Choosing a Feng Shui Consultant

Have you actively considered hiring a Feng Shui consultant? How do you know what to look for? Often, clients' attempts to discern what is truly valid and effective ends in confusion or frustration.

Many practitioners seem pleasant and good natured, and appear to have the necessary skills. So how should you choose?

To make sure you're getting the real thing, the following guidelines will help you eliminate the risk of wasting valuable time and resources, as well as the hazards and expense tied to implementing the wrong advice.

Finding the Real McCoy

Whether you've had a sudden turn in your life circumstances, are buying a new home, starting a new company, are renovating, have a new job or relationship, . something important in your life now prompts you to bring in a professional Feng Shui consultant. As you value your life path, so should you use scrutiny when interviewing a practitioner. In comparison, you certainly would not allow someone to operate on you because they've read all the medical books in the library, would you?

Be aware that some consultants have read only a couple of more books than you; some have only attended a one-day workshop. There are even those who "intuit" their own systems. Practitioners in this category can easily make incorrect analyses, sometimes causing harm, without knowing what principles, schools, and methods actually comprise authentic Feng Shui. Be a smart consumer and heed the caveat emptor; let the buyer beware.

East Does Not Always Meet West

The first step is to know what method or school you would like to use. The key distinction is to understand the difference between the Westernized forms of Feng Shui claiming connection to ancient methods vs. the authentic Classical methods as they are currently used in modern day Asia.

The Americanized version of Feng Shui uses terms like "wealth corner, relationship corner, etc." It is a commercialized method recognized by its generous use of bamboo flutes, bagua mirrors, wind chimes, and red money packets over the last 20 years.

This new-age form of Feng Shui requires you to place "cures" in certain corners of your home or office, and operates on a psychological level requiring your belief. This hybrid version is severely frowned upon in Asia by today's practicing masters as a mockery of the true teachings. Clearly, simplification for the Western mind gone far overboard.

Authentic Feng Shui is easily distinguished from the new-age schools and relies on time-tested mathematical formulas that work regardless of a person's belief.

When interviewing practitioners, ask questions, request their brochures and inquire about their web sites. Professional consultants will be pleased to provide their credentials, and will be able to tell you about their teachers, lineage, education, and experience. Before making your decision, obtain information about the following points:

Credentials:

· What Feng Shui method do they practice?

Another important yardstick is what essential quality of life the consultant personally enjoys. A good Feng Shui practitioner will have a reasonable quality of life; otherwise, it is unlikely that he or she will be able to help you. Their answers should satisfy your queries, making you feel confident about their skills. Possessing the patience to continue your search until you discover the one for your unique needs should bring great rewards into your life.