It was a good day in our office. A day filled with renewal of energies, new opportunities and frontiers. 庚寅, the Metal Tiger year is going to be a better year than 己丑 year for us.
We believe in keeping things simple and focused. First thing first: focus on producing tangible results after results for our Feng Shui work. We are accountable to the lives whose current issues depend on our showing, not the naysayers or website hackers.
For the industry, looking back at 己丑 Ji Chou year, for better or worse (depending on whose perspective, really) there have been some positive & noticeable trends. Even if they are small improvements for the end consumers, they are still good developments going forward.
Trend 1 : Reviews
Reviews are absolutely necessary in a responsible Feng Shui audit.
Otherwise, how would we know if the Feng Shui we did have effected a positive and tangible difference in the occupants specific areas of concern? I still do not see competitions making it a point to stress the importance of Reviews or implementing it as their SOP, in a transparent manner. However, we do see after-sales support is now being marketed by a few competitions. As long as these are not lip service, that is a real good first step for the end consumers.
Trend 2: Goodbye Fads & Mastership (?)
I don’t think it is a goodbye thingy. Instead, the marketers have disguised themselves as classical practitioners.
We had the ‘Ornament Feng Shui’ of the 80s and 90s. That was the time when this industry sold 3-legged frog from the ‘Divined Masters’ in exchange for ‘hope’. And, the consumers were happily buying it until the placebo effects ceased – quickly.
Then we had/have the mass marketing of courses and ‘masters’. ‘Masters’ packaged in celebrity status with presumed wealth are trading courses and books with promises of water dragon, water features, pools, tilting doors, and, digging gardens for ‘hope’. Their success are all credits to loyal followers who would keep going for ‘new’ and ’superior’ courses despite coming out from these courses nullifying the previous courses taught by the same ‘masters’.
After attending the ultimate Xuan Kong Da Gua course, a friend’s mom has decided that their beautiful home is very bad in Feng Shui. The same had happened to 2 of their previous homes. This is a family torn by Feng Shui.
Sadly, these are not what Feng Shui and the Yin-Yang 5 Elements principles stand for. The same people who laughed at the followers of the Period-8-Golden-Hair Feng Shui Guru for their ignorance are repeating the same history.
Trend 3: Statutory Regulation
On the other hand, we see more and more angry and frustrated consumers dismissal of these placebo effects.
The future lies on this consumer group who are fed up of stagnation and fads of this industry and community. Stagnation for not showing consistent results, and, therefore, credibility of Feng Shui. With disappointment, awakening and a critical review of ‘what is’ and ‘what isn’t’ will be next in line.
The public are discussing regulatory intervention in forums, newspapers and other media. Personally, I think it is high time. At least, the consumers have standards to fall back on and avenues to lodge complaints on malpractices.
I read and hear these argument often from other peers: “It will never happen, how to prove an intangible art?” “How to control and unify accreditations with various schools of thoughts?”
I beg to differ. As long as we are all talking about effectiveness of this art & science, no matter what school of thoughts we stem from, we have the following common denominators to start with:
- Principles: The principles of Yin-Yang 5 Elements, as a Chinese Science, are defined. They are parellel to those in Chinese Medicine.
- Defined Parameters & Techniques: Feng Shui and other Chinese Metaphysic systems have clear parameters and techniques which can be defined and proven through consistent data collection over defined period of time.
- Proving the validity of Feng Shui & Chinese Metaphysics systems with database: While, many are not collecting their data conscientiously, there are practitioners who have been doing it for ages.
In fact, the talks of “how to” are irrelevant to consumers groups and regulators. Time and again, the laws have taken actions on malpractices of various trades. We are not an exception.
The onus is on the Feng Shui industry to prove its effectiveness and its claims. It is not for the laws and the regulators to prove our worth.
Trend 4 : Returning to Fundamentals
Forums & Blogs
We see that more and more fellow researchers and practitioners are thinking out of their box on fundamentals from the correspondence we received. Go to the various blogs and forums on Chinese Metaphysics and Chinese Science. Rather than chasing the formula and techniques, the discussions and questions have trend towards getting the fundamentals right.
China
Read the recent work of academia and researchers (not the ‘masters’ work please) in China. Within years, they will be able to fix the puzzle on Chinese Science from scientific and academic perspectives on history, math, TCM, and Chinese Metaphysics. Thereby, they will define and lead others by educating Yin-Yang 5 Elements fundamentals with better format and clarity.
Trend-watching is important for the future.
It is unwise for a single party – be it an individual, a firm, a forum or a school to assume credits or exemptions from trends, process and developments of cycles and market forces.
Pick on the positive trends and support it for the long-term good of Yi, for the consumers, and for one’s developments & practice.
A Happy 庚寅 year to all! 
Hello Zoe!
Happy Solar Geng Yin!
As I was in T&D and Counseling for the past 5 years, I kept urging my Master to hold structured Goal Formulation and Reviews. After spending a full-month in my Master’s office, I came to realize why he refrained from holding official Reviews.
He explained that in the Ancient Eastern way, there was Humility, Sincerity, Respect and Trust; even in business. Due to the influence of the Movement of “Me-First” and “Capitalism”, the above-mentioned values have been forgotten and/or watered-down.
