Feng Shui Master Andrew Chan — Home Feng Shui: Case 13 Residential Environment Overview

In the various schools of feng shui, there is a saying: 'External landforms determine internal qi flow.' This means that no matter how luxurious your interior decoration or how exquisite your feng shui arrangements, if there are significant negative external feng shui forms (sha qi) around the house, their adverse impact will still be decisive. Hong Kong Feng Shui Master Andrew Chan emphasizes: the environment is the foundation of feng shui. The surroundings of a house have more or less an influence on it. A good environment leads to a good qi field, while a poor environment leads to misfortunes.

• High Walls Like a Prison (Inauspicious)

  Many owners of villas or self-built houses prefer to construct tall walls for security and privacy. From a feng shui perspective, excessively high walls block the entry of auspicious qi from the outside, turning the residence into an isolated 'dead end.' As the saying goes, 'high walls are like a prison, leading to gradual impoverishment.' Long-term residence can cause family members to become reclusive, and career prospects to dwindle.

• Walls Too Close to the House (Inauspicious)

  If the distance between the wall and the main building of the residence is too narrow, forming a 'wall close to the house' configuration, this is known as 'bì shā' (逼煞 - oppressive sha qi) in feng shui. It severely compresses the bright hall (ming tang) of the residence, preventing the qi field from expanding. This can lead to residents experiencing difficulties in all aspects of life, constantly being constrained by others in their careers.

• Overgrown Weeds with Roots Remaining (Inauspicious)

  If the front and back yards of a residence are long neglected and overgrown with weeds, it will attract heavy yin qi. If the cleaning is superficial, 'overgrown weeds with roots remaining lead to endless troubles.' The remaining roots symbolically represent unending misfortunes and disputes in feng shui, which can lead to the chronic decline of the family.

Living in a residence with a poor external environment and a constrained qi field, residents' overall fortune tends to spiral downwards. Firstly, interpersonal relationships deteriorate, and benefactors distance themselves. Secondly, seeking wealth becomes extremely arduous, as if an invisible force is pulling them back. Finally, the accumulation of yin qi in the yard can also lead to family members experiencing long-term mental lethargy.

• Scientifically Control Wall Height

  The height of the wall should absolutely not exceed the eaves of the first floor. It is generally recommended to maintain a height between 1.5 meters and 1.8 meters, which ensures safety without blocking the flow of qi.

• Thoroughly Clear Yin Qi from the Yard

  For weeds, a thorough uprooting and soil turning is necessary, followed by sprinkling coarse salt or lime for a comprehensive qi cleansing. Subsequently, plant plants rich in yang energy (such as sunflowers or kumquats) to reactivate the vitality of the land.