closeness of the tall and broken cliff also provoked a sense of desolation and misery. Living in such a house, one would never have the opportunity to become wealthy.

There is also a more realistic problem for homes built in the hollows at the foot of mountains. During rains, water accumulates and does not drain quickly. When earthquakes strike, an avalanche may bury the entire house. How can one not be wary of the inherent problems of such sites?

I asked the owner of the house, "Are there seven inhabitants in your house now?" He gave me a puzzled look. "There are only five." I smiled and said, "There are indeed seven, although two of the seven could be considered frequent visitors." He replied, "We rarely have any visitors."

I asked him to check with the grandmother to find out if there were, indeed, two visitors at their house. To his surprise, the grandmother confirmed my words. She described seeing a man in black and a woman in red, in Ch'ing Dynasty attire, frequently entering and exiting their home. This reply brought great shock to the owner.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" he asked the grandmother. The grandmother replied, "I was worried you might be frightened. Besides, I didn't think you would believe me. You would probably have accused me of hallucinating and becoming senile."

I told the owner that the low and overshadowed site was unsuitable as a residence because it encouraged the convergence of yin spirits. A healthy person living there would become ill and encounter numerous hardships. Oftentimes, due to the influence of disembodied spirit, one may succumb to their calling and attempt to commit suicide.

The grandmother was aware of the yin spirits because she was at the end of her years. The yang energy in her body was dispersing as yin energy accumulated, and this had led to an opening of her psychic vision.

Some feng-shui practitioners believe a low and hollow site accumulates chi from the water element. Because water is regarded as the equivalent of money, such a site is considered a wealthy spot. However, ensuring optimal movement of "water chi" into such a site requires proper inflow of "major water chi" and an outflow of "minor water chi" Otherwise, the sole inflow of major water chi without an outlet, will cause every resident of the home to become "engulfed by the water."

A house built upon a site that is too low and too hollow is therefore inauspicious. It is also inauspicious to have a tall, broken cliff directly behind (or to either side of) the house as this overshadows the house.

I remember, after the reading, receiving a red envelope with fifty Taiwanese dollars (approximately U.S. $1.25 then) from the owner. I did not mind the amount because I knew they were poor, and I was not a feng-shui master who sought to profit from his consultations. Feng-shui, as a worldly Dharma, is merely a skillful means. More important is the goal to move and inspire people to practice the "transcendental" Buddhadharma.

So, before selecting a building site, one should first inspect the terrain. This is just too important a factor to ignore. Too high a terrain invites "feng-sha" (noxious wind energy); too low a terrain invites "shui-sha" (noxious water energy). An ideal site is neither too high nor too low.

The study of the feng-shui of homes is actually a study of balance and harmony. To learn feng-shui, one must first master "the art of balance and harmony."

Source:
http://www.padmakumara.org/books/book69/chap2.shtml