In some cases clients answer, “No leh… Nothing leh.” to our queries on improvements after implementation; even when there were significant improvements (we asked their neighbours). The reason for this: They want to get more out of the audit. They have the belief that, “Master always have something else better up his sleeve that can bring my business to better heights.” We found that indirect Reviews were great for such clients.
There are also some prospects that demand a guarantee after implementation. At first we thought of waiving-off the audit fee and structure a stake of 10% of net profit per month for such clients. But a regular client feedback to us that we should refrain from doing that because clients can always make the books look like there was a loss even though there was a profit. Thus we chose to not work with clients who demanded a guarantee, because clients who do so are usually full of distrust and do not think win-win.
Thus direct Reviews are pretty challenging unless the business relationship started from a mutual Ancient Eastern platform/understanding on Day 0. This is due to the lack of principle/value-centered business philosophy in the modern-day Singaporean society. Westerners have realized the absence of these values in their business-relationships and have recently (in the mid 70s) emphasized value-centered business management and development philosophies.
With the return of the Ancient Eastern philosophies under the “rebranding” movement of the West (e.g. “Law of Attraction”, “Givers Gain”, “Power of the Mind”, etc), I believe more of us will benefit from the inculcation of the values of Humility, Sincerity, Respect and Trust. Both Qi (Intent/Values/Principles) and Form (Business Practices) must be congruent and aligned in order to achieve highest efficacy.
In the law of Nature, there will always be alignment and opposition. Borrowing what Robin Sharma said, “Just do our best and let Nature do the rest.” Usually Practitioners under a lineage that embraces Ancient Eastern philosophies already have an established code of ethics and regulatory system that safeguards the interests of would-be clients (it is ironical that Ancient Eastern Practitioners always viewed their “clients” like their own flesh-and-blood rather than as mere “clients”). 顺天行道。
Dear Kenneth,
Yes, we relate to the experience of your Master. I am glad that you have a Master whose capability of showing results is consistent. More importantly, that we are liked-minded towards practitioner-client relationship. 以人為本
A few months ago, a Shanghai subject, Bing, asked us about the chance of her parents who were both down with Lung cancer. Vin did something out of character – he told her that they would pass on before Coming of Spring. Her parents resisted Feng Shui so we could not help to relief their physical pain. All we could do was to prepare her emotionally so that she could treasure the little time left with her parents. We share her pain when her mom passed on in December 09 and her dad 4 hours before Geng Yin year starts.
This event reminds us that even if one’s BaZi proficiency is great and could predict death accurately, that is still not real help when we couldn’t apply Feng Shui for the subjects in the most effective, humane, and unbiased manner.
Those who practice the art & science in a consistent manner need to consider practicing it in a traceable and accountable manner before the pseudo practitioners dilute the public confidence further.
Thus, I see the issues of your Masters as a happy problem borne out of being consistent in his work. Just to share – business wise, our core focus is on urban planning & corporations/ businesses for 3 reasons:-
1. The results benefit tens, hundreds, thousands of employees. Infrastructures affect millions.
2. Feng Shui is getting ‘legitimate’ in business spending. Some do have a ‘budget’ for Feng Shui.
3. Business people are direct, and results oriented. They don’t waste our time to ‘test’ us. We only need to show results.
There are always going to be petty personalities. If the intent of the client is to cheat (which really happened only once for us), we will drop the project immediately and are unlikely to demand for payment.
Running a Feng Shui consultancy isn’t like any other business to us. While, we are not running a charity, karma has a play. We are only messengers and executors in improving their situations. Sometimes for a fee, other times free when we serve charities. Regardless, it is their own destiny they are cheating in the end when honesty & sincerity is missing.
As for the practitioners, this is what I opine:
As you would know, getting to a level where one can advertise tangible results is not only by hard work. There are many very hardworking researchers and learners searching for consistency for years, and, some decades. When I look back at the events that led me to where I am (i.e. the little proficiency I posses today), it is not by chance but by sincerity.
Not mine. Rather, it is the sincerity & the teachings of my mentors, esp. Vin that opened my eyes and heart to what Yin-Yang 5 elements is all about. I might have paid lots for many courses and books. I might be assault by those who resist my humble path. In the end, true knowledge was given free to me. Karma has a part to play. We must treasure and spread this goodness of Feng Shui science when we can.
In cases where the party involved is insincere, we should walk away and keep our time / services for the next person / subject in genuine need. (The same applies to the learners and practitioners who knock at our doors.)
And, it is for the NEXT person who needs the services of your Master that I am imploring you to please try to convince your Master again.
As for the ups & downs of direct Reviews (incl. being pressured by subjects who can’t wait to see results) – please share with your Master that it is a path of Humility. Whether it is direct or indirect Reviews, we all experience stress from our subjects who cannot wait to see results Hence, why not just embrace it as part of the package? ☺
We live in 21st century where the environment is polluted and humanity is deteriorating more than ever. We must apply ourselves and adapt this science in traceable and accountable manners for the consumers to benefit.
Kenneth, we should have that coffee soon. I sincerely wish you success in convincing your Master to spread good Feng Shui! Happy Geng Yin year!
Best,
Zoe