Good Fengshui

May 1, 2023
In this comprehensive outing, Taoist scholar Wong (How to Win) offers guidance on how to arrange one’s home in accordance with feng shui, the Taoist concept that seeks to create “harmony” in a space through the positioning of its constituent elements. Blending practical advice on decorating with philosophical background on feng shui, she explains that the practice is rooted in the belief that “land and all living things” have energy, or qi, and that the relationship between the features of a room or landscape determines the mood of the space (for example, “architecture with strange and grotesque features is associated with fearful energy”). Wong dispenses useful tips for furnishing one’s home, recommending that readers avoid clutter (open space makes room “for energy to gather and circulate”), placing beds against windows (which “let in unpredictable energy from the outside”), and using red kitchen appliances (which enhance the “energy of fire” in the room). Other suggestions are harder to implement, such as her advice to “destroy” negative energy from “gnarly” tree branches by mounting a handsaw on a stand between the branches and one’s home. However, the more pragmatic guidance is well complemented by the thorough background on the spiritual and philosophical underpinnings of feng shui. The result is an ideal primer on modern applications of an ancient tradition.

June 10, 2024

Taoist scholar and feng shui practitioner Wong's book focuses on the ancient Chinese practice of creating an environment that fosters health and prosperity. This book is intended for readers looking to maximize positive energy, but it's not one for those looking for basics. Instead, readers are introduced to the idea that feng shui isn't just for inside the home, it's a practice that can be applied to one's whole environment. This book considers where and how a home is constructed, not just how belongings are laid out in the home. For example, for readers who are in the pre-purchase, renovation, or building phases, the authors recommend avoiding certain parts of a cul de sac, not facing utility poles, and making sure the kitchen is at the back of the house. There's guidance on how to examine community space--the placement of town squares, highways, power lines, hospitals, and more--when deciding where to live. There are tricks to counteract poor design, as well as a collection of Chinese folk remedies. VERDICT An easy, educational, and intriguing read that's less about a room and more about one's surroundings. Best for readers studying urban design or architecture.--Erin Dagenais

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