Feng Shui 2011: Choo-se wisely in the year of the Rabbit

The week before and after New Year is a time of resolutions, celebrations, get-togethers and expanding waistline. Plus, with the Chinese New Year just around the next bend (Feb 3 and 4), apart from another round of extra festive weight, many households have sprung into spring cleaning mode and in some, correcting the Feng Shui or alleviating negative areas in their respective homes. Rightly so, it is a busy time for Feng Shui masters such as Prof Joe Choo.

Choo, 36, is a petite, pleasant lady who picked up the science of geomancy from her mentor-cum-current business partner, Prof Master David Koh, in year 2001. Prior to that, Choo was in an accountancy firm for five years, followed by a stint in an architectural firm where she was involved in a project conserving the Baba and Nyonya culture.

“It was through the conservation project that I met Prof David Koh and I was convinced with his scientific explanation and picked up Feng Shui and became his apprentice, says the down-to-earth Choo, who hails from Semenyih, Kajang.

Choo soon found out about the steep learning curve. She says, “It was difficult initially. (I needed to do) lots of homework. I know Mandarin, so I read the ancient Chinese text, and still read them. The classically written text has many layers of meaning. So a lot of ‘thinking and linking’ is involved.

“I still work with David as a business partner, for example, for property development projects. We attend some meetings together and if one is away, the other can attend to the client. This is a very personal business and we attend to clients personally,” Choo explains.

Choo, who specialises in life-reading, highlights that an individual may not be able to change his or her destined path. However, it can be improved and some negative areas can be avoided or minimised. She adds that I-Ching (Book of Changes) has no mention of using feather, frog, coins and other decorative items, but it explores the sources of cosmic, earthly and human energies.

When asked about guidelines on getting crystals, Choo points out that no matter how clear a crystal might be, there are hairline cracks on it. For those without cracks, expect them to be costly. So if you are about to purchase a flawless fist-sized crystal for RM100, that’s a red flag as it might be glass instead of crystal.

House energy
It is common knowledge or practice for many to place charcoal under the bed for a better life because of its pronunciation in Chinese – Tan. With some creative liberties, it has taken to mean “Tan Sai Kai”, which translates to ‘a good life’. For Choo, she uses it in a different manner to reset the energy in a house. The procedure entails closing all windows and doors in a house and leaving it empty for 24 hours to settle the air. Before this, she would’ve calculated the time and date, for when this resetting exercise will take place. The following day, there will be a heating element (charcoal stove) outside, with five stoves or heating elements at various spots, to heat up the place evenly. She will then enter the house with a charcoal stove, 30 minutes inside and outside respectively.

When the windows and doors are opened, the hot and cold air meets, finds an equilibrium and that will provide good energy for the house. Typically, this “energy” remains between six and nine years. How much will this service cost? RM3,000.

Flourishing areas – the south
When asked which areas are favourable in the Klang Valley and Selangor for the property sector, Choo points out that the southern part consisting of these areas − Putrajaya, Kajang, and pockets of Balakong and Seri Kembangan − are good for investment. As for Kuala Lumpur, it is running out of land and the nearest area would be Cheras.

In the east, the areas where Kampung Baru, Ampang and Hulu Langat are located are likely to remain stagnant. Other areas that might be struggling are Taman Sri Muda, Taman Sentosa and Shah Alam. When I highlighted that prices of properties in Setia Alam, which is located in Shah Alam, have increased tremendously Choo attributes its success largely to the developer’s brand and reputation.

On the upside, areas with lots of opportunities lie in the north – the areas of Kepong and Desa ParkCity. Choo adds that prices of properties are on the uptrend, but overall, prices will not be jumping by leaps and bounds, but more of a gradual increase in 2011.

Note: The circled areas are a rough guide only. For a more detailed explanation, readers are advised to seek Choo’s opinion directly. To view the map, search ‘Klang Valley’ in Google maps - http://maps.google.com.my

As for Malaysia, the southern part is obviously Johor. Choo says that prices are expected to increase by large margins there. When I pointed out Iskandar Malaysia, Choo opines that the price increase is not solely attributed to that project and points out that property prices in Johor’s town centre has increased tremendously.

“I have a client who seeked my help. She purchased a low-cost shop near UDA, Angsana, at the developer price of RM400,000 in the beginning of year 2010. Now it is valued at approximately RM700,000. All the properties there are occupied and no one wants to sell,” Choo shares.

When I pointed out Singapore, Choo says that the country is benefitting from the energy flow from Malaysia and if there was another bridge linking both countries, Singapore would fare even better.

Excerpts from the book − 2011 Year of the Rabbit MINGS Outlook

The 2011 Year of the Rabbit MINGS Outlook book is available for RM48.

For auspicious dates…
When you show your total commitment to God (or whatever your religion believes in) and in making your wishes, look out for the corresponding phenomena below within 24 hours. These phenomena can be sighted from any source, such as public places, on TV, in newspapers and other periodicals. When done successfully, you should be able to observe at least 50% of the phenomena listed. This means your wishes are likely to come true.

... all buildings with the main entrances, sitting positions or stoves located in these sectors will be subject to the “Three Killers” (Sam Sart).

To diffuse or minimise these problems, you may choose one of the following methods:
Method A
Erect a movable partition (or screen) outside or inside the door, preferably the inside if space permits.

Method B
Attach a strip of wood below the top part of the door frame.

--------

A regular article contributor
Choo co-writes with Prof Master David Koh for Properties from a Feng Shui perspective articles that appear every Friday in The Star’s Home & Property section and this website. Choo is also president of the Malaysian Institute of Geomancy Sciences (MINGS), an organisation that promotes knowledge of ancient Feng Shui studies based on science.

For more information on MINGS, email infocentre@mingsweb.org, call 016-908 9147 or visit www.mingsweb.org

To reserve your seat for the upcoming talks on January 15 and 22, call Saadah / Wai Len at 1300-88-2700.

This article is Part 1 out of 3. Part 2 focuses on Prof Joe Choo’s opinion on the ‘Top 10 hot spots to be redeveloped in the Klang Valley’, as highlighted in the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP). Part 3 would feature a general ‘12 animals outlook in 2011’.

Other articles on Feng Shui:

• Feng Shui 2011: Top 10 spots to be redeveloped in the Klang Valley
• Feng Shui 2011: Outlook for 12 animals
• Feng Shui: Highs and lows of PJ New Town
• Feng Shui: Old landmarks in Petaling Jaya New Town
• Feng Shui: Around PJ New Town